Hi everyone,
So i decided to come up with my 7 beauty commandments which is basically a Do's and Don'ts with tips here and there. Initially wanted to do 10, like The Ten Commandments in the bible but couldn't find three more, lol! So why not 7? The number of perfection and completion? I hope you find it helpful. Also feel free to share with me yours and i will be sure to add it to the list. Enjoy! (This post is a rather old post that i found sitting in draft for no apparent reason hence the relatively shorter hair).


1. Thou SHALL properly remove thy makeup before going to bed

Oh yh! I got on my satin bonnet! but sleeping pretty now and looking a mess in the morning!

Aha!!!!!!! The guilty culprits are many! Lol! I know this can be difficult especially after a tiring long day or a night out. That's why there are face wipes. Even baby wipes! However to be honest, facial wipes alone cannot completely remove makeup. I will suggest using a deep cleansing routine to ensure the face is entirely clean.

• To begin, gently wipe off makeup with a facial cleansing wipe. 
• Apply a cleansing cream or makeup remover,  massage gently to remove makeup and wash it off. I sometimes use my trusty african black soap and it does a good job too. 
• Also eye makeup such as mascara or eyeliner might be difficult to remove so an eye makeup remover would do. Alternatively, olive oil does a good job at removing makeup.
• Then apply any toner of choice, this further removes makeup and helps to close the pores. 
• Finish off by applying a moisturizer or night cream. It's at night i choose to apply my night cream, FC Multifruit Cream. 

2. Thou SHALL NOT fill thy eyebrows with a black pencil




Eeeeeek! Ghanaian ladies really like this paa! Most annoyingly is when they just draw one thin curve, argh! Using a black pencil to fill in the brows makes it too harsh and unnatural! Its a no no! It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul hence the eye brows are the frames. When done properly, they really frame the face very well. To achieve a natural look using a brown or black brown pencil is way better. Also the brows need to be soft if your hair is coloured. Too thin and highly arched brows add ages to the face and thick eyebrows adds youthfulness. Too flat eyebrows also makes the face flat and funny. Consider children stories: illustrations of the Wicked Witch or villain usually have very thin and highly arched brows whiles the Princess has thick full and arched/curved brows.

Now! Ain't this a lot better? Whew! That was scary

3. Thou SHALL line thy lips with a skin tone brown lip liner before applying pale lipstick

hahaha! I fell lips forward into the lipstick!

Pale or nude coloured lipsticks are really nice if worn properly. However they can be disastrous if not worn properly as well! As tho you fell lips forward into the lipstick, lol! The trick to ensure you pull it off properly is to line the perimeter of the lips with a skin tone brown and applying the lipstick. Pls ensure the lipstick does not get past the lip liner and blend the liner into the lipstick to create a lovely transition. Also adding a gloss to matte nude lipsticks makes them more flattering.

Your verdict? Much Softer huh?

4. Thou SHALL NOT line thy lips with a black lip pencil

It doesnt look too bad here because somehow the plack blended with the purple

If only i could get my mom to stop doing this! Ahhhhh!!! She's trying though. I hear it was trendy in the 80s but for goodness sakes unless it's for a high fashion photoshoot, No! its not trendy! I can't even begin to think why! Smh! If you wish to line your lips always opt for a brown lip liner or same colour as your lipstick. Its way better than black!

5. Thou SHALL blend thy foundation down to thy neck
Ok i know this one we sometimes fall prey to. You can easily get away with this if your foundation and neck are the same shades or if you are wearing a high collar top. However you must blend towards your neck to reduce harsh lines especially if you are going to be showing off your shoulders. Pls remember to also set with a powder.

6. Thou SHALL exfoliate once a week
Now the reason this made it to my beauty commandments is that if you happen to come from my part of the world and happen to use hard water to bathe, you will appreciate this. Hard water too rich in mineral deposits leaves a sort of dull cast on the skin. This results in a dull looking appearance and this can actually darken the face. There have been many instances where my complexion darkens or brightens and this i believe is attributed to not exfoliating or exfoliating. To combat this, it's advisable to exfoliate at least once a week to remove the deposits and dead skin cells. You can use an exfoliating cream or facial scrub for the face and a body scrub for the body. The exfoliating lotions, scrubs or creams usually have bits in them and are a little rough hence the need to be gentle with them and also be sure not to do this daily. 1-2 times a week is enough. Also you can use exfoliating mists, buffing sponges, loafers etc.

7. The last and most important Thou SHALL love thyself
I know there are times that we may not feel beautiful, times that you will hate a certain part of your body because it does not conform to standard. For e.g. thick full lips or large eyes, etc. All the same remember your are special in your own way. I will borrow Lady Gaga's lyrics and say

There's nothing wrong with loving who you are"
She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe"
"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

That's it folks, Until next time
Keep Calm and Rock a Red Lip!

xoxo Annette