Does Red Lipstick make you look Older?

I loved my mum's bag when I was growing up because I swear she had everything in it.

I should do a series on that. Lol.

One of her favourite items in her bag was her red lipstick which I would watch her apply. My mum can skip anything- brows, blush, powder, but never her lipstick.

Years later, she still swears by red.

I on the other hand have had a love hate relationship with red lipstick- I love to hate it. I think it ages me and never use it directly. My Make Up artists love to use it on me though and I try not to protest too much.

Truth is from your hair to your skin to the colours you wear, there are things that can make you look older or younger depending on what you are looking for. Purple for example tends to sympolise royalty or age while pinks and florals are more girly girl.

You can get away with red though if

- it is the perfect shade for you

- it is applied and lined properly.
- it is not red. Loooooool

What do you think?

Does red lipstick age?

We all have that one hair style...

We all have that one hair style that we fall back to because it is reliable. It is the style that is both easy to style and yet, is so flattering for our face that we go from 'everyday' beauty to va va voom in a blink!

For me, the style is a bun and its' variations.



When i have my hair in a bun, it is quite flattering for my face. I also like it because with some styles, i always have to remember to only take pictures from one angle but with the bun, i can do straight, left or right angles and not worry.

Recently, Modupe of Mogizzie did this up do for me and i loved it so much that i had to take a thousand pictures!

#Beauty When it comes to Personal .v. MUA beat, the difference is clear

Yesterday i had an event in the evening but my booked make up artiste thought i was booking her for Saturday which meant by the time i called to find out where she was, she was nowhere close and i was basically stranded.
My options were, Scream and hide, Try to book someone else and miss the event or Try to do some kind of fake 'beat' and still show up.
To be honest, between Lamide Akintobi and Mr A, number 1 was out. It was down to 3.

Now i have some make up products and girl was born cute so i can do the basics but everyone knows when you go for an upscale event, the beat has to be more than the everyday look.
Between never being able to get my eyebrows right (one always looks like i fought with a puppy and the puppy won), not having all the products and brushes they have (i really am a basic powder and foundation type of girl), and not being able to see a thing when i take my glasses off, i have given up on learning to beat my face like a pro.

This is me 'beating' my face. I hate it. lol

Nevertheless i began.
First, the primer.
Then some foundation.
Eyebrows. And yes, one was nice and big while the other was pathetic and looked like it was on a diet.
Eyeshadow.
More foundation because my skin swallows everything and it always looks like i didn't put any one.
Powder.
Blush.
Lipstick.
And i was done.


Now Lamide and Mr A swore it was great but they love me so can we really trust them? Uhn? Uhn??

Lol.

I love professional 'beats'.

#Skincare 3 cool ways to drink water without actually drinking water...

By now you know that staying hydrated is good for you. It not only helps you internally, but it is also great for your skin.

If you are like my sister and i though, you probably HATE drinking water. Let us be honest, for most of us, water is one of the most tasteless things out there. It is easier to reach out for a soda ('soft drink') than it is to get that recommended daily dose of water in.

Is there anything you can do to cheat?
I have 3 for you!

- Healthy fluids
A lot of things are actually made with water right? You can reach out for green tea, freshly squeezed juices, and other types of healthy alternatives.

- Infusions
These days, people go around with water bottles containing water and infusions like fruits or spices. I like doing lemon or lime in my water in the mornings as it gives the water a little oomph and makes it less boring. Add some mint or orange slices and you will have something tasty to enjoy.

- Water based foods
One of my favourite fruits ever is the watermelon. It is such a great way to enjoy yourself and the good thing is it is healthy as well. You can try things like cucumbers, salad greens, melons and grapefruits as well.

#Beauty Glad i finally got to use my purple LMC lipstick!

Ever had something that you like but never know how to use?

For me, it was the purple lipstick i got from LMC Cosmetics.

The owner had come on my show to give out some quick make up tips (getting ready in a jiffy) and she was sweet enough to give two lipsticks and two lipstains from the collection for my personal use.

Well i had used the others (till i finished one), the purple one i had always been too shy to use.

Now i am in no way a make up guru and i leave face beating to the professionals so when i do my own make up, i play safe. Pink, brown, that's my safe place.

So how lucky was i that after getting styled for hosting duties for Women in Journalism 2017, Modupe of Makeupby Mogizzie looked at my lipstick collection (i have a cold sore so we chose not to use any of hers), and without being prompted, chose the purple!

Here it is, complete look!. Do you like?

#Beauty How to go make-up free like Alicia Keys

I have been watching Alicia Keys for the last couple of months and her bravery in choosing to be bare faced in a world of 'face beats' is admirable.

While we may not all go make up free for life like her, truth is, there are times our faces need a break from make up. The skin needs it!!!

So if you do want to go a day without make up but might run into people or take pictures, what can you do?

1. Let your skin glow.
Sometimes when I look at Alicia, I am like, "it's not your fault o, with this your skin that is glowing".
Great skin is always an asset whether or not you wear make up so cleanse, exfoliate and mosturise to give your skin that extra shine.

2. Buns
There is something putting your hair in a bun does for your face. In some ways, it is an automatic facelift so when you go make up free, put your hair in a bun (with or without a few tendrils out at the sides) and watch the compliments come!

3. Scarves and bows
Another thing to do if you are going make up free is to use scarves and other hair accessories. Scarves especially, have a way of flattering the face. I love how Alicia usually has something wrapped on her hair, even for awards.

And this one isn't official but fake it!
Get your eyebrows in shape, put on some lightly coloured lip gloss or add a dash of foundation to your face cream and going make up free becomes a bit bearable.

Got any tips or tricks of yours?

#TravelThursday My Seychelles Beauty haul

#TravelTip when you go somewhere, check out their beauty products! Every area has that special thing you can only get there so bring some of that magic with you.

I went to Seychelles a few weeks ago and loved the sand the sun and the sea. So what about Seychelles is harnessed to make skin supple and people happy?

Turns out Seychelles has a lot to offer!

First I stumbled on this line called 'Yikings' which has a range of products for various skin types and needs. I copped the lip balm, some scrubs, face mist, skin rejuvenation lotion and cleanser.

Then at a souvenir shop, I found gems like these cute soaps (some already packaged as souvenirs), and lotions.

The natural products I got were mainly coconuts and lemon grass but there was also the peach one just for the smell.

I should have got some sunscreen though! Lol. So that's another tip- don't forget your sunscreen!

So that's my current haul and I'm enjoying using all of them, especially the facial soaps and body scrubs.

What's the best product you've bought while on holiday? s.h.a.r.e!

#TipThursday TheNicoleCode's Tips on Beauty on a Budget

Nicole Chikwe was our Expert on today's #TipThursday and she gave ten great tips on how to look great on a budget.

From skincare to make up to style, we can spend so much and sometimes it is cool to just spend a little less. So here are beautypreneur, model and blogger www.thenicolecode.com 's top ten ways to do this!

- Add BAKING SODA to your regular cleanser to make it more exfoliating. That way, you won't need to spend money on an extra scrub. You should ideally exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skincells and to leave your complexion glowing. Baking soda is also great for teeth whitening.

- If you run out of shaving cream, HAIR CONDITIONER is a great substitute! It gives you a nice smooth shave.

- HONEY is perfect for healing acne-prone or dry skin. Just spread on clean skin and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Honey is a powerful antioxidant and also has antibacterial properties, making it good for breakouts. 

Honey is also a humectant which means it draws and retains water so it is also great as a hair conditioner. Just apply one teaspoon into damp hair and rinse with warm water

- Can’t afford to get a manicure? SOAK your nails in hot water, then use a warm wash cloth to push cuticles back

- LEMON is an excellent skin brightener and can be used to fade hyperpigmentation and acne scarring without breaking the bank. Half a teaspoon with a tablespoon of honey as a mask, or dilute half a teaspoon in some water, leave on skin for 15 mins and rinse off. Doing this consistently will leave your complexion glowing and even

- Make your MAKEUP versatile.
For examples, use your neutral eyeshadow as a highlighter, or mix your pink eyeshadow with some Vaseline to create a longlasting lip Stain/gloss.

Lipstick can also be used as a blusher if you run out.

- Buy Coconut or olive OIL.
It can be used in your hair, on your skin and on your lips and as an eye makeup remover. These oils are very versatile and should be a staple in every woman's cabinet.

- NAPKINS or toilet roll are a good substitute for blotting paper, so when you start getting a bit oily during the day, pop down to the bathroom, get some toilet roll, open it up and it soaks up all the excess oil leaving your makeup intact

- Drink at least two litres of WATER a day
Staying properly hydrated everyday is relatively inexpensive and Does more than a lot of beauty products. It helps with acne, with bloating, flushing out toxins and it keeps your skin wrinkle free

And finally, the cheapest AND best thing you can do for your body is to

- Get more SLEEP.
Beauty sleep is not a myth. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep a day helps you get fewer wrinkles, a glowing complexion, brighter and less puffy eyes and helps your products work better as your skin has more time to heal and repair itself.

(Follow @TheNicoleCode on twitter, snapchat and instagram for more beauty tips. Check out www.thenicolecode.com)

#TBDaily x My 2017 basic hair care routine

Hi everyone
So since i have had so many enquiries about my hair care routine, here goes.

First off, a word of caution- as with everything else, hair is individual and what works for one may not work for all. While i won't recommend playing too much with your hair as some things may cause irreparable damage, there is nothing wrong with trying things.

For me, i put my hair care down to three things;
- washing
- mosturising
- styling
- letting it breathe!

Okay so when it comes to washing ones hair, there is a big debate about how often you should tdo that. I am from the 'not too often' school of thought because i feel a little dirt and oil is good for it. If you do not have dandruff, it does not smell and you have not been rolling in the sand, your hair should be fine. I wash my hair regularly, but also right before i want it to lose its volume and be more manageable.
( p.s, i washed it with coke once. read about that here- )

I am a fan of baby products. If it is good enough for baby, it can't harm adults right? So i use baby oil on my hair. When my hair was shorter i used a lot of Virgin Hair Fertiliser because i liked the smell, feel and results. I actually will buy some more come Monday. It really helps. I believe in trying things once in a while but i always go back to my oils in whatever shape or brand.

While for a big red carpet event, i get help from hairstylists like Preye of MzPreye Makeovers, i experiment with new styles often. The length of your hair affects the styles you can rock with it and now that my hair is longer, i miss bangs. I do find that styles that involve pulling the hair show off its length a bit more so buns for example.
Quite often though, i will just let it breathe and be as too much manipulation can cause breakage and loss of hair.

And that is one thing i do for my hair and skin- let it breathe.

If i am not working, or won't be taking pictures, i keep my hair and skin easy breezy. Don't stress your hair, especially if you are older than 25. And if you are not yet 25 and reading this, then please do all you can with it now! Lol

#TBDaily x What I Am Loving at the Moment: Love you Pass, BMPro and more!

Hey friendlies,
Welcome to this edition of "What I Am Loving At The Moment".
Today i am loving some music, skincare and  beauty products and a tv show about little people!

SONG
While i have been bumping a lot of cool songs on the radio and  in the car, one song that has stood out for me is- "Love You Pass' from the 'Stories that Touch" album by Falz featuring Bez.

Falz has a nicely themed album and works with different artistes to achieve that. This is one of his tributes to love and the world of alternative Nigerian music so who else but Bez?

Dope hook so please check it out from the album available on itunes now!

SKINCARE
I found an Orisade flier when i went for Locitude's Loc Appreciation Day earlier this year and i had been meaning to get some of the products like their body butter and more. I finally got complimentary soap and body butter and i have to say the soap is amazing.
You know how you wash your face with mosturizing soaps and keep rinsing because your mind feels it is still soapy but it is just the mosturising effect?
That is how i feel about 'Orisade Avocado and Aloe Vera Soap'.

It also strips your face of the day's make up and dirt so more props for it. The body butter has that powerful shea butter smell so it is taking me some getting used to but it gives your skin a natural glow.
Orisade uses natural products for their skincare brand so more props for them.

MAKE UP
When i went for a make up trial recently with Banke Meshida Lawal of BMPro and while i waited, i browsed through some of their make up products.

After the trial, i asked for one of the lipsticks they used and powder and their lipstick is giving me life. It is the 'Matte  Velvet Lipstick' and is perfect for days you have to do your make up yourself but still want that pop!

You know me i am all about the pop!
I love the shade and how long it lasts.

TELEVISION SHOW
What do you get when you put a group of women together? Usually a lot of talk, some conflict, work and relationship ups and downs and more, and that is what Little Women LA brings in spades. Add to it that the cast of this show are largely, little people.

p.s, if you have been saying 'dwarfs' or 'midgets', you have been politically incorrect so please start saying 'little people'.

Back to my current favourite ladies on reality television!
These ladies are fun, feisty, and like the average woman, have their pow-wow days and their bleh moments, Add to that some health concerns and peculiarities and it makes for one hour of pure tv goodness!

If you don't watch it yet, please catch new episodes on Lifetime now!

#ShopTosyn My First Week of Black and Blue

My themed week challenge continues. By the way, I set this challenge up for myself and have no clue when it will end.

I still have to try 'traditional outfits', skirts, sporty chic and more as a lot of you have suggested but this week felt random.

Till I noticed a pattern in my randomness- I was wearing a lot of blue and black.

Now blue and black are usually both dark colours, although there are different shades of blue like sky blue that are very bright. One usually doesn't reach for blue after black and vice versa, but as my week shows, it's actually a fun combination.

Check these out.

My Tips

Denim 

We tend to think of blue in terms of anything else but jeans but hey, guess the simplest way to style your black top? With a pair of jeans!!!

Shade

The shade of blue is important. A very dark shade turns the look into a black outfit while a light shade gives a little pop. Either works, but remember my favourite tip- accessorise right.

Colours

Since black is neutral, you really can go crazy with what else you rock this look with. I went comfortable and stuck mostly with brown but try pink and even white.

I hope these tips help.
Let me know what you think

#TBDaily x #SkincareSaturday: Egg Yolk Mask

Hi,

I'm at it again, trying things and staring in the mirror.

Remember when I washed my hair with cocacola?

What happens when you wash your hair with Coke?

 And don't forget that time I had lemon water every day for a week?

Is Lemon Water good for your body?

Even slept with onions on my feet. Yup. The things I do.

Yesterday I saw something about egg yolks and the face so a light bulb went off in my head and this morning I did a quick face scrub.

But first, what does the internet say about egg yolk? Well for one, they say it locks moisture into your skin cells and is great for people with dry skin. It helps to moisturise and protects.
Okay o.

You can make egg yolk masks with avocado, honey, bananas, olive oil etc but please ensure you read up on each ingredient and combination before going ahead.

I used one egg (used the yolk and the white though), some sea salt and my favourite face soap and mixed together. I thought I would hate the smell or having it on my face but it honestly smelt nice and didn't feel bad. There was some left over so my feet got a treat too!

I left it on for about fifteen minutes, washed off and honestly, my face looked better than when I wash with just soap.

Do I recommend it?
Yes.

A plain egg yolk mask for days you are rushing out the door, and a few more ingredients at the weekend when you have more time. But as a friend warned once, don't put all the products on your face and neglect to put IN your body.