Guidelines For Recreating Make-Up Looks

One of the best feelings in the world is being able to recreate a make-up look that you love, whether you saw on it Youtube or in a magazine etc.

But...sometimes trying to recreate these looks can be very challenging and frustrating, especially when they don't look the way they should, even after a few attempts.

Well I have great news for you!

If you use the correct Techniques, Tools and Products, and you Practice (and practice some more); those gorgeous make-up looks will be all yours.

Yes, it really is that simple; no rocket science here at all.

You may have to try it again and again, (and then still try it one more time), but DON'T GIVE UP!!!  All of your time and effort will be worth it in the end.

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Make-up Bright & Beautiful

This look is called Tropical Paradise and was inspired by the bright colours of Spring 2013.

When I started applying the make-up I had no idea what the finished look would be.  My artistic juices were flowing and I just made it up as I went along (pun not intended lol).  Click here to see the before shots, yes it's me without any make-up on.

I started with pink eyeshadow and added other colours to compliment it. I always feel like the great Picasso or Michelangelo whenever I create masterpieces on my human canvas.

To say that I was very, very, very pleased with the final result is an understatement.

It's such a shame that I had to remove the make-up and go straight to bed after taking the photos.  Make-up like this deserves a hot outfit and a night out on the town.

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Just 'BROWS-ing' - My Secret to Natural Looking Eyebrow Filling

Do you have naturally sparse brows like me?

Or maybe you removed too much hair while shaping  your brows?

There's no need to panic or worry.

Thankfully there are products (pencil, pen, powder, cream) and techniques (free hand, stencils) that you can use to make your eyebrows look thicker aka eyebrow filling.

I will always remember when Oprah Winfrey featured her make-up artist on the Oprah Winfrey Show.    He advised that the liner should be as close to your natural eyebrow colour as possible and to use short, light strokes.  My eyes remained glued to the screen from start to finish.

I decided to try it his way and I was pleased with the result.  That was the end of drawing lines with  black eyeliner on my eyebrows, which was the rage in my teen years and is still currently very popular in Barbados.  Yes, the short strokes take more time than the lines, but it's worth the effort because they look more natural. I can honestly say that watching that episode improved my eyebrow filling skills immensely.

Only applying the product to the area that doesn't have hair will also give a more natural looking eyebrow.  It's called eyebrow filling for a reason.  You can't fill something that is already full;  you'll just end up making a mess. This everyday concept applies to eyebrow filling as well.

I don't usually have lots of time to do my make-up, so I prefer to fill my eyebrows freehand with a brow pencil, which is faster than using eyebrow stencils and eyebrow powders. Aligning the eyebrow stencils  to ensure that your eyebrows are filled symmetrically, and repeatedly dipping the brush into the powder requires time that I don't have to spare.

Eyebrow filling should enhance your brows and your entire face.  Please, please, please use a product and technique that looks natural and believable - no one should be able to detect that they are filled in.

Is there a topic that you would like me to write about?  Send me an email at beautiful.unspoilt@gmail.com with the details.

Until next time!

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

The Importance of Make-up Sanitisation

What do MAC, RiRi Woo and herpes have to do with make-up sanitisation?  Click here to find out.  The outcome of this case should be interesting.

Make-up sales reps should do everything in their power to protect customers from the spread of germs and infections.  Sadly, I have not found this to be the case. This is the latest occurence that I witnessed first hand. 

We all have our part to play, don't think that make-up sanitisation is only for make-up artists and make-up sales reps.  It should be incorporated into your personal make-up routine as well.

Here are some tips from a previous post that I did on Make-up Hygiene.

You can also check out my 'Keeping It Clean' Facebook Series Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 for four important personal make-up sanitisation tips.

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Review - Bodico Forehead & Chin Strips

On my last visit to Collins I saw a different (and cheaper) brand of pore strips on the shelf.

The adventurer in me decided to give it a try.  I figured that I could trust Collins' judgement, or so I thought. HUGE MISTAKE!!!

I bought the Forehead & Chin Strips to see if they would remove the whiteheads on my chin and at the outer edges of my lips.

I followed the instructions and waited impatiently for the strips to work their magic.  When I attempted to remove the strips they did not come off as easily as the other brands that I have used.   In fact, it caused me some discomfort and slight panic. I started to feel nervous  because I had never experienced anything like this before. I had to soak the strip with water before I could peel it off, and at first it felt like my skin was coming off with the strip.

When I examined the strip I saw facial hair on it but no skin, thank God.  I'm wondering if this batch got mixed up with the wax strips? I'm just saying.  Would you believe that the whiteheads did not budge?

My skin was sore afterwards; so you can imagine how harsh this product was. I had to apologise to my skin.

I could not even find any product  information on the internet when I was searching for photos for this post.  I saw a few products by the brand, but not this particular product.  Should I be even more concerned?

I would not recommend this product to anyone, not even if their skin is tough like old leather.

Don't forget to visit us every week for our latest post.

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Does Expensive Make-up Always Equal Better Make-Up?

When I started wearing make-up I was a teenager attending school and I had to use a lot of the more affordable brands.  As an adult I still use some of those brands, and others I replaced as soon as I could.

Over the years I have used a variety of make-up products from every price range available. Sometimes the expensive products did justice to their price tag, and other times they disappointed.  I have also been pleasantly surprised by some of the more affordable products.

Here is a list of products that are always welcome in my personal cosmetic bag:

Skin Care -  Simple products nourish my skin without irritating it.

Mattifier - Mary Kay gives my face a fresh, powdered look.

Foundation - Ben Nye, Iman and Mary Kay match my skin tone perfectly and feel light as a feather on my skin.

Powder - Iman and Mary Kay give my face a matte finish. 

Mascara - Maybelline Lash Stilleto and L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion lengthen my very short lashes.

Brow Liner - Milani and Kleancolour fill my brows without making them look fake.

Eye Shadow - L.A. Girl and Jordana are so pigmented that I don't have to apply multiple layers for the colour to show up on my dark skin tone. 

Lipstick - NYX Lip Smacking Fun Colours and Milani are very moisturizing.

Lip Gloss - Lancome Juicy Tubes give my lips the perfect glossy effect.

Don't miss out on all that make-up has to offer just because you can't afford the more expensive products. There are reputable, affordable products that can do the job just as good or even better. 

Which products are on your welcome list? 

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

"I've selected my outfit, but which colours should I use for my make-up?"

Considering the Time of Day, Occasion, Focal Point and Outfit (T.O.F.O) and Colour Theory help me to answer this question each time, and it can help you too.

Here is a summary of how they work:

T.O.F.O:

• Time of Day (see previous post) - Use softer colours during the day and bolder colours at night.  Depending on the look you want to create; you can also use softer colours at night or a hint of bold colour during the day. 

• Occasion - Subtle colours are suitable for professional or elegant occasions; while bolder colours are great for fun or festive ones.

• Focal Point - Equally bold colour on your eyes, lips and cheeks usually has an overwhelming effect. Apply the bolder colour to the feature that you want to stand out and you can use a softer shade on the others. 

• Outfit - Softer colours go well with boldly coloured outfits.  Outfits that have soft colours can be worn with either bold or soft make-up.

Here is an example of T.O.F.O in action:

Time of Day - Morning 

Occasion - Professional

Focal Point - Lips

Outfit - Royal blue 

Based on the T.O.F.O results above; I knew a soft look was the way to go.

Where does Colour Theory fit into all of this?  It will help you to choose the actual colours you will use.

I decided to use bronze with a hint of dark green for the eye-shadow, red-orange lipstick (for a pop of colour) and bronzer.

Never heard of Colour Theory? Find out the basics in my Facebook series on Colour Theory - Part 1 , Part 2  , Part 3 , Part 4 and Part 5 . 

T.O.F.O and Colour Theory make a great team,  they really do remove the guess work when it comes to choosing colours.

Ultimately your colour choices will reflect your personal style.  What method do you use for choosing your colours?  Are you going to give T.O.F.O and Colour Theory a try?

For daily make-up tips Like us on Facebook .

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Love It Or Leave It?

There are so many make-up products available today.  Every advancement within the make-up industry leaves me wondering "what could they possibly think of next"?

Primer is no longer limited to painting,  BB does not only refer to a Smartphone, CC means much more than carbon-copy and setting spray is not only for your hair.

I often ask myself  if I really need whatever the current craze is.  Sometimes the answer is yes; other times it is a loud no.

For some women, many products are not a part of their beauty routine for one of two reasons - they are either unaware of the benefits of using the products or they are not sure how to use them.

Here are some of the products that I used to leave on the shelf; plus the reasons I now love them:

• My skin care routine consisted of washing my face with my bath soap.  After I was advised that bath soap is too harsh for the skin on your face;  I began using cleanser, toner, moisturiser and facial scrubs.

• I used to only wear face powder and thought I didn't need foundation; until I realised that both of them work together.  The foundation creates a base for the powder and helps the powder to last longer.

• I loved how mascara lengthened my short lashes but my eyes used to water and would leave my eye area messy .  Enter water-proof mascara and the end of that problem.  

• Concealer meant nothing to me until I saw how it brightened my dark under eye area.  These days I don't leave home without it.

• I believed that I could not wear blush because I have dark skin.  But a hint of blush takes my make-up to a whole new level. I also use bronzer depending on the effect that I want to create.

After I started using each of these products, my make-up looked so much better.

What about you, which products do you or did you leave on the shelf?

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

The Make-up Challenge

No, I am not referring to a contest, but to the fact that most eye-shadows, blushes, bronzers, lipsticks and lipglosses do not show up on my dark skin tone.

The reviews rave about how pigmented the products are, but when I try them it's the total opposite.  Sometimes I would sample the product based on how pigmented it looks but when I apply the product the colour is undetectable .

Most times I have to apply multiple layers of the product before I see a hint of colour, and after all of that effort it still doesn't look look like the same colour in the package.

Image Source:http://www.eyeshadowlipstick.com/9853/an-explosion-of-color/

Yellow and orange eye-shadows are the most challenging; while the black, dark blue, dark green and dark purple are the easiest to work with.  The reds and pinks are somewhere in the middle.

Applying eye-shadows with a damp brush or sponge applicator really works wonders; it boosts the vibrancy of the colour.  I wear the lipsticks and lipglosses over another colour to add some life to them, and all I can do is hope for the best with the bronzers and blushes.

I LOVE COLOUR, I WANT COLOUR!!!

Why can't I have more colour in my make-up life?

I really wish there were more affordable products out there that were pigmented enough for beauties with dark skin tones.

What is your make-up challenge when shopping for make-up?

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Don't Be A Victim - Makeover Session Review

I signed up for the free session expecting to learn about "correct skin care and the latest make-up application techniques and trends from the experts" as was advertised in the newspaper.

I arrived at the location armed with my notebook and pen; chose my seat and waited excitedly for the session to begin.

Disappointment soon set in as I quickly realized that it was actually make up testing disguised as makeovers.  The whole thing was just a sales gimmick - you were supposed to love your makeover so much that you ended up buying some or all of the products used.  It really was a smart move on their part; kudos to them.

My first reaction was to leave because I did not want a makeover.  All of the horrible past experiences (read about them here, here and here) have left me very traumatized at the thought of someone else applying my make-up.  I eventually decided to stay and observe what was happening in the hope of learning something.

The makeovers got off to a great start.  I nodded my approval as he cleansed, toned and moisturised the faces. I was impressed when he used the correct shades of foundation and powder on both dark and fair skin tones.  Believe it or not; a small part of me was even considering getting a makeover.

BUT one thing kept me glued to my chair - the make-up artist was not sanitizing his tools/products.  He was double dipping (read Error #6 and Tip #6).  He was also using the same brushes, mascara wand and lipstick on everyone which would spread germs, bacteria and infections.  I shuddered in my chair and tried to look elsewhere during those unsanitary moments.

Image Source: www.beautysoclean.com

Sadly, the fifth person's make-over did not go as well as the others. Initially the selected shade was perfect  but as her face began to perspire the make-up started to look ashy.  By the time he finished; she looked as though she was wearing flour or baby powder on her face.

She loved it though, and bought every product that he used.  I felt so sorry for her and for the fact that I was not in a position to advise her. I was merely a fellow participant; and an unknown while the host was an international expert.

Tell me honestly; whose opinion would you have believed - the international expert and host of the session or the casually dressed, local, unknown with the neutrally made-up face?

I sincerely hope that others will learn from my experiences which I share in my posts and not have to find out the hard way like me.  It is important to know when a make-up professional is giving good or bad advice...our beauty is at stake. 

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Don't Be A Victim - Bridal Make-up Gone Wrong

Your face should look better after applying make-up and you should feel better about yourself.

Unfortunately, this was not the case for the bride or myself when a make-up artist did our faces for her wedding in 2006.

The make-up artist set up her station in a room with poor natural lighting; and I kept wondering what had possessed her to do that.  She wasn't even close to a window; and I had seen better lit areas that could have been used.  Even I knew that good lighting was one of the keys to creating gorgeous make-up; and I realised just how important it was thanks to this experience.

It was no surprise to me that the shade used was too dark, the make-up was applied too heavily and the bride and I looked like golliwogs.  Below is an accurate depiction of how our make-up looked:

We were so disappointed and upset; especially after seeing the beautiful make-up of the other bridesmaids and the maid of honour.  They all had lighter skin tones and so did the make-up artist; she clearly lacked experience in applying make-up to dark skin tones.  The bridesmaids and maid of honour tried to console us as they quickly realised how awful we looked compared to them.

Luckily for me I had brought my Iman Cream to Powder Foundation and Luxury Pressed Powder just in case; and luckily for the bride I knew what to do to fix her face.

Without wasting any time; I wiped off the excess make-up with tissue.  I then used my foundation and powder to give our faces a more natural look.  I am happy to say that the Iman products were a perfect match.

We all high-fived each other as we rushed to get dressed.  Thankfully everyone was now equally gorgeous and the bride was a show-stopper.

The bride thanked me so much for saving the day; her moment in time had almost been ruined.  Can you imagine how horrible it would have been for her if that mess had been captured forever in the minds of her guests, in the wedding video and in the wedding photos?

This should never have happened; not for such a momentous occasion.

Make-up artists we have a huge responsibility resting on our shoulders to ensure our clients look their best -  let's not take it lightly.

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Don't Be A Victim - How to Choose the Right Shade of Foundation or Powder

I believe it was 2004 when a co-worker (who was a former make-up sales rep) said to me:

"Nakita your make-up is always applied flawlessly, but I don't think that shade of foundation is right for your skin-tone   Let's set a date to go shopping for a brand that I think will be a better match for you."




At that time I was wearing Revlon Colour Stay Liquid Foundation in Cappuccino, which had been tested and recommended by the Revlon sales rep.  I decided that I had nothing to loose and we went make-up shopping.

My co-worker tested Iman Cream to Powder Foundation in Earth 4 on my face and I noticed the difference immediately.  I looked and felt amazing.

It was a perfect match compared  to Revlon which had my skin looking slightly ashy.  The Iman sales rep  recommended Clay-Medium-Dark Pressed Powder to set the Foundation but that shade was out of stock.

 I went to another location and the sales rep there was shocked when I asked for that shade.  She told me that she wears Clay-Medium-Dark and it would be to light for me.  I believed her because her complexion was much lighter than mine and her make-up looked perfect.  She told me that Earth Dark would be a better match for me, and it was.




That was a near miss for me, I am thankful that it worked out in my favour in the end.  I received so many compliments it was unbelievable.

Everyone has not been that lucky; I wasn't when I was told to buy the Revlon product.

Unless you normally use a particular make-up product you will not know which shade to buy.  Make-up sales reps therefore have a critical role and enormous responsibility helping you to choose the correct shades and types of products.  But as you have seen here; sometimes they make mistakes.

Here are some tips when testing foundation/powder

1. It shouldn't stand out e.g be lighter or darker on your skin.
2. It should blend with you skin and make it look better.
3. It should enhance and look flawless and natural.

Here is an easy way to remember -

your foundation/powder should always BE (pronounced be) - Blend and Enhance .

Do you have any make-up questions that you would like me to answer or any topics that you would like me to write about?  Leave a comment below or email me at beautiful.unspoilt@gmail.com .


"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

ERROR - That Is Not The Correct Shade For This Client (Part 3)

Click here for Part 1


Click here for Part 2


My suspicions were confirmed; the shade used really was too light for my skin tone.

I told the sales rep this but because it was the darkest shade in the store she encouraged me to buy it.  Needless to say I left the store without buying the foundation.

I went elsewhere and bought something that was more expensive but it was something I had used years ago.  The only reason I had stopped using it was because the retailer had stopped selling my shade; thankfully it was in stock.

It saddened me and angered me slightly to think that (1) had I not known what to look for I would have bought that foundation and (2) unsuspecting women would have received and accepted similar 'solutions'.

More make-up sales reps must realise the importance of what they do and take it seriously.  They have a duty to ensure that their recommendations enhance the beauty of their customers.  Please, please don't just sell what you have; sell something that meets the needs of the customer.

In the meantime we must educate ourselves so that we know what to look for.  Thankfully there is a lot of information available on the Internet. I shudder to think that I would have been styling around with an ashy looking face as was the case years ago from previous consultations.

What kind of experience have you had with make-up consultations and recommendations?  

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

ERROR - That Is Not The Correct Shade For This Client (Part 2)

Click here for Part 1

I took a deep breath and put my doubts aside.  I left home without wearing any make-up  because your natural skin tone must be visible, and went to the make-up store hoping that this time would be different.  

Here is a summary of my experience:

It started off on a good note.  I was greeted well and made to feel at ease but then everything went downhill... fast.  

Error #1 

 She did not ask about my skin type (normal, dry, oily or combination skin). 

Tip #1 

 Some types of foundations (liquid,powder,cream) work better with a particular skin type.

Error #2

 She did not ask what conditions I would wear the foundation in. 

Tip #2 

 Air conditioning dries out your skin and being outdoors may cause you to perspire more than usual. These factors affect how your foundation will look during the course of your day.

Error #3 

She did not ask which type of foundation I preferred. 

Tip #3 

Some persons may prefer a particular type of foundation i.e. cream, liquid or powder.  

Error #4 

My face was not cleansed with a facial wipe/toner, nor moisturised, nor primed.

Tip #4 

Make-up should only be applied to clean, moisturised skin;  while on my way to the store my face would have been exposed to dust/dirt in the atmosphere.  

For persons who want to minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles, using foundation primer is critical.

Error #5 

 The foundation was not tested on my jawline. 

It was applied from my temple and went as far as quarter-way down my neck. 

Tip #5 

Foundation must match your face and your neck.  

You should not see where it starts nor ends.  

The jawline is the perfect area for determining  if the shade matches your skin tone.

Error #6

She was double dipping i.e repeatedly dipping the brush in the product after applying it to my skin.  

Tip #6

After double dipping the product must be sanitised before using it on the next client to prevent the spread of infections/germs. She simply replaced the cover on the container and returned it to the product table with the other testers.

Error #7

 I was not invited to go outside to view the result in natural light. 

 The shade used looked too light to me but I decided to go outside to be certain.

Tip #7

 It is surprising how different your make-up looks in natural lighting vs artificial light.  

Make-up viewed in artificial light can be very deceptive.

I asked for a mirror and went outside to view the result.  What would I find when I got there?

To be continued... Click here for Part 3

"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

ERROR - That Is Not The Correct Shade For This Client (Part 1)

As the days passed, I watched my foundation get lesser and lesser.  I had to buy a replacement ASAP but I continued to delay completing that task.

You see, I was using Ben Nye foundation which is not sold in Barbados, and I was not enthusiastic about buying another brand.  Buying another brand required a make-up consultation with a sales rep so that I would know which shade to purchase.

Unfortunately for me, in all of my years of buying make-up I have never received an accurate recommendation from make-up sales reps, who ironically enough, were selling internationally acclaimed, high end brands. I was forced to conclude that they clearly don't have a clue about what they are doing - maybe they need to be trained or maybe they just don't care.

As a result, the only person that I trust to apply my make-up or recommend products to me is myself.  I would love to rely on someone else but I have yet to find someone who will rise to that occasion.

The time had now come when I could delay no longer.

To be continued...  Click here for Part 2


"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires