Makeup Mondays...My Kit...

 
It's been a while since my last kit post. I've been busy but it's all such wonderful things - I can't wait until July - got some big news :)

A friend and colleague recently traveled to the US and she bought me back some treats...

If you are worth your salt as a makeup artist, you will recognise and covet these! One of the most hyped about products ever, Urban Decay has whittled out a nice corner of the eye primer market with these gems. They are incredible eye primers which last for hours and now come in a small range of colours.

Not available in SA, I couldn't have wished for a better gift! Thanks Ms Prior :)

I ventured into Woolies this weekend and braved the crowds and surprisingly average service...as it turns out, completely worth it! I found this Smashbox In Bloom eye shadow palette. A beautiful array of colours in a quality, fine powder. Perfect for brides or natural makeup. It also comes with a pretty decent brush....definitely one of the best eye shadow palettes I've seen out there.

Only R400...I might go back and buy another for my personal kit!

The show goes on...

Fudge. I am tired of drama. Wow, this industry is rife with it. Is it just because I'm new that I feel it so much more or are people just threatened because my work is amazing? {my blog, I get to say what I like}

I've heard this song by Lupe Fiasco (a fave of mine) on the radio a couple of times and I love the feeling it gives me. You know, one of those screw-all-the-haters feelings.

Here's why...

All right, already
The show goes on
All night 'til the morning
We dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun go
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on

Have you ever had the feelin' that you was bein' had?
Don't that shit there make you mad? They treat you like a slave
Put chains all on your soul and put whips up on your back
They be lyin' through they teeth, hope you slip up off your path
I don't switch up, I just laugh, put my kicks up on they desk
Unaffected by they threats, then get busy on they ass
See, that how that Chi-town made me, that's how my daddy raised me
That glitterin' may not be gold, don't let nobody play me
If you are my homeboy, you'll never have to pay me
Go'n and put your hands up, when times is hard, you stand up
L-U-P the man, cuz, the brand that the fans trust
So even if they ban us, they'll never slow my plans up

All right, already
The show goes on
All night 'til the morning
We dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun go
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on

One in the air for the people ain't here
Two in the air for the father that's there
Three in the air for the kids in the ghetto
Four for the kids that don't wanna be there
None for the niggas tryna hold them back
Five in the air for the teachers not scared

To tell those kids that's livin' in the ghetto
That the niggas holdin' back that the world is theirs
Yeah, yeah, the world is yours, I was once that little boy
Terrified of the world, now I'm on a world tour
I will give up everything, even start a world war
For these ghetto girls and boys I'm rappin' 'round the world for
Africa to New York, Haiti, then I detour
Oakland out to Auckland, Gaza Strip to Detroit
Say hip-hop only destroy, tell 'em look at me, boy
I hope your son don't have a gun and never be a D-boy

All right, already
The show goes on
All night 'til the morning
We dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun go
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on

So no matter what been through, no matter what you into
No matter what you see when you look outside your window
Brown grass or green grass, picket fence or barbed wire
Never ever put them down, you just lift your arms higher
Raise 'em 'til your arms tired, let 'em know you here
That you struggling, survivin', that you gon' persevere
Ain't nobody leavin', nobody goin' home
Even if they turn the lights out, the show is goin' on

All right, already
The show goes on
All night 'til the morning
We dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun go
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on 

People who judge, but don't know. People who assume, but don't ask. They are insignificant. There is too much light in life, for them to make it dark.

Courage before strength. {you'll know, if you know}

By the way, Meg from She Bangs the Drum did a really cool post about Mr Fiasco.

Elle magazine ~ May 2011

So thrilled about some of my tips being featured in the Elle "The best beauty advice we've ever heard"!

Here's a sneak peek :)

#12
To get the lip-gloss look without the gooey texture, apply alternating coats of lipstick and a shimmery cream or powder (highlight) - just remember to finish with the lipstick.

#14
A small, angled makeup brush is pretty much all you need; you can use it to apply gel/liquid/pencil eyeliner, shape your eyebrows with a matte powder or apply lipstick (perfect for a bold lip!)

#20
Take care of panda eyes by switching to waterproof mascara. For a look that's more natural but still defined, use black mascara on the top lashes and brown mascara on your bottom lashes.

The Pretty Blog...Mature Makeup...

It's my last post for The Pretty Blog and what better way to say "ciao" than by paying homage to our moms? I've worked on many mother-of-the-bride's and they always seem to sit in my chair and ask "can you do anything with this face?"

The answer is always undoubtedly YES! I love moms! They're always there when we need them and even when we're moody and emotional, they keep coming back for more. I love pampering the moms and making them feel special on the wedding day, but I also make sure to use waterproof everything!

Some makeup artists get a bit nervous working on more mature faces, but there are a few tricks (just like any makeup application) which will help create a flawless and naturally beautiful face.

1. Prep the skin with a lightweight primer. This is help reduce the appearance of very fine lines and will even out the skin texture. If you feel like your skin is a bit dry, use an iridescent primer like MAC strobe cream. It adds a wonderful glow to the skin.

2. Don't smile while applying blush otherwise it will settle into your crinkles. Rather gently apply blush using circular motions on the apple of the cheeks, sweeping up the cheek bone.

3. Remember that powder has an aging effect. It settles into lines and wrinkles and emphasizes them. To eliminate shine, gently press (don't brush) powder onto those areas and try avoid powdering the "lined" areas as much as possible. The inner corners of the eyes and just underneath, the sides of the nose and ever so slightly onto the cheeks, around the nostrils and onto the chin...those are generally the safe areas to powder.

4. Hooded eyes may be a little difficult, but have a squiz at this video..it's super helpful and illustrates the technique nicely.

5. A fantastic tip for mature lips is to use a lip stain. They look like little khoki pens and they line the lip beautifully without bleeding into fine lines. Lip stains also last for ages and they're a good base before you apply your lipstick.

6. Thin lips can be made to look fuller by applying a highlight to the middle of the bottom lip and to the bow of the top lip. Layer your lipstick on top of this highlight to allow it to shine through and look natural.

Overall, remember to keep the powder to a minimum and apply your makeup in thin, natural layers.

Thank you so much for having me on The Pretty Blog and for the wonderful comments and support. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to contact me through my blog, and I'll reply as best (and as quickly) as I can!

All the best for your special day!

The Pretty Blog...Retro Bride...

I can't believe how quickly this week has gone...I swear, it seems like just yesterday I was setting out the last post!  This week's look is the most dramatic and bold look I'm going to discuss and it really has become quite popular with brides recently.

It's based on a vintage style and can be very flattering if done correctly. It's also something which can be worn daily or used with different colours...very versatile!

As usual, the basis of your makeup would be the same as mentioned previously, so I am going to focus on the eye and lip makeup as this is what defines the look and it's also what most people have the most trouble with. Unfortunately some people get it very wrong, but with the right tips and practice, you can perfect it and rock it out!

Winged eyeliner

You can use a pencil (sharp!), liquid eyeliner or cream eyeliner to create this look...personally, I would recommend cream eyeliner as most are waterproof, they are easier to work with and take a little longer to dry so you can fix any mistakes.

Using a small, angled brush (like the MAC 208) start by getting the liner into the roots of your lashes. Depending on how thick you want your line, don't worry about being a little messy at this stage. Once you have a base line along your top lashes, you can start working on where the flick should be. This is the difficult part...but there are some little tricks to make it easier, like using sticky tape.  I've included these great videos as it will be easier to understand if you see it first hand.

If your liner isn't waterproof or you want to increase the intensity of the colour, using the same brush pat a little eye shadow in a matching colour on top of your line. Remember to curl your lashes and apply a fair amount of mascara to complete the look.

Red lips

Who doesn't love a red lip? Some people are scared of them and don't think they can pull them off, but all you need to do is find the right shade for your skin tone and perfect the application.

I usually start with a lip stain...these are awesome because they last and they build up the colour of the lip (remember thin layers). It's also a good way to get the outline of your lips done properly. I then apply a highlight to middle of the bottom lip and the bow of the top lip (depending on the shape of the lips) as this creates the illusion of lip gloss, without the sticky, drooling look. {see the video here}

Using the same brush you used for your eyeliner (properly cleaned obviously), start applying your lipstick to the lips. Outline the lips using the angled brush and then use a normal lip brush to full it in.  Here's a great illustration of the process:

I apply the highlight in between layers of lipstick to achieve the full gloss illusion. If you make any mistakes or get the shape of your lips wrong, just use a cotton bud dipped in makeup remover and gently wipe the line away.

Again this is an application which takes patience, time and practice but once perfected, is flawless!

Q & A with Candice

Hi Candice
I know I should use sunscreen, but I find wearing moisturiser, foundation and sunscreen a bit heavy. Which sunscreen can recommend for daily use? - Giselle

Hi Giselle,
I did touch on this a little in my first post, but I think it's a very important issue and something a lot of women pass over and then regret later in life. Here what I originally posted:
"Most foundations and moisturizers have a "built in" spf and this should be fine if you only drive to/from work and you work in an office all day. If your job entails a lot of driving or working outside, you need to use a separate, high spf sunscreen over your moisturizer. I know some people will worry about shine and oil build up, but there really are some fantastic sunscreens out there which are specially formulated for the face."
 
I can't advise any products in particular for you because it all depends on your skin type but here's what I do (remember that I work outside most of the time and I drive around a lot so I need a higher protection): I use a moisturiser with a spf15. I then apply a spf50 face sunscreen (Nivea DNAge, which I love) and I let that absorb for a while before I apply my makeup. I usually keep my makeup to a minimum but when I wear extra sunscreen, I find I need to powder a little more on my chin, around the nose and on my forehead.
To be honest, sun protection is too important to take preference over makeup and I always make it my first priority...on myself, my models and my brides. Be brave, test out some of the available products and find something that works for you. - Cands

031 Collection...

 

See more at the 031 Blog.

The anti hipster...

It's been a trend developing for some time now...be different...be cool...no scrap that, don't be cool, that's too commercial...dress to express your individuality...but make sure it's like this...

Hipsters. The now-rotting carcass of the once razor sharp cutting edge. Everyone is trying so hard, they end up looking the same. Now it's "deck" to be the anti-hipster...if you really want to be ahead of the curve.

It's called fashion baby, not brain surgery. It's a trend, a fad. This too shall pass. Thank fudge.

Reasons I know I'm not a hipster (it's almost the same as "ways to tell if people are zombies in a post-apocalyptic world"):

1. I wear glasses with prescription glass in them. I actually need them to read.

2. Bows, ribbons, bunnies and birds do not form part of my wardrobe.

3. I am not nonchalant. I give a fuck. (in fact, I might turn the "comments" off for this post)

4. My hair is clean and I have tan lines.

5. I like music based on its' sound...not on the fact that no one has heard them before....ever.

6. I don't wear moth-eaten clothes for the pure reason of saying "I thrifted this weekend". I wear vintage...style is not a trend.

Some quotes:

"hipsterism fetishizes the authentic" - Wikipedia

"regurgitates it with a winking inauthenticity." - Wikipedia

"Hipsters are the friends who sneer when you cop to liking Coldplay. They're the people who wear t-shirts silk-screened with quotes from movies you've never heard of and the only ones in America who still think Pabst Blue Ribbon is a good beer. They sport cowboy hats and berets and think Kanye West stole their sunglasses. Everything about them is exactingly constructed to give off the vibe that they just don't care." - Time, July 2009


Some images:

It gives me that same cool-at-any-cost Andy Warhol vibe from Factory Girl. Great article about it all here.

Some videos:







"it's very difficult for me to talk about but talking to you all today and seeing how desperately mainstream you are made me realise that my life could be a lot worse"

"do you seriously want to listen to a band after their music has been played in a store?"

Too much. I can't.

{editor's note: either this is a very tongue in cheek post about the irony of trends and hipsterism....or it's totally deck...mind fudge...}

Free People...I.have.no.words.

Wow. Just wow.

Their imagery is inspiring. The clothes beautiful. Free People, please can we be best friends and braid each others hair?

And they ship to South Africa!

Find them {and expect to spend a good portion of your day!} on their website, blog and youtube {amazing videos!}

Here are some of my faves!

 

PS: It's my birthday coming up, you know, just fyi.

LINK LOVE ~ Great concept...

Love this concept of stepping outside the frame and playing with all aspects of the studio. It almost feels like you're there...

Images: Fashion Gone Rogue

A little update...

I know I've been quiet on the blog but that can only mean good things are happening! In fact, it's been so busy, my diary is a mess (and anyone who knows me, knows I'm CDO - OCD but in alphabetical order!)

Here's some of what's been on the go...the March newsletter is up...I'm involved in the 031 Collection (exciting news to come soon)...The Pretty Blog series is going really nicely...only 80 sleeps until Vietnam...Big news going live in July...

So stick around!

Image: weheartit

The Pretty Blog...Classic Bride...

Now that we've gone through what you should expect from your wedding MUA and the basics of natural makeup, I'd like to focus on a specific look, the Classic Bride.

This is my most requested look as it emphasizes natural beauty and makes you look like a more polished version of yourself. It's all about natural contours and subtle, well-blended hints of colour. The great thing about this look is that it will work on anyone, all you need to do is tweak the colours a little for your skin tone.

I'm going to do it as a step-by-step process because it's difficult to explain it through writing, so if you don't understand anything or have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll come back and answer it.

1. Seeing as I've already discussed the basics of makeup, I'm only going to focus on the eyes and lips in this post, so just refer to my previous post on natural makeup for your foundation etc.

2. I usually use cream shadows on brides as they dry and don't crease or sweat off. You can just as easily create this look with powder eye shadows, just be sure to do your eyes before the rest of your face as eye shadow can drop and make a mess.

3. Using a matte light brown shadow, contour your eye by applying shadow just on your eye socket bone (outer corner of eye/just above the outer crease) and bringing it down into your crease as you move to the inner corner of your eye. This should not create a defined line but rather a soft shadow which adds shape and depth to your eye.

4. Using the same colour and a smaller brush, run a little eye shadow into your lower lash line. (remember the darker colour on your eye should be heaviest on the outer corner of your eye...this gives that lovely almond shape)

5. You can build up the colour on the outer corner of your eye with the same colour or use a darker colour for a more dramatic look. Use the original contour you did (step 3 & 4) as an outline and always "colour in the lines" from then on. This ensures that that you have a soft, blended line before your skin tone. I usually only build up a darker colour within the outer lid area of the eye.

6. A lovely look for brides it to take a shimmery brown or champagne colour and apply it on the middle of the lid. Make sure you blend it (you're going to hear that a lot!) so that it looks like each colour melts into the other. The dark matte colour on the outside and the lighter shimmer in the middle work together to create shape and definition.

7. Now add a light shimmery eye shadow to the inner lid and lightly bring it around to the inner lower lash line (just a smidgen!). This makes your eyes look bigger and more awake.

8. There are so many options for lining eyes. I prefer using a small angle brush (like a MAC #208) with either - brown or black eye shadow (for a more natural look), eye pencil (for a subtle, defined look) or pot paint (for a dramatic look). Just remember to push the colour into the lash line or as close as possible always making it thicker towards the outer corner of the eye.

9. Whatever you do to the top, you do to the bottom. Just in smaller amounts and more subtly. I don't always line the bottom lashes completely as it depends totally on the shape of the eye. If you're going to add liner in your waterline, make sure it's waterproof otherwise you will get panda eyes.

10. Always curl your lashes before you apply mascara. For a more natural look, use black on the top and brown on the bottom lashes...always waterproof.

11. I'm not a big believer in highlighting under the brow (because this area can shine and reflect light naturally), however if you do want the extra pop, apply a tiny amount of shimmer/highlight (it can be the same from step # 7) in a thin line right underneath your brow after the arc.

12. Unless the bride wants a specific colour, I usually use a light pink lip stain on the lip. I then highlight the middle of the bottom lip a little and the bow of the top lip ever so slightly.

13. Finally I apply a lovely pinkish-nude lipstick (MAC Faux is delicious on most people).

Once you've finished the entire look, give your face a once over...maybe you need a little more blush (maybe less) and perhaps a last, light powder to eliminate shine.

This look can be used with light, matte colours for a great daytime look or with dark, shimmery colours for some a bit more dramatic.

Here are some examples of the different variations:

 

 

Q & A with Candice

I’m desperate to try the new season bright looks and 70′s make up but as I’m approaching 30 I don't want to look too done… Is there a way to do this subtly? What kind of colours should i use? xx ~ Rachie

Hi Rachie,

There really are some beautiful colours coming off the Spring & Fall runways! Not all of the looks are wearable on a day-today basis but here are some of the trends and how you can interpret them.
Beautiful, clean and natural skin ~ skin should be luminous and youthful. An easy way to cheat this is to use something like MAC Strobe cream underneath your foundation. Also, don't pack on the foundation and powder, it might cover things but it also has an aging effect.

Bold Berry lips ~ Red lips will always be around (a personal fave!) but the colours have gotten deeper and richer for winter. Choose your tone carefully and apply it with precision (using the same angled brush for your eyeliner)...a lip stain is a great way to work this look without looking messy.

Brows are defined but not strong...cheeks are a subtle blush...eyes are either uber natural or heavily lined (the cat eye and wings seem to have worn off, thank goodness).

The best way to do any trend subtly no matter your age, it to focus on one element and keep the as near to bare as possible. Hope this helped and have fun! ~Cands

{Every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks, I'll post a little something on The Pretty Blog. If you want to get all the tips and tricks first, visit their beautiful website.}

MY WORK ~ NUDE FACE / BODY

I've had the pleasure of working with some lovely models recently and the images we're getting from shoots are getting more and more beautiful.

Last year, Vaughan and I shot Lauren for a nude/beauty story. The original idea has evolved into an explosion of art and photography (one of V's specialties) and we are beyond happy with the results.

It's always difficult shooting a nude story...the models' body needs to be perfect...you have to find the right environment (so no one gets arrested)...and the team needs to feel comfortable with each other.

Lauren is a pro and I think her confidence and amazing personality reflect in the final product...she also has one of the best bodies in the business!

Given the NSFW (not safe for work) nature of these images, I'll only load one here but please have a look at my website to see the full shoot.

We've also worked with Candice (who is currently without an agency given her height). I worked with her on the Volcom and DC Shoes shoots and I just knew I had to do a beauty shoot with her. She is the most incredibly sweet person and I am so glad to finally have her in my book.

I've needed to full out my beauty work with more natural shoots (which is the hardest type of makeup to perfect) and I am so thrilled with Candice's pictures.

Please visit my website to see more.

031 Collection...

Some of you might have heard rumblings about a new fashion experience soon to hit Durban. The 031 Collection is going to be an incredible event and I am lucky enough to be involved in this project in various ways.

So, if the blogs a little quiet here...it's just because I'm living the dream! Head on over to the 031 Collection blog or In the Fashion Loop for all the news and behind the scenes treats...starting from Monday!

As usual, you can also join the party on twitter or facebook.

PS: Any bloggers interested in being at the event, drop me a line asap.