REVIEW-BLACK -UP MATTIFYING FLUID FOUNDATION

Black-Up Mattifying Fluid Foundation

In all honesty, i had never tried or heard of the brand BLACKUP till i went to ikeja city mall. This was about two years ago. And i bought their full coverage foundation which actually does what it says,but my problem with it then was that it was too thick and felt heavy...

But recently i went to get their mattifying fluid foundation which i am doing a review on.

So the gist about this makeup brand is that it was founded in Paris, the year was 1999 by a professional makeup artist of African ancestry. According to them, this is is the first premium brand to enhance the look of black women and all women of colour. It offers luxurious skin care and makeup focused on modernity, elegance and innovation.
Every black|Up product is developed and formulated to answer the specific needs of women of colour and to enhance their natural beauty.
(All this gist was culled from their facebook page)  


So about their foundation this is what they say:

What BLACKUP says: This moderate coverage second-skin foundation has an ultra-light, oil-free texture that is virtually undetectable, giving dull, tired complexions a radiant, luminous glow with a matte finish and long-lasting finish. Available in an exceptional range of natural-looking shades that respond to the needs of ethnic women, to embellish and perfect skin with the utmost discretion.

        • Gives radiant luminosity to a dull, tired complexion
        • Light texture that moisturizes skin
        • Oil-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free
        • Mix small amount of Fluid Foundation with your day cream to accentuate skin's natural radiance and for a more natural look


PRODUCT: The first time i wore this foundation,i was very  impressed. It is oil free and i have the worst oily skin ever. I put on my primer(very important ladies) applied, and this foundation matched my skin perfectly.. OMGGG i was so happy.This foundation applied smoothly and did not make my face oily for a few hours. I must say after a while you will get shiny but nothing a little blot paper cant fix. It gives medium to full coverage depending on my much you want. I usually start off with two pumps for my whole face and add more if i feel some places need more coverage. BLACKUP offers this particular foundation in 14 shades from FL01-14 on their website.  Ladies if you are looking for that dream foundation, look no further, go to the stand and get matched. You will love it!


PACKAGING: The product comes in a clear plastic case with a pump. I like this as i can control the amount of product that comes out. It is lightweight and not too bulky. I have no problems with spilling whatsoever. It is simple and functional.


PRICE:I bought it recently for N8300 for some this is quite pricy and the general prices of their products also but this particular product is worth the price if you ask me. BlackUp  launched its first stand alone store in Nigeria at The Ikeja City Mall so if you are interested head over there and get matched.. They also have their stands at all Montaigne Place outlets all over Nigeria.

Thanks for stopping by...

Thanks for Stopping by!!

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

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

- A little goes a long way as it lathers easily when a little water is applied.

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

EYEBROW TUTORIAL

BROWS TO BOW FOR!!!

Hello friends and all who have requested I do an eyebrow tutorial – HERE IT IS!!!! FINALLY!!! I did this about 4 months ago actually. So I am truly sorry I procrastinated.

Well if you think you have seen just about enough of eyebrow tutorials, have you seen the QUEEN’S BROW? 

Yea you heard me right so stop looking over your shoulders, I said it…LVS is the brow Queen (Fluttering my eyelashes) LOL!!!

Please forgive my ranting jare, I’m just excited!! So back to the matter. If you have struggled with your eyebrows before now, your struggles are waaay over because this simple how-to is designed to help you achieve simple, beautiful and not superficial… I repeat, NOT SUPERFICIAL BROWS!
Here’s how…

YOU’LL NEED:

1. AN EYE PENCIL 

2. AN EYEBROW FILLER/DEFINER

3. A SPOOLIE STICK/MASCARA WAND

4. AN ANGLED EYEBROW BRUSH (2)

5. CONCEALER (YOUR SHADE/SHADE LIGHTER)

I USED:

1. MAC Eyebrow Pencil

2. Zaron Eyebrow Definer

3. Disposable Spoolie Wand

4. MAC Angled Eyebrow Brush

5. Milani Concealers in 02 and 03

LET’S GET IT ON:

Before you begin, Please make sure your eyebrows are well-groomed, tweezed, waxed or threaded (which ever suits you and your pocket) 

Step 1– Using a pencil (well sharpened), outline the top and bottom of your brows, with soft strokes.

Step 2– Bring both ends to join together at the tail end, not forgetting to create a soft or sharp arch as is suitable for your face.

Step 3– Using a pencil or an eyebrow filler, fill in the sparse areas of your eyebrows, moving your strokes in the direction your brow hair grows. Please note- Strokes should be applied softly as your aim here is to create natural looking brows.

Step 4– With your spoolie stick or mascara wand, brush over your eyebrows lightly. You do this to achieve a soft look, so if by happenstance your excitement got you overboard and your result is overly drawn or dark eyebrows, you can fix this with a spoolie stick.

Step 5– Where is your angled eyebrow brush? Or do you have a flat synthetic brush? With any of these brushes, take some concealer and highlight underneath your eyebrows as seen in box 5. Now I use my shade of concealer to highlight when I want my brows looking really natural, and I use a shade lighter when I want it to look a little bit more defined than the everyday look. The choice is yours.

Step 6– With the same brush, blend the concealer into your skin in a downward motion, leaving just a little highlight effect for a lift.

Step 7– Get your spoolie stick again and brush over your eyebrows. This will create an even softer look and put your brows in place.

Step 8– You are good to go! Oops, make sure you get your makeup done though! Lol!

Follow LVS -
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Instagram-@lvs_beauty
Twitter-@lvsbeauty
Website-www.lvsbeauty.com
Facebook-LVS Beauty Gallery
Blog-www.lvsbeautygallery.blogspot.com

MY TOP SEVEN (7) RAINY SEASON MUST-HAVES

The rainy season is upon us, ladies and gents. Have you noticed that it’s been raining every other day?phew! Now, I love rains especially when I’m tucked in bed watching a lovely drama movie/series or reading a very interesting book. However,there are days when jobs call or when I have to run errands and then the awesome showers of God begin to pour down. Heavy rain can mess a well done makeup and hair…aah! No,we CANNOT stop the rain but hey, we can use water-resistant  products that will help save us from frizzy hair, black tears and save our most priced shoes from early ‘retirement’. Here are my top seven (7)  rainy season must-haves that will help brighten up your day no matter how cloudy it may seem.

My Top Seven (7) Rainy Season Must-Haves

                          Umbrella :

An umbrella is always a must have item during the rainy season. It gives the necessary protection from the rain. It also saves my cute dresses and other clothing from getting drenched. I would advise you get a nice sturdy one because, I tell you, these showers are not for the fancy umbrellas.

                 Waterproof Mascara/Eyeliner :

I always invest in water proof eye makeup especially mascara and eyeliner, not only because of teary eyes but also for the rainy season. To avoiding black tears from streaming down your face, simply use a waterproof mascara and eyeliner to keep your lashes intact and make your eyes pop, before stepping out in the rain.

Lip Moisturizer :

To take care of my lips on a wet humid day, my lip moisturizer is always there to do the job. It helps to moisturize and heal dry chapped lips.

                               Anti-Frizz :

Hair tends to get frizzy in the rain. To smooth it out use an anti-frizz serum to tame unruly hair.

Rain Sandals:

These sandals are the ish! I wear them and never have to worry about taking a walk in the rain. They are so water-friendly and come in stylish designs too 😀 . If I have to change, I carry my shoes in a bag and do the change when I’m at the job, meeting or appointment. These are shoe-savers!!!

                                      Sweater

It’s very important to cover up nicely during this season as cold and flu tend to be in the air. A fantastic way to make the cold stay away and still look super chic is to invest in sweater made of quality fabric. a fab design and great color to brighten up your look.

Setting Spray :

Lock your makeup in place with a setting spray. It will help you extend the wear of the makeup even on the rainiest of days.

IS MAKEUP A SIN???

Hey beautiful people,

I am busy enjoying this new month, its been great so far and i am pretty sure it will be greater in days to come , praise the Lord somebody …… ah ha !!! , that exactly where i need your train of thought to be, somewhere in the realm of religion.

Now i have had this never ending question been asked of me by so many people and trust me, it never gets old. Its a simple yet tricky question – “Is Makeup a Sin??”  It has always got me thinking and i have tried severally to answer as much as i can as it requires wisdom  ….. worry not i ain’t preaching today :).

First of all i need us to understand that the cosmetic industry has become one of greatest industries in the world.It employs a great number of people and therefore generates a lot of Economic activities for the world , especially in Nigeria, it has become bread and butter for quite a number of us.This being said i will take you on a very short journey on my thoughts on makeup and religion.

Beauty comes from the inside out! When you carry the presence of God you will shine and be beautiful. You will notice that sometimes when you go without makeup, a lot of people would ask if you are not ill in anyway , moderate makeup will no doubt compliment the God in you.

In the book of song of Solomon verse 4:3  it says: “Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting.  Hold it right there …..do you know a single person that has naturally scarlet colored lips???

It is essential that we understand that Makeup does not cover insecurity , your self worth comes from within being careful not to seek what others say , you can  read more on what (1 Peter 3:4) has to say about this, the first step is to be beautiful from the inside out.Makeup only enhances one's beauty.


Esther wanted to become a queen and she spent a year putting oils and cosmetics on herself as a beauty treatment to meet the king (Esther chapter 2).  I am sure that if Esther was in our generation she would have gotten a professional makeup artist to do her makeup before the contest or read up from a beauty blog or watch a you tube video on how to apply basic makeup.

The example of Esther above explains the outward beauty that can compliment the inward beauty, having said this i would like to say that once makeup application is  done in moderation and with the understanding that the outward look is only secondary – Makeup is not a sin.

The purpose of makeup isn’t for seduction but for  complimenting what is on the inside.Perfume, Deodorants,skin care are all generalized as makeup in the bible and were used for different purposes. 

I know several people have different school of thoughts on this topic . it alright to share , lets hear what you have to say.

DO-IT-YOURSELF-GELE

Hey Guys,

The election weekend is here in nigeria and i thought it would only make sense to give you something to keep you busy this weekend.

I have a lot of my clients and friends who love to attend parties almost every weekend asking me the easiest way to tie gele as i cant always be there to help them tie every time. I have taken the liberty to  put together an easy step by step guide on how to tie Gele.

The Pictures below are self explanatory. I encourage you to Remember to Practice (Practice makes perfect) don’t give up.

 1)Fold the gele into 2 equal half

 2) Wrap around your head

 3) Overlap the gele at the back of your neck

 4) Bring the hand of the gele forward and pause at the middle of your forehead

 5) Make a few pleat

 6) Take the pleat to the back

 7) Change hands to help create wings

 8) Fold to the middle of the neck where other hand is

 9) Make sure you have a firm neat grip

 10) Make sure both edges are griped firmly

 11) Then tie tight (twice if necessary)

 12) Make more pleat of your gele

Feel free to post your comments here and let me know if this helped...
This my next post
Cheers...

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR A MAKEUP ARTIST

Aunty Lola, I want to become a professional makeup artist, what course should I study in the University?” This was the question one of my bbm contacts who just finished secondary school asked me over the weekend and I thought to shed more light on this subject.
Developing a career path early can save you years of unnecessary waste of time. There are so many unorthodox careers taking center stage these days. – Photography, Event planning, DJ-ing, Dancing etc
When I was a kid, I wanted to become a Doctor because i had the passion of taking care of people and I also loved the way they dress always looked smart and sharp. By the time I was through with secondary school,I was already a freelance model and I wasn’t so sure anymore about becoming a doctor, I knew I was very good at craft and I was already making people's hair and also knitting which i did not learn,I also had the passion of looking good i could spend hours in front of the mirrow doing my makeup and sometimes get compliments this was what I was comfortable with.I was admitted to study health science edu at tertiary level but by my 2nd year I was already bored and by the time I was done with University I was already  dreaming of becoming a Makeup artist A beautician in general.I eventually followed my passion and started by attending  a school where i learnt how to make accessories,shoes and bags using fabrics(ankara) also i went for bead making training where i learnt basic beading,advanced beading,bridal beading,wire works e.t.c...to crown it up i attented 2 makeup schools the first one was where i learnt basic makeup which entails bridal,engagement makeup and gele tying etc...I went further by attending another makeup school where i learnt advanced makeup artistry which entails special effects(creating fake wounds and bruises etc),makeup for tv and film,fashion makeup,face and body painting,airbrush makeup etc...after a lot of practice I eventually started LVS Beauty Gallery.
So back to the crux of the matter – What educational requirement do you need to become a Makeup Artist?If your dream is to become a makeup artist, my honest opinion is that it is very important to have at LEAST a secondary school leaving certificate- the basic stuff. I am also strongly of the school of thought that if you do have the wherewithal to go further, by all means do that. Obtaining a higher degree is a plus and like I always say education sets the platform for you to be whoever or whatever you want to be.So far I have met people who studied courses like Business Admin, Marketing, Accounting, Economics, Mass Communication, Theatre arts, law, Engineering, Bio chemist, Dentist etc that are also makeup artists and are doing very well,There is really no identifiable structured educational requirement in Nigeria yet, however what can work for you are the few vocational institutes and Makeup studios that offer formal trainings which is relevant as they have relevant experience from plying the trade too. The Caveat to you is to be sure the trainer knows his/her onions.
Salary- There is no structured pay check; it all depends on how often you work and how you are able to market your skill. A Bridal make-up artist can earn between N480, 000 –N10m per annual depending on clientele.Types of makeup artist
Beauty Counter- These makeup artists work at major makeup brand counters/ floors, they help client with basic beauty tips and application based on their product knowledge for example Black up, MAC, Inglot etc
Fashion- These Makeup artists are In charge of looks for fashion events, runways, front cover magazine .They are very artistic and creativeBody and Face PaintingThey Paint the faces of children and also create artistic designs on the body.
Theater and Television- Anyone who appears before a camera needs a makeup artist to help them look their best. The artist must be able to create movie characters based on scripts and understand lighting.
Bridal Makeup artistThey help to make you look good on your special event like wedding, birthday; family photo shoot etc, in the Nigeria market ability to tie head gear is a bonus.I conclude by saying to become a professional makeup artist, it would help if you have the necessary training and also work on your skill by attending a makeup school with proper curriculum and experience not a crash class, definitely not a 3 days training class, you won’t learn much.
I would love to know if you are a makeup artist, how did you start out, which course did you read and where did you train? Do you have any advice for other aspiring makeup artists?