From Sparklz and Shine's blog post:

My first question to the lovely PR lady was about the brand's focus. I'd seen concern being expressed on twitter about the racial mix or bias of bloggers being invited to the event of a cosmetics company aimed at black ladies. And apparently that was the focus of the original company Sleek Cosmetics, but 5 years ago, along with the re branding to Sleek Makeup, they set a focus of affordable makeup for all. With the spotlight on skin tone not race. For marketing shots, they deliberately choose racially ambiguous models with the aim that we look and simply see beauty not skin colour.

 Am I disappointed? Yeah. I'm disappointed. Perhaps it's irrational to feel this way, but it was pretty good - felt good - to have the one brand that recognised that hey, black people have slightly different makeup needs, let's address that and make products that black women can use, and lets make them easily available and affordable.
I mean, I'm a student, who is broke most of the time, and I could walk into a Superdrug and get myself a foundation that fit my colour, a concealer, and then some pigmented eyeshadow that shows up on my skin tone (dark skin absorbs colour) and a lipstick that *gasp* was a nude on me! A brown lipstick that was probably very unappealing to lighter skinned shoppers. ("Why would you wear that colour? That wouldn't suit anyone!" I heard asked once, directed towards Sleek's "Cocoa" shade. I did hide a chuckle.) I don't see many other high street brands making brown lipstick. Nude lipstick. Lipliners like Cherry Oak/Rich Brown/Soft Brown that actually look decent on our skin. Flattering lip colours on ladies that share my skin tone, like "Perfect Plum" and "Chocolate Kiss" Pout Polishes.

I don't know for how much longer I'll be able to do that. The Eye Dusts are already being discontinued, and the old range of True Colour lipsticks, which contained dark brown nudes such as Cocoa, Blaze, and Earth, has been completely discontinued. I'm hoping to talk directly to their PR person to try and clarify their position, so I'll update this post if/when that happens. Fingers crossed, yeah?

I love England, I really do. It's a great country and people are really accepting of people that aren't of the same skin colour as themselves. It's just that, when you have demographics like what England has, which is that white is obviously the majority (92.14%, from the 2001 census) but there is still a sizeable (compared to many other countries, for example Japan or Korea which are extremely ethnically homogenous) migrant population, and of this, many are black, but what is in the stores still caters to the white majority. Which makes economic sense. Nothing wrong with that. It's just when that happens, it's hard for the minority that still constitutes a portion of the population to find cosmetics that are going to look good on them, and take into account their specific needs, as it were. Which is when Sleek came in, specifically targeted towards us. But they're not any more. Their ethos is the same as what every other high street brand proclaims, which is that it's for "everybody". Which means the majority. Which means lighter skin. Sorry, but I'm calling it out for what it is. Already, with the unreleased Nude collections and what have you, the products being touted as nude simply aren't really, on the skin of many (black) women. I can't judge until I actually swatch it instore - I'm going by the photographs and swatches I've seen online already, but yeah. What would be great is if they released different palettes/collections, with different colours of "nude". After all, nude can come in brown, pink, yellow (no offence intended, at all). All sorts of colours. Why not cater to a slightly wider range of nude? Feel free to shoot me down, people.

What I'm curious about is whether this "everybody" will extend to Sleek's overseas operations. I'm going to take Nigeria as an example, because I am Nigerian :P We have a far less diverse ethnic lineup. As in, the country itself has a very large, diverse amount of ethnic groups. But they're all considered Black African. I can't find any statistics that indicate how many foreigners we have in Nigeria but I'm sure it's not as many as is present in Britain. Will it make economic sense for Sleek to switch their focus from black women in Nigeria? Will the same range of foundation be available in Nigeria as I can find currently in Superdrug? When I visit Nigeria (hopefully) late this year I'll let you guys know what I can find. If I go. It's a bit uncertain because of the house move :/ No monehz.

I've looked over what I've written, and I don't see anything that could be construed as libellous or is incorrect, but if someone does spot something, please tell me off/let me know! I've tried to double check everything that I've written with the information at hand, so yeah.

Ultimately, I'll keep using the Sleek stuff that I have, and I'm sure to purchase more when something comes out that takes my fancy (I still need that concealer. And the Primer Palette. And some more Pout Polishes....*insert wishlist*) They make good products, it's just I'm a little saddened by the change of focus.
Anyway, I'm sure that I'll get over my disappointment, and in the meantime, Sleek are still producers of good quality, affordable makeup. So yeah, continue enjoying their products.
Do you guys still want to see reviews of the stuff I bought, or should I leave it? I'm perfectly happy to review it if you guys want to see it!

EDIT: Follow up here. 
Sleek's Response here.

Contests and that first, before I send you all to sleep!

Over at Moments like Diamonds, Sara is holding a spring themed nail art contest. Prizes include a seriously pretty Nicole by OPI polish. It looks like metal in the bottle - so cool.

Bundle Monster are currently holding a nail art competition on their Facebook page. There will be twenty five winners who will each recieve a set of their new stamping plates. To enter, you have to create a design using some Bundle Monster products, and then I think voting commences April the 13th? If any of you are entering, please leave your link so we can check it out! If we can vote multiple times I'll vote for blog readers that comment here.

I was planning on entering, but I'm not really sure of the design I'm planning to do...I did this, but now I want to go more of a gothic route (and take out the sweets, of course) perhaps utilise more black. So I'm not entirely certain. What do you guys think of this one? Would you vote for it? (You can only enter once, which is why I'm stuck as to which to choose)


BeautyUK are offering 20% off on their website when you use the code SUGAR2011  to celebrate the launch of their new range. I'm personally looking at the baked eyeshadows and blushers, maybe at the lipsticks if they have anything I could wear to school. You can use it as many times as you like (obviously, one per transaction!) and this promo lasts until 15th of June, so there isn't too much of a rush! Glad that they gave me time to get some cash together, I have lots of things that I want to purchase.

Sleek have finally made good on their promise (six months later) and have been distributing the 50% off codes. WOOT. I recieved mine a couple of days ago and decided that since they did eventually do what they said they would, I'd give the brand another chance. So I spent all the money I'd saved up for circle lenses...on Sleek products. *facepalm*. Oh, and then some. Total came to like £63, sans discount, and I didn't even get everything I wanted as I had to cut down somewhat and then the website didn't have some things in stock. Like the Perfect Plum Pout Polish. ARGH. I wanted that colour so badly. *sniff*. I neeeeed it.
That and concealer in my shade and some lipsticks I wanted. Not to mention the distinct lack of online/accurate swatches for many of the products that I wanted but couldn't buy in store. Urgh. Anyway, that's another post. If you tried to order in the sale, have you recieved your code yet? Let us know. Also, if Superdrug decide to do another 3 for 2 on cosmetics (or, you know, just Sleek) do give us a heads up because there is still loadssss I want to get now I've cooled down on my pissed off with the company period.

MUA (MakeUp Acadamey at Superdrug) have a Facebook! Weirdly, there's no sign of a Twitter yet, but they've been running promos and stuff on their Facebook page and seem to want to connect with the blogging community. Check them out, if you want. There are rumours of a new professional line floating about...

This isn't beauty related at all, but there are four or five really, really irriating Year Ten boys that shout "Hey honey!" or "Bye, baby!" at us whenever they see us. What should I do, aside from smacking one in the face?

NO SCHOOL FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS GET IN.

So I opened my inbox the other day to find an email from someone that I didn't recognise, which I'm going to paraphrase (and change, because I don't want to name names)

"You've recently commented on yerfacesinnit* blog and we'd just like to notify you of (happy event)"

Ah, I thought. That's nice. Don't know how you managed to get my email, but whatevs. I read on:

"If you'd like to send donations or gifts here's the address."

O_o

Lol wasn't expecting that one.

I don't know, am I being overly cynical on this occasion? First off I assume my email was obtained from a comment as opposed to someone taking the time to find my blog and then look at my email address, which is at the top of this page. I don't know how to do that but even so, I won't do it to you guys, don't worry.
Secondly, I just find something slightly off about soliciting gifts off people I don't really know off the internet. I find it a bit cheeky, really, but maybe that's me. Anyway. What do you guys think?