NewKidz

I am very honored to have been chosen as an ambassador for the most incredible non-profit organization, Newkidz on the Block.

This wonderful group of people are changing lives all over SA by providing much needed facility upgrades and make-overs at institutions for orphaned and vulnerable children. They are always looking for volunteers and sponsors in any capacity.

If you are looking for a platform to get involved and spread some much needed love to those less fortunate, please get in contact with them. If you have an hour of spare time, can paint a wall, or plant a flower you have all the talent needed to join in.

http://www.newkids.org.za/

xoxo B xoxo

The Fresh

Fashion week. Haute couture. Full of looks that are completely beyond anything any normal person would care to pull off. The truth is, however, that these high fashion looks set the trend for the commercial realm and we all land up following suite in watered down forms, regardless of how we feel about the initial show. Keeping up with the times is thus quite necessary, however fickle it may seem.

New make-up trends were showcased recently, and it seems that the powers that be have decided that barely-there fresh faced make-up is the new on-point.
We have seen glowing natural skin, often with no foundation at all. (Seen at Marc Jacobs- strange choice as they have their own makeup range to promote). Freckles- which are one of my favourite beauty features- also showed face. Eyeshadows were in fleshy tones like neutural browns and pinks, creating natural shadows more than being very present.

Michael Kors

Marc Jacobs

I suppose it was to be expected. There has been season after season of bright, bold trends. Glitter masks, berry lips, purple eyes, thick blackened brows. Fashion always moves to the complete opposite of whatever has been on trend in order to make a a strong impact.

Fresh faced looks can make those of us with less than perfect skin want to cringe. Don't be fooled though. No make-up makeup can take just as much work as a full face with perfectly painted brows. How does one look glamorous and follow trend?

- Make sure you have your skincare routine down to an art.  Cleanse. Tone. Moisturize. Mask. Facial.. whatever it takes.
- Invest in a sheer tinted moisturizer that will let those freckles show through while evening out your skin tone. Try a BB or CC cream.

- If you want the coverage use a moisture-rich foundation and forego the setting powder,

- or conceal only in necessary areas in a concealer shade matching your exact skintone, blend out slightly and then use a tinted moisturizer over that.
- Avoid powder as this will dull the glow.
- Use a cream blusher

- Curl your eyelashes for extra impact without the mascara layers.

- Find a sheer tinted lip gloss or lip balm in a light peach, brown, pink or berry shade.

- Avoid the eye and lip liner.
- Comb your eyebrows into a neat shape.
- Don't fill them in, or use a light dusting of powder in the same shade as your natural hair.
- Invest in an illuminating cream. Focus placing this on the same areas you would place your highlighter in a contouring situation. (See my previous blog post).

MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion

Smashbox

Glow by Dr Brandt, Ruby Crystal

MAC Strobe Cream

- Remember to use SPF. Many foundations have SPF in them, and you may not be in the routine of sunscreen application.

I can't fathom a world with no make-up, but here are my easy to achieve, wearable versions of these looks.

Fresh Pinks

Fresh Earths

xoxo B xoxo

Contouring the Masses.

Contouring. The play on light. You can make your face look thinner, nose look narrower, chin look more shapely. Its magic really. Made famous by celebs like Kim Kardashian, we all want to know the secret. The tutorials are all over instagram and pinterest, but it seems so time consuming! It is.

The truth is that real make-up artists (I mean the kind that make a living out of putting make-up on people's faces other than their own) can, but rarely do contour to the extent that these online artists do. Some clients need or want it and I have covered the techniques in my workshops but honestly, its not necessary. 

We artists generally use these techniques for what's known in the industry as "corrective make-up". Someone has a seriously wide face, manly features, skew nose or a receded chin then sure, it's used. Not for every day or even photographic make-up looks is it used to the nth degree- as shown on the artist youtube videos. So please ladies, don't sweat over trying to master the art. Its a fad and the chances are your face is perfectly fine the way it is.

If, however, you want to try the technique in a quick and plausible way, here is a quick cheat-it method.

Golden Rule : Remember that dark recedes the area visually and light brings the area forward. 

1.Dust a matt/ shimmer-free bronzer along the hollows of your cheeks, temples and sides of your nose. I run this shade along the hairline on the forehead too if this is a large area.

 Add some to your cleavage if you want weapons of mass distraction.

2.Dust a highlight coloured shimmer with a different brush on your upper cheekbones toward the temple, bridge of your nose and lips including your cupid's bow. Also add some to the brow bone (under the eyebrows) and inner eye corners ONLY if your eyes aren't far apart! 

I don't bother with the chin unless it's recessed as most people actually feel their chins are too prominent already.

Add some highlight to your collar bones.

Make sure it's light and well blended all over!

Done!

If you struggle with finding the right shades, try for something in a couple of shades darker than your own skin tone- not too orange -and a highlighter that's not too white.

Practice, practice practice!

xoxo B xoxo

Dare to Bair

Thank you's in abundance to Amber for writing such a wonderful article on me in her super successful blog! If you're into fashion, beauty or anything fab, do yourself a favor and check out her site! She really has an eye for style and there is tons of news on brands and trends. Rumor has it that even top international designers are keeping tabs on her page. ;) http://www.daretoblair.co.za/best-face-forward-40/ 

Lasting Lips

BOLD LIPS. We have seen the trend all over the red carpets and ramps this year. Amazing!

OOOOH!
We buy!
We try!

We fail.

Red lips bleeding out, bright pinks transferring to clothes and rich berry shades fading to patchy baby pink. The eternal problem we encounter when wearing those notice-me bright or dark colours:  HOW do we get them to STAY!!? There are ways. I'm not even going to try and spice this up... it's quite a process.

There is some helpful product knowledge we need first apply during the purchase stage of our quest for the everlasting.

1. Frosted lipsticks last longer than the moisture-rich variety. They can, however, dry your lips out.
2. Glossing over your colour will lessen the staying power.
3. Matt, non-frosted lipsticks do come in made-to-last inexpensive varieties, which can be great. Shop around.
4. Invest in a lip liner pencil the same shade as your lipstick.
5. The last all day, set with a glue-type gloss products are amazing and really do last all day. They also tend to peel off and don't layer well for touch ups. This can give the impression of some strange skin problem. Choice is yours.
6. Highlighter powder (used for eyes and cheeks) can help staying power and also give the illusion of fuller lips.
7. Following on 6, powder sets cream.
8. Lip "stains" are a great option for mess-free colour.

My favourite long last products:

Wet 'n Wild is finally here in SA. Available exclusively at Clicks. www.clicks.co.za

 These Mega Last lipsticks are fantastic and really last for hours.

 Tube looks like this -Available in fantastic red, orange and berry shades.

...And also available is a rich gloss variety. "Megalast"

And their "Balm Stain"

I also like Revlon "Just Bitten Kissable". A fantastic lip stain that never needs touch-ups.

If you're willing to spend a little more, MAC has a great variety in their "Prolongwear" range.

The secret process. 

The order in which products are layered can help. This is what works for me:

1. Apply primer and then foundation to your face AND lips. Many people avoid the lip area.
2. Powder (preferably translucent) over it to set.
3. Line lips with a pencil in your chosen lip shade.
4. Fill the lips in with the liner.(ie: colour in the lip area.)
5. Apply your lipstick.
6. Blot with a tissue
7. Powder to set. Hold 1 ply of blotting tissue to your lips and dab the powder over the area.
-If you apply the powder directly to the lipstick without the tissue for even more staying power:
8. apply more lipstick and blot again.
-For fuller lips and extra-extra stay:
9. Using your finger, apply the before mentioned highlighter powder using a dab and roll motion from the cupid's bow outwards to the corners of the lips. Top and bottom.

Remember to check there are no lipstick stains on your teeth and GOOD LUCK!

xoxo B xoxo

Fairy Hair

So my sister came from the salon in a trendy area a few months ago wondering what was going on in the world. There was an entire salon of unrelated women getting their hair dyed in wild colours. We discussed it at medium length and had a good laugh. Well, the joke seems to be on us. I have since noticed the interesting trend emerging in the world of beauty. What I like to call Fairy Hair.
Lilac, blue and pink locks are popping up all over my Pinterest, Instagram and Blog feeds. I even met a young lady in Clarens, SA, who is something of a local phenomenon due to her love of (and courage to wear) these unusual hair colours.

I have to admit that when that purple-grey hairdo first popped up on my screen gracing the head of extrovert, Kelly Osbourne, I was not a huge fan. Perhaps the combo of her vintage dress style and classic retro up-do's made the look a little sheep in wolf's clothing for me. I have, however, begun to like it in other styles I have seen on her since. It suits her image for sure and I didn't understand her [stylist's] vision. Clearly.

The trend is now being spotted on all sorts of celebrities, from Rock Stars and  Pop Stars to models, actors, teens, emos, goths, rich housewives and internet celebs.  I haven't been able to pin this trend to a specific group of people, and that intrigues me.

The decision to follow this trend is, of course, a bold one and not to be taken lightly. I am sure that the corporate environment, in general, would not approve. I do however find myself becoming a little (very) obsessed with this look. It is so whimsical and futuristic while staying feminine. Something very different, which I love.

 I especially love the lavender colour. As a make-up artist I'm sure I could pull it off in the work environment, but to be frank, I don't have the courage. Perhaps a wash-out version in an ombre style would be the safest first attempt.

My grandmother was quite a rebel in her day I think, and told me a story once about how she always wanted pink hair, but nobody would do it for her. Amazing how times change. :) I have noticed that the look can project a diverse array of connotations and walks a fine line between tacky, kawaii and classy. If you do decide to give this look a bash: Choose your shade and styling wisely, find an amazing colourist and wear it with massive amounts of confidence!

Miracle of Photoshop

I absolutely love this. Take a look and feel much better about yourself.
http://denisesalceda.com/youre-not-perfect-and-thats-okay/

Bianca le Grange - Keuses

I finally have a link for the music video I did with Bianca Le Grange. Enjoy!
Make-up by me (plus a little cameo appearance ;) BRONWYN KAYE Make-Up Artist
Production by Wicus Studios
Bianca Le Grange, Keuses

Some Nars Advice