BTS: Geometric shoot

So I got to work with a new photographer and some stunning new models. It was fun!

I really like my old staple, Black Opal cream stick foundation, though it's quite oily. Model Temi was a dream to shoot, so very unique-looking and lovely!

Still more fashion work

I don't like me right now...I'm working on a job that takes most of my time and I would like to take this opportunity to say a shout-out to all those wives and mothers who work 9-5, face Lagos traffic and run home to cook and care for their families. YOU ARE AMAZING. I could slap someone at the end of each day, I'm so tired. Kai! Dear future-Nory, you BETTER be rich enough that the most worrying thing in my life is getting videoed while I beat my sister's hubby in an elevator.

Too soon? okay, okay, no more jokes on Solange...

I shot this a while back with uber-talented photog Emmanuel Oyeleke ( Hi Emmanuel! I miss you "waves").

That was a tough shoot for me (no, makeup work is rarely shits, giggles and glitter #DoseOfReality, kids) because the weather was soooo hot. I hope you guys like it though.

In hindsight, I feel (and I think you will agree with me) that products such as Laura Mercier oil-free primer under the foundation will help it hold on stronger to your face, wipe with Witch Hazel as a toner before (to reduce oil). Also eyeshadow will not crease if you go with Too Faced shadow primer under it (that primer is stronger than concrete mehnnn) and a super-duper waterproof eyeliner like Milani waterproof, Make Up For Ever Aqua Black or Bobbi Brown Gel liner.

So, take care till we are freeeee!!!

New Fashion work

I shot this with photographer Yomi Black, a wonderful model Paula (she's baesd in the UK) and a stylist. It was such a fun day and we finished quite late. Thanks to everyone who participated. And my favourite products of the day was Make Up For Ever flash palette and Sleek pout paint in Port Red.

Makeover Special

Dear blog readers, the universe attacked  me and I had some very weird accidents. But I'll live, thankfully.
I grabbed my sister-in-law and decided to give her a quickie. I meant quick makeover, perverts.

Face prep: Vichy Thermale Cleansing water, Dickinsons Witch Hazel,    Laura Mercier oil free foundation primer, Aquaphor, The Body Shop Vitamin E eye cream.

Face: Make Up For Ever HD foundation, Milani secret cover concealer, Zaron pressed powder
Eyes: Nouba eyeshadows,  MAC eyeshadow in All that Glitters and Estee Lauder eyeshadow in Russet,MAC eyepencil in Smoulder, Maybelline Collosal Volume mascara, Davis eyepencil
Cheeks: La Femme blush palette
Lips: Eversheen pencil and Milani lipstick in Bellatini.

It's a very wearable look which will fit any skintone.

Till next time!

Creative makeup

Hey bellas. How is this rainy weather treating y'all? Please do NOT say "Weather for 2", your mates in other countries are seeing this type of weather and thinking of planting crops and making money. You're dreaming of something else. Mschewwwwwww. LOL.

I thought I'd share some interesting work I did last year. I was going for a colour splash concept.

When it comes to creative makeup, there are rules to follow. You've got to be super-creative, research everything, tell a story. It's a good time to try out new techniques and play with colour and texture. Don't just throw your entire kit at the model and call it a day, crazy lashes does not make work creative.

I really love this picture, the photographer Hakeem Salaam is one of the best in Nigeria (he's shot every major job out there) and the model, Comfort, 16 and incredibly talented.

What d you think?

Line Like You Mean It

Hello there, back with another blog post title from a band I really like, The Killers.

Eyeliner is an amazing product and it's probably the first piece of makeup everyone steals from their Mummy's handbag as a child. But some out there can be super-annoying: hard, don't release colour well, don't have a smooth texture, expensive for what you're getting, blah blah...

I mean, seriously, Life is tough already. My eyeliner shouldn't be.

I've tried out a few brands, and decided to put all my black eyeliners to the test of long-lasting longevity. I wanted to know, which would last through a crying session of "OMG, Bez Idakula the singer is engaged, I thought I'd meet him one day and we'd get married and have natural-haired babies who play guitar and paint watercolours, mah life izzz overrrrrr"

MAC pencil in Smoulder, Rimmel eyeliner pencil, Face Atelier Powder pencil, Zaron Khol Kajal, MAC waterproof pencil in Engraved, Bobbi Brown gel liner, MUFE Aqua black cream liner

Swatches of all the liner

And swatches of all the liners after I washed my hand with soap and water lightly

I'm not going to make a decision or tell you what I think, I just wanted to show you how they acted under circumstances like water (a sweaty bride or client on a hot day or just any gal with oily skin, take note).

So, as per eyeliner, what's in Your wallet?

Editor's note: We at Naijapretty and Noredia Mua wish Bez congratulations and a happy married life. 

Beauty Breakdown

I haven't received the final images from this shoot but thought I'd do a breakdown on it, as a few people asked.  The model had a lovely bone structure but really dark under eyes, the type that almost nothing but clever lighting can take care of, after concealing.

I prepped the skin with some skincare and Paula Dorf normal to dry skin primer. I used Make Up For Ever HD foundation and concealer palette. Bronzer was Iman bronzing powders and highlighter was Revlon skinlights and Iman bronzer, a few MAC pigments and Paula Dorf eyeshadow. Contour was by my favourite duos from Bobbi Brown, but Sleek contour palette works just as well. Her lips were a blend of Revlon Love that Red, a Max Factor red and OCC NSFW in the middle, topped with gloss. Her brows were not finished here (I was rushing) but I used Tara eyebrow pencils.

Paula Dorf used to be sold at Kuddy Cosmetics and let me know if you need the Revlon, there's a private seller. Sadly, most of the shimmer on her cheekbones didn't show due to my crappy camera.


That's it, I guess.

PRETTY IN PURPLE

There’s nothing like a wedding.

Bridal makeup is supposed to bring out the loveliness of a woman, committing to a man in front of witnesses, about her love for him. Soft, pretty, sweet, demure, those are words we think of when we see a bride in our eyes. That usually translates to nude colours, browns and pinks, with some grey.

But what to do when your bride wants soft but not those colours exactly?

Enter our model, the lovely Chioma. Chioma was just recovering from an illness which stressed out her skin, and we were going for yellow and warm, she likes pink and purple and certainly didn’t want to wear yellow eyeshadow.

 

For her base, I used Black Opal Cream stick foundation, I like the texture of this when I’m dealing with dry skin that’s not so smooth, it can be greasy on others. I went with a pink eyeshadow on her eyes, with a purple eyeshadow in her crease (a blend of MAC 'Beautiful Iris' and Make Up For Ever '162'). Chioma has gorgeous brows, so I brushed them up and filled in sparsely with Tara Orekelewa’s eyebrow pencil. I left her blush and lipstick in the same family shade of pinkish-brown-orange. I deliberately went for that because her skin was washed out of colour by her recent illness, so I wanted to warm it up a little. No lashes, just 2 coats of mascara and eyeliner on the top (any liquid eyeliner will suffice, but in this case it was my kit staple Make Up For Ever Aqua Black, which will hold up through tears of “I do”, “My ex-bf is soo upset right now”, “OMG I’m married” and “Will I ever eat my mum’s soup again”.

By the way brides, you don’t always need lashes. So many times, I see lashes that are too big, applied on a bride. It actually makes your eyes look smaller and cast a shadow in pictures. Not always cute. Opt for more natural lashes or rock your God-given ones. Your groom likes the latter best.