SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES YO!

Sorry this has been late coming. The past few weeks have been a bit busy – uni's starting, Fresher's Week, fighting Fresher's Flu and generally getting my shizzle together! I'm hopefully going to try and have a post every week as opposed to every few days because of time. But check this space out weekly!

Apologies aside, time for a Monthly Favourites! I have got a camera now, but I'm still trying to get it right, so hopefully videos soon?

Favourite Make-Up Product:

FlatOut Fabulous by MAC

As you guys would know from my 'Mid-Month Favourites' and 'Lipstick Love' posts, that I may have a thing for matte lipsticks. There's something so sleek and sophisticated about them! This was a birthday present purchased by my boyfriends a few months ago to start adding to my MAC lipstick collections, and recently, I've been turning to this lipstick a lot more. It's popping, and colour, a great colour to experiment with on 'nights out', especially during the wild and crazy fresher's week! I also wore it on an 80's themed sports social, which worked a charm to get create that vibe. It's a great shade that suits me and that staying power is incredible! I sometimes go to bed after going out without taking my make up off, wake up in the morning and it is still pristine! There are still remnants after I've scrubbed my face with make up remover. Perfection.

Favourite 'Beauty' Product:

SleekBe Beautiful Blemish Balm inDark

Does this count as a beauty product? I'm going to say yes, because of the SPF? Haha. Confusions aside, this product has been my essential over the past few weeks as a base for my make up. It matches my skin quite well, and combined with my Beauty Blender Sponge from Primark, and a quick spritz of Eau Roma Water from Lush on my face, it works a charm. It's easy to apply, quick to use, and when my face needs a quick boost, it's a nice alternative to my foundation I use! It will be a sad day when it runs out.

Favourite Item of Clothing:

Please ignore the mess in my room. Please?

Primark Lace Kimono

As stated before, Fresher's Week as a thing for me, even though I'm a third year now. But how can I say no to a week long party! I have gone out a few times, but it's difficult sometimes to judge what to wear because British weather is always dodgy. So I've been turning to this cheeky number to 'cover' up for the nights out. It's quite nice to dress up and down, and sometimes, I do wear it during the day as an alternative to a thick cardigan if it is still quite warm, but not warm enough to go without anything to cover my shoulders. My Mum wasn't a fan of this, saying that it looked like lingere, but I love it. It adds a sophistication to outfits, and is a nice transitional piece from day to night, from autumn to winter. Love.

Favourite Food/Drink:

Kellogg's Froster Strawberry Flavoured Pop-Tarts

I'm going old school here. This used to be a cheeky breakfast treat as a child, but I find myself really craving this recently. It was on special at Tesco and couldn't help myself! They're a nice snack every now and then, and a nice 'pick-me-up' in the middle of the day. Just a cheeky indulgent buy I've been loving really. Here's hoping after I finish the current pack my craving stops, even though I do love sugar. Hehe.

Favourite Song:

This has been a difficult choice, and have chosen to narrow it down to three songs at the minute!

1. Wanklemut – My Head Is A Jungle

I think this is just a song that is getting me back into my partying mood. Such a dance anthem for me, whilst also being quite relaxing from when I'm just chilling around. The voice, the piano, and steady beat, it all just works for me.

2. Sia – Chandellier

Sia's vocals are out of this world! They are so good and recently, I've just been obssessed with this song. I would hear it on the radio, and just think this is a great song, but when I stumbled onto the music video channel surfing, I was hooked. It reminded me of my old dancing days which I missed, was so creative and captivating – I just love it. It a dance tune, with such emotion to it! I honestly can't get enough of it!

3. Calvin Harris – Blame

More recent of the three songs, I literally heard this today, and haven't stopped playing replay on my Spotify. It's addictive, it's something I can groove to on the dance floor, with Calvin Harris beats I just can't get enough of. I'm really loving 'dance songs' that don't sound so generic and like everything else, and whilst this one, out of the three, does slip into that sound just a bit, there is a fine line, and this one is above it!

Favourite TV Show:

America's Next Top Model (Season 21)

I am a massive ANTM fan! I've seen every single episode since day one, and I am loving this season as of current. It's not as gimicky as season 20, but still has fantastic drama that keeps me hooked. Obviously, it doesn't have quite the class of older seasons (Andre Leon Tally, come back?) but it's getting better and is one of the best cycles I've seen in a while. I especially love the 'No Bullsh*t' attitude Tyra has this season, taking nonsense from no one and teaching good life lessons not only the models can take but that the world can. Men can dress in heels, and labels should not define someone, and you should never give up! And the return of Miss Jay!! This is seriously doing it for me right now!

Peace Out!

Thulani x

LIPSTICK EVOLUTION.

Growing up, I thought I would be that girl who could never wear lipsticks. I had massive lips, dark skin, and make up would never be for me, even when my Mum glammed me up for cutesy family events, and bought me all sorts of funky eye-shadows to play with, and made me up for Prom. I just never imagined myself being the 'make-up' kinda girl. Going to a girls school, I thought it was dumb putting any make-up – even for the bus ride home wear the lads from the boys school would see my bare face. I didn't want to be one of those girls who sat for half an hour putting on make up during the last lesson instead of listening to the teacher. But as I got older, I saw the benefits of a little make up, when applied correctly. Cue a photo of me as a youngster...

 Me in Year 10. I thought it was cool. Oh yeah!

I try to get this image out of my head. The ultra winged eyeliner that was unnecessary. The poorly applied foundation. Unruly eyebrows, and pose that would make any one who lived the 'emo' faze of their teens cringe. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, taking inspiration from my heroes of that day like Hayley Williams and Gerard Way. But as I have grown, I've learnt to take better tips from people will skin tones like me, Women like Alek Wek kept things simple and stunning. Lupita Nyongo is a goodness who has never failed in looking fabulous. As much as I like thinking that standing out from the crowd by being the only Black 'Emo' girl in my school, I decided to take advice from these female greats!

It started with a simple red.

Summer of 2011. Red Lipstick in Malaga from Miss Sporty.

This was a cheap drug-store buy from Miss Sporty. It was affordable, it was red, and it did amazing job. I felt that by just keeping it simply, but adding so daring colours to my lips meant that I looked like I was making a massive effort, even if I still didn't really know what I was doing. It transformed my smile, and gave me hope that maybe, make-up could be my thing. I had gotten loads of compliments from it, and from their, my love began to blossom. 

I experimented with other drug store buys, bought a few lip products from Topshop, enjoying staining my Starbucks mugs with all sorts of colours, until I met my holy grail of lipsticks. I wanted the perfect red lip. Red was sultry, and sophisticated, it was me. It went with everything, and I wanted it perfect. It was what I started this journey with, and when this product came into my knowledge, I knew I had to have it. The One. 

I'm sure you've all heard of Ruby Woo from MAC. I didn't think I was that girl. Me? Wearing MAC? Never. Mostly because I'm a student and couldn't justify paying that much for one lipstick. I searched for dupes, but was never satisfied. It wasn't perfect. Ruby Woo kept floating around in the back of my mind, telling me that we were meant to be. I asked my Mum about it, and she said that Ruby Woo looked perfect, especially for someone with dark skin. Together, we ventured to the MAC store, crammed with people who seemed to know so much more about make up than me, the little novice who felt somewhat out of place. I couldn't be in the grace of Ruby Woo! But I sucked it up, and looked at the sample... it was perfect. The perfect red, all Matte with it's cute and classy black packaging. It might as well have been glowing at me. I tried it out, staring at myself in the mirror. It was meant to be.

 

Ruby Woo and I.

I bought it and haven't regretted it. And since then, I've been a lot more daring with my lipsticks. Flat Out Fabulous was next to be added to the MAC collection, and it is fabulous. I'm growing quite a collection I never thought I would have, and I'm proud of it. I'm love splashing my face with colour, and being creative with my lips. I suppose the thing to take from this, if anything, is to look for inspiration in people like you if you have no clue, then make it your own. Buy shades that suit you, especially if you have dark skin. Don't settle for shades not suited for you. Branch out, research, and maybe you're find a ruby that makes you woo. (What an awful pun!)

Goodbye silly novice, hello lipstick addiction!!!

Peace Out,

Thulani x

P.S. Lipstick collection post? Maybe?