Monday Dec 19 2011

Nicki Minajs signature style is perfect for a bold and daring look, says celebrity make-up artist Holly Silius.

Nicki is med for her statement coloured locks, creative use of cosmetics and head-turning outfits. Make-up pro Holly - who has styled the likes of Florence Welch and Kreayshawn - says Nickis look is easy to re-create with a dose of inspiration from the stunning star herself.

The beauty expert says creating an even base is crucial to nailing Nickis show-stopping aesthetic.

This look is for anyone who likes to be bold, creative and a little daring for a day or night look, she explained to Cover Media. Always start with a great base - an even skin tone is essential to building your look. Use a good primer like Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch - it gives a totally flawless effect.

Holly says Nickis bulously fun eye make-up is important when replicating her outlandish look. The make-up pro has revealed how to re-create it at home.

Be striking and confident with your eyes, but the key is to use less product and blend. Use one colour all over the lid of the eye, so go for an amazing purple, aqua, turquoise or an egg shell blue - something vibrant and with depth. Dont go trashy with the tone. Add a lighter shade in the corner of the eyes and a darker towards the outer edge and crease of the eyes. Do an all over block colour and then blend out so it gives a smoky look, she advised.

Then add a thin black line with Bobbi Brown black gel eyeliner above the lid to give a great base for lashes so you dont see a join. Always curl your lashes and add lashings of YSL mascara. Then for an added delight of sparkle, use the Shimmer Twins - Treasure lashes for an instant POW!

Holly says lips should be kept natural to avoid detracting from the statement eye make-up. Highlighter then completes the look perfectly.

Keep the lips neutral with a nude or soft matt lipstick, she said. Then add a little contour to the ce with a highlighter on the cheekbone and brow bone. You can also add a little to the bow of the lip.

Shimmer Twins - Treasure Lashes are available on ASOS.COM and from Urban Outfitters.

Check out more of Hollys star style work on

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Its three decades since The Clash kerranged the question: Should I Stay or Should I Go? But as 2012 offers the chance of a do-over in everything from dating to dieting, it seems some of us are still wrestling with an answer.

Men and women have such different personalities they really could be from Mars and Venus, research has shown.

Karl and Nina Smyth, from south Belst, fell in love as teenagers. The 34-year-old civil servant and 33-year-old support worker for people with autism met back in 1996, when they worked together at a local garage.

Its a shut-the-game-down record, StreetRunner tellsMixtape Dailyabout just-releasedPink Friday: Roman Reloadedsingle.

Behind the Beats: StreetRunner and Sarom

Roman is back, and on her new track,Nicki Minajs alter ego gets inicki minajnto all types of musical mischief. Roman in Moscow starts with a maniacal build of piano strikes into a full-on frenzy of thudding drums, spacey synths and crashing symbols.

Its a track befitting the fictional Roman Zolanski, who was once exiled into boarding school, but has since escaped. Credit veteran beatmakersStreetRunnerandSaromfor crafting the first peek at theBest New Artist Grammy nomineesupcomingPink Friday: Roman Reloadedalbum.

It took a couple of tries, but after about eight different versions of track, the production duo, who exist in a larger crew of boards-men called the Network, finally came up with something that perfectly suited Nickis mood.

Once we heard from Nickis camp that they were really interested in the track, we had to go back in on it and tailor make it a little more for her, said StreetRunner, who was nominated for a Grammy this week for his work on Lil WaynesTha Carter IV. It took a good eight tries to get it into pocket, but once we got it, we knew it.

The duo submitted the first version of the beat to Team Minaj in October, and by their estimation, it took about a month for them to tweak the instrumental and for Nicki to record her verses. The song was mixed earlier this week and released Friday (December 2) on iTunes.

Surprisingly, however, StreetRunner and Sarom didnt hear the final track until Fridays release. Keeping music under wraps right now is very important if you want to avoid it getting leaked, said Street, who saw a number of tracks he thought he had placed on WeezysTha Carter IIIillegally released online, then ultimately left on the cutting-room floor.

Sarom also lost records that couldve potentially made Waynes 2008 gem, but for him, Roman in Moscow was well worth the wait. Of course shes gonna go in on every single track, but she just came off on some other sh-- today, he toldMixtape Daily. I cant even believe it.

The song definitely isnt a pop afir. Nicki as Roman leaves behind her cutesy Super Bass persona in exchange for something more sinister. She starts off her first verse, Im big Willie, no bike gear/ I told you es last year, Im a rap nightmare/ Thats why I call you Buzz Lightyear/ Cause by the time you start buzzin , you gonna have white hair.

By the end of her two-verse lyrical triad, Nicki goes on a humorous rant. Yeah aint no motherf---in prayers , aint no motherf---in hook, aint no motherf---in third motherf---in verse, her potty mouth spews. Romans back, / I f---ed up your life last year this time, remember that?

Street, who started his career as a DJ, said, That intro to the first few lines that she says, its a shut-the-game-down record. Any DJ whos on radio and just wants to drop bombs, that intro is gonna happen, bomb.

Share your thoughts on Nicki Minajs Roman in Moscow in the comments!

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