Foxy Originals Giveaway!

If you guys know anything about me, you'll know how I love accessories. Most of my pictures on this blog have some sort of gold accessory peeking through behind all the make up. So when I was contacted to do another giveaway with Foxy Originals, I couldn't possibly say no.

While I more simple pieces usually, I did want a little something more for the Christmas season so I opted for this "star studded" (get it, get it?!) piece: the Cosmic Earrings in gold. These ear jackets are adorable and give the impression that the earrings are floating - the front is a little star and the back piece is a cluster of stars. I love that these earrings are a little glam without being overwhelming - very, very me! The earrings weren't heavy which is a bonus though it did get caught in my hair when I wore my hair down. It wasn't too big a bother but still something to know.

Foxy Original's jewellery is made in Canada (Toronto, to be specific!) which makes me love the brand even more. Quite a few of the pieces are made of pewter and plated with genuine 14 Karat Gold, silver or copper which is surprising as the prices are reasonable. These earrings came in an adorable box and bag which make it the perfect gift for someone special!

Some things to note:
1. This giveaway is open for Canada and the US only
2. The giveaway will close on Friday, December 18th at Midnight (Eastern Time Zone, UTC: -5:00)
3. The winner will be chosen at random and I will notify them via Twitter
4. Once the winner has been announced, they will have 24 hours to respond, after which a new winner will be selected.
5. The prize is the gorgeous Cosmic Earrings as seen above and you have to enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Current Game Face

There are some days where I just spend a good hour on my makeup: I take my time blending eyeshadows, placing blush/bronzer/highlighter strategically on my face and carefully lining my lips. Then there are other days I don't wear make up at all and just run outside the house. Hooray for ignorance/confidence/poor time management!

While my full make up routine is extensive, this is my quick game face. It looks like a lot of products for a "quick" routine but trust me, I can have this done in less than ten minutes, maybe even five!

For my base I use my new favourite Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Foundation (Medium 57): it's full coverage and perfectly matches my tan, neutral-undertoned skin. There's no faff with this product, I use a dense brush to buff it all in and I'm good to go!

Disclaimer: I don't use under-eye concealer. I don't think I'm quite there yet so I find this foundation adequately covers any uneven colour which does shave off a little bit of time off my routine.

Next, I swipe some NARS Blush in Oasis on my cheeks - it's a darker blush that I would say is a mix of brown, purple and pink with a little shimmer. It's definitely not a "natural flush" colour but I do like a bold blush so it's my go-to. Also, NARS blushes last ages. They would wear longer than my previous foundations - my skin would look a mess while my cheeks looked pristine! I then add my ColourPop highlighter in Wisp: this cream/mousse product is a gorgeous champagne gold and adds a subtle shimmer. It's perfect for my tan skin and doesn't look overwhelming during the daytime.

Moving onto eyes, I add some of this Inglot Bronze shadow in the inner corners for a little brightness. Using my current favourite Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, I line my eyes - I prefer a thicker feline flick even for day-to-day operation and this liner is just so darn great. It's incredibly dark and the brush tip makes it easy to draw the skinniest of lines! My mascara of choice is currently the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless which is perfect for longer, non-clumpy lashes.

Last, but certainly not least, I use Kat Von D Studded Lipstick in Lolita for perfectly pink lips. This dusty rose shade is great for Autumn while still looking natural and daytime appropriate! The creamy formula isn't drying on the lips either which is a huge cold-weather bonus!

It's a lot to read but I promise it doesn't take more than ten minutes tops. What are your favourite "everyday" products? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Haul + Swatch: ColourPop Liquid Lipsticks

Yes, I did make another ColourPop order. And yes, I did obsessively check my package tracking (it was at "Toronto Pearson" for forever). Last time I made a ColourPop order (see here), the ultra-matte lipsticks were unavailable so I stuck to shadows, lipsticks and a highlighter. This time my order was almost exclusively liquid lipsticks. Almost. But more on that mystery in a couple weeks ;)

If you didn't know, ColourPop is an extremely affordable makeup line from Los Angeles. I'm fairly certain each item is under the $10 mark (I could be wrong) and these ultra-matte liquid lipsticks were $6 each (USD). Shipping to Canada is not free but, at the cost and quality of the products, paying $12 or so (total) for shipping is definitely worth it. 

I want to do an overall ColourPop review so stay tuned for that - this post is just going to be me showing off my goodies and swatching them. I went for darker, bolder colours seeing as it is Fall and because I'm always so hesitant about light liquid lipsticks. It's hard to find light colours that look good on my skintone and so, when shopping online, I play it safe with dark or bright hues. 

Zipper / Limbo / Tulle / Bumble / Creeper / Mars

Zipper: this is probably the most unlike me colour of the bunch: a bold, almost bright purple. I bought it on a whim, in an attempt to go outside my comfort zone and I'm so glad I did. I can't wait to wear this!

Limbo: this is a deep, deep brown that I thought would be great for fall. I don't think I can get away with a super vampy purple or black lipstick that a lot of people have been rocking so I settled for this instead. I've yet to try it but I'm sure it will look great on its own or mixed with another colour.

Tulle: this is definitely my favourite so far - it's a purple brown and it's the perfect fall colour. I don't think I expected it to be so dark - I thought it was a nude brown when I saw it online but I am pleasantly surprised. I know I'll be getting a lot of use out of this colour.

Bumble: this is probably the lightest colour I got - it's a blush pink. When I bought it, it was my favourite of the lot but, upon wearing it, I'm not sure. It's got nothing to do with the colour or consistency, but just how the colour looks on  me. My mom says it looks lovely but I feel that it washes out my skin a tad.

Creeper: a true red, I bought this hoping it would be slightly different from Kat Von D Outlaw which I already own. Unfortunately, this is looking veeeeery similar (dupe alert!) so I think I'll be mixing this lipstick with another to see what I can come up with.

Mars: this bold pink is something I've been looking for for a while. You'd be surprised at how hard it is to find. While this is more of a summer colour, I got it anyway because I wasn't sure when I'd be making another order. I'm not sure how much use I'll get from this colour during fall but it looks like a fun one for a holiday party!

Have you tried any ColourPop products? What are your favourite liquid lipsticks? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Review: Irresistible Me Hair Extensions

Have you ever had a box of hair delivered to your house? I can no longer say I haven't.

A few months ago, I was contacted by Irresistible Me to try out some of their hair extensions*. I ordered the Royal Remy hair, which is their deluxe line, in the shade Royal Natural Black (1b). I had balayage done on my hair more than a year ago but despite the brown hair growing out, the extensions were a perfect match as my natural hair colour is black. I ordered 200g with the length of 20" - this came with several "pieces" of hair: one piece with 4 clips, 2 pieces with 3 clips, five pieces with 2 clips and two pieces of 1 clips.

Delivery was very quick and painless for me; they delivered within a week or so and there was no fuss. Just FYI, they offer free shipping over orders of $150. The extensions came within a plastic pack in a black cardboard box. What I loved about this was that the plastic pack was separated into 2 compartments - the left side had all the hair while the right side had just a sample. The deal is you open up the sample side and test it out. If it's to your liking, go ahead and open the left side. If not, you can return or exchange it (as long as the left side remained unopened). Ba da bing, ba da boom.

I'm going to be completely honest: the hair is really nice. It's 100% human Remy hair and it's super silky. It's a hell of a lot silkier than my hair which was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because who doesn't want to have nice hair?! But a curse because, when my hair is completely straightened, it's obvious that the silky hair extensions aren't a part of my dry, damaged hair. However, I found that curling my hair added some shine so the difference between my hair and the extensions was relatively unnoticeable. The hair holds curls well (with hairspray) and I'd recommend using a heat protectant - hair extensions, unlike our hair, don't get nutrients from any sources. Protecting them from heat is the best way to prevent damage.

There are so many clips that come with the 20" 200g hair pack and I don't (and can't) use all of them. There isn't enough space on my head for the 10 pieces that come in the pack. I find that the 4 clip piece and two of the 2 clip pieces are perfect for the length and volume I want. If my hair was thinner, I'd definitely be reaching for more clips.

While I love the hair extensions, one complaint is that they do start to feel heavy on your head after a little while. It could be that I'm not used to it or that, when I wore them, it was for a wedding so there was a lot of dancing. To their credit, I'm definitely a hair swisher when I dance and these bad boys stayed put.

I'll definitely be recommending Irresistible Me. The hair extensions were really great quality and the fact that there are so many pieces makes forking over that cash worth it!

Have you tried hair extensions before? What is your favourite brand? If not, would you try them out? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Swatch + Review: Fall Lips

If you know anything about me, you'll know how much I whine about finding it hard to get good lipsticks and nudes for Women of Colour. While this isn't a list of just nude lipsticks, these are some colours I've been loving for fall - nude and berry.

Let's start with my current favourite: Kat Von D Studded Lipstick in Lolita. I raved about this just last week - a matte dusty rose with a great formula. It's creamy and non-drying, lasts really well and is such a beautiful pink for darker skin tones.

Next is my favourite dark nude from Buxom, the True Nude Lip Foundation in Revealed. It was in my nude lipsticks lists and I still love it. Creamy formula, beautiful colour and lasts for a good while without smudging, drying your lips or rubbing off. It's a brown colour with a slightly pink undertone and I love wearing it on it's own.

Rimmel's Kate Moss 107 is a cult favourite - a reddish berry that's appropriate for any occasion. It has great pigmentation, a creamy formula and is super affordable. It's been a favourite of mine for years especially for this time of the year.

Lastly it's my favourite purple colour for the season by Covergirl in the shade Euphoria. It's slightly shiny compared to the other lipsticks I've mentioned but I don't mind it so much. The formula isn't as great as the others; it rubs off a little easier and can smudge so I do pair it with a lip liner. It's not drying (so important for this time of the year!) and I love the dark purple colour.

What are your favourite lipsticks and colours for this season? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

From L to R: Kat Von D - Lolita / Buxom - Revealed / Rimmel London - 107 / Covergirl - Euphoria

Review: My Moment with Kat

I'm having such a moment with Kat Von D. I've raved about her liquid lipstick before but I've picked up a few bits from her make up like and I just can't. Everything I've tried has been so fantastic so I thought I'd do a little review (cough, rave, cough) about Kat Von D.

Starting with the face, her Lock-It Tattoo Foundation (Medium 57) is my new favourite. The shade range is really great, she has a variety of colours and undertones to pick from. This is probably the most full coverage foundation I've ever used as three quarters of a pump goes a long way. It manages to hide my scars and hyper-pigmentation and makes my skin look air brushed. It is a matte foundation though I've noticed it gets slightly greasy after four or five hours - nothing a little powder can't fix. Though it is a little bulky, I do like the pump and packaging. It came with a plastic piece to fit over the opening and I've held onto it as it'll make sure your foundation is spill proof when you travel. I can't say enough good things about this bad boy.

Next I've really been enjoying her Tattoo Liner in Trooper. This is the black liner and it really is quite black (nothing more annoying that grey "black" liners). At first I hated the fine brush, preferring a more stiff tip applicator but I've grown to love it. The brush is very fine, perfect for drawing thin lines though I build mine up and out as I love a strong cat-eye. If you're used to a stiff applicator, this takes a while to get used to but I now prefer the brush to the stiff tip. It isn't impossible to get off while still lasting ages. It does smudge if you rub your eyes so, you know, don't. Easily my current favourite liner.

Lastly I've been loving the Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita. This is a matte dusty rose and it is the prettiest pink for those with darker skin tones. It isn't drying, it lasts well through meals and it's just so pretty. I wear this without a lip liner as I love the colour on its own and it lasts a good 7 to 8 hours without touch ups and while eating spaghetti bolognese.  I'll have a swatch up on the blog soon so stay tuned!

I still want to try out her powder foundation, concealer and the liquid lipstick version of Lolita (seriously, why is it so hard to find?!) and I'll definitely post a review when I do!

Have you tried anything by Kat Von D? What was your impression? Would you try anything else? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

My Lens Lately

Halal Gummy Candies - Gelatin is made from animals and so, as a Muslim, I'm always on the hunt to find gummies made from beef or fish gelatin rather than pork!

These past few weeks have been absolutely overwhelming; aside from a full time job and tutoring on weekends, I've been taking a night course at University and working on applying for post-grad jobs. I've hardly had a moment to sit and blog and it's been driving me crazy. Blogging is something very important to me: it's a way to relieve stress, to discuss things I'm interested in and to have a voice. The blogging community is a loving, beautiful family and there's a real sense of community here. While I love writing about beauty products and social issues, a love for photography is something I've discovered from blogging. Though I'm still a novice, I've started noticing everyday things in a new light and, thankfully, my iPhone does a pretty good job of capturing them. Hope you like what I've seen through my lens lately!

The woods behind my house

What is it about Krispy Kreme that just makes me so darn happy?

Finally got my hands on a miniature Cactus from Ikea!

For me, drawing and doodling are some of the best stress relievers!

Favourite WOC Youtubers!

I spend quite a lot of time watching YouTube videos. Hauls, tutorials, vlogs - I'm a fan of it all. I love watching tutorials especially to see which makeup bits to buy and which are worth my money. I've realized recently that a lot of the YouTubers I watch are white; and while there's nothing wrong with me, a non-white, watching a white YouTuber, I realize that a lot of the products they use and recommend or the looks they create can't be translated on me at all. The foundations they use don't always have my shade, the highlighters that look stunning on them look chalky on me and even their lipsticks look washed out on my darker skin. Despite all this, I still watch their videos because I genuinely enjoy them but I know now that I can't always use the recommendations they make.

I've decided to list a few of my favourite WOC YouTubers for many reasons: to celebrate them, because I love their videos and because I hope their recommendations will help others the way they helped me. It took me a while to find these women despite watching YouTube daily for the past few years. I watch YouTubers like Lily Pebbles, Vivianna Does Make Up and Zoella so all those recommended to me (on the sidebar) are other white YouTubers whose fabulous make up looks look pretty bad on me. By the way, if you guys haven't seen the above mentioned YouTubers, you should: Lily's reviews are always so honest, Anna makes me want to clean my room and organize my life and Zoella's vlogs are so fun!

Jackie Aina: I haven't been watching Jackie for too long but I do love the makeup looks she does. Each of her looks are different but wear-able and not too over the top. She's so funny and honest and I just want to hang out with her and have her teach me her makeup tricks!

Its My Raye Raye: I discovered her fairly recently and I've been loving her make up looks. She's about a shade lighter than me so watching her videos make it easy for me to see which shades and brands of makeup I should go for. I also love that she doesn't just stick to neutral looks (I'm completely guilty of this) and so watching her bold looks make me feel like I can pull off something a little more dramatic too.

Nabela Noor: Aside from her lovely make up looks, I haven't seen anyone so positive and bubbly as her. I genuinely want to be her friend! Her videos are fun and I just feel happier and more positive watching them!

Kathleen Lights: I know that her skin tone is way, way different from mine but she is so entertaining. She's also very, very honest with her reviews and so I do trust the brands that she raves about. I also love her lip swatches videos - it gives me a more realistic sense of the colours on a person versus in the tube.

Who are your favourite YouTubers? Leave recommendations for all types of YouTube channels, I'm always on the hunt for something informative or entertaining :) Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe

Demeter Fragrance: Mr. Bubble Review

What comes to your mind when you think of Mr. Bubble? For me it's a bright pink bottle and Saturday mornings, when my mom would prepare my brother and I bubble baths for us to play in. We'd wear swimsuits and jump into the tub, excited to play with bubbles and splash around. I remember always asking her to put more bubble bath in because "there just weren't enough bubbles!". When she wasn't looking, I would sneak in another squeeze of the bubble bath, but don't tell her that. Saturday morning baths are probably one of my favourite memories from my childhood.

When I heard that Demeter Fragrance Library was launching a Mr. Bubble scent, I was really excited - I grew up and spent half my life in Hong Kong and I tend to hold onto anything that reminds me of my childhood there. As soon as I received the Mr. Bubble scent* in the mail and took a whiff, I was transported back 15 years to our little apartment in Kowloon.

The scent is very fresh and clean. The base is raspberry and balsamic vanilla with a floral center of jasmine and rose and notes of coconut, banana and peach. While my un-tuned nose can't really get whiffs of coconut, banana or peach, I would say the raspberry base and jasmine are the strongest scents for me. It lasts fairly well on the skin and doesn't stay on your clothes until the next time you wash them (something that bothers me about certain perfumes). I love the memories that come flooding back each time I inhale, but I don't think I would buy the scent as it smells very clean and powdery. While this is fantastic for a bath, it isn't exactly a scent for your body. I think I'd spritz it in my wardrobe as it is the perfect scent for that.

That being said it is a lovely scent and I think it's the perfect present for someone younger who's just getting into perfumes and scents. At $15 for 30mL, it's a reasonably priced and a great gift. The scent also brings back great memories for many; a gift you can't put a price on (cue cheesy music).

Do you have any memories from Mr. Bubble? What is your favourite childhood memory? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

An InLinkz Link-up

10 Things Fall

It seems I've been writing quite a few lists lately (see here and here) but they're quick, easy and get the point across effectively. Despite the GTA's ridiculous heatwave, September has me really excited for fall. Specifically:

1. Not feeling hot and bothered
2. Hot Chocolate
3. Sweaters
4. Leaves on the ground
5. Skirts and Tights
6. Dark Nails
7. Knee-high Boots 
8. Baking cookies
9. Berry Lips
10. Cosy nights in with Netflix and a blanket

I think this is going to be the year where I try out the Pumpkin Spiced Latte. That's still a thing, right?

What are you most excited about for Fall? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Image Source: weheartit

Soap Stories Review

A month or so ago I received a package that made my room smell like a fruity, floral heaven. I have to thank Soap Stories for that - their fragrant, beautiful products had me excited for body and nail care!

The three soaps I received were the Lavender, Patchouli Blood Orange and Grapefruit soaps*, They're cruelty-free, vegan, and contain essential oils. While they all smelled heavenly, my favourite was definitely the grapefruit soap; the scent was fresh, light and perfect for the summer. The patchouli blood orange soap smelled very, very, similar and the lavender one smelled relaxing (as lavender always does). I'll be honest in saying that the formula for the soaps were not my favourite - I found them to be drying on my skin. They were much less than regular bar soap but they did not feel moisturizing to me. The soaps looked rustic and handmade and they were packaged well. They certainly make for beautiful, personal gifts - maybe a part of a gift basket! I do believe they're sold as bricks if you're looking to cut them up for party favours.

I also received the Natural Shine Nail Kit in Coconut* which came with a nail file/buffer, cuticle oil, Oatmeal Coconut Exfoliating Soap and Shea & Coconut Body Butter. These products came in a beautiful book-like package which makes it a lovely gift. The nail file had four sides to it with four steps: file, buff, polish and shine. I really liked this product - it was easy to use, effective and left my nails looking so healthy. I loved that the buffer didn't scrape my nail badly and the shine-r didn't leave my nails looking like they had a clear top coat on. While 15-year-old Nabihah loved shiny nails, 22-year-old Nabihah feels that unpainted, shiny nails look like you've spit on them (my mom's words, not mine). I would recommend this product to everyone, even if you have soft or brittle nails as they're not harsh on them at all. I also loved the cuticle oil: while the oil had a tendency to slip out of the tube, it absorbed so quickly and easily into my cuticles. I was left with well moisturized, non-greasy cuticles and that's a huge plus in my books.

The exfoliating soap was a bit of a disappointment - it didn't exfoliate nearly as well as the sugar scrubs I was used to. It was much more drying than the other soaps I'd gotten and the fact that the exfoliator was ineffective makes it a product I am not likely to purchase. I do love that, like the other soaps, it's vegan and cruelty free. The shape of the soap made it easy to use; using body washes has made me forget how slippery bars of soap can be but I had no trouble at all with this.

The body butter was by far my favourite. It was thick and moisturizing without being greasy which is a hard combination to find. This is definitely a product you can use all year long as it's not too intense for summer. It smelled light and warm and I loved how well it applied. I wish more body butters had this formula - it's perfect for people who hate moisturizing as this is so light while being extremely effective.

Have you ever tried Soap Stories? Which product do you think you'd get? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

5 Tips for Avoiding the Morning Rush

Once you hit a certain age, every second of sleep is precious. From hitting snooze multiple times to not wearing make up to work, I will do anything to get those extra minutes of sleep. But I've been getting better at the whole "morning" thing and I boil it down to these few tips:

1. Just wake up earlier. Easier said than done but I find that when I know I have an early morning, I try to get to bed much earlier than I normally would. This means I can wake up fairly refreshed and not have to run around looking for things.

2. Dry Shampoo the night before. If you've been reading this blog for a few months, you'll know my dry shampoo tricks - baby powder brushed through my hair the night before absorbs all oil and, as a bonus, there's no white residue in the morning.

3. Organize your make up and outfit the night before. I can spend countless minutes deciding on an outfit so I try to check the weather and plan my outfit the night before. This saves me from staring at my closet and frantically throwing together something haphazard. Don't forget shoes and any jewellery!

4. Make sure any bags are packed the night before. The worst thing you can do is worry about packing your bag when you're in a rush; you're more likely to forget half the things you need! Keep everything you need for the day all together so you can just grab and go.

5. Quick breakfasts that can be made and kept the night before or are quick to assemble are key to ensuring you don't skip that important meal. Granola bars are a life saver as they're quick to throw into your bag and easy to eat during your commute.

It's all about prep when it comes to being more organized in the mornings. If you work a little the night before, you're rewarded with a few more minutes to sleep in the morning after and that is gold. What are your tips for avoiding the Morning Rush? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

image source: weheartit

Haul + Swatch: ColourPop

How is it that I've only just discovered Colourpop? Only when I discovered it did I realize that it's an affordable brand that beauty gurus have been raving about for a while. Determine to not be left out, I made an order and I'm so glad that I did. I don't usually order makeup online because I don't like not knowing how products will look on me before I buy them. What I love about the Colourpop site (other than the affordable makeup) is that they sometimes show swatches of the products on people of different skin colours. This makes it really easy for me to see how the product is likely to look on my skin and so I wasn't uneasy about buying makeup online.

The timing of this discovery was perfect as I was in the market for a gold highlighter and willing to dish out a pretty penny on Becca Opal. Instead, for tens of dollars cheaper, I got a beautiful golden highlighter in the form of Wisp. The highlighter is a mousse-y, creamy product that I use my fingers to apply. I've read that synthetic and duo-fiber brushes work really well but I love an intense highlight so I pat it onto the tops of my cheekbones. While the highlight is intense, I find that it's a tad light for my skin so it only shows up when it hits the light making it subtle otherwise (does that make any sense?!). This strange combination makes it a perfect "everyday" highlight and so I don't feel too conspicuous wearing it during the day.  

 Super Shock Cheek Highlighter in Wisp

I also bought two Lippie Sticks in Lumiere and Brink - I'm in quite the nude lipstick rut but I couldn't help it. Being darker skinned it's so hard to find the perfect nude so I jump at any nude lipstick I see. I'm very happy with the colours I chose and can't wait to try them out!

Lippie Sticks: Lumiere / Brink

Lastly, I bought four eye shadows and, as usual, I stuck to my neutral guns and bought gold and brown shades with the exception of one: a deep purple. Colourpop shadows has many finishes. Though I'm not too sure on the differences between them, from what I understand Satin, Pearlized, Metallic and Ultra-Metallic all have glitter in them with Satin being the least glittery and Ultra-Metallic being the most. The colours I purchased were Intoxicate (a matte brown), Get Lucky (a true liquid gold is the best way to describe it), Lace (a gorgeous deep purple) and Nillionaire (a super glittery brown). I can't wait to rock these shadows and I'll be sure to post a review when I do!

Eyeshadows: Intoxicate / Get Lucky / Lace / Nillionaire

Have you ever tried ColourPop? What are your favourite products from the brand? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

6 Easy Tips for a Better Sleep

I am one of those people that wakes up several times in the middle of the night. I don't get a proper, deep sleep and I'm always tired. Or at least I was. Lately, I've been fortunate to get much better sleep. I still wake up at night, sometimes, but not nearly as frequently as I used to. I've spent a long, long time monitoring what I do and I've narrowed down my better sleep to six things:

1. Exercise: I'm sure there's a chemical reason as to why exercising helps you sleep better. I also know there's a scientific reason as to why it gives you more energy during the day. But I find that days I work out in the evening, it just exhausts my body and gives me a deeper, more intense sleep.

2. Warm Shower/Bath: Cold baths are great in the morning because it jolts you and wakes you up. Likewise, I find a warm shower or bath a couple hours before bed does me wonders. I feel warm and clean, and I do it so frequently that my automatic response is to go to bed!

3. Warm Tea: Nothing makes me feel warmer, cosier or sleepier than a warm mug of tea (decaf, of course). My favourites include vanilla, camomile and apple cider.

4. No Screens: This means my laptop goes away at least a half hour before bed. The backlight on screens like your computer and phone tell your brain it's time to wake up rather than wind down. I'm still working on putting my phone away before bed but my night owl friends have me responding to texts later than I'd like!

5. Reading: The easiest way to follow the "no screen" rule: I try to read a book in bed. Not only does reading help me sleep, it gets me through my reading list faster!

6. Night Mask: This is probably my favourite sleeping tip as the night mask blocks out any and all lights making sure nothing disturbs me at night. You can get expensive ones on sites like WildFox but I got mine from Michael's for less than $5.

Not getting a proper night's sleep is probably one of the most frustrating things (sleep deprivation is actually a form of torture). I really hope these tips help you - let me know if they do! And leave your tips for a better sleep in the comments below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Image Source: weheartit

Makeup: My Five Product Face

Let's be honest, I chose five products because there was some alliteration to it. But being even more honest, I actually use just five products on my face if I'm heading out with friends. Just to clarify, this isn't my everyday makeup because lately I haven't been wearing makeup daily (don't tell the beauty gurus). This also isn't my night-out makeup because that requires a lot more than five products. This is my "I'm seeing people I know so I should probably not look like a slob" makeup - or what would be my everyday makeup.

Foundation - the foundation I've been reaching for as of late is my Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation. It works better for me during the summer months as the clay ensures my skin doesn't get greasy and the darker shade is a pretty great match for my tanned skin. I just buff it in with my Sonia Kashuk brush and my base is done. You can choose to use primer or powder but with this foundation, I find that I don't always need to.

Blush - NARS is one of my favourite blushes because of their shade range and longevity - it's that simple. I add Orgasm to the apples of my cheek for a glow and pop of colour.

Eyeshadow - I'm not always one for eyeshadow but I find that a little silver or gold in the inner corners of my eyes does wonder for brightening my face. It makes me look a little more awake and a little more put together so I add a bronze Inglot shadow there.

Eyeliner - I think that eyeliner is one of two things that makes the biggest difference on your face. A quick top line or feline flick has me looking dressier and as though I made more of an attempt to look nice without being too tedious. The Sephora Collection Dramatic Line is what I've been reaching for lately as it's smudge proof, dark and lasts well.

Lipstick - Lipstick is the second of the two things I mentioned. A bold lip or even a wash of nude seems to enhance all my make up. I find that you can get away with a lot when your lipstick is just right. For my everyday nude (and actually everyday!), I use Buxom or Rimmel.

And there you have it - not too much and not too little. It's an easy process for me and I feel as though it makes a huge difference.

What are your everyday products or favourite products? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

What's in My Bag

I've had a revelation lately where I've just started writing things that I want to read. I read a lot of blogs and while I love the content and reading other styles of writing, there's been a few things I'd like to read that I couldn't really find. So I thought, why not create the content I want to read and hopefully it'd inspire others to do the same!

I love having a nosy around other people's purses - there's a lot you can tell about someone and there's a lot to learn from peering in other people's handbags. I find that while a lot of "What's in My Bag" videos are quite similar, there are always one or two items that I suddenly realize are essential for everyday use and I need in my bag. I don't like carrying big bags as they're quite heavy and easily knock things down in small, crowded stores, so I've streamlined my purse to the bare essentials. Just an FYI, my purse is from Charming Charlie.

In terms of boring, sensible bits: obviously there's my phone and wallet. This is really a card holder that I got from ASOS. I got it because, as you can tell, my purse is really quite small and my large wallet was a tad too chunky for it. Unfortunately, I didn't read too closely into this card holder and it is genuine leather (I feel awful every time I glance at the label). However, there are many animal friendly, non-leather card holders on the site and I'd encourage all of you to get one!

I usually wear contacts and by the end of the night, my eyeballs are so dry, they're ready to pop out of the sockets. Given that pleasant mental image, I carry around eye drops and my glasses so I can slip out my contacts when they're getting unbearable. I also carry hand sanitizer (you would not believe how many times this has come in handy) and hand cream (for when my hands get dry from the sanitizer). Tissues are another essential that we often overlook but is a great emergency tool. And gum is a must for me - I love garlic-y, fragrant foods that aren't so kind to my breath.

In terms of makeup and beauty, I'm fairly low key - a mirror to check my face, chapstick because I have the driest lips in the world and only two (!) lip products. The colours of the lip products change depending on the lip colour I'm wearing that day but generally Rimmel's Kate Moss in 107 and Buxom's True Nude Lip Foundation in Revealed do the trick! And of course a hair tie and a few bobby pins are thrown in for good measure (and bad hair days)!

There you have it, a pretty wordy post for something that can easily be seen in a picture. If you needed absolutely one thing in your purse (phone and wallet aside), what would it be? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

My Summer Base

This summer has been really experimental for me - I've taken more chances with makeup and mixing foundations and I think I've finally figured out my summer base. This is a little heavier than my everyday make up (ie, nothing) and I like how it looks and it's lasted well through the sweltering heat. Disclaimer, I have combination oily skin so the products I use are to mattify my skin. Proceed with caution if your skin is dry!

First off, I prime my face with my absolute favourite primer, Neutrogena's Shine Control Primer. I apply this bad boy on my t-zone as that's where I get the oiliest. I then go in with Benefit's Porefessional Primer on my cheeks to ensure my makeup lasts well. This combination has been a winner this summer and I'm very impressed.

Next I use Tarte's Amazonian Clay Foundation in Tan Deep - I've always had very mixed reviews on this since the formula is fantastic but the colour isn't the best. Thanks to my tan, this colour now suits me very well and so I've been really enjoying this foundation. It has good coverage and lasts hours without getting greasy - a summer winner.

I'm fairly fortunate to not need concealer under my eyes but I have been highlighting below my eyes, along the bridge of my nose and between my brows with a combination of two parts Covergirl's Ready Set Gorgeous Conceealer in Medium/Deep and one part Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in Suntan. The concealer is a bit drying - great for me as my skin gets oily as the day goes by but it's not one one for dry-skinned people. The concealer is effective while the foundation is to ensure that the concealer highlights without looking too white on me - drugstores and their lack of testers and return policy are the bane(s) of my existence.

I don't powder as most of the products I use are mattifying/drying but I find that this base doesn't wear off or slip around too much. I can get a good 6 hours before looking a bit worn which is fine for me as this is my "I'm finally getting out of the house and going to an event" base.

Have you tried any of the products? What was your opinion on them? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe with your base products!

My Favourite Blogs!

I've really, really, really been enjoying reading blogs lately. Ramadan had my hungry self needing ways to pass time quickly and so here are four blogs I've read and loved for so many months.

The Blushing Giraffe was one of the blogs that inspired me to start blogging. Iqra has fantastic posts on beauty and lifestyle and I'm always discovering something new! She writes in-depth reviews where she looks at all aspects of a product and gives her honest opinion. Definitely a blog I feel I can trust and turn to when in need of a review!

Read any post on Simplicity Relished and you can tell how great Daisy is. It's such an amazing lifestyle blog that's made me sit and reflect (more than once, more than ten times). She shares great tips on minimalism, saving money, being more happy and each post truly enriches my life. Her photos are stunning and her words are so sensible and kind - one of my absolute favourites!

I got more into Vivianna Does Makeup after watching Anna's YouTube channel. Her "virgo" qualities inspires me to be a lot more neat and organized. A daily dose of lifestyle and beauty can be found on her blog and I love the effort that's put into it. Her writing is very easy to read and shows a lot of personality in it which is always a lovely thing.

Vanessa is easily one of the funniest writers and her hilarious blog, Citron and Guavaberry, is chockful of funny and honest reviews. Her commentary and opinions are conveyed in her words and fonts and I always love reading her posts. I don't think there's a post I've read where I haven't smiled!

Check out these fantastic ladies above - you won't regret it! What are your favourite blogs - leave recommendations in the comments below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Image Source: weheartit

Foxy Originals (+ Giveaway!)

I've been getting more conscious about shopping local, lately. Not only is it great for your country's economy, it's great for the environment too: less gas needed for transportation as the goods aren't moving too far!

I was contacted a couple months back by Foxy Originals and, after seeing their website, I jumped at the chance to work with them. Their pieces are simple while being stylish. Even their smaller necklaces are the perfect statement pieces as they're glamorous and add a punch without being too overwhelming. While I fell in love with a couple necklaces, I noticed they also had beautiful rings, earrings and bracelets.

Their jewellery is made in Canada (Toronto, to be specific!) which makes me love the brand even more. Quite a few of the pieces are made of pewter and plated with geniune 14 Karat Gold, silver or copper which is surprising as the prices are reasonable.

But what good is me gushing about a brand if I can't give a little something to you guys? Readers of The Sunday Wardrobe have the chance to win the gorgeous necklace from above - it's made from fine pewter and plated in 14 K gold. It's also reversible, one side being black and gold with the other being blue, green and white. It's almost like having two necklaces!

Some things to note:
1. This giveaway is open internationally!
2. The giveaway will close on Thursday, July 31st at Midnight (Eastern Time Zone, UTC: -5:00)
3. The winner will be chosen at random and I will notify them via Twitter
4. Once the winner has been announced, they will have 24 hours to respond, after which a new winner will be selected.
5. The prize is the gorgeous reversible necklace as seen above and you have to enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck readers!

*Anyone who has previously entered a giveaway from The Sunday Wardrobe and liked/followed the above links only to unlike them after the giveaway has ended, will be banned from this and future giveaways.

5 Facts About Myself

My favourite posts are generally where I get to learn more about the writer - it's part-curiosity, part-nosiness but mostly the "human" interaction of learning about the person behind a screen. I don't want to just be a faceless writing robot - I'd love for you guys to know more about me so here are 5 quick facts:

1. My favourite colour is gold: I realize it's a very odd favourite colour. I just think it's beautiful (the lighter shades being my favourite) though, oddly, the only thing I own that's gold and isn't my jewellery is my wallet.

2. I'm a feminist - if you hadn't guessed by some of my previous rants. It just means I believe in equal rights for men and women. Giving women more rights and respect doesn't mean you're taking anything away from men - it's about equality.

3. I don't like caramel. I don't mind eating chocolates with caramels in them but I don't like caramel sauce or eating caramels on their own. I'm a chocolate kinda person.

4. I'm quite shy. When I was younger, I didn't like meeting new people because I was always nervous to speak to them. It didn't mean I was quiet - I was quite loud and talkative with my friends and family. I just didn't like unfamiliar faces. I'm not as shy as I was when I was younger (not even close) but I still don't speak much in large groups with people I don't know.

5. I have a very sensitive nose. When my family and I were moving apartments, I was coming to see a new place and I asked my mom if someone had thrown up in the hallway. She told me that someone had when she'd come by 2 days ago - she couldn't smell it anymore but I could!

Any similarities? Comment below (or tweet me @SundayWardrobe) a fact or two about yourself - I'd love to get to know you! 

Aztec Healing Clay

I don't like when things are on my face - I never use a towel to wipe my face, I don't like when people touch my face and it's why I'm so lazy when it comes to masks. I hate sticky masks, I hate messy masks, I just don't like masks.

But there's one mask I make the exception for (actually, two but we'll get to that another day) and it's the Aztec Healing Clay. This mask got a lot of hype a few years back and I never really understood why. The fact that I could only find it online really bothered me and so I just never tried it. Then on a particularly bad skin day, I bit the bullet and ordered two jars of this stuff. I can't remember where I ordered it from but it only cost around $8 per jar and so I only ordered two to make the free shipping minimum.


This is a natural one ingredient product (pure bentonite clay) which I've been very into lately. I've used this mask weekly for months and it surprises me every time. It's a clay mask and perfect for any skin type though I wouldn't do it weekly if my skin were on the drier side. It's drying but not too drying and it just gives your skin a fresh glow. It's great for when you have an event that evening as your skin looks so much brighter though this only lasts for a day or so. I haven't found another mask that's as great as this and, for the price, I doubt anyone can.

What's your favourite face mask - natural or not? Leave any recommendations in the comments below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

The Eyeliner Edit

When it comes to eyeliners, I tend to gravitate towards drugstore brands (which may be why they're the bane of my existence). I use them frequently and go through them quickly so I can't justify dishing out over $15 each time I need an eyeliner. I go for liquid eyeliners as I generally find they're the darkest, easiest to apply and easiest to wash off so here's the breakdown on my current and past liners:

Sephora Collection Dramatic Line 24HR Felt Eyeliner: I've written a review about it before and while I like how long it lasts and the applicator, the colour leaves more to be desired. It just isn't black enough - though the fact that I line over gold shadows may be a contributor to that fact. I think I would repurchase it again because, as you'll soon read, it's a fairly good liner relative to the others I've come across. The price tag isn't too steep either which is always a plus.

Hard Candy Walk The Line: while this liner hits the nail on the head for colour (it's seriously dark), its applicator is the worst I've come across. It's a flimsy little brush that bends every which way and can leave you with raccoon eyes if you're not gentle. It lasts a fairly long while without smudging or running which is great. For those who don't have the steadiest of hands, I do not recommend this and despite it's lasting power and colour, I won't be repurchasing this product.

Rimmel Scandalize Micro Eyeliner: This was by far the most disappointing for the bunch. The pencil like applicator was very welcome after the Hard Candy liner but the pen dried out within a couple weeks and it wasn't dark at all. Even after going over the line a few times, the colour remained a light black (grey-ish?) which just looked like I was using a drying liner (which I was). I will definitely not be repurchasing this at all.

Almay Liquid Eyeliner: I've been saving the best for last - this is hands down my favourite liner. It's as dark as the Hard Candy liner and has the best applicator - stiff without being hard. It comes in a little pot with the applicator on the cover; this makes it sound like a gel liner but it's very much liquid. It also doesn't travel around much though it's not waterproof and will smudge/wipe off easily. It also doesn't dry out quickly which means you can use it for months on end, depending on how frequently you wear eyeliner. It's becoming very hard to find which is a drawback but I can definitely see why. I will always, always repurchase this product.

What are your favourite eyeliners - drugstore or high end? Why? Leave a comment down below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

June Favourites

I'm honestly stunned that it's already June - this month was a busy whirlwind and I can't believe it's come to an end! I don't have very many favourites mainly because my May Favourites are holding strong but I did want to talk about a couple things because I can't just not.

Neutrogena Shine-Control Primer has been mentioned many times on this blog - a review dedicated to this product was a rave. It's still one of my favourite primers as it's so great at controlling oil/shine. I apply it to my T-Zone under my foundation and I feel confident that my face won't shine up during the day. It lasts for a good 5-7 hours, depending on the temperature and how active I am, before I need to powder so it's perfect for all-day events.

Buxom's True Nude Lip Foundation in Revealed was mentioned in my Nude Lips for Darker Skintones post and it's definitely been a favourite this month. It's a very creamy lipstick and it's not dehydrating and lasts ages on the lips. I love that there's no transfer on this and I absolutely love that it's a nude for my skin tone!

ASOS has possibly the best customer service of any store I know. I've been ordering off the site for years and I've never had any problems until this month - to which they efficiently fixed any mistakes. An order of mine was lost in the mail and their service was quick in sending me a replacement order. They also maintained good communication with me so I wasn't freaking out about my money possibly being wasted/lost and I was always kept in the loop!

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow Liner was mentioned in my Quick Day to Night Products post and I use it when I'm running from work to an event. Using it in the inner corners of my eyes adds a little brightness to my otherwise tired eyes. I love that it's a pencil so I can use it quickly and neatly - important for when I'm in a rush! It doesn't rub off easily which is an added bonus though I wish there were more shades for this product!

What have been your favourites this month? Comment or link them below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Rose-Tinted Toner

Lately, I've been reaching for natural skincare - the kind our grandmothers always talked about but we never really cared to try. I love flashy packaging and I think my main reason for trying any product is how it's presented but it was time to change that. The struggle of balancing finances with beauty and the environment has led me to reach for a toner that has consistently been recommended by South Asian women.

The other day I heard someone talking about a coconut oil infused hair mask and I realized that I (and so many others) was making a silly mistake. Why spend money on slathering your hair with chemicals that contain trace amounts of coconut oil when you can just use coconut oil as the hair mask? It's also a South Asian recommendation and I've written a post about it here.

But I've been making the same silly mistake with other products - buying expensive products that are enriched with rose and rose water when my family always has a bottle of rose water in the house. So my toner at choice is the very inexpensive rose water! It's great for reducing redness, cleansing and hydrating the skin. I use it in the mornings after I wash my face, wiping it all over with a quarter of a cotton ball (that's all you need - let's save the environment kids!) and letting it dry on my skin before going in with my moisturizer. The scent bothered me at first (despite not being overpowering) but it disappears after a few minutes and you're left with hydrated skin. I do find it's helped with the texture of my skin as well as breakouts and it's now a cheap, must-have in my beauty regimen. It can also (supposedly) be used as a makeup remover but I find that you need to rub it in quite a bit if you want your pesky mascara to come off. Other benefits can be found here if you're interested.

I buy my rosewater from South Asian grocery stores (serious SA love in this post!) and I haven't checked elsewhere but it's not a hard ingredient to find. If not at your local grocery store, check Arab/SA stores around you as they're a staple there!

What's your favourite toner - natural or not? Any natural skincare products you've found that make a difference on your skin? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!