Beyoncé concert!

I got my fav girl ready for the Beyoncé concert today! She wanted a smokey eye, very little highlighting and natural skin. Product listing below...

Prep and prime: I prepped the skin with a gel moisturizer and sephora oil free primer 

Brows: spiked brow pencil, girl boy and show off brow gel (MAC)

Shadow: Lorac pro palette expresso on the lid, red brick by MAC in the crease along with saddle e/s ...the eye looks black because of the flash, but the lid is actually dark brown ... Placed a chocolate brown in the lash line and smudged it with NYX black liner and pencil brush by MAC

Lashes: creme lashes 

Foundation: Matchmaster 5.0 and 6.0 

Powder: set the foundation with med dark MSF by MAC 

Under eye highlight: graftobian palette and banana powder 

Cheek: peach tone from sleek cosmetics 

Contour: dark MSF by MAC

Cheek highlight: whisper of guilt by MAC

Lips: sait Germaine lipgloss by MAC

Enjoy! 

XOXO

A little shimmer.

One of my favorite clients!! She is very supportive and she keeps me cracking up Everytime I do her makeup. Love my Jen. 

I used old gold pigment on her lid with and orange-brown crease and I made her brow bone more prominent with a highlight in the peak of the brow. Jen likes the light flesh tone liner which we also did. Her lip is a clean flesh tone pink with a little liner . Her cheeks were bronzed with sun power MSF by MAC. 

I absolutely love doing this particular client because I am able to do whatever I'm feeling at the moment and she completely trusts me and my work. Plus her skin is so smooth (an artists dream)

Product Review: Graftobian HD Glamour Foundation palette (warm)

I've had many questions about what I use to highlight... Lately I've been reaching for what used to be my go to foundation. I first purchased this product after thorough research while I was building my kit in 2010 and 2011. I don't use it as much on most clients because it is very moisturizing and it's not ideal for clients with oily skin. However, I still would suggest this palette for any artist for the following reasons:

-full coverage

-easy to blend

-photographs well

-priced well

-easy to mix shades

-easy to match client's skin tones (I haven't had a client that I couldn't match with his foundation)

-lightweight

-moisturizing 

-little product needed

I still use this palette for photoshoot and clients with dry skin, but more recently it's my go to product for a perfect, lightweight highlight or contour....simply because this product photographs extremely well. I would suggest using a good setting powder or it will crease. 

This product can be purchased at:

Makeupmania.com

Graftobian.com

Camerareadycosmetics.com

40 and Fab!

I had the pleasure of glamming up my coworker and former Mrs. Maryland for 40th birthday bash. 

Her crease is a mix of red brick, and another burgundy shadow. The lid is a pink and copper. She was wearing a black and white striped dress so we wanted the makeup to be young and flirty with a dash of sparkle. The copper tones compliment her highlights. She absolutely loved her makeup!

Mrs. Cole (cont'd)

(Please excuse the spots on the photo, the computer distorted the picture)

I absolutely love when my brides send me their professional photos. A huge part of being a makeup artist is how well your work photographs. 

West VA bride

I had such a great time during my client's consultation... I truly look forward to her wedding day, she will look stunning... 

Details on this look:

Primer- hourglass

Eyes- embark, red brick, expresso ( a good mix of oranges and browns with a red base) the lid color is by inglot (forgot the name) all other shadows are MAC

Eyeliner- black trax

Lash line- reddish brown shadow

Waterline- chroma graphic pencil 

Foundation- 6.0 Matchmaster 

Highlight- graftobian foundation palette

Powder- MAC MSF medium dark

Contour - MAC MSF dark

Cheek- MAC mineralized blush rosy pink shade (can't remember the exact color name) 

Cheek highlight: whisper of guilt by MAC

Lip: all MAC lipsticks (I always mix lipstick for a custom shade to match each client's skin tone)

Lip liner: never by NYX, NYX gloss

Lashes: $2 lashes from a local beauty supply

Lower lashes: benefit they're real mascara 

ENJOY!

Smokey eye

One of my faithful clients requested a smokey eye. So I used a grey shadow on her lid, a soft brown and an orange in her crease. Last I smoldered her eyeliner instead of using a gel liner I smudged a black liner. On her lash line I smudged a dark brown and burnt orange to give it a softer look. We used sunpower to bronze her skin and a coral occ liptar. 

Mrs. Cole

Sometimes as an artist you find a special connection with select clients. Although I have a connection with every bride I work with, This bride was very special. She has a personality and a smile that can light up any room. Her Husban is a very lucky man! 

Her wedding had a Fall theme and the attendants wore really dainty knee length purple dresses. I had a wonderful time working with each and eavery one of them. 

Shannon (the bride to be) wanted the same look we did for her trial a few months ago. 

Prep: Garnier gel moistureizer 

          All nighter spray (urban decay)

           Hourglass primer

Brow: spiked (MAC)

           Show off (MAC)

            Nw40 concealer 

Eyes: coppering (MAC)

          Copper reflects glitter 

           Shadowy lady 

            Carbon

             Black tracks gel liner 

Face: Matchmaster 7.5 (MAC)

          Black opal finishing powder

           Blunt blush (contour)

           Warm soul (blush) (MAC) 

            Loose powder in iridescent (mac)

Lips: mixture of lipsticks from the MAC lip palette. 

I finishes her off with a mist of Ben bye matte finishing spray 

I also had the pleasure of enhancing some of her bridal party. 

The Perfect Fall Wedding

Bride: Danielle Moye, Conneticut

I had the pleasure of traveling to CT for a very special bride. Her and her beautiful wedding party made my job easy. It was a long day of makeup and photography... But it was the perfect fall day for this fall themed wedding. For the bridesmaids we used plums and purples, and a peach lip. The bride had a golden glow to compliment the burnt orange and brown trends of her bouquet. On her lid I used groundwork paint pot, copper pigment, embark, red brick, shadowy lady, and carbon all by MAC. Her foundation is MAC Matchmaster, and studio finish concealer. We have her a bronzed glow using double definition limited edition highlighter. Her lip is a mauve gloss and plum liner.

Classic bride.

This bride wore a very classic look for her rustic wedding. Her dress was to die for! 

I had an amazing time doing her and her grandmother's makeup.

New Client Alert!

My client was going to a few events today and wanted a nice face that would last all day. I primed her face with UD setting spray, Garnier gel moisturizer, and hourglass primer. For her foundation I used Matchmaster by MAC. Her under eye highlight is Mac concealer palette and her lips are lined in BBQ and half n' half l/s all by Mac with a peach revlon gloss over top. I was in love with this look. 

Engagement photoshoot

Before & After

Meet my beautiful client Desiree! I was so happy to work with her for her engagement photos. She expressed that she liked pinks and her dress was a lime green so I used some purple and pink hues. Her foundation is match master by MAC. I love this foundation because the skin just absorbs it and it looks very natural all while giving great coverage. 

MUA lesson with Farzana Zaman

Makeup lesson with Master Artist Farzana Zaman. Farzana is an amazing artist who has worked with Eva Longoria and Evelyn Lozada. I learned so much from her and I definitely see the growth in my work. 

Birthday girl!

Had a blast with this birthday DIVA

Deets on this look coming soon....

A look back...

Wanted to share some photos that I just received from a past bride.

Enjoy!

Mommy-to-be

Love working with this mommy-to-be! I had the pleasure of doing her makeup for her baby shower.

I didn't use any foundation on her, instead I used concealer and powder. She has a bronzy eye with a natural lash by Creme'. Her shadows are all MAC: embark, brown down, coppering, redbrick.

She is wearing MAC studio finish concealer and MAC MSF in Dark. Her cheeks are by Milani the shade is Rose'Dioro. I used blunt blush by MAC to contour her nose and cheeks. Her lips are a mixture of MAC lipsticks.

Birthday girl...

Had the Joy of working with a past client who this time brought along a friend. she was celebrating her BDay in DC and I had the pleasure of giving her some shimmer. As you can see, she is already a beauty.

Products used-

Foundation: graftobian (3 shades for contour, highlight and foundation color)

I set her foundation with Ben nye banana powder and black opal oil absorbing finishing powder in medium.

Eyes: redbrick, embark, forgot the name of the pigment on her lid but all lid colors are MAG. Also used fig and sketch to define the outer corner. ($1 lashes)

Contour: blunt blush by MAC
Highlight: took some shimmer to the high planes of her cheek bones and brow one as well as her nose, using gold deposit MSF by MAC.

Cheeks: Milani baked blush (forgot the color) but these blushes are gorgeous!!

Lips: mixture of l/s including fresh brew by MAC and cork liner. Also a frosty pink gloss by sephora was used. Side note: SEPHORA has some amazing glosses for a good price and they offer more product than MAC.

Summer Bride

My beautiful Soror wanted to glow and look Golden. That's exactly what she got! Lol

Products:

Face- graftobian HD foundation for highlight and foundation, Dark MSF by MAC, blunt blush by MAC for a contour, sweet as cocoa blush by MAC for a bronze cheek, gold deposit MSF for the golden highlight applied to her nose and high planes of her cheeks.

Eyes- foundation to sculpt her brow along with spiked brow pencil by MAC and boy girl gel by MAC. Saddle and embark in the crease, coppering reflects pigment by MAC. Flesh tone liner in her waterline to brighten her eye, embark shadow on lower lash line for a soft liner. Wispie lashes.

Lips: fresh brew MAC, mixed with a frosty pink. 9 times out of 10 I mix my lipsticks.

I set her undereye with bennye banana powder. Mist her face with some final seal by Ben nye.

Catch the Beat: Bridal edition 2

This is one of my favs! I had the pleasure of doing this beautiful bride for her fabulous wedding. She looked stunning, soft with a glow and a soft smokey eye with pale pink lip.

Product listing:

Face- graftobian foundation, costal scents concealer, dark deep MSF by MAC, blush (forgot) , highlighted with gold deposit MSF by MAC.

Contour- blunt blush MAC

Eyes- I'm sorry I don't remember any of the colors.

Brows- spiked brow pencil MAC

Lip- pink MAC palette (mix of colors) hush by OCC lip tar

Catch the beat: Prom edition

This gorgeous HS senior was a pleasure to work with. She has such beautiful and full brows as well as pretty skin, so doing her face was a piece of cake. She wanted a natural glow so we used some golds and corals to accent her dress.

Product list:
Foundation: revlon photo finish
Corrector: orange (MAC)
Under eye concealer: MAC NW40 studio finish
Powder: MAC MSF dark (set foundation)
Ben nye banana powder to set concealer and highlight
Eyes: coppering, embark, brown down, red brick, pink bronze pigment (all MAC)
Lip: mixture of MAC lipsticks
Blush: ???
Contour: blunt blush
Highlight: gold powder

Catch the beat: Bridal Edition

Bride: Danielle Freeman
Location: Baltimore, MD


I had a blast doing this bridal party... They really made it a party!

Product Rave: Revlon Photo ready liquid foundation

I typically use cream foundations on clients, however when I first began building my kit I purchased this foundation from my local drug store. I have never used them until this weekend because this line doesn't have a match for my shade. However, this foundation is very silky and creamy without feeling heavy. It photographs beautifully and it has build-able coverage. For my bride this weekend (previous post) I used my Sedona lace kabuki brush to stipple on the foundation, it blends seamlessly and is long lasting. I would suggest this foundation for an up and coming artists who is looking for an affordable foundation that photographs well. I believe I paid close to $12 for this foundation and I plan to use them more, especially on light/fair skin clients. I also suggest using a fibre brush or flat top kabuki brush to buff this foundation into the skin, remember to take the excess foundation to the neck, under chin and forehead for a seamless look.

Fairy tale Wedding

Our inspiration for this look was a pic the bride showed me of Kim Kardashian who rocked a smokey look with full flirty lashes . So we modified it a little just so that is looked very bridal. She still has a good contour and pronounced under eye highlight along with a nude lip and very full flirty lashes, we just swapped out the dark lid color for a gold glittery color So this was the end result and she loved it.

Product list:
Face- revlon photo ready foundation, black opal finishing powder, mehron foundation as a highlight, Coastal scents concealer.

Cheeks- Milani baked blush in Rosé, MAC soft and gentle MSF

Contour- MAC blunt blush

Eyes-embark, redbrick, wood winked, reflects copper glitter ... All by MAC

Lashes- creme lashes (forgot the number 😔)

Lips- NYX natural liner, revlon gloss

Face of the Day 4/13/13

This was my face of the day for my Engagement party. I wore a blue maxi dress which gave me boho/goddess/glam feel, so I went with this smokey goddess look. I keep the eyes dark with a little gold glitter, warm cheeks and a nude lip. I also gave my cheeks a little glow and added a full whispie lash.

Products used:
Foundation- Smashbox BB cream
Highlight- black opal concealing foundation in heavenly topaz
Set the under eye with Ben nye banana powder
Face - MAC mineralized finish Dark
Contour - MAC blunt blush
Blush- pinch me and raizin blush MAC
Lip- siss lipstick by MAC and revlon natural gloss
Eyes- embark, red brick , expresso, blunt blush, black track gel liner as a base, gold reflects glitter (all by MAC)
Creme lashes

Suit & Tie

I did makeup for such an awesome group of women today. The bride to be came up with some amazing concepts for her photoshoot today and all I can say is every single one of these ladies SERVED in this photo shoot! Especially the gorgeous bride-to-be!!