Elohor Aisien
Peep all the fashionable people that turned out for the opener of the 2012 Lagos Fashion and Design Week.
ZAINAB BALOGUN
IJEOMA NDEKWU
Monthly Archives: October 2012
Nigerian Designer Duro Olowu Becomes First Seasonal Designer for JC PENNEY
This week J.C. Penney announced that Duro Olowu, Nigerian-born designer based in London, would be its first “seasonal designer,” releasing a limited-edition collection for spring 2013. Set to retail from $10-$100 Duro administers his vibrant prints touch to the collaboration and gives his fans who want a Duro Olowu but for less to cop.
For The Love of Bristles Introducing Makeup Brushology 101
If you spend lots of money buying the finest and most expensive makeup and you don’t have the right tools, then I’m afraid you won’t be getting the best use out of your money. With the right tools, you are well on your way to achieving flawless and professional looking makeup.
However, there are dozens of makeup brushes out there and it can be quite a chore knowing which ones are the best and what they do. Hopefully at the end of thisarticle class, you should be able to pass any Brushology exam with flying colours. For clarity, I will be broadly categorizing makeup brushes into: Face, Eyes and Lips.
FACE
Foundation Brush: Most foundation brushes are flat, with a pointed end. This helps you apply your foundation smoothly and evenly. The pointed end helps you get to hard-to-reach corners of your face like around the nose and under your eyes. In more recent times, people have moved away from traditional foundation brushes to buffing/stippling brushes for applying their foundation. These brushes are densely packed with a flat rounded top which gives your foundation an airbrushed finish because you are able to work the product into your skin.
Recommendations: MAC 190, Sigma F60, The Body Shop Foundation Brush, ELF Studio Powder Brush(powder brush but works best as a stippling brush)
Powder Brush: The little puffs that come in most powder compacts have a way of transferring too much product to the face, making one look cakey. A fluffy powder brush, preferably made of natural fibre, will help you apply powder sparingly to specific parts of your face like your t-zone and your chin.
Recommendations: Sigma F30, Blush Beauty Powder Brush
Blush Brush: It is possible to use your powder brush to apply your blush if it is made for both purposes like MAC’s 129 brush. However for a more precise application, you need a blush brush. Most blush brushes are small and dome-shaped, allowing you to apply product directly on the apples of your cheeks.
Recommendations: House of Tara Blush Brush, Real Techniques Blush Brush, ELF Studio Blush Brush
Concealer Brush: These brushes are shaped like foundation brushes but are much smaller. Their size and shape makes it easier to dab concealer to under eye circles, around the nose and on blemishes. I personally prefer to apply concealer on blemishes and dark circles with my fingers because the warmth of my fingers helps blend the product into my skin. Synthetic brushes are best for liquid makeup like concealer because they don’t pick up too much product.
Recommendations: Sigma F70, Bobbi Brown Touch Up
Contour Brush: This brush is not essential, but if you like to contour your face to make it appear slimmer and more chiseled then you would require one. Most contour brushes are angled to fit perfectly in your cheekbones.
Recommendations: MAC 109, MAC 168 (can be used for both blush and contour), Sigma F40
Kabuki Brush: Another brush that isn’t totally essential but has its advantages. A Kabuki is a powder brush with bristles that are more densely packed to help you achieve more coverage with your powder without appearing cakey. They are usually made with natural fibre and are very handy to carry around.
Recommendations: ELF Kabuki Face Brush, Too Faced Kabuki Brush, EcoTools Retractable Kabuki Brush
EYES:
I always chuck those eyeshadow applicators that come in eyeshadow palettes as I don’t think they are ideal for applying eyeshadow.
Flat Shader Brush: This brush is usually stiff and square shaped so it picks up color well. It is handy for applying eyeshadow to the lid of your eye. Used in patting motions, it allows even distribution of product on the lid with very minimal fall out.
Recommendations: MAC 239, ELF Eyeshadow Brush, House of Tara Eyeshadow Brush
Blending Brush: This soft, tapered brush is used to apply a transition color in the crease to soften the look of your eyeshadow. To create a smokey eye, a stiff blending brush helps to precisely apply and blend darker shadows in the crease.
Recommendations: Sigma E35, MAC 217&224, ELF Blending Eye Brush
Pencil Brush: Not entirely necessary unless you like to apply eyeshadow in your inner tear duct area or want to create a more defined crease. You can also use it to apply eyeshadow to your lower lash line.
Recommendations: Real Techniques Detailer Brush, MAC 219
Angled Brow Brush: If you use a brow powder or eyeshadow to fill in your eyebrows then you will need a good brow brush that is angled and thin for precise application.
Recommendations: Sigma E75, MAC 208, Twelve from Kent Angled Brow Brush
Eyeliner Brush: Ideal for applying gel eyeliners. The best ones are usually angled for easier application.
Recommendations: ELF Angled Eyeliner Brush, Sigma E10
LIPS
Lip brushes are not very popular because honestly, it is much easier to apply your lipstick straight from the tube. However, if you want to get a precisely defined lip especially with bright colored lipsticks, then you would need a small one with firm bristles and a tapered head.
Recommendations: MAC 318 Retractable Lip Brush, BM Pro Retractable Lip Brush, House of Tara Lip Brush
This Brushology class would not be complete without mentioning anything about brush care. It is essential to keep your brushes clean to prevent build up and transfer of bacteria to the skin which causes acne. Wash them every two weeks with baby shampoo to keep them fresh and lasting longer.
Photo credit: yeahtips.com| cosmeticbrushes.en.ecplaza.net
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Yewande is a recent graduate of Warwick Business School in the UK. She is passionate about all things beauty related and shares avant-garde tips and tricks amongst other things on http://www.shelovesthefinerthings.com. Connect with her on twitter: @Yewizzy
Luxury Sweet Candy” at the MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week this Friday – All the “Yummy” Details
Fashion fabulousity is definitely rocking the city of Lagos this week.
We are super excited that the 2012 edition of the MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week has officially kicked off. This edition will see lots of top Nigerian and African design labels including Iconic Invanity, showcase its latest collections.
The luxury design label is a lifestyle brand defined by a vast heritage of the African culture and an infusion of western retro inspired aesthetics. For the label’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection, the creative director,Nancy Nwadire is sending us all to the dentist’s with the presentation of the “Luxury Sweet Candy”Collection. 
The collection is full of vibrant candy store colors like sorbets and sherbet palettes. Heavily embellished bead works adorn the pieces and represents items like candy floss, lollypops and éclairs. Taking a contemporary take on classic glamour, each piece of this collection tells a unique story that stays within the “Luxury Sweet Candy” theme.
For more info and general inquiries, log on to www.IconicInvanity.com | Stockist: Temple Muse, 21 Amodu Tijani, Victoria Island, Lagos
Credits
Photography: L.O.S
Stylist: Veronica Ebie-Odeka for Vane-Style
Model: Tansey
You’re Invited to the Official Opening of London Shirt Store, Grosvenor in Nigeria – Thursday 1st November 201
Grosvenor in Nigeria – Thursday 1st November Grosvenor London, a one-stop emporium for ladies and gentlemen seeking shirts and accessories of style and distinction will be opening their new outlet on Thursday 1st November 2012 in Ikoyi, Lagos. The flagship destination store which is nestled in the heart of Mayfair, one of London’s most vibrant villages synonymous with luxury boutiques and famous for eclectic tastes and style will be opening its second outlet here in Nigeria and this time in the fashion capital city of Lagos. There will be loads of refreshing cocktails and canapes to be served at the event. Admission is free for all, just send an e-mail to grosvenornigeria@yahoo.com for an invitation. Date: Thursday 1st November 2012 Venue: Grosvenor London, 63 Awolowo Road, South West, Ikoyi, Lagos __________________________
Tools Of The Trade
You wouldn’t go months without scrubbing your bathroom, or eat food that’s been sitting around long past its expiration date, so why doesn’t your makeup bag get the same respect? If you haven’t washed your brushes since—um—never, and your favorite pot of gloss is looking more and more like a petri dish, check out this guide to getting a fresh start.
Wash it
Clean brushes at least every week, especially those used for blush, foundation, or powder. These are likely your most often used brushes and come into contact with moisture from your liquid makeups and lotions, making them a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause breakouts. Gently massage them with water and your favorite facial cleanser or mild hair shampoo. “Eye shadow brushes can be ‘dry-cleaned’,” says celebrity makeup pro Daniel Martin. “Just spray brush cleaner on a paper towel and rub the brush hairs until the pigment’s gone.”
Ditch it
Change your mascara every three months like clockwork, and don’t try to cheat: bacteria can cause redness, irritation, and very unglamorous pink eye.The best way to know when it’s time: “When you take the wand out and it doesn’t make a ‘pop’ from suction,” says Martin.
Shadow, blush, and any other dry products should be thrown away every 12 months.
Replace your foundation after six to eight months to keep bacteria from growing in the wet environment, and even sooner if the smell changes.
Liners, lipsticks and glosses have a shelf-life of 12-18 months, but get rid of them if the texture starts to change.
How to apply bridal makeup correctly is something every bride needs to know prior to making her grand entrance down the aisle. Following a few makeup application tips can help every bride look perfect on her special day wthout any added stress.
Easy Bridal Makeup Application
A bride’s makeup should be natural looking, but also emphasize her features so they look beautiful in photographs. How to apply bridal makeup depends on both the theme and time of your wedding. Evening wedding looks can be slightly more dramatic with sultry eyes and bold shadows. Daytime bridal makeup should be minimal with neutral eye shadows and rosy lips. Every bride should emphasize blush and lips for the most foolproof and timeless bridal beauty.
No matter what a bride’s wedding makeup style is, she should always apply makeup before putting on the wedding gown unless it must go over the head. In this…
View original post 19 more words
Ini Edo’s Shoes Collection
Did you know that Ini Edo now has a shoe line? It’s a collection of Divalicious shoes!
The Nollywood star actress recently launched her shoe line at the Dallas International Fashion event in Texas, USA.
Roselyn Brushes&Sciccors 