A shoot with Emelda.

This whole shoot came about because I liked Emelda's style. As a make-up artist I look at  my friends and colleagues sometimes and want to capture an aspect of someone's personality and bring it out with make-up. Kinda weird but that is essentially what we did with Emelda. She's bold. Kooki. Random and rather Fabulous. She's never modelled before but for a novice I think she nailed it.

Our photographer is a young gentleman called Nicholas Gray. He was recommended to me by a friend on twitter. He was interested and voila! We had a photoshoot. I really think he did well considering he only ever shoots in studio and I am so please at how it all came out!

I'm having a blast portfolio building. It's teaching me a lot. And it's generated some future prospects too. Praise God for he constantly supplies for my need!

Stay Blessed lovelies

xxx

Urban Decay Books of Shadows Vol II FOTD

Hi people!

How you all doing? Still cold? Dealing with heaps of snow? or perhaps you're in some hot country laughing at the foolywang that is happening in England at the moment? I wouldn't blame you if you were....

Ror today's FOTD,  I'd like to spend a moment explaining something. I need to admit that I am totally and utterly addicted to the colour purple when it comes to my eyeshadow. I always seem to gravitate towards it. But hold on a min. I think I have previously made this confession before somewhere...so obviously this isn't new! Oh well! I hope you guys like it!

Sometimes the fuzziest pictures are the best pictures people! this one with Zuccherro shows the colours I used at its best!!

I am redonkulously in love with this man. And yes. He does smile. Just not in pictures :)

The Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol II has been out a minute. And I'm only getting round to using it a second time right now. The first time I used it, I wore a green look that came out fabulously but I then forgot to take pictures! Second time around I've used the purples and the look is pretty awesome.

Urban Decay shadows are creamy. They wear very very well and their palettes are exceedingly affordable. Much better than trying to get their singles.

In this look I am wearing:

Eyes:

UD Ecstasy (1/3 lid)

UD AC/DC (3/3 lid)

UD Sphynx (inner corner)

UD Perversion (crease)

MAC2 Graphology (crease)

Graftobian Extra Hi-Lite (under the brow)

I was feeling extra happy here.

The face is

Black Opal foundation stick in Hazelnut (I need to start paying more attention to my varied tones...but I'm too lazy! but it WILL happen soon!)

Myfacecosmetics Blush in "Her name is Rio" (One of my all time favorite blushes of all time!)

Ben Nye Neutral Set (this stuff is the shizzz!)

Natural Born Cosmetics brow powder for my brows

Boots No 7 Shine Free Make-up Base

And then on zeee lips I wore my favorite combo of the moment

Stargazer lipgloss in Fuschia

MAC's Style Black Glimmerglass in Blackfire (I think I need a back up of this....)

And that's it ladies and gents! Urban Decay eyeshadow will almost always get a thumbs up in my books cause they are a brilliant brand. There are a few rouge eyeshadows out there but overall the brand is pretty darn good!

You stay blessed now! xxx

ps suggestions for colours for the next FOTD?  All I can see if purple...

A very Yummy Swap!

Beginning of November, Kia from the fabulous blog Yummy411 and I got talking about doing a make-up swap. In fact I dropped her an email to see if she'd be interested in doing one with me. I wanted to do one myself before I opened it up to my readers. Trial runs are always a good thing.

After a few emails back and forth we settled on a budget and our wishlist of items and set about getting the bits and pieces for each other. It was a very chilled swap. I thoroughly enjoyed it! She got me a fair amount from my list. I was very happy. See for yourself!

L'Oreal Decrease, Loew Cornell Brush Jar, MUFE 92, NYX eyeshadow in Rust, MAC Zoomlash mascara, NYX lipstick in Fushion, beauty cleanser sample, NYX jumbo pencil in Pots and Pans, Smashbox Black gel liner, Black Opal Stick Creme stick foundation

Looking at this swap one might think it's a little bit *random* but let me assure you a lot of the items I received have long since been on my wishlist!

MUFE 92 I have been on a waiting list with Guru Make-up Emporium for over 10 months just so I could get my hands on this eyeshadow. Please don't ask me why they haven't called me yet. I don't know. Each time I talk to them they say it's out of stock. So I gave up trying. No bother. I have it now and the hype around it is pretty justified. I have to say however that it is not the easiest colour to blend. You HAVE to have another eyeshadow beneath it to allow it to blend appropriately or else you'll be sitting there for hours trying to make it happen.

Black Opal Creme foundation Stick I need more of these in my life. I really do. Kia chose a colour for me that that pretty darn close to my skin colour. Over the internet I might add. Across the atlantic! The girl has got skills. I love this foundation and it is serving me well. Granted it is not the best for oily skin, the coverage is awesome. This particular shade works well for the outer perimeter of my face. I would like to try and get a more yellow based stick for the centre of my face to see if I can get a more natural finish. I feel a growing love for these coming on...

NYX Round Lipstick in Fusion Ah, of all the lipsticks that Kia picked, she picked this one. And I wonder why? Could it be because I have a serious love affair with lipsticks in this colour family or was is it a lucky break. I'll go with the former. She was so spot on with this! I'm gonna feature this little number in a few FOTD's to come...

NYX eyeshadow in Rust I'm not sure why I've wanted this eyeshadow for so long. I just have. And it did not disappoint. Perhaps its the love affair with redy/bronzy/browny/goldy colours I'm going through at the moment. Either way I'm happy.

L'Oreal Decrease I just wanted to try another drugstore eye primer. I'm slightly obsessed with keeping colour on my lids for excessive amounts of time just for kicks. Decrease has received interesting reviews and one of these days you guys will find out exactly why from my perspective. I do like it but it's a strange one, this primer.

Loew Cornell Brush Cleaning Jar I think Kia must have wondered why on earth she had to run around looking for a glass jar for this crazy African woman over in England. Well you see the thing is this. A long time ago I saw a review by a beauty blogger who used this nifty little jar to wash her make-up brushes. I was so totally sold on it, the jar just lived on my wish list for an age. I have it now and I hope that it lives up to the lofty reputation I have for it in my mind :) 

Can you believe that I have never used a MAC Mascara in my life? Hence why the MAC Zoomlash has officially become my first. This was a very special extra Kia threw in for me, as well as the Smashbox Gel eyeliner and Purity Facial Cleanser. The lady is very generous and I am grateful to her.

If you haven't done so already, please go and check out Kia's blog. The chances are you already know her but just incase....I say definitely go take a look. Better yet, subscribe. She's fabulous and when she churns out her FOTD's, the girl means business!!! Don't believe me, check this post out. I was floored when I saw it. Still am....

Stay Blessed lovlies xxx

Teal and purple Smokey eye

Experimentation is key when you're developing your skills. I've been trying some rather random things at the moment and you are going to see this particular eye combination a fair few times over the coming weeks or months. Unless I nail it the next time I do it. So please bear me with because I'm trying to achieve a certain look. Whether I pull it off, is another kettle of fish all together!

This look is using a very special eyeshadow that I received in a blog swap [you shall hear about it shortly!] just before Christmas from Yummy411. It is the infamous MUFE 92. Can I just say that I understand what all the fuss about this shadow....HOWEVER! I have made it my personal mission to find a dupe for this because I just can't believe one doesn't exist! Can MUFE truly have the monopoly on this colour? We shall see!

Barry M Teal on the lid, MUFE 92 in the crease and some GPS from MAC Style Black for a colour base and L'oreal Decrease as a primer. Grimas 282 and 563 as subtle eyebrow highlighter as well as my trusty GOSH waterproof pencil in Black Ink. Sexy curves mascara in in there somewhere....

 Foundation is Black Opal's foundation stick in Hazelnut and set with Ben Nye's Neutral set. She-Zam Dazzleglass and a touch of Stargazer Fushia lipgloss. I really should have thrown on some falsies [cause I'm getting better y'all!] but I was late for dinner at my mother-in-laws place so my curly lashes just had to do! And I think they did very well :)

Do you like? Let me know. It's bed time! Love you all xxx

Stay blessed!

Natural Geek

Hey people!

I hope you all had a fantabulous blessed Christmas. Did you get all the pressies you wanted? Enjoy time with loved one? I, for one, managed to roast a goose because Zuccherro practically demanded one and we had the in-laws over. I think he was trying to impress is mom. Twas a mighty good time. Next year, we'll be having non of this white Christmas stuff if I have anything to do with it! We had best be in Southern Africa so I can photosynthesize and get my tan on! :D

So today's FOTD is a natural look. I've been playing around we a few different things of late and I'm keen on building on my skills. I give you "Natural Geek". Healthy looking skin with a nice glow, natural looking brows and pink lips.

Here's the thing. I like obsessedd with well groomed eyebrows. For me it's either a good brow or no brow at all. Now before you crucify me I know I've had some dodgy brows in the past but what is the point if you're not always going to be learning and tweaking and making things better? I've changed my brow game up a bit and this particular brow is good for those neutral days when you want a well groomed look that won't take an age to throw on.

The ingredients:

Black opal Creme foundation stick in Hazelnut

Ben Nye Neutral set

Barry M Blush in no 5 [orange]

Rimmel Eyebrow pencil

Ben Nye concealer

Rimmel Sexy curves mascara

MAC Glimmerglass in Blackfire

Stargazer Lip gloss in Fuschia

I have a few reviews coming up on a few products I'm loving at the moment. But just so you know, the little buzz on You tube around the Black Opal foundation sticks [particularly for my chocolate sisters] is totally true. So far it's a pretty awesome foundation.

If anyone is interested House of Fraser has a brilliant sale online in their beauty section. A few good things from Prescriptives, Givenchy and Chanel. Check it out. You might something you like!

Stay blessed lovlies! xxx

D

...Coming up: My Skin: No shine Mattifying Moisture Lotion Review