Christmas Gift Guide 2017 | Zafira
Hi and welcome to my blog!
It's insane how fast this year has gone, it's already November and I can feel the Christmas spirit starting to kick in. The atmosphere around this time of year is so lovely and I spend all year just waiting for it. I don't really celebrate Christmas but me and my family do love to do a game of Secret Santa and I love receiving and giving gifts to my friends. Sometimes I really struggle on what to get to get people, it can be quite hard trying to find the perfect git but don't fret! I'm here to help with my ultimate Christmas Gift Guide!
1. Makeup Gift Sets (for the wannabe beauty gurus in your life)
I don't want to stereotype most women and shove this in there but it genuinely is something that most women will love. When buying sets, try to stick to popular and well known brands with a range of various products.
Here's a few that are looking quite good this year:
Makeup Revolution Makeup Set - This is very nicely priced is quite good for younger teens who like experimenting with makeup. It has everything you'd need for a full face of makeup.
Yves Saint Laurent Lip Gift Set - This would be pretty cute for someone special like a wife or girlfriend. YSL is quite an expensive designer brand but the quality is amazing.
NYX Matte vs Metals Vault - I've seen so so so many of these around and these would be perfect for anyone who loves makeup, you get such a great selection of lip shades.
2. Perfume and Candles (for the people that smell in your life)
Everyone likes to smell nice, it's nice to be somewhere that smells nice too. Here's a range of perfumes and candles that are smelling nice this year:
Glossier You Perfume - This is great for those trendy girls out there that like to keep up with stuff going on in the social media world. Glossier is a pretty minimal brand but I smelt a tester of this and it's so so so good. It's a perfect stocking stuffer or a small gift for someone cute (like me)
Yankee Candles - You could buy a Yankee Candle for anyone really, they have a vast range of scents and everyone loves a good candle.
Snowella Fragrance Gift Set - When I was a lot younger, I loved Zoella and this gift set would be perfect for any teen.
3. Jewelry (for the blingy people in your life)
I know this again is quite a stereotypical gift but these are some great places to get some cool and unique pieces:
Piccolina Jewelry - I found this company because they sell a lot of their pieces at COW in Manchester and I've always thought that they'd make such pretty gifts.They're good for anyone that likes to dress indie or even a bit hippie. I think I might have to get myself a few pieces from here soon...
Accessorize Jewelry - I love the jewelry from Accesorize and it's a really good gift to give anyone. They have a vast range of pieces to chose from so there's bound to be something you can find as a gift. I quite like the Z collection as they have a lot of dainty, everyday pieces.
4. Wallets/Purses (for the people who's wallets and purses are hanging on for dear life)
This is such an easy but great gift idea. Everyone needs a place to put their cards and money and the best place I've found to get a range of different ones is at
. They have a bunch of designer ones too that cost no where near their actual retail price and they'll make a wonderful and practical gift.
5. Bags (for the people that have too much stuff to carry in your life)
I appreciate a handy bag much like many others. I think for the special people in your life it's worth getting something that you know will last a long time.
MAHI Leather have a range of bags to suit whoever you're buying the bag for. They're maid to order with full grain cow leather and are up to 50% cheaper than other high street prices. It'll make the perfect gift as you can get the bag with personalised embroidery and a cotton dust cover to protect the bag. Not only will it make a great gift but $1.50 from every bag is donated to the FRANK Water Charity so you'll be helping to fund clean water in India and Nepal.
TK Maxx have such a wide variety of designer bags at such an affordable price compared to the retail price and is one of the best places to buy a bag as a gift or simply for yourself. I buy bags from here all the time because they have any style you could possibly want and everyone loves a good designer bag at a discount price.
Accessorize are not just amazing at jewelry but they have the prettiest of bags. I really adore their clutch bags as they're perfect for so many occasions and would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys a good night out. They also have a range of travel, day, totes and much more to help you find something that fits the style of the person you want to gift it to!
6. Terrariums (for the plant loving millennials in your life)
I like a good terrarium. I think they're super cute and perfect for anywhere in the house. Whilst browsing for some gifts, I found this super cool
which would be a super cute gift for anyone.
7. Retro Games (for the gaming nerds in your life)
I was browsing around in Urban Outfitters the other day and I came across the most amazing thing ever. It was a little mini Tamagotchi style toy which made me have a little epiphany and realise that little gadgets like that could be such an amazing gift.
Here are some pretty cool ones that make me feel like the 90s kid I never was:
Pixapet - it's basically a Tamagotchi that comes in some cute colours.
8. Neon Lights (for the people that need you to
light up their world like nobody else
)
Ornaments are a quite a nice gift to give but sometimes, you just need something with a little more life. I have always felt like I've needed a neon flamingo light in my room and in my late night window shopping sesh, I found such a good Christmas gift along with a couple of other amazing gifts.
Neon Flamingo (you and I both need this)
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Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette Review, Swatches + Looks! | Zafira
Hi!
For my birthday, I was kindly gifted the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette from my cousin and since then, I've pretty much been using it everyday which is why I thought I that I would share it on here! I've never been an eyeshadow kind of girl, I usually just put a bit of bronzer or my contour shade on my eyelid and blend it out but once I started playing around with this palette, I fell in love instantly.
From what I've learnt in the makeup world (which honestly is not a lot) is that Zoeva is mostly really popular due to their brushes which I haven't tried but from the using this palette and seeing how good quality it is, maybe I will have to give them a go.
The packaging is super cute, but the one thing that stood out the most was how thin and lightweight it was. It's not bulky whatsoever which makes it perfect for travelling and on the go. There's no mirror which is kind of annoying but the eyeshadows definitely make up for that.
The product contains 10 shades which are:
Bitter Start - Palest matte nude.
Sweeter End - Shimmering duo chrome nougat.
Warm Notes - Glittering cranberry purple.
Subtle Blend - Metallic deep bronze.
Beans Are White - Deep cocoa brown matte.
Pure Ganache - Pure and luxurious metallic gold.
Substitute For Love - Toffee brown with subtle shimmer.
Freshly Toasted - Rich mahogany brown.
Infusion - Matte dark brown infused with golden glitter.
Delicate Acidity - Berry toned brown shimmer.
I think these are all quite versatile colours and can be used either day or night and for any occasion. My personal faves are Freshly Toasted and Infusion. All these colours are pretty warm toned and would look amazing on any skin colour. On the website the palette is described to be inspired by '
warm truffle colours, delicate nougat shades and shimmery marizinpan tones for a seductive glamour look
' which is very evident in the range of shades,
The colours are pretty pigmented especially for the price but nothing crazy which makes them really effortless to blend. They aren't chalky at all and swatch and apply very very very smoothly. They have no fall out whatsoever which is amazing and is the perfect affordable high quality palette!
Just look at how beautiful that pink looks! As you can tell, I've been trying out this palette and I'm pretty much in love with it.
'Pure Ganache' is another one of my favourite colours, it's such a pigmented and lovely gold shade.
The two shades I use the most are definitely 'Subsitute for Love' and 'Freshly toasted with the tiniest bit of 'Pure Ganache' in the inner corners but most of the time I usually use a bit of my Mary Lou Manizer in the inner corners also for a less intense look. A warm orangey/brown eye has been in since Autumn and I still see so many people with this look and the Zoeva Cocoa Blend palette is a great way to achieve it! I've pretty much been wearing this look everyday since my birthday. It's the perfect everyday eye.
Another look I've been adoring and wearing especially when there's a special occasion or event is using 'Freshly Toasted' in the crease and 'Pure Ganache' all over the lid as well as the tiniest bit of 'Subtle Blend' on the outer corner of the eye just to darken the gold shade. Throw on a bit of eyeliner and some mascara, maybe even some falsies if you're in the mood and it's the easiest look for any special occasion.
This is a look that I've been dying to wear but I've just not had the occasion or the chance to but it's so so so pretty, look at that pink! The shades I used for this look were a mixture of 'Substitute for Love' and 'Freshly Toasted' in the crease and then I packed 'Warm Notes' all over lid. It looks really cute and fun and girly and the pigmentation is amazing.
Overall, I'm blown away my this palette and I can't wait to start trying out a lot more Zoeva prodcuts, I'm thoroughly impressed!
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Get to Know Me | Zafira
Hey ❀
It's a sad, gloomy Saturday afternoon and the weather has put me in such a relaxed yet creative mood and I've been making notes and plans like crazy for this blog and also some photography projects. I'm so excited for the future of this blog! Today I decided that I would do a get to know me tag. I've had this blog for a year now (whoop whoop!!!) and I don't think that you know me very well. I think it's about time you get to know who I am. Enjoy ♡
What is your name?
My name is Zafira Ahmed if you couldn't already tell by the title of this bloggie.
What is your favourite subject in school?
I really enjoy art now. I consider myself a very creative person so me and art go together very well. It's a great way to express yourself.
What’s your favourite song at the moment?
I can never just have one favourite. I'm liking 3 songs right now and these are...
- Alive by Sia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2NgsJrrAyM
- Heartstrings by Leighton Meester
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUoKS89yZiU
- Technicolour Beat by Oh Wonder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FfYWp_d5w
What’s your favourite book?
I have two and these are Girl Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen and Misery by Stephen King.
What are you reading at the moment?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
What’s your favourite colour?
I love most shades of blue. Especially navy blue and turquoise.
What’s your favourite animal?
I'm not a huge fan of that many animals but I adore wolves. I think that they're so beautiful and majestic.
What’s your favourite perfume?
Flower by Kenzo is definitley one of them. I featured the miserable empty bottle on my vintage collection blog post last month.
Click here if you haven't read it yet!
It's smells very clean and fresh.
It's a really nice everyday scent. I also love J'adore by Dior. This is more of a floral scent and the bottle for it is so pretty.
Do you speak any other languages?
Yep I speak Bengali as well as English.
Do you have any siblings?
A younger brother who is 10.
What’s your favourite store?
I really TK Maxx or TJ Maxx as they call it in America. It's a great place to buy branded things for less.
Do you like school?
Erm NO. I dread going everyday and I pretty much hate it when I'm there 99% of the time but I know it'll be worth it in the end when I get my GCSEs.
Who are some of your favourite YouTubers?
I have so many but here's three of my current faves:
- The Michalaks are absolutely amazing. They are small family consisting of the lovely Hannah, the hilarious Stef and little Grayson and the quality of their vlogs are phenomenal.
It's literally like watching a mini movie of their lives every Sunday. And THEY'RE DOING VLOGMAS!
Check them out:
-
Samantha Maria (previously known as beautycrush) is probably my favourite fashion blogger as well as Youtuber. Her style and taste in fashion is stunning and she always looks incredible.
Check her out here:
-
Meghan Rienks is my last fave at the moment. She is so down to Earth and also so funny. I've really enjoyed watching her for the past couple of months.
Check her out here:
What’s your favourite movie?
I LOVE anything by Wes Anderson. His movies are so beautiful and vintagey. They are really quirky too and my favourites so far are The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel. I really like Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting too. Requiem for a Dream is the stroy of 4 drug addicts and how their addiction progresses and Trainspotting is similar but more about overcoming an addiction.
What TV shows are you currently watching?
I'm now watching Empire, Suits, Scream Queens and Twin Peaks whenever I'm free. They're all really wonderful TV shows.
What phone do you have?
I have the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini.
What colour are your eyes?
I have really dark brown eyes, sometimes they even look black. It's kinda cool.
When is your birthday?
June 24th. I have the same birthday as Gustav Wood from Young Guns and also Mindy Kaling.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?
I'd love to go to Italy, especially Florence. It seems like such a dreamy, serene place and I can't wait to go one day.
Who are your favourite band?
Brand New and The NBHD are joint first on my list of favourite bands. Both very different but still amazing bands.
Favourite photographers?
A majority of my favourite photographers are on instagram but one photographer that has always stood out to me is David Bailey. He was a big hit in the 60-70s and I fell in love with his portraits of Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton.
If there are any more questions you'd like to know the answers to then feel free to leave them down below on Instagram!
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