My Lens Lately

Halal Gummy Candies - Gelatin is made from animals and so, as a Muslim, I'm always on the hunt to find gummies made from beef or fish gelatin rather than pork!

These past few weeks have been absolutely overwhelming; aside from a full time job and tutoring on weekends, I've been taking a night course at University and working on applying for post-grad jobs. I've hardly had a moment to sit and blog and it's been driving me crazy. Blogging is something very important to me: it's a way to relieve stress, to discuss things I'm interested in and to have a voice. The blogging community is a loving, beautiful family and there's a real sense of community here. While I love writing about beauty products and social issues, a love for photography is something I've discovered from blogging. Though I'm still a novice, I've started noticing everyday things in a new light and, thankfully, my iPhone does a pretty good job of capturing them. Hope you like what I've seen through my lens lately!

The woods behind my house

What is it about Krispy Kreme that just makes me so darn happy?

Finally got my hands on a miniature Cactus from Ikea!

For me, drawing and doodling are some of the best stress relievers!

Favourite WOC Youtubers!

I spend quite a lot of time watching YouTube videos. Hauls, tutorials, vlogs - I'm a fan of it all. I love watching tutorials especially to see which makeup bits to buy and which are worth my money. I've realized recently that a lot of the YouTubers I watch are white; and while there's nothing wrong with me, a non-white, watching a white YouTuber, I realize that a lot of the products they use and recommend or the looks they create can't be translated on me at all. The foundations they use don't always have my shade, the highlighters that look stunning on them look chalky on me and even their lipsticks look washed out on my darker skin. Despite all this, I still watch their videos because I genuinely enjoy them but I know now that I can't always use the recommendations they make.

I've decided to list a few of my favourite WOC YouTubers for many reasons: to celebrate them, because I love their videos and because I hope their recommendations will help others the way they helped me. It took me a while to find these women despite watching YouTube daily for the past few years. I watch YouTubers like Lily Pebbles, Vivianna Does Make Up and Zoella so all those recommended to me (on the sidebar) are other white YouTubers whose fabulous make up looks look pretty bad on me. By the way, if you guys haven't seen the above mentioned YouTubers, you should: Lily's reviews are always so honest, Anna makes me want to clean my room and organize my life and Zoella's vlogs are so fun!

Jackie Aina: I haven't been watching Jackie for too long but I do love the makeup looks she does. Each of her looks are different but wear-able and not too over the top. She's so funny and honest and I just want to hang out with her and have her teach me her makeup tricks!

Its My Raye Raye: I discovered her fairly recently and I've been loving her make up looks. She's about a shade lighter than me so watching her videos make it easy for me to see which shades and brands of makeup I should go for. I also love that she doesn't just stick to neutral looks (I'm completely guilty of this) and so watching her bold looks make me feel like I can pull off something a little more dramatic too.

Nabela Noor: Aside from her lovely make up looks, I haven't seen anyone so positive and bubbly as her. I genuinely want to be her friend! Her videos are fun and I just feel happier and more positive watching them!

Kathleen Lights: I know that her skin tone is way, way different from mine but she is so entertaining. She's also very, very honest with her reviews and so I do trust the brands that she raves about. I also love her lip swatches videos - it gives me a more realistic sense of the colours on a person versus in the tube.

Who are your favourite YouTubers? Leave recommendations for all types of YouTube channels, I'm always on the hunt for something informative or entertaining :) Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe

Demeter Fragrance: Mr. Bubble Review

What comes to your mind when you think of Mr. Bubble? For me it's a bright pink bottle and Saturday mornings, when my mom would prepare my brother and I bubble baths for us to play in. We'd wear swimsuits and jump into the tub, excited to play with bubbles and splash around. I remember always asking her to put more bubble bath in because "there just weren't enough bubbles!". When she wasn't looking, I would sneak in another squeeze of the bubble bath, but don't tell her that. Saturday morning baths are probably one of my favourite memories from my childhood.

When I heard that Demeter Fragrance Library was launching a Mr. Bubble scent, I was really excited - I grew up and spent half my life in Hong Kong and I tend to hold onto anything that reminds me of my childhood there. As soon as I received the Mr. Bubble scent* in the mail and took a whiff, I was transported back 15 years to our little apartment in Kowloon.

The scent is very fresh and clean. The base is raspberry and balsamic vanilla with a floral center of jasmine and rose and notes of coconut, banana and peach. While my un-tuned nose can't really get whiffs of coconut, banana or peach, I would say the raspberry base and jasmine are the strongest scents for me. It lasts fairly well on the skin and doesn't stay on your clothes until the next time you wash them (something that bothers me about certain perfumes). I love the memories that come flooding back each time I inhale, but I don't think I would buy the scent as it smells very clean and powdery. While this is fantastic for a bath, it isn't exactly a scent for your body. I think I'd spritz it in my wardrobe as it is the perfect scent for that.

That being said it is a lovely scent and I think it's the perfect present for someone younger who's just getting into perfumes and scents. At $15 for 30mL, it's a reasonably priced and a great gift. The scent also brings back great memories for many; a gift you can't put a price on (cue cheesy music).

Do you have any memories from Mr. Bubble? What is your favourite childhood memory? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

An InLinkz Link-up

10 Things Fall

It seems I've been writing quite a few lists lately (see here and here) but they're quick, easy and get the point across effectively. Despite the GTA's ridiculous heatwave, September has me really excited for fall. Specifically:

1. Not feeling hot and bothered
2. Hot Chocolate
3. Sweaters
4. Leaves on the ground
5. Skirts and Tights
6. Dark Nails
7. Knee-high Boots 
8. Baking cookies
9. Berry Lips
10. Cosy nights in with Netflix and a blanket

I think this is going to be the year where I try out the Pumpkin Spiced Latte. That's still a thing, right?

What are you most excited about for Fall? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Image Source: weheartit