IMATS

These are the unedited images from both days of the show. I will post them in the right order when I am not globe-trotting :)

Slide show 1

Slide show 2

Slide show 3

Slide show 4

Slide show 5

I vs You

I really hate it when my boyfriend says 'You know I love you'. I shouldn't right?

It is his favourite thing to say when I am upset or whining. For instance, when I say 'You no longer text like you used to.' The reply will be 'C'mon you know I love you.' How does that solve the problem?! Actually, how do I know he loves me if he doesn't tell me? Why should he assume that I know? Is that an excuse for not texting me? He somehow believes that because he told me last week, then it should stand till this week. In a girl's world, it doesn't work like that. Out of sound is out of existence. People can stop loving each other in minutes let alone weeks.

When I really thought about it, I realised it is not just him. I do not like that word 'you'. It is a relationship breaker. Not just with boyfriends but also friends, colleagues, clients especially.

Take this scenario. A client comes in late for an appointment. She apologises a million times and explains that the child-minder was late. You get started and then towards the end realise that you cannot complete the look because you've run out of time. You then turn to the client and say 'Your make-up cannot be completed because you came late.' She again apologises and you say there is nothing you can do and she leaves feeling very bad that she came late and spoiled everything.
How does that make you feel as an artist? She left you with a heavy heart and more unhappy than when she met you (not to mention the half make-up), and will probably not be dialling your cell phone any time soon.

Now imagine the same client and the same situation. Towards the end when you realise you have no more time, you turn to her and you say 'I cannot complete this look on you because I have run out of time.' By saying that, you have said exactly the same thing, but you did not blame her for it. She will again apologise and you will say there is nothing more I can do and she will leave, but not feeling as terribly as if you blamed her for it and she will almost certainly return to you.
Yes it is her fault, but she has acknowledged and apologised already, there is no need for extra blame. This sort of language puts people off.

Another example, you came back only to find your favourite lime crime pigment had been used and you know exactly who it is. You walk up to your friend and you say 'You are annoying, you used my pigment without my permission.' This is a direct accusation and provocation. Just because she used your pigment doesn't mean she is an annoying person. She then says 'What do you mean I am annoying, you are also annoying' and then a fight ensues.

Imagine you walked up to that friend and you said 'I am annoyed'. By saying that you have empowered yourself. Your friend will ask you 'Why are you annoyed?' and you will say 'You used my pigment and I don't like it' and the next thing will almost certainly be 'I'm sorry'.

Another example, client/bestie/boyfriend walks up to you when you are not in such a good mood and you say 'What do you want?' She/he says 'nothing' and walks away thinking what a cow you are.

Imagine you said to the same person 'What can I do for you?'. By saying that you have made yourself approachable and put yourself at their service. The person says 'Oh I'd like you to please conceal this red spot I have a very important place to go.' You take 2 minutes of precious time and conceal the spot and they're off. This person left you thinking the world of you. If they happen to be some place where people are talking about make-up and gurus and bloggers and what-nots, will they tell others about you? You bet they would.

When you use 'you' more than you use 'I', you come across as an attacker and you empower the other person. You want to always be empowered while being the servant. You must serve in order to lead. There are situations however where I is not what you want to be using, like those I-am-better-than-you scenarios. Avoid such because it makes people feel inferior. You don't want anyone feeling inferior around you. Use language that puts you at other people's service, and does not attack people. You will gain a place in their hearts. Your reputation is the single most important thing people carry about you. Build it well.

Back to my boyfriend, when I really think about it, I attacked him first. I should have said 'I haven't received your text message' or 'Where is my text for today?' or anything nicer than 'You never text like you used to.'
When I said 'You never text like you used to', if he had said to me 'I want you to know I love you', wow! I would have shut up for a moment, then said 'I love you too' and gone to sleep.

Alas, after he said 'You know I love you', I said "I don't know that you love me because you haven't told me';
'Yes I've told you, I told you last week';
'Last week is not today'
'Why are you so difficult?';
'What now I'm difficult, and you aren't?' and then the fight continued...

Beauty blogging love

Happy 2nd anniversary to Clumps of Mascara!

Have I told you how much I love this lady? She is just fantastic. My very own adopted sister.

Her kindness is beyond words honestly and she is a fab beauty blogger. I'm constantly learning from her and stealing ideas from her blog posts.

Much love sweetie

Stay beautiful...

Nine words women use

(1)
Fine:< /SPAN> This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2)
Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3)
Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4)
Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
(5)
Loud Sigh: This is actually not a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6)
That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
(7)
Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you' re welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').
(8)
Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying SCREW YOU!
(9)
Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

In the Spotlight...Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte is a natural cosmetic line founded by Maureen Kelly back in 1999. I must admit I never heard of it till I attended the in-cosmetics conference in Munich back in April.
The theme of the whole conference was natural/organic and the trend right now is definitely green. Everyone is talking 'sustainable', 'recyclable', 'chemical free', 'toxin free' etc. All major brands out there are jumping on the green bandwagon.
This conference did me plenty of good. It was so nice to see ingredients for a change and be able to reflect on the ocean of raw materials out there for finished products. Every one was gloating about their 'wonder' new ingredient and how it will impact cosmetic products and ultimately the end consumer. Just attending it made me feel detoxified.
If this was not a finished product conference at all, why am I telling you about Tarte?

In the conference hall, there is usually an 'innovation zone', which only a select few products make. In that zone, some finished goods that are trend-setting are exhibited. I was amazed to find that a company, Tarte, had products in 2 different sections of this zone, the 'tech-ture' and 'anti'ageing' sections (others are naturals, protection, techno-beauty and beauty foods).
To be featured in the innovation zone is a huge thing, let alone have 2 products in it.

I examined the anti-ageing blush. I have heard of many anti-ageing products, but very few are blushes. This product will also fit in the protection and naturals sections. It is a limited edition product that contains the t5 superfruit complex signatory to Tarte. The complex is said to help fight free radicals, brighten, reduce redness, soothe, soften and deliver skin restoring properties. How cool is that? I suggest you run off to Tarte and help yourself before it runs out. If you are a make-up artist, this is one for those red cheeks that you usually have to put layers of concealer and foundation on. It retails at $28.00 (18.67). You might think that's expensive but nothing good comes cheap, trust me on that. It's good value for money. Professional Make-up artists can get 40% off with Tarte pro :D

What really caught my attention was the spring-greening reuseable straw palette in the tech-ture section. It was there because it is a product that merges the 'practical and playful'. The packaging is every green girl's dream. The compact is made from sustainable straw and the foam tray in it is made from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (a recycled material). The best part is after all the make-up is gone, you can just throw away the foam tray and use the palette to store jewellery, some make-up items, business cards, coins, whatever tickles your fancy really :)
It has 6 beautiful eyeshadow colours and even though it is called spring greening, I'm sure you'll agree this is a very summery collection. The lip glosses are infused with the t5 superfruit complex so you get all those benefits listed above. I got to play with it at the conference but I was only allowed for five minutes :( I would give this a score of 7.5/10 for pigmentation. It is comparable to a MAC shadow.

The cute little brush is from sustainable wood and the bristles are so soft, perfect for packing and blending the eye shadows.

I really love this brand and their philosophies. They support Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP) and do not test on animals, just how I would like every brand to be.

The sustainable palette retails at $38.50 (£25.67) and Tarte only delivers to the USA.

What's that you're saying? Too expensive? Don't live in the USA? Stop whining! Her Royal Poshness has one right beside her in Leeds :)


Do you want it?
I don't care if you live in the North Pole, I can get it to you. All you have to do is name the brown shadow in the palette.






Something else I found very intriguing in Munich, the beautiful music produced by these men, from these instruments I had never seen in my life. Simply amazing.

Stay beautiful...

For the love of...Sub-Saharan Africans

This is the press officer of the British National Party, which has just won 2 seats in the European parliament. Racism is a very widespread thing, and while people are not allowed to openly express it, here it can be done under the name of 'BNP'.

Are we really dysfunctional underachievers with low IQ, who mug white people and fill up the prisons, and eat up the tax payer's money? I am a tax payer along with my sub-saharan African doctor friends and this really hurts. I'm sure that black people contribute a lot of good to Britain one way or another.

Charles Dickens? Mozart? Has this man not heard of Wole Soyinka or Fela Kuti before? He obviously does not know Aliko Dangote, Nelson Mandela or Kofi Annan (or Barack Obama even).
What we have is what is important to us. It is just rather unfortunate most Westerners do not relate to our music or our stories. Just because no one has written about begging for more soup doesn't make us under-achievers. Our priorities in Africa are different. Our culture and heritage has come far and I think that for us to recover from the slaves that our ancestors were to get to where we are now is an achievement. The only things most people know are the epidemics and poverty issues portrayed by the media. As far as I am concerned, poverty is everywhere. People here live a 'borrowed' life. Everything is credit. Take away all the credit and let's see what the country will become (credit crunch anyone?). The reason why everyone gets healthcare is because it is 'free' (NOT- We pay 40% income tax). I am a medical student and about 80% of the patients I've met are Caucasian!
This guy is laughable to be honest but I'm in no such mood. From constructing the underground to owning the football clubs, Britain is where it is because of foreigners.

It wasn't long ago I was last offended, at the in-cosmetics conference Munich. This was a world wide conference and in some seminar, some lady said her company is worldwide (while showing a map of the world with dots on every continent except Africa). After this seminar I was sat amongst a group of 'elite' women having lunch and discussing the seminar when someone asked me about my brand. I took precious time to tell her all about it (I usually get very hyper when I am talking about my beauty dreams) and after I was done, she just looked at me and said "Africans are starving, they have no time for make-up!"
I swear I mentally gave her a black eye just then. She is clearly clueless about African women and I was not even going to educate her. I almost drowned her in hot tea!

There is a lot about Africans that is just taken for granted. We are a very talented lot when we are given the chance. African women have a colourful history, celebrate beautiful festivals in style and are never in a 'hurry' as is the case in the west. They LOVE to look good (for goodness sake I am one!) and will spend everything for the perfect image. Family and love and beauty is everything to us.
It's such a shame that some people associate Africans with crime. All the murders I read on the news last week were committed by Caucasians.

Yes we may not have people who have made headlines but we are most certainly not any of the things that Mr 'BNP' has called us.

I am ashamed to say I live in Yorkshire where one of the MP's was elected. Please visit the BNP and see what they have in stock for the 'caucasians' and their defence. I wouldn't want to be alive to see such a thing in Britain. At least we 'dysfunctionals' are only to be expatriated!

From a very disturbed