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by Shaheen Rajan

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Corona Warn App – all that you need to know about Germany’s contact tracing app for Covid’19

Black Lives Matter – The Berlin Edit

Two Ways to Avoid Yeast Infection

7 things to know before renting your first apartment in Germany

6 ways to support your favourite bloggers without spending any money

10 Commandments for Eid in times of Corona

Corona Warn App – all that you need to know about Germany’s contact tracing app for ...

Black Lives Matter – The Berlin Edit

Two Ways to Avoid Yeast Infection

7 things to know before renting your first apartment in Germany

6 ways to support your favourite bloggers without spending any money

10 Commandments for Eid in times of Corona

Plus size fashion - Shaheen Rajan
#Personal Essays #Style

Dress Your Size. Not.

10th July 202010th July 2020 0

Dress for your size. No. I will dress however I feel my best self. No magazine gets to tell me that I shouldn’t tuck my shirt in or wear high-waisted pants because my body is a particular size. If I […]

Sooji Halwa in Berlin, Germany
#Food Experiments #My Berlin

Suji ka Halwa with German Ingredients

8th July 20208th July 2020 0

The first time I made suji ka halwa (semolina dessert) was in Cologne. I found out that N loved it, and broke the cardinal rule of never making desserts (because I have a sweet tooth the size of Africa and […]

Corona Warn App
#Lifestyle #My Berlin

Corona Warn App – all that you need to know about Germany’s contact tracing app for Covid’19

29th June 202029th June 2020 0

Last week, Corona Warn App was launched in Germany to help break the chain of corona virus infection faster. And in this post, I am going to try to explain the purpose and functionality of the app, as well as […]

best setting powders
#Beauty

Heat proof your makeup with setting powder – goodbye greasy skin and concealer lines

24th June 202024th June 2020 0

I have downsized by every day makeup routine. Currently, it includes a sunblock, concealer, BB cream, eyebrow promade, eye shadow, kajal, mascara, contour, blush, highlighter and lipliner. In that order. Okay sorry, now that I have said it aloud, it […]

#Style

Plus Size Edit – Pieces from Zara and H&M so Pakistani that you will forget Gulf and Gulberg

22nd June 202022nd June 2020 0

Unless your a plus size rockstar, it is very unlikely that you will understand how difficult it is to find decent clothing from high street brands like H&M and Zara. In recent times, they have expanded their lines to include […]

#Style

Accessories Edit – Pieces from Zara and H&M so Pakistani that you will forget Gulf and Gulberg

20th June 202020th June 2020 0

I have a thing for metal churiyaan and statement silver necklaces. And guess who else does too? Zara! My usual go to for it is that hawker outside Gulf Market. There was one at Tariq Road too, but I have […]

Pakistani clothes in Germany
#Pakistani Things #Style

Pieces from Zara and H&M so Pakistani that you will forget Gulf and Gulberg

20th June 202020th June 2020 1

Many Pakistani expats travel back home during summers. It’s the official holiday season, there are mangoes, and for the last few years, it also gives us an opportunity to celebrate at least one of the Eids with our respective families. […]

#Beauty

6 lip colours that I love, and you will too

15th June 202015th June 2020 2

When it comes to makeup, I am inclined towards bold and dewy. However, I am not a makeup artist and cut crease legit scares me. So another way to boldness for me is via lips. Lipstick, to be precise. And […]

Travelling by Uzma Khan
#Travel

6 reasons you must continue travelling post-pandemic

9th June 20209th June 2020 2

Simplistically speaking, travelling is an act of moving from one place to another. But, it is a whole lot more than just that. It is an inherent need. Our ancestors travelled to hunt, find better places for generations to come, […]

Maanvi Gagroo's (Siddhi Patel) Outfits from Four More Shots Please
#Style

Maanvi Gagroo’s (Siddhi Patel) Outfits from Four More Shots Please

8th June 20208th June 2020 0

This one is extra special to me because my personal style aesthetic is very close of Gagroo’s character in Four More Shots Please (season 2). It’s colourful, with a focus on accessories and shoes. Also, I can relate to her […]

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About Me:

Hi.

I am Shaheen.

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Big toothy smiles brought to you by a weekend well Big toothy smiles brought to you by a weekend well spent and clay masks 😁🌸😁 For many of us South Asians, clay masks were the first ‘beauty treatment’ we had. Multani mitti with rose water for skin detoxing and calming super enthusiastic and hormonal oil glands. In Karachi, I had oily skin, so in summers, multani mitti mask was an essential. And if you have sisters, you end up putting on a mask more often than otherwise because someone made extra and zaya kerne se you behtar hai ke I put it on. Multani mitti and gram flour (besan) masks were the it things in Rajans Residency. Then came in cosmetic masks and sheet masks and booster masks and magnetic masks and eye masks and nose masks and even butt masks! The industry all but exploded with options. And we all rejoiced. The thing with masks and their unparalleled appeal is the same as social media - instant gratification and minimal commitment. It isn’t a routine, so you don’t have to wear it every day or even week. Once a while is fine too. Before an event is fantastic. And most of them give instant result. They might be short lived (unless applied religiously for some time), but the instant effect - be it hydration, detox, brightening - is a crowd pleaser. For me, it is a way to pamper myself. On days that I need an extra pick me up, I put on a mask. If I am having girls over at my place, I am likely to have sheet masks handy for easy application an ultimate indulgence. It’s just something that makes you feel good, makes your skin feel even better, with very little commitment and investment. Win win. Currently, I am playing around with @WakeSkincare’s Clay Mask. It is a detox mask, with tiny scrub particles, which pulls our impurities and helps clear skin of acne. Also, it hydrates skin to give it that plump glow. For warm and humid summers days, clay masks are better than say, sheet masks. And they are best applied with a brush (as opposed to finger) because you only need a thin layer of product and it is best applied with a brush. You can use a mask brush or, like me, an unused/washed foundation brush 😀 #berlinblogger #beautyblogger_de #generationconnected #crueltyfree #claymask #detoxmask
Dress for your size. No. I will dress however I f Dress for your size. No. I will dress however I feel my best self. No magazine gets to tell me that I shouldn’t tuck my shirt in or wear high-waisted pants because my body is a particular size. If I feel comfortable in what I wear, then that’s all that matters. I will tuck in my @asos_loves_curve silk shirt in my high-waisted @primark pants, with inappropriate amount of @medora_sale on my lips, thank you. I have been a plus size girl since I was… 14? Back then, my only source of fashion updates were magazines, which were filled with pictures of gorgeous women, adorning latest collections, who had one thing in common – they were all thin. Even the edgier publications, which usually dabbled with controversial and dared featuring darker skin and shorter hair, didn’t quite budge when it came to size. It was all very standard. Fast forward many years to the age of influencers, and it’s a new world order. Now I can see tons of inspiring women, with varying sizes, owning their bodies and dressing in whatever makes them happy and comfortable. There are no rules. Nothing is off limit. It’s all about adaptation and personalisation. Different body types can now wear the same piece of clothing, and make it work for them. Slay, as Gen Z calls it. You know, I didn’t arrive to silk-shirt-tucked-in phase without my share of hurdles. If you have lived in an Asian society, you know body shaming is part of our societal fabric. Also, shopping for ready to wear has forever been a nightmare. From subtle comments to outright insults, been there and faced that. And while I can’t change the past, I can make the future better – for myself and whoever here needs a more accepting way of life. If you like what you see in the mirror, that is all the validation you need. If you need some more, tag me in your photos and I will give you a genuine compliment. Free validation services. Limited time offer. I will remind you of how beautiful you are, just the way you are. Until we can all become honorary members of @DesiBaguette’s #maiapnifavouriteho club. P.S I couldn’t decide on what edit to go with – original or edited. Swipe to see. Hopefully you are more decisive than I am 😀
As soon as I can, imma jump on a plane to see them As soon as I can, imma jump on a plane to see them ❤👨‍👩‍👦 Who's face can't you wait to see folk(ses)? Tell me in comments 🌸 #throwbackthursday #motherindia #berlinblogger #majormissing #bestparentsintheworld
The first time I made suji halwa was in Cologne. The first time I made suji halwa was in Cologne. I found out that N loved it, and broke the cardinal rule of never making desserts. Halwas weren’t something made often in my own home in Karachi, so instead of asking Mother India for the recipe, I turned to YouTube. I found a recipe by an Indian chef on YouTube, which looked easy and closest to what I had seen in Pakistan. I wrote down the ingredients and went to my usual Indian store near Neumarkt to get supplies. At the store, however, I couldn’t find suji, so I asked the very sweet Sikh uncle (who's also the owner) for guidance. “Ji beta, coarse chaheye ke fine?” Ammmm. I don’t know? I told him that I want to make halwa, and he said you can make halwa with both of them. So, I bought fine semolina, a small can of ghee (clarified butter) and a pack of white sugar, and came back. Here’s the thing with online recipes and me – first, there is an assumption that the person watching has some idea of what’s going on. Also, sometimes, ingredients mentioned are either unavailable here (in Germany) or in such abundant variety that I wish the YouTuber had mentioned brands used. How do I know which one is better? Or which one works better in this particular case? Well, if you feel the same way sometimes, high five! I have been making suji ka halwa with different recipes and I think I have found salvation in Food Fusion’s recipe. It is SOOOOO good! So I thought to share the exact ingredients/brands that I use, and tiny swaps to make it more suitable for my palate. Ingredients: Desi ghee ½ cup (solid form). I use 1/4 pack of President’s Feine Butter (gesalzen) instead. Choti elaichi (green cardamom) 3-4 Suji (semolina) ¾ cup. I use TRS Coarse Semolina. Cheeni (sugar) 1 & ¼ cup. I use Diamant Rohrzucker in the same quantity. Pani (water) 3 cups. Food color (Zarda ka rang) ½ tsp or as required. Kewra essence ½ tsp. Dry fruits as required (for garnishing) – I use raisins, coconut flakes, crushed almonds and hazelnut. Stores, direction and some other non-essential details are on the blog 🌸 you know the way I gather? #berlinblogger #sujihalwa #pakistanifood #pakistanidesserts #frommykitchen #foodblogger_de
My creativity has the most direct, cozy, chummy, i My creativity has the most direct, cozy, chummy, inappropriately chipku link with the space where I create. If there is unorderliness and mess around, or stuff needs to find their meant-to-be spots, my mind refuses to work. Like a 6 year old, who refuses brocoli. Try feeding one to understand the pain. And that is exactly where I am at right now. My good old desk is gone, and all the stuff in it is now lying around my lounge. Be-yaar aur madadgar. No place to go. Very lawaris. The problem is, there is no space readily available. I have to move stuff around, possibly dispose or sell some more (like those issues of Vogue from 2016 and 2017 that have a dedicated shelf of their own). Other than accessories, I don't hoard. Or so I thought. But I may have been in denial. I also hoard stationery and magazines. I have 23 pens. Packs of post its. Magazines. Some more magazines. Bags? The easy way out would be to get a new lean shelf, and place all my work-ish belongings on it. But I shall not add any more furniture because I sold my desk to downsize! It's like having a diet coke with upsized McDonald's meal. Pointless. Khair. Tou this is what is going on. Struggle for space. Fighting screwed up routine (it's 4:52am). Denying chocolate. Indulging in chocolate. Someone please nominate me to Queer Eye so Bobby can fix my space issues, Tanny can get me a new wardrobe, and Jonny..can just be my best friend. Thank you. #berlinblogger #pakistanigirlingermany #smallapartmentproblems #leanliving #writersblock #needfab5inmylife #needqueereyeinmylife
Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.      Recently, I have been asked multiple times to do makeup tutorials. I would love to but I am not a pro. I experiment and sometimes, it works. I don’t know about tutorials just yet (though I have done some silly ones for my YouTube channel), but what I could do is share the products that I used. Maybe that will help? If you have any questions about application, I would be happy to answer them to the best of my rather limited knowledge 😀 So, for yesterday’s face, I used: Details: @maybelline_de Fit Me Concealer @lorealgermany C’est Magic BB Cream @lorealgermany Perfect Match Pressed Powder @rivallovesme Eyebrow Pomade in Dark Brown @bhcosmeticsgermany Illusions Eyeshadow Palette @justgoldcosmetics.pk Kajal Pencil @maybelline_de The Go Colossal Extreme Mascara @essence_cosmetics Contouring Duo Palette @bytamtambeauty Banana Loose Setting Powder @essence_cosmetics Peach Blush @kikomilano Velvet Passion Lipstick + @maccosmeticsgermany Mocha #drugstoremakeupqueen #berlinblogger #beautyblogger_de #maccosmeticsgermany #maybelline_de #lorealdeutschland #weareloreal #rivallovesme #meinrossmann #bhcosmetics #justgold #justgoldcosmetics #essence_cosmetics #essence #KIKOTrendsetters #tamtambeauty #KIKOTrendsetters #tamtamsisters
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Fancy some goodies?

best setting powders

Heat proof your makeup with setting powder – goodbye greasy skin and concealer lines

24th June 2020 / Shaheen Rajan

6 lip colours that I love, and you will too

15th June 2020 / Shaheen Rajan
Night Time Skin Care Routine

Night Time Skin Care Routine (tutorial)

28th May 2020 / Shaheen Rajan
Yellow Eye Makeup Tutorial

Simple Yellow Eye Makeup Tutorial

25th May 2020 / Shaheen Rajan

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