A Smokey Opportunity

Hello lovelies! 

I just love it when I think of a look (or want to try a look I saw somewhere) and then I get out all the products my mind tells me I need and when I put them on, it all comes together beautifully! I saw a look done by Banke Meshida on her Instagram handle and fell in love with it. I had been wanting to try it so when the opportunity for an outing presented itself, I picked up my brushes and followed my heart! 

Here is the look I did on myself. Improvement still needed on my part if you ask me, lol!

Here is the look by Banke Meshida on the gorgeous Eniola Kartey

PRODUCTS USED

Brows

MAC Spiked brow pencil

MAC Embark eyeshadow

BMPro Brow Tint in Auburn Lites

Eyes

MAC Black Track Fluidline

Tara High Intensity Pigment in Omidan

MAC Folie

MAC Carbon

MAC Sketch

MAC Omega (to highlight brow bone)

BMPro Moccasin

L'oreal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim in Black

Maybelline New York Colossal Kajal

Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara

Face

No7 Shine Free Primer

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC50

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NW45

MAC Embark (to contour cheekbones)

MaryKay Berry Brown blush + BMPro Pumpkin blush

Lips

Sleek lip pencil in Bare Essentials

OCC Liptar in Hush

Collection 2000 lipstick in Birthday Suit

#versefortheyear - Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord - Luke 1:45

Sunrise

Hello my lovelies!

Trust we are all living and loving life? I certainly am!

Here’s a look I did on myself on Saturday, sometimes when you have a passionate relationship with makeup like I do, you just work from the heart and the results are amazing. I got so many compliments! My friend Doyin couldn’t stop commenting on the eyes. She actually said I’m usually not this beautiful as the eyes were something else, lol! I've named it Sunrise as it was bright and bold and beautiful.

I’ve listed the products I used for those of us who would like to know! As I’m typing this, I’m thinking a YouTube video would better demonstrate the look, however, I must confess, I’m still learning how to use my DSLR Camera to record videos. Just got myself a tripod so you all can know that I mean business. Lol, anyway, till then, love beauty! Live passionately!

PRODUCTS USED

Brows

MAC Spiked Brow Pencil

MAC Embark Eyeshadow

BMPro Brow Tint in Auburn

Eyes

BMPro Shadow Base

Tara High Intensity Pigment in Omidan (outer corner)

MAC Carbon (outer corner)

MAC Red Brick (outer crease/transition color)

MAC Omega (to highlight brow bone)

BMPro Mocassin (crease)

Naked Cosmetics Pigment in Heavy Metal 04 (eyelid)

Maybelline New York Colossal Kajal in Black (waterline and lower lash line)

L’oreal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim in Black

Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara

Face

Face to Face Super Matte Anti Shine

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC50

Sleek Glisten Me Liquid Illuminator in Empress (applied under foundation for a ‘glow from within look’)

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NW45

MAC Embark Eyeshadow (to contour cheekbones)

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit

MAC Raizin Blush

Lips

Tara Orekelewa Lip Liner in Wine

BMPro Tansy Lipstick

BMPro Velvet Godiva Lipstick

Tara Double Ended LipGloss in Tejiri

Tara High Shine Lip Stain in Kahina

BMPro clear gloss

#versefortheyear - Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord - Luke 1:45

NiPHEC 2014

Hi my lovelies! 

Like I said in my previous post, I attended 2 conferences in the week ending 3rd May, 2014. The first was the Makeup in Nigeria Conference and the second was the 2014 Nigeria Photography Expo and Conference (NiPHEC) which this post is about.

It was sponsored by Nikon and held from the 29th of April, 2014 to the 3rd of May, 2014. Being a big awoof lover, I attended the 2 free sessions on 2nd May, 2014 :)

The first session was about Maximizing the Potential of your DSLR Camera by Cesar Parroco, a Nikon Manager from Dubai. 

The second session was about Appreciating and Understanding Photography by Michael Imomoh, ‘The Greatest Photobiker'

I’m always looking for tips on how to shoot better photos as great pictures are necessary for a makeup artist’s portfolio, lucky for me, I got a few tips which I will share :)

• using a small aperture keeps everything in the picture sharp
• a shutter speed of 1/250 is extremely fast and will freeze subjects which are moving. Using speeds of 1/60 or 1/15 are slower and will blur the action (these can produce quite creative pictures)
• stick the eyecup of the DSLR to your eyebrow to improve stability when taking photos
• do go on one knee if you are shooting low, use tables or walls if needed
• ensure your subject is in the centre of the focus points 
• best way to shoot a person is to focus on the eyes
• remove distractions from your pictures by blurring them, i.e. use a small aperture number
• for portraits (most beauty shots are portraits) use lenses such as a 55mm, 85mm or 135mm
• when taking a portrait, focus on the eyes
• use the rule of thirds to create more interesting photos
• try to have a distinct style with your photos
• ensure you make the most of the available light, lighting is a very essential tool in taking great photos
• a reflector is essential to shooting great photos as it helps with lighting. Find out where to buy them from locally, they usually have a silver side and a gold side. I got mine from Amazon UK and its a 5-in-1 as its got the silver side, the gold side, a black side, a white side and can be used as a diffuser.
• if you aren’t sure what settings to use on your lens, you can google what the ‘sweet spot’ is for your particular lens. It will let you know what aperture value your lens takes the best photos at.

If you don’t understand some terminologies I’ve used, just tweet me @youmakeovers and I will respond, otherwise, Google is a great friend to ask :)

This last piece of information is very crucial for us MUAs. Please ensure you get your clients to sign a model release form. This form is needed whenever you take an image of someone and it will protect you against civil liability lawsuits should an issue arise sometime in the future. It will protect your client also. As much as possible, also save the release forms in case you need them in the future. There are so many templates of this form available on the internet. Google it!

Hope I’ve been able to share some information! Till my next post, love makeup, love beauty, love life!

#versefortheyear - Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord - Luke 1:45

#MINC

Hi lovelies! How has everyone been? I trust you all have been living life passionately and purposefully. 

Ok! Last week was conference week for me, I attended two conferences, one on makeup and the other on photography. I can never hear too much about makeup, never learn too much about makeup, never see too many makeup tutorials (especially when they are live!) and never get tired of meeting other makeup artists. 

This post is all about MINC! For those of us who aren’t makeup junkies, MINC is simply the acronym for Makeup In Nigeria Conference. It was held last week Wednesday at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos and I must say I came away drained but uplifted and empowered. If you missed it, here are the photos of the conference which I was able to take and my candid opinion on the masterclasses and conference in general.

The stage was set quite nicely but we started quite late! We Nigerians and punctuality! Amen to an improvement in this regard next year.

The Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Trade and Industry (I hope I got that right) giving a brief address. She commended our entrepreneurial spirit and assured us of the support of the Lagos State Government.

My opinion: what about other MUAs from other parts of the country? Perhaps at the next conference, we can have someone from the Federal Government? I would also love to see representatives from NAFDAC and SON in attendance next year as so many MUAs have started producing makeup products. I would love to know that these products are being regulated and made to the appropriate health and safety standards.

Joy Adenuga demonstrating how to create an editorial look.

My opinion: Good delivery. Friendly approach. 

Eni Balogun discussing how to create a professional image as a makeup artist and hygiene in makeup artistry

My opinion: Good delivery. Humourous approach. Quite engaging

Tara Fela-Durotoye delivering her keynote address

Idy Enang, MD, L'Oreal Central West Africa delivering his keynote address

Take away: Beauty is a great business, beauty is eternal, beauty is cultural, beauty is universal, beauty is a permanent quest.

My opinion: Good delivery. His powerpoint slides had issues otherwise they would have been great.

Lola Maja-Ojekovo demonstrating creative makeup

My opinion: Good delivery, engaging.

Khuraira Musa demonstrating the use of her K-PRO Airbrush Makeup

My opinion: Great delivery. Very Engaging.

Bimpe Onakoya demonstrating Fashion Makeup

My opinion: Good delivery.

Buntricia Bastian demonstrating HD Bridal Makeup

My opinion: Great delivery. Extremely humourous. Very engaging. #imjustsaying

Funmi Irantiola Olurinola demonstrating how to tie gele on Buntricia

My opinion: Good demonstration. Would have been great if a proper gele was used.

Bayo Haastrup creating a High Fashion Makeup look My opinion: Good delivery

Honorary Recognition

Alhaja Tejuosho

Alhaja Kudi

Bayo Haastrup

Chief Mrs. Opral Benson

Conference overview: In all, I must say it was a success being the first of its kind in Nigeria (kudos to Tara and Teni). There are a few opportunity areas though, projector screens weren’t sharp/clear enough to show the details of the demonstration. Class size was too large for everyone to be fully engaged, I think the masterclasses should not be more than about 50 participants so MUAs can get a better look, and have the opportunity to ask questions. 

Being someone who likes food (lol) and didn’t eat before leaving home at 5.30am in order to be early, arrangements to feed us could have been better. In my opinion, pre-packaged food parcels with a drink inclusive could have been handed out at the two breaks. I was terribly hungry, had a headache and was dizzy as I was only able to get one mini croissant and a glass of juice throughout the event which started past 9am and ended at 10pm.

The MUAs could have been more explanatory when working with respect to type of product used and why, type of tools used and why, techniques used and why, etc. Buntricia did a good job of this (after over 30 years in the industry she would know!)

For next year’s conference, I feel the conference should be split into 2 days, masterclasses should be better organised, sales stands should be more spacious and more allowance should be made for questions to be asked.

I learnt a great deal, was inspired by the stories of how those we look up to have grown, developed and perfected their crafts over the years. I learnt new techniques to incorporate into mine and even learnt how to and not to handle the business side of my craft. 

Adding summaries of the masterclasses would make this blog post too long, so let me know if this is something you would like to see! Till the next time my fingers hit the keyboard, enjoy these photos!

#versefortheyear - Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord - Luke 1:45