Give Joy To The Elderly This Christmas

It is that time of the year when we want to do something to make the festive season special for people in need within our community. 

The Beauty Realm London alongside Wumi’s Mary Kay World has decided to give joy to the elderly this Christmas through its Adopt A Grandparent initiative. We run our business on the ethos of ‘giving back to the community’. 

What this entails is that individuals or organisations will donate a gift to an elderly person through this kind initiative. Your thoughtful donation will gift the elderly with any of our Christmas specials for only £10; either a Mary Kay body lotion, shower gel, satin hands cream or foot lotion. Each gift will include a pair of socks or warm hand gloves with some chocolates. 

We have strong links and great connections with residential homes, nursing homes and some elderly peoples’ charities based in South Essex and your donations will be presented to these homes, a week or two coming up to Christmas day.

Here's a great opportunity for you or your company to reach out to the local community in a very meaningful way by giving JOY to our local elderly residents, providing them with what could be the only gift they receive this season. 

Please contact us today through this blog or email admin@thebeautyrealm.co.uk for more information on this important outreach effort. Thank you.

Radiance and love,

Wumi XOXO

Radiant Ebony Fashion Show: A Fusion of Fashion, Beauty & Culture

There is no doubt that the Black History Month celebrations this year in Barking and Dagenham Borough was an eclectic mix of inspiration, motivation, fun and enjoyment; even more so was the Radiant Ebony Fashion Show organised by The Beauty Realm London. With over seventy people in attendance, the fashion showcase captured the wonderful essence of fashion, beauty and culture through colourful, African inspired designs and creations. 

The show was opened by our celebrity model of the day, Councillor Afolasade Bright who took to the catwalk with such poize and style.This was followed by the creations of our designers of the day: Mo's Collection, Lordspring Designs and The Sew London project. Sandwiched between the display was a book recitation by Ola Awanubi, award wining writer and poetry reading from one of the borough's key cultural connectors, Danny Baxter who is also an artist and musician. African Art by Tatjana Mbeng Obi was also a highlight of the show. 

In attendance was also the Leader of the Council, Darren Rodwell and Councillors Sanchia Alasia and Faruk Choudhury respectively. Snippets of the fashion show was also captured by an upcoming and excellent V-logger, Kofo Balogun who attended the event. It was a lot of fun to see such great talent on display.

If you need personal help or support in organising your fashion show or beauty product launch - contact me today. 

Our models of the day

Our models of the day

Mo's Collection

Lordspring Designs

The Sew London Project

With the amiable Councillor Sade Bright and friends, Funmi and Mo.

With Kofo Balogun. 

Thank you Kofo for such a great video. 

Black History Month Through The Eyes of Fashion and Beauty

It's that time of year again to celebrate the rich culture and history of the African Caribbean people through Black History Month. Indeed, Black History Month has been celebrated in the United Kingdom since its inception in 1987.

What is the Purpose? 
I see it as a time to raise the self-worth and racial pride of the African Caribbean people.  As a people, we must embrace the experiences that have shaped us. When I think of the black race positive words such as resilience, fortitude, colourful, joyful, vibrant and creative come to my mind. 

In the spirit of the month, my borough, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham have put together a program of events to celebrate Black History Month with style. A fashion show themed Radiant Ebony is one of the events in the Black History Month Calendar. 

Organised by The Beauty Realm in collaboration with the Council, this will be a celebration of the richness of the African and Caribbean people and their culture through fashion and beauty. The showcase will include latest designs in African inspired fashion, prints and textiles with trendy wears and styles showing the diversity and richness of the culture of the African Caribbean people.

The show has been supported by The Sew London Project, a dynamic creative art, craft, recycling and sewing studio situated in Barking, East London where a range of sewing courses from beginners to advanced levels are offered. The ethos of The Sew London Project is steeped in ethical fashion, elegance, style and special bespoke outfits that create lasting memories. The event is free to attend and you can get your ticket here.

Radiance and Love,

Wumi Oyewole

Loving Your Skin: Are Freckles A Sign of Beauty?

The skin is the largest organ of the body and one of the most sensitive subjects to talk about. Intuitive issues such as confidence or the lack of it, self esteem and self image do emanate from how people feel about their skin colour, skin type or a certain type of skin condition they may have.

Loving Your Skin: A Case Study
Some time ago, I came across Brock Elbank's project on freckles which I found really interesting. Elbank, a British photographer, launched his project in 2012 whilst in Sydney Australia. He attended a soccer match and asked to take a picture of his friend’s freckled son, Eddie. His portraits have now become viral but the message has not been lost in the frenzy!

What are Freckles? 

Freckles sit on the top layer of our skin which is called the epidermis. They could be said to be an abnormal collection of melanin pigment, packaged in a different way than a normal melanin pigment is packaged as in dark skin.  Melanin is a substance that gives our hair and skin its natural colour. Simply explained, the more melanin a person has, the darker their skin will be. 

Freckles, particularly common in people with fair skin are flat, tanned circular spots typically the size of the head of a common nail and are commonly found on the face. They can also be found on the neck, shoulders, chest, arms and back. Sometimes having freckles is just hereditary. People with red hair and green eyes are said to be prone to this skin condition. 

Loving Your Skin Can Be Tough
Where Is the Beauty in Having Spots? This, no doubt, is a tough question to answer. I'm a woman with even, dark skin so I have no idea of what it feels like to be freckled. However, when I write from the position of being a skin care specialist and beauty consultant, then I have some understanding. 

Due to the work I do, I have seen, first-hand, how people feel about their skin especially when they have a serious skin condition. I believe, having freckles is not dissimilar to the feelings of low self-image and low self-esteem experienced by some of my clients. Infact, Elbank did mention that "Ninety-nine percent of the people documented so far have struggled with their freckles, felt different, alienated. Many received teasing, bullying and verbal abuse". (Source: www.Today.com)

The First Step to Loving Your Skin 

Self Acceptance is the first step to loving your skin and it starts from within. Indeed, Elbank did mention (in the same article) that many of the people he photographed who hated their freckles as a child, have now found peace to embrace the skin their in, as they've grown older. This is not an easy decision.

However, the reason why I love Brock Elbank's project is the fact that it looks at beauty from a different angle. "Every human has beauty in their appearance in some shape or form," he told Today.com via email.

This leaves me to say that beauty is unique. Beauty is different and there is some beauty in having spots. It's a tough one!

The Other Side of Love

If you are really struggling to accept your freckles, I will suggest you speak to a psychologist or counselor or see a skin therapist. There are some things you can do to lessen the appearance of freckles such as laser treatment. 

Click the share button below, if you found this useful. Thank you!

Radiance and love,

Wumi

One Beauty Trend To Love and To Hate

When looking through Youtube for some beauty tips to help with both my personal and business life, I have noticed a beauty trend. One which I really like but also, completely dislike - Celebrity look alike tutorials.

Here are just some of the few, I have come across in my search for personal beauty care and current beauty trends. 

• Makeup look like Taylor Swift
• Makeup look like Selena Gomez
• Makeup look like Beyonce
• Makeup look like Rihanna
• Makeup look like Angelina Jolie

The Positive: The Love

It's great to get inspiration from celebrities and see what a transformation makeup can bring. After all, who does not want to look like the gorgeous Beyonce, the glamorous Rihanna or the trendy Selena Gomez!

The Negative: The Hate

This beauty trend seems to becoming obsessive and is simply not encouraging young women to embrace their own natural beauty. The danger here is that it can encourage young women to think that they are not cool enough, gorgeous enough or simply beautiful enough until they've made their makeup look like that of a celebrity. 

Finding The Balance

There is nothing wrong in being inspired by other people: what they wear, their makeup, lifestyle or indeed their beauty. All I am saying is that while doing that, do let your own beauty shine through too.

I felt a strong sense of pent-up emotion, the first time I watched this video: Lupita Nyongo's Speech on Black Beauty Essence. The video really hit a chord on the subject of beauty being unique and personal. Lupita in her soft, spoken voice speaks about her experience of when she did not feel comfortable with her own beauty, particularly the colour of her skin. But that is all history now. Having been blessed to have a mother who was a source of encouragement, Lupita finally made the mind shift and is doing so well as an actor and director.

Look, Learn And Still Be You
Whether people tell you or not: Woman, You are Beautiful In Your Own Special Way. Please remember that!

Hoping that you'll rock your own personal beauty with authenticity to let yourself shine, even with an inspired look from a celebrity or otherwise!

Radiance and Love,

Wumi

PS: Please like, share or comment on our post or better still, join our community on Facebook. Thank you.

How to Have Fit Skin From Within

Today in our bid to improve your well-being, we will be looking at three powerful fruits that do wonders for your skin from within. 

1. Apricots

Cultivated by the Chinese people for many years, the apricot fruit is low in calories, yet quite high in fibre. The high fibre found in the fruit aids bowel regularity which can help prevent constipation and bowel cancer.

Apricots also have vitamins C and E, zinc and copper which not only aid and promote clear skin but also protects your vision. The flesh of the apricot fruit contains high levels of vitamin A which further promotes healthy eyes and skin. The great thing is that you can eat apricots fresh, dried, lightly poached and even pickled! 

So if you are looking for your skin to improve in tone, texture and shine from within, would it not be nice to add some apricots to your list of healthy goodies to eat?

2. Pomegranates

Don’t be fooled by the mess of a pomegranate when it is cut open. Belonging to part of the super fruits family, pomegranates have antiviral properties which helps fight infection. The fruit is also high in fibre but only if you eat the seeds which contain unsaturated fat. it has also been said that the juice from pomegranates contains substances which support a healthy prostate.

So how is pomegranates great for your skin?

The fruit has high levels of antioxidants which maintains the elasticity of the arteries. They neutralize free radicals seven times more than green tea and two times more than red wine. Pomegranates have high levels of ellagic acid which is a compound proven to protect the skin from sun damage and ultraviolet radiation. 

3. The Avocado

Have you heard it many times. “Avocados are fattening”! 

To be perfectly honest, avocados have the noticeable difference of being the fruit with the highest fat content. But the fats in avocados are the beneficial fat that your body requires. This is known as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or monounsaturated fat - i.e. fats which are not fully ‘saturated’.  Simply described, these fats are liquid at room temperature, cloudy when cooled and may solidify when refrigerated.  Monounsaturated fat is also known as Oleic acid and can be found in olive oil. Olei acid is believed to reduce inflammation and research has show that it has benefits on genes linked to cancer.

Avocados are often called “alligator pears” because they tend to be shaped like a pear with green, bumpy skin similar to that of an alligator. They come in various sizes - from pear-shaped to round and from green to black and the ones in between!  An avocado can weigh as little as 220 grams or up to a gigantic 1400 grams! This nutritious fruit has up to 20 different vitamins and minerals.

Avocados contain potassium. Potassium is essential for the body’s growth and maintenance. It helps keep a normal water balance between the cells and body fluids. Potassium regulates blood pressure, heart rate and nerves. Deficiency in potassium may cause muscular cramps, fatigue, twitching and weakness.

Avocados are high in fibre. An entire fruit can contain up to 10 grams of fibre. Eating fibre in your diet can contribute to weight loss, reduce blood sugar levels and cut cholesterol. There are two types of fibre; soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble fiber is known to be able to feed the friendly gut bacteria in the intestine, which are very important for the optimal function of our bodies. On the other hand, insoluble fibre cannot be digested. Its function is to help move other foods through our digestive system more easily, passing through our gut without being broken down.

These delicious fruits also have Vitamin C, Vitamin E an Vitamin K and many other minerals that we need for our digestive system. Vitamin C and E are powerful antioxidants which are great  for our skin and immune system as they help protect us from free radicals. Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting, and may have benefits for bone health.

Lastly, it's been said that avocados can help to lower cholesterol. As a result, I wrote this short, lovely poem for you.

Eating an avocado a day 

May keep your cholesterol at bay!

Including avocados in your diet could be one of the best decisions you ever make but eat them in moderation please!

There you have it! My three powerful fruits to turbo charge your well-being and get fit skin from within. 

À bientôt!

Radiance and Love,

Wumi x

How to Help Your Eyes Look More Youthful

Can You Really Get Rid of Under-eye Puffiness, Crepiness or Dark Circles? 

A lifetime of repeated facial expressions such as laughing, smiling, squinting and frowning can really takes its toll on the delicate eye area. The result can be dark circles or eyes that make you look more tired, worn-out and older than you feel. And truth be told, this is a skin condition that not only affects women but men too!

Laying it bare

I’ve always had dry skin so from time immemorial, I knew that oil and cream based products were the right ones for my skin. However, what I’ve tried to deal with that took so long for me to to get a result with, were my dark circles. Even skin therapist have their own skin issues too! And why could I not resolve this slight difficulty? I was simply not using the right product. However, I eventually got 'my act together' when I made the decision to use a targeted eye solution by way of an anti-aging serum and I could see the difference in the reduction of this niggling problem. 

What are Dark Circles?

This is when the area around the eyes known as the ‘orbital’ show a bluish black shadow or just shadows under the eyes. It’s a natural part of skin aging and is more common to Asian and African Caribbean skin.The most common cause is too much pigment in the eye area. The pigment shows through under the eyes because the skin around the eye area is very thin. 

Dark circles are also known as 'panda eyes' and the condition can be worsened by poor diet, smoking, too much alcohol consumption or hormonal changes in the body. Sometimes, dark circles are simply hereditary.

I'll admit here right now that I only drink the very occasional glass of wine and I don't smoke, so that is not the reason why I have them. For me, it's just a part of my own aging process and to be frank, I could do with a little more sleep. Sometimes dark circles can be aggravated by a lack of sleep! 

Taking a step back to take it forward!

When you look in the mirror, do you see dark circles and under-eye bags around your eyes? If so, you're not alone. Dark circles and puffiness are two of the most common problems that people notice around their eyes. According to a study by the cosmetics company Clinique, 50 per cent of women said that dark circles and puffiness around their eyes were their major skincare concerns. This comes as no surprise because the skin around the eyes has minimal oil glands to keep it naturally moisturized most of the time. Hydration is therefore a critical issue.

How to Reawaken Tired Eyes For a More Lifted Look

The solution is to use a targeted product such as an eye cream, eye gel or anti-aging eye serum. Eye creams and eye serums are formulated specifically for application around the eye area. They contain vitamins and ingredients which revitalize and lift the skin. They are supplied in ampoules, sealed glass or containers which prevent the contents from evaporating and losing their effectiveness.

Tips For Men and Women 

Apply a small quantity of the product to the eye tissue using the ring finger of one hand, gently stroking around the eye outwards. Support the eye tissue with the other hand, if you have to.

Place wet and cold Green tea bags on your eyes to help boost the circulation and drain out the toxins to reduce puffiness. Green tea contains anti-oxidants which are great for the skin.

Tips For Women

A concealer applied around the eye can also temporarily mask dark circles. 

Blend the concealer into this area gently until you can no longer see the dark circles.
A concealer with a greenish tinge will also help to offset any redness in the eye area.
A colour correction cream known as a CC Cream also does wanders for concealing the unconcealable!

Radiance and love,

Wumi 

PS: Looking for a targeted solution for your eyes? Take a wee peek here.

Beauty Is What Makes You Happy!

Being my own boss has its own benefits and I won't change it for the world. Sometimes, business is high and at other times it's not that high! After five years of self-employment, I've come to realise that money is so important. I can't run a business without any cash flow and without any money!  But the old-time question is this:

Can money buy you and me happiness?

Broadly speaking, people with higher incomes are likely to be happier than those who struggle to get by. Having grown up and lived in Nigeria, I can honestly say there is no dignity in poverty. No joy can be found in trying to live with a meagre salary or without enough to pay for the bills. If you don’t have enough money, please do something about it.

Come to think of it, money can make a difference in how we feel, although that feeling is likely to be temporary. For instance, some people make a lot of money and then give it all away to charity because that is what makes them happy. Wealth alone does not provide any assurance to a great life. Some people are very wealthy.  Yet, they are also very miserable. What matters a lot more than a big income is how you spend your money, alongside other things that make you happy in life. This led me to come up with a double quote for today’s post:

“Beauty is What Makes You Happy”

Because...

"You need more than money to live happily and healthy."

I have come to realise that I cannot equate some things in life to money. What’s that? My family and my friends!  I just cannot compare my family and friends to whatever money I may or may not have.

I truly appreciate and I’m thankful for my family - hubby, two sons who sometimes drive me potty, my parents and awesome sisters. As a matter of fact, one of my baby sisters is a great listener. I use her as my sounding board, just to be sure that I'm on the right tract. 

Oh my heart leaps for the love of family.

And that makes me insanely happy!

I am also thankful for my friends, fans and customers too. I wouldn't have a thriving business without you. You guys simply rock and you make me happy.

Another one of my happiness spots is giving back. I love helping out in the community so I support a number of charities. The one that relates to my work as a skin therapist is the Look Good Feel Better charity.  I volunteer a wee bit of my time, via their workshops to support women who are going through cancer treatment. Through this initiative, I put a smile on a woman’s face to make them look and feel happy.

Do you love exercising, dancing, running, sewing or singing? Whatever it is, that is your happiness and beauty spot. Yeah! Beauty is what makes you happy.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so drop a line in the comment box below or connect with me on Facebook.

Radiance and love,

Wumi Oyewole

5 Top Tips To Make Your Skin Love You

We live in a very busy world and when life is insanely busy our skin does take a backseat.  

Do you work nine to five with a boss who is just not easy to please? Or are you a student and have your studies, revision and assignments to think about? May be, you are just a super mum wanting to give your children the best start in life. I get you because I’ve been there too. My children are now teenagers so it’s getting a lot easier!

When life is full of ups, it can be really daunting to find some me time when you truly need it. As such times, a thorough round of head-to-toe cleansing and moisturizing is just not possible and it definitely is not possible every single day!

But do you know the saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’ is also true when it comes to matters of the skin!  If you don’t give your skin the little attention it requires today, you’re going to have to give it a lot of attention tomorrow.  If you don’t have enough time, you’ll have to create it. Let me ask you these three important questions:

Do you have time to eat something every day?

Do you have time to wash your teeth every day?

As a matter of fact, do you have time to sleep every day?

If you’ve answered YES to any of these three questions, then it leaves me to say that you can create the time you need to take care of your skin. When you do, your skin will truly love you. Here are five top tips to get you started:

1. Cleanse – wash away your skin care worries. Daily impurities such as dirt and makeup, dull down the skin.

2. Freshen – restore your skin’s natural pH balance and refine pores for a fresh face free of dirt and impurities.

3. Exfoliate – Gently rid your skin’s surface of unwanted dead skin cells that make it appear drab and dreary.

4.  Hydrate – apply and lock in moisture for up to 10 hours with an emollient-rich lotion or cream.

5. Protect – Shield your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays during the day by using sun protection factor!

Caring for your skin does not need a lot of time. All you require is a sense of purpose for your skin!

Here’s a Bonus For You!

You can perform skincare routines while watching TV, reading or talking on the phone. Multitasking is a great way to break up the sense of boredom that prevents some people from keeping up with a skincare regime.

If you want to know what products you should be using for your skin, you can download my free report - Get Glowing Skin in 3 Simple Steps! Also watch this space for my announcement, I'm going to be running a skincare challenge soon!

Radiance and love,

Wumi Oyewole

I Brush My Mug To Perfection!

Becoming a skin therapist and a beauty consultant in mid-life certainly has its own benefits. A few months ago, I wouldn't have known my left from right in choosing the appropriate tools to use for applying make-up. My life seems to have gotten so much better and I'm truly thankful.

A key tool that can make a huge difference to the way your make up looks, is a foundation brush. The benefits of using a foundation brush or any other brush to apply make-up is that it allows you to dispense the right amount of product all over the face. This means that your product will last longer and you'll save yourself a lot of money. Secondly, when the products are properly blended into the skin, they allow for a polished, smooth application rather than a smudgy, cakey finish. 

When I apply foundation with the right tool, a foundation brush, it gives me a totally flawless and natural finish. My make-up looks so much better. Just recently,  while on the shop floor of a major supermarket, I began a conversation with another woman who mentioned to me that my make-up looked natural. Even friends have have made positive comments about my make-up and this makes me feel, real good. The reason being -  I brush my mug to perfection!

Would you or wouldn't you?

If you'd rather not use your fingers or a sponge, I'd recommend the Mary Kay Foundation Brush. This 'bad boy' will deposit the right amount of liquid foundation on your face for an even, smooth finish. It is made of synthetic fibers that do not absorb makeup and is oval in shape to work with the contours of your face. The bristles are tapered so you can easily customize the level of coverage. The end result is a perfectly, flawless mug; one you'll certainly love!

Tip: Do not forget to blend the narrow areas around the nose, mouth, eyes, hairline and chin. These angles of your face are hard to reach, but with this foundation brush, they are certainly not.

Radiance and love,

Wumi :)

Beautiful Musings For You Woman!

On this special day when women are celebrated around the world, I wanted to take a brief moment to a share a beauty quote to inspire you.

Happy International Woman's Day.

To all my fans with Love,

Wumi :)

Prime Your Way to a Flawless Face

Would you love a flawless face?

Imagine, just imagine that you are on the beautiful, dainty island of Barbados. You’ve recently bought a 6 bedroom villa which requires some refurbishing. Yes, it’s a 6 bedroom villa with a lovely, spacious sitting room overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and it's heaven – pure heaven!

You’ve got the handy man, the painter cum decorator. The walls have been totally stripped and ready for that lick of paint. But the alarm bells come ringing. The painter you've hired wants to cover the surface and apply paint without first priming the walls. You look at him with utter outrage. “OMG, I’m not allowing that”, you shriek!

So What?

YOU won’t allow your decorator to paint the walls of your lovely villa without priming it first. However, many ladies apply foundation on their skin without using a primer!

My Confession

For a long time, I didn't understand the use of a primer as a skin protector, acting as a base for the skin. I thought priming was another palaver, another way to buy products that I simply would not use. How not right could I have been!

Awesome Advantages

Priming your face before applying foundation, is just like priming your walls before painting it. It prepares your your face as it helps even out skin texture so you can feel your skin's suppleness and silkiness just before you apply foundation. The primer acts as an invisible cushion that fills in the imperfections of your skin so that your foundation can glide on smoothly and effortlessly. Above all, your foundation will last longer and look more natural because priming your face gives your foundation real staying power. This is the first step to a flawless face and one of my top beauty secrets. I prime my face before I apply foundation. This difference is visible as my foundation doesn't last as long on my face when I don't prime.

So, if you would prime the walls or your new plush house or mansion before painting it, would it be absolutely wrong to prime your face before applying foundation? Remember, a flawless face can be achieved through the use of a foundation primer.

Click the share button below, if you found this useful. 

Radiance and love,

Wumi x

PS – Simply recommending the Mary Kay Primer which is lightweight in consistency and really gives the skin a truly, flawless finish.  It's one of our best sellers, therefore I think you might just love it.