Blushes

Blushes are great for finishing a look.  They make your entire look polished and pulled together.  They also give the illusion of more chiselled cheekbones. Too much,  and you can end up looking like a clown.  There are soo many to choose from,  and I doubt you can every really go wrong with a colour once its well applied.
I know 2 major types,  Cream blushes and Powder blushes.  Anything else falls into these 2 main categories.

• Cream Blushes: I personally think these are best for Oily skin,  and for those who would like a less intense look.  I would advise if you are just starting to experiment, try a stick blush first,  they are easier to manipulate.  They can also be used as a base for powder blushes,  to intensify a look,  or make the blush last longer.  I would not advise that you use a creamy formula if you have large pores or extremely oily skin.  It's just going to make the pores look larger.

         With the Stick,  you don't really need a brush to apply,  you can dot it on the apple of your cheeks,  and blend upwards with your fingers,  toward your lower hairline.  Always remember to smile while applying your blush--Other than the fact that smiling is good for you,  it helps raise your cheekbones for easier application, and a more natural look.  There are brushes that are most suitable for applying cream blushes.  The best I have seen (and used) so far is the MAC 130 (Image to the Right),  or you can find something that looks similar,  if you are on a budget.

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  Powder Blushes:  These are my favourite as they don't require much thought, you can slap it on,  blend,  and off you go!  The best shades for darker skintones are Coral,  Plum, Brick or Rust colored ones.  Peachy and Earthy tones work well though,  but it has to be a well pigmented blush to show up.

Application:  After your foundation, or tinted moisturizer....  You can use your setting powder but avoid using the setting powder on the cheekbones.  This allows the blush sink into your skin,  and of course last all day.  I find that if you use the setting powder all over,  it slightly changes the color/intensity of the blush for some reason,  and by mid-day the colour fades off.  To apply,  swipe brush in the pan,  tap off the excess ( very important) and SMILE :)

Dot along the cheekbone, and angle up towards your hairline. Blend in a circular motion for a more natural look.  If you make a mistake and have applied too much,  you can use a Kabuki brush (Right) to blend out your mistake.  What are your favourite tips and tricks to applying Blushes? Please share :)

Concealers

What's a Concealer?  I stole this definition from Wiki,  Its sums it up: A concealer or colour corrector is a type of makeup used to mask pimples, dark circles and other small blemishes visible on the skin. Concealers usually do a good job of hiding blemishes by blending the imprefection into the surrounding skin tone.


Unless you have perfect,  blemish free skin,  Concealers are the best way to fake blemish free skin.  And of course while we are on the path to achieve clear skin,  we need all the shortcuts we can get in order to 'fake it till you make it'.  In order to get the perfect match,  you have to know your undertones first (Your 'true' skin tone) and I just learned that you also have to know the color of whatever it is you are trying to cover on your face or body.  For example,  are you trying to cover acne scarring? Those black spots..or something more severe like hyperpigmentation (like a sunspot)?

All these questions are necessary before you take a trip to the beauty store.  Otherwise you will spend your cash on something you will never use.  You must also pick up the best concealer brush you can,  because your fingers alone may not get the desired effect.

Undereye concealers are very good for covering dark circles under the eyes,  and gives you the ' I just slept for 10 hrs' look.  Pat them on with your brush after applying foundation.  Its usually advised that you get one that is just a shade lighter than the color you would normally use to cover the blemishes on your face,  though that is not absolutely necessary.  Good examples are Mac Select Cover Up,  Clarins Instant Light,  Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer.  For Darker Skin tones I prefer Iman Corrective Concealer, or Bobbi Brown's Corrector.

When applying concealer on blemishes,  its advised to put it on after foundation,  use the concealer brush to lightly pat it on, until you have covered the blemish...blend outwards and then you can set your makeup with setting powder.


There are concealers that also cover pimples and dry them,  a good example is Revlon Colorstay Blemish concealer, It ranges from $7.99-$10 at any drugstore.  It contains Salicylic Acid,  which heals the pimple even as it covers.  Another one is Proactive's,  but I can't vouch for their color selection.

Happy week!

Body Butter(Yumm)!

I just got this totally scrumptious body butter from Winners,  Delon Intense Moisturizing Body Butter($5.99)....Coconut flavor.  Have always loved things that smell good enough to eat and this is no exception.  I have tried quite a number and for me, this seems to be the best as it gives my skin the silkiest feel..smooth and comfy.   The best thing is that there is really no need to reapply during the day,  I only do that just cos I love the way it feels on my skin.

Its less expensive than the ones from Body Shop,  and I like that coconut oil is the second ingredient on the list.  They have Mango, Raspberry, White Cocolate, Asian lily and Peony.  Definitely  not as many choices as the Bodyshop,  but I find the quality and efficacy of these better.  They are not as heavy and the sink into the skin leaving it nicely moisturized.  I also got the coconut body scrub,  looving the way it makes my skin feel.  I actually had a lady walk up to me (yikes) and asked to smell my skin.  P.s. Go get some!

All about Primers

What's a Primer?  A Primer really is anything used to prep skin before makeup is applied (not shirley biko! hehe) And it makes your makeup last all day.  Its not a very necessary step,  as some may skip it..  but if you are so inclined, its has awesome benefits.  For one,  it creates an invisible barrier between your skin and the foundation/powder.  And that in turn protects your skin from the aging (yes I said aging) long term effects of makeup.  A primer in essence will make your makeup sit ON your skin without creating any damage like clogged pores for example.

There are 3 types of Primers known to woman (JK)

Face Primer: Moisturize thoroughly after cleansing,  let it sink in for at least 2 minutes and then spread a thin layer of primer all over your face and neck.  Let it sit for another 5 minutes while you--(curl your hair, brush it or put on your lace wig, lol) Then put your foundation on over it and get your groove on.

 Just make sure you find the right Primer for your skin type.  A mattefying (Oil reducing) Primer is best for oily skin types,  it keeps your face from producing excess oil,  therefore saving you the task of touching up your face several times a day.  A tried and true example is Makeup for Ever HD Microperfecting Primer.  It comes in about 7 shades that correct and cover at the same time.  It will  not change the color of your foundation,  rather it corrects and conceals imperfections.  I also love the primers Smashbox carries.

Eye Primer:  Use after your eyecream ( I find that this makes the base go on smoother.)  This makes your eye makeup last all day without smudging or budging.  It intensifies the eyeshadow also ,  if you use a similar color as the base ( I didn't mention that eye primers could be clear,  or come in different colors that can be used as an eyeshadow as well.)

The best I know about for now is Urban Decay Primer Potion.  And Mac has several paint pots that last a very long time.  Another Primer/base for eyes is the one for lashes,  and you can put this on before your regular mascara,  to give an effect of false lashes.  I personally have tried false lashes,  and my eyes just hated them! I woke up with gunk all over my lashes.  My tried and true Faves are Lancome Oscillation Power Booster( All you do is place them on your lashes and it does all the work by vibrating),  and Loreal Double Extend with lash boosting serum.  I think I actually like the 2nd one better,  and its cheaper too!


Lip Primer:  Not as common,  just because its such a pain to use all this stuff! I personally think you can prime your lips for lipgloss/ lipstick with chapstick or any lipbalm ...They work as well.  If you need to get your lips in a favorable condition before applying lipstick,  use your toothbrush or a wet washcloth to massage away dry, chapped skin.  Be careful though because you can hurt yourself if you use a firm hand.  Make sure your lips are wet while doing this.  Once its smooth,  apply a lip balm to prevent it from drying out.  A lip primer I have used that made my lip stuff stay on through a drink or meal is Mac Prep+Prime Lip.  I'm not too crazy about the texture though,  it made me lips drier later.


I sincerely hope you find this post informative,  if you would like to add anything,  or ask a question,  please feel free to post your request in the comment box.  Ciao!

40 Very random facts about me :)

How tall are you? 5 "2
Do you have any siblings? Oui. 2 Brothers.
Do you have any pets? No. 
What is your favorite color? Anything that makes me look good.
What is your dream car? The latest toy that BMW turns out..
What is your favorite restaurant? Any great seafood restaurant...yumm!
What is your favorite drink? Lemonade or Cranberry juice
What is your favorite gum? Stride
What is your favorite snack? Peanuts
What is your favorite dessert? Banana Cream Pie
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Vanilla/ Banana
What is your favorite movie? Avatar
What is your favorite tv show? Nothing really,  I rarely watch Tv
When did you get into makeup? When I was 10
If you won a million dollars, what you buy first? A house,  and invite my family to stay with me.
What side of the bed do you sleep on? Left.
What is your dream job? Owning Spas all over the world.  I guess that would be an entrepreneur..?
If you could take a spontaneous trip somehwere, where would it be? A remote island in the Caribbeans
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Aruba
What is your favorite day of the week and why? Friday is my fave day, cos I can stay up until 4am and not worry about getting up early.
What is your favorite holiday and why? I'll say Christmas.  Just because.
Name 3 sites online that you love or visit frequently.  Bella Naija,  Temptalia and JoyceMeyerMinistries


If you could have one famous person as a sibling who would you choose? TD Jakes
Do you have any piercings or tattoos?  My ears are pierced.  That's all.
Money or love? Both.  Lets be realistic here, lol
Things you can't leave the house without? Common Sense.
What are your turn-offs in a guy? Long nails (eek!) and a poor dress sense.
What superhero power would you want to have? Telepathy.
Are you a morning person? Naah!!
What do you do first thing when you get home? I sing and make lots of noise.  Then take off my makeup.  Not necessarily in that order :)
Do you sing randomly? Ohh yes,  I make up songs all the time.  In the shower on a blessed day maybe.
Left of right handed? Rite
Anything particular you wear everyday? Perfume
Where were you born and raised? Raised in Niaja
What did you look like as a baby? An alien
What countries do you want to visit? Europe for sure.
What does your purse/bag look like? A purse/bag,  duh. 
What kind of phone do you have? Berry
Do you have any bad habits? I'm always picking @ my hair.  Nasty
Do you have a twitter? Yes
A random fact about you..When I was a little girl,  what I wanted to be when I grew up was a...(drumroll) Back up singer...what a lol

Its Summertime...Hydrate!

Hydration is the real McCoy when it comes to preventing anti-aging. Its very critical as the less hydrated your skin is,  the more prone to fine lines and wrinkles you will be.  It does not matter how young or old you are.

You can start by Drinking lots and lots of water! Just kidding.  I know that sounds boooring already but,  Water is essential.  Though the 8 glasses rule has hardly worked for me,  Plus...more bathroom breaks y'all.  I generally have a flask and I make sure its filled at least 2ce a day at work.  Anything else na jara.  Lots of fruits also contain a large percentage of water,  and make it a habit to hunt them down and eat!.

If you cleanse/ wash your face too much I guarantee it will dry out...making oily skin more oily and dry skin...well..I'll let you be the judge ;)
With my regimen I wash my face at night but when morning comes,  I use a toner only.  And if I notice i'm getting a bit dry,  I use a facial mist like Vichy Thermal Spa Water  (which is really nothing more than mineralized water in a bottle),  and it also contains humectants (moisture binding ingredients) that boost any moisturizer you use after it. 
If you cant stand water,  go for flavored water, there are a lot to choose from.  On a last note,  when its hot and dry,  we lose water more.  Enjoy the sun!

Pampering your body

We tend to neglect our bodies more and concentrate on the face,  since thats what people see at first glance.  Along comes summer and there is panic as the dry,  scaly winter skin is EXPOSED! in bikini's and short summer dresses. The trick is to do the work when no one can see it..I'll tell you how.

Invest in a good body scrub,  body oil  and a long handled body brush.  You will also need a loofah sponge,  those of us from Nigeria already have those rough (sometimes painful) loofah sponges.  I cannot emphasize the importance of a good moisturizer,  and it does not have to cost a lot to do the job.  To ensure you are getting a good one that does what it says,  look at the list of ingredients at the back..i'll give you an example.  If it says Aloe Vera is one of its key moisturizing elements, look at the list.  if Aloe is listed as number 5 instead of,  say,  2 or 3,  then you can be sure it may not do as much as it claims.  I have seen instances where the main selling factor/claim of a moisturizer is aloe,  and its the last thing on the list.

Body skin is the worse for accumulating dead skin cells,  and regular brushing/exfoliating will reveal soft, smooth skin underneath.  The body brush is good for your back and hard to reach areas,  and it doubles as a very good circulation booster.  Use with a hydrating shower gel or a piece of soap.  Brush gently but firmly,  from your legs up- towards the general direction of your heart.
Use the scrub once or twice a week.  Once you step out of the shower, pat your body but don't dry it off entirely.  Leave it damp and apply your moisturizer immediately.  That locks in the moisture for good.
I like body oils a lot because they keep the skin silky and smooth.
Happy summer ladies!!