Beauty is in the eye of the spender!

Hello All !

My name is R... , Ya'll can call me Rubi ;0)

I'm a 26 year old British African chic based in London. I'm interested in all thing gorgeous, open minded and enlightening. My blogs will mainly be concerned with fashion, beauty and some lifestyle.

I work in the fashion industry and have worked as a skin and make up consultant. I confess I haven't worked in skincare and make-up for a few years. So why you may ask is she trying to advise me about make up and skin care ! Well beauty and skincare has been a passion of mine, however fashion will always be my 1st love.

So what else qualifies me ?? Well I have been stopped in street and even followed! Where a black women in need has asked where did you get that outfit from??? Who does your hair ??? What foundation do you use?? I once had a long ass conversation with a woman on the tube about what foundation and skincare she should use!! I know!! Not only this I often see things I fall in love with and more time I see it featured in magazines a week or two later ! So thus I think I should finally share.

So here we go...

Now isn't it time we saw more luxury products specifically on the market for black and Asian skins ? I'm not just talking about the likes of big brands such as Bobbi Brown or Mac whose cosmetics that in addition to their vast range of products also happen to cater for black and Asian skins ... I'm taking about our own concessions, with products in lovely packaging that we can't wait to have displayed in our bathroom cabinets or dressing tables... NOT hair oils or body creams in supermarket style cooking oil bottle's! Granted the well established Fashion Fair is still going strong but I can never go near that make-up brand for the fact that I associate it as 'Mum's' or 'Aunty's' make up ...I just can't do it too myself!

As a woman who works in the fashion industry my occupation is with and always will be with the newest, stylish (not trendy, i'm far from fashion slave!) and innovation. We salute Iman who did stand the test of time ( as far as 'black' cosmetic brands go) but unfortunately not her products. Sadly they were bad quality - eyeshadows that crumbled in an insatnt and cream to powder compacts which had a very weird consistency. Granted her products are still in places such as the can't live without 'Pak Cosmetics'... However don't you think that’s telling ? Luxury department stores were willing to support Iman - an incredible supermodel married to the legend that is David Bowie, they were all over it! But alas now no prestigious high luxury company has the confidence to promote it in Central London, I still have hope Iman!

However thanks to the newly on the market cosmetic range designed for Black and Asian skins K by Beverley Knight ( 'What the singer' you say 'Yes' i say) http://www.kbybeverleyknightcosmetics.com/ has revived the market and has now become the catalyst, finally. If you didn't already know she has a concession in Selfridges which launched in mid September 09'.

In a nation obsessed with brand name and reputation, it maybe hard for 'Josephine Bloggs' to go out on a limb and spend her hard earned GBP's just to support her own? At the end of the day Josephine will be wearing this shizzle on her face, as much as the saying goes 'Never judge a book by its cover' society today has turned that saying on its head. I must say walking around the buzziness of Selfridges department store enticed by Bobbi Brown's already developed cosmetics range and now, Nar's has finally pricked up its ears and has extended their foundations for Black and Asian complexions .... K products do seem to be on a par, but maybe slightly below in terms of quality of product. I imagine the support behind this brand is not akin to large co-operations such as L'oreal or Estee Lauder's global bustin prominence. PLEASE don't get me wrong, to a fault I have the highest of standards and a laser eye for detail in terms of aesthetics. On that particular day I was interested in foundations, K's foundations are definitely up there with the best ( I only said 'slightly' before!) and in my opinion good value for money.

So this for this week the focus is on foundations. As a spoilt beauty junkie with dark choc complexion my recommendation for foundations are the following ( in this order):

Becca - Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This range is expensive, but gives your skin such a gorgeous glow - as summer is approaching invest in their tinted moisturiser, it gives just enough coverage and lets you skin breathe under the summer sun.

Becca is a brand that has been around a few years yet I seem to be the only one who knows about them sssssh keep it between us...

( can be found in Fenwicks - Bond Street or standalone store in Brompton Square which also provides makeup classes otherwise check out website http://www.beccacosmetics.com/)

Bobbi Brown - a definite staple in my make-up bag

Located Everywhere!- specifically Selfridges London, John Lewis - Oxford Street again checkout their website for nearest concession www.bobbibrown.co.uk

Nars www.narscosmetics.co.uk

K by Beverly Knight http://www.kbybeverleyknightcosmetics.com/

Mac

I'm not the greatest fan of Mac foundations, for me it tends to just sit on the skin, however a lot of people use it it doesn't look all bad on a night out http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/.

Clinique - www.clinique.co.uk

I'm nearing to the end of my first blog I hope you've found it a pleasure to read and will be coming back for more ! It'll be a weekly thang ...

But oh yes, before I go... the girls and I came across a new make up range by Ellis Faas, an influential Make -up artist who has been cited by Vogue Paris (no less) as the most influential Make up artist of her time, with bag caring, space saving and super user friendly make up products - no messy or sticky fingers absolutely tube proof ! Her range is exclusive to tudor style Liberty's ( off Argyle street in the west end). I'll be checking out her range so you don't have to ! If it suits my choc dark complexion is it more than plausible it'll work with yours... Watch out for next weeks blog ;0)

Ciao Ciao for now x