Let's Do This Together!

Hey Pretties,

this is a thank you post to all my Old & Much welcome New Followers. Believe me when i say you are the reason i enjoy blogging. To the many people who through Facebook,twitter & google search have at one time or the other visited my blog, i say a huge Nagode :o)

 For the faithfuls, who stop by everyday to read something new, you'll be rewarded soon. When i hit a 100 followers, i plan on announcing my 1st ever Giveaway Contest. So pls,invite as many people as you can to follow my blog. I hope you are are as excited as i am.

As a follower or reader, your comments & suggestions are very welcome. For those who want to learn more especially from my point of view(since i'm based in Lagos,Nigeria), you are welcome to make requests for looks and topics you want me to speak about & i'll try my very best to honor each request.

To follow,pls look on the left hand side & click on this Bloglovin' image

To make your requests, pls send a mail to : sitpretty412@yahoo.com

I Look forward to hearing from you

xoxo
PrettyK

FASHION FAIR is now in NIGERIA!!!!!

Hey Pretties,

have i got news for you. FASHION FAIR COSMETICS is now available in Nigeria, Yay!!! And our very own Port-Harcourt based Gifty's Daughter,owned by Funke Tonye-Preghafi has been appointed as an exclusive distributor in Nigeria, MAJOR CONGRATS!!!

Remember Sam Fine was made Creative Makeup Director of the Brand Last Year ,Pls check this Post : Sam Oh Sam! . You can imagine how excited i am about the whole line especially with the Fact that this is brand totally focused on Women of Color.

Asides the 'Truly Treasured' Collection(which features shades in warm pinks & rich plums), is the 'Siren Call' Collection(which features shades in Reds & cool Greys) & the 'Chocolate Seduction' Collection(which features Golds,Bronzes & Browns). The fully revamped line consists of Foundations, Concealers, Powders, Lipsticks, Lipglosses, Eyeshadows,Skin care products & Nail Lacquer in all shades for the woman of color.

Siren Call Collection

Chocolate Seduction Collection

Fashion fair is available for purchase only through Gifty's Daughter. Pls visit them at : No.6 Khana Street,Dline,Port Harcourt,Nigeria ; call on 0803 336 8927  OR send a mail to funkeasalu@yahoo.com for enquiries & orders.

xoxo
PrettyK

Pretty Makeover : Nikita at 40!!!

Hey Pretties,

have i been waiting to share this makeover with you. My dear Client Mrs D.(better known as Nikita) turned 40 last year. She had hired me to do her makeup for her Traditional Wedding Ceremony(more like her Renewal of vows) and so a relationship had been earlier established before her Big 4-0.

Her Scrumptious Cake

She was going for a Sunday Thanksgiving Service, so the makeover had to be done in time for church. I enjoyed every minute of doing her makeover & would like to say a Big Thank You to her for trusting me with such a special day!

She had no idea what was coming :o)

A Gradual change

Eyes done!

All done!!

Products Used-

Eyes : MAC 'Frost' Eyeshadow in Steamy & Hepcat
           MAC 'Matte' Eyeshadow in Carbon
           Bm Pro Eyeshadow in Moccasin
           Black Radiance 'Fine Line' Liquid eyeliner in 6405
           i-ENVY by KISS 'Au Naturale' Strip lashes in KPE09

Cheeks : Sleek Face Contour Kit in Medium
                Black Radiance Blush in Plum Sorbet
               
Lips : NYX Slim lip pencil in 836 Bloom
           Nameless Lip pot
           Bm Pro Lipstick in Mahogany
           MAC Lustreglass in StarNova

Off she went to thank the Lord

Even her kids got a touch of MAC's 'Starnova' Lustreglass

Her Princesses

She's got moves mehn!!

It was a very fun day she shared with friends and family & i'm glad she smiled through it all. Hope you like her makeover as much as she did.

xoxo
PrettyK

Product Review : Bdellium Eye-Liner Brushes

Hey Pretties,

if i say i have a fascination with eyeliners and Liner brushes, that's an understatement. I'm obsessed with Liners in all colors and textures(Creams/Gels , Liquid, Pencil etc) and sometimes getting a liner brush with a pointed/felt tip that doesn't sway where you don't want is soo hard to come by.

Though i had the MAC 209 or 211 liner brushes in mind and at $21.50,i knew i could get something cheaper and that's why i settled for the Bdellium Studio Line in 708 & 710 until i finally decide to get the MAC and i must tell u that i'm not disappointed i got them.

708 Bent Liner Brush

710 Eyeliner Brush

According to Bdellium :

Bdellium Tools Studio Line of brushes are makeup tools designed from top grade materials and assembled by hand for a superior quality. Each and every brush showcases the flawless application medium that is Bdellium Tools. From precisely shaped brush heads to balanced mixtures of natural and/or synthetic hair bristles, the luxuriously lacquered long wooden handles of the Studio Line will give you optimum control and comfort resulting in a perfect application time after time. All of the Studio Line brushes are treated with an antibacterial agent on the bristles. (Colors shown in pictures may slightly differ from actual product due to lighting and color settings.)

Pros
1). They're affordable, they both retail for $7.04 each
2). The lacquered handles ensures it isn't easily stained
3). The tips stay pointed during use
4). They help to draw a thin or thick line depending on what you're trying to achieve.
5). They can be used with cream or liquid products
6). They're easy to wash
7). The 708 is thinner in dimension and the bent-design allows you see what you're doing especially when you're trying to draw a thin line on your face without outrightly blocking your view. It also helps to get into corners and can be used for detailing work.


Cons
The only con is that the brush fibres are strong when you first get them & as any good makeup artist should know, you must always wash new brushes. Washing solves the problem of any stiff feeling your brush might have.


Look forward to hearing from those who have tried out this line of brushes.

xoxo
PrettyK

Brush Haul : Bdellium Brushes

Hey Pretties,

the first time i heard about these brushes was 2years ago when a US based artist,Jennifer James raved about them and how they were good quality brushes for a decent price. Though i have a growing arsenal of brushes, i knew the precise brushes i wanted & rather than buy a full set, i picked them individually.

They have some MAC brush dupes/look-alikes & this tickled my fancy just as Sigma brushes did when they 1st got launched 2years ago. I've had ample time to wash & use them, so believe everything i say about the brushes when i do a review on them*wink*

The Brushes are good quality & made in China & can be purchased at Bdellium Tools or at IMATS anytime you have the chance to visit a makeup Trade show.

6 Eyebrushes & 1 Facebrush

Blending Brush

Eye Liner Brush

Tapered Blending Brush

Bent Eyeliner Brush

Pencil Brush

Flat Eye Definer Brush

xoxo
PrettyK

LOTD : Banner Head

Hey Pretties,

by now, i'm sure you are very familiar with the pictures of my humble self on the banner head of my blog page & were wondering how i achieved the looks, what products were used etc.

First, i would like to credit the amazing photographer, my dear friend & amiable colleague - Adenike of EWAR makeovers. That she has a good eye for pictures isn't an understatement as she has photographed so many ladies who today use these pictures as their facebook profile pictures.

So this fateful day,she asked that i come take some pictures. But the catch here was that i had to do my makeup myself unlike her other clients who had come for one beauty service or the other & trust me,i came armed with all my favorite products & brushes.

Thanks Adenike for hooking me up & giving me such lovely images.

The 1st Look

Face : MK Liquid Foundation in 507 & 600
                Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana
                Milani Minerals Compact Powder in Medium & Warm
                Sleek Face Contour Kit in Medium


Eyes : Bm Pro eyeshadow in Moccasin
                MAC 'Frost' eyeshadows in Paradisco & Cranberry
                MAC 'Veluxe Pearl' eyeshadow in Expensive Pink
                MAC 'Matte' eyeshadow in Carbon
                Black Radiance Fine Line Liquid Liner in 6405 Black
                RIMMEL Lash MAXXX Lash Multiplying Effect Mascara in 003 Extreme Black 


Lips : Jordana 51/2" Lipliner in L-12 Plush Red
              MAC Matte Lipstick in RubyWoo

My Natural Look

Lips :  Eversheen lip pencil in Copper Brown
         Milani 'Sheer Color Lipstick' in 31A Pink Mood

               Casabella Lipstick in Bombshell
              Clear Lipgloss

Last Look

Lips : Revlon 'Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick' in 660 Berry Haute

              MAC 'Lustreglass' in STARNOVA

What look do you fancy? pls leave a comment

xoxo
PrettyK

Product Review : Sugar Pill Burning Heart Palette

Hey Pretties,

If you haven't heard of this brand, let me be the first to introduce it to you. It's owned by Blue-haired & bright colored-dressing makeup artist & clothes designer : SHRINKLE

sometime last year i purchased this Palette because i had heard rave reviews about how pigmented these colors are & because colors like Red,Yellow,Orange & Purple are colors i love and which can be very hard to find in other brands,i decided to give it a go.

Outer packaging

Back view of the palette

According to Sugar Pill : It's a delicious fix for color fiends! Sugarpill palettes offer bold combinations of richly pigmented, luxury eyeshadows in striking hues. The velvety smooth texture allows flawless application and superior blending.

I beg to differ with something in this statement. It's a review right & i have to be as honest & as candid as i can. so i'll go straight into the review

Pros

1). It's cruelty-free, which means it has never been tested on animals and this i absolutely love.

2). The Colors are very bright and matte with a slight hint of shimmer, but not so much as to qualify them as shimmer shadows.

Clockwise :  Flamepoint(Orange) , Buttercupcake(Yellow) , Poison Plum(Purple) & Love +(Red)

 3). The Packaging is very beautiful. The Black color of the palette makes it very professional-looking and it fits perfectly in the hands without feeling bulky.

Don't you just love the Packaging

 4). The colors are very bold, true to colour & pigmented & can be used anywhere else asides the eyes. I sometimes use them as complementary blush colors because i have a light hand when using bold colors.

5). The Colors are super blendable which is a plus.

6). Considering that Sugarpill individual shadows retail for $12 a pop, the palette price of $34 is such a good deal & this makes it worth having in your kit and can be purchased here : SugarPill



Cons

- The only grouse i have with this palette especially the Poison Plum(Purple) shade is that as matte,beautiful & pigmented as this eyeshadow is, it leaves a great deal of FALL-OUT despite tapping off all excess on the brush.

- Another problem with this shade is that you need to pack on great amounts to get the intensity you want & you need an extremely sticky eyeshadow base to work with it, otherwise, you'll find yourself coming back to the eyes to add some more even when you thought your job was done.

- This experience i had with a bride & i totally didn't find it funny.

Other than that i absolutely love this palette & would definitely try the other palettes the line offers.

Hope this post was helpful

xoxo
Pretty K

MY NEW FOUND LOVE FOR MAC!!

Hey Pretties,

thank you for being so patient with me. Trust you all have been great. I've in the last year acquired quite a number of MAC products and when i hear people say : Why MAC, i say : WHY NOT MAC!

I'm definitely not one of those makeup artists that say MAC or NOTHING , but i must say it's one brand that's been consistent for over 28years founded by 2 men(Frank Toskan & Frank Angelo) in Canada in 1984 and their Slogan is : All Ages, All Races, All Sexes. This is what has endeared most makeup artists especially men to the Brand (Welcome Ricky martin,lol).

It's a Cruelty-Free Brand and not until the advent of MAC could you find the Most Pigmented & Bold shades of eyeshadows from other brands(I stand to be corrected). I Love the Young Spirit and Energy behind all their products from the great collection of Lip & Eye products & Shades, to the ever-evolving seasonal collections, to the Fun packaging and to the standards they keep.

MAC LOGO

Not once have i heard : MAC's -------- used to be very good. I'll say it's one of those brands you can't go wrong investing in especially since it got acquired by another Trusted Brand,ESTEE LAUDER in 1998.

So when you're looking for QUALITY, PIGMENTATION, GREAT VALUE & CRUELTY-FREE BEAUTY, think MAC.

To view the great collections, visit : www.maccosmetics.com / www.maccosmetics.co.uk / www.maccosmetics.com/home.tmpl?LOCALE=en_CA

And if you need to know where to find authentic MAC products in Nigeria, pls send me a mail at sitpretty412@yahoo.com

Hopefully this post was helpful

xoxo
Pretty K

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!!!