Monday, December 24, 2012

Replicate : Abi's White Wedding Look

Hey Pretties,

It's Christmas day & here's wishing all readers of my blog a very Merry Christmas. May Christ the Reason For the season dwell in your hearts richly & may our lives be a reflection of his wondrous love towards us. 

I would have loved to do a holiday inspired look for you, but mehn - O dikwa next year,lol. In the interim, i decided to teach you how i achieved one of Abi's bridal looks for those who need some inspiration for what look to wear today or this festive season.

It was difficult deciding which of Abi's looks to share with you, but i decided this look is the easiest of the 2.

You can't go wrong with this Look

 For her Eyes -

1). I covered dark areas of her eyes with some concealer, outlined her bows with Davis's Brow Pencil in '018' & filled it in with BM Pro's Brow Powder in 'Auburn'.
2). I then highlighted her brows with a concealer 2 shades lighter than her skin tone & set it with a matching shadow with a hint of shimmer
3). I went over her lids with Bm Pro's Eyeshadow base in 'Light' & blended it into her crease
4). In her crease i blended Casabella's eyeshadow in 'Navajo Brown' to add definition & depth to her eye area
5). In the inner corner to 3/4 of her lids i used a mix of MAC's Eyeshadows in 'Paradisco' & 'Expensive Pink' & for the outer 1/4 of her lid, i used a mix of MAC's Eyeshadows in 'Carbon' & 'Fig 1'
6). I lined her upper lashline with Casabella's Indelible Gel Eyeliner in 'INK' & applied KISS by I-Envy lashes in 'Au Naturale 02 - KPE 09'
7). On her lower lashes,i went in with Jordana's Easyliner Eyeliner in 'Midnight Blue'

 For her Lips -

1). I lined 3/4 of her lips with Jordana's Lip Pencil in 'Plum' & blended with my finger
2). I filled in the inner lower lip with Jordana's Lipstick in 'Barely Pink' (A Baby Pink Color with Shimmer in it)
3). I filled her entire upper lip and perimeter of her lower lip with Black Opal's Lipstick in 'Congo Pink' (A Fuscia Pink Color just like what you see in my Logo)
4). I blended both lip colors with Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lipgloss in 'Sugar High' - That's my HG clear lipgloss right there *wink*

So try it out & i would be delighted to see what you were able to come up with. Have a Fun & memorable Holiday - sitpretty412@yahoo.com

xoxo
Pretty K

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Bridal Feature : Abi

Hey Pretties,

Of all the brides i've had to work on,i've never been soo excited as i was when Abi contacted me & said i would be travelling to Akure, Ondo State for her wedding. Truth is i love to travel and learn about new places & customs and of course take my brand name to new places.

Abi who doesn't reside in Nigeria didn't get to meet me till 2days before her Big Day. Thank God for the Blackberry,it's been a very wonderful business tool.

So armed with my tools alongside my dear friend Abisoye of BALL EVENTS,who happens to have been her Wedding Planner and Decorator, we hit the road. In my heavily pregnant state and hers as well, speeding was to be done with extreme caution & God was merciful to us. A supposed 4-hour journey became 5hours without a stop-over to Pee(A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.)
Tired Abisoye
So the 1st day came and i went for a colorful look and i played the role of a Facial Constructor,lol




 


Day 2,being an Environmental Saturday had us on the road very early in the morning with me heading to her hotel and guess what happened?? Her hairstylist was nowhere to be seen & didn't call till the bride was well on her way to church(Talk about Unreliable) & so i had the scary challenge of playing that role. I hope i did a good job?



 

At the end of the day i played the roles of Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist & photographer,yay!! I was in very high spirits(i was going home) and so i had excess energy. So for those who wonder how working outside your base can be, i hope this post gave you a hint of what you should be prepared for.

xoxo
Pretty K

Say Mummy!!

Hey Pretties,

Are there words to describe the lovely Lady who gave birth to me? Nah!! I doubt it strongly. The past 2 months have been fun with my mum staying with me to help with Baby Dieko and amidst the other responsibilities she has, she finds time to enjoy taking care of my kids.

She calls it 'Ise Omo'(Parental Duty) and i doubt if there's one day since i became a mother that she hasn't been there for me. My Mum inspired my love for makeup and i'm totally grateful to her.

So one day she requests for a makeover(she sha can't be living with PrettyK and not have a healthy dose) and so i hooked her up.

Being in her 50s, there are a few challenges to be expected but because she has a 'plump' face(laughs out loud), i didn't have to do so much work.

See What I Mean!!
 With some brightening eye cream(MaryKay Indulge Soothing Eye-Gel) ; flesh toned eye colors(BM Pro 'Lava' Eyeshadow & MAC 'Amber Lights' Eyeshadow); a matching liner to her head-wear(Jordana Easyliner Eyeliner in 'Midnight Blue') and a plum lippie(MAC 'Dark Side' Cream Lipstick),her true beauty shone through. I used a less is more approach in my application techniques and she loved everything about her makeover(not like she had a choice,Right! :-)
So who says Makeup is bad? If it can brighten the dullest of faces and boost confidence,i'm all for it. And this post just inspired a challenge,i'll let you know when i achieve it.

xoxo
Pretty K

Myriad!!

Hey Pretties,

i didn't know i had been away for soo long. Been a mum to a new baby and a 3year-old toddler surely has it's challenges and that's why i'm putting up this post at 4am being the only time in 24hrs that i have time for myself.

A lot of things have happened in the last 2months, i added another year on the 4th of december *Yay*, was everywhere in Lagos attending to clients with a baby who loves to eat(or drink as the case may be) *Phew*,been trying to lose weight *rolls eyes* and just braving the challenges of each new day.


Anyway,i'm back with lots of reviews and tutorials,so please check back daily!!

xoxo
Pretty K



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Product Review : MAC 217 Blending Brush

Hey Pretties,

In my Arsenal of Tools, there's one brush i never leave home without & it's the MAC 217 Blending Brush.

According to MAC : the 217, can be used for shading or blending of color or creamy products. This brush has fine, densely packed fibers that are arranged in an oval shape.

Pros 

- It is 17cm long, which means it's are very comfortable to hold & work with
- The brass ferrule is nickel-plated, which means it has been protected against 'Corrosion' & 'wear'
- It is hand-sculpted, which means the brush was produced with attention to detail
- It does an effortless job in the blending of eyeshadows,cream products(like concealers) & even powder in hard to reach areas.
- It is easy to clean

Cons

- The 217 retails for $27.50 which i must say isn't cheap.
- In event that you use this brush with a very pigmented product (Sugarpill eyeshadows in my case), the bristles of the brush after washing/cleaning don't come off so white.

Verdict
It is worth every penny & i certainly will repurchase.


xoxo
PrettyK

DISCLAIMER: I am in no affiliation with MAC, i bought the product & i'm not been paid to review it.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Nominations for WED Awards 2013 Now Open

Hey Pretties,

WED Magazine will in 2013 launch it's very first Nigerian Wedding Industry Awards aka WED AWARDS. Here, you get to nominate your business / businesses you have come to love.


To nominate my humble self - SITPRETTY in the category of 'MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR' OR 'UPCOMING MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR' and other businesses you respect,  please follow this link : WED Awards to cast your votes

Your votes mean the world to me. Thanks in Earnest

xoxo
PrettyK

Saturday, October 20, 2012

DIY : How To Tie Gele By EWAR Makeovers

Hey Pretties,

Once upon a time,i hated geles & always thought my wedding day will be the 1st & probably last time i would rock the head-piece. As fate would have it,i'm now perfect in the art *wide grin*

That I love Adenike Ogungbe of EWAR Makeovers & i'm a great fan of her work is no news. We happen to be great friends & she's been a blessing in my life.

Few weeks back, she made this video on how to tie gele & i knew i had to share it with those who have difficulty tying their own gele. We all know putting together a You-tube video isn't small work especially if you're a perfectionist, so i commend you Adenike for taking out time to share this knowledge for free.


I hope you found the video helpful.

xoxo
PrettyK

Product Review : NEUTROGENA Oil-Free Acne Wash

Hey Pretties,

As part of any woman's skin-care regimen, there should be products for CLEANSING , TONING & MOISTURIZING.

In mine, i am a great fan of Neutrogena's OIL-FREE ACNE WASH & believe it or not, my mum introduced the product to me & now, my better half can't do without it either.

I can't begin to tell you how many clients & friends i have recommended this product to & the positive feedback i've gotten.

Pros
- It does what it says, it cleans your skin completely especially when you just took off your makeup.
- It helps fight acne,i'm a living testimony
- It's quite affordable for the work it does, it retails between N1,500 & N2,000
- It's available in every reputable pharmacy & beauty supply store.
- It has a nice fragrance, i was able to tolerate it in pregnancy.
- A little goes a long way as it lathers easily when a little water is applied.

Cons
- It has none really except that it may be too bulky for travel & so you may have to decant some

Above all, it's a lovely product & i'll purchase it over & over again.

xoxo
PrettyK

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Rocking your Bump!!

Hey Pretties,

The 9-month course seems to be a very dreaded period in the life of most women. Asides the Morning Sickness,most people are scared of Bloating & putting on those extra Pounds. 

If there's anything i'm most thankful for,i barely pack on the pounds. The first 4months are usually hell-ish for me. I usually have the Most severe case of 'Hyperemesis Gravidarum' (Morning Sickness) you can think of, which means i throw up even till the 9th month.
I lost 12kg in 1month, i couldn't keep anything down, smells got the best of me & i'm Lactose-Intolerant(can't stomach Milk or any food that contains a slight trace of milk) for the duration of my pregnancy. I was admitted in the hospital on account of severe Dehydration. I thought at a point that i would die.
With My 1st Angel

But as i progressed, i felt better & was able to work better, avoiding every single item that triggered nausea, but sometimes i still had bad days.
An Old Lady At The Mall Commended This Look,lol

But i decided this time around that no matter what, i would LOOK GOOD, DRESS WELL & MAKE MY HAIR(lol).
3 Weeks To My Baby's Birth
A Few Pointers for anyone going through this phase of life :
- Eats Loads of Fruits (Tangerines, Watermelons, Apples, Red & Green Grapes)
- Exercise (Short Walks, go up and down a flight of stairs at least twice a day)
- Read Literature on Pregnancy. There are so many out there that will help you understand the changes your body is experiencing.
- Wear Comfortable, yet stylish clothes & shoes. If you need a hook-up, send me a mail : sitpretty412@yahoo.com
- MAKE YOUR HAIRRRRRRRRRR. Your Hubby will be glad you did
- Wear some makeup to liven your face
- Towards the end of your 3rd trimester, you are likely to experience THE MASK OF PREGNANCY (This is when your neck and chest region take a darker tone than you are used to). Your regular makeup may seem too light on you, so if you must wear makeup, get a matching shade.
- Be HAPPY!! It's a wonderful thing that's happening to you, Thank God everyday,pray for your growing baby & look ahead to what's in store for you

xoxo
PrettyK





My News!!!

Hey Pretties,

Incommunicado,you would say. When you're through with this post,i'm sure you'll forgive me. For many people who haven't seen me the last few months, i bet you didn't know/suspect that i had a new look.

Ok,ok,the gist is that : I'M A MOTHER AGAINNNNNNNNNNNNN! Yay!!

On the 6th of October, Heaven blessed me with the most adorable angel you can ever imagine & to top it all up, i'm honored he's made me her custodian.
Photo Credit : TAP Photography
 For those who know me well,i worked my behind off almost every weekend attending to brides and other clients even till the morning i went into the Theatre.

It was the Most Emotional, Stressful, Enjoyable, Relentless 9months of my life & when i look back i'm grateful to God for seeing me through. It wasn't easy i must confess, but working & the smiles & thank you(s) from every client i had down the line convinced me that i could do it. YES I CAN & so can you too no matter what career line you're in.

To all those who prayed for me & others trusting God for the fruit of the womb, I pray that when your turn comes, the Lord will make it easier for you than mine was & may he Gladden your hearts always.

DIE-KO-LOLA-OLUWA (meaning : The Favor & Blessings Of The Lord Are UNQUANTIFIABLE) sends her warm regards.

xoxo
PrettyK

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bridal Feature : Buks

Hey Pretties,

Trust you've all been splendid?A lot's been going on with me & will let you in on things soon. I was blackmailed to do this post by the Bride in spotlight,Buks. Ha!! You have 'wahalad' me much on this post, Happy now? ;-)
Unashamed
Bukola got married a few weeks back to another dear friend,Sam(who i'm told looks like me) & she made it clear to me months prior that i was gonna be her makeup artist, whether i liked it or not & so i made sure she kept me posted on every development as well as dates picked, so i could keep my diary open. Happy we went about it that way.

Me,hard at Work
Buks doesn't wear much makeup,probably because she doesn't need it / doesn't know how to apply it,lol. But i had every mind of making her a very beautiful & polished version of her pre-madeup self. Her wedding to me had the feel of a Fairytale wedding & so, she needed to look every inch a princess. I hope i did her some justice.

Photo Credit - GreenShot Photography
For the Traditional Engagement Ceremony, i wanted her glowing & opposed to what i see people do - Highlights of Matching Red with the bride's Attire(which sometimes seems too much to me), i decided to give her something 'Safer' yet flattering & tie her gele in a similar light.



I must quickly add that she planned every detail of her wedding(she owns a company called WEDDINGS 'UR' WAY) & honestly every aspect was beautiful. All vendors she employed were very much on point & i should say i was impressed.



Fastforward to Saturday, it was time to solemnize the marriage in the presence of God & because she lives on the outskirts of Lagos while church was in Marina, we all had to get her ready 3hrs before Church was to start which meant we were all awake by 4am,Phew!!
Photo Credit : GreenShot Photography
 I went for a Pop of Colour this time around & she looked sooo beautiful, if i were to say so myself



Her Big Bow,lol
And off she went to Become Mrs Sam, I wish you Both a Lifetime of Love,Friendship,Commitment & Beautiful God-Loving Kids,Mwah!!!!

PhotographerGreenshot Photography - https://www.facebook.com/GreenshotPhotography

xoxo
PrettyK

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Makeup For Mature Skin!!

Hey Pretties,

This is a topic that concerns makeup artists as sometimes you are given the task of making up a Bride's Mum or a client who's above 40.





Notice how happy & confident my clients look above. I want to give a few pointers i believe should be helpful for anyone who hasn't mastered this aspect of makeup. This post refers to women of colour, but is applicable with other skin tones

- Ensure your skin prep includes products that help plump & improve the appearance of the client's skin & features(eye creams,line fillers come into play here)
- Less is always more. You can use any color whatsoever, but a little goes a long way
- Avoid as much shimmer as you can,as shimmer tends to highlight & throw more light on problem areas(crow's feet, wrinkles & sagging skin)
- Keep shimmer/frost shadows awayyyyyyy from the crease,as this doesn't flatter & may emphasize crow's feet/wrinkles your client is most willing to hide
- Keep away from Loud lipcolors. This can't be emphasized enough!! If you are even going to use loud lipcolors,be sure you have a light hand & are very skilled at blending
- Lipglosses should be kept to the minimum, 'Ororo' - looking glosses are enemies. Limit the lipgloss application to the centre of the lips & that's it.
- Avoid the heavy use of blush on the cheeks or cheekbones, a mature client wants to look refined & not a comedian's scapegoat.
- Brows should be as subtle & natural looking as possible. It shouldn't take attention away from the eyes.
- Avoid thin brows, fuller looking brows give the client a much younger appearance. Don't be discouraged if your client has sparse brows, use a stencil if you don't have steady hands.
- Most mature clients are sensitive in the eye area, avoid using liners in the lower eye, if they tell you they have sensitive eyes.
- Ensure eyeshadow doesn't get into their eyes during application, learn how to do sufficient TAP-OFF
- Make your clients feel good about themselves as they are at a more self-conscious age & they need to look & feel comfortable
- Tryyyyyyy (i had to emphasize) to keep the application time between 10-15minutes as most mature women don't have the leisure or patience to sit for too long

Hopefully, i've helped answer questions a few people have struggled with. Please send any more questions you might have to : sitpretty412@yahoo.com

xoxo
PrettyK

Monday, September 17, 2012

Bridal Feature : Kenken

Hey Pretties,

The story behind this makeover is one that is truly humbling & it helped open my eyes to a lot of things. Kenken (better known as Kehinde) got married sometime in June & this required me travelling to Abuja (I'm Lagos-based) to carry out my duties.

Now the real story is that Kehinde contacted me almost 2years prior & for 1second, never changed her mind about I being her makeup artist, which has never happened to me before. For cogent reasons, the wedding date kept changing & she made sure i was duly informed as progress was made.

It's impossible not to have ended up being friends with her & she's a woman of great faith & wisdom, i couldn't help but Love her. I was looking forward to this trip & finally meeting her in person, obviously no bridal trial was done,she had too much confidence in me & i was determined not to let her down.

And then Tragedy struck, the DANA crash that took the lives of some hardworking & truely inspirational youths, my cousin & another prospective bride were aboard (RIP 'Kunbi Adebiyi & Ayoola Somolu). May the Souls of the Departed continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord. I broke down, i couldn't imagine their last thoughts & i realised it could have been anyone.I broke down some more :-(

Kehinde's wedding was exactly 3weeks after, my dear hubby would not have a word of it : You're Going to Abuja :-((((((((( ? No You can't Go. By Air? Certainly Not!!!  Then i became really worried, I couldn't disappoint Kehinde now. What was i to do? I began to pray. All manners of thoughts crossed my mind & when hubby gave the go-ahead, i gathered my wits & courage about me looking forward to my return trip to Abuja.

I got to MMA2(Local Airport) & missed my flight. Gosh,i booked this flight. To get on the next one would cost me some money i hadn't planned on spending :-( While lamenting on the phone to hubby & Kehinde, i 'jejely' brought out my ATM, prepared to pay the extra charges & an angel in the form of Eniola saved me the trouble. ENIOLA, YOU ARE A HUGE PART OF THIS STORY, GOD BLESS YOU.

I would leave out the terrible thoughts i had aboard the plane to & fro, but i saw life in another light & i realised that we had to live a life pleasing unto God,no matter how he chooses to call us home. But one word Kehinde said that will never leave me is : I HAVE COMMITTED ALL WHO WILL TRAVEL DOWN FOR THIS CEREMONY INTO GOD'S HANDS. ON ACCOUNT OF MY HUBBY & I, THEY WILL ARRIVE THEIR DESTINATIONS SAFELY.



In Full Traditional Wear


Hard at work
Off to Church she went




ME in Full Groove Mode
 I had an awesome time in Abuja, kehinde & her Family treated me like the CELEB that i am,lol & i met so many wonderful people, you just can't imagine.

Off she went for her thanksgiving, while i headed to the airport
Kehinde, it was a huge honor working for you. Thanks for Choosing SITPRETTY


xoxo
PrettyK

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Your Makeup Artist & You!

Hey Pretties,

It's been a pretty busy couple of days attending to brides and other clients & mehn, have i missed you all soo much. Now this post is intended as a guide to help all intending brides who read it know what to look for in their makeup artist & help makeup artists know what intending brides expect of them. Hopefully,i'll do a good job with this post.

My Bride & I (Photo Credit : Bayo Omoboriowo)
 This post is mostly targeted at Nigerian-based Makeup artists but may apply in other countries.

WHAT A BRIDE EXPECTS FROM HER ARTIST :

- She expects you to be punctual, you have no reason to be late. She's the STAR of this particular day & the last thing she needs to be doing is calling you over & over asking : Where are you?
If i in Pregnancy can get on an OKADA(motorcycle) just in an attempt to avoid disappointing a bride/client. Please tell me,what's your excuse?????

- Most brides have no idea how they want to look on their big-day, all they want is : TO LOOK FINE (lol,i hear this a lot) & so they expect their artist is going to be able to do just that. Understanding Color Theory goes a long way,so artists get reading & practicing.

- Brides expect their artists to know the difference between Bridal & Fashion Makeup, if you don't know that, please make sure you do. Avoid making your bride look a ghost of her pre-transformed self.

- Brides will never book an artist without at least viewing a few pictures of work you've done. Please for no reason should you then use another artist's hardwork & claim the credits. If you've been doing that, SHAME ON YOU!!! Some day,that action will catch up with you & can do harm to your reputation as an artist.

- Except you completely trust the skills of your artist, please request a Trial-session. This is beneficial for both Bride & Artist. But i beg of you,be sure you are going to be employing that artist's service if that trial session is free, otherwise, be ready to pay for that service.


WHAT A MAKEUP ARTIST SHOULD KNOW & DO :

- Every Bride/Client is a potential link to 2 more clients, be nice & accommodating even when the bride isn't sure of what she wants.

- If you have been chosen over another makeup artist to do a job & your client/bride tells you who they wanted to use. Never EVER bad-mouth a colleague, tables may turn one day & it could be you.

- To a certain degree,be friends with your bride. Some makeup artists may not agree with me on this one, but the truth of the matter is that it never hurts. Infact, it helps you do a better job when you understand your client to a degree.

- If you have no idea how to mix colors, ask for the colors of her Trad wear / bouquet ahead of time. This should be a guide in getting you COLOR_READY. That day isn't the time to start experimenting,despite having done a trial.

- Except you are PICASSO, please agree to a trial session with your bride. This shortens the time of application on the D-day because you have discussed the various looks the bride is hoping to go for.

- If you somehow aren't familiar with the location your bride is dressing up from, please ask for directions inclusive of landmarks. If that still isn't helpful, ask people you know. That day is certainly not the kind of day to get LOST.

- If Blackberry is the ONLY contact link between you & your bride, please bridge the gap of communication by asking the bride for her phone number as well as that of her sibling / maid of honor. BB users should understand that having just one phone or means of contact is Silly. If you fall into this category, please do something about it FAST!

WHAT A MAKEUP ARTIST EXPECTS FROM HER BRIDE :

- Please keep to the schedule of that day! If your event is to start at a certain time & you & your artist have discussed timing, please keep to your end of the deal. This allows you get the very best from your artist & this ensures nothing is left out.

- No artist loves surprises!! If you have discussed the number of faces you want your artist to handle & then on that day,an aunt or two want that service as well. Please plan to reward your artist for the trouble / politely tell your aunt/s the service fee. Trust me,it means a lot to your artist when you do so.

- If for some reason, you change your mind about your artist OR your wedding date has changed, pls give your artist due notice. This is because that artist may have turned down numerous assignments for that day & informing them of the change in plans, helps a great deal.

I purposely left out mode of payment & contract terms, as artists have their various ways of conducting their business, but please be as transparent as possible.


Hopefully,i didn't say too much & in some way i have made the world a better place :-D

xoxo
PrettyK

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

LOTD : Walking on the Dark Side

Hey Pretties,

Are you daring? Would you like to wear this look often? Don't know how to go about it? 

To further buttress the point of how black & pigmented the 'Mabrook' Eyeshadow i reviewed in my last post is,i decided to do this look for you.

I'm a firm believer in Smokey eyes blended beautifully & as much as i love the look,i've never tried it in Black before.I Love My Purple anyday anytime.


I chose this lipcolor as i had bought it for over a year & hadn't come close to trying it on anyone.Plus,i really haven't rocked dark eyes & dark lips before.

Products Used - 

Face 
 MaryKay Medium-coverage Liquid Foundation in 507 & 607
Milani Mineral Powder in Medium
MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Dark
Sleek Contour Kit in Medium (To contour my cheeks & nose slightly & i used the highlighter on the bulb of my nose)


Eyes
Mabrook Matt Eyeshadow in Black
MAC Matte Eyeshadow in Carbon
BmPro Matte Eyeshadow in Moccassin


Lips
Jordana Lippencil in Cherry
MAC Creme Lipstick in Dark Side

Love the Look?? I hope the pictures guide you on how best to rock it.


xoxo
PrettyK