I can’t believe we’re done with the first quarter of the year! It’s all flying by so quickly. My birthday came and went just like that *snaps fingers* 🙁  and we’re slowly easing into cooler wetter weather 🙂  It’s about time I share some favourites I’ve had the delight to interact with these last few months, right? Ok, here we go  . . .

BEAUTY

My cousin Idil inspired me to up my brush game instead of the 2 brushes I’d been struggling with all my life. So I went ahead and got myself a full set. These Bobbi Brown brushes are good for me because I’m not a professional MUA and I can build my collection up slowly. I’m still learning what they’re all for 🙂 I need Mac’s Marco Louis to give me a tutorial!

 

Speaking of Mac, I’m so in love with their Mac x Mariah collection. I got some from Nkemi PR and I’m so torn between wearing them every day or saving them. First of all, the glitter aesthetic is just to-die-for! You know Mariah.  – there was nothing else to be done. I got the Dahhlinggg cream sheen lipstick, the Dreamlover lipglass and the highlight/bronze/unicorn magic extra dimension skin finish lol. The lipstick is a little too light for me so I blend it with darker neutrals, but the lipgloss is truly divine. Almost clear but with the shimmer and subtle tint . . . understated and glamorous. The skin finish . .  . guys, I’m in love! The glow up is real and as Mariah sang “When it’s for real it’s forever!” As a bronzer or highlighter or eye-shadow or just all over magic powder! My God! Yes!

 

I love Sleek. It’s such a great brand but I feel like it gets overshadowed by the more popular ones. I picked up a couple of their products the other day and so far, I’m enjoying using them 🙂 I got two blushes in Flushed (935) – a matte dark pink, and Sunrise (924) a shimmery dual toned  bronzey/rosey colour. The Flushed is a classic blush that works well for me in making me look like I’m alive and warm blooded without overpowering me. The Sunrise gives me a cute little glow with some colour. Perfection.

 

Va va voom! What a sexy racy red! Yum! This Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Vixen makes me feel just like one in it 🙂 Creamy and like a siren call! Yaaaaas!

 

As far as eyeliner is concerned, this Sleek twist-up in Midnight (133) is one of my absolute favourites and I need to stop shoving it down everyone’s throats lol. So, the newbie for me is the  Sleek Brow Perfector in clear . . . I’m not sure how I feel about it just yet. It makes the eyebrows look great but the texture is hard and rough and that’s not so cool. So, I’m still experimenting . . .

 

Benefit’s They’re Real mascara is just a must have for anyone who loves loves loves striking lashes. I can’t even say anything else on this . . .  My life has never been the same. They just add so much life and length to my lashes that I look like I have falsies on sometimes. I guess that’s why they called it “They’re Real” just to remind you haha.

 

 

My oily skin has been something I’ve been meaning to handle and once I did my research, I just knew Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturisng Gel was going to be the answer to my problems. It’s a little pricey here in Kenya so I got the small one to start off. My skin has been acting up and drying up in this heat so it’s been feeling really drying with this on as well but I’m looking to see what happens in less damaging weather . . . I’ll be back soon on this.

 

And in an effort to get better makeup results I decided it was about time to get a primer and a setting mist . . . but I wasn’t about to break my bank before seeing if it’s worth all the fuss. I went to the Elf selection because they’re affordable and highly reviewed as being at par with some high end brands 🙂 The Mineral Infused Face Primer glides on well and isn’t as oily as I feared it would be. Applying foundation on it is definitely better and I can see some difference in the texture and finish. And on finishing, the Makeup Mist & Set . . .  wow! Guys, it feels so fresh and cooling! Makes me look all dewy. I love it!

BOOKS

One of my secret historical girl crushes is Margaretha Geertruida “Margreet” MacLeod . . .  the one and only Mata Hari! I love her story, as elusively factual as it is. And when I heard my beloved Paulo Coelho was coming out with a book on her, I could hardly wait to get my hands on it. Thanks to my friend Zain, I did. Sweetest surprise 🙂 Coelho based the book on the last letter Mata Hari wrote the night before her execution but he filled in the conversations and instances throughout the life she was retelling in his own way based on his knowledge and assumptions. It’s a beautiful book and a must read for anyone who is a fan of either the author or Mata Hari herself.

STYLE

I found Shoe Rack Kenya on Instagram a couple of years ago and have been a loyal client since. They sell amazing shoes! There is a certain pair I’d seen on their page several months ago and they mesmerized me. Unfortunately I couldn’t get them so I had to live without them . . .  Until Shoe Rack Kenya recently held a giveaway and I won those very shoes! Dreams come true 🙂 Love them! The furry puffs at the tip add the extra dimension to the simplicity and cleanliness of the clear side panels.

FOOD

It was my birthday on the 9th 🙂 I finally got birthday cake yesterday and it was the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen and most of all, it was so very me! I mean, it was a unicorn! How much more me could it get? Mermaid maybe. My friend Sarah Bayley made it and even threw some glitter on it and dubbed it the “Oshinicorn” 🙂 Thank you! Amazing!

 

So these have been  a few of my favourite things over the last couple of month 🙂 Dandy, ain’t they? Hope you enjoyed your first quarter and have some things to smile about as well. Happy day.

 

 

Makeup Photography by Rico Walker 

XO