Smooth Makeup Application Techniques

Twelve brushes in a set and you cannot get the look you’re going for? Shading, blending and smoothing are makeup artists’ treasured techniques! Sometimes products and brushes don’t mix. They can leave clumps, streaking, and uneven application. Formal training is filled with tips and tricks from seasoned professionals who are eager to teach students what they have learned throughout the years and here is one of them.

When it comes to cream-based products, applying with a brush can be extra frustrating. The warmth of your fingers will melt down the product and help you blend it evenly and smoothly. A smooth base will help makeup last longer and stay vibrant. Use this technique when applying a primer or cream shadows as a base for powder shadows and products.

Sticky lipglosses can gunk up expensive brushes, a few dabs with your fingers you are good to go. Another versatile beauty tool that is a MUST have in every aspiring make-up artist’s case are makeup sponges. They are perfect for applying cream and liquid makeup because of their smooth surface. I also love to use as a makeshift mixing tray when mixing foundations and lipstick for the perfect hue.

Remember to always, always, always wash hands thoroughly before and after application to ensure the best hygiene. Our hands touch everything, and you wouldn’t want any of that irritating your skin or getting into your eyes.

~Vernize Rios

Filed Under: Cosmetics Tagged With: Cream Eye Shadow, Fingertips, makeup artist, Makeup Brushes, Makeup Sponge

Jun. 6, By Vernize Rios Leave a Comment

Foundation 101: How to NOT Have a Face Makeup Freak-out

Foundation is a beauty purchase that has stumped women for ages. Even beauty know-it-alls have foundation freakouts!

Finding the right foundation is hard. It is also difficult to take advice from friends because everyone’s skin is so different and there are so many options. From brands to powders to liquids and everything in between, it’s sure to make your head spin.

There are aspects to foundation that to the untrained eye are undetectable but can aid in your foundation decision-making. Foundations are composed of tints, oils, fragrances, and more. Did you know foundations have base tints of red, black, yellow, even blue? Or that fragrances are added to foundations to create an aromatherapy effect?

Yes, indeed — makeup artists are like scientists so the next time you get your makeup professionally done, pay attention to how they approach the foundation issue. As a makeup artist myself, the knowledge I’ve gained in training went far beyond how to apply liquid eyeliner. We mix, measure, blend, sniff, and touch different cosmetics until we find the perfect concoction to create gorgeous applications. Formal training allows an aspiring makeup artist to learn not only how to apply, but why to apply it and where to apply it.

A successful career in makeup artistry or any beauty related career begins with training. When the options are boundless, it’s always good to have some direction.

-Vernize Rios

Filed Under: Beauty, Cosmetics Tagged With: beauty school, Foundation, makeup artist

Feb. 28, By Robyn Tellefsen Leave a Comment

Beauty on the Red Carpet: 83rd Annual Academy Awards Goes Au Naturel

Beauty fads come and go, but there’s one trend that will never go out of style – natural, healthy-looking skin. With more and more celebs going au naturel, the fresh-faced look, like the one Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Williams, and other celebrities donned at the 83rd annual Academy Awards ceremony, is shaping up to be a red-hot trend for 2011.

In fact, Benjamin Rousseau, national makeup artist for Lancôme, says that this awards season’s beauty trend is one of understated glamour. “The feel is more of a classic elegance rather than a strong, statement-making end result,” he tells Vogue UK. Rousseau, whose clients include Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Emma Watson, offers the following prescription for Oscar-worthy beauty:

LIPS: Nude or natural colors
CHEEKS: Touch of cheekbone-enhancing blush
EYES: Soft and smoky

How are the stars getting the coveted clean-and-clear skin needed to achieve a naturally beautiful look? Check out these tips from the International Spa Association (ISPA) about the beauty products and treatments favored by the hottest names around.

Celeb Beauty Picks
>> This year’s Best Actress nominees (Annette Bening, Nicole Kidman, and Natalie Portman) each scored an Award-Season Survival Kit courtesy of Murad. The kits include goodies like cleansing cream to remove makeup and exfoliate skin, moisturizer to achieve the luminous look, and dietary supplements to encourage sleep and boost cellular regeneration.

>> A-List actresses like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez are opting for fruit-filled facial peels, which are designed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and boost the skin’s natural radiance. J.Lo also loves SkinCeutical’s paraben-free mattifying fluid to protect her skin from sun damage.

>> Celebrity beauties like Katherine Heigl, Alicia Silverstone, and Jennie Garth are into Eminence Organics, a skin care line of all-natural products featuring scientific combinations of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Jessica Simpson is a fan of Jurlique products to moisturize, prep, and balance her skin before applying makeup.

>> Oscar-worthy beauty products cross gender lines, too. E! red carpet host Ryan Seacrest digs Skin 2 Skin Care products, which are staples of any red carpet makeup artist’s kit. The products are known for promoting collagen production and reducing puffiness with the help of antioxidants. The Herculean Kevin Sorbo loves Skin Authority, which is well-known for its products that reverse wrinkles and provide a natural eye-lift.

>> Even non-celebs can get star treatment at spas like Spa Montage Beverly Hills, which is currently offering the “Ultimate Pre-Red Carpet Spa Experience.” Those who indulge in the two- to three-day package benefit from an anti-aging facial, body sculpting therapy, a back facial, and a full-body wrap. You’ll even get luxury products to take home with you.

Maybe you won’t make it to the red carpet – this year. But with these tips from the top, you can’t say you weren’t prepared.

–Robyn Tellefsen

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: beauty products, beauty professional, beauty routine, facial, makeup artist, skin care

Aug. 6, By Gina Leave a Comment

Too Early For Makeup?

When was the first time you put on your first stitch of makeup? I think, for me, I was about three years old in my dance recital. It’s crazy to think that I was introduced to makeup at such an early age, but I wonder if that has anything to do with my love for it now. According to a recent article with the Canadian Press, it should have affected me in a different way.

In the article, Karen Grant, an NPD beauty-industry analyst, says that she thinks when girls start at a young age (such as pre-teen years) they are actually not as fascinated by it in older years (like their late teens). I don’t know if I can agree with that. Now, don’t get me wrong – just because I had a little bit of blush and lipstick on at the age of three, doesn’t mean that I was obsessed with makeup every day since then. I think it actually took me a bit longer to get down some kind of routine (or even to be allowed to use any sort of makeup, for that matter). It’s not like the baby beauty queens of today that get filmed for reality television. That may be a different case altogether.

I think that each person has their own personality and own progression when it comes to makeup. The Canadian Press article also suggests that girls are becoming interested in makeup earlier with all the latest spa and makeup parties that allow them to bond with their friends and mothers. While this may be true, I don’t think that this is when girls begin the obsession. They must explore it on their own and will come into their own routine in their own time. Some girls don’t even like makeup.

But I must agree with the article’s thoughts on the popularity of mascara throughout time. I, myself, don’t ever leave home without mascara on. It really has the ability to brighten your face – it’s a great beauty product.

What products have you loved throughout your life?

-Amanda Fornecker

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: Beauty, cosmetology, makeup, makeup artist, makeup obsession

Apr. 12, By Gina 1 Comment

Rivaling Snooki at a Hair Salon

I didn’t think a reality television show could get more entertaining than our beloved Jersey Shore and the craziness that is Snooki, but alas, there is a rival. And while it may not be the most original of ideas to bash the same state and its inhabitants over and over again, I still find myself mesmerized by Jerseylicious (the title alone speaks volumes). This Style Network show follows the hair stylists and makeup artists of a New Jersey salon. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I actually know the types of people portrayed on this show or if it’s actually hysterical, but just like a typical train wreck of a reality show, I can’t look away.

On last night’s episode of Jerseylicious, the Gatsby Salon was buzzing over the possibility of being featured in a New Jersey magazine. A “secret shopper” type of customer would be from the magazine and size up the salon for their professionalism and overall success as an upscale salon. Of course the customer that was the mystery writer turned out to be the one that was around for a crazy time in the salon. And Gatsby has been named a finalist.

What reality television show would be complete without drama? This episode’s drama included a fight that ensued between a hair stylist (Tracy) and an aspiring makeup artist (Olivia). It was Tracy’s birthday and she was having a safari-themed party at her apartment. She decided to invite the entire Gatsby staff – except for Olivia. To retaliate, Olivia decided to throw her own jungle-themed party at the same time as Tracy’s. You can only imagine the drama, which involved a screaming match in the parking lot and a lot of smack-talking.

The lines that came out of their mouths were pretty hysterical. Some of these included:

“She likes to copy everything of mine: my hair, my nails, and even my cell phone covers. She’s like a Chinatown knockoff.” – Tracy in reference to Olivia
“It was like the Civil War. I felt like the Mason-Dixon line!” – Anthony (the only male hair stylist on the show) in reference to his meddling between Tracy and Olivia

The worst character was Alexa, the head makeup artist. She refers to herself as a “Glam Fairy” who trains others to get their wings. It was like she was living in lala land, but was actually really mean to everyone. I think that it’s good for makeup artists and hair stylists to come up with a philosophy to live by in order to beautify others, but Alexa used bad puns and references constantly throughout the show. And she’s not a nice person either.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the stereotypes portrayed in the show. Of course we have the big hair, crazy nails, fake tans, and crazy outfits. And let’s not forget about the accents (although I have been made fun of a time or two for my New York accent). If you haven’t seen Jerseylicious yet, the picture you have in your mind is probably correct. Check it out yourself for a fun salon experience and some mindless entertainment!

-Amanda Fornecker

Filed Under: Careers Tagged With: hair salon, hair stylist, jerseylicious, makeup artist, reality tv