RiRi Woo - Hype Does a Brand Favour

Ruby Woo and RiRi Woo side by side

Last week I was observing Instagram. I follow many beauty and fashion bloggers and makeup artists galore on there. I had already heard about the new Rihanna collections for MAC cosmetics. Then It looked like folk where waiting with anticipation for their order to process for Rihanna's take on the cult classic Ruby Woo which is a matte red lipstick that every skin tone on the planet can wear with confidence. I have been a proud owner of this shade for the longest time. Thanks to all the amazing beauty enthusiasts out there.

So the UK was able to purchase the next day after the Americas. Thankfully I brought my laptop with me so I could clock watch when I visited friends. Purchases of RiRi Woo were limited to one per customer. I was one of those customers able to purchase it. In America alone it sold out in 3 hours and in the UK it sold out the same day. Not bad for an online only purchase.

To be honest RiRi Woo is only a very slight subtle change to Ruby Woo. It is slightly more moist but still a tad drying. Even the best of lips will benefit from a lip scrub and moisturiser to prevent chapped lip effects which a lipstick like this will clearly show up for all to see. The red is more juicier. Yes that is how I describe it. Was it worth the purchase yes and no. This purchase was mainly a hype buy and if you have Ruby Woo already you are not missing out on much except a bit more moisture and Rihanna's signature embossed on the lipstick. Now there is a deep berry mauve-ish lipstick pictured in the promotional pictures which I would definitely want to buy. In the meantime I will just enjoy 

indulging my love of makeup with or without hype.

My latest beauty buys Rimmel and MUA

Below is two videos of me sharing my latest beauty buys. To say that I have grown to have a makeup obsession is no lie but I try to shop smart too. Both purchases were made with money off deals or fantastic sales

1st video is of the Rimmel Apocalips and the second is about Make Up Academy products. Now MUA will need to create new products as I do not think there will be anything else for me to buy.

Sad Times - JLS Split!

A group of best friends known collectively as JLS which stood for Jack the Lad Swing. The entered the UK talent contest the X-Factor and was mentored by Louis Walsh on the show. They came second to winner Alexandra Burke.  JLS released their 1st single Beat Again back in 2009 and was a success straightaway. They went on to sell over 10million records and garnering several number 1's and top chart hits. They gave their audience a mixture of Pop and R&B.

Their latest effort did not bring in the numbers their record company brought in. Yet they were still popular lads. So I am still in shock from yesterdays news that they have called it quits. It seems from what I am reading the record company put the nail in. It is not unusual to have an occasional bad run. Most success stories hit bumps in the road along the way. The UK music industry is so fickle that they are quick to drop you once you have a dip in sales and especially for "certain" types of singers and groups.

I was enjoying JLS' music of late. I liked the direction they were going into. One thing is for sure many hearts have been broken. Even people who did not vibe to them were sadden by this news. I hope the truth is not that Sony has pushed JLS aside to give 1Direction more spotlight. Why is it in the UK we cannot have many successful and not just one great hope.

Marvin has put together a JLS mixtape to celebrate the phenomenal success of the group. Their tour at the end of the year is now a farewell tour and tickets sales are doing well. Marvin, Oritse, J.B. and Aston you guys have done so well. So proud of your success. Wish you all the best for the future.

Marvin's JLS Mixtape by Marvin Humes on Mixcloud

We remember Stephen Lawrence

20 years ago today Stephen Lawrence and his best friend Duwayne Brooks were set upon by a gang of white boys intent on causing harm to anyone based on the colour of their skin. Stephen and Duwayne being black males became their target. Sadly Stephen was unable to get away from the brutal and fatal attack and died. The police were deemed as not treating the case seriously at the time and even treated the surviving victim as a criminal. 

The Macpherson report came out years later after the murder and the first trials and told the UK what the Black community already knew and experienced. There was institutional racism in the police force. However still today some things have not changed. Stop and searches of non-whites have increased. Black people are stopped 1 in 10 times and yet only a small proportion are actually ever charged with a crime. The UK has a long way to go indeed. The comment sections of certain newspapers are filled with folk saying it is time to let it go and move on. However all his murderers are not behind bars. So the fight must continue.

At the time of his untimely passing Stephen was a student with dreams of becoming an architect. His family have set up a charity The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust that raises funds to help young people achieve their dreams in the same industry. 

Today a memorial service was held at St. Martins In the Fields Church in London in remembrance of Stephen. 

Bumblebee Ramblings

I suppose you can say I did a vlog. Trust me the bumblebee I describe in the video smacked into the car and scared me. Imagine if it got inside the car.

Michigan Choir | Long Time Gal

I saw this on FB though after doing a Youtube search it came up that this was indeed 3yrs old. It is of an American university choir singing a traditional Jamaican song called "Long Time Gal".


Below is a video showing a more traditional way the song is sung. I think the Michigan choir did a very good interpretation. Enjoy.

Azonto Flash Mob - Oh Vera

I remember when all I used to care about was my dancehall bashment and doing the latest yard dance. Or the latest American dances just to keep me connected to the lands that help raise me. Anyway I came across this video on Youtube and thought to share it on every social platform I know. The dances remind me of a time when Reggae Dancehall was more about telling a story and less about just bruck it down etc.

It features a song called Change Your Life by Oh Vera. The video is made in Ghana and features the Accra Mall and a beautiful scene on the beach. I love how this video is getting so much love as it shows that Africa is not what the western governments and charities always claim Africa to be. This video just makes me want to visit Ghana even more. Especially with my sons so they can see all that is good and not just what needs improvement.

I hope you enjoy the well choreographed Flash Mob Dance. I hope to see more of these. Nice to see African popular music in the mainstream.