The Bride!!

 

Hi everyone!  Last week I did a post on a bridal consutation.  Needless to say the wedding day arrived this past Saturday 3/12/11.  It was a pleasure doing this Bride.  She didnt wear makeup but yet in still wanted to look flawless on her special day!  Like I said in my consultation post she picked her colors.  They were beautiful purples. I added the gold just to set the purple off plus it was one of the colors of her wedding.

This was my first wedding of 2011!  I was excited to do this wedding because it kicked off Bridal Season for me. I knew being this would be the first wedding of the year I had to bring my A game.  I wanted everything to be flawless about her makeup (no pun intended)!  Because I knew with this one wedding could bring more.  I didnt do the bridesmaids but even still it's all about the Bride!

I was sorry that I couldn't stay for the wedding so that I could have possibly met some soon to be brides or clients but duty called in two other parts of town.  I was on the MOVE!  Lol 

You can best believe that I have looked at the pics and critiqued them a thousand times.  I see a flaw here or there or something that I could have blended more or gave more attention to.  But thats why I've learned to take my own pics so that I can have a constant reminer of what not to do next time.  Sometimes I don't need the pics because the minor mistake coud be something that sticks with me or in my head to never do again or try a different way next time.


Also before I finished the look especially after the foundation I would take a pic just to see how it would look or turn out in photos.  But all in all it was a great experience and shall we say......."On to the next one!"

Skin Care!!

Hi everyone!  I had a few days off from blogging but oh how I do enjoy blogging now.  Hmmm go figure.  I've been wanting to touch on the subject of skin care something that is so important in the makeup field and community

It's a topic I feel is not discussed alot.  I really wanted to do more research and study my facts first before doing this blog but I've been well aware of skin care for many years now.  I learned alot while in cosmetology school and being that some of my class mates sold Mary Kay I really had no choice.  Lol.  I also wound up selling Mary Kay like 3 times!  Anywho I've always been interested in skin care being that growing up I didnt have the best of skin.  I have very sensitive skin and sometimes certain things may cause  me to breakout.  With that being said I do try and take good care of my skin.

Speaking of Mary Kay.  It is a great line for skin care.  It is one of my favorites as far as skin care and not due to the fact that I used to sell it.  Its due to the fact that it does work and leave your skin nice and radiant.  I've since over the years have tried different skin care lines but somehow always find myself still in love with Mark Kay! 

Lately I've been using the green gel cleanser by MAC and I do like it.  For one, using my pro discount its not too expensive for me.  I like the feeling it gives my face after I've used it.  It feels very clean and I feel as though I've removed all traces of makeup, oil  and dirt from my face. 

I've had a conversation wth a coworker and we have a few mua friends in common.  Two of which I would say are very successful in the makeup realm.  Well we are having a discussion one day and she said that one said that mostly new mua's wear a full face  where as mua's who have been doing it for a while are more into skin care.  I thought about what she said and realized most mua's who have been doing makeup for a while really do have nice skin.  Well for the most that I've seen , not all!   They may have on a tad bit of foundation but not to the point where you can tell.  Hey maybe they don't. But honestly  I've always  been into skin care.   I no longer have the bad skin and certain things that I eat that I know will break me out I try and stay away from as well.  Which leads to other issues of the skin which is our diets.  Things like sodas, fried foods, not enough water, chocolates and so much more could lead to skin issues. 

If I have a client who may suffer with acne or skin issues my first question is their water intake.  How much are they getting.  Are they drinking alot of sodas more so more than normal. Depending on the answer is where I will go with the next question and advice for treatment. 

When prepping a client for makeup I always start off with my makeup remover wipes.  I try and cleanse away any excess oil, makeup or dirt from the skin. This is key!  This should be done regardless if they said they washed their face prior to!  Depending on what they used to wash their face it may have left a film on the skin or didnt completely cleanse the face. 

Also depending on the client next I would go in with a toner.  Any brand is good.  I use one by Loreal right now but willing and shopping around for more.  I like to use the toner for clients with acne or a small breakout.  Acne usualy occurs when there is alot of oil to the skin.  The toner can take away the extra oil.

I then proceed with a moisturizer.  Also depending on the skin type I will determine which type of  moisturizer I would use.  Oil Free or a more moisturizing cream moisturizer.  I highly recommend cetaphil. 

The steps I listed above some consider a mini facial.  I consider it a must!  Good skin prep is very important for good makeup!  Plain and simpe! As a Mua I want to have flawless skin without makeup. Yes I have freckles and some moles but thats fine.  I want my skin to be flawless before my makeup is flawless!

If you have any recommendations for a great skin care line feel free to share.  I do hear that Clinique is good as well.  Thanks for stopping by! XOXO 

Makeup 101 Class

So I had my first Makeup 101 class of 2011!  It definitely was an experience!  This was my first class that I had ever had and was really a little nervous but everything came out great!

I wanted to fill 15 seats but I didnt and that was truly fine being it was my first class.  I enjoyed the few that did come and it allowed me to be more personal and give that one on one attention. 

I don't know which one I was more excited about my new banner that I desgned myself, my new director's chair or the cupcakes that a client of mines daughter did just for my class!  Lol

But even I the teacher learned from the experience.  It helped me to broaden my horizon and learn from any mistakes that I may have made or see differently.  But all in all it was a great experience!

Here are a few pics of the two models that I used:

Day to Nite Natural Beauty look!  I covered her red Acne scars!  You can't tell she had them!

Smokey Eye

The Flawless Beauty Makeup 101 Cupcakes

                                                      

SANITATION!!! A MUST!!

When servicing a makeup client are your hands clean?  Have you sanitized them?  Or do you just jump into applying makeup on someone and touching their face?  If so Houston We Have A Problem!!! 

Ok maybe I'm a germophobic and maybe not.  But sanitation is a must amongst makeup artist!  I take sanitation very, very, very serious!  I'm semi OCD with it especially when it comes to my hands and my makeup.  Our hands carry so much bacteria from handling money to scratching our scalps and so much more.  If you are a makeup artist and even if you are not you should sanitize your hands before applying any makeup to yourself or either a client.  Why is this important you may ask? Ummm let's just start with germs and then we will lead into bacteria!  Two words everyone should be familar with! 

• Germs are passed from person to person and are considered to be airborne
• Germs can be passed from hand shaking (you do use your hands to apply make up)
• Germs can be spread by sharing utensils so on and so forth 

Now let's get into that nasty word Bacteria:

• Bacteria can get in your makeup once you have encountered germs
• Bacteria can also be viral
• Bacteria also can spread like a raging forest fire
• Bacteria can get through the blood system and body through your cuticles and any open wound

Here I've just named a few common known facts about bacteria and germs.  There is plenty more but I just wanted to re-itterate the most common that should be known to most.  But if you are unaware now you are officially informed.

Prior to any makeup application I sanitize my hands either with alcohol or a hand sanitizer.  Either will do.  I also sanitize my makeup palette that I use to mix foundations or any creamy substance that may come in contact with my brushes, sponges or my clients face.

Its is aso important to sanitize your makeup palette's, lipstick palettes, brushes, utensils such as spatulas and even your brush belt and makeup bag or for pro artist your makeup kit bag or set bag.

For sanitizing these items such as my palettes which hold my blushes, eyeshadows, cream blushes, bronzers, lipstick palettes and cream shadows such as paint pots I use Beauty So Clean sanitizing mist.  But you don't have to  run out and purchase this to keep germs and bacteria at bay you can use alcohol in a small travel size spray bottle it will do just the same.  The important thing is that you SANITIZE! 

I can't tell you how many models I've worked on or encountered who may have had a small breakout or a cold sore and being the germaphobic that I am......I'm going to do one or two things afterwards.  I'm going to either throw the product away or utensil or either I'm going to sanitize it like nobody's business.  I may even double sanitize.  My biggest thing with sanitztion besides germs and bacteria is I'm concerned about my client.  I don't want them to have a reaction to anything that may have come in contact with germs.  

Im sure I've left out some other things that need to be sanitized on a regular basis but the key here is to be mindful of the germs and bacteria and how they can affect you or your client.  But not just you and your client but your business if you are a professional makeup artist.  I hope that this has been helpful!

Cover Girl Queen Collection

Ok so I had the pleasure of reviewing the Queen Collection by Cover Girl. I will say I was reluctant at first because my local CVS pharmacy did not have an array of colors and I personally thought that the colors looked nothing close to my complexion. So one day I'm cruising through You Tube and ran across someone's channel and they just swiped above their eyebrow with the Cover Girl Queen foundation. I instantly noticed how smooth and creamy it appeared. The Youtuber also used a bit of the bronzer. BRONZER!? Did she just say BRONZER! So now at this point I must go get this and test it out for myself. I searched and looked what would be a good match for my complexion. I know that I have salmon undertones which are some oranges in my skin so I found what I thought would be an excellent match. Sure enough I got it nailed! My complexion number is Q510. It went on very smoothly and a creamy consistency. If I had to compare this foundation so far right now I would compare it to MAC's Studio Tech. Its creamy and can be buildable as needed. If you are looking for a full coverage foundation as I stated it could be buildable and add as much as needed but remember not too much! It goes on flawless and gives a nice glow to the skin. I used my sigma F80 brush to apply but this can easily be applied with a sponge(which is included in the case) or you could use your fingers to warm this product up to spread evenly and thin out as needed. Another great suggestion if you find that this is too creamy or too much coverage try adding a bit of fix plus to a sponge or brush and thin out as much as needed. As far as the bronzer goes it was great as well. If your not really into blush it could be used as a sunkissed appearance to your cheek area where you would normally put on blush. If your of somewhat of a lighter complexion you could also use it to contour or sculpt. Being that I thought the bronzer was great I went to another CVS and they had more of a range of colors and I found that that particular CVS carried more colors than the CVS closest to my house. So I got a darker bronzer and I use it for contouring on myself. Are you in need of a MAC replacement? Are you on a budget? Have never tried foundation and would like to give it a try but need something reasonable? Well I would definitely suggest The Cover Girl Queen Collection! Give it a try and let me know how you like it! xoxoxo YoShida