Beauty…

I wanted to share some images from a photoshoot I had the pleasure of being part of this past weekend. The photographer, Kimberly of  Kimberly Joy Photography is talented at what she does. I love the images she captured and I am excited about us working together in the future.

Photography by Kimberly Joy

Photography by Kimberly Joy

Photography by Kimberly Joy Photography; Modeled by Jasmine; Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence

On beautiful Jasmine’s eyes, I used the new eyeshadow palette from the MAC Reel Sexy Collection called Dynamic Duo 4. I love the matte, yet highly pigmented texture of the eyeshadows in this particular palette. On her lips, I used Up The Amp lipstick by MAC.

What are your favorite eyeshadow and lip colors this spring?

Thots,

Tiwa

Excellence in the Industry: A Seminar for Makeup Artists

Something special is happening on April 30th, 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria. I am so excited to announce this event and I hope to see you there.

Excellence in the industry: A Seminar for Makeup Artist on April 30th, 2012

Trust me, this event is a must for any makeup artist who is looking to take their career to the next level.

Thots,

Tiwa

Bite This Style: Online Vintage Boutique with an Edge

Last year, I worked on a photoshoot for my sister Adeola’s online vintage boutique called Bite This Style.  As I mentioned; I love unique vintage pieces and the selections on the site do not disappoint. There are a few items I have my eyes on, so I am off to go shopping

Check out the website to pick up your next statement vintage pieces!

Let me introduce you to BTS

Bite This Style: Online Vintage Boutique

Update:  I just picked up this belt…I can’t wait to rock it.

Thots,

Tiwa

Where Music and Beauty Meet…

I love me some Brandy and Monica, so whenever they have a project together, I am more than happy to “hear” from them.  The image and the video below says it all. They both looked amazing and their makeup application was perfectly executed. Big ups to their Makeup Artists! They are not going anywhere, anytime soon. Keep it up girls!!!

Brandy and Monica at the "It All Belongs To Me" Video shoot

Image from here

Thots,

Tiwa

Happy Love Day!!

Happy Valentine’s Day to You All

Let’s celebrate our loved ones as we don’t know what tomorrow holds.  Let them know just how much you love them.

I will leave you with my favorite song by Whitney Houston, “My Love Is Your Love”

May her soul rest in perfect peace. She will be missed and as she said, “If I should die this very day… don’t cry cause on earth we weren’t meant to stay”.  Her life will be celebrated through her music.

Love Always,

Tiwa

LIFT: Beyonce Post-Baby 2012

L.I.F.T = Look I’m Feeling Today!!

She just interrupted my regularly scheduled programming.

Beyonce looks amazing! In fact, in makes no sense that she looks this fabulous 30 days after giving birth to her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.  She motivates me to get on my grind again.

Her whole look is on fire…from her hair, to her minimalist makeup, to her shoe game.

Beyonce

Beyonce

Shoes by Christian Louboutin

Images from Here

Thots,

Tiwa

New Year Update…

Happy, Happy, Happy New year!!!

I feel blessed to have made it to 2012.  Saying I have missed blogging is an understatement, but I have been soo busy with work, that I have not been able to find a balance with work, life and blogging.

That brings me to my blogging goals for 2012. I started off this year evaluating what direction I wanted to take this blog. When I first started this blog, I really wanted the blog to be the perfect venue to let my ideas run free, share information and to meet like-minded people.  Through out the past 2 years, I have been able to do that, but I think I could have done a better job with meeting my initial goals.

So, this year I am on a mission to interact more with the blogging community, work on posting more of my work and sharing  even more ideas and information. It might take me a little while to get back running, but please bear with me.

I have some L.I.F.T posts, bridal posts from weddings I did in 2011 and Jan 2012 and some beauty tips coming up.

And because a blog post is useless without an image

Below is a sneak peak at one of my “most favoritest” brides in the whole wide world, Temi at her traditional engagement

Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence; Gele by Lola O

I love you

Thots,

Tiwa  xxx

My Skincare Regime…

I miss you guys!!!

This topic has been a long time coming. I am not a dermatologist, but a lot of my clients ask me about skincare and how I take care of my skin. I also get questions about product recommendations and what products I think will work on them and tips I can provide to improve skin texture and breakouts. In this entry, I will talk about what I have done personally, rather than generalize about skincare, because everyone’s skin is different.

A younger me...fixing my hair and thinking about my skincare and the upcoming makeup look for the day

When it comes to my skincare regime, one thing that has worked for me is patience and consistency. Once I find a product that works for my face, I stick with it (until something comes up that gives me a reason to change). For me, the trial period is the most frustrating part of the process. But patience is a virtue when it comes to skincare. During my trial period (which lasted for yearsssssssssssss), I figured out the products that matched my skin needs. Once I found the magic combination, I just knew. My skin was glowing and I started to receive compliments from people around me, because they too noticed the change in my skin.

Now… somewhere along the line, when I would notice my skin didn’t feel or look that great anymore… i would reevaluate the products I had been using and would find a new routine.

My skincare story:

When I was about 15 years old, I started noticing changes in my skin. I wasn’t really prone to acne, but once in a while I would get really painful pimples. I tried different products including drugstore brands, like Noxema, Clean and Clear, etc. But as I got older, my skin would go through periods where it was either really oily or it would dry up like crazy. I started using Proactive when I was in College but it didn’t really work that well for me. 

Fast forward some years, I now have a skin regime that I love. Over the years, my skin has been consistent and I don’t see a lot of change. I can now describe my skin as oily and with occasional pimples (few and far between, knock on wood)

My updated skin care regime is below:

1) I use Mary Kay 3 in 1 cleanser for combination to oily skin: I love this cleanser because not only is it great for oily skin and it also serves as my cleanser, my exfoliator and my skin fresher. I also use the Clarisonic two to three times a week. I find this helps to maintain an even completion and helps to keep my skin smooth. I also love how it opens up my pores, getting my skin ready for moisturization.

Cleanser

2) I use Mary Kay Blemish Control Toner after I am done cleansing my face.  This toner helps to remove excess oil and reduce blackheads and acne, while preventing new pimples from forming.

Toner

3) To moisturize my face, I currently use MAC Complete Comfort Cream, which launched back in December 2010. I love this product because it totally absorbs into my skin without leaving me feeling oily. In the middle of the summer or when I am in Nigeria, I use an oil control moisturizer, like MAC oil control lotion or Mary Kay Oil control lotion. I also use an eye cream as needed at this point.

Complete Comfort Cream

4) After I am done with cleansing, toning and moisturizing, I prep my skin for makeup.  I use MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment, around my T-zone and my upper cheeks, pretty much the areas where I tend to be the oiliest at the end of the day.  This helps to reduce control oil and shine and mattify my skin and prepares my skin for foundation.  I have found that some primers leave my skin feeling clammy, but this primer does not do this. If I plan on staying outdoors for an extended period, I use MAC Face Protection Visage with SPF 50 as my primer. FYI: I also have SPF in my foundation.

Skin Refined Zone Treatment

5) Last but not least, when I do have breakouts I put Mario Badescu drying lotion on the surface of the pimple and it really does dry it out while I sleep.

Below are some skincare tips I have shared in the past, but I really do live by these tips, so here goes, maybe it will help someone out there:

1) Washing your face every night is essential (or use makeup wipes to take off your makeup. I love the MAC Wipes).
2) Make sure you change your pillowcase often. You will notice that if you sleep on the same side of your face for a while, sometimes pimples will occur on the areas that make contact with the pillow.  So to prevent the pimples from forming, change your pillowcase and switch up the side you lay your head.
3) When washing your face, do it twice. I think that is a good habit to develop. When you wash your face the first time with a cleanser, you are taking off any impurities and bacteria buildup. The second time around, you are cleansing your face to remove any oils from your face. Oil can be resistant. Think about when you hand wash your dirty, oily dishes, most times you have to wash it a couple of times, to get it completely clean. The same goes for your face. Twice is perfect, as you do not want to dry out the essential nutrients in your skin.
4) Whatever you do to you face, you should do to your neck. This includes washing your face and neck, moisturizing your face and neck, SPF on your face and neck, etc.
5) Sunscreen is a most for all skin types and complexions. You will reap the benefits as your skin ages.

6) Treat the area around your eyes like you would a baby. Be nice and use an eye cream, it’s never too early to get your eye game on point. Prevention is Key! lol

Please share any skincare tips you might have.

Thots,

Tiwa

***Pink Diamond’s ‘Steals and Deals’ Alert***

Sephora’s Friends and Family Sale 2011 began on October 22nd and will end on November 2nd, 2011. Click on the this link to get the promo code for 20% off your total purchase. This discount will only be honored online. I wanted to share this sale with you in case you need to re-stock on some products xxxx

Sephora

Thots,

Tiwa

Some of My Favorite Things

It’s been a while…life is taking over at the moment. I have been working like crazy and time just seems to be speeding by.

It’s been over a year since I last shared some of my favorite beauty items. Since then some items have changed and some have remained the same:

1. I still use MAC Paint in Bamboom as an eye primer, but lately I have been grabbing for my Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. I love the finish of the primer and the opaque coverage which really makes my eye shadow pop.
   

   Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

2. I can’t live without my MAC  Spiked eyebrow pencil.
3. Can’t get enough of my Cover Girl Queen Natural Hues Minerals Bronzer in Ebony Bronze. I use it to contour my cheeks and temple area, but sometimes I use it as a eye crease color as well. This is a great all over bronzer for women of color.
   

   CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer in Ebony Bronze

    

4. MAC Pro longwear foundation in NC 50. I love it!
   

   Pro Longwear Foundation

5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer w/ SPF 35 in NC 50
6. Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara is theBOMB.com.  It really works for my unruly lashes and helps to define them perfectly.
   

   Haute & Naughty Lash

7. Styli-Style 24-Hour Power Line & Seal 24-Eyes…I love how long it stays in my waterline without smudging or running. I use the pencil in carbon black and I pick them up at my local CVS store.
   

   Styli-Style Line and Seal Eyeliner in Carbon Black

    

8. For eyeshadows; MAC Bitter, Fig 1, Jest and Girlie are some of my favorite eyeshadows of the moment.
9. For lipglosses; I can’t commit to any one color…or brand.  But right now, I am really feeling MAC Flusterose Lustreglass. I am also loving, NYX slim lip pencils. There are so many great colors to choose from.
   

   NYX Slim Lip Pencils

    

10. My friend, Onada told me about the Clarisonic Cleansing System in 2009 and I knew I wanted to try it out, but I kinda procrastinated about it until last year. It is by far the best skincare tool for exfoliation and improving the texture of one’s skin. There are reviews everywhere, so I won’t duplicate efforts, but trust me once you try it you will know what I mean. The Nordstrom Exclusive packages are still available online. The exclusive package is valued at $315  but you get it for $225. The package includes extra brush heads, cleansers and a cute pink travel bag.
    
    

    Clarisonic Cleansing System

What beauty items can’t you live without?

Thots,

Tiwa