GRWM: Autumn Editon | Zafira
Hey!
Ever since I posted my summer GRWM in July, I've had a few messages asking if I would do more videos like that and honestly, I wasn't planning to since not a lot changes in my day to day makeup routine. But a few days ago, I was looking over photographs from over the summer and I look like a completely different person. It's crazy how much can change in a matter of months.
I decided to make another GRWM anyway but an Autumn edition. I would love to do these seasonally so I'll see how this one goes and make my mind up from there. I'm trying to get into doing and trying new things so maybe these GRWMs will be a good reason to try things (at least on my face).
Here's a list of everything I used in the vid:
Superdrug Vitamin E Mist
Mon Amour Lipbalm by Rejjie Snow x Neighbourhood Botanicals
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 350 Caramel
Collection Loose Powder in Translucent
Revolution Contour Palette in Medium
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Revolution Palette in Newtrals 2 (blush & eyeshadow)
Revolution Soph Palette (gold eyeshadow)
NYX Professional Tame & Frame Brow Pomade in Black
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome
Barry M Lip Liner in Chocolate
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Summer GRWM | Zafira
Hey!
I did a poll quite a while ago over on my Instagram asking what sort of video you would like to see next and the one that got the most votes was a summer get ready with me. My first ever YouTube video was a very glitchy grwm and a lot of people enjoyed that so I thought it would be perfect to an updated summer edition to switch it up a bit.
PRODUCTS USED:
Superdrug Vitamin E Mist
Burts Bees Lipbalm in Pomegranate
Bare Minerals Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in Bare Espresso
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 350 Caramel
Collection Loose Powder in Translucent
Revolution Contour Palette in Medium
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Revolution Palette in Newtrals 2 (blush)
Zoeva Cocoa Blend Pallete - only used Substitute for Love
NYX Professional Tame & Frame Brow Pomade in Black
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara in Black
The Body Shop Lip Liner from about 10 years ago sorry this isn't available but any red lip liner will be more than okay
Max Factor Long Lasting Lipfinity Lipstick in Ever Sumptuous
I hope you enjoyed it!
Lots of love,
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Music of the Month: April | Zafira
Hey!
I'm back with another music of the month! It's crazy that I last did one of these January but to be quite honest, my music choices haven't had a big change until mid April. When I'm working, I usually like to just listen to older songs so not much varied into what I was listening to. But, in April, many many many amazing people released so much new stuff and I fell in love with most of it. Here are some of the wonderful songs I've been enjoying recently.
Since the sun is beaming outside whilst I'm writing this, I guess it's only appropriate to put this first on my list. This is my new song for summer. It gets me in the happiest of moods and 'Hunnybee' is such a cute word. I haven't really been as into Unknown Mortal Orchestra's newest album but this song is most definitely an exception.
I am absolutely smitten with Anderson.Paak. Whenever I listen to anything by him, it just immediately puts me in the happiest of moods. This is another song I'll be playing all summer.
I've loved $uicideBoy$ for quite some time now. They're pretty depressing, I mean their group name has the word suicide in it but I can't get enough of them. This has a pretty cheerful rhythm but the lyrics are not so cheerful. It's a strange mix. A good mix.
I can't believe Billie is only 16. How does a 16 year old even have so much talent like she does?! This song is so soft and it's just so so so so dreamy. I love everything about it.
Kali released a new album this April and not only was the album cover stunning but the songs were a solid 11/10. This one happens to be my fave.
Rich Brian is not only funny and adorable but just so talented. I l o v e everything he's ever released and this is his most recent and I can't stop listening to it.
This is most likely the weirdest song on this entire list but it's just so good. I recently found an 1 hour version and YouTube and yes, I listened to the entire thing. I even put it on repeat for another 3 hours and I do not regret anything. My favourite part of the entire song is the "I like to watch you run but I'll never touch your bum" bit. It's quite sweet.
Even though Kanye has pretty much lost the plot, I've been listening to him a lot over the past few weeks. Especially the 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' album. I forgot this song existed for a while but it appeared on one of my daily mixes on Spotify and I had forgot how much I love this.
I've been obsessed with this version of Herside Story that was performed on Triple J and the guy that sings the intro bit to the song had this beauuuuuutiful voice. I searched him up and listened to some of his stuff and I fell in love. 'No Longer Lovers' just happens to be my all time fave.
Fyfe and Peaks have released some wonderful stuff recently and I love 'Love Hurts'. It's quite a sad song but it's just perfect for one of those mellow and chill days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Brp16poGww
Lots of love,
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What's in My Bag? | Zafira
Hi!
I think that one of the very first YouTube beauty guru-esque videos I watched was a 'What's in My Bag' and I think I've been dying to do one ever since. A couple of months ago, I was kindly gifted the most beautiful satchel from MAHI Leather and ever since then, I've been using it pretty much everyday.
This has been my life saver since mid November. It fits everything I could possibly need for a busy day at college or even shooting. This is the Harvard Satchel in black. I decided on black because I knew that it would match my outfits a lot better than brown. It has a small compartment at the front where I dump stuff that I need easy access to so my bus pass, keys etc. It has a small zipped compartment at the back which I use occasionally but it's mainly full of receipts. Inside, there's so much space I'm sure I could fit a small child in there. It has two big compartments and then a little zipped compartment which I use for some back up film rolls, SD cards and anything else along those lines.
Here's a shot of it on film, I think it truly helps to fulfill the whole photographer aesthetic I'm aiming for. (and it matches my Doc Martens so well!)
Here's a few things I carry on a daily basis...
1. Lip balm
I don't think I ever leave the house without lip balm, even if I don't have a bag with me I'll usually slip one in my pocket. This is the watermelon flavoured lip balm from Oliver Bonas. It's smells so good, like if summer had a scent, this would totally be it. It's has such a good consistency and looks super adorable. It's my perfect lip balm.
I can only find the pomegranate one online so you can buy that here:
https://www.oliverbonas.com/gift/pomegranate-lip-balm-50676
2. Film Camera
I'm trying to get into the habit of carrying a camera around to capture memories, moments and anything cool and exciting really. I've been in love with this baby for so long now I can never seem to leave the house without it anymore. This is the Canon 300 and it most likely has a roll of the Fujifilm Superia 200 in it. I adore film. I finish college in a few weeks and I've just been trying to capture moments with my friends and they're just somewhat more special when I take them on film.
3. Lipsticks (usually about 20 shoved into the front pocket)
I don't really touch up on my makeup throughout the day but the one thing I will end up re-applying a couple of times a day is lipstick. I drink coffee a lot and my lipstick usually rubs off on the coffee cups so I'll always have a nice selection of lipsticks to re-apply. Here I have NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams in Rome and Budapest, Barry M Lip Paint in Genie which I don't even think I've worn yet and then an old Nina Ricci lipstick that is ancient but the colour is too pretty to throw away.
4. Mirror & Keys
This vintage mirror was actually given to me for free at a car boot sale. it's really pretty and I just love vintage items. I carry a mirror because I can't stop staring at myself and my keys are quite self explanatory. I need to them to get in and out of my house.
5. Purse
This bright mustard purse was a completely random purchase. I needed a purse so I went to TK Maxx and this Visconti purse caught my eye and I impulsively ended up buying it. I'm usually not a bright colour wearing person but something about this purse really captured my gaze.
6. Body Mist
I enjoy smelling nice so I'll have a couple of random body mists or sprays in my bag. I'm not a huge fan of carrying perfume bottles around just because they're so bulky and I'm always scared they're going to end up breaking and spilling all over my work. This So...? body mist in Fresh Floral is just a very cheap body mist I picked up in Superdrug to throw into my bag. Considering it cost under £2, it smells amazing and so clean and fresh which is something I'm always looking for in a scent.
7. Bobby Pins
The bottom of my bag consists of so many of these. No matter how hard I try to be organised and put them into little bags or pouches, they always end up escaping somehow.
8. SD Card & USB Stick
I think most students carry USB sticks with them, it's just very handy when saving work. Since I do photography as a subject at college, an SD card is a necessity but also great when I'm out and about shooting. Just like the bobby pins, there's usually so many just piling up at the bottom of my bag.
8. Pencil Case
As a photography, English Language and English Literature student, there is never not a moment where I don't need a pen or some sort of writing/drawing material. I got this pencil case a couple of years ago in Wilkos.
9. Hand Cream
I think I wash my hands more than anyone ever should. I wash my hands before and after everything I do and they always end up feeling pretty dry. This is the Zoella Wonder Hand Mosturising Hand Cream and it's okay. I was using one that I picked up at TK Maxx which was my absolute fave but that ran out a few days ago and this is just my back up for now.
10. A Book (sometimes several)
I used to be a huge book worm but these days, I can't seem to find the time or patience to read. However, there are moments when I feel like reading and it's just very handy to have a book in my bag just so I'm not completely bored. I wanted to start reading more of the cult classics and I thought 1984 was a pretty good place to start. Since I'm a literature student, I'm usually carrying books that we're studying alongside whatever I'm reading in my own time too.
11. Sunglasses
I'm aware that currently in the UK, the mini Beast from the East has hit us and it's covered in snow outside, but sunglasses are such a perfect accessory for any and every outfit. It's just handy to have them in case the sun decides to come out of hiding or to complete my look for that particular day. These are some very cheap sunnies from Primark that I've had for years.
12. Glasses
So I'm a bit blind. I've been wearing glasses on and off since I was 3 and they're a necessity because I'm short sighted and can usually never see anything. These have a very grandma vibe which is something I'm quite liking at the minute. These are from Specsavers.
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Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thezafiraedit
Photography Tumblr:
Personal Tumblr:
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zafiraahmed/
:
https://twitter.com/zphotographya
Youtube:
tube.com/channel/UCjKMuZ_l3W8Y3mAnxJqUdnQ
Zafira
x
Music of the Month: January | Zafira
(the main reason I make playlists is so I can use my own pictures for the cover picture)
This. Month. Has. Felt. So. Long.
Hi! January is finally over and it's February. For some time now, I've wanted to do a post like this one because music is such a big part of my life. I'm always listening to music, whether I'm working or staring at the ceiling, there's always something playing the background. I have a playlist for every occasion and mood but, my absolute favourite ones are my monthly playlists. I have quite a wide music taste, it changes all the time and I thought it would be quite an interesting thing to share.
Here are some of the songs that I've really enjoyed this month:
After the whole 'whip my hair' thing, I was 98% sure I wasn't going to ever hear anything remotely decent by Willow but her newest music has proved me completely wrong. Some of my favourites are Wait a Minute, 9 and Israel. Her voice is so sweet and amazing. When I heard Jaden Smith's album SYRE a couple months ago and heard her on it and I was so shocked. She has the voice of a literal angel.
Wait a Minute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYCHbOTab4
9:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usuHRa9MNIc
Israel:
When Saturation III came out in December, I was so hooked, the obsession carried on into this month. I had heard a couple of their songs here and there over the past couple of years but Saturation III was the first album of theirs that I had listened to all the way through. This month I've been trying to listen to couple more and so far I completely adore TOKYO, SWEET and BOOGIE.
TOKYO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLspqhIoJQQ
SWEET:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nDsnJH30fs
BOOGIE:
The Neighbouhood released a new EP this month and I fell in love with their stuff like I always do. I'm pretty sure I sat and listened to the entire To Imagine album on repeat for an entire week this month. It's some good stuff.
Jorja Smith recently released a song with Stormzy called 'Let Me Down' and it's insanely good. I never thought I'd ever be listening to anything with Stormzy in just because usually it isn't the type of music I find appealing. But, he was so good in this song and his voice goes really well with Jorja's. It's a banger.
Let Me Down:
I always thought BORNS was just another typical indie band but when I saw the lead singer in a dashing Gucci suit on the front cover of the Blue Madonna album, I was intrigued and couldn't help but give them a listen. They're so great. My favourite song of the album so far is Iceberg.
Iceberg:
One of Kevin's songs was on my Spotify daily mixes sometime last month and I loved it. It was Miserable America and I was enjoying it so much I forgot to add it to my songs. A couple of weeks passed and I was humming the song trying to figure out what it was. Turns out, all I had to do was type America into my Spotify search and there it was, waiting for me to listen to it.
Miserable America:
I used to listen to quite a lot of Pvris a few years ago and I remember being completely in love with their Spotify acoustic sessions. I don't really know why I stopped listening to them but when I was browsing through old playlists, I rediscovered them and checked if they had anything new out and found a couple of jewels. Same Soul is such a beautiful song, I listen to it so many times a day and I love love love it.
Same Soul:
Rejjie Snow came out with Dear Annie Pt 1 this month and it's some of his best stuff. I love the album cover, it's what made me want to listen to it even more. I know they say not to judge a book by it's cover but I can't help it. It's quite an aesthetic album cover. The songs on it are just as good as the cover itself, they're amazing. My no.1 fav is currently Egyptian Luvr.
Egyptian Luvr:
I think I first heard of Young Fathers from the Trainspotting 2 Soundtrack. I loved loved loved Get Out and I still listen to it pretty frequently now. It's just one of those songs that I'll never get bored of. In My View was on one of my daily mix playlists and the first few seconds made me immediately add into my own library. It's such a good song and I know I'll be listening to it for a very long time.
Get Out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7UmjvbmHQM
In My View:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQFPikYSalg
If you're interested in some more of my music faves this month, you can check out my January playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/user/11144523237/playlist/
I also post a lot of my favourite songs over on my Instagram stories so go follow me on there for more!
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November & October on Film | Zafira
I'm back with another one of these film blog posts!
In my September post I said I'd combine the film shots from October and November because I knew it'd be a hectic couple of months. But, it's December and I'm finally on a fresh roll of film and I've finally gotten round to getting my previous roll developed and scanned in!
October was pretty uneventful, I was feeling quite uninspired but a day out with my cousins shopping in Manchester slowly changed that. It was nice to be out and about. I think I'd like to do some sort of film series based in Manchester, I have lived here my entire life and I've only just started to explore it.
This bin was looking particularly photogenic I couldn't help but take a picture.
At the beginning of November, I spent a weekend in Birmingham with family to mainly look at BCU as I'm applying there, but it was also really nice to just explore Birmingham a little bit since it could possibly be my home for the next 3 years. This is the Bullring and I love how it looks.
Whilst in Birmingham, I spent some quality time with these two cuties.
Since when did My Little Ponies look like this?
It was Bonfire night when I was still in Birmingham and these shots are pretty decent considering I had no tripod.
This bathroom was really nice but you can't see.
These are pretty underexposed but they have a bit of gloomy vibe and I appreciate some good old Mughal era paintings. This was when me and my family went out to eat in Birmingham.
We went out to local park and took a nice stroll and my little cousin Liyana helped me take some pretty shots.
I've spent the last two months in these amazingly comfy pants from Zara and making this glum face too.
I quite like this even though it's heavily under exposed.
I'm usually never home until after the sun sets except from on the weekends but I spent most of the weekends in my soft office. I luckily caught this shot and the these lovely warm tones it. It makes me feel really nostalgic.
Towards the end of November, it really felt like Winter.
We had a little baby shower for my Auntie at the end of November and there were a bunch of leftover desserts so I bought some in for my friends Sanjida and Cherie. They loved them.
One of my favourite portrait shots I've ever taken on film.
This is the best purchase of the year I think. I bought it from the little boys section in H&M for the bargain price of £14 and even though it's for 14 yrs +, it's quite big and over sized and has kept me warm over the past couple of weeks.
I was kindly gifted this
and it's the perfect bag for me. It matches everything I wear and has tons of space in which is perfect for me because I now use it for college. It's handiest, prettiest satchel I've ever set my eyes on. Expect a 'What's in My Bag' coming very very soon!
My walls are slowly starting to get completely covered in my film shots.
Kitty is the real star of the show in these film blog posts. I might have bribed her with some string but she's just so photogenic. A film roll isn't complete without her pretty face on it.
Make sure to follow me on social media to stay updated!
September on Film | Zafira
Hi!
I'm back with another post in my film series! I'm quite aware it's mid October, well pretty much past mid at this point but I've been insanely busy at college but I've finally found a little bit of time to show you a couple of snaps I took during the month of September!
All I can remember from September was the stress of being back at college, writing my personal statement and catching up with all my amazing friends. It's weird how fast college has gone, this is my last year and I want to treasure every moment possible.
This is Britt, she smells nice.
I'm currently trying to jazz my room up a bit. It looks quite plain so I stuck pretty much all my film shots up on my walls and it looked quite cute. I think I'll probably end up getting some fairy lights too just to complete that ever so 'Tumblr' look.
This is Cherie and Sanjida. They make college that little bit more bearable.
Here's a snap of Cherie looking cute as per usual.
Lydia and Jazmine having waay too much fun in the art department.
Another cat one. We've become particularly close over the past few days. I often find that when I come home, he/she is waiting for me outside my window.
My mum likes buying fresh flowers every week.
I'm Asian of course my house contains at least one chili plant.
We have a little bit of a jungle theme going on in our living room, it's very nice and relaxing.
Sparkly macaroons are apparently a thing?
Me in the only shirt I seem to own. I don't even look like myself in this it's strange.
I took this on the way home from college. I spend too much of my life sat on a bus.
Since I had experimented a lot this month, a lot of my shots were pretty much under exposed but it's all good, I've got a fresh roll and I'm excited to shoot again. I think I'm going to merge October and November together so get ready for a nice chunky post!
Remember to follow me on all my social media to stay updated and to see some cool behind the scenes and extra shots!
How to Stay Organised | Zafira
Hello!
The most difficult thing I find about being at college is definitely trying to stay organised. It can get pretty messy with the work load and trying to manage some sort of system that helps you get everything done. But I'm in my second year of college and I've finally found a few tips that have really helped me stay on track!
1. Move out of your soft office.
We all love our beds. I love mine dearly and I think I spend the majority of my life in my bed. However, when you're working, the last thing you want to be is chill and sleepy. Separate your bed from your work life, it'll make your bed more of the sanctuary and place of rest that it's supposed to be rather than a place of work. It's a really hard move to make but it will definitely help you stay focused whilst working.
2. Make sure your work place is clean, minimal and tidy.
I have only just started to use my desk properly this year and I wish I would have used it sooner. I used to use it as a place to dump all my crap such as books but this year I though I'd tidy it up and make it a decent place to work. Wherever you're working should be clean and tidy, try and move things that are distracting away from your work area and keep it as minimal as possible. As they say 'tidy desk, tidy mind' and it's 100% true.
3. Pack your bag the night before.
I used to pack my bag the morning of school but ever since I've started college, I've been doing it the night before and it's saved me so so so much time in the morning. Give yourself about 15 minutes the night before school, college or uni to pack all your essentials just so you're completely ready for the day. This bag is from River Island btw and I think I've been using it for like 4 years now. I'm very surprised it's even lasted this long.
5. Plan your outfits the night before.
This is sort of on the same lines as packing your bag the night before. It will save you so much more time in the morning to fully prepare yourself for a day in hell but at least this way you'll be looking extra cute even though you're in pain. This jumper is from Bershka and is the comfiest thing I own. It isn't available anymore but you can buy a very very similar one here:
https://www.zaful.com/lantern-sleeve-mock-neck-sweater-p_379337.html
6. Keep a copy of your timetable at home & a calendar to fill in for the month.
Keeping a copy of your timetable at home is pretty useful especially when it comes to knowing what lessons you have, when work is due and what to pack for the day. On my timetable, I've colour coordinated my lessons so when I fill in my diary/planner or my to do list, I use that certain colour so I know it's associated with that certain subject. Usually I'd just make my own on Word but this time I just printed a couple off Google Images, there's a lot of different cute ones. Calendar wise, print one that has boxes for everyday of the month so you can fill in what work is due and important dates. The most satisfying thing to do at the end of the day is to put a nice big red 'x' through that day's box.
7. Get a diary/planner.
A planner or diary for the year is a necessity. Not only do they help keep you organised but they're so much fun to shop for since they come in so many different styles, designs and structures. I got mine from TK Maxx and it's A6 sized so it's so easy to take with me everyday. I fill in everything in here, whether it's homework, university associated stuff or even appointments. I love cats.
8. Make lists of everything you need to do.
My friend Cherie bought me a couple of these cute notebooks whilst she was on holiday and they've been amazingly handy. I like making lists. Whatever the situation is, I'll most likely make a list whether it's a pro or cons or a list of stuff to take on holiday or in this case, a list of work I need to do. Usually I'll make one for the week and one for the weekend. This notebook is quite handy since at the top it has little section to fill in the date so you know what you're on but just any notebook will do or you can even get yourself a to do list pad.
9. Post stick notes are your best friends.
I don't think I would have even survived my first year without these. I stick these e v e r y w h e r e. I am an organised person because of these. I use them to write down important work that's due, to highlight sections I need to revise in books, important areas in books, the list is honestly endless. They will be your saviour for the rest of your life in education.
I hope this gave you a few ideas on how to get your life somehow together, don't worry if it isn't perfectly organised, mine isn't and I can assure you that no one else's is 100% organised either 😏
Follow me on social media to stay updated!
Summer on Film | Zafira
Hi!
So I've decided to start a new series on here. I'm going to start doing a blog post about whatever month it is but shot in film. I hope it gets me experimenting with film a lot more and also one thing I really love doing is talking about my photographs and why I took them which is why this series is pretty much perfect. I love love film. I can't even get over how much I adore shooting on it. I'm always trying to find new and fun ways to document my life and so far, using film has been my absolute fave. I just love how it looks and shooting on it is so so so much more fun that digital. It's exiciting, you don't know what the outcome is going to be.
The first post in this series are some shots I took over summer, I honestly didn't get out much. I spent a lot of time travelling to see family but I was either indoors or in a car most of the time or just at home lazing around.
Here are some of my favourites from over this summer!
Like I mentioned earlier, I want to document my life and I feel like I've currently hit my peak teen years, next year I'm going to be an adult which I don't even wanna talk about. But here's the door to my room which makes me feel so young and childish and I love it.
I own a troll that looks like a roadman. I don't really know why I bought this but it's sat on a shelf in my room looking quite cute.
I remember I took this when the weather because extremely bipolar and it was raining cats and dogs once minute and the next it was so sunny. You can see the grey clouds clearing in the top of the picture. I love taking pictures of the sky.
Just the view outside my bedroom window.
I wanted to take a picture of the moon but obviously considering it was the middle of the night and it was pitch black, the picture didn't come out as great as I had visioned it too but it still looks semi cool.
Here's my cat that isn't actually my cat. I think it belongs to our neighbour but it seems to love me a lot.
Here's my cousin looking pretty cute, I spent a lot of time with family this summer and it was really nice.
A cute tiny little vase thing with flowers in with pink water because my obsession with pink has honestly hit a new level of extreme where I'm basically killing all my plants with this pink water that consists of paint.
I also bought a hat (from New Look) and this shirt (from Zara, also in my prev blog post) which I wore like everyday. It's a cute combo.
I also took this on digital which you can see over on my Instagram, links to everything will be at the end of this post.
Of course there was some pictures of the lovely Hannah on my camera as always. She's my go to model and I had to take some images for my photography project for college. These film ones are quite blurry because I didn't use lighting and I didn't really want that artificial look to them. But, I really like the different tones and hues in these and I don't mind the blurryness at all. These were all inspired by the photographer
.
Here's a behind the scenes of the star face shot, this is my fave image I've ever taken.
Also for my college photography project, I had to choose another phtotographer and create images inspired by them. So I chose
and here's a behind the scenes. If you check out my Instagram, you can see one of the final versions from this set! Links to all my social media will be at the end of this post.
It was Eid on September 1st and here's me looking overly happy in my Eid outift.
I took this the day before college started, pretty sure I was procrastinating and avoiding all the work I had to do.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram and my other social media to find out when I post the next post in this series and when I just post in general!
The Start of Something New | Zafira
Hi guys!
You're probably like wth is this blog post all about but finally after a long time of over thinking, I've decided to properly start my own YouTube channel. It's something I've always wanted to do ever since I started watching YouTube videos, the process of creating new content whether it's a video or a picture makes me extremely happy and excited. I'm overjoyed to join another platform where I can express myself. I'm not sure how often I'm going to be uploading but I'll try and get some vids uploaded whenever I can. In the meantime, enjoy this glitchy get ready with me which was so awkward to film lol.
PRODUCTS USED IN THE VID:
Carmex Cherry Lip Balm
Superdrug Vitamin E Mist
Freedom Pro Conceal Palette in Medium/Dark
Bare Minerals Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in Bare Espresso
Collection Pressed Powder in Misty Beige
Sleek Face Form Contour Kit in Medium
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Revolution Blush in Sugar
Zoeva Cocoa Blend Pallete - only used Freshly Toasted
NYX Professional Tame & Frame Brow Pomade in Black
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara in Black
Barry M Lip Liner in No.6
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome
Follow me on social media to stay updated!
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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Some Cute Pants That I've Been Loving | Zafira
Hello!
This is kind of weird but recently, I've just been loving pants. I'm usually the sort of person that wears black jeans and whenever I wore blue ones I felt like I was taking the biggest step out of comfort zone. But I feel like over the past few months, all these funky pants have become a sudden interest to me and I've been trying to switch it up from the usual plain black jeans.
Monochrome Elephant Pants:
These are actually pants that I got made in Bangladesh about 2 years ago in the style of these pants that I had bought but didn't quite fancy the print of. These pants are so comfy and perfect for summer coming up. I usually lounge around the house in these but looking at this picture is making me want to wear them out because they look really good with my Docs. I remember these elephant pants being a thing about 2 years ago but I still think they're really nice and good for hot days.
Pink Pants:
These pretty pink pants are actually jeggings which I didn't own at all but when I tried these on in
, they just fit extremely well. I have such an issue with pants not fitting perfectly but these just look so good and the ankle area fit really well today. I pretty much only bought these to match my infamous pink jacket that the entire world always sees me in but I feel like these pants are so good for Spring/Summer because of the colour. I'm in love with this sort of blush/peachy pink shade, I feel like it suits me really well.
Jazzy Pans:
These were in my last haul but my oh my are they a beauty. I feel like these are the perfect way to look dressy but not like overly dressy. I usually wear them with my docs and a nice velvet tee for some extra umf but these are such a good item of clothing to have. I got these Miss Selfridge but they aren't for sale anymore.
Greyish Culottes:
Culottes are very trendy and popular right now in the world of fashion and they're just lovely to wear. I got these bad bois from
and they feel like I'm wearing PJ pants all day. I feel like when you wear them, you look effortlessly put together and it looks you've tried really hard even though you haven't. I also think these are lovely for the Spring/Summer time because of how flowy they are. Very very very cute.
Kinda Pink/Brown Pants:
These were actually my aunties but she kindly gave them to me cos she's lovely. These are from New Look but they're so old that they still have the old New Look label on them. I think these look really cute and kind of formal. I usually wear them with a black turtle neck and my Docs and I'll have this cute photographer aesthetic going on but I wore them with vans the other day and it was such a chilled, casual outfit.
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Prom! | Zafira
Hello!
So I decided to this weeks blog post on prom. I had my prom on Friday 15th July and it was probably one of the best days in my life! I had so much fun with all my friends dancing the night away and just enjoying myself. I thought it would be quite cool to try out a lookbook sorta thing with this post and show you what I wore, how I did my makeup and jewelry!
M A K E U P :
For the base I used:
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Priming Base - I don't wear primer because I usually don't wear enough makeup to need a primer but this is decently priced and does the job. I applied it around my nose and on my forehead where I get shiny the most.
Bare Minerals Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in the shade Bare Espresso - I'm not much of a foundation person, on a daily basis I'll usually just use concealer and a pressed powder with a little colour or just the powder on its own but when I found this foundation I was so happy. It's very very very light, I felt like I had nothing on all day. It's very liquidy so you can tell it's going to light. The coverage is amazing too, it's very buildable but I'm not a huge fan of full coverage so I usually only stick to one thin layer. The only issue I had with this is that it's not a long wearing foundation. When I came home after prom, I saw that areas like my chin and parts of cheeks had little or no foundation on them.
Freedom Pro Conceal Palette in the shade Medium/Dark - This is the second palette I've owned of this concealer and I love it! Again, I'm not a huge fan of full coverage but this covers enough and Freedom do a huge range of colours that suit many different skin tones which is amazing.
Collection Pressed Powder in Misty Beige - This is a pretty good, cheap drugstore powder as it only costs around £2. It doesn't have a very orangey undertone which is great and keeps your makeup in place. I just wish that I used it all over my face at prom rather than in certain areas.
Sleek Cream Contour Kit in Medium - This is a really good drugstore cream contour, I love the variation of shades and how you get a range of highlights and contour colours.
Sleek Face Form Contour Kit in Medium- This is my all time fave contour and highlight. More contour as you can see from the first picture as I've used nearly all of it up. I love this so much!
For brushes I used:
Real Techniques Core Collection - I love this collection. It has every brush I would need to do my base makeup and it comes with a case and I think it's very handy to have this.
Sleek 7 Piece Brush Set - As you can tell, I don't have all the brushes from the set in the pictures as I only use the eye ones and the blush brush which is use for putting powder on or highlight. They also fit pretty snug into the Real Techniques case so I have all the brushes that I need in one place.
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - I think this is a great alternative to the actual Beautyblenders, they're so much more cheaper and affordable. Even though I haven't used the Beautyblenders, I think the Real Technique sponges do an amazing job at blending everything together and creating a more natural and smooth appearance.
For lips I used:
Barry M Lipliner in No.6 - I love this lipliner so much. I think it's probably my fave. It's a pretty chocolate brown that you can wear on it's own and it stays on all day long or you can pair it with other lipsticks like I had done for prom to achive a nice browny nude.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in shade 08 - When I first bought and tried it on, I really didn't like it. The colour looked too light on my lips but when I paired it with the Barry M lipliner it created the most beautiful nude.
For eyes I used:
Makeup Revolution Palette in Redemption Iconic 1 - This works excellent seeing as it only costs £4. What I did for prom was wet the my brush a little and then picked up some eyeshadow in order to make it really pigmented and stand out but the colours are pretty pigmented on their own.
Collection Brow Kit in Brunette - I don't have brunette hair obviously but I feel like the three shades that come in this particular kit are less harsh and look very natural. I usually use the brown shade in the middle and then a little black right the end of my eyebrow just to make them a bit more fleeky. I also used the lightest brown shade in the crease as well as the darker brown in the outer edge and then put the gold eyeshadow from the Revolution palette more towards the center and inner part of my eye.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara in Black - I love this mascara. It's what I use on a more daily basis but for prom this was a necessity as I didn't want mascara all down my face as I was sweating away at prom. You can definitley build up the layers and it doesn't become clumpy at all. I was planning on wearing lashes at first but that was too much hassle and I can barely put them on.
Miss Sporty Studio Lash Liner in Black - This is so good seeing as it's drugstore and so cheap! It's probably one of the best eyeliners I've ever used. The brush is really thin so if you have small eyes like me and only want a thin line, it's really easy to do.
Here's the finished look!
O U T F I T :
I got my dress from a nearby Asian clothing store called Resham. They have amazing quality clothes and I love my dress so much. It's probably one of my fave Asian pieces.
I got my shoes from New Look. You can buy them here:
They're really comfortable and matched my dress really well. They were great to dance in too!
J E W E L R Y :
My earrings are from Dorothy Perkins. I tried looking online for them but I can't find them unfortunately but they're supper pretty and matched my necklace well.
I'm not actually sure where my necklace is from but I'm sure many places sell ones similar to it.
P H O T O G R A P H S :
I didn't take my big Canon EOS 60D because it would have just got in the way. However my dad let me borrow his Canon Powershot G10 and did the job perfectly. Follow me on Instagram as I'll be uploading some pictures from prom on there soon!
Exploring London: Portobello Market | Zafira
Hi guys and welcome to my blog!
SO we've finally come to the end of the London series. It only took me like 4 months. But anyway, we've reached my final and fave part which is Portobello Market! I'm a huge fan of anything vintage and antique and Portorbello was filled to the brim. I found so many amazing things and everything I saw was just beautiful.
Since we've come to the end of the London series I'd just like to thank my wonderful Auntie Mahmuda for being the best tour guide ever. I can't wait to come back to London and explore more exciting places!
Enjoy and remember to see all the pictures I took at Portobello Market, go visit my Flickr!
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Exploring London: Victoria and Albert Museum | Zafira
Hello and welcome to my blog!
Victoria and Albert Museum is the third part of my London series! It is such a pretty place with a range of different arts and designs. I was very intrigued by everything I saw and it is now one of my favourtie places in London. I highly recommend you to visit whenever you are in London.
To see all my pictures of the V&A Museum, head to my Flickr. The link will be at the end of this post :)
Sneaky song 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjPyvoLXPs4
Sneaky song 2 :
Sneaky song 3 :
Sneaky song 4 :
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