A Day At Lou Lou's Vintage Fair

Last weekend, the stunning Grand Mercure Hotel on Granby Street in Leicester played host to the fabulous Lou Lou's Vintage Fair. I have been hearing oh so great things about the event across social media and as a lover of all things vintage, I just could not wait to get through the doors accompanied by my good friend Riya. 

The event was an extremely popular one and was a big turnout with several hundreds of eager shoppers and vintage lovers alike frantically searching through rails, baskets and stalls admiring all the beautiful pieces on show. As I sipped my coffee and glided from stall to stall, I realised the venue itself was a great choice, with its vintage theme across the entire floor, stunning art deco and high walls and ceilings, it fit the theme of the fair perfectly, it almost felt as though I was taken back in time. 

Hand stamped and in we entered, we were greeted with hundreds of items displayed on rails, stands and even baskets. Glistening under the natural day light were trinkets, clothes, bracelets, rings, brooches, tea cups, watches, vases, kitchenware, shoes, handbags, scarves, necklaces, handmade prints, sunglasses and lots of other bits and pieces, you name it, it was there. Everything was beautifully laid out and presented and was in great condition. 

As I browsed through the rails of clothes, capes and accessories, making sure I did not leave anything unseen, I was amazed at seeing such an eclectic range of items. The clothes ranged back to to 1940's with a wide selection of floral dresses, trinkets, shoes, handbags, jewellery, bowler hats and so on. Most of the larger stalls accepted card payments which was very convenient too. 

I joined several ladies in strutting our stuff in  front of the full length mirrors and of course utilising the opportunity to take a mirror selfie. Whilst some tried on hats, capes and lace gloves, others frantically searched through the handbags and purses pile loading their arms with their newly found vintage treasures. 

In line with the vintage fair theme, there was a small beauty room where ladies had the opportunity to get their hair and makeup done in a traditional 1940's/1950's style makeover, the ladies looked fabulous!

Of course, no vintage fair is complete without some tea. There was a separate area where lovely ladies served some scrumptious cake and tea served in fine ornate tea cups and saucers of course. 

The event was on from 10am till 4pm giving you enough time to make a day of it and take in everything they had to offer. I completely missed the Bloggers Challenge they had on as I was far too busy taking in my surroundings and capturing every moment. If you are a lover of all things vintage then Lou Lou's Vintage Fair is the place to be. They are returning to Leicester on Sunday the 22nd November 2015 at the Grand Mercure Hotel once again so be sure to head down if you missed out. 

Check out their website in the meantime www.thevintagefair.com. 

Did you attend the fair?

Love and Lipstick

xxx

Sunkissed Double-Sided Application Mitt: Review

Sunkissed has always been my favourite self tan and I have nothing but positive things to say. The fact that it contains no scent or parabens and is ultimately kind to skin has always been a winner for me.

For someone that does not need to tan on a regular basis but enjoys it once in a while for an all over healthy even glow, their tanning lotions have always worked well and done the job effortlessly in comparison  to some of the higher end companies. For a full in depth read, you can read my previous review on their Rapid Self Tanning Mousse here.

When they recently contacted me offering me an opportunity to try their new double sided tanning application mitt, I jumped at the chance. I always did think that a double sided mitt would come in extremely handy and make tanning life easier. Plus, whilst I do enjoy tanning in the comfort of my pristine clean bathroom, having tangerine hands from the stains after I do not. 

The actual application mitt is very quick and easy to use and does not have any fiddly bits to assemble thankfully. The mitt uses patented barrier-proof technology which means that there is no product leakage on either side. The extremely soft flock guarantees perfect smooth, stain and streak free results each time. What I did quite like about this product is that since it is double sided, I did not need to keep switching the mitt around to apply tan on the harder to reach areas such as the back. What I found is that this sped up the whole tanning process and saved time compared to when I tanned mitt free, not forgetting it kept my hands mess and stain free too! There are two ways of using the self tan and mitt together, either apply the tanning product directly onto the skin and then blend away with the mitt or alternatively squirt a bit of the product onto the mitt directly and use that way. Personally, I prefer the first option. 

Overall, this is a fantastic product and definitely worth buying if you are a regular tanner. With it being double sided, not only does it save time but also you get more use out of it. The product is of a good quality and soft on the skin compared to some of the cheaper scratchy versions on the market. It washes well too, I hand washed mine using a little fairy liquid and warm water and left it to air dry overnight 

The Sunkissed Double-Sided Application Mitt* is readily available to buy and cost no more than a few pounds. I know that good old Primark  and TopShop stock these so be sure to head over there ladies. Alternatively, check it out online over on their official site here 

Have you given this amazing product a try yet?

Love and Lipstick

xxx

Sunkissed Rapid Tan Mousse review.

It is definitely holiday season at the moment with more and more Facebook check ins at airports and snap chatters snapping away of their glam holiday doings, enough to bring out the green eyed monsters in the rest of us that have been left behind.

With that being said, fortunately with a wide range of products out there on the market and being able to ‘fake’ a holiday glow doesn’t come much easier than using a fake tan. You may have already read my previous post about the bargain Sunkissed Instant Tanning Mousse, if not, you can read it here.

The lovely Nisha over at the Sunkissed HQ generously sent me a sample to try and what better time to test it than now now that the weather seems a little bit better here in the UK.

I love the idea of using fake tan, and I know with being Asian and having medium to olive skin, the idea may seem a little bizarre, yet as my previous post states,  I quite like the idea of occasionally wearing it as it gives me a nice and healthy glow. Whats more, there are several parts of my body that have always been two shades lighter than my face and hands so I like to even it all out and look like I have just returned from a Mediterranean cruise.

With it being ‘summer’ (notice I use the term loosely) here in the UK, just how gorgeous does a light tan look? Top it up with a coral lipstick and nails to complete the look, the look is oh so fabulous.

This one wasn’t much different to the one I previously used. Both are in a mousse form except this has a spray type bottle similar to a deodorant nozzle whereas the previous was a pump bottle. If I am honest, I do quite prefer the idea of having a pump bottle as you can have control of how much of the product you wish to use and is less messier in my opinion.       

I am no tanning expert, but from my experience, it is not about the price of the product, some drugstore tanning products are great whereas some of the higher end ones may not be. What I do know is that you have to be sure to use it sparingly, it is never a good look to go OTT with these things, the aim is to add some colour and still look like yourself at the end of the day.

I absolutely love how the product did not dry out my skin which was something I was a little apprehensive about. Nor did it stain clothes and bedsheets or was streaky which again was something I was wary of. It quickly absorbed into my skin and results could be seen instantly, although they claim results to be seen in 60 minutes. They do recommend using an applicator mitt and I agree as hands can quickly stain. Of course, the colour is buildable and how intense you want it to be is your choice. For me, the size of a 50p coin approximately five times is enough to cover my whole body. I like to exfoliate my skin beforehand just so that it wears better, although I found I didn't need to apply moisturiser beforehand, as the product contains Aloe and Vitamin E. I was glad to see as previously it contained no parabens or alcohol which was an added bonus for me.

After application.

The smell was not particularly overpowering thankfully and was a little fruity and had a hint of coconut as with the previous one. The colour I received was ‘medium’ which was just right. The mousse is a fine texture and was tinted brown so you can see exactly where you have applied it. It does dry fairly quickly so you have to be sure to quickly rub it in when you first apply it. Also, always be sure to give the can a good shake before using.

Final results? No OTT orangeness, streaks or clinging to dry patches, just a lovely looking natural tan. I definitely recommend this product to experienced and new users of fake tan. No mess, results are instant and it will not break the bank. The colour does not wash off instantly which again is good if you decide to shower after or do not want the colour to develop any further. Sunkissed Rapid Tan mousse has an RRP of £4.99 for 150ml of product. It can be purchased directly from Sunkissed or on shopping sites online. I hear it has already made an appearance in Superdrug too! 


Be sure to check them out over
Twitter: @welovesunkissed
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunkissedbronzing
Instagram: @welovesunkissed

Have you given this a go? Be sure to tweet me at @hinnahkhalifa hashtaging #sunkissed

Love and Lipstick

xxx

*Disclaimer- Product sent as a sample strictly for review purposes, all views are that of my own with no interference from manufacturers and associates of the brand. 

Review: Fullips Lip Enhancer: does it really work?

Hi my lovelies,

I hope you are all keeping well.

Today, I will be talking about an amazing little lip plumping enhancer that is completely safe to use and have had such a big hype over recently. Sounds too good to be true right? I initially thought the same.

Who wouldn’t want fuller, plumper, fluffier lips? Unless you have the lips of Angelina Jolie Pitt then in which case you can completely disregard this post.

                                                                 

I first came across Fulllips on Instagram and saw how it had worked for many people with videos and pictures as proof. Truth be told, I was a little sceptical at first as to how a bit of plastic can create fuller lips. Surely using a cola bottle lid would create the same effect?

Over the years, I had tried many glosses and serums that claimed to make my lips fuller and plumper, all of course that never did work and thus I swore not to purchase a lip plumping gloss ever again.

It wasn’t until the lovely Linda offered me a chance to try full lips out myself and within a few days the cute beautifully packaged items arrived in the post.

The kit contains a large round shape, a Medium oval shape and a small oval shape to fit several types of lips sizes and shapes. Additional items such as a toothbrush, lip gloss, lipstick and lip liner can also be purchased as part of the kit.

So how does it work, I hear you ask?

Let’s be honest here, to get the hang of using this took me a few goes. After a having a little play around, I found the large round shape one worked best for me as I was able to grip it better. Which size enhancer you use completely depends on what works best for you. For instance, if you are already blessed with full lips (I am not unfortunately) then the large round one will most likely work best for you. With thinner lips and a wider mouth the medium oval one will probably work best. This is also amazing for creating fullness where it is specifically required for instance say the top or bottom lip. The small one can be used for more targeted areas based on preference.

Step one:

Use an old toothbrush (optional) and brush lips to smoothen and soften them out, Place Vaseline on your lips as moisture helps to suction and grip well. Place the desired shape over lips, relax lips and gently suck as if you are trying to suck all the air out of the enhancer. It does get a few goes to get the hang of it, lightly suck as it you are drinking a thick milkshake from a straw or sucking a baby milk bottle. Do it for at least 30 seconds until the enhancer sticks onto your lips, gently pull off and repeat until your get the desired plumpness. The fullness is created by drawing blood to your lips each time you suck so do please DO NOT go sucking crazy when you first use this product as it can cause light bruising. Eeekk.

Step two:

After plumping, you can apply lipstick or gloss straight away and create the illusion of even bigger lips by using a lip liner and drawing slightly above your natural lip line.

The kit does come with a full set of instructions too so you are not completely clueless when you first get it. Linda strongly suggests starting off with light and gentle sucking until you get the hang of it. It is actually pretty addictive and I often do it whilst applying my makeup and doing the ironing.

So, does it work? Hell yes, my lips definitely plumped up after using this and I noticed it stayed plump for at least two hours. This little kit is perfect for using on shoots, photography, weddings, to pucker up to someone and just generally as an enhancer. Unlike most plumping glosses I have tried in the past, this actually works, can be popped into my handbag (although I’m not sure I would actually use this in public, can you just imagine the stares!) and has zero side effects if used correctly and results are instant. What’s more, you can use it as much or little as you wish to create desired effect without having to resort to injectables and look like a duck. There are even reports that say continued use of this over a month time can permanently enhance lips a little, however this is something I need to try out.

That’s all from me today, if you are looking to create fuller plumper lips instantly than this is the one. If you have any questions then feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

In the meantime, you can order yours and get more info on: www.fullips.com.

Love and Lipstick

Xxx

Valentines Day Gift ideas: Him and Her.

Hi my angels, hope you are all well.
. 
Today for the first time, I decided to do a Valentines Day gift idea for him and her as lets face it, for most of us life can get oh so busy at times and we tend to leave the gift buying for our significant others to the last minute. I have put together a short gift buying guide below with details of where you can purchase them from. Don't fancy or don't have the time to hit the shops? Well thank heavens for online shopping. Now the below are just as a guide only and may not be to everyones taste, but hopefully it will give you an idea or two. Don't celebrate Valentines Day? Not to worry, these are fab as gifts all year round too. 


The significant her:

Women love candles right? Particularly the pretty looking ones that smell equally gorgeous around the home. it cannot get any better than the Jo Malone candles, with a wide selection to choose from, you will no doubt be spoilt for choice. These however are not cheap and can set you back a few bob, yet if she is anything like me, shell keep the empty jar and store her cotton wool pads in it. And if you're feeling super generous cos she is worth it, then throw in a matching cologne too. She'll be loving you eternally. My personal favourite? The Lime, basil and mandarin. Check out the collection here 

There is no better way to say 'Be my Valentine' than with a fab YSL lipstick in a classic rouge. She will keep it aside for special nights out only and woo you with on a date night. Nothing makes a lady feel more sexier than a red designer lipstick and the packaging a la Yves Saint Laurent is oh so pretty. Shop here . 

It is the thought that counts right? Baby its cold outside, every girl will want to own a pair of genuine leather gloves with a cute little bow design. These leather gloves will keep her well manicured hands warm on the colder days, yet look incredibly stylish at the same time. The best part? These very ones have special tips to use with touch screen phones and tablets. Well how else will she take a selfie with them on or update her Facebook and Snapchat? Shop here 

The significant him:

Ladies, chances are we know our man well and do not need to refer to a gift guide. Chances also are that their gift is well and truly wrapped and hidden away to surprise him later with, but just in case you have not, here are a few ideas that spring to mind. 

We like our men smelling their best and despite the few bottles of cologne they already have on the dressing table, it doesn't hurt to buy one more. It doesnt get more indulgent than Tom Ford's Oud Wood. Rare, exotic and distinctive indeed. This doesn't come cheap mind you, but I am certain it will turn heads and will last absolutely ages. Shop here 

Men and their cars are like women and their handbags, we want a new one every so often and would love to sample a classic Chanel tote for the day. If he hasn't done so already, book a Ferrari driving experience, a true super car and no doubt every mans dream to hear to sound of its engine. Not only will he experience 3 miles of an adrenaline boost, but will also receive an individual driving experience certificate to finish. Book here .

Ladies, aside from a man with clean teeth and nice aftershave, there's nothing sexier then whipping out a classic LV wallet when he is paying for your coffee. It shows class and good old Louis Vuitton will last forever. He will think of you each time he pulls it out. Its compact, has eight card slots, a transparent window for the cute family photo as well as leather lining and a coin pocket. As the name suggests, it doesn't come cheap but it sure is an investment. And if you are feeling super duper generous by chance, why not head into one of the stores and get it personalised for your special man. Shop here

And there you have it, three perfect valentines Day gift ideas for him and her. 

Until next time, love and lipstick xxx

NB: Images are not of my own and are sourced from Google. 

Meet and Greet With Amena AKA Pearl Daisy.

Hi my angels

Hope you are all keeping well. 

When Amena from Pearl Daisy recently held a meet and greet right here in Leicester at her boutique, I knew I just had to go. I have been following her Youtube channel for quite some time now and lets just say I was a teeny bit starstruck upon meeting her. If you've been seeing someone constantly on the screen and then to meet them in person is a little bit exciting wouldnt you agree? She is even more stunning in real life, sweet and humble and very easy to have a conversation with, With her immaculate trademark snood hijab, flawless makeup and dress sense (She is tall and petite!) and her familiar voice, I got to have a little chat about blogging, our kids and what is it like moving to Leicester after living in London. Heres a few bits of what we came up with. Enjoy! 

How do you juggle work, kids, husband and house chores? Surely you must be superwoman!

Everything in due proportion! I divide my time as any other person working

full time, prioritising some things and cutting out others. Let's just say

I rarely watch television and shopping trips are usually rushed!

Where do you see yourself in 5years time?

I tend not to think that far ahead! As long as my family and I are

together and safe, I imagine we could be anywhere in the world!

If you were not doing what you are doing, what would you be doing instead?

Teaching or writing.

What motivated you to begin a YouTube channel?

I set up my channel on a whim without the intention of uploading videos. I

think I signed up for a YouTube account a few years before my first video

went up!

What advice would you give to girls (and guys!) who aspire to start a YouTube channel?

Be authentic and develop your brand with integrity.

How do you like to unwind after a long day?

Reclined on a sofa with a cuppa tea!

Name one thing you would change about yourself?

Wish I could master more languages!

How do you deal with some of the negativity associated with social media

followers?

What negativity? Haha! I tend not to focus on it; negativity exists

everywhere - it's how you respond to it that determines how it impacts

you.

How do you stay in shape?

Mostly I like to stay active constantly rather than to stick to any strict

regiment. I love going on walks, jogging and yoga.

Where did the name Pearl Daisy stem from?

My husband came up with the 'Pearl' and I contributed 'Daisy'.

Love and Lipstick

Disclaimer: All images copyright of Pearl Daisy. Not to be used or shared without her consent. 

Review: For The Love Of Lashes.

Hi lovelies,

I hope you’re all keeping well in this oh so miserable weather.

Lately, I have been getting all eyelash excited and yes this is another eyelash review!  (Well there certainly isn’t a thing such as too many!)

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have already read my recent lashes from ZBridal review. Link to it is here if you have not yet already checked it out.

If there was an award for the best packaging then For The Love of Lashes are no doubt the worthy winners. Their white and gold packaging is just too pretty not to appreciate and clearly a great deal of thought and effort has gone into it. Their website continues with the same logo and theme, simple, elegant and effective are the three words I would describe it as.

For The Love Of Lashes are a UK based company providing the highest quality cruelty free mink and hand tied lashes with an impressive selection of them as well as some new arrivals. Whats more, as their website states, they are handcrafted and made with a ‘whole lot of LOVE’.

First impressions? These lashes are of an extremely high quality and easy to apply. They are soft and not at all hard or ‘plasticky’ with a thick band like some of the ones on the market. The packaging as I mentioned earlier is fabulous and clearly they put alot of thought into it.  Each box come with the lashes inside, with a little ribbon for easy removal, whether they are mink or hand tied plus the name of each lash on the outside. On the back of the box, a short instruction on how to apply and remove them which I thought was a really nice touch and really useful for those who may be trying false lashes for the first time.

The lovely people at For The Love Of Lashes sent me Naked, Rose Doll and Flutter to try out, with Rose Doll being mink.  I actually cannot say I have a favourite as I love all three. The good news is that these will not break the bank as they start from as little as £4.50, not forgetting that each lash can be worn and used a few times. You will need to use your own adhesive though as these come without, but every beauty junkie and makeup artist alike will no doubt have a tube of duo in their vanity anyway.

The ‘Flutter’ hand tied lashes are the winged shaped lashes, these were a little big for me so I did have to trim them a little, these are perfect for that subtle flutter on a date night or night out with friends.

Courtesy of For The Love Of  Lashes

The ‘Naked’ Hand Tied lashes are perfect for day time wear as the name suggests, they are quite subtle and natural and great for adding some fullness enhancing your own natural lashes.

Courtesy of For The Love Of  Lashes

And lastly, the 'Rose Doll’ Mink lashes, slightly more pricier than the hand tied lashes and are beautiful criss cross winged out lashes.

Courtesy of For The Love Of  Lashes

Unfortunately, I did not get around to taking a decent picture when I wore ‘Flutter’ on a recent night out, however, I will definitely upload a picture the next time I wear them so you lovelies can see what the lashes look like on.

Overall, these lashes are amazing and I definitely recommend them. The packaging and quality of them are just superb. These are too good to wear on a daily or regular basis so I will most definitely be reaching for them on nights out and special occasions. These also make the perfect inexpensive gift too.

Do check out For The Love Of Lashes here , their Instagram as well as their twitter here . I can assure you, you will love their lashes just as much as I do!

Have you given these fab lashes a go?

Love and Lipstick

xxx