Manicure of the Week: Bourjois So Laque Glossy in 06 Adora Bleu

My Dearest Beauties,

Baby blue on your nails! Why not?!?! I personally think it is romantic and unique. The other day while doing my nail polish hunt down. I stumbled upon Bourjois's new line of nail polishes. Let me tell you, these creamy shades are just be-a-utiful. But, of course I picked up the powder baby blue shade to try out because it is what I was originally hunting for.

After painting my nails myself, I realized how high of a quality the varnish is. It is pigmented, it dries super fast and it is really glossy. You can easily get away with a single coat, I applied two coats, though, because I feel like that adds a bit of strength to my nails. I am definitely going to pick up some more of these and tell you what I think of them.

I am wearing Bourjois So Laque Glossy in 06 Adora Bleu.

This nail polish definitely feels really luxurious, I say it is very good value for your money. Anyways, what are your thoughts on this color? Tell me on the comments below!

Much Love,

Samar


You may also like to take a look at:

Yellow Nail Polish
Sweet Almond Nails

A Review: Dali Eye and Lip Liners

My Dearest Beauties,

Dali is one of those brands that we see at the supermarket and at some makeup stores all the time. They have a wide selection of makeup and nail polishes. Dali is an inexpensive brand yet the most impressive in terms of quality. Today, I am going to be reviewing the eye and lip liner pencils that I have collected throughout time. Whenever I am at the supermarket I always take a look at the Dali counter and pick out a nail polish or some kind of liner.

Let me tell you about the eye liners in depth, they are phenomenal! They are very inexpensive, they stay put all throughout the day and the color selection is amazing. I just love these! From the black shade to the other more fun colors, these eyeliner pencils are a must have in your collection, they will not hurt your pocket but they will add a lot to your makeup kit. I personally use them on my lower lash line or even as an eye shadow base. They are so well pigmented and formulated that they work wonders under eye shadow, you will see how your eye shadow will appear more vibrant and will last longer when you apply and blend these on your lids underneath the shadow. These pencils are super soft and easy to work with, which is, again one more plus. I do not have all the shades but there are many more available, Dali offers some matte liner and some shiny ones.

From Left to Right: No 101, Electric Bronze, Electric Pistache, Electric Sky, Electric Mauve, Electric Deep Blue, No 09

The lip liners are equally as good quality. They are creamy and easy to apply and they stay put for very long. Again I don't own all the colors, but that is because I use the same lip liners with different colored lipsticks, just to give dimension to my lip colors. They are very well pigmented as you can see in the image and again, you can pick them up from your local pharmacy or supermarket for a great price.

From Left to Right: No 55, No 60, No 62

Have you tried Dali products? What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments below!

Much Love,

Samar

Reem's Outfits: Colorful Summer Sunset

My Dearest Beauties,

Reem is back with a colorful and flower-full outfit of the day. This season rock your short flowered shorts and sky rocketing high sandals.

Reem's wearing:

Zara T-Shirt

Pull & Bear Shorts

Aldo Sandals

What do you think of this fun look?

Much love, 

Samar

Triglyceride and Cholesterol Talk with Nutritionist Magie Tamraz

My Dearest Beauties,

As we grow older, some of us have to start worrying about the levels of some factors in our blood. This week Magie and I talked about triglyceride and cholesterol levels in our blood. We discussed some misconceptions and how we can stay away from having these two sky rocketing. 

Triglycerides are fats, and the big misconception is that they come from over consuming fats. Actually, triglyceride levels go up with the consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates. Some examples are: bread, potatoes, rice, noodles, sandwiches, sweets, fruits. Now, nobody can have a diet that is completely free of carbohydrates for that reason these tips may help you,

1. Distribute your carbohydrate intake throughout the day.

2. Switch to whole grain bread, pasta, rice, etc. These carbs contain more fibre.

3. Fruits are very healthy and should not be omitted even when you are trying to control your triglyceride levels but portion control is needed. Have fruit but not in excess. 

4. Smaller portion and portion control is very important with all food you decide to put in your body.

Cholesterol is another kind of fat in our blood, it is mainly elevated by consuming large amounts of animal products, examples are cheese, milk, yogurt, red meat with visible fats, chicken's skin, egg yolks, butter, margarine, gee. Palm and coconut oils are also examples of a fat that elevates cholesterol levels in your system that comes from a vegetable source. Fortunately, there is the exception of fish and marine animals. Fish, along with raw nuts, is actually a good source of protection from high cholesterol because it contains Omega 3. Don't forget that with all you eat, portion control is what balances everything out. The way to combat high cholesterol levels is by:

1. Reducing consumption of red meats. At the time of consumption make sure it is trimmed meat, the kind that is separated from all the visible fat.

2. Omitting the skin on the chicken. Chicken breasts are the preferable piece.

3. Consuming skimmed, or 0% fat dairy products. 

4. Trying to limit your egg yolk consumption to ones per week.

5. Substituting butter and margarine with vegetable oils. 

Along with the right food regime, taking on an active lifestyle and at least three hours of cardiovascular exercise per week will aid in maintaining the right levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in your blood.

Where to find Magie?

• Doha Aramoun, main street, facing Al Doha Pharmacy. 05 813 730

• Hamra, Abdel Aziz street, Al Mabani Bldg., 1st floor. 01 745 036

• Choueifat, Old Saida Road, Inside of Avalon gym. 70 684 910

Take care of your health!

Much love,

Samar

Quick Outfit of the Day or Night: The Little White Dress

My Dearest Beauties,

A white dress, of any cut that flatters your figure, is a piece that you should always have and update in your closet. It is very easy to throw on a white dress with any shoes and accessories. It will get you out of many "I don't know what to wear" situations in a snap. A little white dress can look extremely different depending on how you style it. Most people won't even notice when you wear it a second or even third time. You will be put together and out the door in the blink of an eye. Whether you decide to keep it polished and simple or make a statement with bold shoes or accessories, well, it all simply depends on the occasion and your mood.

The little white dress should be sitting right in line with your little black dress.  They are both very versatile and will always make you look great in a hurry. In the summer, when you have your most beautiful tan on, trade the little black dress for your white one and watch your tan skin glow.

Wearing:

List Boutique Dress 

Mango Touch Sandals

CN Jewels Jewelry

L'Bel Supreme XP Lipstick in Fuchsia

Dior Vintage Sunglasses

Do you have a white dress in your closet?

Much love, 

Samar

Manicure of the Week: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Lightening 10

My Dearest Beauties,

I have been hunting down a bright and perfect yellow for all of spring and summer till three days ago when I found this amazing yellow shade at the Sally Hansen counter. It is very well pigmented and it is the right tinge of creamy and bright. Personally, I think this color looks extremely vibrant contrasted with summery, tanned skin.

I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in shade Lightening 10.

Do you like funky and bright shades? What is your favorite?

Much love,

Samar

Diffused Eyeliner Look

My Dearest Beauties,

Today, I bring to you a very easy way to fake eyeliner and to get a variety of looks from one single very well pigmented black eye shadow and a pair of brushes. I am using NYX eyeshadow in Black ES01 and a dual brush from H&M, that has an angled brush on one end and a smudge brush on the other end.

This look can be worn as soft or as strong as you prefer. It is all about building layers of color. If you are not an expert with eyeliner or simply don't have the patience for a perfect liner look, you can always refer to this method. It is so versatile that you can wear it soft for work in the morning and very strong in the form of a smokey eye at night by just adding and blending in some more layers of shadow.

I started with a flesh toned color all over my eyelid. This will not only make your eyelid a uniform canvas but it will also make the other shadows blend more easily.

Then I simply drew a line with the angled brush from the outer corner of my eye up, as if I were to join it with the end of my brow. I do the same on both eyes. I then push whatever product is left very close to my top lash line.

Once you have done that go ahead and flip to the smudge brush and blend this line inwards to the center of my eyelid and crease.

This is optional but you can add some to your lower lash line. Join the lower lash line with whatever you have done on the top. Don't forget to blend.

That is the finished look. And I said before you can make it stronger by just repeating the same procedure all over again until you get the intensity you are looking for.

What do you think of this way of faking eyeliner? Tell me in the comments below, if you like it and if you would try it! By the way, excuse my baby hair that just decided to be rebellious.

Much love,

Samar

Quick Outfit of the Day: Wishing you a Great Week!

My Dearest Beauties,

Casual wear is the time of the day when we get to kick back and relax, enjoy the company of friends or maybe even run errands around town. Whatever it is you are going to do never forget that when you dress to impress, you will always feel more confident in your own skin therefore nothing can break your determination. Which is much needed these days in our hectic, crazy world! Sometimes it is not easy to bring yourself together and kick your day's A** but it is important that you appreciate all that is surrounding you, and learn to absorb the energy from those little things in life.

I leave you with an easy peasy casual outfit that is part of my mundane day-to-day but that makes me happy from the little details in it.

Wearing:

Only by Vero Moda Gilet

American Eagle T-Shirt

Levi's Jeans 

Breo Sunglasses

Lips are Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Luna by Rimmel London

I totally urge you to try the Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Laquers. They come in an amazing color selection that are extremely pigmeneted and that last forever on the lips. They kind of act like a lipstick that shines as much as a lip gloss. They also have the consistency of being in between a lipstick and a lip gloss. I am head over heels with this product, these are definitely keepers for the super high quality plus the great value for your money. 

Wishing you a great week, 

Samar

An Innovative Way to Shampoo your Hair

My Dearest Beauties,

Almost a month ago I was watching some TV and stumbled upon the Style Network, which I totally love. While I was at it, a Hollywood celebrity hair stylist was giving out a shampooing tip. I liked the tip and decided to try it out and see if what he was saying was true. It turns out he was totally right and now that is the only way I am shampooing my hair.

He was talking about how us women usually shampoo our hair from the scalp right down to the very tips of our hair. He said that the trick to maintain healthier ends is to only shampoo your hair from the scalp and up for about eight centimeters or maybe a little more if you have really long hair. This ensures that you are clearing off all the natural sebum and product that accumulates around the scalp and the areas close to it. You may be asking yourself, what about the ends of my hair? Well, as you rinse off the shampoo it will come down and clean off your tips gently. Once you are done, proceed with your preferred conditioner on the lengths of your hair away from your scalp.

Why adopt this way? First, because you avoid over drying your ends and leaving them stripped out of moisture. The natural sebum production only really happens at the roots and as your hair grows longer the tips only get moisture from the products you use on them. Second, you will be avoiding the knots that are caused by shampooing the old fashioned way. Your hair will be left more manageable and you will experience less breakage when brushing through it.

As I said, I started shampooing this way a month ago, and let me tell you my ends feel less dry and they are absolutely more manageable. I love it! This also means that you will be using less product which means you can enjoy your (expensive) hair treatments for longer.

If you are one of those ladies that needs a lot of products to sport beautiful hair but still want to try this amazing new way of shampooing then make sure you shampoo the usual way ones a week to clear off the product build up.

Would you try this? I really recommend it!

Much Love,

Samar

Metabolism Boosting Foods>>

Quick Outfit of the Day: Sunday Funday

My Dearest Beauties,

Sunday is all about being comfy. Comfy doesn't have to be boring with the trends of nowadays. I love the innovative cuts in which we find pants, shorts, jeans, skirts and even skorts (skirt + shorts). It is easy to make a statement when you choose a pair that is flattering on your figure and different to the vision. I wore this look yesterday afternoon for drinks and Sunday funday with my special one.

Please bear with me, I am in love with denim shirts and strappy sandals. They are just so versatile and they easily make a lot of simple pieces look fabulous.

Wearing:

American Eagle Denim Shirt

Zara Skorts

Calvin Klein Sandals 

Louis Vuitton Sully Bag

Dior Vintage Sunglasses

What are your thoughts on skorts? 

Much Love, 

Samar

Talk with my Favorite Nutritionist: Magie Tamraz

My Dearest Beauties,

I visited Magie several days ago and prepared a commonly asked question. I hope you find these interesting and helpful when thinking of healthy ways to stay fit.

I usually hear of foods and supplements that boost the metabolism. The most common I have heard of are coffee, lemon and vinegar. Magie said that it is very true that some foods and supplements have the power to boost your metabolism and even burn fat. She said there are many out there in the market but lemon and vinegar do not fit the mold. She recommended some to me (these are not listed in order of which one is the most effective):

1. Caffeine and especially Green Coffee supplement: caffeine boosts your metabolism and green coffee goes as far as burning some of your undesired fats. 
2. Raspberry: not only delicious but also good for burning fats. 
3. Garcinia Cambogia: is a subtropical fruit originated from Indonesia. It is delicious and is very good for boosting your metabolism and burning undesired fats. This fruit is also found in supplement form (pills that you can take before meals).
4. Acai Berry: a berry that boosts your metabolism! How great is that, it is also available in supplement form.
5. Vitamin B12: this vitamin will give you lots of energy to the point that it will make you burn way more calories than you usually do. 
6. African Mango: metabolism booster but not as much as the ones mentioned above.
7. Eating proteins is another very easy way of boosting your metabolism because your body needs four hours to digest it. Thus, eating protein makes your body work harder and for longer which consumes energy in and by itself.
8. Maintaining a balanced muscle mass is also a good way to maintain your metabolism at its peak. Your body needs energy to move and maintain muscles and for that reason your metabolism will be working harder.

If you are interested in these be sure to consult with your dietitian. If you cannot find these available at your local pharmacy, you can easily find them through Magie.

Where to find Magie?

• Doha Aramoun, main street, facing Al Doha Pharmacy. 05 813 730
• Hamra, Abdel Aziz street, Al Mabani Bldg., 1st floor. 01 745 036
• Choueifat, Old Saida Road, Inside of Avalon gym. 70 684 910

I hope you are enjoying the information on these posts, and please do not hesitate to leave me your questions below. I'll make sure to answer it in future posts.

Much Love,

Samar

Counting Calories with Magie>>

Reem's Outfits: Casual Skater Skirt

My Dearest Beauties,

Reem comes to us today with the skater skirt. It is on trend and can easily be dressed up or down depending on where you are going. It is definitely a must have for this season. The skater skirt is not only a very versatile piece but it is also very flattering, because it accentuates the waist and hides some of our lower body imperfections. You can find them in lots of colors and fun prints from the most chic to the most girly. Colors and prints are not all, some have more body than others. It is all about finding the skirt that makes you feel confident and that fits you like it was custom made.

Reem's wearing:

H&M Skirt and T-Shirt

Steve Madden Sandals

H&M Headband and Accessories

Are you in for skater skirts? What do you think of the way Reem took it on? 

I am a big fan of skirts all together, I am still in the hunt for the one skater skirt that fits me best, because like any other piece the secret is the fitting.

Much love,

Samar