The original hijab fashion, hijab style, beauty and entertainment blog for Muslim women

If you’ve always loved department store and other expensive makeup brands, but didn’t want to spend all that money, we have a few tips for you from Anna De Souza of True Hollywood Makeup.

1. Try using drugstore brands that you find in places like Target, Walmart, Walgreens etc. These are usually cheaper and essentially do the same thing as the ones that cost more.

2. Matte nails are a big trend and if you long for Chanel nail color in a matte finish but don’t want to bust your budget then use what you already have. Forget about purchasing new shades. According to De Souza all you need is to top your existing polish with a top coat that will matte the base color.

4. Don’t worry about eye shadow that creases. De Souza says standard drugstore eyeshadows tend to have less pigment than their department store counterparts which means they don’t have that much color or staying power. She recommends pumping up drugstore shadow’s staying power with eyelid primers such as Urban Decay’s Primer Potion or L’Oreal’s De-Crease Eyeshadow Base and Primer.

5. Buy a better mascara wand for your eyelashes. Mascara formulas may change, but the biggest qualifier for lush lashes is the mascara wand. De Souza advises to go ahead and pick up the iconic Maybelline Great Lash but dump that flimsy brush and replace it with another one. Her picks include one that MAC offers which contains high quality synthetic fibers that help distribute the product without clumps as well as the Suki Brow Lash Brush from Skin Botanica for its thickness and blendability.

Do any of you have special things you do to save money on your favorite makeup brands?

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

We previously talked about Sula nail polish and now we can officially tell you what we think of it.

Sula Beauty sent us some samples to try out and here is what we concluded:

• Almost odorless (unless you stick your nose into the bottle)
• Clear and smooth finish if you follow the directions
• Easily peels off

Here are some pics from our personal trial:

We conclude that this is a great alternative to nail polish because you don’t breath unhealthy chemicals and you can change up your color quickly without all the mess of nail polish remover.

You have to be careful though and make sure to put on two coats and let it dry thoroughly so it doesn’t peel. Also make sure not to do anything that you’re going to be rough on your hands with (i.e. dishes, rock climbing, etc.)

Other than that this product is a winner!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Sisters-in-law Sara and Afshan put together a custom henna design business based in Toronto, Canada called Sisters by Design or SbD.

The service gives non-Muslim and Muslim women the chance to get decked out in fabulous and decadent henna designs for a small fee.

What’s unique about the girls is that they have put together a non-profit business in order to donate 100% of their proceeds towards charity.

Afshi says they wanted to do something different, “We wanted a creative way to gather funds and to give something in return. We have done bridal henna, henna for
birthday parties, and also for those who may not know much about Henna, but are interested in applying the work of art on themselves.”

The response they’ve received has been positive and Afshan says with Chanel introducing temporary tattoos in their Spring 2010 line, “Henna is always an occasion, and our
motto is: Give us Your Hand, Open Your Heart.”

To learn more about the group or if you’re in Canada and want to have your henna done checkout their website: Sistersbydesign.weebly.com

Want to read more posts like this? Click on Hijabtrendz Exclusives for the full collection.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Is there something style-wise that you have to do before you leave the house? I mean, besides putting on a hijab, of course.

For me, it’s putting on foundation. I know it sounds shallow, but I’m not comfortable in my skin unless I have on some makeup. I’m sure nobody else would even notice, but I know if I don’t have any on, I’m very self-conscious.

How about you guys?

I have friends who always have to straighten their hair. That’s the plus side of wearing hijab, I guess. That would take me forever to do every day.

I’m also not a big fan of wearing pajamas or work-out clothes outdoors, although I’ve done it on occasion. However, my sister wears sweatpants to class all the time, and I doubt anyone cares.

So do you pay a lot of attention to what you look like in public? Or are you more of a throw on something and go kind of person?

Want to read more posts like this? Click on Pop Culture Hijabi for the full collection.

Pop Culture Hijabi is a weekly column by Nadia Malik. Malik is a former newspaper reporter based in Chicago who’s now making her way as a freelancer. She spends entirely too much time watching TV and reading pop culture, fashion and TV blogs. She also occasionally consumes serious books and news. No, really. You can reach her at info@hijabtrendz.com with “pop culture hijabi” in the subject line, follow her at www.twitter.com/nadiamalik or simply leave a comment below.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If there is one thing we hate, it’s having to remove nail polish. Sometimes the color gets stuck on the sides of the nail making it look gross. And the smell of nail polish remover is way too intense!

Well a friend of ours told us about some peel off nail polish she had seen, and then we decided to look it up online.

Lo and behold here it is!

Sulabeauty.com carries paint and peel.

According to their website the product is free from Formaldehyde, Toluene, and Phthalates, which are cancer-linked ingredients found in standard polish.

Would you use this stuff? What’s the verdict… like it or leave it?

Bookmark It

Hide Sites