DIY Avocado Seed Face Cleanser!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry, it's been awhile since my last post! I've been quite busy with home life, makeup projects, etc. Therefore, didn't have the opportunity to update you on my results from my DIY Avocado Seed Face Cleanser!

I had posted a picture on Facebook a week or so, indicating that I would be trying this out. I had to wait almost 5 days for the avocado seed to dry it before you I could even attempt this.

My results after using this for a week have been amazing!!!!! I would definitely do this again. This DIY project was something I watched on someones Youtube video, and I thought - looks easy enough - as people that know me, know that I don't like DIY's that take up too much prep time!

Instructions:

Take a pit of an avocado, wash it, dry and it let it sit for 3 to 5 days (I waited 4 days).
When ready to use the pit, peel the skin off, cut it and place in your blender.
Blend the heck out of it  (do not add any water when blending), until you see orange seeds.
Place in a jar or zip lock bag.
Mix seeds into your daily face cleanser and apply on your face very gently
Use a cleansing wipe (I use my baby's Pampers wipe - soft and has not scent) to wipe off the cleanser and seeds.
Wash face with luke warm water
Put on moisturizer (I use Aveeno face moisturizer)

Do this for a week or so and see a difference in your face... more glowy, shiny, and fresh!
Pictures:

Avocado Pit:

Orange seeds after blending:

Let me know how it worked out for you! Always interested to know other's results! :)

Until next time,

Daytime Look ... simple and nice!

So I've gotten a few requests on what kind of makeup I wear during the day.
In all honestly, when I'm home, cleaning, cooking, feeding and entertaining my baby, I don't wear any makeup at all... just wash my face, put on some moisturizer and let me skin breathe (which is very important to do by the way).

However, when I'm going out, in this case, out to lunch with my husband, I do want to look somewhat decent ;)

On my face:
BB Cream: Since the weather is getting warmer, I put on foundation (not even a light one). I find that it makes my skin feel heavy and caked out.... therefore, I have started using my Maybelline BB Cream (check out my review on this in one of my previous blogs). It's light and gives my skin a fresh, dewy glow... and it honestly feels like you haven't put anything on your face!

Under my eyes: Another review I did in my previous blogs was on a concealer which I absolutely love... the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Medium

Face Powder: MAC face powder in Medium Plus.

Bronzer: Bourjious in Medium

Highlight: MAC Cream Highlight in SHELL

On my eyes:
Eyeliner: I use a pencil liner (and then go over it with black eyeshadow): BENEFIT BadGal in Black
Mascara: Urban Decay
On my eyelids (used as a nude base): MAC Painterly Paintpot (you can use this product as a base for your eyeshadows.. prevents creasing)

Lips:
MAC Darling Ruby lipstick (I've had this for a long time and not sure if they even sell it anymore).

Here are the pics:

My Yummy Green Smoothie :)

Since having my baby 6 months ago, I've been trying to go to the gym 4 to 5 times a week and eat really healthy (for the most part) so that I can shed this baby weight .... it's been challenging, but I've been trying to make the most of it, by thinking of creative and yummy healthy recipes that  will motivate me to keep going!

Recently, I started having a "Green Shake/Smoothie" in the morning. I posted a pic on facebook and some of you might think it looks disgusting (my thoughts when I first made it), but it is  soooo delicious and filling AND good for you that I would recommend this to anyone who wants that spike of energy in the morning. Trust me.. I need all the energy I can get when taking care of such an active 6 month old :)

SO here is my version of it... (Feel free to change it around if you'd like)

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (you can also just use plain water or cocunut water)
2 cups of spinach
2 celery sticks, chopped
1/2 banana
1 Tbsp of natural of peanut or almond butter
2 to 5 ice cubes .... depending on how cold you want your smoothie to be

Put everything in the blender and BLEND :)

Voila... you have yourself a delicious smoothie filled with nutrients, and it will keep you full until lunch time

Until next time,

Mehreen

East Indian Bridal Photoshoot with Photography-ByAmor & Define Hair Design

I had the opportunity to work with some very talented individuals a few weeks back on a collaborative photoshoot which was focussed on east indian bridal hair and makeup and photography.

It was a long but successful day, as we were able to achieve our goals for this shoot and I am sooooo anxious and excited to see the end product (the photos).

A lot of my prospective clients want to see work that I have done. Since I had my baby about 6 months ago, I wanted to update my bridal portfolio and thought this was the perfect opportunity to do so.  Working with great models, hairstlyists and photographers makes a big difference! There are so many important factors that have to be taken into consideration (theme, looks, the right type of models who can pull of the looks, and so on). Not only that, there's the planning and logistics that take up a lot of your time....

I will update all of you when we recieve the edited pictures, but for now, here are some "behind the scenes" photos from this amazing day!

Links to share:

Photography: www.ByAmoor.com
Hair: www.definehairdesign.com/
Makeup (me): https://www.facebook.com/mehreen.k.warsi?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Makeup-Artistry-by-Mehreen/171949582845234

Product review - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer

Many of you have been asking what kind of concealers I use on a regular basis. Although I tend to use a variety of different ones for areas on my face, my favorite one for over a year now has been the Maybeline Instant Age Rewind Corrector (Concealer)  I have th YSL corrector too, but the Maybelline one doesn't break the bank and is easier to find at the drug store! I have recommended this concealer to a lot of clients and family/friends and everyone seems to agree with me....

 
This is seriosly one of my go to concealers and I have two extras that I keep on hand because I just love it! I'm using the MEDIUM shade, around my under eye area. I admit, I have dark circles under my eyes, so my main purpose to see if it actually would reduce the darkness around my eye area... and it instantly brightened up my eye area! (just like the title of the product). The texture is very velvety, and smooth, which I love! Another plus is that has a clean finish and feels great on your skin. Doesn't emphasize lines around the eye area area! OH and I have to mention that one of the ingrediets is goji better (which is also very good for you.. I love eating them) - so another plus!
 

  Until next time!

Stay beautiful,

Mehreen

Product Review - BB Creams..Maybelline, Garnier and Smashbox.

So I was requested by a few people to provide my feedback on BB Creams and had the opportunity to try out three which were recommended to me. For those of you who do not know what "BB" stands for, it is Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm. From what I've read and now tried, it acts as an all-in-one facial product which includes a moisturizer, primer, sun block and even sometimes a foundation. It can work alone or you can amp up the coverage by adding a foundation and then putting a setting powder on top. Last month I bought three BB creams: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB (8-in-1 Beauty Balm), Garnier and Smash Box Camera Ready. For the past 3 and a half weeks I've been trying these out and I have to say that it was tough decision between two of them. Want to guess which ones? Well, it definitely wasn't the Garnier one that's for sure! I didn't like it too much, as I didn't like the texture and coverage it provided me. As well, I found it to be too sheer for me and made my skin look oily even when I put setting powder on top. Therefore, I won't be purchasing this one again and wouldn't recommend it. I had to try another drug store product slightly cheaper than Garnier's and that was the one from Maybelline. I've said this before and I'll say it again... just because you are purchasing a makeup product from the drug store product, it doesn't make it less of a product. I was pleasantly surprised with this BB cream and will definitely repurchase it. This product was quite hydrating to my skin (I tend to get dry skin during the winter time), created a natural look and really complimented my skin tone. As soon as I put it on, it provided this fresh feel. In terms of coverage, it does provide a good base, however not full coverage as I would have hoped so I did need to add a little bit of foundation. The last one was from SmashBox. This was by far my favorite! The week that I wore this (and I am still wearing it) my skin looked and felt amazing. It felt like an actual foundation and holds up really well - the coverage was just perfect, therefore, I didn't need to add anymore foundation. I was complimented twice by ladies who said I had this natural glow and I had to admit to them it was the BB Cream I was wearing. The Smashbox one was a bit on the pricier end (around $40) however I would recommend investing in it. You don't need to use a lot. So there you have it! :) If you want to read my reviews from me, I enjoy testing products all the time, so let me know! Please note that this is just my own opinion; others may feel differently about these products.