My habit of last minute packing made me forget so many of my skincare wardrobe essentials like the Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe Cleansing Balm which I use in the first step of double cleansing so when I saw that I had a sample of the LP Skin Therapy Multi-Task Day Cream* lying around I had one of those light bulb idea moments and got to slathering it all over my face. I guess it would make sense as the moisturiser has the same consistency as a cleansing milk, also there’s no foaming or cleaning agent in them. Anyway, with a warm rinsed flannel the moisturiser managed to remove the mascara and eyeshadow I was wearing quite well but I did also get some in my eye, however I’m here to tell the tale so there’s no need to worry!

I prefer the feel of a cleansing balm over cleansing milks and creams, but this did the trick. Although I’ll be rushing off to the pharmacy to buy an actual cleanser I’d definitely do this again should I happen to run out of cleanser. But the question of the day is have I learned my lesson that last minute packing is never a good idea? Hmm…

Foundation With Added Skin Benefits

We all like to sheer out foundations by mixing them with moisturiser, but sometimes it just ends up in a sticky mess, so I find adding a drop of Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex* to the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup* much better. Not only is the finish gorgeous but the Advanced Night Repair works its magic on your skin with moisturising hyaluronic acid, its free radicals neutralizing ingredients and repairing properties. Not to mention that the cult favourite Double Wear has SPF10. Fighting harmful UV rays, free radicals and moisturising your skin all while wearing foundation? Definitely not too good to be true in this case..

The Face Mask That Repairs

I will forever extol the virtues of the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask* which helped me through a serious breakout more than a year ago, it’s great alone but the Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Ageing & Intensive Repair Daily Serum* with its skin repairing and bightening properties just gives the mask that little something. Research by Elizabeth Arden found that 63% of women noticed a significant immediate improvement in fine lines, radiance and luminosity while 74% showed a significant immediate improvement in lift. So a drop of the serum with the face mask for an hour while watching the TV (my latest TV guilty pleasure? Catfish) is sure to make quite the difference in the feel and look of your skin.

Skintone Evening Hand Cream

Hand cream isn’t as glamourous as foundation and honey face masks, but it’s practical and I can’t ever leave my house without one. Another unglamourous but definite reality is uneven skintone, and although my hands aren’t bad but the tone of my skin isn’t entirely even so before I go to bed, I pump a couple of squirts of my beloved SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator* into my hands with the Seascape Refresh Hand & Nail Cream*. Seascape is a new brand at Fortnum & Mason and their products are very much about aromatherapy and scent. The scent of their products just fill up the room with natural aromatherapy goodness so not only are you getting evenly toned hands but you’re getting a relaxing aromatherapy treatment out of it too!

Britain, especially London is a melting pot of ethnicity and I love that. Born and raised in London, I grew up with friends from all over the world; Kosovo, Jamaica, Somalia, Morocco, England, Columbia, Bangladesh and even a mix of some countries. However, despite how diverse a country we are it’s unbelievable how many brands don’t take the initiative to create products that represent the diverse colour palette of the UK. I can understand from a business perspective that brands worry that darker shades will not sell, however looking at particular areas in London you’ll notice that there are more ethnic groups than others. For example, in Tower Hamlets, an East London borough, the majority of people living there are of South East Asian origin so it’d make sense for Superdrug or Boots to stock foundations matching the skintones of the particular ethnic group at the stores in this area. In fact, Superdrug just recently launched their new B. range, but the foundations were just beige, beige and beige to the annoyance of some. A lot needs to be done, but things are changing and I’m so glad to say that it’s these British brands that are at the forefront of this change:

Daniel Sandler - Daniel Sandler is a professional makeup artist who’s made up the faces of women all over the world for over 25 years. He’s worked on all kinds of skin textures and tones and it really shows in his collection of makeup. Daniel sent me a few Catwalk Compacts* with SPF25 to try and I was amazed at how dark they were. The shades are realistic and there’s no significant jump between them unlike many brands that have darker shades in their lines. The Catwalk Compacts are medium to full coverage which is great news as many women of colour suffer from hyperpigmentation and uneven skintone. Another skin concern a lot women of colour suffer from is oily skin so the matte finish is perfect.

Illamasqua - Illamasqua can do no wrong in my eyes, everything about them just makes it one of my favourite brands. From their unique collections with great messages behind them to the causes they support like S.O.P.H.I.E. Illamasqua has always had darker shades available, and it’s so easy to pick the right one for you with their comparison chart where you can compare the shades you already wear from the likes of NARS, MAC and Bobbi Brown to a similar one from Illamasqua. I wear the NARS Sheer Glow in Macao so that would make me an SB15 for the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation* which is one of my favourite foundations, one of those if-I-lose-it-my-life-would-be-in-ruins kinda favourite.

Liz Earle - Now this is a total shock to me because I consider Liz Earle to be the epitome of English Rose beauty and I thought it’d be the last brand to reach out to women of colour, but I’ve been proven wrong as the Signature Foundation* goes pretty dark with Mocha being a warm tone for a deep dark complexion. The foundation I have is too dark for me, but the foundation is lightweight, it glides on the skin with ease and it’s quite silky in texture too. It’s enriched with Vitamin E so it does your skin some good too!

Burberry - I’m already a big lover of Burberry, I can spend hours trawling Net-A-Porter so it’s natural that I would gravitate towards their cosmetics. My favourite nude lipstick is their Lip Mist in Copper* but I’m also a huge fan of their Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation*. The foundation with its cream fluid formula has a gelled structure for optimum light diffusion to give the skin a gorgeous glow. They say that what you put inside your body shows outside on your skin, and as of late it’s been a little dull thanks to flying and eating one too many bowls of mango ice-cream and although there’s still the debate of whether a little indulgence is worth it, there’s no debate that the Sheer Luminious Fluid does make me look like I’ve swallowed a candle. I’m glowing in all the right places! With Burberry being the definition of Brit Cool it’s wonderful to see darker shades in their collection, but I’d like to see warmer tones introduced too as the shade I have is slightly on the cooler side.

And there you have it, British brands on the forefront of things, I love it! Former supermodel and founder of IMAN Cosmetics, Iman in an article she wrote for Women’s Wear Daily said “don’t just date her, marry her: If you target a multicultural group one year, you can’t simply drop that group because there’s a new trend and focus. If groups are not courted on a continuous basis, they just go find a brand that will treat them the way they deserve to be treated”. Let the church says amen! Research shows that black British women spend 6 times more than their Caucasian counterparts on beauty, so if brands really pondered and acted on that little statistic the money that these women have would be spent on their products in an instant and it would be the start of a great customer relationship.

I’m now writing this up on the sofa I first started Muslimah Beauty on 2 years ago in Cairo. I was here when things were a little shaky and the revolution took place so I wasn’t always able to go out so when boredom struck I decided to start blogging! I’m back in Cairo now and I’ve been here a few days and enjoying it – sun, family, fun and good food. But the thing I don’t enjoy is how dry the plane left my skin!

Apart from the one time I used Gunjeoir Neroli Face Elixir* before a flight, I always step off the plane with super parched skin. Last minute packing left me to leave my beloved Neroli Face Elixir behind in my London bathroom cabinet but I did have three trusty thirst quenchers to help along the way:

Origins Make a Difference Plus+ Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream* – I never go for thick moisturisers, but when I’m travelling anything goes. Sometimes you need something drastic and this moisturiser from Origins is exactly that. It’s a moisturiser enriched with Rose of Jericho, lychee and watermelon which gives it such a pretty, rosy scent. After watching a video of skincare authority Isabelle Bellis using pianotage and effleurage to apply moisturiser I’ve been doing the same daily and the Make a Difference Plus+ Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream sinks into my skin beautifully.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Booster* – When my favourite skincare blogger Caroline Hirons praises something then I’m all ears. Hydraluron, exclusive to Boots is a hydrating serum inspired by injectable hydration treatments employed in Swiss clinics. A lot of skin concerns like acne, wrinkles and dry skin stem from dehydration so Hydraluron will do the trick as it uses a premium grade of hyaluronic acid that attracts 1,000 times its weight in water. I use this under the Origins Make a Difference Plus+ Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream and I instantly notice a difference in how smooth and soft my skin feels. I’ll come back with a full report soon!

La-Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm* - Where do I begin with the ever so magical Cicaplast? It’s a super gentle balm for eczema prone and very sensitive skin so it’s non-perfumed, paraben-free and lanolin-free – literally no scent whatsoever. I crack the the Cicaplast open when my elbows, knees and feet need a little lovin’ and when I couldn’t find my lip balm mid-flight this came to the rescue.

The Pastels

Bourjois So Laque Nail Enamel in Amande Dèfilè

Essie Nail Lacquer in Nice is Nice*

Mavala Nail Color Cream in Via Veneto*

The Blues

Mavala Nail Color Cream in Blue Curaçao*

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Blueberry

Bourjois So Lacque Nail Enamel in Bleu Fabulex

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Calypso Blue*

The Corals

Bourjois Nail Enamel in Tangerine Fatal

Ciate Paint Pot in Play Date*

Revlon Nail Enamel in One Perfect Coral

Mavala Nail Color Cream in Night Club*

Nadya lives in Dubai but is always jetting off to the hottest destinations, most recently Paris where she took some amazing photos which she shared on Instagram that had me wanting to run to St Pancras International to jump on the next Eurostar. I recently talked to Nadya to tell us about her favourite places to be in Dubai, beauty destinations and panda eyes!

What’s your in-flight beauty routine like? I actually don’t have one, but minimal makeup so that I don’t leave the plane looking like a panda!

Tips for looking glam after a flight? Just run into the restroom and check if your hair is OK and you have a fresh face.

I love Morocco for its hammams and Turkey for the mud baths. Do you have a getaway beauty destination? I love the amount of different beauty products that Paris has. You can find amazing products that you would never have thought of. But Thailand does the best massages and I can only dream of them right now.

Any Dubai based beauty brands you love? I love Huda Beauty Lashes, that would be the only Dubai based beauty product that I have had the pleasure of trying out.

Best place to be in Dubai? I will always find myself in Downtown Burj Khalifa. I just love how lively it always is.

Favourite spa? Talise Spa in Zabeel Seray

You’re on a stranded island, which products would you have with you? My Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery. At least my face would look hydrated and of course Dove lotion.

What are your favourite beauty blogs? It’s Huda Beauty. Love her posts!

The line contains a range of products from lip glosses to mineral eyeshadows in varied shades, and I really like the look of the line especially the Prime & Create Mixing Medium which I got in May’s Glossybox*, a multi-tasking gel that can be used as a primer or mixed with mineral powders and pigments to create different finishes – I personally love to mix it with mineral blush to create a gel like blush that’s easy to blend and buff into the skin.

There’s no better person to talk to about Beautiful Movements than Kimberly Wyatt herself so here’s what she has to say about the line and the beauty secrets she’s picked up during her time as a Pussycat Doll:

Can you tell us about the new line? Beautiful Movements Cosmetics is an all natural mineral cosmetics range. It includes lip glosses with jojoba oils, foundations with zinc oxides for drying out spots and lots of eye shadows that every girl dreams of. Colour is not sacrificed, we have a fantastic range of shades that every girl can have fun with?

How involved were you with the process of creating the range? Myself and my business partner Laura McComiskie have built this business from the ground up. All the products have been created here in the UK. We had a lot of Skype calls as I was living in LA at the time, figuring out names or products, colours and shades. It has been a labour of love and a huge passion from the beginning

Have you enjoyed creating your own makeup line? It has been amazing, a huge learning curve having been an entertainer for so long but I have loved every minute. It has been quite a ride but such a  great one putting my passions and my expertise in to a business  has been wonderful. Together, Laura and I, have create something to be truly proud of.

What is your favourite product from the new line? My favourite product is the Prime and Create Mixing Medium and the foundation. I can’t live without it!

Mineral makeup is arguably more natural an better for the skin. How important was it that you created a line that had that benefit? That was the purpose behind making the range. I wanted to create a line that is natural and better for the skin which doesn’t sacrifice coverage and colours which I love. I am a girl who lives in the spot light and have tried all the make-up ranges imaginable. But at the end of the day, I love to do my own make-up and want to use products I can trust and love.

As a former Pussycat Doll and now solo artist, I’m sure you spend a lot of time with makeup artists and hair stylists! Have you picked up any beauty tips and tricks? Daily! It is so important to get to a place where you can love and accept your own face and own beauty, then we can  really learn how to make the most of what we have got. Contouring has been my biggest lesson, learning where the contours of your own face are and how to accentuate them. Another tip I have learned is knowing where to start your eye brows, they should be in line with the colour pupils of your eyes.

“The hallmark ingredients of this magnificent fragrance, include warm, sultry and mysterious amber, lavish Taif rose NP^®and exotic oud wood… Amber Mystique begins with glossy black currant and raspberry nectar. Elegant pink pepper then brings a vibrant spicy freshness which dances with sensual ylang-ylang.. Radiant Bulgarian rose intertwines with Middle Eastern Taif rose NP^® for an intricate impression of velvety rose richness… To complete the fragrance experience and further intensify its richness, opulence and extravagance, sultry tones of labdanum, sandalwood, supple leather, and bold, confident musk to provide a deep, mysterious finish.”

The minute I got a whiff of Amber Mystique I was blown away at how accurately Estée Lauder have captured the Middle Eastern fragrances I’m so used to. I couldn’t stop smelling myself which is an odd sight to see but it’s that good so who can blame me? I personally think Amber Mystique Amber Mystique is too sensual for daytime but it has the right amount of drama for the evening. It’s quite a dark fragrance so if you’re a fan of Estée Lauder‘s previous Wood Mystique and other fragrances of the muskier persuasion then you’ll most definitely be a fan of Amber Mystique.

Amber Mystique will be available in the UK from July at Estée Lauder counters but you can get a sneak preview at Harrods in June for those of you excited about Amber Mystique as I am!

Sleek has launched 6 lip quads and I got my hands on Tease, isn’t it a beauty? The palette is varied in red hues – a red with orange and peach tones to a red that I think Little Red Riding Hood would’ve worn! Also, the finishes are different with gloss, satin or matte which is great as it’s simple to change your look when you’re on the go rather than having to carry around one matte lipstick another lip gloss, it can be a hassle. Just the other day I went from an exam to a networking event and I was good to go after popping the quad out of my handbag and giving the top left shade a little swirl.

For just £8.99 I don’t think one is enough for me, I’m planning another trip to Superdrug and I’ve got my eye on Mardis Gras and Showgirl!

Estée Lauder‘s main man and creative makeup director Tom Pecheux says this look is all about enhancing nails rather than making a big statement with colour. A nail polish that’s close in colour to your skin tone elongates and extends the fingers so it’s all about complementing what you already have. And as nude is never just one colour, it’s great to see that Estée Lauder has creamy cocoas, a milky beige and soft pink hues in their new Pure Colour Nail Lacquer French Nudes Collection*. The collection includes five gorgeous shades; Ballerina, Nudité, So Vain which I’m wearing pretty much daily, Diabolique and Bittersweet.

Safe enough to wear to the office yet makes a big impact, nude nails I think will be one of the definitive nail trends that we’ll look back on and not be embarrassed about in the slightest. Not to mention they’re season and chip proof I might add (four days strong!) – you can wear them all year long. Estée Lauder have really hit the nail on the head with this one – pun intended