Hi ya'll! As you all know, my life is makeup. i do a lot of work with independent clients, photographers, films, graphic novels, you name it. But one thing i find frustrating is when i need to "test" a look, or i need a quick pic of some makeup, but i don't have the time to find a photog, a model, and a studio to do so. So i'm bringing the tests home, we bought some lights & are experimenting here. This is not to say we expect to be serious photographers any time soon, but it's a nice way to work at home, get my guy involved, and get quick pics when i need them. Another great use for this is when i need to practice my fx makeups before application on set, with my sweet bf as a model. Nothing is better than a great partnership! So hopefully soon, when i write about a look, i will be able to post original photos featuring makeup, created here, in the studio. Who knows, i will start a video blog someday too?
...so i never head to Target, consequently i've missed this line of new duo makeup sets at Target. i recently was intriqued by an ad, clicked the link, and viewed what i've been missing. I think when it comes to your own makeup, especially what travels with you, compactness is key, and things with a dual purpose is even better. For instance, this line by NP Set has plenty of duo purpose makeups, like the Duo Pens Eye Line/Cream Blush, and the Mascara/Concealer. What a great idea! My only criticism is that the colors are limited. This is great for the consumer who doesn't have the makeup resources we have in cities, like Sephora, and i think they make some great purse staples for anyone. Another great product i have heard great things about at the Sonia Kashuk brushes, some of which i have handled, and i say, feels great! These brushes make a great addition to a professional's kit or a makeup consumer's makeup bag. Another product line i like that sells duo products is Stila, who has great convertable cream blush & lip colors.
Lisa Stock is a filmmaker based in New York City. Her Gothic work doesn’t rely on the traditional vampire tales and ghost stories, but rather delves deeper into the dark side of human nature and what we embrace and allow to happen that might not always sit well with our conscience. Her stories take those darker inner tendencies and brings them to life visually through tales incorporating myth and fairy tale – everything from the legend of the Wild Hunt, to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She is fascinated with the struggles of life and death, right and wrong, instinct and discipline, and shies away from gore in favor of letting the darker nature sneak up on her audience, and catch them in a moment of recognition with the character. Her films include: “The House of Voluntary Bondage” – a prequel to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde; “The Silent Nick and Nora” – a magic realist film noir where women’s hearts are stolen – literally, yet their bodies feel the effects slowly; TITANIA – a retelling of one of the most brutal fairy tales, The Armless Maiden, through Shakespeare’s timeless queen; and the upcoming web series “The Wild Hunt” which entwines the plight of the angel of death with the myth of Daphne. You can learn more about her work online at: InByTheEye.com
Nothing beats making your average woman breathtaking! Partly because transformations are gorgeous, it's like creating a masterpiece painting, and partly because there is no average woman, and we are out to prove it! Last weekend i did a stellar shoot with several lovely ladies & a great photographer, Laura Boyd. Here's one sneak peak to our shoot, with a great example of this spring's trendy pink lip!
Last weekend i had the privilege to shoot at the late Keith Haring's old apt, which a designer couple, Cole Nahal and Garrett Bowser, repainted with inspired and remarkable art. It was a hectic shoot, the rain was pouring, people were delayed, but we grouped our creative minds & made magic! Here's a preview of the shoot! Nellyel (Model) Zoe Hiigli (Photographer) frances L urrutia (Wardrobe Stylist)
Right now statements are imperative. Everyone has a statement necklace, purse, twitter, you name it. The noughts are about expression, much like the eighties. The statement pout is an easy way to brighten up your expression, and it's easy on your wallet! Following some examples made by Pat McGrath, pucker up baby! (Check out this great retrospective to her many amazing looks at Beauty Blitz!) Pat's orange lips for the Prada show might not be for everyone, but most people can pull off a red. One way to really make your red last is to start off with either a full base of lipliner or a red stain. i use Revlon's Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor in Flame which works great for me. Another color i am enamored with is of course pink, which is making a serious comeback this season. The colors are going to be coral inspired, and also a blue pink, which will make your smile brighter! Check out this blog on some great colors, and of course i always suggest Makeup Forever because they have the most impressive variety. Next is the dark lip, which is transitioning. Try a sheer color, like BLACK TIE OPTIONAL SHEER SEDUCTION LIPSTICK, or try Mac's Blackware for a more sheer but delightful version of this years black pout. Another great but difficult twist can be done by applying a color in the center of the lips & then faded outward to make a kind of stain effect, as if drinking a berry wine & stained from it (or blood for the more gothic minded.) i love this look, and use it often, it works great for my crooked pout & looks wonderful in the summer. But skip the silver in the "bow" part of the lip, that is strictly a runway look!
All these lip looks should be paired with a subtler eye look, again, perfect for humid summers! My favorite is to add a little mascara, add a tiny amount of blush on the lids, and go! And don't forget your sunscreen!
Right now i am in love with the "nude" or natural smoky eye. It's the same as a regular smoky but with earthtones. Use a dark brown eyeliner with a little bit of black to deepen the look, with your usual black mascara. It's a soft update on the classic smokey look! One of my favorite makeup colors right now are soft beige for the eyes with a slight, smooth shimmer. Try Makeup Designory's Dulce De Leche or Makeup Forever's Metallic Light Beige 125. These colors look great with a natural smokey eye, adding sophistication. A lip shade i'm absolutely mad about & that goes so well with this looks is Cameo by Face Atelier. To me it's one of the most perfect shades ever made, and it's brand new. Try it!
Before you start a project, you usually begin with a clean work area, whether painting, cooking, or crafting (i hope!) Your face is the same way. You need a clean canvas before you start your masterpiece! First clean with a good facial soap, not bar soap! (i used bar soap for years & had a red face to prove it.) Burt's Bees facial soaps are my preferred choice, but find one that works for you and your skin type. Every few days i like to exfoliate my face with baking soda. I love that it's a readily available product, and it's super gentle on my skin. Exfoliating is key to having bright, clear skin! It helps clear blackheads & removes dead skin, and is one of the most essential things you can do for beautiful skin. After washing & exfoliating, next moisturise, again with a product adequate for the face. This is also a super important step & one we neglect often! Even if you have oily skin it's necessary to replace what you removed with washing. Moisturiser does not apply oil, but much needed water. In the summer's humidity you can usually go without though, as there's plenty of moisture in the air!
After moisturising, and before appling makeup, make sure that the moisturiser is well absorbed, but polishing it over with a sponge or your fingertips. Now you're ready to start your face!
Every modern woman has a makeup bag, box or closet. But for everday use, are you rifling through it all trying to find that shade you wear every day anyways? Have you practically thrown your back when you travel with it? The hard part is figuring out what items are necessary. The basics for your purse should be limited to a tube or two of lip products (gloss or lipstick) and a powder. Anything else is excessive unless you have a high maintenance face! No one needs to reapply mascara unless you're Tammy Faye (and the mascara companies bemoan their loss.)
For your travel purposes, you should have a travel brush set. In reality, no one really needs more than four brushes for their own face. A blush/loose powder/bronzing brush, a shadow brush, a creasing brush, and an angle brush. Sephora sells an amazing, compact set that rivals my professional brushes (i love the creasing brush too much.) They have many more great compact brush sets but this was by far the best & most compact that I found. About your makeup! How many old eyeliner pencils grace the bottom? An excess of sharpeners, millions of glosses, 3 billion eye shadow shades? Narrow it down. I definitely have a LOT of makeup, but i separate my daily makeup from my fun stuff, so it's easier to get the job done. Figure out what you use the most: Four shades of eyeshadow should be enough. Your daily look should be uncomplicated & easy. Less is more! If you must have them, try getting a compact that includes all the colors you use, and Inglot is the perfect place to personalize your colors! One blush color, one mascara tube, one eyeliner pencil & one eyebrow pencil. Yes, it's asking too much, but your makeup bag should be light. Try to get mechanical pencils instead of wooden ones, then you don't need the mess & fuss of a pencil sharpener. One bottle of foundation is all you need for your skin, if you need concealer, apply more in the area, or use the product buildup around the lip of the bottle. Most people don't need a concealer, but if you do, check out Smashbox's line of concealers, the non cream concealers last longer without creasing. For a blush i heavily recommend Makeup Designory's cream blushes. They are beautiful, look wonderful, and are easy to apply without any tools (and for a sweet, fresh look, i apply some on my upper eyelids with only mascara to compliment!) To pull it all together, find a a nice, compact bag. Check out Etsy for some great cute options! Next time i will write about making up the perfect face, shortcuts & product suggestions & all!
Mia has been a makeup artist for four years, following a short time as a portrait artist. She loves makeup immensely, and wants to share the joy of beauty, painting, and transformation with everyone!
