I've created this brownish-bronze-army green smokey eye look that would be perfect for a dinner and post-dinner drinks.
Using my little sister as a guinea pig, I started with a base color from lash to lid. Then I with a flat tipped brush I took the brownish sparkly shadow and lightly ran it across the upper lash line with more color deposit on the outer corner. I then used my smoky eye brush from Sephora to "smoke" it upwards to the crease line blending it up and out and deposited the darkest color on the outer section. I kept layering until my desired effect. The tip is to have a light hand and then make it as dark as you are comfortable with or for the right occasion.
Using a smaller tipped brush I lined the lower lash line with the same rule as the top lid. Lighter in the inner corner to Darker in the outer corner. I like eyes to have this gradient of color. I think it looks more natural.
I used a sparkly bronze for her middle lid and tapped it with a flat brush for that brightening effect. For the inner corners I used a sparkly gold color.
Lining the upper lash line with an army green liner and the outer lower lash line with the same liner. I added dimension to the lower lash line by using the same bronze shadow with a tiny brush from the inner corner to the middle of the lash line.
Finishing off by curling her lashes and a few coats of lengthening mascara.
I saw a few Youtube videos of "beauty gurus" that were doing the make up tags... Thought I'd do something similar here.
1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup?
2 years old! I used to sneak into my Grandmother's and Mother's make up drawers and play around with their make up. I also used to get into a lot of trouble for cutting my own hair. Needless to say, my make up skills were a lot better than my hair cutting skills!
I started wearing make up for school around 6th grade, then I couldn't be bothered with make up too much in high school b/c I was too sleep-deprived from all the activities I did each day. I only wore make up for dance performances and figure skating competitions in high school.
2. How did you get into makeup?
I got into doing make up because I hated people touching my face. I used to re-do the make up that my mother did on my face for dance recitals when I was a child b/c I didn't like the way it looked. When I got older, I started learning theater make up and signed up to be on crew so I wouldn't have to sit in anyone's chair! lol.
3. What are some of your favorite brands?
Stila, Make Up Forever, NARS, Fresh, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Origins, and Body Shop
4. What does makeup mean to you?
Make up is a wonderful way to enhance natural beauty. It is also fun to mix it up and try a new look b/c at the end of the day, you can wash it off!
5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be?
OCC Tinted Moisturizer, Stila's Cherry Crush lip/cheek stain, Alison Raffaele's Transparent Finish to go, Shu Uemura mascara
6. What is your favorite thing about makeup?
The ability to lift a mood, look and feel fabulous, and the confidence it brings.
7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup?
I'm a make up snob/junkie/hoarder - I love good quality products so tend to stick with products I've tested on myself and that it works well. I'm also transitioning my make up to also be cruelty-free b/c bunnies don't deserve to be mistreated and tortured for the sake of cosmetics. There are so many products that humans are willing to try and test out if it works.
8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner?
Hone in on the skills you are good at and focus your energy on that. You can't do everything.
I'm not an FX make up artist, nor a body painter, or do fantasy type make up but have tried all those things out. I'm just not good at it and there are so many more talented artists who can do that kind of work. My best skills is in beauty make up and airbrush make up applications. I like continuing to expand my skills so I practice a lot and have done some pretty interesting transformations during Halloween for clients and friends.
9. What is one makeup trend you never understood?
Eyelid taping. This is predominant in Asia, I had to tape an Asian brides lids a few times because they wanted a "double lid" effect. This changes the way the eyes look and I never understood the phenomenon of looking completely like a different person when this trend has been done as well as using make up to transform the entire face especially when it comes to weddings. Its just weird to me. I understand that you need to transform the entire face for a theatrical production or a film/tv show and embrace the joy that make up can do that but for an everyday look or a wedding?!?!?! Thats just living behind a mask.
10. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube?
Some of the videos make me cringe but its like watching reality tv shows, you just can't help but watch it. This video is really cute though....
Fall wedding season and holidays are here - I've been getting booked more frequently this fall. I've also taught several private make up lessons and had wedding guests come to my studio for make up applications. I like it when people come to my studio to get their make up done because my back doesn't require a pummeling on the massage chair for hauling my kit around the city. I also have my entire kit here so the possibilities are endless. I'm very thankful for the space and location I now have my home studio in. The windows let in a lot of light. I had a client early this morning come in to have a make up lesson and prep her on how to do make up for HD TV and Film. One of the most important aspects to HD TV, Film, and Photography is how the light will hit your face. HD doesn't lie and will always look scary if you apply make up with a very heavy hand. It brought to my attention the importance of products that work. One of the best things to put on the face is a good mattifying primer. The last thing you want is looking like a flashlight on TV. Check out Givenchy's Mister Mat. This is a good mattifying primer for that T-zone. Another favorite HD product is Make up Forever's High Definition Microfinish Powder - a little on the messy side but an excellent product b/c the powder is so fine, gives a translucent finish, and gives a smooth surface. The best make up for HD is the airbrush foundations by Kett, Obessessive Compulsive Cosmetics, and Temptu - I like the watery, fast-drying, and natural looking finish these foundations give applied by the airbrush gun, brush, or fingers. All three of these brands are available online. If you don't have access to these brands or they don't deliver to your location, you can try Make up Forever's HD Finish Foundation. Apply with a light hand and only add extra coverage where you need it the most and blend everything well!
Thanksgiving and my birthday is coming up this week so Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
We all love Mineral make up but its so messy. The solution is the Mineral Mate. You can also use it as a sanitary mixing palette (esp. fun for make up artists!) As a make up artist, I am constantly custom blending colors because I believe that every person is unique and the colors on a person's face should be customized to suit them and if there isn't a color that is just perfect then make it yourself! This versatile palette allows me to play with highly pigmented colors and then mix it with a different texture such as a clear lip gloss to make a truly customized color. I recently also used Mineral Mate to put my brush cleaner solution so I can clean my brushes. Prior to the mineral mate, I used a ceramic cup filled with the solution but the problem was that the brushes would get drenched in the solution and take forever to dry. With the mineral mate, it was just enough solution to clean and disinfect but also didn't drench my brushes so I could use the brushes within 5 min. of drying on a paper towel.
Products in this review were given to the blogger by Minerals Mate. All opinions belong to the blogger.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
I would love to feature a picture of your make up bag contents in my beauty blog. Please email me a picture of your make up bag & contents. Pick out your favorite product and tell me why its your favorite! alaine83@gmail.com
My favorite item from my professional make up kit is my airbrush machine! I love it because it creates the flawless beautiful skin that we all dream of without the cakey feeling of regular make up. I use the Kett Cosmetics and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics for my airbrush.
I've been watching some Fall trends that have been recurring once the temperatures drop and the leaves start to change color. This year there seems to be a vampiress trend. hmmm.. could the latest movies and tv shows have something to do with it...Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries...
1) Dramatic Red Lips Exfoliate your lips, I recommend taking a damp toothbrush and lightly brushing it over your lips. Apply lip balm. Line your lips with red lip liner. Apply matte red lipstick. Top it off with a red gloss. Added tips: For longer lasting color with less maintenance, before applying lipstick add a lip stain. That way when the gloss and lipstick wear away the lips are still a brilliant juicy color. I would also blot the lips a few times and then reapply until your lips have fully absorbed the color.
2) Plum lip stain Follow the same steps as above
3) Dark rimmed eyes with lots of lashes! Line your inner rims with a dark eyeliner (Note: I did not say black, feel free to experiment with navy, dark green, maroon, purple liners). I recommend gel liners since it is easier to control than liquid liners yet also can be smudged to make a sexy smokey look. Curl your lashes. Apply lots of mascara.
I picked these up from The Make Up Show last Sunday at the Metropolitan Pavilion and had a chance to try them out last night b/c my friend and I were out late and were lazy to wash our faces off so we resorted to wipes. (hah!) I can't believe I didn't discover these sooner! This wipe is so gentle and divine against the skin. It literally takes everything off and smells like fresh cucumber slices. I also love the fact that its individually wrapped so its super sanitary, will not go dry, and you can pack it in your gym bag, purse, luggage, etc. I don't know why it isn't a part of my kit already. I'm definitely a fan of the Alcone Make up remover cloths. I also love the fact that you can purchase them in bulk. I will probably include a wipe for my bride's emergency touch up kit. They will love the scent and how it feels against the skin at the end of the day!
