BEEN LONG YOU SAW ME ;-)

Hey Pretties,

this post has absolutely nothing to do with Wande Coal's Latest Single. I'm sorry for leaving you out in the Loop. I've had some recent changes in my life that has made me extremely ill & unable to write posts. But i'm back now and i promise to share sooooo much with you all.

In a few days, expect :

- Product Reviews
- Product Hauls
- Bridal Makeovers
- Interviews
and lots more.

Pls put me in your Prayers, Thank You all for stopping by & leaving comments. I promise the new posts will be encouraging, inspiring & filled with very Honest Reviews!

xoxo
Pretty K

Be Motivated!!

Hey Pretties,

If there's something you don't know about me, it's the Fact that i Love Challenges & I love to motivate people as much as i can. I don't know it all, but i have some experience & will never cease to share.

In a Country like Nigeria, there's no Field that isn't saturated with People. Some are in that Field because they were born to do it & their Passion is unrivalled, Others are in that field because they think it's Fashionable & others are in that field because they believe there's a lot of money to be made from it.

Some work so effortlessly & achieve remarkable results & others do exactly what the other person is doing, but find they still struggle. This post isn't restricted to what i do, so please think BIG!

The following Characteristics i have since learnt makes any business / endeavour:

1). Passion : Though mis-used so many times, passion is what drives you. It's what keeps you going when the end isn't in sight. It's what makes you trudge on when 'Giving-Up' would seem the wisest step.

 2). People Skills : I for one find this topic challenging, but most people need to learn 'How to relate with people'. Not everyone's a naturally Nice person,some have it running through their veins, some have imbibed the nature & some have refused to learn how to.

Every business / endeavour thrives on the opinions of others, that's what puts people in the News. That's what makes being on CNN a huge deal,lol . First opinions can make / mar a business and you may not always have the chance to salvage your image. Word-of-Mouth has always been the GREATEST MARKETING TOOL EVER!!

Tolerance also falls under this topic. Not every one needs to know your opinion on every matter, not everyone knows what you hate. We all have different backgrounds, temperaments & experiences, so be SLOW TO SPEAK!!!


3). Education : as with every endeavour, a certain level of schooling is needed. Formal / informal education is most definitely needed. I can't do what Baba Taju (Our Local Butcher) does because he has a wealth of experience in his field that can't be acquired in Harvard. It's important to LEARN all you can about the Field you have chosen to work in.

Gain enough experience before you pass information. I find most people in Nigeria are very willing to call themselves Teachers, but haven't taken out time to make sure they are passing the right information. Please don't get me wrong, i believe experience can never be gotten from a book. It is what it is : EXPERIENCE

4). Diligence :
According to Wikipedia - is the STEADFAST application , assidousness & industry

According to Merriam Webster - Persevering application / the attention & care legally expected of a person (as a party to a contract)

He made this Saying so popular

How again can this be explained : to be diligent means to PERSERVERE(This word i know from the Bible to mean ENDURE). Challenges are inevitable in Life, your ability to keep your head afloat will go a long way in making you a better person. So DON'T GIVE UP JUST YET.

5). Support system : Not everyone can handle criticism / Refusal. I have in the not-so-distant past been told things like 'YOUR WORK IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH' , 'WHAT HAVE U ACHIEVED' , 'CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ IS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH' . These statements were made by People very close to me.

At the Time it was very hurtful, but they were actually right - MY WORK NEEDED TO GET BETTER & I DIDN'T DESERVE A HUGE TITLE/ALIAS. Those words of criticism have helped me and i never ever will forget them.

Making friends with People who inspire you & whose work you admire & aspire to be like goes a long way in building your confidence as a person. Family also plays a huge role & this is the Primary Support System.

6). Faith : The ability to trust in the Almighty does remarkable wonders. I'm a Faith-Person, I was created by faith & it's my nature. My ultimate Rolemodel is God, and he should be yours too. Praying & walking in Faith gives Grace, Renewes your strength, Changes your perspective, Makes you a better individual.

The Pin-up Look i just Love!!

If that much faith in God can achieve great results, how about having faith in yourself & your capabilities?? If anyone's my Greatest Fan,it is I (though i have a darling friend who's proven otherwise *Big Smile*)

7). Finances : I'm not an expert on this topic, but i believe A SAVING CULTURE, AN ABILITY TO PRIORITIZE & KNOWING HOW MUCH & WHERE TO INVEST are very important in finance.

I believe someone out there needed this & i hope i made sense. Pls feel free to leave your comments /send me a mail at sitpretty412@yahoo.com & i'll be sure to add them to the post.

xoxo
Pretty K!!!

Pretty Makeover - STEPHANIE OKEREKE for Exquisite Magazine!!!

Hey Pretties,

Official magazine Cover

where do i begin? I met Stephanie last year through a referral for an LG Calendar Photoshoot. Though very impromptu, i hit the road & was there to do what i was born to do *wink*. She was fun to work with & was very informed about makeup, especially when she pulled out her YSL(Yves Saint Laurent) Touche Eclat Highlighter Pen - One of the Most Popular Luxury Luminizers in the Market.

At the LG Shoot

She was very particular about how she wanted her brows to look, so if you happen to work with her,BE READY to use the Touche Eclat as her Must-Use Highlighter.

Coincidentally, i was called a week later to work on Exquisite Magazine's Cover feature & guess who that happened to be? Stephanie Okereke.

I was amazed!!! Was it such a coincidence that i had had the opportunity to meet & work with her so as to attain a certain level of confidence?? It sure wasn't. So when she walked in, we were like old friends * BIG SMILE *

Enjoy the Looks I Did






xoxo
Pretty K

WED EXPO!!!

Hey Pretties,

Guess who's taking Part in the Largest Wedding Expo Ever Held in Nigeria? Yup, i'll be there alongside many Great Wedding vendors & would like to encourage intending brides to plan to attend. I'll be at booth B31

Date : March 24th & 25th

Venue : The Haven, beside Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA, Ikeja

Others Exhibitors will be KOSIBAH ; ADE BAKARE ; DAMELL PHOTOGRAPHY ; DUDUGUY PHOTOGRAPHY ; ERU IYAWO ; BM PRO ; GIFTY'S DAUGHTER ; B'SIGNATURE ; BUSYBEE EVENTS ; AKARA PHOTOGRAPHY ; PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABI ; COUTURE CARDS ; ZAPPHAIRE EVENTS ; SWALLEK BRIDALS ; YES I DO ; MOLBAKS ALSO-OKE ; TSOULE ; LIZBOB ACCESSORIES ; CAKES BY TOSAN , FRANK OSODI ; MAI ATAFO ; FINESSE EVENTS ; KHURAIRA COSMETICS amongst others.

It will be the perfect opportunity for Intending Brides to meet with their favourite vendors & make bookings. All followers of this Blog will get a free makeup consultation & makeover when they stop by my stand.

Look forward to meeting you all.

xoxo
Pretty K

Bridal Makeover - MAYOR (Engagement Day) !!

Hey Pretties,

why i saved this post till now is because God truly showed up in a very big way & i enjoyed working with this Gorgeous & highly Intelligent Bride (She's a soon-to-be PHD Holder ;)

How did i meet Mayor?
I never did until her Wedding Day last December. Her cousin saw my work on facebook, sent me a mail. Told Mayor to Check my work out & guess who was sent to do a trial in her place?? Her younger sister.

Now due to the fact that i needed to convince her sister to be able to convince her since she was studying abroad, i agreed to the trial & set a date to meet her sister.

This i enjoyed as Yemisi was particularly interested in how she would look on the day & not her sister, the Bride,lol. I felt relaxed and not on edge & by divine providence, i won her over.

Yemisi's Before (Pls don't Kill Me Dear)

Her After

Fast forward to the d-day, i was a few minutes late to get to the bride & she minced no words immediately she saw me ' Kunbi, hope you won't delay me like this when it's Time for Church '.

Before

After

Those who know me know i'm always punctual, so this day was tricky as i had a bride earlier that day. And since she was wearing an All-Peach Ensemble, it was gonna be an absolutely Peach-inspired look which warmed up her pretty Complexion.

In her Lace & Gele(Headwrap)

With her Makeup Artist *wink*

And off she went to get Married

 Products Used :

Eyes

MAC 'Soft Ochre' Paintpot
BM Pro 'Moccasin' Eyeshadow
MAC 'Expensive Pink' Eyeshadow
MAC 'Coppering' Eyeshadow
MAC 'Embark' Eyeshadow
MAC 'BlackTrack' Fluidline
i-envy by KISS Lashes

Cheeks
BlackOpal 'Peachtree' Blush
La Femme 'Coral Spice' Blush

Lips 

Milani 'Ritzy 213' Velvet Creamy Lipcolor
Milani 'Deluxe 203' Velvet Creamy Lipcolor
Victoria's Secret 'Beauty Rush Lipgloss' in SUGAR HIGH

I Hope this Look Inspires a bride who's dressing up in similar colors and has no idea what she'll look good in. Neutral is always the way to go!!

xoxo
Pretty K

Product review : MAC's Fix Plus (Fix +)

Hey Pretties,

after going through so many reviews on this amazing product, i finally added MAC's Fix + to my Kit and according to MAC, its an :

' Aqua Spritz of Vitamins & Minerals infused with a 'CALM-THE-SKIN' blend of Green Tea, Chamomile, Cucumber, topped off with the Fresh, Natural, Energizing Scent of Sugi. Adds Radiance, Finishes makeup. Spray it on, Skin drinks it up'

& a

' SOOTHING MOISTURE MIST THAT REFRESHES THE SKIN & FINISHES MAKEUP '.

In other Words, It's a Skin Refresher & Setting Spray all in one. I don't totally agree on it being a Setting Spray Like Others i Know, but i can say it's an Amazing Product & can be used BEFORE & AFTER makeup which i usually do.


Ingredients : Water , Glycerin ,  Butylene Glycol, Cucumber Extract , Caffeine, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate , Hydrogenated castor oil , Matricaria Extract amongst other products.

PRICE : The 100ml Bottle which i own, costs $20


I've had many months to test this product & i must say for it's price, u get a lot more than just Water :)

PROS :
1). It's easy to use, the spray nozzle distributes fine & even mist each time
2). It smells Awesome. As in!! It's truly Refreshing
3). The Spray Nozzle has a 'Lock' Feature which is awesome for travel, but i make sure its really secured with some tape, i cant risk wasting it. It's not cheap :)
4). It sets makeup, if applied at the right distance from your face. Between 6-12 inches will do, depending on what result you want.
5). It has finely milled shimmer in it,which is good for looks that require a dewy finish.
6). It feels amazing on an especially Hot day.

CONS :
1). Due to the Glycerin it contains, it has a tendency to be very sticky. So 1-2 sprays is fine & allow to dry when used after makeup.
2). It's certainly not cheap. At $19, i must confess it's pricey
3). The Sheen it leaves could tend to look oily on oily skins, so minimal use is advised.

HOW I USE IT:
1). As a Skin Refresher, especially on very dry skin before applying some moisturizer. All my Brides can attest to how amazing it is.
2). As a Setting Spray, after makeup application especially if you want to reduce the appearance of powder / cakiness, if you think you have gone overboard.
3). Sometimes as a Mixing Medium, though i must say it's not as effective as the MAC's mixing medium, but it does a much better job than ordinary water, due to the glycerin it contains.

VERDICT : It's a Product i plan on repurchasing and adding to my Skin Regimen. If you've tried this product, please feel free to share your review in the Comment box.

Hopefully, this was as a honest a review as it should be.

xoxo
Pretty K

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

BRUSH CLEANING (Part 2) : HOW I CLEAN MINE!!!

Hey Pretties,

My Brushes BEFORE

In my previous post, i mentioned the reason most people break out as being because they haven't developed a Brush- cleaning culture.

The reason i'm a great advocate of brush cleaning is that :
1). Your Product shelf-life lasts a little while longer than you are used to seeing
2). You reduce health risks as a result of bacteria on your products.
3). Your clients will be grateful you did.
4). Makeup application looks a lot better & flawless.

This Puff is amazing, I'll write a post on them Later. Right now, it needs some washing

My brush Cleaning CREW (L - R : Dettol 'Healthy Touch' Handwash ; Recare 'Moisture Care' Conditioning Shampoo ; Profective 'Detangling Conditioner'  & MAC Brush Cleaner)

I forgot to add that i sometimes add some Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) when washing brushes that i use for WET products, e.g Foundation brushes, Eyeliner brushes, Lip Brushes et al. But please Note : Oil is better used on Synthetic Haired brushes than Animal Hairs, which is what Foundation, Eyeliner & Lip brushes are mostly made of.

Shampoo in a bowl of warm water

Shampoo solution topped with some Olive Oil - COMBO for Wet Products

Using my hands to swirl the brush

After rinsing, you always want to either lay ur brushes flat to dry OR at an angle with the Brush Hairs & ferrule(Metal part) of the brush Facing downwards. Doing this prevents the Glue holding your brush hairs & brush handle together from loosing grip.

Place your brushes in an airy place to dry (NOT IN DIRECT SUN) & give it about 8hrs to dry. If you are spoilt for time, your MAC Brush Cleaner comes into play. I'll show you how in another Post.

Brushes all washed & laid out to Air-dry

Please click back later to check how my brushes and puff faired after washing.


xoxo
Pretty K

BRUSH CLEANING (Part 1)

Hey Pretties,

I'm sure you all had a splendid valentine's day, lots of marriage proposals were made & i'm sure it was memorable for all of you.

To the topic at hand : Brush Cleaning!!!!

I'm aware most makeup artists and makeup users have never, i mean EVERRRRR, washed their brushes.

C'mon, who does that?

If i'm right, most people who use/used MAC Studio Fix & Studio Tech Foundations use the Puffs that come with the packaging from start to the end of that product.

At least, i know a couple of friends i caught (i shall not mention names, you know yourself(ves) oo), who are guilty of committing this atrocity to their faces.

1st of all, those puffs are only for short-term use, once its taken you over say 2weeks of daily use, i advise you to please throw them away and get proper brushes. You breed bacteria on both the puff & product & it's the major cause of skin irritation on faces.

Many brands carry disposable puffs, a common brand being SLEEK and various other ones in the market. Sleek, i highly recommend. It's not as porous as most i've come across. Ps : Disposable means you should throw them away after early signs of wear and tear (Busola - my good friend.i had to shame you).

Now, Brush hairs, most of which are natural hair fibres are best preserved when well taken care of & regularly cleaned. Take your foundation brush for instance, 80% of the time it is made of synthetic fibres. Notice how you notice streaks when you apply your foundation. 95% of the time, it's most likely as a result of the brush's dirty state.

What happens is that the foundation used the last time has dried up & caused some hardening to the hair fibres & so they aren't as flexible as when you first got them.

So how do we tackle this issue??? Very Simple, WASH YOUR BRUSHESSSSSS!! Once a week / every 2weeks would surfice, depending on how busy your brushes get!!

Please read my next post on how i clean my brushes

xoxo
Pretty K

Product Review : Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP) in Sin!

Hey Pretties,

I actually got this primer by mistake. i had ordered this through a friend & was looking to buy the Primer Potion in Eden. My friend ordered this instead & because it's a little bit pricey, i knew i couldn't throw it away.

There are mixed reviews on makeup forums, but i will make this review as personal as possible.

This product comes in a 'Genie-Looking' container, with an applicator. The product in it is a shimmery champagne colour, which needs to be blended,i would say with your fingers. A little product goes a long way, because if not properly blended, it might crease.

I only use this product when i need to have my eyeshadows on for a while,because it's very hard to remove from the skin.

Pros

1). Perfect for Oily lids
2). Perfect for shimmery shadows
3). Glides smoothly
4). A little goes a long way


Cons

1). Poor packaging limits the amount of product you get out of it. Most especially the Wand
2). Very pricey
3). Doesn't work well under Matte shadows
4). Might crease when heavily applied
5). Very difficult to clean off

I hope this review was helpful. If you actually need to use UDPP, i would advise you try it in the 'Original' Formula, which you can then use under both Matte & Shimmery Shadows.

Thanks for Reading

xoxo
Pretty K

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

My 1st Matte Lippies!!

Hey Pretties, now, this is no news,so why write about it?

Honestly, most of the lipsticks you find in Lagos are either Creamy or sparkly. Hardly would you come across a truly matte lipstick. When i ordered my very 1st MAC haul (See Post Here ) , i decided to go the Matte way & get me 2 mattes in the color range i use a lot, Red & Pink and i settled for the Very Popular RUBY WOO & PLEASE ME!!

Please Me

Ruby Woo

Rubywoo

Please Me (I know i look funny,but applied with a darker lip liner,i'm sure my lips would look better.i'm no Nicky Minaj :))

VERDICTS

A). Ruby Woo
 -  Rubywoo's the Perfect Shade of Red that goes with every Undertone/ Skin complexion and because of its Deep Blue Hue, it one of the safest reds you'll find out there,
   -  Because it's a Matte Lipstick, you'll do well to moisturize your lips say 30mins before application.
    Why??
   Matte Lipsticks have a tendency to be very drying & enhance imperfections in any lip like Chaps & Blisters.
 -  It goes on very red, but not without you having to apply straight from the tube, a solution which made me break some into my lip palette. I do this a lot when any lippie tries to frustrate me.
 -  It's important to line your lips with a Red Lip pencil, a shade close to the shade of red rubywoo comes in, as close to your inner lip, otherwise, you end up with a lip that looks like this within minutes.

Now, you don't want to go anywhere with such lips :(

B). Please Me
 -  This on the other hand is a matte lipstick that's very uncommon.
 -  It's a shade of Baby Pink lipstick that reminds you of your Barbie doll as a kid, Nicky Minaj & Cotton Candy all wrapped in one.
-  If you have moderately shaped lips like mine, be ready to see your lips looking twice bigger. Being the shade it is, it gives instant volume to your lips.
-  If you have even bigger lips than mine, it would be more flattering if you applied a plum or berry lipliner or lipstick at the edges of the lips just to give some contrast. The darker your complexion is, the greater the need for you to do this.
-  It's as matte as Ruby woo above & you'll also do well to moisturize your lips before application

So hopefully, this review has been helpful for anyone considering getting any of these lipsticks. First choice been Rubywoo of course.

Thanks for reading,
xoxo
Pretty K