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

If you haven’t heard of Smart Cover, we’ll give you the 411.

The makeup is used by lots of celebrities as well as everyday women who are looking for coverage that will make them feel confident in their skin.

If you have birthmarks, scars. blemishes or other things that make you feel self-conscious–this makeup helps you achieve something you wont find anywhere else: great coverage.

You can apply it not only to your face, but your body as well, and it’s waterproof.

We gave the makeup a try after the company sent us some samples and the only thing that we find tricky is matching your exact shade. If only they had the product available in stores so you could really figure out what shade suits you best.

If you’re worried about the makeup and the fact that it’s waterproof, all you need is soap and water and it literally rinses off. No tugging and rubbing necessary.

The makeup is great, but we would probably only wear it to a major function or TV appearance.

Would you use this product?

There are so many makeup products out there with more and more new lines coming out all the time.

So how do you know which one is right for you? Here is our 5 step guide to help you decide.

1. Oily skin does not do well with lots of liquid foundation sitting on it. Despite labels that claim “non-comedogenic” you can almost guarantee that if you’re prone to breakouts, this will multiply your chances of getting a nasty pimple before or after a big event. Try an airbrush type of foundation like Dior Airflash if you crave the liquid. There are even airbrush makeup machines if it’s in your budget.

2. If you’re out in the sun during the summer and indoors during the winter, chances are your skin tone changes. Don’t wear the same shade of foundation year-round. Go for something darker in the summer, and lighter in the winter (or use sunless tanner in the winter to keep your summer glow).

3. Dry skin does best with a little makeup primer. Make sure to apply it before putting on any type of foundation.

4. Are you a newbie when it comes to makeup? Then go for mineral makeup like Bare Minerals or some other brand. This stuff is pretty fool proof, so have fun experimenting with coverage.

5. Give your face a break every now and then. If you have to wear makeup every day for work then give it a rest on the weekends.

Bonus Tip: Ultimately the best foundation is your natural skin. Not everyone has perfectly clear skin, so you can use a little concealer to hide imperfections. Then just put a touch of gloss and a little mascara and you’re fresh and read to go!

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?

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!

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

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