Ready for a new Favorites post?This past two months I have discovered new products that I'm loving and will be sharing with you today.

Ocean Salt Scrub by Lush:

I really like Lush, their products are eco-friendly and cruelty free plus it's made of  natural ingredients. The Ocean Salt Scrub is one of their famous products and my favorite. I have never used something so effective and instant, it takes of all the unnecessary layel and waste on the skin and leaves with a really soft clear face (or body). 

Accessories by Accessorize  :

So I went to Accessorize store recently and I really liked their stuff. They are more durable than other affordable accessories . I picked up some of their  bracelets and have been wearing them every day, very chic and elegant, especially the rose gold hair clip I found , I mean how pretty!

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara:

This is really good for not clumping your eyelashes.  I like how natural it looks and it feels light on your eyes. Very handy for daily usage.

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara:

So when the lady at the store try it on me, it looked absolutely amazing,  it lifted my lashes while separating them. Anyway at home, it is being clumsy somehow. I don't know if I am applying it the wrong way or because it is new it has excess product in the brush. Anyway it is worth the try.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser(Anti-pollution ):

I ran out of the Moisture Surge one, so I decided to try this one. It say that it protects the skin from pollution which I think is very needed. But what I actually like is that it absorbs fast into the skin and doesn't cause any oily face issue.

NYX HD Foundation:

If you have dry patches on your face or a dull complexion , this will be very good for you.  So it gives a fair amount of coverage, but it keeps a subtle glow in the face. Plus it really sinks in to the skin and feels really light on.

XO, Ghinwa 

I've been thinking lately of creating more posts about fashion, not a typical outfit-ideas-type of posts, more like information about the culture, business and academic of the industry. So I am publishing this post first to give you an idea of how this fashion world twirls.

Fashion Levels:

1. The highest level of fashion is Haute Couture. It is the most advanced form of clothing, where every piece takes a lot of craftsmanship and many hours(sometimes 6000hrs) of work. It is definitely the most expensive(100,00$ and up) and the most scarce. Haute Couture focuses mainly on reflecting the artistic and innovative side of each brand.

        There is certain rules Haute Couture houses have to follow. Some of the Haute Couture brands are Elie Saab, Chanel, Christian Dior, Maison Margiela, Ralph and Russo..

                                        Zuhair Murad Fall Couture 2018

     2. Second level comes as Pret-a-porter, or Ready-to-wear(RTW). It is a more wearable and available to people. It is still considered luxury. Pret-a-porter is the most profitable for a brand, because it is more selling and less costable. 

     Pret-a-porter brands are much more than haute couture ones ex: Saint Laurent,  Isabel Marant, Off-White... Some Haute Couture brands produces RTW also like Chanel, Elie Saab,  Versace , Christian Dior.

 

Elie Saab Ready-to-wear  Spring Summer 2019

     3. High end high street/Premium  and Diffusion Brands. Diffusion Brands for example Marc by Marc Jacobs,  Mosccino Cheap and Chic are developed by luxury brands but are cheaper for people to buy. High end high street (Coast, Ted Baker, Reiss... ) have a defined style and a more premium quality. Affordable but of a higher price than high street.

 








Ted Baker

Reiss

       4. High-street and mass market , this is the most affordable level. With brands like Zara, H&M, Top shop, ASOS... These brands in general focuses on producing as much as possible to as many people as possible. Pieces are produced in factories usually by machines. Quality is sometimes sacrificed due to more affordable price tags. 

Fashion Calendar:

Haute Couture brands showcase their pieces in January and July of each year in Paris which is why it's called Paris Fashion Week (PFW).

   July is when they show the following Fall/winter collection, and January is when they show the following Spring/Summer collection.

Pret-a-porter brands showcase their Fall/Winter collection in March and their Spring/Summer collection in the end of September. RTW fashion shows happens in New York, London, Milan, Paris.

So if you love fashion and want to stay up to date with the shows, look up for these 4 months.

From the runway to your closet:

The Fashion shows are usually the hub where designers set trends for upcoming seasons. High street brand sends their people "Fashion Buyers" to identify trends so that they can create something similar or inspired by the runway and display in stores.

For example, animal print was seen multiple times in Ready-to-wear  F/W 2018 shows,

Victoria Beckham F/W 2018

 
Dolce and Gabanna F/W 2018

If you go now(Fall 2018) to stores like Mango, Zara, H&M, Bershka... You will spot many pieces that are animal print and it is not a coincidence.

  Zara Fall 2018

Bloggers and fashion magazines always state the trends for each season and translate them into affordable options.

So there you have it, a small insight into the giant world of today's fashion.

(Photo sources:InstahauteCouture/ Vogue.com /Zara.com)

So the past month I've been buying and trying new products.  Part of the reason for that is because I've been invited to weddings and I was doing my own makeup, which made me excited to try new products.

L'oreal Paris Les Chocolates Liquid Lipsticks 

The ad featuring Camella Cabelo made me really exited about trying these lipsticks . I liked the idea of chocolate scents and chocolate-brown shades. I have Box o chocolate (top) and Volupto Chocolate (down). I have to say these are the longest lasting lipstick, really outstands water and food.. plus it smells like hot chocolate. 

Flomar Metallic Lip Charmer Matte in 02Appealing 

For me,this color is the perfect nude. It isn't very beige which deletes the shape of your lips, it has that brown to it which I love. It really looks good on, and feels light . It last a bit, but not all day. Plus it smells like chocolate !

Flomar liquid eyeliner 

This brand I recently discovered at the mall. Their prices are cheap plus they are good quality. I used this eyeliner every day and it was good, only thing is that it can be smudged easily. 

Maybelline Master conceal and Dream Matte Mouse

I had the Maybelline Matte mouse for a while, but I found myself reaching for it more this month. It saves you from using both foundation and concealer and powder. Plus it gives a good amount of coverage.

The Master Conceal is a new product from Maybelline and has a high level of coverage. The tube and consistency make it easy to use and blend.

Clinique Moisture Surge

I think this moisturiser is going to be my favorite skincare product. I heard really good things about it. I had it for a few days and can already see the difference it made to my skin. This product is suppose to lock moisture into your skin for 72 hours ,in addition to other benefits...

Givenchy Dahlia Divin Perfume pour femme 

This perfume was a gift for my birthday and I really like the packaging of  this perfume. And it's the one I've beenusing throughout September. 

The Fashion Business Manual (Fashionary)

One of my favorite fashion book. The Fashion Business Manual provides really good information about the business part of starting your own brand. I found it really helpful and easy to read, plus it contains many visuals to help understand.

I became obsessed with Sophie Kinsella and Alexandra Potter's books, So I ordered more of their novels that I didn't already have.I read it over the past months and today I will talk about whether I like it or not.

Sophie Kinsella:

My (not so) Perfect Life:

This is a new novel by her, and its my favorie one beside her Shopaholic series. I really like the setting of the story and the way you coukd fell like your living the character's life. Besides it really motivated me to start my career. Very smooth writing. I love!

Can You Keep a Secret?

This novel is going to be made into a movie . I like it , it shows how much people are sometimes not true to what they really want and love.It is funny and entertaining.  Overall, it's fun to read. 

Remember me:

How much can you change over the years. And would you recognise how your life became. That what happened in this novel. Not my favorite novel by Sophie Kinsella, but it is good.

I've Got Your Number:

She lost her engagement ring and her phone , but she found true love. Cute and fun. In general,  Sophie Kinsella's books are easy and entertaining.  I really like them.

Alexanda Potter:

Love from Paris: 

I love love this novel. Super romantic and magical , you will travel with the character throughout France andexperience the magic and strength of love! A must read!

Who's that Girl?

Meeting your younger self and giving her advices . That's what this novel talks about. It is a good novel . Easy and entertaining. 

What's new Pussycat?

Why settle for a boring life? Delilah decided to leave her old life being and start over in London.  But was that the thing she actually wants? This is the only novel in this post that is in the 3rd person point of view.  Which is not my personal  favorite.  

Over the past months I bought some beauty products. Some are things I already use and love, and some are new.

Skin care:

L'oreal Paris Hydra-Total 5 day cream and cleansing milk

This is something I'm experimenting with. I bought it a few days ago because I needed something to moisturize my face. But so far it's good and it is absorbed fast which I love. It is light weight due to its gel consistency. The cleansing milk I haven't try yet, but it is supposed to remove makeup and clean the face gently.

Neutrogena visibly clear daily wash

Neautrogena face washes are my favorites. They always do the job. I've tried some other cleansers but they made my skin dry and irretated. However Neautrogena was suitable for my sensitive skin.

Makeup:

Maybelline Rocket Mascara, Fit me cocealer and baby lips

These are products that are basic and known. I always use them, the mascara is very good and it doesn't clamp. The fit me concealer covers up good and stays there. Baby lips are a known to be good lip balms and I love their packaging.

Lipsticks(H&M, Samoa)

(From left to right) H&M Cream Lip color in So Cocoa 008, Brunette Ambition L.04D, Samoa in Lip Romance 55. 

Basically these are the colors I go for. And I love these three. The H&M ones are sheer, but buildable and they have a sheen into them that I realy love,plus they are light weight and moisturizing.

Somoa is also leight weight and convenient to carry in your bag.

H&M Place in The Sun Glow palette(left)

I love this palette. Perfect for summer. It is subtle and gives a natural sun kissed glow. I would recomment it.

H&M Ready, Set ,Glow Eye Colour Palette(right)

I'm not that good at eyeshadows. But I bought this one because of the nautral, brown colors beacause that's what I prefer. But overall the pigmentation and consistency is good.

Hair products:

H&M Sea Salt Water Spray

This is a product I wanted to try for so long. So when I saw this one I grabed it. It is really good and  what I do is use it on dry hair and it engane your natural curl or I use it athe day after I curl my hair, and it gives it a really nice loose curls

That amazing feeling of summer is finally approaching! Beach,sun and warm summer nights! And what's more fun than preparing for this season? Today I will talk about some things that you can do that will definitely make your summer better.

✨Buy yourself something you want

Just a little thank you for yourself for all the hard work you've done this year, and a little symbol of relaxation and fun! I personally had my eye on this card holder from Victoria's Secret (linked here) and its a really fun color, perfect for summer!

✨Start writing a journal of your summer memories:

As much as this is cliche, but really it is very nice especially when you go back and read all about those memories, really priceless! You can have much fun with buying fun stickers and doodling a little even if your no longer a kid, this is your diary who's to judge.( I bought my stickers out of Aliexpress linked here )

✨Take care of your skin

Sun ,heat and UV rays can damage your skin as you know, so hydrate and moisturize. Do masks often and drink plenty of water.

✨Read a new novel

The relation you build with a book during summer is really special. Probably people tend to relax and have time more, so they really delve into a fun book. And it will be fun to take to the beach, the garden..

✨Switch up your makeup routine

Add some bronze and blush, for a sun-kissed look and highlight. It will look really good and it'll be fun and fresh to change your makeup routine and perhaps try some new products. My favorite thing to do is add contour and blush and a pop of dusty pink eye shadow.

✨Buy new pj's and mug

Something bright and fun! Drop off the same pj's and mugs you've been using all winter and add try something new. Fresh start!

✨Collect magazines

 

Whether its comic, fashion or whatever,they are fun to collect and read. And you will look forward for the upcoming issues. My all time favorite magazine is W.i.t.c.h , I always read it again!

✨Switch up your fragrance

A very easy way to get ready for summer. Choose something light and delicate. I chose Coral Sky by Victoria's Secret.

                                       

XO, Ghinwa