Getting Naked!

So  I've been hearing and seeing lots of stuff about Naked Cosmetics and with the term "mineral makeup" being on everyone's lips it surprised me that this mineral brand slipped my grasp for so long. I was finally able to get my hands on some items from the Naked brand from Colour Coded Makeup who retail a number of  the collections from the Naked Brand . You can imagine my glee.

Left : Naked Gloss       Right : Naked Shadow Base

Mineral makeup has been gaining popularity among women  the past few years. So dermatologists, makeup artists, and basically everyone and their granny are giving a boost to the sales of mineral makeup .So what's so exciting ??

Mineral makeup comprises of minerals, which are pulverized and sterilized into fine powder form. The makeup is made using zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and 100%-micronized minerals, which some companies say are free from chemicals that cause inflammation and irritation to the skin.

But beware just because they  slap the word mineral on it doesnt make it magic. Always do your own research and test the makeup in store before you go all out on these sometimes expensive purchases.

When I got my Naked mineral makeup I was excited at the thought of more pigments. On the back of the box Naked even lists ways in which you can use your new pigments. E.g in nail polish, on your lips and even in your hair.

First of all I love the stackable containers.  Long before the iPhone and ipod my friends christened me as Renee iMash-up (you know instead of I-fill) and I have broken many of the Mac stackable pigments but these containers seem a bit tougher and of course I dropped one :-)

The pigments are pretty and shimmery and that’s what I love most about pigments there always seems to be a little more oomph when a colour is loose when compared to its pressed and flat counterpart. That may just be my eyes. This stack is called Mother Nature and contains a blue brown pigment (much like Mac’s Blue Brown) , a tan  coloured pigment with gold flecks, a shimmery gold pigment, a mint green pigment with gold flecks, a rich coppery red colour and white frosty pigment. I looked at the gold, green and red together and I seriously thought oooh I can feel a holiday look coming on.

Here are the swatches

These were just swatched no base, just my chubby little fingers and what a pay off! No sheerness just colour.

I will be spending some quality time with these loved ones over the holidays!!

More excitingly and closer than Christmas is the Sugarpill and Naked Cosmetics Demonar coming up next Friday hosted by Essential Trends and Colour Coded Makeup. Koren and Pursebuzz will be in Barbados as part of their O2B2 tour and will be conducting an informative seminar using these fab pigments . Soooo not only do you get to meet and greet with the gurus you get to hear first hand how to use these pigments and get maximum use from your new products . Even better if three gal pals get together they can register for this exciting evening for a special price of $100 each. A saving of $50 each!!  Included in the registration is a bag of goodies with products from the demonar!  So get registered and Get NAKED! 


And just for my followers.. Next2Natural will be giving away one free ticket to the Demonar next week . So look out for that lucky winner on Wednesday.

N2N Luxury

When I started learning about makeup a few years ago they were few brands available here in Barbados .Although the selection hasn't improved dramatically what has increased is the consumers knowledge of brands that are available whether here or overseas.  Blame it on marketing,  YouTube, whatever you want . People know now exactly the look they want and the products the stars use to achieve it. 

Some makeup artists may be put off by this kind of client but honestly sometimes it takes the pressure off  me! So often people say I don't know what  I want and I stare at hundreds of shadows, a million lip colours and think "Girl neither do I!" but ever so often there is a girl who has gone online downloaded a Kim K pic and said, " darling  want these eyes and this lip" and I know exactly what she is going for, even if it has to be tweaked to suit her .

It was clients like these that started demanding high end products , airbrush makeup, HD foundations, 'pore-perfekting' products , and luxurious bronzers and I obliged until little by little I had a collection products from moisturisers to mascaras to satisfy the client. 

Don't get me wrong I love me a deal but I must admit I too am a sucker for marketing. I know...I know... As a MUA I must use a discerning eye and follow the research and reviews for products that aren't only high end but work, but I love shiny packaging and  if you smack a little gold dust on something and put on a pretty price tag...somehow I feel it must work and when I put it on I feel like money.

Packaging aside though , thanks to reviews and other avid bloggers I was able to add sensibly to my collection and come up with products which I liked and would satisfy my clients needs for a luxurious finish. .....N2N Luxury

The brands used on this shoot include 

Embryolisse Cleansers and Moisturisers 

Per-fekt  Beauty Skin Perfecting Gel 

Makeup Forever Microperfecting primers, HD powders, lip pencils, aqualiners

Clinique shadows and Mascaras 

Dior Mascaras

Temptu Airbrush Foundation

Graftobian HD foundation

Nars Blushes

Cargo Bronzers

Skindinavia Setting sprays 

I will continue to add to N2N Luxury . I already have my eye on the Guerlain  and Illamasqua holiday collections . You may not need expensive everyday but every once in a while everyone deserve a little luxury. N2N Luxury.

The Ramjits

I got the opportunity to work as the makeup artist on a photo shoot  with the Ramjit sisters. In Barbados Ramona , Rhea and Regina have been staples on the pageant and fashion scene. They have been collecting crown and titles for years. I first met the bubbly and exciting Regina and collaborated with her on shoots before  but this time all three sisters were on the island and the opportunity to shoot with them presented itself and I was more than willing to take part.

A previous shoot with Regina

(Photographer Brian Elcock)

For their makeup I wanted to let their natural beauty shine through and I am currently on a coral kick!! I don't know when this colour became so hot but I am glad that it did. I used Temptu Airbrush  foundation on Regina and Ramona and a coral coloured La femme blush. Rhea's deeper tones called for my favorite Black Opal Foundation and  used Nars Taj Mahal Blush  on her cheeks for a warm glow. On their eyes I used Clinique's  shadow Like Mink on the lashline and blended into the coral  toned Sunburst shadow. I used Clinique's Daybreak shadow as a highlight.

I cant get enough of the OCC lip tars and I used the  varying mixtures of Beta, Grandma and Safety Orange to personalise each girls lips for her skin tone.

Here are the results.

(Photographer : Jaryd Niles-Morris)

(Photographer : Jaryd Niles-Morris)

I had a blast working with the Ramjit sisters and always have a great time behind the scenes with their mum Ruth.

It started out Okay.....

....but it got dark very quickly!!

Final shots

Thanks again girls.

Kadooment

Kadooment Day for me is fabulous . Its one of the few days that ladies will actually let me apply glitter, rhinestones  and lashes without raising eyebrows.My day usually starts for me around 3am and goes straight to 10:30 am, then I head ontp the streets. No sitting, no drinking, just glitter and craziness.

If you notice that these pix looks extra sleek  just know that I did NOT become a photographer .. my buddy Brian of Bcreativephotography took them .Check out his stuff here http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcr8ive/

                                 Studio Before                                                    Studio After

Chaos

This year on twitter I saw the offerings of Xotic Eyes. A company which produces gorgeous glitter appliques for the eyes and body .My first plan was to starve myself lose 100 pounds and wear it myself on kadooment day.Sanity prevailed and I spoke to a girl I saw  at work and when I showed her the pieces  and she was thrilled  and decided to create her own costume with the pieces.
Two days before Kadooment we realised we needed more appliques to cover her body with none to be had on the island. Fortunately I was able to use  latex and glitter to replicate the look .These pieces we attached to her body with spirit gum.

the ones I made covered her legs, hands and added to her bikini bottom.

We use glitter and a special glitter glue on her eyes instead of the xotic eyes and placed it just under her lash line.

  Allison adding rhinestones and oil sheen .  Alexis spraying Dermacolor fixing spray to her face.

After seeing how well hers turned out, I made one for my face.

All about the peacock feathers

This year the packages I offered ranged from $40-$60 and included breakfast. We had coffee, tea, juice, chocolate coconut cake balls, coconut cake, orange marmalade gingerbread and fishcakes. It will be even better next year!

Following the coffee some got a little hype and started the party early.

In the end 20 girls got bedazzled and I want to thank all my friends and family for helping out , Gregory, Felicia, Alexis, Allison , Sherry and Hal  :-)

On the Road

Christina on the Road

Sharice's pieces stayed on all day as did her makeup and glitter .. Only one tata cover became loose in the rain ( not the ones I made :-)

All eyes on me!! Look at the guys in the background!

Commission work for the Contact Band

To all the ladies who came out,  Thank You . Next year will be bigger and better !! I am planning already.