FAQs

ABOUT

I'm an ex-pro Makeup Artist, Beauty Blogger and Mummy with a crazy passion for cosmetics, skincare, health, bath and body and all things beauty.

Having worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years (including beauty retail experience), I know the ins and outs of cutting through sales talks and seeing if a product is really worth the money!

I completed my degree in BSc Human Nutrition in 2009 and have worked as a freelance Makeup Artist since 2011 to bring my passion and enthusiasm for beauty to my work, particularly with brides and clients looking for a makeover.

I've built up experience over the last 6 years+ in bridal, party and editorial makeup and portfolio/lookbook services for models/brands.

Since becoming a mother in 2014, I also like to share child/parenting products here and there on my blog and social platforms like instagram.

I'm always on the lookout for that special product that I can recommend to my readers and clients and I feel a sense of self satisfaction when these people come back with glowing reviews of something I've recommended or used in my makeup looks.

In terms of the future, I'm very interested in launching my own business ideas including both areas of my expertise (health and beauty): watch this space!

If you'd like to contact me about advice on products or are interested in working with me, please email: info@safiyahtasneem.com and I'll be sure to get back to you!

What are your foundation shade(s)?

The closest shade to my skin tone in MAC is generally NC30-35.

My Face and Body shade is C4.

Other brands similar shades include:

• Armani Luminous Silk: Shade 6
• BECCA Skin Love Weightless Blur: Driftwood
• Bobbi Brown Skin Stick: 4.5 Warm Natural or 4.75 Golden Natural
  Intensive Skin Serum: Warm Natural
  Skin Longwear Weightless: 4.25 Natural Tan or 4.75 Golden Natural
• Bourjois Healthy Mix: 55 
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Original: 2W2 Rattan / 3W1 Tawny / 3W1.5 Fawn
  Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick: 3W1 Tawny
• EX1 Invisiwear Liquid: 5.0
• Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r: 290 fits best (olive tone), 240 is a lighter and yellower toned winter shade for me
• Graftobian HD Glamour Creme: Buttermilk (lighter areas) Desert Sand (actual colour)
• Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup: Shade 4 (Beige)
• Huda Beauty #FauxFilter: 330N Butter Pecan
• It Cosmetics CC+ Cream: Medium (+ ELF yellow adjuster) or Medium Tan
• L'Oreal: True Match: W4 Golden Natural Infallible Total Cover: 24 Golden Beige
• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation: N123
• Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able: Golden Medium 44
• Maybelline Fit Me: 220 Natural Beige
• Milani Conceal + Perfect: 06 Sand Beige
• NARS Sheer Glow & All Day Luminous: Medium 3 Stromboli
• NYX Total Control Drop Foundation: 08 True Beige / 11 Beige
  Can't Stop Won't Stop: 09 Medium Olive
• Rodial Skin Lift Foundation: 50 Cheesecake
• Too Faced Born This Way: Golden Beige or Warm Beige
• Urban Decay:
  All Nighter: 6.0/7.0 Naked Skin - 6.0 Surreal Skin Cream to Powder - Supernova
• YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat: BD50

These are ones I've personally tried/owned in person, however as I'm trying more foundations, I'm adding them to the "foundation files" label on my blog so be sure to check all my posts out in this label too (where a lot of the above foundations are reviewed).
You can also use this site to find out your shade in other brands if you're similar to me: www.findation.com

What is your skin type?

My skin type is normally combination-dry in Winter or combination-oily in Summer.
When I started my blog in 2010 it was just dry, but since giving birth to my son it's progressively become oilier around my nose and t-zone.
My nose is more noticeably congested with pores of late too and it's the first area that foundation will separate around if not powdered or if a long lasting foundation isn't used. I'd say I'm slightly sensitive too as some masks really sting and I can react to certain fragranced products (updated 2019).

Why do you do so many lip swatches?

My lips are two toned, so on the outer edge of my bottom lip and most of my top lip it's a dark browny tone, but the middle of my bottom lip is more pink/lighter. 

For this reason, I like to swatch lipsticks for others who struggle like me to find a nude shade that won't look too pastel or light.

I personally look at WOC (women of colour) when I'm deciding on buying a lipstick myself as I'm likely to get a more accurate idea of what it will look like on me.

Lip tones vary even within WOC, so this means that someone who is darker than me in skin tone can actually have lighter/less pigmented/dark lips, which means she can get away with wearing lighter nude shades, whereas they would look more pastel on me.

Similarly, if you're fairer skin tone with lighter/less pigmented lips, the shades that look like a perfect nude on me, will look much darker on you.

My personal preference for nudes are along the lines of mauvey pinks or rusty browns, not so much chocolatey/dark browns even though they're still pretty wearable for my lip tone.

What camera do you use?

I started my blog using the Sony A33, then used the Sony A55 until November 2017 where I started using the Canon 700D.

Which are your favourite products to use?

If you read through my blog/makeup looks, you'll find I always use the Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP)  as I've found it works best for me to help eyeshadow from creasing and stand out as well as a great volumising mascara.

Complexion-wise, anything HD is good, but my most favourite foundation is the Armani Luminous Silk as it's the closest match to my skintone and colour that I've found yet. 

I also initially was obsessed with MAC lipsticks, the scent is addictive and the quality is still good, but of late I've loved liquid lipsticks, hence the lip swatch series.

A good highlighter never goes amiss too!

I don't believe using all products from one brand is good, as most brands have their key best sellers and these tend to be the ones that work for the majority, but I do tend to do "one brand" makeup looks so that if you were looking to buy within one brand you could get some inspiration from my looks.

Which brushes would you recommend?

I recommend a mix of natural and synthetic brushes.

The Urban Decay brushes are synthetic and I've been using them for a long time, both in and out of my kit and no matter how many times I've washed/cleaned them, the hairs remain in tact; win!

If they are too pricey or you'd prefer a set of brushes, the closest ones to the Urban Decay ones are the Real Techniques ones or Nanshy do a great eye set (review here).

My recommended natural bristle brushes are either by MAC or Zoeva, or if you're on a budget, check my eBay dupe brushes post.

What country are you from/what's your ethnicity?

I was born and raised in London but my grandparents are from India and I have roots in Yemen, though I've never been to either country. 
I wear a scarf/hijab because I am Muslim. 

How much do you charge for makeup/do you come out to my home?

At the moment I'm on a break since having my son but I plan to work soon; I will only be taking bridal makeup bookings when I am to start working again and only select few party makeup bookings.

If you'd like to book me, to give an accurate quote, I need to know:

• Date and time of event
• Location/postcode
• If hair/hijab styling is required 

Once I know this, I can give an accurate quote. Emails should be directed to: makeup@safiyahtasneem.com

Do you offer personal shopper services?

Yes I do! Because I eat sleep and breathe beauty products and have done for over 9 years, with my retail, makeup artistry and blogging experience, I feel well equipped to offer personal shopper services which can include a mini lesson on how to use the products bought.
Pro discount is available on selected brands only and fees are dependent on:

• duration of shopping time
• location
• if mini lessons are needed
  
  Emails should be directed to: personalshopper@safiyahtasneem.com

Do you get lots of products free to review?

I only choose to review "free" products if I have an interest in the product or feel it ties in with my blog/blog readers. Please feel free to read my disclaimer below for more of an understanding!

Cookies

"Cookies" are small pieces of information that a website sends to your computer's hard drive while you are viewing a website.

How does this site use cookies? 

By tracking/user analysis cookies, it allows me to see how many people are visiting this site and use a third party service (such as Google Analytics) to do so. 

Advertising: The advertising banners on this site come through Google. Occasionally these banners will use marketing cookies to show you adverts that you might be more interested in. This tracking system is anonymised and therefore it does not know who you are, it just uses the limited information available to it (via cookies) to serve you ads that may be relevant to you.

What to do if you want to control the use of cookies: 

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies using your web browser, but please be aware that it may negatively affect your experience of this site. Cookies can be removed or declined by changing your web browser settings. For more information please visit www.allaboutcookies.org

Disclaimer

This is my personal blog, where all content is written by me, unless otherwise stated (guest posts etc). 

Please do not remove the watermark from my pictures or use them on social media sites as your profile picture. If you wish to use any content, please contact me.

Reviews/Opinions:

All my opinions are my 100% honest opinion and my reviews are personal to my own skin tone/type; what I find works perfectly for me, may not be suitable for everyone and vice versa. 

By no means are my opinions/reviews more or less honest if products are sent for free; if I like something and it works for me I will say so, and if I doesn't I will still say so.

Sponsored Posts:
I made a promise to myself to only accept sponsored posts that I truly believe in as I feel like my blog's integrity should not be jeopardised for any sum of money. I feel very passionate about the beauty industry and always have done so I intend to be true to myself and transparent so that I'm still a trusted blogger.

Affiliate Links:
From time to time I use affiliate links in blog posts or other platforms of social media, which means I may receive a commission, should you choose to click on that link and make a purchase. This means I may be able to treat myself to a coffee (or matcha latte) to keep me going whilst blogging for you guys ;)

Overall:
My content is 100% chosen by me, which includes free PR products, usage of affiliate links or brand partnerships; I only like to write about products I actually enjoy using or would recommend.
I choose not to speak too negatively about a product unless I have a severe reaction or receive terrible customer service; I'll simply state it's not for me or it hasn't worked as I had expected and try and suggest what type of skin/tone it would be better for based on my experience as a freelance makeup artist and also previous beauty retail advisory jobs.

Aside from all of this, I hope you enjoy reading, and as always, please continue to comment as I love comments/suggestions!