It’s New Year’s eve tomorrow and so the countdown to 2017 has begun! Eeek! This year has flown by very quickly and I realise that I need to take stock of 2016 and make some plans for 2017. By the way, before I forget a big Merry Christmas to you! In the lead up to Christmas I spent some quality time away with my family which was wonderful. It was also nice to have a break from blogging; I really do love blogging, but I felt I needed a break and now I’ve come back refreshed and full of new ideas.

I must say that 2016 has been an amazing year for me – launching this blog in April and watching it grow has definitely been my biggest highlight. A HUGE THANK YOU to my faithful subscribers and everyone that regularly visits this blog; and if you’re new to ‘MSA Be Inspired’ then a big welcome from me and I hope you’ll stick around! I appreciate every bit of support, every comment, every ‘like’, and even every positive thought that was sent in my direction. Just the fact that you are reading this blog means so so much to me. THANK YOU!

To celebrate 2016 and to give myself a pat on the back, I bought the Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment Palette which I’ve had my eyes on for months! I used my new eyeshadow palette to create a makeup look that’s perfect for a New Year’s Eve party – it’s colourful, bold and very glitzy (N.B. the shopping links of all the products I used are at the end of this post). As you can see from the pictures in this post the eyeshadow colours are INTENSE! I was really, really impressed with the pigmentation of the Electric Pressed Pigment Palette. Each colour is very vibrant, blends really well, and I only used a small amount of eyeshadow to get my desired result. Well done Urban Decay, this palette is a worthwhile addition to my makeup kit.

As I sit here and think about my goals for 2017 I realise that I don’t have any makeup goals – SHOCK, horror and dismay!!!! I know applying makeup isn’t as important as going to the gym or eating healthily, but I am an avid makeup lover with lofty makeup goals, so to achieve my goals I must take deliberate action. So here are my five 2017 makeup goals:

1

I will wash my makeup brushes at least every 2 weeks.

Regularly washing my makeup brushes means that I prevent nasty bacteria building up on my brushes and then ending up on my face. Nobody wants a bacterial infection on their face or a crop of angry pimples, so clean brushes are one way to prevent such things from occurring. I like to make my own brush cleaner from ordinary dishwashing soap (60%) and olive oil (40%). After washing my brushes, I let them air dry on an old wire rack. Oh, and don’t worry, I wash the brushes I use for my clients after every makeup look I do on each person; brush cleaner in between clients just doesn’t cut it for me.

• • •

P.S. For more makeup looks check out my Facebook page and Instagram.

Also, don’t forget to subscribe: insert your name & email below, then click the ‘subscribe’ button:

[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”]

2

I will wear a bold or crazy colour of lipstick at least once a month.

Recently while I was on a holiday with my family I wore a bright blue lipstick. The responses of my conservative family members were hilarious – they ranged from the shocked silence of my father to being asked by my sister, “What on earth are you wearing on your lips?” to my brother saying, “It’s cool.” I love that makeup allows me to break from conformity and express myself as wildly as I dare. Nobody naturally has blue or purple eyelids but we have become accustomed to such colours because we see them every day. So although lipstick colours in yellow, blue, green, white or black are unusual, there’s no reason why they can’t be worn regularly.

3

I will watch a YouTube makeup tutorial for inspiration at least once a week.

Watching YouTube videos was how I initially fell in love with makeup and learnt basic makeup skills. I remember when I first discovered what a transition colour was! LOL, boy have I come a long way! My creativity with makeup is always fuelled by seeing what looks other people have achieved. Furthermore, watching makeup videos challenges me to continually up my game and stay up to date with new makeup products. Check out these amazing artists and be inspired: Carli Bybel, Beauty By JJ, Alissa Ashley, Nikkie Tutorials, Jackie Aina and Sonjdra Deluxe.

4

I will attend the IMATS this year.

You may be thinking what on earth the IMATS are…and I confess that I once asked the exact same question. IMATS stand for the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show which are held in locations all around the world (e.g., London, Sydney, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto and New York). It is a mecca for makeup lovers where you can buy makeup at discounted prices and watch artists create amazing makeup looks live, from everyday looks to the special effects makeup used in movies. I went this year for the first time and filled up my little suitcase with amazing products at great prices. I was also awed by the incredible artistry displayed – the IMATS are not to be missed if you are a makeup lover.

5

I will consistently practice my makeup skills and push boundaries.

As the saying goes: Practice makes perfect. The only way to slay that winged liner or contour those cheekbones to perfection is to practice several times a week until it’s as natural as brushing your teeth. I used to have a routine where I would create a makeup look, take selfies of myself and then analyse my makeup – this was how I steadily improved. I haven’t been as diligent these days but I want to get back to this routine and regularly post my makeup pictures on Instagram. I am determined to become a master so I’m going to keep on pushing until I reach perfection.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

That’s all folks. May your contour be sharp and your highlight be poppin’. Here’s to an amazing 2017!

Thank you for all your support. I appreciate every one of you soooo much, xx.