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Sunday 21 August 2016

How to create perfect beach waves naturally, with straightener, curler and hair dryers





Today’s blog is all about how to achieve those beach waves. First of all one thing should me made clear is that beach waves are supposed to be lose and messy so if you are looking for something neat like down below where Jennifer Lopez, Blake Lively and Gisele Bundchen are carrying this beautiful hairstyle then that’s called Hollywood waves which looks very good with formals. 



With beach waves the messier the better here you watch it for yourself how Blake is carrying this hairstyle. Honestly this hairstyle looks good on Blake than anyone else and I personally believe it suits blonds with long hair more than anyone. It suits either girls with long blonde hair or lobs. Like you can see in the pictures below.



There are multiple easy to achieve beach waves naturally, with straightener, curler or blow dryer.
The easiest way is the natural way which works best if you leave them overnight.  Which simply is after washing your hair apply sea salt spray on your hair then braid your hair and when you’ll wake up with amazing beach waves. Number of braids depends on thickness of your hair. It can vary from 2-5. You can either make braids or twists and even buns whatever you are comfortable with. I’ve tried the braids and the buns which definitely worked for me. I prefer applying mousse too on wet hair along with salt spray and you can lock it with hairspray in the morning but it’s optional.

Second way is by using blow dryer it’s similar to the first method but the only difference is to blow dry your hair rather than sleeping on it whole night. Using the blow dryer to dry your hair speed ups the process.




Third way is to use the straightener which is perfect for short hair like we can see its Lucy Hale’s way of creating this perfect beach waves hairstyle but can be used for long hair as well. You have to pick sections of the hair and curl your hair by using straightener. You have to curl them in inward motion towards the face and outward motion opposite the face. (The reason the curls should be both in inward motion and outward motion is that this way they won’t get mixed up.)

Straightener for long hair is way easier than it is for short hair. You simply have to take portions of your hair, and then twist your hair run a flat iron on it (make sure you use the straightener on the ends only). Run your finger through your hair so they look natural  and then spray them to lock the hairstyle .


Fourth way is using the curler. Its simple part your hair then take some hair curl them all the way to your ears and make sure you curl them inwards and outwards (this way they won’t mix up and it would also add some volume to your hair). After done with curling run your fingers through your hair and spray them. Though this way is very lengthy but it’s worth it.

To create perfect beach waves a very nice sea salt spray is a must and there is a huge variety in the market starting from cheap to high-end brands. Whereas you can make it all by yourself at home as well. In few days I’m coming up with DIY sprays and I’ll blog about DIY  sea salt spray as well.







Wednesday 17 August 2016

Shakshuka Recipe






Shakshuka is a very famous breakfast dish that I tried back many years and liked very much and ever since that I have been trying out and finding out recipes from the internet and now I came up with my version. You can always add a few vegetable items even cheese if you want according to your taste. Though it’s basically dish of poached eggs with tomato sauce, onions and spiced with basic spices that we have in pantry such as cumin. In its present egg and vegetable based form it’s Tunisian and Moroccan Jewish dish but is very popular in Middle East and Turkey and they have their own versions of it. Whereas my version is down below and caution my version is very spicy.

Shakshuka Recipe

Ingredients:-
2-3 eggs
1 chopped onion
2 chopped tomatoes
2-3 cloves garlic chopped
2-3 tablespoon butter or olive oil
Spices according to taste and preference (I added black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, oregano, red chili, ground cumin and salt. I added a pinch of everything except for ½ tsp red chili but in order to keep it less spicy you should skip this step)
Hot sauce ½ tbsp (optional)
Water ½ cup
Green chilies 2-3 (add one or none if you want it be less spicy)
Pepperoni or sausages (optional it’s my thing) 



Method:-

  • Add butter to the frying pan in medium heat(make sure you use only a pan as its suitable for it)
  • After the butter melts add garlic and onions and fry them till onions are golden brown.
  • Add tomatoes and all the spices and sauce and stir well.
  • Add handful of sausages or few pepperoni slices if you desire.
  • Add water, green chilies and let the mixture cook for 10-12 minutes on low flame while stirring occasionally. 
  • Now the dish is almost ready we just have to add the eggs to the pan just like we add them while frying it ( I add each egg to a bowl first in order to be safe and not damage the yolk)
  • After adding eggs wait for a minute or two till the eggs cooked properly.
  • Garnish it with mint leaves and enjoy them with french bread, pita bread, naan or roti.

Monday 15 August 2016

Bh Cosmetics Brushes Review & Synthetic vs Natural Bristle Brushes


Accidental online shopping lead me to buy this gorgeous Bh Cosmetics Star Studded Couture brush set. It's been many days since I got it and I'm using this brush set a lot lately thus I decided to review it.
It's a complete brush set consisting of 12 brushes and each brush has its own number from 1-12.


1. Large angled contour brush
2. Flat buffing brush
3. Precision blush brush
4. Angled face shader brush
5. Pointed foundation brush
6. Large concealer brush
7. Domed blending brush
8. Fluff shadow brush
9. Tapered blending brush
10. Angeled shading brush
11. Pencil brush
12. Angeled liner & brow brush

Not only this is a complete brush with a very beautiful packaging but it's also very price friendly. I personally loved the brushes for face such as the concealer, foundation, flat buffing and contour brush. Though I did not admire the other brushes a lot. Even though all the brushes have same synthetic bristles (There bristles were super soft unlike other brushes with synthetic bristles just as the company claimed which I really admired)

But then I realized that synthetic brushes are for liquid formulas and they do not work well with powders. Thus using these brushes would not get the best of them.


Synthetic Bristle Brushes

 Bristles made from nylon or other fiber                 
Doesn’t have cuticles
 Works best for liquids
 They don’t trap or waste makeup
 Precise and accurate application
Doesn’t blend powders
Natural Bristle Brush
   Made from animal hair
Durable
 Blends makeup perfectly and gives airbrush effect
Works great for powders such as eye shadows and blushes
Bristles move freely picks product easily and blends (especially eye shadows very well)
When used with a liquid formula such as foundation and concealer absorbs the product making it flaky and wasting it too.
 

What Brushes to Buy?


What brushes to buy is kind of a huge question. After my experience with brushes ever since I started using it I would suggest everyone to buy individual brushes rather than sets. Even when buying sets one should either buy brush sets for either face or eyes. The reason for that is mainly in brush sets there are different type of brushes but with the same bristles. Such as brushes above are made from synthetic fiber which is great for face but not eyes unless I use creamy eye shadows. Though I don’t regret buying the star studded brush couture 12 piece set because it came with such a great price.


In a Nutshell look for 3 things while purchasing brushes
1.     Shape.
2.     Quality.
3.     For which products (liquid or powder) do you need it for?










Thursday 4 August 2016

Long Lobs the best and the hottest hairstyle of 2016 for Hollywood celebs





Long Bobs/Lobs are one of the most repeated and worn hairstyles of 2016 and these are some of the best picks of some of our favorite Hollywood celebs. The rage all started at Met Gala 2016 where many celebs like Kylie Jenner, Demi Lovato, Taylor swift, Zendaya and many others were gracefully carrying it.


 For some celebs lobs are a permanent thing where as some change it every now and then. Khloe Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lawrence carry lobs all the time along with others celebs but there are few who carry it once in a while. such as Kylie and Kim who love to play with their hair a lot and pull off lobs once in a while whenever they like. Kylie changes her hair all the time but this year sleek lobs are her go to hair for mega events and parties such as Met Gala which is huge deal.  Maybe it’s a thing to look mature then her usual age so that she can fit in with others easily.

We all know extensions exist which makes it even easier and less painful to chop off our hair and now thanks to Kylie Jenner and all the popular instagrammers we now know that wigs are also very famous. You can basically have any hair with any color and style them the way you want and not feel guilty about it. I’m not suggesting you to chop down your hair especially if you love long hair because I won’t do it myself. But if I look at it practically then it’s way easier to manage (but hey I’m not a millionaire who has tons of work and shoots to attend, I have pretty much time on my hand I think for now I can manage them). So if you like and can risk it you should go for it as it is the hottest of 2016.

Marilyn Monroe: The passion and the paradox by Lois Banner



Marilyn Monroe: The passion and the paradox by Lois Banner
This is my very first book review and I chose to review this blog in particular is because not only Marilyn Monroe is one of my favorite iconic Hollywood celebs but also because this book gives a true meaning to the idea of feminism. We are all apparently obsessed by Marilyn Monroe and no one can get tired of watching the same picture of her with red pout again and again. There have been tons of books written on her till the date and one of the books were written by her husband Arthur Miller and she even wrote a book on herself.

It’s been years since she died and there have been books, articles, interviews, movies, pictures published but we still can’t get enough of her can we. The interesting part is that most of us just know very little about her and adore the beauty of her. We don’t even know her real name (yes Marilyn is not her real name) it’s not just the name but we know nothing about her.

This book is about how Marilyn was created, lived her life and died. Trust me this book and her life is way interesting than we can think of. The sources of book are very much authentic as writer proves everything she says. We should not forget that this book is written by Lois Banner who is a famous writer and historian. She apparently thought of Marilyn as a sex object for men and didn’t think she was important but then there were few questions that were bothering her and finally after long research on her she wrote a book on Marilyn Monroe consisting of more than 500 pages. This book is one of the best autobiographies I’ve ever read. So it I would definitely give it thumbs up.



Friday 15 July 2016

Luscious Lip Couture/ Melted Lipstick




Luscious Lip Couture / Melted lipstick


I just bought this lipstick few days ago and honestly it was only because of the packaging. Just look at it it’s so beautiful and different. I know it might sound strange but I bought the lipstick because of the stand. Surprisingly I liked the lipstick as well. First thing that attracted me towards was the beautiful color. Just look at it it’s so gorgeous and trust me the pictures don’t do any justice.

In fact I loved the whole color range especially the nude/beige one. There is a lot of stigma attached to it and many people are saying different things and I want to explain one thing that it’s not a liquid lipstick but it’s a melted lipstick. Liquid and melted are two different things. It’s not dry and patchy as liquid lipstick. It’s actually what it claims lip couture because of the packaging and melted lipstick because the formula is literally like a lipstick has been melted into a lip gloss container.

It’s beautiful, creamy, matt, and pretty much long lasting. I’ve actually haven’t tried it for long hours because its red and even if it weren’t what are clutches and bags for and always carry out tons of things in my bag and a 5ml lip gloss isn’t gonna hurt anybody. But I did drink a lot of water while lipstick was on and it seemed pretty good to me. I like liquid lipsticks but I believe it’s for those women who have fillers because these lipsticks do highlight each and every wrinkle of your lips. But with lip couture it’s actually different and it’s also very light on lips.
I hoped you liked my review for more do comment on my instagram and Dm me @amarasvivaciousworld.

Thursday 14 July 2016



Vitamin C Century Beauty Mask





 I just tried this amazing mask today. The reason I’m reviewing this mask is that it is extremely affordable and effective and another reason is that it’s a sheet mask. I simply love sheet masks they are less messy and easy to apply. This mask claims to brighten up your skin and it surely does. I applied the mask for 20 minutes.
 It was slimy as any other sheet mask and it surely felt a bit irritating in the beginning but not something you can’t handle. After removing it my skin did brighten up and lighten up a bit. I could certainly feel and see the difference and the effect wasn’t just for an hour or two it felt amazing all day long.

I would definitely try it again and it claims that if using it for several days would definitely whiten and make your skin tenderer. For those who have dark spots like me should definitely give it a try as it would prove to be very effective.  





Monday 20 June 2016

Freeman masks reviews- clay masks, anti-stress mask and hydrating masks





In today’s blog post I’m going to review the masks from freeman shown above. Freeman masks are not only amazing but also very cheap. For the price we pay for freeman masks it’s very good in quality. I’ve had a different experience with all the types of masks that they are offering. I’ll share my thoughts and views on all the four masks above.




I’ll start by reviewing avocado and oatmeal clay mask by freeman because it’s so far the best and my most favorite mask. It deeply purifies and clarifies my skin and not only can I feel it but can see it too. My face really softens after I apply the mask. It takes about 10 minutes to completely dry. I use it all the time and I’ve had great experience with it and I believe it’s the kind of mask I would definitely recommend to those who have acne prone skin. On the other hand avocados smell a lot but this mask doesn’t. I pretty much like the fragrances of all the masks of freeman.


 It’s the second best to the avocado mask I believe the formula is kind of same it also purifies the skin deeply which is visible. It also smoothes the skin which is great. But it’s not as strong as the avocado mask. I would recommend this for people who have normal skin. It dries about in 10 minutes and it’s definitely worth the price.


I absolutely love this mask can stop using it. It says it’s an anti-stress mask don’t know whether it takes away stress from my skin or not but personally I really like it when I apply the mask. One of the main reasons is that it’s one of the most beautiful masks I’ve ever seen. The mask has a beautiful blue color like the packaging and when you apply it on your face you don’t look hideous like with other masks. It’s actually a very different color for a mask I believe. Another reason is that it also purifies your skin which is also pretty much visible and it’s definitely smooth. It claims that it’s an anti-stress mask so I use it before doing my makeup for an event and I would definitely recommend using this mask before applying makeup for an event. I believe that with a clear and smooth skin you can apply makeup much better and it also looks much better.

This mask is very gorgeous especially when you apply initially. It’s definitely not my favorite mask. It takes a lot of time approximately about 20-25 minutes to dry out. After applying it skin feels fresher, softer and brighter but only for few hours. I would not recommend using this at night. It’s probably better if you use it during the day. It’s a hydrating mask which I believe serves its purpose.
I hope you like my reviews if you do then definitely share it and comment on it and also follow my instagram @amarasvivaciousworld for latest updates and posts.


Monday 13 June 2016

Makeup reviews- Mac Prep+Prime, Kryolan ultra setting spray, and Flormar makeup fix spray





Makeup fixers and setting sprays are very in and effective these days. There are a lot of makeup fixers and setting sprays out there in the market. Makeup setting sprays actually locks in all your makeup and keeps it fresh for long period of time. If your makeup is cakey it gives it a very blended and a nice finishing to it. I have actually tried few makeup fixer/sprays recently and I actually like the outcome and use it every time after my makeup. So far my experience has been very great. Sometimes I use it for the purpose of refreshing my makeup than just locking it.





I’ve used Flormar makeup fixer spray, Kryolan ultra setting spray and Mac’s Prep+Prime. They all are kind of different from each other.

My first impression about Kryolan makeup fixer spray is that the essence is very strong but in the long run it actually makes the makeup stay longer. It also blends in the access makeup very well. You don’t need even need to retouch or apply makeup again. So I would definitely recommend it but one thing is clear that the smell is very strong and I believe you can’t use it daily at least I don’t. It’s best that one uses once in a while for an event or a party.

I’ve used Mac’s prep and prime too in fact I use it most of the time. I’m not exactly sure whether it locks in the makeup but it surely blends the excess and gives it a smooth finish. It smells nice and it’s very refreshing. I use it for multiple reasons not just for blending my makeup. I use it to enhance the eye shadows by spraying a little on my eye shadow brush and even the highlighter. I even use it sometimes before the makeup to make my foundation last longer.

I’ve also used Flormar makeup fix spray which is pretty good as well. It locks in the makeup very well but it’s not as strong as Kryolan ultra setting spray. I really don’t like the smell as well and I would prefer to apply from very far.
My experience with all of three makeup setting sprays has been very good but personally I prefer using MAC Prep+Prime.







Saturday 4 June 2016

Summer Specials ( fresh drinks)





Special drinks for summers







PINA COLADA

Beat the heat with Pina coladas this summer. I'm a huge sucker for Pina coladas everywhere I go I definitely try one. So I have been searching for recipes for Pina coladas. I've tried many so I mixed few recipes and came up with one of my own. It's very simple and affordable as compared to the ones we buy at restaurants.

INGREDIENTS:-
v  Pineapple juice any brand ~1 cup

v  Fresh milk ~1/2 cup 
v  Coconut milk or powder it's optional~2 Tbsp.
v  Cream~ 1/2 cup
v  Ice cubes ~ 1-1/2 cup depending on how cold you want.
v  Lemon juice~ 1-2 Tbsp.
                           
METHOD:-
 Blend all the ingredients in a blender and serve it in a cool glass and may be garnish it with pineapple and a small umbrella to give it the restaurant/cafe effect. 








So here we are with another recipe that I swear by and I’ve actually named it ‘watermelon breeze’. In scorching heat you need more than just plain water. Recently I have been obsessed with healthy cool drinks for summer that satisfies your thirst and yet is healthy so you don’t feel guilty of consuming so many calories.  
WATERMELON BREEZE:

INGREDIENTS:-

v  3-4 cups sliced water melon (don’t emphasize on the shape it doesn’t matter)
v  ½ cup water
v  1-1/2 cup crushed ice
v  pinch or 2 of black salt
v  1-3 tbsp lemon (depends how you like it I prefer 3 sometimes 4)

METHOD:-
Blend all the ingredients in a blender and voila you’ll have an amazing tasty drink that will surely quench your thirst. Garnish it with peppermint and an small umbrella whichever way you like it. No hard and fast rule.

TIP: choose the perfect and sweet watermelon this way the drink would be even tastier.

Watermelon Benefits:-
Not only watermelon is tasty and everyone’s favorite but it also comes with many nutritional benefits. It proves high amount of vitamins, mineral, antioxidants, for a fewer amount of calories. An adequate amount of watermelon which is one cup it formulates and maintains collagen in our body. Studies also show that watermelon helps in combating various health problems and diseases. For a detailed research you can log on to medicalnewstoday website and check further details.


For more recipes follow my blog and instagram and e-mail me or comment down below for what you want my next post to be about.
Instagram @amarasvivaciousworld




Thursday 2 June 2016

Nivea post-shave balm/primer



So some of you must be wondering that who came up with using Nivea after shave balm as a primer. So let me give the glorious details. One of my favorite you tuber Nikkie from nikkietutorials came up with this insane idea. She was staying with her boyfriend and just foun out that she forgot her primer and moisturizer and that’s a nightmare. She basically had nothing to use before applying her foundation so she just grabbed her boyfriends Nivea post shave balm and applied it all over her face. Later she felt her makeup didn’t wear off and somehow her skin also felt smooth. She thought maybe it’s the foundation or the other products she used. She repeated the same routine again and somehow found that using Nivea post shave balm have helped her.

She did a little research on her own and found out that it contains glycerin (which has sticking properties) that helps in keeping foundation on skin all day long and also has a smoothing effect on her skin. She than as always shared the information with her followers who then started to use it to see whether it works or not. Not only her followers but her fellow youtubers also used it and some of them swear by it such as Jeffrey Star, Desi Perkins and many more.

This is affordable and effective and does what other primers do which is keep your makeup stick to your face all day long. But it has another advantage which is the smoothing effect. I have personally used it several times and I couldn’t see any major disadvantage besides it smells like men’s perfume (which I live btw). So yes I would definitely recommend it.
The proper way to use Nivea post-shave balm:
v  Take a small amount in your hands.
v  Apply it all over your face and neck.
v  Use the tips of your fingers.
v  Don’t smudge the balm just apply smoothly.
v  Wait for few seconds (30-50) until it becomes tacky.
v  Now apply your foundation and see the results and thank me later.
I hope you liked this article for other posts check my blog and follow me on instagram which is @amarasvivaciousworld


Wednesday 1 June 2016

Choker is the new Black



Title suggests choker is the new black and the interesting thing is chokers are very much likable in black. Chokers are the hot new of the year everyone is raving about it. Choker business started back in the 90’s when Princess Diana and Madonna were in vogue. It was very common back then and now thanks to the Kardashians and Jenners it’s in vogue again. We also have to thank some famous models for the trend as well such as Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, and Hailey Baldwin. After these models wore chokers other models and actresses also picked up pace with them. Later social media influencers and bloggers also started this trend. So that’s how the choker business was all over in fashion world again. Some very famous designers have also come up with chokers such as Versace introduced a whole set of chokers which Gigi Hadid seems to like a lot.
There are plain chokers as well as the fancy ones of gold, diamonds and Swarovski so you should choose what tickles your fancy. Matching chokers and dresses are also very trendy.
Chokers can be made easily at home as well especially if you have ribbons (either silk or velvet) available. The very first and basic step would be to tie the ribbon around your neck according to your preference and just cut off the excess. In case you don’t have ribbons you can always use any fabric available or buy it at the fabric store. The fancier it is the better it is for you. Take the fabric and cut the length and width according to your preference and it the borders are not neat then you can fold it inwards as well and then sew/glue it. You can always use buttons or hoops to tie the two ends together. Honestly you don’t need to go through the whole drama of DIY because chokers are easily available in many stores.
I hope you liked this post and you can also follow me in instagram @amarasvivaciousworld and do suggest on my instagram about what you want to see further.
XOXO Ammara 






Here's to new beginnings



Welcome beautiful people to my very first post. This post is all about the new beginnings and a little bit of my self. Today I'm starting my life long dream of being a blogger. Whoa wait I'm not that old but when it comes to fulfilling your dreams it takes a lot of time at least in your head. So once Walt Disney said when you can dream it, you can do it and that's what i am doing. I'm that girl in school who never paid attention to studies but when something was challenging and difficult I wanted to deal with it even currently in university I do the same. That's because i love challenges.

I'm the kind of girl who never paid attention in class but always sensed what was going on other life. who's crushing on who'm,who's having affair with whom, who's faking it, who bunked, cheated, who's lying and basically everything. 

I love makeup, fashion, books, travelling, skincare, jewelry and especially food (those people who dislike pizza, cheese burger, mac and cheese, sushi,  cheese cake, chocolate, candies, jellies, subs, yogurt ice cream- should kindly refrain from my posts. cuz you know what life is too short just eat the damn cupcake) So basically my blog will cover every thing "I've got you guys, I've got you" ( In DJ Khaled's voice)

So come along and join me in this journey. MEET ME aka AMMARA. Like, literally. XOXO YOUR GIRL