Henna Ceremony

Hi guys, so i thought i would share some pictures of a beautiful lady whom i got ready for a Henna Ceremony.
Most of you will be thinking 'what on earth is a Henna Ceremony'?.......


Henna Party Makeup (Before and Afters)

A Mehndi ceremony is a fun ceremony with a festive atmosphere. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy themselves by dancing, singing, playing fun games, recitation of classical poems as well as jokes. The decorations are very bold and bright colours are used. A Mehndi ceremony can be held within the comfort of the brides home or in a banquet hall if there are a lot of people. Usually the Asian Bride is dressed in bright clothes with minimum amount of makeup on so that on her wedding day she looks radiant but this depends wholly on the bride herself. Within different religions a Mehndi ceremony is carried out differently. Within a Muslim Mehndi ceremony the bride is escorted by her family in to the venue on to the stage which is decorated with bright bold colours. (This can be seen in the above pictures where vibrant colours are used). Family and friends including the grooms side by turn come up on to stage and apply oil on her hair, feed her something sweet and apply Henna on her hand. Her hand is usually covered with a leaf and the henna is applied on top of that. After all the tradition is complete it is all about enjoying the evening and having lots of fun.



Decorated Water Melon filled with fruits which is fed to the bride

Argan Oil

Argan Oil

Recently visiting Morocco and purchasing a wide range of pure cosmetic products, i thought i would share my thoughts on one product in particular. The Argan Oil

After using it for a week i have noticed a huge difference in my complexion. It is much more brighter and clearer. It has also helped in reducing dark circles and acne scars. It has worked wonders on my hair. Due to colouring my hair regularly it had become dry. It feels and appears to be much more moisturised and shiny.

So what is Argan Oil?
Argan oil is pressed from the nut of the fruit of the Argan Tree, which is only found in Morocco. The argan tree lives to be about 150 to 200 years old and does not start producing the fruit until it is 30 to 50 years old. Because the tree is found only in a limited area, the oil itself is quite rare.

Argan oils many benefits start with the fact that it provides every healthy thing you want for your skin including Omega-6 and Vitamin F content. Fatty acids like Omega-6 and Vitamin F benefit the skin heal old, damaged skin and turn it into a new, restored and vibrant look. It is excellent for acne scars. It doesn't clog pores and leaves you with soft and glowing skin.

Argan Oil is also beneficial for the hair. It works by simply repairing damaged hair that has been exposed to many chemicals and agents that dry out your hair making it look dull and leaves split ends. It calms frizzy ends and adds shine.

Scalp: If you're dealing with dry scalp, apply some argan oil to a cotton ball and dab your scalp with the oil. If you do this before bed, you'll give the oil plenty of time to moisturise your scalp before you wash your hair in the morning.

Body: You can use Argon oil as a full body moisturiser, applying just as you would a body lotion or cream. Apply the oil right after you get out of your shower for best moisturising results.

Hands: Argan oil is a great oil to use on your hands, especially on your cuticles and on your nails if they are prone to cracking and peeling.

Pure Argan oil is available from Morroco. They make it in front of you so you know there is nothing mixed in with it. Alternatively if searched on the internet many companies sell Argan Oil such as holland&barett

(Please note most Argon oil is mixed with other ingredients to enhance smell etc. please be sure that you are not allergic to any of these ingredients or alternatively opt for the pure Argon Oil which is much better)

10 things NOT to do as a Makeup Artist

Working as a Makeup Artist for 3 years, hygiene has always been my number 1 priority!
Professionals who have been in the industry for decades you would think they follow the same method right? .... Pssshhtt wrong! From Youtube makeup tutorials to in store beauty advisors , i have seen countless numbers of bad hygiene practice.

So here are 10 things as a professional makeup artist or beauty advisor you must NOT DO! (If you are neither but experience any of these don't be afraid to speak up)



1) Don't show up with dirty brushes!

2) Don't blow on brushes, pans of powder makeup or the clients face! (I cant emphasise this enough. Its like spitting on them.

3) Don't double dip from testers. ( it contaminates the product)

4) Don't move on to the next client without cleaning your equipment.

5) Wash your hands frequently and in front of clients. ( Anti- bacterial gel is handy)

6) Be prepared to use your own brushes

7) Get familiar with the products you will be using beforehand. Clients see through the act when you fumble to find products or cant explain them well.

8) A very controversial one. Try to avoid wearing perfume purely for the reason being, your client may react to it. Best advice-skip it!

9) Don't reapply your own makeup, in front of clients. Its simply unprofessional.

10) Don't take testers out of store units unless you have permission to do so. Other makeup artists may need to use those products. Best advice, take the amount you need and place it on a palette.

I hope this is useful for professional makeup artists, aspiring makeup artists as well as all you makeup lovers!
Xoxo

Foundation Types

Have you ever been distracted by, just plain bad makeup or had the urge to blend someones foundation?.... No ones to blame. There are so many different types of foundations in the market so one is bound to be confused.

So what is the purpose of foundation?
It is designed to even out the skin tone and hide imperfections. It is not designed to disguise the face or even shock the viewers! 

Types of Foundation?
There are 3 basic forms which are CREAM, LIQUID and POWDER.  Combinations arise such as moose foundation, cream to powder foundation, mineral foundation and tinted moisturizer.
There are foundations which are also suited to different skin types including sensitive skin, oily and dry skin, birthmarks as well as scars.

Liquid Foundation.
Easy to apply and are very natural looking. They offer medium coverage. Well suited for dry skin types due to the high moisture content.

Cream Foundation
Excellent coverage that is milky and flawless. Either come in a compact or stick. Easily applied and can also be used as a corrector. This is also a perfect choice for dry skin types due to its high moisture content.

Powder/Cream to Powder Foundation
This can be found in loose powder form or compressed powder form. Powders are generally used for a quick touch up or to set makeup. For oily skin this is recommended. Powder foundation is also available in cream to powder which combines the flawless coverage cream with the fast setting powder.

Hope this helps you in choosing the correct foundation for your skin type.

(Please note if you have never used foundation or are thinking about changing your foundation please test the product on your skin before purchasing or using. This can be done by dabbing a little on a tender area of the skin usually the wrist or crook of your arm)
 

Beauty Tips (Dry Skin)

Hi guys. This is my first blog and hope that you find it useful.
I know many people who suffer from Dry Skin due to winter however, they do not know how to treat it. This is why i have created this blog so i can share some tips with you.

Tip 1:
Moisturize regularly if you suffer from dry skin especially during winter. This is after every bath or shower. Products that contain petroleum or glycerin will prove to be effective. This also applies to hands and feet.

Tip 2:
Apply a mixture of 1 tsp warm Olive oil with a few drops of glycerin and 2-3 drops of lime juice. Apply for 10 minutes and wash off.

Tip 3:
1 tsp of milk cream with2-3 drops of lime juice mixed well. Apply this 10 minutes before a bath/shower. It reduces the dryness and it is also good when applied in Winter.

Tip 4:
Plain, whole milk, applied and left on for 10 minutes and washed with coldwater helps.

Tip 5:
Do not bath/shower in hot water. This is because hot water robs your skin from moisture. Make sure the water is lukewarm. Moisturise after.