Across the Pond - Jashil Reddy
I 'bumped' into Jashil Reddy on Twitter and was taken by her love for beauty products. Jashil is a twenty year old University student, based in Auckland in New Zealand who blogs at #ChocolateSisters. I managed to catch up with her to talk about blogging and beauty.
How long have you been blogging and why did you decide to set up your blog?
I’ve only been blogging for the last 10 weeks. So I’m pretty much a baby and such a novice at this. The reason I decided to start blogging is because it’s so hard finding products in New Zealand for chocolate girls. I thought that by posting weekly blogs I would be able to help out other chocolate girls that have trouble finding beauty products that work for our skin colour. But #ChocolateSisters is also about embracing your inner beauty and natural beauty.
Is there a blogging community in New Zealand?
There is a blogging community here in New Zealand, they use the #nzblogger on Twitter.
Tell us about your favourite beauty brands
The thing with New Zealand is that we have a very limited supply of brands available to us. However, my top five favourite beauty brands are: Gerard Cosmetics, Maybelline, Sleek, MAC, Jordana and Milani Cosmetics. I’ve only got three lipsticks from Gerard Cosmetics that I got from their website and love them.
The Sleek products that I have I got online but from another retail website. Milani isn’t available here either but I managed to get hold of two of their products. I feel like the brand caters to brown skin so well. So many beauty products are rarely available in New Zealand, so the struggle is real. Thank God for online shopping though. It’s really hard to find dark foundation colours here, the only option we have for a good match is MAC.
Describe your skincare routine
My face is quite sensitive, so I tend to refrain from experimenting with new products. My best friend is Vaseline (for my face), I literally can’t live without it. I never ever sleep with makeup on, so I use ZA Deep Cleansing Oil to wash that off and then finish off by using their True White Cleansing Foam. I then use a hot wringed face towel and pat my face dry with that. Finishing off by applying Vaseline to my dry face. Very simple routine and it works for me.
Which makeup products do you use?
A must for me, every single day is foundation. Don’t get me wrong I love my natural skin but for everyday wear foundation is a must for me. I only have two foundations that are correctly colour matched for me and these are MAC Studio Sculpt in NW43 and Maybelline Fit Me in 350. I’ve only been able to find one BB Cream (available in my colour) by LA Girl in the shade deep. I’m also obsessed with lipsticks and everything relating to lips. Another favourite of mine is blush, I love wearing it and most girls of colour usually stay away from blush but it honestly complements brown skin.
Whose beauty style do you admire and why?
I love Kelly Rowland's style, she is stunning. What I love about her makeup is that she isn’t afraid of taking risks and even when she does try something new I feel that her glam team just make it work. I love how she can rock a bold lip as well as a nude one. Her hair is also always on point and her chic, comfortable, confident sense of style is radiant in whatever outfit she steps out in.
