Holiday makeup essentials with MUTHONI NJOBA

Muthoni Njoba is a celebrated makeup guru who has made a name for herself in and out of Africa. She is also the brand ambassador and official makeup artist of Maybelline New York Kenya. She gives makeup tips to those planning to travel this festive season. Good thing is, these tips have answers to some of the burning questions you might have regarding makeup.

Favourite makeup essential

For this Christmas holiday, Muthoni’s go-to item is a lip colour, be it matte or high gloss lipsticks, as she feels a lip colour adds a touch of sophistication to your look. Last Christmas, Muthoni was all about the classic red but this year she adds nude colours and dark tones like purple and plum for maximum options. “You can switch up your looks with these three colours for any occasion during the vacation,” she says.

Muthoni determines her lip colour based on what she is doing to her eyes. With heavy eye makeup, she goes with a softer nude unlike with lighter eye makeup where she goes with a bold lip colour.

The foundation question

“I always wear foundation,” she states. Muthoni encourages using foundation in place of concealer in problem areas like under the eyes and over dark spots to even out one’s skin tone. In fact, Muthoni recommends mixing your foundation with your daily moisturiser to form a sort of BB cream (blemish balm) – a creamy formulation lighter than foundation for evening out one’s skin tone – especially if you are looking to visit a humid climate like Mombasa.

“A lot of women are buying the wrong foundation for their skin types,” she says. For oily skin, Muthoni recommends an oil-free, matte and poreless foundation while those with dry skin ought to use hydrating or dewy foundation and finish it off with a light dust of powder.

All about the mascara

Muthoni advocates for the use of mascara as it helps bring a look together.
“Maybelline offers so many options for mascara from waterproof to volumising to lengthening; but my absolute favourite mascara is their Push Up Angel mascara because its small brush suits our short, curly lashes,” she says.

She emphasises the need for users to take their time while applying mascara to ensure every lash is coated multiple times from the bottom to the tip. This layering gives your lashes a beautiful winged look.

Muthoni’s Makeup Essentials

FitMe! Matte + Poreless Foundation
FitMe! Matte + Poreless Powder
The Color Show Kohl Pencil Eye Liner in Ultra Black
The Push Up Angel Mascara
Vivid Hot Lacquer in No.64 Unreal (my favourite nude gloss)