It's Beautiful & Unspoilt's 1st Anniversary!!!

Happy Anniversary by n2fab featuring a red lipstick

A HUGE thanks to all of you who read/shared/commented on our posts during our first year.   
Beautifully Yours
Beautiful & Unspoilt
"...because your make-up should always BE (Blend and Enhance)." - Nakita Squires

Tick! Tock! I Must Beat The Clock Pt1

I'm wearing less make-up products these days, not as a result of any careful planning, but through necessity.  I'm always trying to beat the clock but I usually end up losing.  Well I decided that it was time for me to win.  I have reached the point where I'm tired of running out of time when doing my make-up.  I want to complete all of my tasks before I leave home; instead of having to skip some of them.

Here is my everyday make-up routine:

Step 1  Eyeshadow
Step 2  Brows
Step 3  Foundation
Step 4  Powder
Step 5  Lots of blending
Step 6  Setting Spray
Step 7  Lipbalm, Lip Colour and Lipgloss

Seems simple enough, but Steps 1 and 2 do take quite a bit time.  By the time I finish Step 1; I have to rush through the other Steps, and then I have to rush through all of the other non-makeup tasks that need to be done.  To make a bad situation worse,  the Sleek BB Cream that I am currently using (which I love), has a better finish with foundation primer.  This means there are now 8 Steps instead of  7,  which I have to finish in the same amount of time.

The reality is my eyeshadow application requires too much effort, and the results do not equate to the time spent.  I have to apply multiple layers because the colour barely shows up on my dark skin tone. Plus I have a sizeable eyelid so a quick sweep of the brush never works for me.

Check out these shots of the make-up I wore to work.  You can't even see the eyeshadow.

From L-R
1,2 and 6 = red eyeshadow,
3 and 5 = navy blue eyeshadow
4 = purple eyeshadow

 (http://instagram.com/beautifulandunspoilt)

Here's my typical eyeshadow application process:

Step 1  Primer or base
Step 2  Two layers of skintone eyeshadow
Step 3  At least 3 layers of the eyeshadow colour for the day
Step 4  Lots of blending to make it flawless

For each layer of eyeshadow I have to swirl the brush in the eyeshadow 8 times  to get maximum colour payoff.

All of this takes time...

Too much time...

Time that I do not have to spare.

I'm a girl that loves to see colour on my eyelids, it lifts my spirits and makes me happy.  But the time/effort needed vs the final result was frustrating me. (CLICK HERE for the details)

I have tried various brands - Fash Professional 120 Palette, Sugarpill, Maybelline Colour Tattoos, but the results are the same.  I do have Naked and Makeup Doll Cosmetics eyeshadows which are vibrant, but I prefer to wear those at night. ( CLICK HERE to find out why)

I needed to find a solution to my problem and I needed to find it fast.

Click here for Part 2.


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

Make-up Sanitisation Poster

Do The Right Thing by n2fab featuring a foundation brush

Night Elegance

Night Elegance by n2fab featuring a moisturizing lipstick

Chanel powder blush
nordstrom.com

Ilia lengthening mascara
$30 - colette.fr

Jouer moisturizing lipstick
beauty.com

Victoria s Secret victoria secret eyeshadow
victoriassecret.com

Say Goodbye to Eye-shadow Fallout

Image Source www.fromupnorth.com/inspiration-gallery-130-photography/

It seems as though eye-shadow fallout is here to stay.  

Sometimes no matter how careful we are when applying eye-shadow; it will put in an appearance with some eye-shadow dust here or specks of glitter there.

In my post Nightmare on Make-up Street - Eye-shadow Fallout; I shared what I call the Dip Tap Apply (D.T.A) method and some other useful tips.  Since then, I found this Beautylish article Four Ways to Deal with Makeup Fallout which contains some helpful information, both written and visual.

Here's my review of the article:

The Targeted Eye Remover Swabs and the Anna Sui Makeup Remover Penn would be useful  when you have to go a function directly after work, and you want to change your eye-shadow look.

The Makeup Wipes would be useful if you wanted to remove all of your makeup and reapply it.

I would love to try the Spark-L Duster, it sounds like a great product.

I would never use Scotch Tape on my face, and I wouldn't advise you to either.  I use Medical Tape instead (thanks for that tip Moden Makeup), and it's fantastic for cleaning away glitter fallout and minor eye-shadow fallout.

So let's say goodbye to eye-shadow fallout -  the uninvited visitor when applying eye-shadow.

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

Beautiful You

Beautiful You by n2fab on Polyvore

Vogue Germany
models.com

Summer Breakfast
fotki.yandex.ru

How to Avoid Allergic Reactions to Make-up

Beauties, I worked late last night and I am only now able to post this for you.  I'm so sorry for the delay;  it's well worth the wait though.

Let's dive right into today's topic:

Ever had an allergic reaction to make-up? Watery eyes, itching skin, rashes?

Or maybe you never had an allergic reaction to make-up, and want to keep it that way?

MakeUps Journal has the answer for you; click here for some excellent tips.

Image:© Subbotina Anna/ Fotolia

I haven't had an allergic reaction to make-up for a long time.  There were a few times in the past when my eyes would water, but I think that was more about my technique.  You see, I had not yet learnt the secret for dealing with eyeshadow fallout - as the saying goes "...if I only knew then what I know now...".

If the tips were helpful or you have your own that you would like to share; you can leave a comment below.

See you next week!

"...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

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

The Origins

Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived a little girl who would watch her mum get dolled up. 

All this little girl wanted was to be glamorous just like her mum, and she would eagerly imitate what she saw her mum doing. Unfortunately, the only outcomes were the many scoldings for making a mess and wasting the products.

As the little girl grew older; her love for make-up grew stronger and her skill improved. That little girl was me - Nakita Squires.

During my teen years I attended make-up seminars hosted by  top Barbadian make-up artists Dawn-Lisa Callender-Smith and Adzil Stuart that changed my life forever.  I learnt about make-up techniques, skin care and the critical role of make-up in the movie industry. The knowledge gained in these seminars birthed a passion within me that I can't resist sharing with others.   

Career Make-up Look 'Reddy For Work'

Make-up is so amazing, wonderful and exciting and it is my mission (yes I have chosen to accept it) to help others solve their make-up issues.    

Contest Entries

Join me as I continue to explore the fascinating, intriguing, fun world of make-up.


"...because your make-up should always Enhance" - Nakita Squires