BLACK & BLANC

Miscellaneous Monthly Must-Haves | November

With Autumn in full swing and Winter creeping up, here's a few things I've been reaching for the past month.

+ Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lip in 'ashton'

This has quickly become one of my favourite lip colours, it is rather similar to my Mac 'taupe' but just a little darker. The formula can be drying but like with any other liquid lipstick exfoliating your lips is key.

+ Gold coin necklaces - Nuena Hamburg

I visited a little jewellery shop in Hamburg and bought the cutest little gold coins with the aim of turning them into necklaces. I love them so much and they hold a little memory too.

+ Ordinary AHA & BHA peeling solution

While this isn't your ordinary [oh the irony] face mask, it helps brighten and rejuvenate your skin prepping it for the rest of the day. I've always been a fan of the Ordinary products and here's another one to add to your 'to try list' for skincare.

+ Pink suede crossbody bag - H&M

I'm a huge fan of crossbody bags and small bags in general. Surprisingly because the colour of the bag is on the more neutral side it pairs well with a lot of outfits.

+ Leopard print jumper - H&M

I wore this consistently 3 days in 1 week if that doesn't tell you how much I love it then this will. I have always loved leopard print and snakeskin and the fact that it is now trendy means that it's a lot easier to buy clothing with such prints. I adore the texture and the fit of the jumper and can't wait to continue wearing it!

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

Alex

Hamburg | #BWTRAVELS18

A short trip to Hamburg, Germany during Halloween. We arrived in St Georges around 10pm at experienced 'night life' with the locals. We checked into our hotel then set out to explore the streets of Hamburg at night while endlessly searching for open food options. The port was a 5 minute walk from our hotel which meant it was incredibly easy to walk to, the view was unbelievable at night with all the lights. Here's a few photos from our trip from the flight to Hamburg to landing back home.

My face of the day:

- Bio oil

- Nivea creme

- Garnier BB cream

- Milk makeup concealer

- Seventeen Contour kit

- Sleek Contour kit

- Benefit contour stick

- ABH liquid lip in 'ashton'

- Mac matte in 'taupe'

Hamburger Kunsthalle art gallery

Town hall

Breakfast at Junge Die backerei, they served the best caramel macchiato with the biggest pastries.

Europapassage mall

A little bead/ art shop with a rather big variety 'Nuena Hamburg' located in the Europapassage mall.

Port of Hamburg

Our last lunch in Hamburg at Alex, located on the Port of Hamburg with a riverside view.

Classic 'fish n chips' with a watermelon lemonade.

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

A/W18

Levi's, Denim & Blazers

This is my attempt at casual chic, a blazer with a Levi's t-shirt and a pair of dark denim straight legged jeans and a pair of trainers of course. This is a very monochrome outfit focusing more on the darker colours with pops of white. This blazer can be dressed up with a pair of black skinny jeans and a blouse or worn more casually with a black sweatshirt and trousers.

Outfit details:

Checked blazer - H&M

T-shirt - Levi's

Jeans - H&M

AF 1's- Nike

More women's blazers!

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

101

"At the darkest moment comes the light" Campbell

I feel like October only started last week yet here we are nearly at the end of the month and I have nothing to show for blog-wise. University started again, I mean we are only 3 weeks in and I feel like I'm 3 months behind already, is that possible? Nothing spectacular happened this month but I did go watch Venom and that was good. I've also started and finished My Wife and Kids which is hilarious and I 100% recommend, I don't know if this is just me or does anyone just not have enough time to watch all the shows they used to watch/ catch up on hours on end? I've also been trying to minimise and refine my wardrobe for this Autumn / Winter. This post is just all over the place, a little like me throughout this month but hey that's life! I also just wanted to share these artsy photos I took on my S9 of my candle dripping because why not? I hope November is more organised and bountiful.

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

Cleanse

Olay 5-in-1 Daily Facials | Review

If you're a skincare fanatic like me then you are constantly on the hunt for new products that not only work but simplify your daily routine. Olay have released their 'daily facials' a 5-in-1 cleanser that can be used just to cleanse your face in the morning or at night and can be used to remove makeup. Here's my little review on how to use them and why I'm loving them.

How to use:

Just like its mentioned on the box all you have to do is wet the cloth which essentially looks like your regular makeup wipe but has little holes. You simply run it under a tap, I like using warm water, then scrunch it a little and allow it to lather up and then start cleansing your face.

What I like about the 'Olay 5-in-1 Daily Facials':

- They are incredibly easy to use

- Removes makeup gently

- Leaves my face feeling soft and hydrated

- Scented but not overbearing or irritative

- Perfect sized cloth for cleansing

- In-home spa treatment for your face

What I don't like about the 'Olay 5-in-1 Daily Facials':

- The price point, the product is priced at £6.99 which in hindsight is not bad at all but when you think about the number of cloths per product which is 30 in this case, that is only 30-days of cleansing and in comparison with your regular cleanser or micellar water it can end up costing more. However, unlike your cleanser this is a 5-1 product and so you can skip straight to moisturising.

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

Aloe Vera

Skincare essentials | The Ordinary, La Roche Posay & Aloe vera

These are my go-to products when it comes to maintaining healthy skin while also targeting problem areas. Taking care and I mean actual care of your skin i.e. having a routine is vital. With that being said there is only so much you can do to the overall external appearance of your skin yet a slight change in your water intake or your diet has a noticeable impact.

Bio oil

If you guys have been following my skincare routine for a while then you know I am constantly on the hunt for new products that could potentially be part of my skincare routine. Oils or serums are a must in prepping my skin for moisturiser and makeup. Previously I was using the Vitamin E oil from the BodyShop and fell in love with how it improved the appearance of my skin but after finishing it I quickly found an alternative. Not only is bio oil moisturising, it also fades acne scars overtime and leaves the skin feeling plump and not greasy or heavy. It is incredibly lightweight and you only need the smallest amount.

Aloe vera gel | PraNaturals

Aloe vera gel has more purposes that I can count on both my hands but here's a few things I like to use it on: my face for reducing redness as well as inflammatory skin as well as my arms and legs after I've shaved to prevent any irritation. People tend to also use it as a moisturiser but as someone whose skin is heavily accustomed to thicker moisturisers it simply does not make the cut.

Effaclar duo+ | La Roche posay

Again, I have typed on and on about this product and the quick yet effective impact it has on my skin when it is particularly spot-prone. I have no idea as to what is in this but it works regardless, I love putting a little on after moisturiser in the morning or just before I'm winding down for the day and getting ready for bed.

Salicylic acid solution | The Ordinary

Last but not by any means the least a product I was only introduced to over the summer and is almost 3/4 through. This salicylic acid solution from the Ordinary is yet another product great for targeting problem areas. The only downside to this product is that it can increase your skin sensitivity and so it is only to be used on problem areas specifically and not all over.

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

A/W18

5 fashion staples you NEED for this winter

Autumn and the lead up to Winter have to be my favourite seasons when it comes to fashion, there's so many options to choose from and the chunky knitwear & boots come out!

1. dark wash jeans

Darker denim is a must for the transition between summer and autumn for the lead up to winter. Treat darker denim like your beloved pair of black jeans, pair them with neutrals, blacks and whites. While I adore a classic pair of light denim jeans, admittedly I love my darker denim.

2. white shirt

I have always been a big fan of the 'button down white shirt', it can be worn casually with a pair of jeans or a little more smarter with some fitted trousers. Statement white shirts are also perfect for wearing by themselves or layering up with jumpers.

3. knitted jumpers

Does anyone else get overly excited that it is finally going to be 'sweater weather'? And that you can basically live in jumpers for the rest of winter because me too! A jumper tucked into a pair of trousers or layered with a shirt is my go-to for the A/W season, not only is it practical but it allows you to layer up if you're cold or take layers off.

4. an aviator jacket

You see this style of jacket pretty much everywhere in different colours in different textures. I love wearing an all-black outfit finished off with this jacket, it's super warm too.

5. a good pair of boots

I live in boots during the colder months and they look rather cute too. Black boots can be paired with anything and are perfect for adding a little something to your outfit.

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

Beauty Favourites

Current beauty favourites

I often find myself repeatedly reaching for a handful of products while others I've fallen in & out of love with. Here's a few of my makeup and skincare favourites for the past month.

+ Milk makeup concealer in 'light'

Milk makeup, a brand talked about constantly in the states and often associated with the likes of Glossier in terms of 'lightweight makeup' and enhancing facial features rather than changing and the overall emphasis on 'skin first'. I randomly came across a few bits from Milk makeup in TKMaxx for a fraction of the price. For someone who only wears BB cream & concealer, concealer is an important part of my makeup this concealer is great for brightening not so much concealing.

+ Laura Geller gelato swirl highlighter in 'gilded honey'

How adorable is this miniature? Laura Geller famously known for this highlighter and I can see why. I love using this with my Morphe M496 fan brush and sweeping it on to my cheeks. It is incredibly smooth to apply and not chunky or overly glittery at all.

+ Huda beauty rosegold remastered palette

This palette is absolute perfection, however I have noticed that not all the glittery shades are equally pigmented some work and apply better with brushes & others with fingers. Recently I have been applying 'pink diamond' & '24k' in my inner corner.

+ The Ordinary salicylic acid solution

An affordable skincare brand that actually works? Yes 100000+ times yes. We all know that salicylic acid is perfect for blemish prone skin in reducing the overall appearance of well blemishes & red skin. This works wonders, I only really apply it directly in problem areas as it can be drying.

+ Kiko Long-eyes+ mascara

This has been a favourite of mine ever since I bought it and I can't wait to repurchase it. I use it on my lashes and brows when I'm too lazy to fill in my brows. It's super black, super defining and water-proof.

Instagram | Twitter | BlogLovin'

No comments

, by Sana Ahmad

A/W18

A/W 18 Trends, a whole lot of leopard & snakeskin.

Leopard print, tortoise shell & snakeskin has been plastered everywhere from clothes to bags to even jewellery. Prints are back, bigger & bolder than ever and are here to stay for good. I have always loved leopard print, I mean I own two leopard print coats, a little excessive? Maybe but leopard print is classic and has survived decades.