Ladies its about time I gave you all the tips and tricks I know from being a black make-up artist in the amazing industry. It's hard for us women of colour out there in the beauty world, and especially here in the U.K. with good products not being readily available to us, but I have hunted and I have gathered and Im here to share with you all. I will be reviewing everything from primers to concealers to even the best hair weaves (and the best weavists in the U.K.). Now having taken me a long time to create my baby (this would be my make-up cases full of the most amazing tools and products known to dolls all around), I understand how hard it is too keep up with the current trends and beauty tricks. So here I am, the leader of all you gorgeous and talented dolls who only really need a little nudge in the right direction to beautify yourselves to perfection. Eventually I will be creating video tutorials so you can all take actual note (and try not to laugh at my very essex accent lol!), but for now until my webcam is here I will talk you through step by step my creations.
First up is the wonderful vixen that is Amber Rose. Who is she you ask ? Well get taking notes guys because she is the model that everyone was talking about on the front row of paris fashion week and she just so happens to be the girlfriend of the ultimate male fashion icon in the hip-hop world, Kanye west. (P.S. for those of you who don't know West is now a protegé for Louis Vuitton where he has the pleasure of learning alongside Henry Holland, and of course getting his uber-fabulous girlfriend Miss.Rose to model for the amazing brand... trés magnifique!!). So shes definetly someone to watch as she turns from model to fashion icon for all you beautiful ladies out there who aren't afraid to be different and hold no prisoners.

This photo is taken from the launch of the new fragrance, Boadicea the Victorious which Amber is the new face of. The make-up look I copied was a favourite of mine for Amber very sharp smoky eyes, beautiful pale pink pout and amazing glowng skin (Rose's trademark, the skin is ALWAYS glowing!).
As I know, especially at this time of year, we are all on a budget I completed this make-up looking using 80% cosmetic store make-up and skin care. So here we go ....
1. CLEANSE: First thing ensure your skin is cleansed correctly, I use an amazing cleanser by No.7 called 'Beautifully Balanced Purifying Cleanser for Oily/Combination Skin', which works wonders on my skin but doesn't leave it too dry, oh and its only £7.00 in boots (advantage card points anyone??). No.7 cleansers work wonders for all skin types and aren't pricey at all. However if you have a bit more extra-cash to spare Elizabeth Arden do a wonderful cleanser called 'Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser' which retails at just under £30 (for all you ladies with dry/combination skin).
TONE: Now because the No.7 cleanser really is a miracle product I never feel I need to tone after using it as I dont wish to strip my skin too much, however if you do wish to tone your skin the one I recommend is 'Mattifying Purifying Toner Oily Skin' (£19.00) from Lancome as it doesn't leave the skin to dry and you still feel hydrated (think cold water splashed on your face freshness).
MOISTURISE: Hydrate your skin again ladies, this step is essential in ensuring your skin stays smooth, supple and protected. There is a horrible myth going around that if you have oily skin (which alot of us ladies of colour tend to have), you shouldn't moisturise your skin. WRONG, you just need to know the right moisturiser to use or find an alternative. Now for me the simpler my beauty regime the better so every day I use 'Amie Morning Dew Matte Finish Moisturiser' from boots which is an absolute bargain at £4.49 you can't go wrong. At night I find myself using a richer moisturiser as it has all night to sink in my skin as skin can get extremely dry at night (especially after a night out, if you do anything when you get in from a long night please please PLEASE remove all your make-up and moisturise your skin to perfection, trust me you will thank me later!). I apply 'Weleda Wild Rose Night Cream', is a revitalising and harmonising intensive nourishment night cream and it a steal at only £9.95. Or also a cheaper and equally effective alternative is the 'Biore Shine Control Moisturiser' which is free of oil and controls all your shine for just £4.99.
SERUM: A serum or primer acts as an adhesive to your makeup it provides an even base fill in any fine lines and controls problem areas like dry patches or excess oil. My serum of choice would be perfect someone who shys away from moisturisers (very oily skin)
'Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Super Rejuvenating Face Serum' from boots (again!) and is a beautiful £8.97. Now even though I am one who hates gimiccy products this one actually does as it says and it keeps the skin youthful (its always best to start young).
PRIMER: Absolutely without fail my favourite primer from a cosmetic store or pharmacy has to be 'L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Anti-Shine Mattifying Primer' its like a miracle worker. Your skin will be smooth, plumped, supple and above all oil free.
(Oh and remember, cleanse, tone and moisturise should all be applied with the hands, as should the serum and primer. This is to heat the product and let the skin absorb it quicker).
2. FOUNDATION: Now the skin is primed to perfection we can get to the good bit . The foundation I use is actually one I created from an exciting aray of products mixed together, this is for various reasons. I have noticed that with my skin being oily it is definetly a good idea for me to wear a matt-finish foundation, but being black and living in the U.K. (and trying to ensure I complete this tutorial on a lovely small budget) I found an alternative. I made my own foundation using various budget brand products. To create this gorgeous matt-liquid/cream/dewy foundation (as Amber's look is ALL about the dewy glow) I mixed the following-
Half K By Beverly Knight 'Full Coverage Oil Free Foundation' in Mocha, 6 Pumps of L'oreal 'True Match Foundation' in N6, 10 scrapes (2 teapoons full ) of L'oreal 'Matt Finish Compact Powder' in caramel dream (bought in the U.S.) and 6 scrapes (just over 1 Teaspoon) of Collection 2000 'Mosaic Glow'. The powders I've added made the foundation a fuller coverage and the 'Mosaic Glow' is an amazing shimmer highlighting bronzer which has given my skin a beautiful dewy glow. Matt foundations can tend to just be matt so by creating mine this way I can still achieve the dewy glow that I love whilst keeping my skin shine-free!
(Applied with Make-up Forever 'Foundation Brush' No.30N 24mm, using outward and upwards brushstrokes starting at the nose all the way up to the forehead and hairline).
3. CONCEALER: For my concealer I find that most drug-stores/pharmacies don't sell very good concealers at a low price for us colourful ladies. So to cheat I use Maybellines 'Dream Matte Mouse' in Caramel on all my problem areas with 'Finishing Brush No.20N' by Makeup forever.
4. EYESHADOWS: Used my concealer as a base I start to apply BarryM 'Dazzle Dust' in OldGold all across the eye socket with a brush by NK which can be found in any boots store for less than £10. Next I apply Collection 2000 'Dazzle Me' in No.1 (Navy Black) in the crease of the eye and outwards to below the end of the brow using my flat angle brush from Benefit £13.50. At first this can look very intense but then using my powder shadow brush by Benefit £13.50, I blend the to colours together to create a dramatic but sultry edge. Next I use my brush on Collection 2000 black liquid liner above the lashes and directly on the lashes also. I extend his outwards just below the brow once again and then follow it underneath the eyelid and just below the waterline to really add drama. To stop the eye from looking to dark and closed I use my Sleek eyeshadow palette "I-divine in original" £6.00, using my deep gold shade and place it on the inside corners of the eyes to make them pop.
5. LASHES: 'False Eyelashes Luxe' by Shu Uemura £12 (space NK or selfridges), applied using DUO lash glue £3.00 (maccosmetics.com) for a tube. Use tweezer to hold your lashes, apply glue to the strip on the top and allow glue to get tackiy for 20-25 seconds. With a steady hand place lashes in the centre of the eye first and then push down the 2 corners still using the tweezers for precision. These lashes will give the eye a dramatic effect so they will really match with the Amber look.
6. HIGHLIGHTING AND BLUSH: As Ambers look is all about the glowy skin to add even more glow without making the skin to shimmery use Benefit "Gilded pencil" £14.00. This multi-purpose pencil can be used anywhere so place it under the brows, on the inner corner of the eyes, on the cheek bone and blend it upwards to just below the black liner. This creates beautiful contours on the skin and an amazing glow. For blush I used a bronzer by Benefit called 'Hoola' £23.50 and placed it under the parietal bone (cheek bone) in the hollow of the cheek to create a deep dip in the face. Also place on the temples and on either side of the chin.
7. BROWS AND LIPS: This time I did the brows last just because they don't need alot of product for this look so using a plain medium brown matt eyeshadow I go through the brows using my Benefit hard angle brush brushing upwards at the fullest part of the brow and outwards when it gets nearer to the end. I then brush through the brows with a disposable mascara wand several times to remove the thickness of the brow product and even out the finish for a natural fullness. The lips I used a sleek lip base as part of the lip duos in a pale pink with my NK Lip brush (bought as a gift so unware of price but probably around £4), this dries matt so applied a full finish lipstick from Benefit once again in 'Jing-a-ling' £13.
Here is the final look ...
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Love Dollface xxxx