Category: Miscellaneous
4 A real artist: Ahmed Al Dosari
Honestly, I have tried to get many artists to try and draw me whenever I travel- and I have never IN MY LIFE HAVE HAD SOMEONE DRAW ME – a copy paste version of me….
Until I heard about Ahmed Al Dosari… Ahmed offered to draw me from a picture I have sent him- and NO JOKE- I’m IMPRESSED. HE DREW A COPY PASTE MAI. I AM SHOCKED, I AM SURPRISED, I AM HAPPY, I AM IMPRESSED, I AM SPEECHLESS.
I literally couldn’t believe what i was seeing. It was super detailed- he got my eyes right, he got everything right. Now whenever i stare at it I see me!!
His amazing wife- whom is his number 1 supporter ( very cute ) took pictures throughout his drawing process to update me- and I loved it!
Ahmed started drawing since he was 3 years old ! How amazing is that? Pure talent since he’s young
I want to personally thank the talented Ahmed for his beautiful work- it’s a masterpiece that I’m super proud of- I will hang it in my class once I open up my studio soon. And big thanks to his wonderful wife, Amna, for introducing me to such amazing talent.
Ahmed- you are a very talented artist and I’m proud to know such a talented Bahraini. With such talent, I wish u the best of luck and you have my continuous support – and I know you’ll be big someday!
To request a painting/drawing by Ahmed, please follow him on instagram ” ALDOSARI_ART”
NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL A REAL ARTIST!
0 Your guide to healthy foods for BEAUTIFUL skin
1 Pavera Makeup: my blush palette
Pavera makeup is one amazing brand which lots of you may not have heard of. It has recently opened in Bahrain (seef mall) and I really suggest you try their products if u haven’t!
Their products are highly pigmented & very rich in color! I am in love with their pigments (will do another review soon)-
I absolutely loved their blushers too. So i got this really great palette where they fill it in for you with your chosen colors.
The sizes of the blushers are reasonable not too small and not as huge as kryolan 
Below is a hand swatch of those blushes/highlighters- see how highly pigmented they are. FYI- these are only with one application ( i have not applied more than one coat)
0 My Experience: The NADIA ZAID Professional Makeup Course
I have attended the Nadia Zaid professional makeup course last week- not that I’m clueless about makeup, but because I felt the urge to become more and more professional.
Nadia Zaid’s course was absolutely amazing: it was fun, it was active, the students (whom I call friends and future MUA’s) where creative and kind… the course I must say was very very beneficial… I didn’t want it to end to be honest (Feeling depressed today) 
Nadia Zaid is a well known makeup artist in Bahrain- and what I love about her- is her kindness and how she is very down to earth. She will answer anything you want, she will motivate you, she will inspire you, she will tell you how to deal with clients, she will tell you her mistakes to avoid them, she will guide you further into your career. It’s very very very hard to find such makeup artist with such a personality like hers. She will make time for her students, even after the course.
Below are random photos of the makeup and tools provided which we have used
Our lovely teacher NADIA explaining ! Luv her
Beautiful colors every where
Pictures below show Nadia’s wall of fame- her magazine interview cutouts, and majority of her work (some from her earlier work)
I would say that this course is more focused on people who want to go pro with their makeup and start applying for photo shoots brides, clients. It is also good for people who want to learn professionally to apply on themselves. You learn the great techniques after Nadia showing you everything on a model/student and then you have to do the same. So there was a lot of practice- which makes it great so you will learn and get better by time!
The last day was a sad day for me because it was the last- but the content was great- We visited the talented Ahmed Zayer studio (he’s a photographer) and Nadia works with him a lot.
His place is a Museum – filled with mini vintage camera stuff
In the Ahmed Zayer Studio
They had a beautiful model waiting for us in the studio “SHEEZA”.. and Nadia applied full bridal makeup for her infront of us (It was fantastic to witness and see how it is done)! She then wore a wedding dress & a veil and Ahmed took photos of her modeling.
Ahmed wanted to show us how makeup is shown in the camera & the makeup mistakes to avoid when it comes to photography! It was super informative!
When taking photographs you have to apply stronger makeup so that it will show!
Squeezed myself into the photo
Blooper moment- luved the pic though
Ahmed doing what he does best
Finally we received our certificates 
She has inspired me to do more. I now have more confidence in what I do! Nadia is very professional and I really wish that those who want to go pro to join the course- it is 7 days (21 hours) total!
For more info on her course visit http://www.nadiazaid.com or follow her on instagram @nadiazaidmakeup for any questions.
2 MY REVIEW: SIGMA BEAUTY SPA BRUSH CLEANING GLOVE
So as you have all heard from the chaos in the beauty world regarding this glove- I have finally received it and I’m excited to review it for u!
For those who want to order it- click on SIGMA BEAUTY and they do deliver worldwide. If you have a US forwarding address, it would be faster !
As you all know, the Sigma Spa Glove is very quick and effective way to help deep clean your brushes! It is super unique- never produced before- with different textures and surfaces to help in removing makeup & dirt from your brushes with only very little shampoo.
1 How to hide REDNESS … flawlessly!
Many of us girls have redness on our faces…
Some people have it in form of scars. Some have it as an allergy/infection. Others have it from acne… and some just have redness for no reason!
I know it is really annoying to cover up redness- but there is a way!
DO NOT JUST TOP UP OBVIOUS REDNESS WITH YOUR FOUNDATION- IT WILL SHOW!
Here is my way- step to step with pictures!
So I have gotten a red patch on my skin due to an allergic reaction to medication- well I decided that it is a chance to show you girls how to hide it!
First of all.. Here are the stuff you will need
A green corrector (makeup forever or Kryolan), a beige corrector ( bobbi brown/makeupforever/kryolan), your desired foundation (liquid) and powder.
The reason on why I’m using a green corrector is because green cancels out the red in the skin
With the brushes, you will need: a flat foundation brush, 2 concealer brushes, one powder brush/duo fibre brush
STEP 1
APPLY GREEN CORRECTOR WITH CONCEALER BRUSH
STEP 2
APPLY IT ON RED AREA BY PATTING AND NOT SMUDGING
STEP 3
APPLY A BEIGE CORRECTOR (MINE IS BOBBI BROWN) ON TOP OF GREEN
WITH A CONCEALER BRUSH
STEP 4
WITH A FOUNDATION BRUSH COVER THIS AREA AND APPLY YOUR FOUNDATION ALL OVER
STEP 5
BLEND THE FOUNDATION AND EVEN IT OUT WITH A BEAUTY BLENDER
STEP 6
APPLY YOUR POWDER
FINALLY
END RESULT
NO MORE RED SHOWING!
0 The Real Technique’s Blush Brush… Why is it great to have?
When it comes to applying blush, I always love using the cubby kabuki brushes as they help in a good grip via the small handle & helps me control the size of the blush!
I really dislike using the normal blush brushes with long handles- don’t ask me why- I just don’t.. maybe because many of them are not that super soft and the blush/cheek area is super sensitive!
The only blush brush that I absolutely love- with a long handle- is the REAL TECHNIQUE’s “Blush Brush” by Samantha Chapman – also known as Sam from Pixiwoo.
This blush brush is SIMPLY amazing.. I keep on buying more and more of it, one is never enough for me! I believe it has to do with the hairs!
This blush brush is simply made to contour & define ur cheeks flawlessly. It has synthetic taklon fibers. For those who have no clue what a taklon fibre is- its is basically more hygenic than animal hair brushes- it doesn’t pick up the bacteria and trap powders. These brushes clean SUPER fast unlike other hairs. If you have sensitive skin, you should stick to taklon brushes as it decreases any form of irritation that occurs on your face.
The hairs are very very very soft so the blush applied will look flawless. Also, the blush end is tapered (meaning it has a pointy curvy tip) this will help in contouring at the same time. You can use this brush to apply blush, powder or contour! Another benefit to this brush is that it doesn’t pick up a lot of product- so it is just enough for you to build it up the way you want. You blushers/powders will last more with this brush as it doesn’t waste them.
You can apply your blush by sweeping it across back & forth. You can apply it in a number 8 motion or “infinity” motion. you can also apply it by patting it on the area. It is also a buffer brush so you can buff the product in by circular motions to look more natural.
The pink mettalic finish of the handle is beautiful- and these brushes do stand up as they have a flat bottom.
The price is SUPER affordable! I highly recommend it!
You can find those in the UK in boots and other drugstores. Also sold online via amazon and other websites.
1 EXCLUSIVE: THE ALL NEW MAKEUP FOR EVER BRUSHES
Honestly speaking, brushes are my # 1 weakness. The are the one thing in makeup where I can’t have enough of. The more I own, the better I sleep at night! Well… I’m just super excited for the amazing news of Makeup for ever’s latest Brush launch!!
I can’t get enough of MUFE’s brushes- they are super professional- The handle, the shape, the blending… And imagine- Soon they will be launching the full brush range–> REDESIGNED, IMPROVED, and MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL!!! I’m super anxious to see them!!
MUFE will launch those brushes in OCT 2013 (middleast) – quite a long time from now – but it is worth the wait!! TRUST ME!!
These brushes are cutting edge!
Let me tell you what’s so cool about them:
DANNY SANS, the creator of MUFE worked herself on developing those new brushes to perfect them with every little detail. Danny and her team researched the best materials to make up the perfect brushes and conducted a lot of blind tests with MUA’s to test those brushes.
Those brushes will focus on a 100% synthetic fiber range ( with NO NATURAL HAIR) in the range! Similar to Illamasqua & Real Technique’s brushes (all hairs are synthetic but can be used with creamy & powder at the same time). MUFE’s brushes will have special fibers, different than other brands.
Even so, each brush shape is exclusively designed to meet professional performance.
What really caught my eye is the tip of the brush handle – being slanted.
Exclusively made for tucking in your false lashes! HOW CONVENIENT ! It is also used to mix and adjust makeup textures (meaning instead of using a spatula to remove a product or mix a foundation etc u can mix & swap using this)
Each brush has a wooden handle made out of environmental-friendly Beechwood and a gun metal connector between the hairs and the handle.
The names will be different too- Each brush handle will incorporate a number then it will state ” Straight”, “wavy” or “Straight&Wavy” to describe the hair texture of the brush.
It has always been hard for me to memorize the numbers for MUFE brushes, where I would find MAC & sigma super easy- So now MUFE are changing the numbers too with 4 categories:
All brushes numbered in the (#100′s) is for the face only. Brushes in the (#200′s) are for the eyes. Lip brushes are in the #300 range and the artistic ones will be in the #400.
These brushes will be super unique- when compared to other brands. MUFE claims their brushes are handcrafted, super resistant, humidity proof, hygienic and most importantly environmental friendly, cruelty-free.
There will be a total of 76 brushes- WOW that is ALOT!
With those brushes a special brush cleanser will be launched too.
The “INSTANT BRUSH CLEANSER” is a purifying cleanser with a quick drying formula. It will remove any type of product from your brush, whether it was long wear or waterproof etc.
0 EXCLUSIVE: ‘BACKSTAGE DUBAI’ a beauty concept store.. and its’ collaboration with celebrity Millie Mackintosh (Makeup Tutorial)
Working on this post was absolutely amazing! I am thrilled to introduce you to this amazing company- BACKSTAGE DUBAI- Some may know it, but the ones who don’t then this is your chance to know what they are and what they do- and yes- it is MAKEUP RELATED!
BACKSTAGE is located in Dubai- and it’s a beauty concept store- unlike any other store- it’s very unique! (can’t wait to visit it during my trip to Dubai for my makeup classes… to know more see my Dubai class post – click HERE)
A shot of Backstage’s amazing modern layout
Basically, Backstage is a luxury beauty boutique which sources exclusive brands from overseas. It provides some brands that are not widely, if at all, available throughout the U.A.E so that they can offer a truly unique beauty experience.
Backstage provides you with cosmetics, luxury fragrances, lavish skincare lines, beauty tools & fashion accessories. It is a pretty new store in town- as it recently opened in late 2011.
The amazing brands which Backstage provides are: Besame, Belmacz, Becca, Beautyblender (all UAE girls looking for it- they sell it here!), Bdellium Tools, Ciate, Fallon, Gio Diev, Histoires de Parfums, HAIR DESIGNACCESS, ila, Jerome C. Rosseau, Jennifer Behr, Karmissie, Karen Murrell, Ligia Dias, Les Tai Tai, LashControl, MOR, Mily Make Up, Mason Pearson, Mark Buxton, Mai Couture, Nanadebary, Nail Rock, Osmo, Parfumerie Generale, Rosebud, Rodin olio lusso, Whish, Xen Tan, Zoe & Morgan.
Moving on to the makeup part … I think many of you know the famous MILLIE MACKINTOSH… How amazing is it that she collaborated with BACKSTAGE ??
For those not familiar with Millie- she is a super popular star in the TV show “Made in Chelsea” … And also she is a very talented makeup artist! She is an iconic beauty and fashion icon. She also recently launched a false lashes collection!
She simply is GORGEOUS!!!
Backstage earned a lucky chance to do an exclusive “how to makeup” tutorial with Millie. Millie uses BACKSTAGE’s brands to show us how she can achieve beautiful skin – more of a “day glam” look.
The tutorial is super helpful and I urge you girls to see it. It provides details (step by step) on how to create this stunning makeup look… Also- she gives you some beauty tips and tricks (always luv that part !) The Millie make up tutorial was released on January 1st 2013 – so this video is SUPER NEW!
See her tutorial below
If you can’t view the video above, copy past this link http://youtu.be/Hs4G9oPe2Aw or http://backstage.ae/tv/ into your browser.
All products used in the tutorial are available at BACKSTAGE Dubai ! So those who want the amazing beauty blender and becca etc should definitely visit this amazing store & grab those goodies!
Also, check out Milli Mackintosh’s exclusive interview with Backstage & see her unclose pictures from the photoshoot!
BS) Made In Chelsea is absolutely huge! What made you agree to be part of the show?
MM) I was really scared about being in a reality show. I had no idea what I was getting into! It was a massive gamble that luckily paid off! Once I persuaded Caggie to join the show, I knew it would be a lot of fun
BS) Where do you think you would be now if you hadn’t done Made In Chelsea?
MM) I would still be working as a make up artist but I doubt I would have my own line of lashes out yet!
BS) What would you say is the most difficult thing about being a reality TV star?
MM) People get to see such a large part of our lives that it becomes difficult to have your privacy, I find it hard when I get followed at the airport or when I’m running errands looking not my best!
BS) You’ve visited Dubai in the past. What do you think of our city? What do you remember most about visiting Dubai?
MM) I love the sun so I especially enjoyed the climate! Dubai is great for a winter getaway and has some of the best restaurants and malls in the world! The fountains outside the Burj Khalifa.
BS) Do you have any plans to visit again soon?
MM) With my filming schedule, it is hard to book trips away! I am working hard this winter so haven’t been able to make any travel plans at all yet!
BS) What can you tell us about your collaboration with Backstage, a beauty concept store in Dubai?
MM) I am thrilled to be working with Backstage Dubai and also very happy to announce they will now be stocking my line of false lashes! When they got in touch it made perfect sense – I am a beauty addict so its a really fun collaboration and they have a terrific range of amazing products, so what’s not to love?
BS) Backstage has more niche, high-end, luxury cosmetics, skin care and fragrance. Are you a fan of unique beauty products?
MM) Yes 100% addicted! I love discovering amazing brands that go beyond the average product and deliver amazing results.
BS) What is your favourite thing about shopping at boutiques?
MM) The private and unique experience you get! Also, knowing not everyone else knows about it yet, it’s a more exclusive way of shopping.
BS) What drove you to want to be a make up artist?
MM) I always loved watching my mum getting ready for parties when I was little and I used make up from early in my teens to cover up bad skin. It made me feel much better about myself. I love how putting on a bit of make up in the morning can help you feel ready to face the day!
BS) What is your all time favourite make up brand?
MM) I have to say I am a Becca addict!
BS)What are your top 5 make up tips for women?
MM) Know your skin type and skin tone, this is very important when picking your base make up.
Use a primer with an SPF, this will protect skin from the sun all year round and help your make up stay on all day.
Choose colours that suit you, always match your base in natural light to make sure it’s a good match.
Less is more, enhance what you’ve got – don’t mask it.
Have fun … it’s about being creative and expressing yourself!
BB) What 3 beauty products do you never leave the house without?
MM) Lip balm. I love Baume de Rose from By Terry, My Becca foundation, My lashes – whichever ones suit the feel of the day…
BB) Your skin is always so radiant. How do you keep it in such amazing condition?
MM) Thank you! I have a good cleansing routine which I think is essential and I have monthly facials. I also do 1 or 2 face masks at home every week.
BB) Dubai’s weather is amazing all year round but we are strong believers in safe tanning. What are your tips to maintain a perfect fake tan?
MM) It’s important to assess your skin when choosing your tanning product, for fairer skin tones – choose a product that is light to medium and always to a patch test first. Make sure you exfoliate a day before applying tanning products to make sure you get an even colour and then apply moisturiser to knees, elbows, knuckles and ankles to stop the tan from going too dark in those areas! I love St Tropez self-tanning mousse.
BB) You are regarded as a beauty and fashion icon. How do you feel about this?
MM) It’s very flattering but I don’t feel worthy of the title! I love clothes – dressing up was always my favourite game when I was little.
BB) Are you more of a ‘heels’ or ‘handbag’ kind of woman?
MM) I’m a heels and handbag kind of woman! Got to have the perfect bag to go with the shoes …
BB) Who is your ultimate beauty and fashion icon at the moment?
MM) Miranda Kerr. She has a killer body and always looks so natural and gorgeous. The way she dresses is simple, elegant and stylish.
BB) Congratulations on your lash line – they are all absolutely stunning. What were the reasons behind you creating your own lash line?
MM) I wanted to wear lashes that were really natural for the daytime, that felt light, and that didn’t irritate my eyes. I couldn’t be happier with the way my lash line has come out. The feedback has been amazing. It’s a dream come true to have my own lash line!
BB) What advice would you give to a woman who is looking at choosing a false eyelash to wear?
MM) Think about your eye shape and if you like a more natural or bold look. My lashes range from very natural to a sexy full lash look. I would wear all of them depending on the occasion or mood I was in.
BB) What is your top tip for wearing false eyelashes?
MM) Wear them with confidence!
BB) Are they any other plans for more products in the pipeline?
MM) Definitely, whatever I do, it will always be to enhance a women’s natural beauty and will be kind to the skin. I would love my own clothing line one day.
BB) Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
MM) I would love to have a beauty and clothing boutique, that would be amazing!
BB) What would you say you are most thankful for right now?
MM) All the people I’ve worked with over the last year and a half! I couldn’t of done it without them!
To know more about Backstage, please visit http://www.backstage.ae
Backstage is located in THE VILLAGE (see map below)
Backstage Shop 21, Ground Floor, The Village, Jumeirah 1 Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
T: +971 4 385 5500 F: +971 4 385 5505 E: info@backstage.ae
0 random pix (instagram)
3 My review: Pre-launch NEW MAKEUPFOREVER PRO-FINISH POWDER FOUNDATION
I’m thrilled to have the all new Make Up For Ever’s Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation in my hands! This product is not yet sold in Bahrain ( as of today JAN 13,2013)- I have the product pre it’s launch here and I’m glad to review it for you girls- so that you will know what to expect from it and what to know before buying it!
It is one of those powders that I’m sure girls will love- especially those girls who love compact foundations and love to use them in the morning! You will be able to transform this foundation to a different texture for a completely different look.
When will it launch?
The pro-finish will launch soon in Bahrain- Mid to end of MARCH 2013. It will be sold for BD 18 – and it will come in 24 shades
What is it?
A multiuse powder foundation with a patent-pending formula that can be applied wet or dry for buildable coverage and a customized finish.
It has a special formula (with ‘vegetal coated bio-mimetic pigments’ which lets you basically customize the result and texture of your foundation.
You have the choice to apply it dry for a matte finish full coverage result, or wet to get a satin finish sheer coverage.
Why is it special?
This product- believe it or not- took Dany Sanz (Creator & Artistic Director) more than six years to make. She has tested more than 70 different formulations and finally settled with this one. She wanted a multi-use formula with different finishes and different coverage levels.
This compact foundation is very different than the previous ones in their permanent products- as it allows you to customize it to how you want to use it.
My verdict
I’m very impressed- honestly- I’m not a fan of compact powdered foundations- and you do realize that I barely blog about them. But this one- swept me off my feet!!
I have been waiting to get my hands on this powder for a while and I’m lucky I did- I had a 6th sense that it will be good to me.
The texture was very lightweight- it blends beautifully into your skin- If it was matte (dry) it will look like skin or shall I say “second skin”. It looks absolutely natural. If u want more coverage it is easily buildable. What I also liked about it is that when you hear the word “matte” or “dry”- then you will think that the foundation will dry up your face and might look cakey. However, with this product it really hydrates my skin and I didn’t feel that it dried up my face at all ( I have combination skin)- It might depend from skintone to another.
How to pick your shade?
The shades are slightly similar to the Makeupforever HD foundation (liquid)- not 100% exact- but close to them. I’m a mix of 2 colors in the HD (128 and 155)… but since with powders u can’t mix, you will realize that one might suit you better than the other. With this pro-finish powder- the 155 is closer to my skin tone than the 128.
My experiment (dry for matte finish)
I really suggest NOT using the sponge that comes in the tub- instead use a powder brush/ buffer brush/kabuki- suits best and applies the color much better than a sponge. The brush blends it beautifully.
I loved how this powder looks very natural and perfectly suits my skin. It doesn’t look cakey and doesn’t feel dry. If you have an oil problem then this will help in mattifying the oils off your face.
My experiment (wet for satin finish)
Wet a sponge (not the one in the tub) or your brush gently, then remove the excess water and take some powder using the wet applicator.
When wet, the color appears to be more vibrant and I feel that there is more coverage when it is applied wet. If you still want more coverage after this, you can apply powder (dry) on top.
Just keep in mind **** When applied wet- it goes darker (so be careful). You can take a shade lighter if you want to just apply it wet as it might go darker.
To actually see how the product looks like on skin (WET VS. DRY) – see the picture below:
You shouldn’t worry about the powder when it is wet that it won’t go back to powder- the powder will look wet even when it is dry but just dust it off and it will look good as new.
2 My review: shu uemura ‘s ultime8 sublime beauty cleansing oil skin purifier
I really hate that annoying feeling when you remove your makeup and you still feel that u have dirt on your skin!! I have got this shu uemura’s skin purifying cleansing oil recently from London and absolutely loved the results!
The product’s full name is “ultime8 sublime beauty cleansing oil skin purifier” and it comes in a brown bottle- 2 diff sizes- 150 ml and 450 ml
This special cleansing oil is super effective as it removes impurities and dirt and gives you the most amazing super smooth skin!!! I have tried and tested it and I guarantee you that it will make your skin very smooth!
It is mainly used to remove any dirt or makeup- will instantly hydrate and nourish your skin. It is a fantastic product to add to your skincare routine. This product by far is one of the best cleansing oils- it even beats MAC cleanse off oil- as i feel it is more healthier for my skin.
It is an oily/watery product and must be used with water in order to work!
These are the directions for using it!
Just remember, apply some in your hand then onto your face (which is filled with makeup) and apply some water then work it into your skin- you will then realize how super soft your skin is!
Check out the benefits of the ingredients in this product
This cleansing oil literally removes every trace of makeup! So if you don’t feel like removing it with facial wipes etc- just wash ur face with it! I even love how it removes the waterproof mascara so easy! This product differs from Shu Uemura’s other cleansing oils as it is more moisturizing on your skin. You will feel instantly after washing your face how soft and smooth and supple it is!
The only disadvantage to this is how pricey it is- and it is not available in Bahrain- but hopefully when you travel you can get it!
0 Want the darkest eye liner? Learn how to get one!
I absolutely love a super black liner – but even the darkest ones tend to go lighter over time….
I have an amazing product from ILLAMASQUA which makes that super intense black liner!
I use 2 products from ILLAMASQUA and mix them together!
I use the following:
An illamasqua slanted angled brush (u can use any – from any brand)
Illamasqua’s black eyeshadow OBSIDIAN
And Illamasqua’s sealing gel
This sealing gel is amazing! It’s basically a tiny bottle with a formula- that changes powders to liquids.
One drop of this product turns any powder into a colour-intense, water-resistant PASTE that dries quickly and lasts for hours. It creates a waterproof finishing and gives off maximum pigmentation!
You can use it with any pigment or eyeshadow and it will turn it to creamy- similar to inglot’s Duraline.
Below are the steps of what I do to create a really dark liner
Make sure to apply instantly as the product dries of very quickly! I do apply this past on to my eye 2-3 times to get a dark intense color!
Below are some pictures of the mixed product on my hand- and with a comparison to normal gel liners.
Below- you can see how dark and intense the color is compared to dark gel liners!
It might be a bit hard for you to draw it instantly with this paste, so I suggest drawing it first with a gel liner then tracing over with this paste !
You can find this product in www.illamasqua.com or in middleast (UAE & KUWAIT)
0 My experience- Illamasqua’s School of Makeup Art !
So as you all have seen- through twitter, instagram & Facebook- the updates on my course in Illamasqua’s School of Makeup Art!
I have enrolled in this amazing course “mastering professional makeup” at Illamasqua’s flagship store – 20 beak street, London!
I must say- i’m impressed! I know a lot about makeup- but this helped in enhancing my professional skills through application.
The course was done in 5 days- taught by educational makeup artists CLAIRE & DANIEL – which I have the upmost respect for. They are super talented & very helpful & great in explaining things!
I do recommend this course if u have a little background in makeup cuz it is quite fast… They show you how to do something- then u have to do it quickly.
They were really helpful in explaining how to enter the makeup industry & how to deal with clients! I also really loved the part where you learn about the proper hygiene with your makeup and tools and how to avoid infections!
As many of you were asking- What did I learn in the course- lemme show you the full experience by pictures!
Hello LONDON!
Arrived at Illamasqua’s flagship store
How amazing is this line? “WE ARE COLOUR- YOU ARE BEAUTY?!”
THE ENDLESS VARIETY OF MAKEUP THAT WE GOT TO PLAY AROUND WITH!
I was literally running around grabbing everything and trying it out!
Their amazing skin base foundations! One of my all time favs
ABOVE- the eyeliner cakes which we used for filling in the eyebrows!
Inside the class
So We have received a lot of free stuff – 11 brushes (full brush kit) & products for our own use!
One of my favorite tasks- LEARNING HOW TO TAKE BLENDING TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
Keep in mind- this is NOT an eye look- it is basically practice on blending. We used a white color and a black color. We had to create GREY.. in between…. so it had to be gradual! I loved how informative this was and the diff techniques you had to hold your brush!
Below: my eye! See how it is blended!
Below- Claire shows us how to create a CATWALK/editorial wet eye look!
She then shows us the CATWALK/Editorial big cat eye liner! It was super informative to learn all about the angles & where to tell your model to look to draw the perfect line!
Enjoyed working on erica’s eyes- a thick winged liner to suit her eyes!
A look I did on another student with amazing porcelain skin- defined crease… how gorgeous are her blue eyes!?
Claire shows her students how to create a brow- what to do & what NOT to do… and it was great to see her show how to create a brow for the ones who barely have nothing or very little hairs!
Students below working on each other’s eyebrows!
Daniel explains the most important part in makeup- THE COLOR THEORY which we have to memorize!! 
We received a plate with primary colors and we had to create a foundation from that!! HOW COOL was that to create a beige foundation from red yellow blue and white!!?
Daniel shows us how to create an ombre lip! And we had to create that using diff colors!
Claire showing her students how to create a SYMMETRICAL lip- using DARK COLORS such as BLACK! It was super great that she used black- so we can see our mistakes clearly- It is all about symmetry!! that is what professional makeup relies on! If i used pinks or nudes I wont be able to see the mistakes!
My dark green lips below! I kinda like it!!! 
For our final project- each student had to create a look on another student… It was up to us to do something creative or just beauty- I did a beauty look- smoky eyes and contouring. So below are the products I used.. and the mess I made later on
Beautiful erika above! Im so glad I got to work on a beautiful Japanese doll! It was challenging yet fun to work on mono lids (eyes with no crease) !
my crazy purchases….
And Finally- I received my certificate! YAY!
All i can say is, thank you to Illamasqua for giving me the opportunity to learn makeup with new & unique techniques! I have really enjoyed my time
I LOVE U ILLAMASQUA
To enroll in their numerous courses- visit www.illamasqua.com & book online!
2 MY REVIEW: “SMOKED” Palette by Urban Decay
I have receieved a surprise birthday gift in the mail today…. from a very special friend who lives so far away from me
Such a beautiful gift… so I decided to review it!
To be honest… when you see pics of the smoked palette online – you don’t really get attracted to it! That is what happened to me… I didn’t like it very much cuz I didn’t feel that the colors were vibrant… But when you actually have it in your hands.. TRUST me… you will change your mind!!!
That is what happened to me- when i saw it & tested the colors- I fell in love … and to tell you the truth- the colors are amazing!
Forget about MAC eyeshadows ( which I believe have a high pigmentation).. but if you are looking for eyeshadows that are super rich & vibrant and are somewhat metallic/reflective- then URBAN DECAY eyeshadows are the answer!
The SMOKED Palette
Comes in a zippy case.. includes 10 eyeshadows… 1 24/7 eyepencil.. and a mini original eye primer tube
I’m very glad that this palette did NOT have a brush- as I really dislike their brushes- find them very stiff- very synthetic and unworkable!
The Black “Preversion” 24/7 glide on eye pencil is SUPER SUPER SUPER BLACK… & trust me when I tell you it is UNSMUDGABLE! I tested it on my hand and had a really hard time removing it! This means if you have watery eyes then this will really stay!
The palette also has a small book- a how to book- to show you how to apply up to 12 eye looks! I find this very helpful- it will even tell you eye areas- like where is your crease & waterline etc… it is very detailed … reminds me of toofaced how to kits!
THE COLORS
Oh.. so beautiful… I’m not just saying this cuz it is a blog … but Im truly IMPRESSED… if you love silver (all shade ranges) or gold or copper etc – this is amazing!! IF YOU LOVE SHIMMER… then this is the palette to get! You can use those colors on their own- or use them on the centre of ur lid and surround with matte colors (my choice)… or you can work with more than one color and pull on the outer > corners!
WARNING: Those colors are HIGHLY PIGMENTED- meaning color excess will fall of on your eye/under eye area so BE VERY CAREFULL and tap your brush before application
BELOW are my hand swatches
I would use kinky for a highlight (brow bone) and freestyle to blend above the crease.
BARLUST: reddish brown with a hint of gold (shimmery) – ROCKSTAR: dark smoky purple (shimmery) – EVIDENCE: navy blue (metallic/shimmery) – LOADED: green/teal with black undertones – ASPHALT: dark grey with silver micro shimmer.
My Opinion
My fav 2 colors where MUSHROOM & BARLUST… They are amazing…I don’t really understand why it is called SMOKED … I think it should be called metallic or frost hahahaha
SMOKED is more about Matte colors- and this has the majority of NON MATTE colors! You have to be great with blending in order to make those colors look smoked- that is why Matte colors work well to smoke up!
URBAN DECAY IS AVAILABLE ONLINE ( I always get it from amazon or lookfantastic.com) or travel and buy it from all over the world!
4 All Eyes on You – Moda Mall “Style Lounge” hosted by Joelle Mardinian
Latest event in Bahrain… Covering all aspects of beauty!!
If you are interested in Makeup, Fashion, Hair, Nails & Beauty- then Moda Mall is the place to be between OCT 17-OCT 31 !
The Style Lounge is basically a lounge filled with professionals: hairstylists, makeup artists, fashion stylists & nail technicians to help you in anything you need to know! I’m impressed that it will be 2 weeks! Such professionals come from the different top salons in Bahrain…. and are here to offer FREE/complimentary advice for all of you!
Re-knowned famous makeup artist & tv show host Joelle Mardinian is the guest of honour for the style lounge!
All glammed up- Joelle offered some Q&A with the audience!
Below are the photos of the opening day (press conference followed by a makeup segment)
Below (LAVISH) nail salon – FREE NAIL ART!
Joelle Arrives
With her models
Below: Our picture (the bloggers) with Joelle! – Ali Fareed, Mara Mostafa, Me & Nada Tawfeeqi
Polaroid stands…. took us ages to get our pix!
Gorgeous MAKEUP!! Model above: They used gold in the front to centre lid- then added smoky brown in outer corners. Her green/hazel lenses bring out the color more. Simple makeup- glamorous!
Joelle’s tips on answered questions:
* Focus on natural makeup & Not heavy makeup (mask)
* Consider yourself lucky if you are arab- to have such beautiful eyes & skin – Khaliji makeup focuses a lot on black kohl
* When you apply black pencil kohl in your eyes, you’ll get a more defined look.. to make your eyes bigger apply lighter color on your lids on nude pencil in your waterline.
* Dealing with oily skin is tough. Make sure you are applying primers before to mattify your face and absorb oils. Also get an oil free moisturizer (made for oily skin) and use it morning & night.
* Olive skinned tone women have the advantage of using any eye shadow desired!
* Important to consult your dermatologist about your skin tone- so you can choose the right foundation for your skin.
* Essential to use a lighter foundation (formula) for mornings.
* Dark spots/discoloration appears on your skin due to the sun. Make sure you wear a moisturizer with SPF.
* Be careful with facials- stick to cream based ones instead of laser.
* Don’t hide your face with a mask of makeup. Just bring our your best features.
0 My Review: Dior SkinFlash Radiance Booster Pen
Most people would consider this a concealer- but to me- I consider it as a brightener/highlighter/concealer than just a concealer.
I really love this product- the DIOR SKINFLASH RADIANCE BOOSTER PEN! I would say it is a great quick fix to brighten you under eye area… If your on the go & in NO mood to use a brush etc.
This light booster pen will smooth away imperfections .. it can work greatly underneath foundation of over foundation- or even if you want- WITHOUT ANY FOUNDATION..
It is very very very lightweight…. what it does is removes fine lines and gives back radiance to the skin…
It is sold in5 shades, but most of the time you will only see 3 shades being sold
The Shade I use is 003 (sun beam) … darkest shade – but it is suitable for olive skin since it is a hint lighter to brighten up.
I love how super creamy it is and very blend-able. However- if u have dark circles under your eye- then u will definitely need a corrector underneath as the DIOR pen won’t cover much of discoloration.
The skinflash is more of a “brightener” .. most of these pen like concealers are brighteners than proper concealers. This is amazing to use on the bridge of your nose too- upper cheek bones.. and even brow bone.. gives instant glow with NO shimmer…
To use the pen- you would need to rotate it clockwise from the bottom so the liquid/cream comes out through the brush. After applying with the brush on desired areas- blend with your finger by patting/dabbing or with a beauty blender.
It doesn’t have that “CAKEY” effect than many concealers show… as it is very light in form of texture. I also love how this pen is very moisturizing… like a cool lotion. Also- it stays for half a day- I would say 8-10 hours…
As you can see from the above pic – once you apply the pen & blend it – PIC 2 shows u how it brightens it up instantly!
0 My Review: “FACE ELIXIR” from GREEN BAR
I Had this product for a while now- but I just realized that I should definitely write my review about it!
The product is from a company called “GREEN BAR“… and what I love about it is that the company is from our beloved Bahrain!
Green Bar is all about luxury botanical oils…
Those precious oils come from all over the world… and work wonders on your skin!
One of my purchases was for the
“FACE ELIXIR” face oil
This serum is made from rice bran, which gives you a radiance. It also consists of fatty acids, antioxidants and Vitamin E. What this face oil does is plumps, hydrates and nourishes your skin (deeply) while smoothing fine lines.
It is perfect for both genders and all skin types.
What i love about it?
The smell…. the beautiful calming smell of lavender weakens my knees!!
The smell is super calming – so u can apply it day or night- and will help u sleep peacefully at night.
Although it’s an oil- it is not actually oily/greasy…. Once you apply it on your skin- it will sink into your face tissue and work its way in.
I also hear that lavender oil is great for burns- so it may be helpful too!
You will love how smooth and supple your skin feels after applying it!
This special facial oil can be a replacement for night creams or day cream (if you’re staying at home & you don’t need SPF).. Oils penetrate the skin much better than creams & hydrate it faster.
I don’t suggest using this before makeup though….
It is very similar to Kiehl’s Midnight recovery concentrate You can read about Kiehl’s here
How to Apply?
Make sure your face is clean- then apply a few drops onto your hands and massage all over your face! I also use it on my lips and under eye area Don’t forget- Massage it into your skin to make it work… don’t just pat it!
Order Your Green Bar Face Elixir Now from
http://www.greenbarinc.com
It is 12 BD….
What’s more? Super fast delivery !!
*Also- check out Green Bar’s body oils <3 I love them!!
0 My FULL Review: Maya Loves Aqua Kit from Makeupforever
I have previously wrote about this limited collection before it launched!
You can read about it here ! The link features her amazing photos and how to achieve them!
Well- The “Maya Loves Aqua” kit from Make up For ever launched in lat June 2012 and it is a fantastic collaboration with Middle Eastern Star “Maya Diab” to emphasize Makeupforever’s famous aqua line!
This collection is all about the aqua collection and how it is really super long lasting and waterproof!
FYI ( this kit consists of mini versions of specific permanent products) with a new addition!
You can get it from Faces, Vavavoom, Debenhams & Paris Gallery!
I do suggest getting it from Faces as it retails for 39 BD (lowest) but you get a free makeup session with your purchase!!! How cool
MY REVIEW
I got the kit once it launched but never got the time to review it — so here we are!
The collection includes a silver clutch with side studs (Christian Louboutin) ….
Inside the clutch you will find the following:
Aqua Cream #13 (Beige)
Aqua Liner #13 (Black)
Aqua Rouge 2(rosewood)
Aqua Lip 2 c (rosewood color)
Aqua Smoky lash (Black)
Sens’ Eyes (makeup remover)
Aqua Smoky lash
One of the best selling mascaras- volume, length, darkness & WATERPROOF!! I always use it during summer (beach season) because it is super waterproof!
This is a cute little version of it!
Aqua Eye Liner
A liquid liner which I use nearly everyday! Super Black- very pigmented- sharp precise point to make a winged flick… And Yup .. it is waterproof ! So you can use it for the beach as well!
I constantly talk about this liquid liner on twitter
Aqua Cream #13 Beige
Highly pigmented long lasting waterproof cream… with pearly pigmentation… I have used this product before & it doesn’t crease or smudge ( i suggest using a primer underneath anyways)! It is even hard to wipe off! I do suggest blending it superfast before it dries up! Your finger would do or any synthetic brush.
The shade is a golden beigy shade with a hint of metallic…you can use this for your eyes and lips! It instantly brightens up your eye since it is a light based color.
Aqua Lip 2c
Lip liner which is also waterproof- very water resistant & easy to glide on lips
The color is “rosewood” – super soft so make sure you sharpen it.
Aqua Rouge 2
This is the only product in the kit which is NEW-from the new AQUA ROUGE line- amazing two sided lip rouges with a color on one side and a gloss on the other!
This will be a permanent.
The color is rosewood. The aqua rouge provides intense and long-lasting color .. similar to sephora’s lip stain.. It will stay there fore hours and hours…
If you want it matte – don’t add gloss.. if you want it shiny then use the gloss.
Notice how it becomes matte a few seconds later…
And if you want it glossed up….
The aqua rouge is hard to remove (hence- long lasting) – tried it with a wipe and no use…
The sens eyes (below) removed every trace of it!
Pic above after trying to smudge it off with makeupremover wipes!
Sens’ Eyes
Famous makeup remover – which basically removes the anything stubborn. Anything waterproof or that doesn’t get removed by wipes- the sens eyes bottle is the solution! IT REMOVES EVERYTHING MAGICALLY!
Verdict
Great buy- nice clutch … and fantastic products! Great small miniatures to be placed in bags or clutches.. and fantastic sizes especially for traveling!
To be honest- it is actually a fair price- you get a mascara, lip liner, liquid eyeliner, rouge+gloss, creamy eyeshadow and a makeup remover .. and a clutch all for 39 BD!
5 My Review: the “Beauty Balm” by Too Faced
Not all brands have beauty balms… and the disadvantage in many brands is the limited shades….
First…. what is a beauty balm?
Basically, it’s a type of foundation that aims to cover blemishes, offer good coverage, and blend properly onto the skin with a satiny finish. It is also known to improve the skin & treat it. Started off in the Asian (Korean) markets and now they are sold worldwide! They do contain SPF and they are the replacement for tinted moisturizers or even foundations!
Well, I’m here to review this special beauty balm from TooFaced!
I purchased it a month ago and I have been using it since… I’m loving it!!
Lemme explain more about it..
This beauty balm is available in 4 shades:
Vanilla Glow (light skin tone), Cream Glow (light to medium), Nude Glow (medium), and Beach Glow (deep skin tone)
I have 2 shades- the Nude Glow & Beach Glow. For when I’m tanned I used Beach glow & for the rest of the year I’ll use the Nude Glow!
About Too Faced BB Cream
The Too Faced Beauty Balm (BB cream) does give u not only beauty benefits but skincare benefits. The balm has a multi-mineral complex that gives u a healthy glow and will improve the skin’s appearance over time.
This special balm consists of light diffusing pigments which instantly hides wrinkles/fine lines. It is also anti-aging so it will prevent damage. It moisturizes & is oil free… Great for all skin types and most importantly SPF 20 (which is great- considered high). It contains Vitamins A &E + Chamomile which nourishes your skin.
What you might not know about it- It is a MULTI USE… Meaning that you can use it as a primer to prep your skin before foundation or use it on its own.
MY REVIEW
I’m currently using this bb cream daily – morning or night & i’m surprised by how Im addicted to it! This stuff is pretty good! I have sort of ditched tinted moisturizers & always use this!
What’s awesome about it is the glow it gives (not shiny or oily) but simply a radiance.
I do use it like a tinted moisturizer- with my hands- rub on all my face and make sure no excess lines but just patting with my fingers and slightly smudging. Then I would def apply some concealer on top and powder all over. Sometimes when i want an even more natural finish- I would use the balm on it’s own with no powder on top.
This bb cream is medium-full coverage! But you don’t actually feel it heavy or anything- it’s like it is barely there! Those tiny blemishes and acne scars. If the bb cream does not fully cover your blemishes then I suggest adding setting powder on top.
Beautiful coverage & smooth skin & non greasy!… And the greatest part of all – it is super quick! For mornings or a night out – it is a quick fix! The product is easily bendable like a cream- but make sure to clean your hands after or you’ll make everything you touch beige.
Once it is blended- it automatically gives off a glow/radiance
The tube itself looks small but it will stay a while! As I said I have been using this product daily for a month and it is still halfway full !
I hear this product is amazing for older women- as it really treats their skin & hides those fine lines etc.
This product is available in SEPHORA worldwide…. and YES- IT IS AVAILABLE IN BAHRAIN SEPHORA around 18 BD
0 Le Vernis “Holiday”- Summertime De Chanel- My review
This beautiful collection from Chanel “Summertime De Chanel” screams summer. It includes a mixture of sophisticated nude & coral lips, a mix of muted browns and a focus on glowing bronzed skin!
Chanel- always keeping it classy- opt for pretty simple and subtle shades instead of extra bright hues for the summer.
As Chanel describes it, “Sun-kissed cheeks, magnetic eyes, and radiant beauty”.
I don’t blog about Nail polish- but this color is really beautiful- from the same collection !
“Holiday” nail polish is a lively orange – which defenitly matches Calypso LIPGLOSS!
It’s orangy with a hint of red….
The collection also includes 2 other nailpolishes: ISLAND & DELIGHT. Island is a pearly golden beige and Delight is a shimmering bronze.
The nailpolishe’s retail price is 13 BD
Summertime De Chanel Full collection is available in Bahrain.
You can get yours at:
2 MAYA DIAB- “MAYA LOVES AQUA- Special Edition Trousse 2012″ for Make Up For Ever
This season, Maya Diab … The rising Middle Eastern Star – worked closely with Make Up For Ever to come up with a personalized Aqua Kit which contains her must have products!
This campaign is called “Special Edition Trousse 2012“
THIS WILL LAUNCH IN BAHRAIN THIS WEEK!!! RETAIL PRICE 40 BD
As you all know, the Aqua line from Make Up For Ever (MUFE) gives long lasting makeup throughout the whole day…. also being waterproof!
In this special post, I will provide you with the special looks Maya is portrayed in … So that you can understand the versatility and long lasting effect of the Aqua Makeup- and how it can go with day or night looks.
To understand the Aqua line- See what Maya has to say about it:
The Limited Edition Kit for this campaign includes:
- A silver clutch with side studs, designed by Maya to reflect how edgy & glamorous her personality is. Special Thanks to Christian Louboutin
- Aqua Cream #13 (Beige)
- Aqua Liner #13 (Black)
- Aqua Rouge 2c (nude beige)
- Aqua Lip 2 c (rosewood color)
- Aqua Smoky lash (Black)
- Sens’ Eyes (makeup remover)
How she was inspired to design the clutch
Now I’m going to post the different looks of Maya and how to achieve them!
How to get a flawless complexion
The Backstage look
The Promenade Fashionista
The Stage Diva
The Fashionable Diva
Summer Radiance
AMAZING LOOKS… GET READY TO PURCHASE THIS AMAZING KIT!
3 HAPPPPPY BIRTHDAY TO THEMAKEUPMANUAL! YOU ARE 1 YR OLD!
YAY!!
HAPPPY BIRTHDAY TO THEMAKEUPMANUAL BLOG!!!
I’m SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY It has been a beautiful year full of joy & hard work! And the blog is a hit – thank god for that !
Inshalla many more years to come blogging!
THEMAKEUPMANUAL.COM 1 YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Themakeupmanual.com opened many doors & opportunities for me.
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Reached 3100 followers on twitter (after hard work)
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Having the blog read by girls on a daily basis
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Helped me in recieving a SOCIAL MEDIA AWARD!
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TOP story for SABAYA Magazine & front cover
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Mayadeen Magazine Article
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Another Sabaya Magazine Article
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Gulf Weekly Article
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MAKEUP CLASSES (taught approx 300 girls now!)
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August. clothing line photoshoot
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The Queen of Waves photoshoot full coverage
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Youtube video tutorial (I will do more)
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Close contact with my followers to help out
Let’s hope for many more to come inshalla!!
1 Oh So Refreshing! A perfect moisturizing facial spray for Makeup!
Well, this is not a new product – it’s just something that I love to use with my makeup!
I’m all about keeping the face moist & refreshed. I hate dull looking skin that’s dry & has no life/radiance!
I always use MAC Fix+ spray prior to my makeup to hold my makeup together & freshen up my face. Well I found something quiet similar- which does the same job!
EVIAN MINERAL WATER FACIAL SPRAY
It’s simply amazing- i love keeping it cool in the fridge & spray right before my makeup or after moisturizing my skin! The water adds extra moisture to your skin & adds glow when it’s all dried up!
Its ‘other uses include the beach (where i got my evian bottle-Oman Shangrila , the pool & excersize- all to keep you refreshed!
Well it really works well with makeup too!
The bottle’s back description: Evian Facial Spraay helps fix your makeup *** and offers freshness & purity!
Very moisturizing!
Another Brand which I Love – similar brand- is AVENE… (from pharmacies)- does the same job!
Remember- Water works really well with Makeup… so spray some before you color that face!
You can get evian from your local supermarket!
0 The Green Primer … Why use it and How? Illustration with Make Up4ever HD primer
I’m sure you have seen the green primer in lots of places… All bottled up & stacked on makeup counters… YET … You have NO idea why it is green or what to use it for!!
I’m here to make your life much easier… I’ll explain it to you in great detail… through the use of the…
Make Up Forever HD Green Primer!
One of the best green primers available is Makeup4ever (MUFE) green primer. The consistency is smooth. Easy to blend & covers up well.
Ok.. now I’m going to explain the how and whys!
WHY IS IT GREEN? WHY DO I NEED TO USE GREEN PRIOR TO MY MAKEUP?
Not everyone will need to use this. Green primers/correctors are green for a reason. Green is know to be a color that neutralizes redness! That is ofcorse due to the color theory!
As you can see, Green is opposite to Red. This means that the green color will remove any sort of redness! And it will get neutralized/balanced out underneath the Beigi foundation.
Not everyone needs to use this. People with skin problems, allergies, redness, red birthmarks, reddish acne, sunburns & mosquito bites will need to use it if they wanted FLAWLESS makeup- this will perfect their base- as red tends to show underneath foundation if it has not been corrected.
Keep in mind- primers also absorb oils- so they will keep your face oil free!
HOW DO I USE IT?
Using it is super easy! After moisturizing your skin- squirt a small coin size amount into your hands and rub on REDDISH areas! Basically, apply it on wherever you fee that is a bit red!
Rub the area until the green primer is blended and can barely show.
After that, you can go ahead and apply liquid foundation!
You will notice that the green color dissapears underneath the beige colored foundation!
Ok – look at the pic below for an easier illustration!
1- my hand has been burnt by the sun during a recent vacation.. so as you can see it is reddish… So I applied a bit on my hand
2- rubbed & blended the primer onto my hands.
3- you will realize a few minutes after applying the primer that the redness automatically dissapears! So now I applied foundation.
4- blended the foundation! And Voila- no redness!!!!!!
IT’S MAGIC!!!! NO MORE REDNESS!
2 The M.A.C brush cleanser – WHY use it and HOW?!
BRUSHES are more important than products- I always say that!
However, keeping your brushes clean is a MUST- although it’s a hassle & time consuming.
Well… WHY DO YOU HAVE TO CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES?
After each use, lots of bacteria/germs/oils & color deposits form on the brush- making it sticky/dirty/filthy for your next application.
My rule with brushes- always wash them once a week (with shampoo), but daily, you have to cleanse them with a cleanser to help in removing the dirty germs & color!
I have tried many other brands- but always the best is – MAC.
MAC’s cleanser is simply amazing- huge bottle which takes ages to finish… leaves the brushes clean… brush friendly .. keeping the brushes supersoft.
Keep in mind: this cleanser is NOT just to remove the color deposits… IT’S A DISINFECTANT… meaning it will santize your brush hygenically- which is great!
How to clean you dirty brush?!
Take a tissue, lay it on a flat surface. Apply a tiny bit of the cleanser on the tissue.
Take your brush & go back and forth in all motions on that tissu. The picture below shows the brush before cleaning (dirty brush).
You will immediatly see how the color transferred from the brush to the tissue.
Notice how the brush is clean now! Back to it’s natural color
Ofcorse if you are using a bigger brush, more cleanser would be needed and you will need to go back and forth a lot more than smaller brushes. Below is a bigger dirty brush.
Cleaning it
And now it’s clean! Although, check out the bigger mess of dirt it transferred
After that, you need to wipe the clean brush with a dry tissue to remove any excess wetness.
Your brush should dry in no more than 5 minutes & you can use it again!
2 Mai The Makeup Addict – Thank you Butterfly Chick for your post
This post is a thank you.
It’s a great big thank you for this amazing girl (student) i had taught the makeup class basics- & she wrote an amazing post about my class.
I’m overwhelmed- and speechless- such kind words!! She described her feelings toward my makeup class!
I AM THRILLED TO HAVE AMAZING STUDENTS LIKE YOU WHO REALLY LOVED THE CLASS & BENEFITED A LOT FROM IT!!!
THANK YOU Butterfly Chick
She posted on her blog www.butterfly-chick.blogspot.co.uk
” MAI THE MAKEUP ADDICT” i loveeeeeeee the title!!
this is the direct link
http://butterfly-chick.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/mai-make-up-addict.html
THANK YOU!
0 The Ali Sharaf Photography Program
To all you people out there ( in the FASHION & BEAUTY industry)- I have some news for you!
You can earn the chance to be more popular & more professional in your career!
HOW?!?!
Well- there is a special program designed by Ali Sharaf Photography- (headed by the professional Bahraini photographer who made the “mermaid” photoshoot) & Fahad Al Dosari (the visionary behind the creation of stunning photos).
What is the program about?!
They have both designed a special program – where they restrictly select possible candidates.
The aim of the program is to gather talents all together in one fashion & beauty network.
Candidates can be:
Fashion designers
Jewelry designers
Fashion stylists
Makeup artists
Hair stylists
Candidates with then sign a contract to work with the creative team of ALI SHARAF PHOTOGRAPHY for his/her projects for one year.
What will you get out of this program?!
If for example, you are a Makeup artist- you will get the opportunity to work on photoshoots. You will bring your own makeup, and ALI SHARAF PHOTOGRAPHY will take care of all the other things such as hair styling, clothes, accessories.. etc.
Other talents- you could get the chance of winning & working with makeup artists & gain a free portfolio.
Marketing: Ali Sharaf photography will work on your brand/image. They will promote your brand throughout their Facebook page (they have almost 4000 fans).
Ali Sharaf Photography will also cooperate with fashion & beauty bloggers to post about all your sessions to help create a buzz & market you.
You will basically have a PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO!
How to enter the program?!
1. Contact info@alisharaf.com or follow @Ali_Sharaf on twitter & send him a direct message to discuss signing up.
2. Pay a creative fee of 1200 BHD per session- where you will get a creative concept, model casting, location scouting, photography & high-end retouching for up to 7 images.
3. You will have up to 4 photo sessions per year- but you might actually end up working on 8, 12, 16 or 20 photo sessions if you created a team with fashion designer, jewelry designer stylist, MUA and a hair stylist.
4. The program will offer constant photo-shoots to each client, not to forget you will be featured in their “Database” for their Commercial/Fashion clients too as a individual talent.
Want to see how your work (whether you are a stylist/makeupartist/designer/etc) with ALI SHARAF PHOTOGRAPHY will look like?!
Here are some amazing shots of their work!
0 SMASHBOX : THE PHOTO FINISH LIGHT PRIMER
I luuuuvvvv this product from the bottom of my heart! Smashbox- by far- have the most amazing award winning primers!
It’s called “PHOTO FINISH LIGHT- FOUNDATION PRIMER”
It is the perfect primer to control oil (especially in T-ZONES) & create an extra smooth canvas – which preps your skin for the makeup! It is water based, extra lightweight primer great for all skin types! It’s “photofinish” – meaning it is made for photoshoot- reflects harsh lighting!
After your cream- apply this primer all over! I swear this will instantly fill in any fine lines & pores to give u and amazing airbrushed look! Always make sure you apply it to clean an moisturized skin.
Especially if you have oily skin- I urge you to use it!! The formula is oil free- & it will instantly absorb any oils! It’s also great to use on acne-prone skin or even sensitive skin.
This primer will help in holding your makeup for HOURS and HOURS…
I LUV it’s smooooooth finish!
In winter, you might want to switch to Smashbox’s photo finish hydrating primer- as the skin becomes more dry!
Note that this product had a previous different packaging
0 THE SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS … Thrilled to be chosen!
Got awarded last night. Still super excited. A big smile- even when I slept last night.
I was thrilled to get awarded for my hard work of this blog & being an active twitter user- spreading knowledge about makeup & beauty to all the beautiful women of Bahrain!
The event (first time ever) honoured 30 social media users for their creativity, transparency, credibility & beneficial contribution to Bahrain. The certificates & gifts were presented by Information Affairs Authority (AA) president Shaikh Fawaz Al Khalifa.
The winners had to fit a specific criteria- & thank god I made it through!!
I’m telling you- being recognized for your hard work – is priceless.
So lemme show you around yesterday’s event!
We arrived in Sofitel Hotel.. and I fell in love with what the (IAA) have provided us on the tables!
They had cute little calenders & a printed booklet (which looks like an ipad) which includes all info regarding Social Media Apps. I think that was a smart move!
They had 2 facebook screens next to the entrance too.
I was nervous.. Very.. But I was more than honored to receive this award!
So here I am walking to get my award …
A group photo
My award
Our extra gift- A Samsung Galaxy II
Some Lovely tweets from my followers—NONSTOP TWEETS!!
Tweet from IAA
One of the local newspapers articles…
2 Soft . Sweet . Smooth -Bubble gum lips
Finally ! I GOT THIS LIPSCRUB THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!
I didn’t want to get it online – as I wanted to test it in-store before purchasing!
This lip scrub from LUSH is not new to the market, but I believe it is a must have for those with extra dry chapped rough lips. Even with a lipbalm applied underneath lipstick- chapped lips can be shown- & here is the solution (other than brown sugar scrub). I swear this removes all dead skin!
LUSH lip scrub will scrub any rough skin & will keep your lips super smooth & soft. Just scrub your lips before you apply your makeup.
What makes this scrub extra special is that it has an amazing flavor – BUBBLEGUM !! You scrub your lips then lick your scrub… it’s edible & it tastes AMAZING. You can always rinse it with water.
The scrub is made of castor sugar& jojoba oil for extra nourishment.
Other flavors are available – Mint Julips (mint flavor) & Sweet lips (chocolate flavor)
It is an affordable lip scrub & has a good shelf life (nearly a year)- just keep in mind it’s very basic & slightly dry so you can moist your lips before then add the scrub!
You can get it from www.lush.com or www.lush.co.uk or visit dubai mall !
Sadly, we had LUSH here in Bahrain… but- they closed it down
0 The Z-Palette : Customizable Magnetic Empty Makeup Palette
I’ve had this palette for a while and I keep on forgetting to write about it!!
It’s soooooooo useful!! I LOVE IT!
It’s from a brand called ‘Z- Palette’ : used for professionals to place the different shapes & sizes of eyeshadows/blushes.
I get so frustrated as I am a heavy MAC eyeshadow & blush palette user – and MAC’s eye palettes does not fit any type of eyeshadow nor does the blush palette. Some eyeshadows are bigger or some are squared. The best way is to buy the Z-palette for all those weird different shapes that don’t fit. For example: Nars blushes are squared in shape – don’t go into MAC’s circle palette.. so is bobbi browns!
Why use a palette in the first place?
To be honest, it’s wrong and confusing to keep eyeshadows in their little tubs. That way you want be able to see the range of colors & it won’t be easy access. Laying them down all next to each other makes you know the different shades & also makes you actually use them… some of the shades hidden in their own packaging will make you forget them and will never use them!
I love the Z-Palette… and I find it sooooo useful for everything. It even comes with mini magnets for you to cut and place under metal pans of the shadow/blush to stick in the palette.
The palette has a plastic transparent cover which protects your shades. What I love about it is that it’s see through (easy to choose)!
This is how my crazy palettes look like- I KNOW THEY ARE MESSY but that is how I work- quick & on the go…
I ordered mine from www.zpalette.com
The website features a lot of different sizes (mine is the large) .. they also come in different border styles. Mine is plain black- they come in like the pics below:
0 10% off Sigma Brushes!
hey guys!
Well, as you always hear me blabber on and on about sigma brushes- well you guys have to get them they are AMAZING!! You can check out my previous posts about sigma brushes i have reviewed A LOT!
Guess what.. sigma is giving you guys a 10% discount code-
and as an affiliate, i was requested to share it with my followers!
So go to http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=137083 and order your brushes now!!
You will recieve a 10% discount off your bill if you apply the code in the picture!
THEY ARE WORTH IT!! TRUST ME!
13 The Editorial Photoshoot: The Queen of Waves
This is the ultimate blog post. It is what I have been dying to reveal!
Two months ago, I was in a secret location- for a photo shoot… I did not tell anyone where I was, but today I will reveal what it was about… with JUICY details about everything! Just remember, I will save the best for last- the final edited photos will be shown in the end!
A group of us have been brought together to cover this amazing-one of a kind- photo shoot! And believe me, it’s not any ordinary photo shoot. It’s new, it’s hip & most importantly it’s an editorial!! (will explain that later)
The photoshoot took approx 10 hours of hard work!
I was more than happy to witness the whole thing, and I’m here to give you full details from my perspective- in relation to beauty!! I will post you “behind the scenes” hair&makeup photos and the editorial pictures!
THE TEAM
A strong team incorporated their different talents to produce this masterpiece. It’s hard work produced in a beautiful manner. Before anything, I would like to introduce you to the team behind this:
Photographer
Ali Sharaf: A Bahraini commercial photographer who specializes in fashion, beauty, portrait & lifestyle photography for both advertising & editorial sectors. He started out his career as a digital artist, then photography found its way into his life- becoming his passion & core of his creativity. Check out www.alisharaf.com & follow @Ali_Sharaf
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Makeup Artist
Masooma Hashim: Professional makeup artist & salon owner ‘MakupArt’. She worked for MAC Cosmetics for 7 years- & become a Senior Artist. Masooma applied makeup for fashion shows, photo shoots, film festivals, IFFA awards. She worked for both Milan & India Fashion weeks. Masooma also trained in Los Angeles with “Train The Trainer”. She also worked on many famous celebrities (Diana Corazon, Asala, Laila Elwi, Yusra, Olivia Palermo). She also specializes in body painting. Follow her @MASOOMAJALEEL
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Creative Director
Fahad Al Dosari: The visionary behind the creations of stunning conceptual ideas. His passion resides in the fashion & beauty industry as he spend most of his life both in front & behind the camera. Fahad is the brains behind the idea of this photoshoot. Follow him on twitter @Fahad_AlDossari
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Creative Video Director
Osama Al Saif: Founder of Ad.Mark- One of the largest full service media production & digital design houses in Bahrain. With over 14 years of experience in the media & entertainment industry, he is one of the best in his field. Ad.Mark uses very professional video equipment & is able to compete and reach the same standards of other international companies. Osama & his team covered in video the whole photoshoot (the makeup, the hair, the setting up & being on set). Their beautifully edited fashion film is provided below+ a behind the scenes video! Follow him on twitter @OsamaAlSaif
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Hair Stylist
Neamat Assaf: A professional Lebanese Hair Stylist- with over 15 years of experience. She started out by working in a salon in Beirut by learning the basics. What makes Neamat special in her field is how she doesn’t pre-plan the look. She likes to work on a hairdo & beautifies it as she goes on. Neamat worked in several countries & gained more experience based on people’s taste. She is currently working in Qatar as a freelance hair stylist.
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Fashion Designer
Sima Ahmed: A Bahraini fashion designer, founder of Sima Fashion. Sima studied in Italy: Instituto di Moda Burgo (Milan) & The Polimoda Instituto (Florence). She also had her first fashion show in Roma in 2007 with a collection of wedding gowns & party dresses. Sima’s style focuses on texture sensations & indulges in femininity to its extreme- with an oriental touch. Check out www.simafashion.com & follow @simaahmed
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Stylist
Fajer Al Zallaqi: A Bahraini passionately involved in the Fashion business for the past 3 years. She started as a fashion & beauty editor for magazines such as Ohlala & CO-EDS. She is also a fashion stylist who works in fashion shows & many photoshoot projects. Fajer also works as a presenter for Bahrain TV Channel 55. Follow her on twitter @falzallaqi & check out her blog http://stylistwishlist.blogspot.com
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Models
For any photo shoot, models are hired. But for this one, the team decided to hire an international model. The model “Visnja” is hired from a Dubai based agency “Bareface”. Bareface is a well established agency for models & talents. It provides talent for all types of events, fashion & commercial assignments. After deciding on the story, the photographer usually calls the agency & provides them with the criteria for the model & the theme. The agency then responds by sending in portfolios that matches the criteria. Once selections are made, finalists are interviewed by a ‘face-to-face’ online casting – where the model is interviewed by the whole team. The hair, makeup artists, photographer & stylist observe & comment from their different perspectives until they reach a decision. You can also check out www.bareface.com
“Khalid” was also hired as the male model.
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The set included a makeup artist, photographer, hairstylist, stylist, fashion designer, creative director, photographer, video camera crew & a few others who put all their effort to make the result amazing. The reason for this shoot is not for a magazine. It’s mainly for the personal portfolios of this talented group.
Oh yeah.. and don’t forget there was a makeup blogger too.. as part of their team (ME! )
A little something you need to know.. About Editorial Photography
This is no normal photo shoot. The model is not trying to sell a product. Instead, the model is trying to sell a story. This type of photo shoot is considered to be an “editorial story”- which comprises both fashion & beauty in a form of a story line. The viewer will actually focus on what is actually happening in the story other than the product selling. The photographs taken portray a story line from start to end, as they speak loudly about what is happening. The picture becomes the story teller. Commercial photography sells products, fashion sells lifestyle, but editorials sell a story!
This was a great opportunity for this team to use an editorial technique- Since Bahrain’s fashion/beauty & photography industry is not very familiar with it. It’s their chance to shake Bahrain’s industry with such creativity, by getting this vision out there & racing their way to the fashion/beauty world!
What’s the story about?
This whole story is based on a beautiful mermaid. This supernatural creature has a beautiful lean body & a long lower torso (fish fins). Mermaids are mythically known to sing to sailors & enchant them. This is probably what happened in this case. The abductor, who is a sailor, was probably enchanted by the mermaid’s singing, so he decided to capture her. After capturing her, he took her to a shabby barn.
The mermaid started to weaken due to the lack of water. The sailor gets frustrated as his victim slowly suffocates. Instead of torturing her, he provides her with a water filled bath tub to help her survive.
THE PHOTOSHOOT
We arrived at a horse stable early morning. The reason for choosing this location as a set is mainly for the hay stack that will be used to place the abandoned mermaid. It resembles an old shack/barn that the sailor hides in with his mermaid. The barn we arived in had horses, dogs, a cheeky monky… and one annoying baby goat (which scared me to death)!
As the girls were working on hair and makeup, the guys were busy preparing the set & working on “the mermaid’s bathtub”- making it look dirty.
THE MAKEUP
Ahhhhh… This is the part that I’m waiting for! I will show you in great detail (step by step) what Masooma applied in the makeup process- or shall we say transformation from human to mermaid. What you have to know about Masooma- she is not only a makeup artist- she is a talented painter- which made this task “face painting” extra easy for her.
A few weeks before the photoshoot, Masooma drew an illustration of how the makeup will look like! She is talented ( I TOLD YOU SO) & this is how she visioned it!
She is not only a makeup artist.. but a real artist!
I was overwhelmed when I was asked to be a part of work of art. I was super excited & completely thrilled by the end result. It was an honor to be Masooma’s sidekick for the day. I’m have always been a great fan of her work, as she applies the beautiful yet simple makeup I always talk about. Seeing her live in action was of course, the best part of the day!
Before the makeup details, I will show you a glimpse of Masooma’s makeup stash. Keep in mind she has a gazillion other products In her luggage. These are some of the products she used! You will realize, once we get to the makeup process, that the products used were mostly MAC, Kryolan & Makeupforever.
Eyeshadows (MAC) which Masooma carries everywhere
The aqua creamy eyeshadows for face painting (left) & glittery selections/pigments (right)
MAC face/body paints
The big tray with all the things Masooma might use!
Now let’s put that into action!
(note that some pics have the model laying down & some sitting- that is because we had a previous unrelated photoshoot- so basics + foundation was applied once only instead of twice.. but I’m giving you the steps from A-Z)
1- Masooma cleansed Visnja face with face wipes then applyed brightening face cream
2- Fixed some single false lashes- natural looking ones
3- Masooma applied MAC’s orange corrector (studio fix)- reviewed HERE . She applied it next to eye socket & eye lids to remove any discoloration.
4- Brightened areas with MAC’s Concealer “Select moisture cover” & blended it in
5- Applied MAC’s Micronized airbrush formula foundation(found only in MAC pro stores) with a beauty blender.
Masooma sprays MAC fix plus on the beauty blender (pink sponge) so it will help dampen the sponge for better application & to let the makeup set.
6- Masooma applies translucent powder allover to help the foundation set
7- With a clear applicator brush (same as mascara’s)- Msooma applied a concealer on it & brushed it on the eyebrows- to make it look ashy
8- Soft Contouring on cheeks & nose using a mixture of both Dark & Light shades of MAC’s Mineralize skinfinish Natural powder.
9- Applied white creamy eyeshadow on the full lid & tearduct. This is considered a base. Shade is similar to Kryolan’s aqua Color in white #070.
Masooma then exaggerated the color to the tear duct & browbone area
She also added some of this white shade to the lips (cupid’s bow) to give the illusion of bigger plumper lips
10- She then lines all over the white base a thin outline in a brown creamy eyeshadow using an extra thin eyeliner brush
11- Masooma then tries to enhance this brown outer line by drawing mini hairs from the crease
12- She builds it up with a darker brown & goes over it with a pencil (Makeup4ever) to emphasize it more towards the nose. She then blends it with a MAC 239 brush
13- With the same brown pencil, she starts to draw the sideways fish “gills” on both sides of the face.
14- Masooma then uses a dark green aqua creamy eyeshadow from KRYOLAN & goes over the fish gills with a thin eyeliner brush
15- She adds a turquoise/lighter green aqua color with it to make a dark/light gills look. She also blends it out to give a smoky feel to it. Also blends out the under eyelashes part with a smoky green
16- Enhance the gills with a dark color (Black) & add some glitterish sparkle to the sides. She then added a beautiful thin to thick black liner that extends to the green lines leading to the gills.
17- To complete the eyes, applied MAC eyeshadow “fashion”- a silverish/light blue- next to the gills.
18- Final touches for the eyes- smoked up her under eye with the same torquise color.. smudged it with a MAC 239 brush
19- For the blush and lips- applied a soft pink color (Makeup4ever cream Blush HD in Fuchsia) to the apples of cheeks using her fingers & blended it. For the Lips she applied some shimmery eyeshadow on the upper lip and then used the Fuchsia blush on her inner lips also using her fingertips.
20- Finally, a body shimmer applied all over her shoulders, hands, back & chest to give her a sunkissed glow
And we are done with Visnja Makeup !
Masooma also applied makeup on the male model- a foundation on his face & full body (front + back). She blended that very well. The foundation was to give a flawless look. Masooma also drew an anchor- as a form of a tattoo on the model’s shoulder to portray that he is a sailor.
THE HAIR
Mermaids are known to have long thick hair. To accomplish this, professional Lebanese stylist “Neamat” completed this look by an amazing hair-do! She incorporated a modern twist to it-not the usual long mermaid let down hair.
Neamat first worked on 2 extra long & thick hair extensions. She braided them beautifully.
As you can see from the makeup pictures above, Neamat kept Vijna’s hair curled then kept them in rolls…
She then opened up the loose rolls & started working on puffing up the front bangs (sleeked back)
She then attached the extensions, puffed it up from the front, then twisted & braided it then twisted it all towards the right side. The hair was a success as it looked like long, thick, dampened hair- mermaid like…heavy due the ocean water & rough because of the salts.
So this is how she looks after hair & makeup! STUNNING!
THE OUTFIT
Bahraini Sima Ahmed designed a beautiful mermaid outfit- a 2-piece outfit made of a bra & a long tail with fins. The outfit was fully made out of Terter (Black & Silver). I was amazed by how the outfit actually made her look like a real mermaid! Well done Sima!
You will actually see more of this outfit in the photos posted below!
THE STORY IN PICTURES…
-From my camera-
The story portrays a hate/love relationship between the mermaid & her abductor. The mermaid obviously hates this man, who stole her from her home and source of living (water), tied her up, and brings her to a place where she can’t survive.The mermaid can barely breathe… she feels so weak!
The mermaid is desperate for survival… yet.. she looks stunning!
Time passes by & the abductor starts to get attracted to this mermaid. He gets frustrated and sad as he tries to save her from dying.
He then places her in a water filled bathtub to help her survive
The concept of love/hate is shown the moment she is weakened by the lack of water: zero strength + zero energy= desperate for help… Not knowing that the only person who can save her is the same person who caused this pain. It’s basically a good girl/bad boy romance- keep in mind that a very thin line exists between love and hate!
Sometimes, even with bad intentions, love sneaks up and whacks you on your head!
FINAL EDITED EDITORIAL PICTURES
Below are the beautiful photos taken by professional Ali Sharaf! They speak for themselves!
These photos are what we have all been waiting for!
AMAZING photos captured by ALI!!
THE FASHION VIDEO
Check out the amazing Fashion Video created by Osama Al Saif (Ad.Mark). The video is beyond beautiful!! I’m IN LOVE WITH IT! It tells you the whole story (which I wrote about above)
Click on this link!
You can also view behind the scenes video footage of the hair, makeup & full photoshoot by clicking on this link:
Osama- You deserve a grammy!
FINAL WORDS
I really hope to work in the near future with this talented group. I’m sure they will prosper in their careers- not just because they are talented or hard working, but because they are creative & are able to use their imaginations and actually think outside the box.
There was a lot of laughter on set – especially at the monkey in the cage who was screaming every 3 minutes.
I was amazed by everyone’s input- Ali was so professional- standing on top of dangerous things just to take the right shot! The photos are unbelievably beautiful.
Masooma applied flawless beautiful makeup- she should be the envy of all makeup artists.
Fahad was so creative in choosing the place, the pose etc- amazed me by his vision.
Neamat- this pro makes me hate all hairdressers, because I think no one can top her! I have seen it with my own eyes- the hair is just gorgeous!
Sima- Such a creative designer, coming up with a really cool outfit! Without that outfit, we won’t have a mermaid!
Osama- Captured amazing footage of every second. Welldone!
Vengia- The star of the shoot.. she is a pro in her field- Strikes different & amazing poses every second!
Fajer- Passionate about creating the perfect look- she always made sure the model looked perfect at all times.
Last but not least- Special THANKS to Mohammed Foad (Masooma’s husband)- who i believe put in so much effort in helping out with every single thing you can imagine. He was the Man Power, the fixer & the person who solves anything! THIS GUY DESERVES AN AWARD!
Mahmood- A big thank you for finding out the location for the set, guiding us around the place & most importantnly- keeping the annoying goat away from me!
Thanks to the other people who were there who have done the impossible to make this photoshoot a perfect one!!
As for me….
I’m hoping to work with this team again in the future- Fingers crossed!!
I would like to say something about makeup that I have learned through this photo shoot…
‘Makeup is an art of transformation. Transforming to beautiful or to ugly…The key is to master it correctly to be able to achieve the wanted look.’
Oh and another thing Masooma kept on saying…
“blend is your friend.. blend is your friend”…
0 The No.1 Blending sponge in the world: THE BEAUTY BLENDER
You have probably seen it with makeup artists, or on how to videos of makeup tutorials…
It’s the cute oval shaped pink sponge with a pointy top. It’s so cute. So pink & so chubby
I love how it feels, it’s so soft & does the job 1000 times better than normal triangular sponges.
It blends amazingly!! Seriously, the blending is flawless! This Beauty Blender was created by Hollywood makeup artist Rea Ann Silva. It’s main purpose is to leave you with a professional finish & a flawless complexion. This will leave you with ZERO streaks!
What I love about it is how it is a multi-use sponge- for different things.. because of its round shape- you can do a lot of things with it.
You can:
- Apply foundation with it (& blend)
- Blend correctors/concealers
- Apply after foundation for evening out the color & missed patches
- Absorbs any excess color/oils
- Great to use under eye area (pointy tip)
My tip is to best use it when it’s DAMP… This means that wet it with some water then apply on whatever you want to help the product set. Another way is to spray the beauty blender with some MAC fix plus spray mist then use it.. This will help it set more! (once it’s wet, it will slightly expand in size)
It’s very easy to use it—basically just BOUNCE it (stippling) against your face. The pointed side will help you with hard to reach spots (nostrils, mouth, eyes, forehead sides). Use the round base for foundation /blush… and the large area for your forehead, cheeks & chin. It’s even perfect to cover blemishes with!! Oh and … it’s latex free!
You can wash it after use & re-use it!
It’s so famous – all makeup artists use it!!!
You can order it online- from amazon.com or it’s always best to check out my dear friend’s blog for more details on how to order this sponge!: http://khalijishoppingguide.com/2011/11/17/beautyblender-sponge/
1 Estee Lauder’s “DayWear” moisturizer- BEST EVER!!
I have been using this face cream for a month now, and trust me girls, i think i have found “THE ONE” !!
This cream is to be used in the day, and it acts as a perfect makeup base!!
What makes me go crazy about it is the texture it leaves your face in! NON GREASY, and gives u a beautiful radiant glow!
This face cream in this cute green jar has SPF 15- and believe me it is more important than the makeup!
This moisturiser will defend your face against the appearance/signs of premature ageing, so it is good to use it when you are young!
It has a very effective ANTI-OXIDANT power– great for everyday, and the BEST PART ABOUT IT—– smells like cucumbers!!!!! ( which i absolutely LOVE)
I have realized that my skin became softer and instanly fresher after every application!! I LOVE IT!!
It is a great wat to protect + enhance your beauty!
0 THE ESSENTIAL EXTRAS you need to perfect ur makeup
Makeup brushes are not the only tools to use to perfect your makeup. They are the priority, but there are many other extra “tools” you need to make your makeup flawless!
These little extras are very very simple! Here’s a list & what they should be used for. You should have these things on your makeup vanity- they are important! Makeup remover wipes are not part of this list since they are a priority & not considered as an extra!
1. cotton pads/wool pads
Simple cotton pads, from any supermarket/pharmacy. Use them to wipe of eye makeup or full makeup with a liquid makeup remover. It’s also great to clean some brushes quickly with- just apply some makeup remover on a pad, then go on with your brush back and forth until it becomes clean!
2. cotton buds/cotton ear buds
i would consider this the most important extra tool ever! You won’t believe how handy these little things are! I would cut the buds into half to not waste the other half.
I would use it for makeup mistakes (eyes, lips, concealer, eyeliner, brows) you name it! It’s really helpful!
3. clean brush applicator
I usually take those from MAC :p i ask the sales lady if i can have some since I’m buying a lot- i love these!! I use them to brush my brows, separate my lashes (before & after mascara), picking up any hairs on the face instead of smudging it with your hands. If you want, you can use any finished up mascara wand & wash it well then use it just like I do!
4. Eye drops “Refresh Plus”
I got this from a pharmacy – basically u cut off the little top part & use it like eye drops. Why is this important? When applying makeup, you tend to smudge eyeshadow off/ get eyeliner in your eye by mistake/ eyeshadow powder gets in your eye ETC.. you would need these drops to just refresh your eye just in case- to help soothe your eye & remove irritation!
5. Beauty Blender
I absolutely love the beauty blender!!
These are washable ofcorse- don’t throw them away. With a little shampoo, wash them them and lthey are good as new!
What to use them for? THIS IS MY NUMBER ONE TECHNIQUE TO FLAWLESS FOUNDATION!!!!
After applying liquid foundation with a brush, i would take this blender & dab it all over (to remove any excess oils, even out any gaps or missing spots). It also smooths out the foundation removing any fine lines a brush makes! You can also use it with concealer and corrector- to blend them!
Remember- it only works with water- so make sure u wet it under water and use it when it is expanded!
6. Scissors & tweezers
No girl can ever live without those two tools. You need those to tweeze any un-necessary hairs & cut any long brow hairs. Always keep those next to you! They are great help when it comes to false lashes.
You can shorten your false lashes by cutting them and help fix them on your eye by tweezers!
7. the powder puff
I know many girls don’t buy this- but they are important! TRUST ME! Get yours from MAC, sephora, etc they sell them in all cosmetics stores. What do we use this for? To even out & set your makeup- mainly through the use of LOOSE POWDER. I would apply my foundation then work on my eyes.. some pigments do fall on my foundation- so i would use this sponge to dab on some loose powder under my eye area to avoid any eye pigment from ruining/smudging my foundation. I also use this to apply translucent powder on my whole face on top of everything to help the makeup set & last.
6 DERMA COLOR CAMOUFLAGE CREME from KRYOLAN
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE CORRECTOR…
IT’S THE NUMBER 1 product USED BY MAKEUP ARTISTS TO HIDE THE WORST IMPERFECTIONS!
It’s Dermatologist Recommended- especially by Bahraini Dermatologist & Plastic surgeon Dr. Tariq Saeed
It’s called “Derma Color- Camouflage Creme” From Kryolan (seef mall)
FYI – Kryolan is a german cosmetics company
This Green Camouflage Cream is highly pigmented, designed to correct and cover skin imperfections, discolorations, tattoos, scars, birth marks etc. Basically, any skin abnormality can be easily corrected.
OK.. but why is it green??
Just put in mind that imperfections & acne LOVE Green concealers. Briefly, the reason why the concealer for such imperfections (especially redness) should be green is because the famous color wheel (color theory)- Opposite the color red on the color wheel is green. So, green will help balance/neutralize redness in the skin.
TIP: if you have mild redness, you can use a normal concealer. For major redness or scary nasty acne- go ahead and use the green concealer.
Some concealers can’t hide those nasty pimples or imperfections- so this is were you should use the camouflage creme. Apply it using a concealer brush. After doing so, go ahead and apply your foundation Etc.
0 Makeup HAUL: What I got Yesterday!
HAUL: a term used a lot by makeup bloggers, meaning – showing products they recently brought!
So I bought some stuff yesterday.. costing me $$$.. since some are CHANEL.
Let me show you what I got!
The products are:
- MAC: cherry lip liner (i love this lipliner- i lost mine 2 weeks ago, or probably my mum stole it)
- MAC: Margin powder blush (re-stocking as i used it all)
-MAC: Pinch Me Powder blush (re-stocking as i used it all)
-MAC: Mocha powder blush
-Chanel: Rouge Allure La Fascinante No. 38 (restocking)
-Chanel: Perfection Lumiere foundation ( 1st time to try- been stuck to vitalumiere)
-Chanel: Tinted Bronzing Gel
-Chanel: Vitalumiere Eclat radiance powder (1st time to try)
4 DURALINE- INGLOT’s way of transfering powder 2 creamy products!
I’m just amazed by this product!!
It is reallllllly something you should get! I will keep on repurchasing this product!
WHAT IS DURALINE??
Duraline is a product by INGLOT which is a special formula- that when mixed with powder (any) will turn it to liquid- (CREAMY)!!
This means that you can basically use the “pigments” you have bought… transfer them to a creamy formula & apply it as a creamy eyeshadow!
It comes with a convenient dropper to control the amount you want to use.
I’m going to show you my experiment with MAC pigments, as you can see below- they are in a POWDER form
Added a few drops (2-3 drops) on each pigmented powder
Mix the powder + DURALINE with a brush until it turns to a liquid form
There you have it, Look at how the pigments changed to a CREAMY LIQUID!!
You can see (hand swatch) how the colors look creamy on my hand! Gives a glossy look to those powders with shimmer!
What is also great with DURALINE– you can use it with the CREAMY eyeshadows/gel liners you have to soften them up & apply it really quick & easily!! Also, some gel liners or paint pots are just dried up, so you don’t need to throw them away- just add a drop of DURALINE & it will be good as new!
NOTE: It makes eye shadows and liners smudge proof, & you can play with the color intensity- if you add more duraline in eyeshadows- you will get less color intensity. Less duraline = more color intensity.
