Alrighty lovelies, lets go back to the basics shall we? I remember my 10 year old curious self sitting in front of my Mother’s mirror – exploring all the cream and powder products I had to my exposure. Layering my face with every single product I could get my tiny fingers on gave me such a thrill. Jumping castles and swimming on Sunday’s never rocked my boat like hosting makeovers did. I even tweezed brows, over plucked them and got into huge trouble, but all in the name of beauty – so I took my time in the naughty corner on the chin.

How many of us go through this beauty venture with such a childlike approach and understanding? Hopefully not to such an indulging extend like I did, lol! As an adult, being exposed to a market that is literally flooded with thousands of products, opinions and techniques to chose from can be super overwhelming.

BUT, the good news is anyone (yes, even you) can be good at doing their own face beat with a few of my basic makeup tips and a little guidance. Whether you’re looking to tackle the cat eye or finally figure out how to apply contours & highlights on the right spots!

TIPS

#1 – Wink away.
Melt your pencil to make it glide. Creamy products blend better when they are warmed up. Remember to keep the line nice, thin and bump free.

#2 – Oh, hi there pigment.
Use a lighter shade of foundation on your eye lids to make the eye shadow pop.

#3 – No more raccoons please!
A smoky eye can go from sultry to sloppy real fast if you don’t know what you’re doing. Apply your shadow in the outer third of your eye and blend it out properly. Remember to always check your symmetry, color balance and blending.

#4 – All you need is love. Kidding. All you need is lashes.
Curl lashes prior to applying mascara to ensure that flattering curly lift. Coat them a few times and be sure to run through the clumps if there is any.

#5 – Flirty Felicity.
Dust some translucent setting powder on your lashes between coats of mascara to plump up your lashes. The powder helps the mascara to grip in between coats, leaving you with fuller, more voluminous lashes.

#6 – My lips are sealed.
Set your lipstick with a tissue and powder. Swipe on your shade, lay a tissue over your mouth, and dust translucent powder over the top to set the color from smudging and bleeding. This process may seem extra, but the pay off is SO worth it!

#7 – Blushing Betty.
Use a brush handle as a contour guide. Everyone’s face is shaped differently, so where your BFF might be doing her contour may not be the best place for you to do yours. To tell where you should be dusting your bronzer (or blusher) roll a makeup brush handle right below your cheekbone (directly in the pocket underneath the actual bone) to find the perfect angle for your face. Always remember to soften the color out by blending it.

Thats enough love for now, stay tuned for more!

1.
You’re not going to be everybody’s cup of tea, and that’s okay.

Unfortunately the world is swamped with people who, no matter what you do, how hard you try, will simply just not like you. The good news is, the world is also filled with souls like your own, souls that will embrace your wildness without judging you for it. These people will love you fiercely and they are your earthly treasures. Don’t waste your finite time proving to undeserving people that you have value. They will miss it completely. They wont buy what you are selling. You are not for them and they are not for you. Seek to share your path with those who seek and recognize the beauty of your soulful presence, and leave the rest gracefully behind as you move on with your meaningful existence. 

2.
Tell your ego to shut up and call yourself out.

The most common reason why we keep making the same mistakes is because our insecure ego’s prevents us from taking responsibility for our own faults, toxic traits and mistakes. You have to call yourself out. That means we actually care about our futures, personal growth, progress and happiness. I’d rather exceed in growing my character than go through life with ignorance and just protecting my ego. Take a step back, grow up, and move on.

3.
There is no type of affection that can fill the void in a person who doesn’t love and value themselves.

Yes, our hearts are made to love each other, but you cant lean on someone in order to feel full. There is zero independence in dependency and there is no personal security in attaching yourself to a stable and secure person. Until you have a healthy relationship with yourself, you wont be making healthy decisions about someone else. Be happy alone, so that you can be happier with someone.

4.
Taking no risk is really the biggest risk.

I’ve missed out on so many opportunities because of the fear of failure, rejection and of course, my ego. We have to risk failure to succeed in everything in life. We have to risk rejection to be accepted. We have to risk heartbreak to love. If we’re always avoiding risk,we risk missing out on life.

5.
Happiness is where you are at the moment, or nowhere at all. Its not a relationship.

Its not a new car, job, completed goal or losing 5 kilograms. Until you give up the illusion that happiness is somewhere else, it will never ever be where you are. 

6.
Contrary to the popular opinions of our twisted society, quitting is for winners.

Knowing when to quit, change direction, leave a toxic situation, demand more from life or move on from people who no longer serves you, is a very important skill that people who win at life all seem to have. Don’t quit because its hard. Quit because it sucks and robs you from your joy.

7.
Closure is your choice, darling. Its not an apology, or justice, or revenge.

Its not even answers.
That’s insecurity. If the situation made you feel worthless, seeking closure by reopening it is silly. Closure isn’t something someone else can give you. Closure is moving on. Closure is essentially just your own choice, silly!

8. 

Gosh. I wish I knew this goodie earlier in my life. Your responsibility to help someone will NEVER outweigh their responsibility to help themselves. But, it’s worth asking yourself why you resonated so strongly with someone that so desperately needed “fixing” in the first place. Don’t become so obsessed with someone else’s healing that you forget about your own. Sometimes, our attachments tells a story about an issue we have within ourselves. Charity begins at home babe.

9.
If they really wanted to, they would.

If you apply pressure, they might do what you want them to. If you take the pressure off, you’ll see what they’d rather do. Never waste your precious time on these uncertain souls. Let them go. Move on. Do better.

10.
True allurement isn’t wrapped up in the perfect partner you wish to meet in a cozy coffee shop.

Acne, hyperpigmentation, freckles, sunspots and the effect of rosacea are any woman’s nightmare when she stands in front of the mirror, ready to start with her makeup. Luckily, there is a solution for most of these little flaws.

Good make-up products and the right techniques are a lifesaver for anyone struggling with aging spots, circles under the eyes and any other imperfection. With the right tools in your hands, and a little bit of skill, you will have flawless skin in no time.

All that being said, the most important role makeup should play is is to emphasize and enhance a woman’s beauty. All woman are beautiful in their own way, but we do need help from certain products to transform a troubled skin into a beautiful one.

1. Prepare the canvas

Start of your beauty routine with a clean face, but I don’t recommend anyone wash their face with warm water or work too hard with the skin just before starting with the makeup routine. The moment you wash your face with a warm face cloth it becomes red. Wash your face with lukewarm water, and do not scrub it at all. The very next thing to apply is a good moisturizer. Once you have done this, you can start building your foundation.

2. Primer is a must!

The most important product when applying makeup is the primer. Very often the red spots on the skin are an indication of an underlying inflammation. Although primer isnt a medical product, it has a soothing effect. After applying the primer, it is advised to wait a few minutes before putting on your foundation.

3. Colour correctors are seriously amazing

If you really would like to get rid of either dark shadows or redness, it is important to make use of colour correctors. Depending on the severity of the blemish you want to cover, you can mix it with your foundation the get the colour more base tone related. Always apply corrector just to the area that needs it. For very dark spots, you might have to add more than one layer. Anyone can learn the tricks of using colour correctors. When buying your makeup from a studio like MUD, the consultants will show you exactly how to use it and explain everything in a demonstration.

4. Applying the foundation

A good and perfectly matched foundation will ensure the best look. It is very important to have a base that is the right shade and undertone. The best way of applying foundation is with a brush or a sponge. A sponge is my personal favorite, it really gives me that porcelain finish I always aim for.

5. At last, setting your makeup

A nice mineral loose powder seals the moist consistency of the foundation and therefore makes it lasts longer. When applying loose powder as your final layer, you don’t have to fear makeup transfer or that it would rub off in the middle of the day. It also helps to control oil on the skin. If you are not sure of the consistency of your makeup, applying a good setting spray will give you peace of mind.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a common disorder that mainly affects skin on the face. It causes redness on the nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead. Over time, the redness can become more intense, taking on a ruddy apearance and making blood vessels more visible.

What is hyperpigmentation?

This is when patches of skin appear darker than the surrounding skin. This occurs when the skin produces more melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its colour. This can make spots or areas appear darker than surrounding areas. Hyperpigmentation is a common condition, affecting woman of all ages and skin types. Certain forms, including melasma and sunspots, are more likely to affect areas of skin that are exposed more readily to the sun such as the face, arms and legs.

Cold weather and low humidity levels result in dry air which ultimately steals moisture from the skin. Flawless skin is a huge contributing factor when it comes to the end result of your makeup application as a whole. You can’t help how your skin reacts to climate changes but girl, you definitely have more control than you think.

1. How to retain your natural moisture to ensure that gorgeous supple glow.

Wash your face with lukewarm water; remember any form of heat robs the skin from moisture. A good over night moisturizer is key when it comes to maintaining that beautiful radiant look and remember to drink enough water during the day, our skin needs hydration from the inside too.

2. Exfoliation must be a crucial part in your skincare routine during winter.

My favourite homemade mask consists of the following ingredients – honey, yogurt, coconut oil, bananas, avocado and aloe. Mix what you like together to create a paste and leave on skin for 10-30 minutes for lasting hydration.

One of my favorite products on earth is MUD’s facial cleanser and makeup remover. It’s rich in natural oils for maximum antioxidant protection, leaving the skin clean and refreshed.

3. Different skin types verses different foundations.

Women always ask me what foundation they should use during winter and my answer obviously differs from client to client. Different skin types has different needs but my normal go-to advice during a consultation consists of the following;

It is always advisable to start your makeup routine by applying a light weight, creamy gel face primer. MUD’s primer works beautifully together with liquid and cream foundations to create a flawless, long-lasting finish. Our cream and liquid foundations are both amazing in their own right, depending on what your coverage preference is and the desirable look you’re trying to achieve. If you have an oily T-panel both foundation types can be used, the secret here lies in how you apply your powder when setting your foundation. If you have a dry skin our foundations are still ideal because they are silicone based which ensures that supple glow.

For a dry skin the MUD primer will also prevent the foundation from cracking or caking. It basically comes down to this; it doesn’t matter what skin type you have MUD has you covered.

4. Trendy colours this winter.

I would say the eye shadow colours remain warm but feminine, lots of pinks and purples combined with some beauty classics like smokey eyes, liquid eyeliner, velvety lips and outdoorsy blush, you would be ready to embrace winter in its full glory. Remember to use earthy tones to warm up your face and to keep up with the natural mood of the season. As for lips, I would say it’s important to stick to classic or dark reds without any coral or pink undertones. This will ensure that warm festive feel that goes along beautifully with your darker winter wardrobe.

The top 4 colours I’m going to live by this winter is maroon, burgundy, red and deep purple. Embracing bold lip colours can be a bit of a tricky prospect if you aren’t used to it, but I ensure that you would be drawing the right kind of attention and it’s one of the quickest ways to transform your look. If you struggle with dry lips during winter months, just apply some chap stick a few minutes before applying lipstick and you should be good to go.

5. Day and night makeup looks during cold seasons.

This is a very versatile field when it comes to makeup and it differs from person to person. I would say that winter is the perfect time to experiment with luscious tones during day and night time.

Don’t be shy when it comes to blushing up those cheeks, it doesn’t matter if your skin is dark or fair, using blusher is an essential part of the make-up to wake-up the skin-tone. Like I said, red is the classic choice to wear in winter time regardless of your skin tone – you can never go wrong with tints of dark burgundy and red. Woman with dark skin tones can indulge in some shades of deep palms, berries and warm maroons at any time of the day. As for light complexions any dark lipstick looks absolutely stunning.

Now let’s move on to the eyes, remember to make them look alluring. Winter is the perfect time to go for warm colours like deep purples and auburn. Highlight your eyes with MUD’s volume-plumbing mascara for that striking first impression every beauty obsessive woman strives for.

Last but not least, they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend but I beg to differ, bronzer is. You may not have to use as much bronzer as you would in summer, but a bit of that gorgeous sunshine bronzer will keep you blushing right through your glitzy and day to day events.

The healthy kind of course. There’s no self centred sadists who only lives for themselves here. So just to be clear – there is a big difference between the person who entertains their superficial needs and the person who advocates for their own heart and what they truly believe in. They are both ends of the same spectrum but it goes without saying that I only root for the latter. Nothing grinds my teeth more than someone basking in their own superficial desires; especially if it’s at the cost of the one’s they claim to love the most. While I’m on the topic, please don’t do that. Don’t say you love someone and then go out of your way to do exactly what you know will hurt them the most.

Naturally I am such a giver, there’s very little that I won’t do for those who have my love and attention. The world needs us, we love and give so unconditionally and our motives are always so damn pure. It’s a real pity that some people get the biggest kick out of taking genuine hearts for granted. The more genuine the heart the bigger the thrill. I know, its ridiculous and world shattering, but I’ve decided to start looking at it as a compliment towards me, because ultimately I know I’ve got something in my character that they wish they had and the closest they will ever come to being unselfish in their loving is to drain me from mine. That’s me putting it softly.

Self love for me started when I decided to walk away from the things that stole my joy. Holding on to certain situations because you wanted to be true to your own heart is perfectly fine. I can only ever walk away if I know I gave it all the grace I have. It’s okay to be brave enough to lose yourself in something you truly want. It’s also okay to walk away when it starts stripping you from what your beautiful heart deserves.

We don’t have time to waste energy on undeserving circumstances my darlings, so take care of yourselves and feel inspired by my 12 steps to feeling like a human again.

1. Have the courage to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself, regardless of what that is. Don’t take note of society’s definition of what you should be like because firstly that’s silly and secondly expectations change all the time, so just do YOU because it would be to tiring to keep up anyway.
2. It all begins and ends in your mind. Whatever you give power to has power over you. Renew your mind and please just be an adult about it because your entire life stems from what happens in there.
3. Visualize your best self and start showing up as her. Before anyone gets to sit in your stadium you must be your biggest fan. Decide what you want out of each day and just go for it.
4. Stop searching for home in others. You already have everything you need to feel secure and you can start creating your own heaven today. You don’t need a person, you’ve got you babe.
5. Remember you’re not alone. You’ve got billions of cells in your body and they’re all there just for you.
6. Its absolutely okay to make mistakes, just don’t make the same ones twice because last time we checked you’re a human not a donkey.
7. Be grateful for every single thing you have. Take nothing for granted. Life, moments, people and the ability to breath is such a huge blessing.
8. Treasure your beliefs. It’s what makes you a good human. Unless you’re a serial killer.
9. Find healing in the beauties life gives daily and go out of your way to appreciate little gifts, mercies, kind gestures and whatever it is that makes you happy to be alive.
10. Forgive yourself for not knowing any better. All we can do is strive to be more than what we were yesterday. Don’t be merciless towards yourself, we live and we learn. Self resentment will make you sick, so forgive yourself and take those first steps to freedom.
11. Be good and kind, but also know your boundaries so that you can tell the chance takers to go play with traffic.
12. Be on your own side whilst always protecting the peace. People will be ruthless, my darling. Learn to feel sorry for the battle they have within instead of becoming part of the war.

Just kidding, but not knowing how incredibly good yoga works for my body feels like I’ve wasted so much time on exercises that never really resonated with me. I’ve fallen in love with the calm but energetic endorphins that infiltrates my mind after I’ve given my body so much well deserved love. With a balanced posture and a sound mind, one can easily get addicted to grounded euphoria, one of the most soothing feelings I’ve ever experienced during exercise.

“Make the pose work for your body, don’t make your body work for the pose” is what Lezy Pretorius, yoga instructor and guru lives by.

I absolutely loved this saying, because it really motivates people to look beyond the limitations, they think they might have during the practice.

Lezy helped me to enter the yogi world with the tools and knowledge I needed to strengthen my body’s posture to its fullest.

I’ve been exceedingly happy to have found my Zen and drown in all the tranquility yoga has to offer.