A slay queen thrives under lockdown because there’s no alternative.
I mean, who’ll wear all those awesome clothes in your wardrobe. You’ve been saving those red bottom heels, for a special occasion. All the looks that you’ve put together for all the fun, social, fashionable events, that were indefinitely postponed till things are better.
I mean there’s only one version of you, and you need to put all your haters to shame. Of course, it’ll be hard for you to get the usual essentials in this lockdown.
This lockdown might stretch for a while into the unforeseeable future. So what’s the best way to stay ahead of the curve.
First, don’t let your skin suffer under any circumstances. You might need a dermatologist on speed dial. Of course, you can’t get stressed out and break out in hives like in high school while you were fighting against hormones.
A true slayer knows that a smooth face is the best foundation for makeup. You need to order for all your skincare items to be brought to your doorstep.
Secondly, don’t forget to look after your hair. You might have to smuggle your stylist to do an emergency touch-up or to remove your weave. However, if you’re in the middle of nowhere with strange saloons then you’ll have to invest in low-maintenance styles and perhaps a wig, or two.
After all, you can change your hairstyle whenever you’re bored. Remember to wash and oil your hair as you wait for your favourite spa to reopen.
Indeed, you have to put aside delicate clothes. You know, that you can’t visit the dry cleaners, so why risk staining your cashmere sweater with take-out food from ArtCafe. I mean, this isn’t the time to take fashion risks. You should only wear cotton or other garments that are machine-wash friendly.
The gym is no longer a haven. You can’t wear tight yoga pants and lacy sports bras and snap pictures of yourself looking toned. You know that your clothes are a certain size. Hence, outgrowing your clothes isn’t an option. A slay queen needs to flourish during difficult times. You only have one option: figure out how to work out from home.
Stock up on luxury essentials. I’m talking about those pricey perfumes, that come in pretty shapes, and sizes. Also, foreign chocolates, that can’t be sourced locally. Let’s not forget all your top make-up brands’ products. Nobody knows when the lockdown will end. What if that day is tomorrow? You need to prepared to look your best.
Don’t entertain any house guests at any costs. I mean, isn’t everyone preaching about social distancing.
Don’t waste your time obsessing and flaunting yourself online. You can’t announce all your boss moves and wonder why haters are one step ahead of you. It helps to keep your enemies confused as to your plot your way ahead.
You have to study fashion and make-up trends from around the globe. Indeed, you can dedicate time to piecing together new looks, practising poses and snapping away pictures. Besides, you need to look like a fashionable badass whenever you post anything online.
You need to consider learning the basics of a new foreign language. Besides, you’ll always be travelling, I mean hello Emirates Business Class, I’m coming back to you.
You didn’t bake in the hot sun, wearing stilettos at Huduma Centre, waiting for a new passport to chill at home.
Makeup is not just art that helps you express yourself. It is also incredibly empowering because it helps you look and feel like the best version of yourself at any age. When it comes to doing your makeup, your technique is a total game-changer in how the look will eventually turn out. If you’re over 50 and have concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, don’t you worry.
In fact, embrace the aging process because you can always rely on a bit of makeup to help you put your best face forward.
Prepping your face is a must if you want your makeup to look flawless and last all day long. Use a hydrating moisturizer and a primer to go with it. A primer will even out your skin tone and reduce the appearance of large pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
What is Recommend: NARS Smooth & Protect Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Ladies, no matter what your age is, everyone needs sun protection. This primer is a must-try because it doubles as a sunscreen. Its lightweight formula creates the perfect canvas for the rest of your makeup, while your skin is protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It also makes your makeup last longer and brightens up your complexion in an instant.
Use A Foundation That’s Lightweight
Using the right foundation or BB cream makes a world of a difference. A lightweight formula will help your base look more natural and radiant (and nobody wants to end up with a cakey finish). Apply your foundation with a damp Beauty Blender or brush, and blend it in really well to achieve the right amount of coverage.
What is Recommend: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup
This long-wearing formula is ideal for all skin types (and is available in 50 different shades!). It is extremely easy to apply and blend and leaves you with a natural “second skin” finish. When it comes to aging skin, it is best to opt for products that won’t leave you with a powdery finish – and this is perfect! You’ll be left with a subtle, satin finish that stays on all day long. Apply this using a dense brush for gorgeous coverage.
Befriend A Concealer
If you have problem areas like dark circles, age spots, and redness, all you need is a bit of concealer to get them sorted. Remember, always use your concealer after you’ve applied your foundation. That way, you won’t need much coverage. Find a shade that exactly matches your foundation for best results.
What is Recommend:Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Concealer
This concealer pen from Yves Saint Laurent is a must-try if you want to fake a good eight hours of sleep with just a click. Its formula is amazing, especially when it comes to brightening up your complexion, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and covering up minor imperfections. You’ll be left with your skin, but only better. Also, you won’t have to be worried about it creasing or looking cakey. Give this a shot for a natural and luminous finish.
Add A Flush Of Color To Your Cheeks
A dab of cream blush that will leave you with a subtle hint of color is perfect for older skin. You need to take into account the shape of your face and apply the color at the height of the apples of your cheeks. Blend this upwards along your cheekbones to define and instantly lift your features. You’ll be surprised by how well this trick works to not only add radiance to your face but also to make it look livelier and youthful.
What is Recommend:M.A.C Cremeblend Blush
This cream blush from M.A.C has a beautiful texture. It is super easy to apply and blend and stays put all day long. You can also choose a color of your choice from its wide shade range. The intensity of the color is buildable, so you can start out sheer, building up as you go. You need to try this if you want to achieve a natural flush of color that really lasts.
Define Your Pout
One of the most notable areas where you develop fine lines is around the mouth. If you want to prevent your lip color from feathering and bleeding into these lines, all you need is to dab a small amount of concealer around your lips and use a pencil lip liner to define them. This simple trick will add fullness to your mouth. Choose a color that matches your natural lip color for best results.
What is Recommend:Jane Iredale Lip Pencil
You need to try this lip liner from Jane Iredale if you want a mineral pigment-based formula that’s soft and won’t tug at your delicate lips. It is available in 11 shades, and we recommend trying colors like peach, pink, rose, and spice. It blends beautifully and makes for the perfect base for your lip gloss or lipstick.
Choose Lighter Lipstick Colors
It is a good idea to stick to moisturizing lipsticks or glosses that won’t bleed or feather into the lines around your lips. Choose lighter colors because they tend to make your lips look fuller and poutier than darker shades. If you have thin lips, you don’t want to make them look thinner with dark lip color. If you like a pop of vibrant color, don’t be afraid to experiment.
What is Recommend:Clinique Long Last Lipstick
This lipstick from Clinique is perfect for mature lips. Its long-wearing formula moisturizes your lips and won’t stain, feather or dry them out. It will also leave you with a “just-applied” look for hours. The formula is allergy tested and 100% fragrance- and paraben-free, so it won’t irritate even the most sensitive lips. With 21 shades to choose from, this is one lipstick you definitely need to try.
Ditch Sparkly Eyeshadows
When it comes to aging skin, the skin on the eyelids can become loose and also descend over them. There are many ways you can combat this concern. Your eyeshadow can play a crucial role in the appearance of your eyes. Steer clear of very dark shades and overly glittery eyeshadows as these tend to recede things. Instead, use lighter colors without a lot of shimmers to bring your eyes forward.
What is Recommend:Bite Beauty Multistick
This blendable multi-stick applies like a cream and can be used for your eyes, lips, and cheeks. The range features universal shades that complement all skin tones, and they are formulated in a way that they can be used anywhere on your face. If you want a long-lasting, weightless color, try a few shades from this range. You will not be disappointed.
Fix Your Brows
As you age, your eyebrows tend to become thin and sparse and also lose their shape. Grooming your brows will help you bring your whole look together. You only need to add some color and brush them up to add definition, texture, and depth to your brows. It’s easier than it sounds!
What is Recommend:Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
This retractable brow pencil is perfect to fill in any sparse areas on your brows. It will help you create precise, hair-like strokes and comes with a custom spoolie to help blend the product out for a flawless finish. It is also long-wearing and smudge-proof and available in 10 shades. You can also add a transparent brow gel over this to keep them in place.
Always Curl Your Lashes
Love your eyelash curler, ladies! Curling your lashes makes you look a lot younger. It’s important to always curl your eyelashes before you apply mascara or else you risk breaking off your lash hairs and ruining your curler with mascara gunk.
What is Recommend: Brilliant Beauty Eyelash Curler
This eyelash curler from Brilliant Beauty will help create the most voluminous curls. It does not cause any tugging, pulling, or broken lashes, so don’t be afraid to try!
Wear Black Mascara
Wearing black mascara that’s designed to create thicker, darker lashes will help define your eyes and leave you looking bright-eyed and youthful. Choose a product that’s designed for your needs – be it curling, volumizing, or lengthening – and apply it once you finish curling your lashes.
What is Recommend: Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara
Dior’s Iconic Overcurl mascara is a must-try for thinning, sparse lashes. Two coats of this will instantly amp up your lashes, leaving you with a whole lot of volume and length. It is a high-end product, so it’s a tad bit pricey but worth every penny!
Yes To Eye Pencils (No To Liquid Liners)
Instead of a liquid eyeliner that may look too heavy on you, opt for a pencil eyeliner in a soft brown or taupe shade. Use it to subtly define your upper lash line and tight line your lashes. It’s a good idea to leave your lower lash and waterline alone because defining them can make your eyes look smaller and tired.
What is Recommend:Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
This creamy eyeliner pencil is all that you need. It glides on smoothly without tugging or pulling at your skin. It is easy to use and will last all day long without smudging. Also, we can’t get over its creamy texture. It is available in around 40 shades.
Highlight Your Cheekbones
Pronounced cheekbones will lift your face and draw attention to your eyes. Make sure you are light-handed while highlighting this area as you don’t want to look overdone during the day. Just a subtle glow looks truly flattering and can be done on a daily basis within a few seconds.
What is Recommend:RMS Beauty Magic Luminizer
If you want a natural, lit-from-within kind of glow, this luminizer from RMS Beauty is perfect. This is one of the best cream highlighters and adds a healthy sheen to your face. Although its packaging is simple, and it comes without a mirror, its formula is what makes it a cult favorite.
Coconut Oil For ‘Makeup Remover’
How you finally take off your makeup at the end of the day is essential to your skin’s overall health. Coconut oil works as a wonderful makeup remover as it melts even the most stubborn makeup away. Also, it is good for your skin and acts as a natural moisturizer. Apply it directly on your face as an oil cleanser, let it sit for a bit, or gently wipe it off with a wet wipe. Then, wash your face with water and your regular cleanser. Thank us later for your glowing, beautiful skin!
Remember, Less Is More
Ladies, less is indeed more because nobody likes a plastered face. Use your makeup to highlight your best features and not to hide underneath its layers. As your skin matures, you need to be careful with your application technique because one wrong step can make you look older than you actually are (because makeup sometimes tends to accentuate wrinkles and fine lines). So, keep it simple!
Confidence Is Key
A dose of confidence is all we really need to let ourselves genuinely shine! Even if you’ve only just started out wearing makeup, wear it boldly and with confidence. Remember, you’re gorgeous either way, so why not flaunt it?
David Bowie once said, “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” We couldn’t agree more! Don’t forget to embrace the process.
Content courtesy of Style Craze & Nairobi fashion hub
Lately, things have been pretty stressful and the emotional strain is showing on your face. It’s the same way a face can tell you that life has been harsh and unforgiving.
Of course, it feels like you’ve been living in the deep end and things have been becoming hotter and hotter by the day. Sometimes, you wake up on top of the world and other times you just can’t catch a break. However, life never stops and you still want to put your best foot forward.
Foundation is make-up that gives you a flawless, even look regardless of what’s happening beneath. Ladies have different seasons and sometimes it feels like little volcanoes are erupting all over your face yet you haven’t touched dairy and it definitely isn’t that time of the month. So foundation lets you get your inner confidence back if your face is acting up including acne and hyperpigmentation.
Hence, it’s created to match your skin tone so that it can cover up flaws and you can even use it to alter your skin tone. It can also function as a moisturiser, sunscreen or a base layer for other make-up.
There are different types of foundation that include liquid foundation, cream foundation, cake or stick foundation, powder foundation, waterproof foundation & mineral foundation, spray foundation, cream-to-powder foundation, tinted moisturizer and mousse foundation.
Of course, you want your foundation to last as long as possible.
So we have a few tips below that will help keep your foundation in place, all day long.
Always, start with a clean face. If your face is prone to acne break-outs then start a skin care routine that includes exfoliating your face weekly. It’ll make it easier for your face to hold the foundation nicely.
Moisturize your face before applying foundation so that application is even.
Apply a primer to your face so that your foundation lasts all day.
Make sure that foundation type matches your skin type e,g. cream foundations are perfect for ladies with extra dry skin.
Use the right shade so that it blends perfectly with your neck.
I believe that a slay queen never underestimates fashion because you never know whom you’ll bump into. Definitely, when preparation meets opportunity then success is right around the corner. Here are a few pointers on a slay queens’ guide to fashion.
A) High heels. Always have one nice black pair of heels in case money is tight. I love how black heels work well with most items. I can always invest in more quality pairs when money is a non-issue. Furthermore, if you’re still teetering on heels whenever you’re in them then straighten your back, place a book over your head and walk in your room. Believe me when I say that practice makes perfect.
B) Own a romper or two. Rompers are short, cute, flirty plus they’re perfect for events like Koroga. You always need to look your best plus you have long legs so why not show them off. Similarly, never wear a romper if you’re using public transport because not everyone understands style & someone might take it as an invitation to touch.
C) Make-up tutorials. It’s a no-no having your neck looking different from your face. Of course, those are mistakes that we left behind in 2017 & now we’re moving up in life. Internalise your skin tone & knows what works for you. In addition to learning from YouTube make-up tutorials and attend demonstrations that brush up your make-up skills.
D) Own good make-up. On the same note, buy your make-up. You can afford it. I can’t believe that you’re contemplating sharing make-up brushes with other individuals yet you’re at the forefront of preventing acne breakouts? Invest in makeup that can stand up the elements and lasts all day long. I need to be able to attend events in blistering hot afternoons or grey rainy days worrying about foundation running down my neck.
E) Manicure + Pedicure. I can’t be there trying to reel in a big fish with chipped nail polish because slayers are always on point. How else will he know that I’m high maintenance if not by soft manicured nails? I wasn’t born for washing dishes and house chores especially if I can get a dishwasher and washing machine. Likewise, I need my feet manicured just in case I need to fly to coast out of nowhere. I can’t be walking on sand with cracked heels and long nails.
F) Fashion. Develop a fashion sense that will always accentuate what you have & go with whatever brand that you’re trying to create. Research. Watch lots of fashion stuff online & you can buy dated, glossy fashion magazines on the streets for tips. Educate your Instagram followers because not slayers aren’t born, they’re moulded.
Lipsticks come in all types of colour, shades, and sizes.
Different types of lipsticks include moisturizing lipstick, sheer lipstick, matte lipstick, cream lipstick, glossy lipstick and long-lasting lipstick.
The lipstick that your mother used to have in her huge handbag was thick & chunky. She’d whip it out and twist out a muted colour that wouldn’t scream too much. It wouldn’t take her more than a minute to paint it on & throw it back in her bag after placing the lid back on.
Ladies of the night used to apply a bright shade to attract customers & show them that they were ready to open for business. However, lipstick it’s no longer that infamous & there’s a perfect lipstick for every lady.
The power of lipstick lies in that you don’t need the same precision as a foundation.
Wear the wrong foundation on your face & the whole world knows. Just look at the face and look at the neck. It also takes time putting it on, so you definitely need to wake up a little early than usual and reach out for those makeup brushes.
But with lipstick, you just pull it out of your bag, paint it on your lips and you’re ready for the day.
Before you dash out to the office or head out that date you’ve been excited about. Use lipliner to have a neater look, then apply lipstick on your lips & gently blot it. Nobody wants to look like they’ve been eating their lipstick.
If you want your lipstick to last longer. Exfoliate your lips first with a damp toothbrush. Moisturize your lips with lip balm that isn’t too oily. Blot your lips to remove extra moisture. Use a lip liner to define your lips. Use your favourite lipstick. Blot off excess lipstick with a cloth. Powder your lips with a loose powder similar to the foundation that you use.
Love your bright lips from morning till nighttime.
