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?

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Spring will be here before you know it and that means nicer weather and a chance to peel off all those layers.

No more sloshing around in your sweatpants, it’s time to get primped and proper!

Here are 10 ways you can get ready for spring this year from your wardrobe to your beauty routine.

1. Clean out your winter clothes and put them away once things start to warm up more consistently (you’ll have more room in your closet without that poofy sweater in the way).

2. Keep light sweaters and a nice trench or jacket on hand for those cold windy evenings.

3. Shine up any scuffed boots and put them away for next winter. Now that they’re clean and looking new, you’ll be more likely to wear them again.

4. Take care of your skin and that means scrubbing in the shower then following with a light lotion.

5. Make sure to get rid of those rough patches and dry spots on your feet. This is the time when sandals start popping up at the stores. (You don’t want to try them on looking like you’re about to claw someone).

6. Get out the lightweight makeup that will be perfect for the change in weather. Something that’s not too heavy or oily.

7. Make an appointment with a personal shopper at your local department store to check out all the latest trends. This is a free service in most places.

8. Get your appointment in with a local makeup store or place within the department store to check out the latest colors and get your free makeover.

9. Take all your hijabs and organize them. Get rid of the old frumpy ones and wash all others.

10. Get rid of anything that is torn, stained, or downright old. It’s time for a fresh clean start.

Do you have any special things you do to transition from winter to spring?

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Last week we brought you an exclusive interview with hijab fashion designer Elif Kavacki of Kavacki Couture. This week we bring you her tips and tricks on how to achieve great hijab style.

For someone who may have just started wearing hijab, or someone that would like tips on their hijab style here are some key points that may be very helpful.

1. Stick to solid colors. They are easier to work into your current wardrobe. They will go with your current shoes and bags and accessories. You can change the look easily by changing your accessories and don’t have to spend a fortune every season. It will not be outdated quickly. This rule also applies to scarves.

2. Choose clothes that are your actual size. Alot of times women think bigger and looser is more islamic, where as it may make them look bigger then they actually are. Longer and looser doesn’t necessarily mean more conservative.

3. Don’t mix prints.  If you really like a print work it in to your outfit by combining it with solids only.

4. Make an effort to look beautiful. Women living in the states often choose comfort over style. So be a little less comfortable but look more stylish. Women are beautiful and should make an effort to look beautiful. Remember: No Pain, No Gain.

5. Choose your trends wisely! Just because it’s a trend and everbody has it on, doesn’t mean it necessarily looks good on you. If it’s a trend that will work with your body then use it to bring out your best feauture. If it’s not, then don’t!

6. If you have ever watched a fashion show, 99% of the time, when the designer comes out at the end, he or she will be wearing solid colors, most often black. If designers do it why shouldn’t you?

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Sheer and see-through fabrics are going to be hot this Spring and Summer 2009.

How can a hijabi incorporate this trend into her wardrobe?

If you’ve become quite the pro at layering and mixing items you can easily pull off the trend with an added bonus: your own unique twist!

Here are a few ideas:

Wear your hijab Kuwaiti style. We wrote about it previously here. It’s all about a light flowy sheer sheila with a  solid underscarf. The key is to get a very long piece of sheer fabric so that you can wrap it around a few times in order to achieve the level of coverage you desire.

Take a small sheer scarf and use it instead of a belt.

Put a sheer scarf on pirate style as seen in the Hijabtrendz video here.

Wear sheer black pantyhose with your high heeled sandals.

Do you have a unique way to pull off the sheer look while still looking hijabalicious?

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This is a new weekly column to help you shop online, and focus on the best prices with the least amount of time and effort (after all, there is more to life than shopping).

I started shopping online eight years ago when found that I could save time, energy, and money. There are some tricks to getting it right, which is why this column is here to help.

All of us have been hit in some way or other by the economic ‘recession’ and even luxury magazines are touting “shopping your closet,” and “how to be a recessionista.”

We’ve been told how much stores are hurting, and we witnessed sales that rivaled the post holiday seasons of the past. But, have you noticed that some of these sales have remained the same, even now? That is, they haven’t gotten better?

(more…)

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