Bridal Makeup : My New favourite blend (Products)

Hello Everyone,
Here's hoping you guys are doing great as usual 😊

Hmmmm!
Let me say people read this blog lol!
Not that I don't know cause I see the statistics when I check my blogger but when there are no comments en, it sorta slows you down.

 More like slows "me" down LOL!

The way I've been attacked for irregular post today so! By people I didn't even know knew I blog, I have made a decision.

I will change! I will blog more! I will keep blogging even when no commentd lol!
I will!

So I was going through photos of some of my bridal jobs and thought to share this special bride.... just because I enjoyed every bit of her makeup.

There's always the rush to meet up church timing, so it was the typical rushed bridal makeup.

Her skin was amazing and made my new favourites so easy to work.

I'll dare to put up "unedited" pictures of her look cause I want you to really see. We didn't even have a trial but she already communicated what she wanted and trusted me to deliver.

My January Bride, Jenavi (Photo taken by me before she got dressed)

Main products used
Other than primers and setting sprays
My two unbelievable combination were

1. Zaron oil control mineral powder (The only Zaron product I have)
2. Black up full coverage foundation

There! Amazing combination!
I didn't even use any tinted powder. None!

Her makeup stayed put all day! I Was so happy (The makeup artists in the house understand what it means to have a satisfied bride) .

One thing is sure, I need to visit a Zaron studio and check out more of their stuff!

Save or Toss? Makeup Shelflife

Hey Gorg ones !

This is something I've always wanted to share!
Even some makeup artists don't know.

Shelf life of your makeup.
Shelf life just means a period something can be used before it becomes bad or unsuitable for use.

After reading this post, I bet you'd run to raid your dresser/vanity table.

So here....

I chose a diverse range of products

From left: Primer, A foundation without sunscreen, fixing spray, sublime powder, dark spot eraser, glitter glue, a foundation with sunscreen.

You'll see a bin sign with numbers on it.

They all have different shelf lives.

So what you want to do is turn to the back of the product.


It's written mostly at the bottom.

My Black Up sublime powder states 24 months 

My Lancome teint miracle states 12 months 

My Ben nye glitter glue states 36 months 

Easy as ABC...!

Longest shelf life I've seen is 36months.

This means, DO NOT USE THE PRODUCT FOR LONGER THAN 36MONTHS AFTER OPENING.

If it says 12, you know what that means.

I know someone learnt something.
I was once clueless too!

Mmmwah!
Bemi.

Stilazzi Gone Topless VS House of Tara Makeup Box

Hey y'all!

I'm feeling a little Cookie-ish at the mo lol!
Someone just caught the Empire bug after everyone has seen it *shrugs

So here,
I'mma be comparing these 2 pro boxes. I'd like to call this "I compare, you choose".

First of all, I need to let y'all know
1. I do not have a Stilazzi box

2. The photos of the Stilazzi box on this post are random

*I took photos of my own box same style as I saw the Stilazzi box photos online

So this is what both boxes look like.

On the left is my House of Tara Makeup Box (About a year and six months old, or maybe slightly older)

On the right is the Stilazzi Gone Topless

The only difference in these two boxes as we can clearly see are the side pouches.

While the House of Tara box has just zips by the side to store a little stuff, the stilazzi has pouches for a long roll of tissue and reasonably sized purse for more storage.

They both have 8 plastic drawers that can be removed from the train.

The House of Tara Box is way darker than it appears in these photos, pardon the terrible lighting in my room.

For lovers of coloured stuff, the stilazzi has other colours. It comes in black, pink, grey and purple while the H.O.T box is only available in black.

What they look like from behind.

What they look like from the front, when opened.

Pricing!
At the time I got my H.O.T box, it was N50,000
This stilazzi box is sold presently for N75,000 - N80,000 (In Nigeria) *sips tea

25-30k would do a pretty makeup damage,

What do you think?

5 Problems Nigerian Women Understand

1."Madam, I'm not touching your hair oh, just taking out the excess". You get home wash your face and BAMMM!!! no arch, no curve, in fact, No Hair! Bahahahahha
MUAs breaking hearts since forever! Worried about how they'll construct your brows with pencil and forgetting the client may not be able to re-do that the day after.

The key : When you meet a new MUA, watch every step in front a mirror. Tell her to stop and you check every 30 seconds. I mean! you're paying right?!

2. The right Eyebrow is perfectly arched while the left side is errr the best round eyebrow you've ever done, and the difference is HUMONGOUS.  
Learn how on here.

3. Rushing your makeup and feeling like a Pro until Mascara time and whoosh! The brush gets in your eyes but then you still have to hurry. Step out with red eyes, someone asks, "oh your eyes are red, whats wrong?"
Nothing, something entered, then switches subjects. BAHA!

4. Hey dear, your hair is gorgeous! Please where is it from?
     "My hair? Oh It's 350k, someone sent it from abroad."
Really? you gon' play like that? This your hair is fine but 350? Sisteh chill! I mean!

5.  When your makeup and 500grams 22" hair game are on some serious high points, then you get to the reception and your sit is on the opposite direction of the air conditioning. I mean, the closest one is not even in sight! LOL! Bad market!

Product Review | Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

Hi everyone 😆

Here's hoping y'all are doing just fine!

So here, I bought this product for like a month before I got to use it. Even after I finally started using it, the lazy child in me was using this stuff like whenever I remember. 

I'm always like MAC studio fix powder can cover my spots so what's the point. I wasn't exactly hopeful. 

Main reason why I never thought about fading the not so terrible spots(in my mind) that I have, was this belief that whatever is going to fade spots would def bleach the skin.

Why did I decide to try this product?

So, I have this friend who's a Clinique skin care and makeup specialist. She worked for Clinique Nigeria ( I bet most people didn't even know Clinique was in Nigeria up until last year, think they moved to S.A).

Clinique was in Foschini at Ikeja City mall, they had a really big stand.

Anyways, right to the chase, I stopped one day to say hi to my "Clinique friend" and for like the few minutes I was there, women were just coming to buy this dark spot corrector.

And No, it's NOT cheap!

I was like Ha! Babe. tell me about this thing nowwww, See how they are buying it.
She goes, Bemi you don't have serious spots jor
Me: Ok oh!

Well, def wasn't ok, baby girl struggled to buy it another day.

Kept it for well over a month, someone spoke about it when I was out one day, I used it that night when I got home. Then maybe two nights after and irregularly like that. After two weeks, I was like ah! Waste of money.

Then one day, the day! I went on the Clinique channel and saw I wasn't even using it right.

3 pumps twice a day, then a moisturizer (better if there's sunscreen).
Got on this, and best believe in 2 weeks, the spots were almost the colour of my skin. FADED! NOTICEABLY!

I really do wish I took a photo before I started :(

If anyone told you about this product and you're still in doubt, It's magical!
Love love love!
I even noticed a difference in the texture of my skin. It feels great!

What I don't know : If this one bottle will fade ALL the spots on my face
I doubt though, I have refused to leave nuts alone LOL! More nuts, 1 or 2 breakouts here and there, a spot or 2 to fade.

What I know: It really does work.
                       It's quite pricey, but hey it doesn't bleach!
                       3-4 pumps are just right for the whole face and neck.
                     
Repurchase? Sure! (Hopefully I get spotless with lesser groundnut intake lol!)

Note: If you have severe spots, you may need 2 bottles. It takes forever to finish too. My first bottle still hasn't finished. Remember I wasted it for 2weeks not using it right and then I'm on my 3rd week now after restarting. Still hasn't finished.

I think it retailed for N15,000 or a little more for the 50ml I got.

Suffering from dark spots? I'd say go for it.

Fix it! This Nail Polish Saved My Shoe

Hey darrrls!

It's the weekend already!  whoop!
So I fixed my shoes yesterday and thought to share how.

I went for an event a while back, and you know... I had to travel through gravels before getting into the hall. Well, that day, I didn't travel once but several times and in all my traveling, the gravel was just scraping my gold heel :( Every step was breaking my heart.
I got home, cleaned this shoe and placed it on my rack, hoping how to fix this will register someday... somehow....

Usually, I'd use a nail polish on skid marks on my patent foot-wears whenever I kick (I always kick! Queen of clumsiness LOL!)..... But this wasn't black or red or nude. Gold! where to see metallic gold polish?!
Oh well, this shoe sat on that rack for like 14months (no exaggeration)!
Then I was grocery shopping one day and found "metallic gold avon polish".
At this point I said to myself , I don't care if its a different gold, it must work! I'll make it work anyhow.
See what I did :D

 1. Tape , for an accurate line
 2. Scissors
 3. Nail polish of choice
 4. Nail hardener or clear polish

 See what they looked looked like comparing an undone one.

 So the gold spilled on the black sole, well I have black nail polish :D

Then clear nail hardener, just as you would on your nail.

Not exactly how I bought it but WHOOOOP!
I'm rocking my shoes again!


Enjoy fixing all your shoes....!

XOXO
Bemi.

Product Review | Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation

Hey gorg ones!

Hope you guys had a fun weekend?

I'm glad I don't have to answer that question, Cause honestly, I don't how the weekend disappeared.

Thought to review this foundation, used it long enough to express how I feel about it,

So yeah, The Lancome teint miracle is popular for having a dewy finish (I'm a sucker for dewy skin) and gives your skin a healthy glow while offering a light coverage.

That's what the packaging looks like. Pretty decent!

I mean! It looks expensive (well it is, no doubt).

I don't wear foundation everyday but trust me, those days I decide to? This has come to stay.

If you're like me that tends to feel the slightest things and easily gets uncomfortable, you'll love this foundation.

It's pretty much light , like really really light and it's oil-free.

Has SPF 5 (that's a plus) and it leaves a really light glowy finish.

If i had just a word to describe this foundation, I'll call it "skin".

Has a pump, comes out in decent quantity so there's really no fear about waste.

This foundation doesn't block pores. |I didn't experience any breakouts whatsoever.

It’s not too heavy but build-able, perfect for everyday makeup.

Would I buy this foundation again? YES I will.

Probably wont be the only one I have to use but when I want a skin-like natural finish, I know which product to reach out for.

I'm in the shade "12" and I believe they have up to a LUPITA lol! My friend is slightly darker than 

I am and she got a "13". I believe their brand ambassador LUPITA would be a "15".

And yeah! It doesn't smell bad at all. You'll have to be sniffing for a scent actually to even notice. The scent I can't describe but not harsh at all.


Cons

• If you look clearly into my pictures, you'll see a chipped part of the bottle. If you're clumsy like me, you want to be careful.
• It's Pricey yo! If you're on a budget please look elsewhere! Lol! 
• It shifts when it's really hot (well most foundations move under the sun).

Pros

• Natural dewy finish
• Build-able to medium coverage
• Has SPF
• Oil free
• Decent packaging, looks like a high end perfume package
• Long lasting in cool environments
• Wide colour range, you'll definitely find your shade
• Non-comedogenic 

The Lancome Teint Idole is carried by ESSENZA, ESSENZA carries other high end makeup brands and they are located at Palms Shopping Mall, Ikeja City Mall.
Currently retails for N10,100.

Bemi

How I Clean My Brushes / DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner

Hey gorg ones!
So I'm just going to slide back into your lives like nothing happened :D
I mean!
Nothing happened really. Yes! Yes!
I loves you too!

Meanwhile. your girl been out here LEARNING!
Y'all gon' learn alot!

Right on!

I know I need my brushes to be squeaky clean at all times. I dont even know how many brushes I have and I bet Y'all dont expect me to be on that expensive brush cleaner deal (aint nobody got money to waste on those 50ml-costing-thousands-of-naira fluids).

I'm just saying! LOL!

Ok, on a serious note, these DIY cleaners do as much as those brush shampoos and sometimes even better.
Being a professional makeup artist, I get to clean my brushes pretty often. Here's how I do it...

From left: Alcohol, Apple cider vinegar, Morning fresh anti-bacterial, Extra virgin olive oil

Being the queen of depotting, I sorta got rid of the actual containers of the Alcohol and Olive oil.
               (They say I hoard, reducing my storage size makes me feel I don't hoard so much).

Alcohol: This kills everything lol! I only use this when I know my brushes have graced some not so healthy skin.

Apple cider Vinegar: Hmmm lets just say this helps take out all that grime faster. We can call this pretty mild bleach.

Morning Fresh: The ultimate grime cutter.

EVOO: Lets say this conditions your brushes after getting stripped, you don't want your expensive brushes feeling like rubber hair lol!

These are just some of the brushes I'm cleaning.

Step 1

 Get a bowl,

So I did some not so healthy skin the other day, reason I'm spraying alcohol. (OPTIONAL)

Step 2

Pour 3 parts morning fresh to one part olive oil

Step 3

Swirl your brushes one by one and repeat step if necessary.

See all that grime! Its not even a foundation brush oh! lol!

Step 4

Rinse out all that gooey stuff!

Dilute the Vinegar with water and soak your brushes for a few minutes

 Ces finis!

So I was going to put up a photo of how they looked when the got dry. Someone got a call and put these babies to work again. Lol!

We pray for dirty overworked brushes right?

Hope this post saves someone a little change,

Love,

Bemi.