Thevi Rocks!

I can’t begin a beauty blog for brown girls without a shout out to an industry trailblazer, Thevi Thambirajah.  I know she’s been hit up in the blogosphere before, but you can never have too much advertising, especially when you have a great product.  She has done an excellent job of capturing subtle differences in skin tones of South Asian women and creating a product that adheres to our skin without looking too make-uppy.

This lovely lady is the daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants and grew up in New York State.  Several years ago came to the same conclusions as me: brown girls need make up too! So, instead of drafting a whiny blog (not that there’s anything wrong with that…)she decided to do something about it, and in 2008, launched Thevi Cosmetics.  I had the privilege of meeting her at a wedding expo that my Amma dragged me to last November, and have been a faithful Thevi convert ever since.  Ok, so the wedding expo wasn’t so bad…

http://www.thevicosmetics.com/

What’s my line?

Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation in Sandy Beige

This creamy lightweight foundation also serves as a concealer.  To conceal, apply focused dabs on any blemished or discolored areas that you’re interested in fixing.  I blend with using Sephora Brand Professional Concealer Brush # 46.  This brush is well suited to the creamy texture of the product and the bristles are tight enough to spread evenly over skin like ours.

However, you needn’t use a fancy brush if you don’t have one at your disposal.  Your local drug store (Duane Reade, CVS, whatevs) can hook you up with disposable make up wedges.  Dot the foundation on to the triangle tip of the wedge and get dab-tastic on your area of focus.

As a foundation:  Thevi’s foundation is light enough for daily use.  But remember, foundation is not like margarine.  You’re not supposed to slather it all over every inch of your face like you’re hitting every nook and cranny of that Thomas’s English muffin.  It’s the base, not the frosting.

The best way to apply foundation, in my humble opinion as a regular girl who’s learned from experience, is to dab on the four corners: cheeks, forehead and chin, and then blend outward.  You can use your finger for this, or a cosmetic wedge, or a foundation brush.  I use Sephora Brand Professional Foundation Brush # 47.

Mineral Finishing Pressed Powder in Sand

This is the matching powder shade to the concealer.  Depending on the look you’re going for, you can use the round powder sponge that accompanies the product, or you can use a powder brush for a lighter look.  I use, yep, you guessed it,  Sephora Brand Professional Rounded Powder brush # 49.

Matte Shadow in Moss

I don’t own this product, but Thevi’s make up artists at the wedding expo were cool enough to test it out on me and I must admit, I looked pretty damn good.

I am not going to speak to the application because I didn’t do it myself, but I can vouch for the finished look, which is subtle yet seductive.

In short, Thevi rocks.  The brand is still growing and expanding, and I encourage all savvy brown girls who are on the hunt for the perfect shades to check her out.