For the love of Toyin Akinyemi.

I met Toyin for the first time on the morning of her wedding. She was so calm and sweet natured. We discussed the different looks she wanted and how much time it will take so we could work without hurrying or being frazzled.

We started with her peach and chocolate traditional aso oke outfit.

And after that, she changed into a lovely cream lace and bright orange headtie.

One of the big parts of a wedding for me is getting to meet the family and experiencing the joy of celebrating with them. I had a great time at her wedding.

See you guys soon enough with another post. Much love!!!

Happy wedding anniversary to the Oludares.

Time flies!
I should know this by now but I am still surprised every time I realise its truth.
A year ago, my neighbour and friend got married. Doing her makeup was very interesting for me and even after 365 days, I still smile at the memories.

Happy wedding anniversary dears!

For the love of Omolade.

Omolade and I started speaking on the phone months before her wedding. We went over the details, asked and answered so many questions and generally got comfortable with each other. I saw her a few days to the wedding and it was so nice to finally meet her. One of the first things she said to me was, 'Alexia, I don't want too much makeup'. I smiled. You can have as little makeup as you'd like but you'll look beautiful nonetheless.

Omolade's wedding was in Ibadan, Oyo State. The first Ibadan wedding, I'd attend without eating amala. It was fun and memorable for me. Omolade has a close circle of friends who also were her bridesmaids. I loved listening to them and the anecdotes from secondary school which they shared made me laugh so much.
I wish Omolade and her husband a beautiful 'happily ever after!'

Eyebrows on fleek, today, everyday!!!

Hello everyone,

One conversation I have often goes like this:
Me: Omg! What happened to your brows?
Other: Errrm, I couldn't come to do my brows and they were already grown out. So, i tried to do them myself.
Me: Ok....you realise you took them all off?
Other: *sad face* yes. What do I do now?

In between brow appointments, if you have new growth you would like to get rid of, I would recommend using a pair of tweezers. Looking in the mirror and seeing clearly the new growth sprouting, take one hair at a time and pull out with a pair of tweezers. It is easy and very specific. Allowing you to pick hair strand by strand and for precise touching up. No dramatic accidents except you get tweezer-happy and overdo it. :) have fun trying this out.

#protip
#browsonfleek

Photo credits: tweezer photo from Google images.
Bride's photo: mine.

A timeless dress and pretty pink lipstick

Hey people,

It's been too long since I last put up a post but I intend to do so regularly from now on.

Here is a picture of my beautiful bride, Funmi Akin-Oludumila.
She was such a phenomenal bride. I had such a rich experience working with her.

Ah! I heard so many good things about Milk of Magnesia(MOM) so I decided to try it out and it worked like a dream. For her skin, I used my very trusty No. 7 primer and then overlaid it with the MOM. Then I applied Mary Kay bronze 507 foundation, Iman clay 2 luminous powder to give a subtle glow and then MAC NC 50 powder.

I loved her dress, I thought it was very timeless. But I also thought that red lipstick was predictably the choice to go with for a retro, classic look. I decided to do something else and go with an equally timeless fushia pink instead.  She's wearing MAC Girl About Town.

I hope you love the look as much as I did.

Till next time,
XOXO.

The one thing i can't do without.

Women want to look amazing. All the time! She may be partial to one product she feels works wonders for her or it may be a combination of different ones. Speaking with different women, I've heard them say, 'oh, once I have my blue eyeliner, i'm fine' or 'once, my brows are done and penciled in, i'm happy'. To each his own, right?

The best way to find what works for you is to try out different makeup items. Don't be afraid to explore. Changing everything all at once has the effect of either being too much for you personally or you get excited for a few days but find out later that you're back at your old regime. You find yourself  citing reasons such as 'it was a lot of work' or 'I don't have time'. It is best to start with one or two items and then gradually ease into your desired change. Making small adjustments as you go along.

I like to have an easy look for work. Foundation, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss or nude lipstick and then play it up for other events. my all time favorite though is wearing mascara. I absolutely love it. so even though i'm bare skinned, it is one thing I will always wear.

I also vary my everyday look by wearing different colored eyeliners or keeping the eyeliner black but changing my lip color. What's your everyday look like?

Tribute to Tayo Omidiji

The last conversation i had with you was a smile and a wave as i walked past your close on my way to catch the bus to work. You've been gone for a few days now and i have often wished several times that there was a reset button we could push. I have pondered your passing severally with more questions than answers. I have been upset with you. The reset button was so that once you opened your eyes, i could ask you who put such a thought in your head, who told you leaving was better. and then i would slap your head. Alas, there is no reset button. I have gone through denial, anger and now i am at acceptance. i accept that you are gone and you're not coming back. I accept your decision though i may never understand it. I am no longer upset with you. All is forgiven.
I remember always seeing you as i walked past and then we became friends and i got to work with you and spent many long hours talking about the sort of work we wanted to do in our lifetimes and the people we wanted to become. i went through a phase in 2008 when i wasn't sure i was supposed to devote my life to makeup and i spoke to you often about my uncertainty. You went ahead to book me as the makeup artist for your magazine's photoshoots and advertised my business in it. You always smiled, always teased, always encouraged. Without too many words, you asked me questions that made me think deeply about pursuing a career as a makeup artist and you encouraged me to work my dreams. Five years later, i am still hard at work, working those dreams, free from those fears and assured that this is part of my life's work.
What does 5th Avenue look like without you? I don't know. I still see you when i walk past. My heart aches as i see all the people stream in and out of your house, questions and sadness etched on their faces. I do not weep for you, Tayo. You are not dead. How can you possibly be? How? I cannot wrap my head around it.
All i see is your smile, your beautiful heart, mischief all over your face and your gentleness. 
As i write this, i cry. a sad smile, a slight shake of my head and I think, 'Kai! Tayo, if i catch you?'
Tayo Omidiji, beloved friend. I will never forget you!