Top 5 Make-Up Tips for Prom:

Okay lovely ladies I know it's getting close to that time...PROM SEASON...YAY!!!! So, I'm going to give you a few make-up tips to help you be prom beauties and not prom zombies.

Tip #1. Lips or Eyes...NOT BOTH
When choosing your make-up look it is important to pick either your eyes or your lips.  The biggest mistake most people make is picking both the eyes and lips to highlight.  If you go with a dramatic eye, you need a soft lip.  If you choose to go with a bold lip color,  then you need a soft eye. You don't ever want the eye and lip competing for attention. 

How to reject one over the other?  It's simple.  Think about what people compliment you most on.  Is it your eyes or your lips?  Do you have beautiful full lips or big beautiful eyes?  If you choose to go with your lips you want to go bold and bright.  Reds & Hot Pinks are fabulous lip choices.  For the eye you'll want to stay neutral.

 Now, if you choose to go with your eyes then a smokey eye would be a perfect dramatic look.  The great thing about about a smokey eye is it can be done in an array of colors....Charcoal, blue, green, and purple are wonderful colors.  Just don't be afraid to be dramatic.  Go all out with shadow, mascara, or even some false lashes (the ones that don't look caterpillars on your eyes) .  For the lips again you'll want to stay neutral.  A simple gloss will do the trick, but if you just have to have color choose a nude or very soft pink. 

Tip #2. Avoiding the cake face.
 You want to choose your foundation so that it matches your skin tone perfectly. You don't want your foundation to be to light or to dark (It will definitely show in your pictures), and always blend along the jawline as well. Avoid using liquid or cream foundations.  Mineral or pressed powders are a better choice and will give you full coverage without making your skin feel heavy.

  If you have acne skin and need to use you a liquid or cream foundation for the extra coverage, only use it in areas that are needed such as: blemishes, discoloration, or scarring.  Always pat on in circular motions using a sponge, then go back over the area using a setting powder.  REMEMBER: You don't want to rub to hard on the skin with the sponge because the only thing you'll do is put the foundation on and take it right back off. 

Not sure of how to apply your make-up or just don't want the hassle? Then go into your local Sephora, Ulta, MAC,or  Macy's. Go anywhere that does professional make-up.  You don't want to chance going into a drugstore buying make-up and unsure of how to apply or not sure of your correct foundation color. By going somewhere that does professional make-up they can educate you on how to properly choose and apply your makeup. 

Tip #3. Camera Ready
Always check your make-up before taking pictures. Touch-up any areas that may need to be refreshed. Foundation, Eyes, and Lips.  (Blot away any excess oil and add color to any faded areas.)

 Tip #4. Purse Must Haves
You always want to keep you some kind of blotting paper to help keep that unwanted shine away.  Make sure you have your lip color/lip gloss in your purse for touch-ups as well as a compact mirror. 

Tip #5. Smile, Smile, and Party
Once your at the prom just remember to kick back have a good time and look fabulous while doing it! :)

Also, be sure to drop back by and let me know if my tips helped.

It use to be that black lipstick was considered Gothic and definitely not a make up trend, but now there are a lot of Gothic/avant grande looks circling block, and there are none more relevant then BLACK LIPS. Black lips have taken over this fall and has become the trend of all trendsetters.

The best tip to wearing a look so bold and daring is to keep the eyes simple and low-key.  A winged liner, neutral shadow, and lashes will be the perfect pair to help soften the edge.
Check out Kim Kardashian...she rocked this look.

Gloria of BasketBallWives LA looked FAB last night on Part 1 of the reunion show. 

Neutral eyes and bold vamp lips! 

Holiday Inspiration...

Don't wait until the last minute. Start thinking about your look now! The holiday parties are just around the corner.

Groovy Baby!!!

Although, the 70s clothing was a little wild and crazy they kept their makeup pretty and natural.  Bye Bye to thick matte foundation and dark lip liner on the lips.  These groovy chicks kept it as natural as possible, however, there was always room for a splash of color on the eyes to brighten up the face.  Playfully pretty, but not over done! 

From soul sisters to disco diva's the 70s women rocked it, and when it came to playing up the eyes to draw in attention they used colorful shades like blues and greens, but golds, browns, and pinks to keep neutral.

Eyeliner was a must have in every woman's makeup bag.  Liner gave the eyes a mysterious look and was used to draw on sexy cat-like eyes on the top lid. 

LOVE, PEACE AND SOUL! 

Color Correcting Makeup

If you're looking to boost your radiance, hide unwanted blemishes, or get rid of redness then I have the tips for you.  

Remember when you were a kid and you first learned about colors?  You were so excited to learn that primary colors: red, yellow, and blue when mixed together made orange, green, and purple.  Well, you can still make magic and have a similar effect when dealing with makeup.  So if you want to get hide imperfections or simply enhance them, then try some of the techniques below.

Red/Green- If you suffer with rosacea or redness, then using a green color contouring concealer or base will help to offset the red.  Nothing is more worse then having a huge red pimple or a face full of red acne.

Yellow/Purple-  Got dark circles under your eyes or suffer from hyperpigmentation? Then using a  yellow color contouring concealer or base will help to offset the purple. Walking around like you've slept in eyeliner is not a good look.

Coral- Now coral will do nothing for dark spots, redness, rosacea, or any other serious skin problem.  What coral is good for is giving your skin a boost of radiance, adding warmth to a matte finish, and waking up tired looking skin.  So for my ladies who have had a long fun weekend of partying and you now have the Monday blues, blend in a bit of coral into your make up application.

10 Power Tools to Perfection

1. Blush Brush

2. Foundation Brush

3. Powder Brush

4. Eyeshadow Brush

5. Lip Brush

6. Wedge Sponges

7. Brow Brush

8. Eyelash Separator

9. Blending Brush

10. Liner Brush

The Power of Powders

Face powders serve two purposes: ONE: To help control oil or shine and TWO: to set foundations and concealers. Whenever you wear foundation or a concealer you always want to set it with a powder.  This will keep your foundation in place, keep it from sliding and falling into fine lines, and wearing off.

The kind of powder you choose will depend on the type of look you want.  There are many different types and shades of face powders:

Translucent: Colorless and great for all skin tones.  Mostly used when setting concealer under your eyes or around your nose.  It works better than pigmented powder because those can make the area appear darker and remember, the purpose of concealer is to highlight and illuminate dark areas.

Pigmented: This can be used alone and if you're in a hurry and just want a fresh, clean look then a pigmented powder would be perfect for a 5min face. If you're using it to set your foundation make sure it is one shade lighter than your skin otherwise it will darken and make your skin look patchy.

Foundation Powder: Talk about having the best of both worlds.  You can get full coverage and keep shine under control.

• loose- sheer and light used to control oil and shine.
• pressed- heavier coverage to even out skin tone

Mineral: Fragrance free, chemical free, and hypoallergenic.  It doesn't clogs pores and gives the same even coverage and foundation powder.

Illuminating: Light reflecting sheer powders that have a slight shimmer to give skin a luminous effect.  Can be used over foundation or alone.  Be careful, because using an illuminating powder will enhance wherever they are applied.  So if you have a flat nose, add dimension by swiping the powder down the bridge of your nose. 

Pink History

Pink- is any of the colors between bluish red (purple) and red, of medium to high brightness and of low to moderate saturation. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century.
(this definition was taken directly from wikipedia) 

Learn when it's time to let your makeup go!

• Foundation      

6-12 months for powder

6 months for liquid and cream foundatioin

You can extend your foundation's life by using a cotton swab, sponge, or brush to apply it.  If you use your fingers to apply your makeup, wash your hands with an antibacterial cleanser before hand.  Stick foundations can be kept a bit longer than the others because they usually contain wax.  Shave off the top layer every so often to avoid contamination.  However, if you notice a change in color, smell or consistency, you should TOSS IT IMMEDIATELY!

• Powder

8 months for compact

8-12 monts for loose powder

Using applicators like brushes and powser puffs pose the greatest risk of contamination because they can harbor oily buildup from your skin and airborne bacteria if left uncovered.  Toss spponges after each use, and replace poweder puffs every 2-3wks. Wash makeup brushes wkly with a brush cleaner or baby shampoo and warm water.  Don't forget to let them dry overnight...damp brushes will cause makeup to streak and can lead to bacteria.

• Concealer

4-8 months

Concealer is in a lipstick form, clean it occasionally by shaving off the top layer.  Cover-up used in the eye area should be discarded after six months and if your trying to mask breakouts, your at a higher risk of contaminating the product even faster.

•  Eye Shadow

3-6 months for liquid

6-12 months for powder and cream

Eye shadow needs to be tossed if it gets wet, unless it is formulated for wet applications. Moisture can lead to ruining the product and contamination.  Creams will sweat or soften with esxessive expsosure to heat, so store in a cool/dry place.

• Mascara

3months

Using mascara introduces it to air when you "pump" the wand into the tube  and it dries out the product, which results in a stellar application.  If you have to pump to hard or add water to get some product out...it's time to let it go...and if you contract pink eye while using masacra throw it away immediately!

•  Lipstick

3Years

Now, unlike other makeup products...lipstick is one that last a pretty long time...to keep clean just shave a little bit off the top or dip into alcohol weekly.  For lip colors in pots/tubes just swipe the tops across tissue to keep clean.  If you contract or come in contact with a fever blister or cold sore while using that lipstick, throw it away!

Sleeping Beauty

Are you one of those sleeping beauties, who sleeps with their makeup on?  Well if you are, let me just tell you that you are committing a beauty crime! One of the biggest beauty crimes actually.  Now, whether we want to admit it or not I know we all have slept in our makeup at some point in our lives. Maybe you were too tired to take it off, forgot you had it on, or just fell asleep in it.  I mean hey it happens, but the important thing is to not get into a happen of sleeping in your makeup.  Makeup is meant to help make you feel more pretty and help bring your inner beauty onto your outer canvas. However, if you get in the habit of sleeping in makeup, it will do the exact opposite.

Although makeup makes us look and feel pretty, it also clogs the pores.  Our skin is covered in pores and these pores are what allow us to sweat and produce sebum.  [ Sebum- is a natural moisturizer and waxy lubricant that our body produces in order to help protect and rid the skin of dead skin cells and other unwanted irritants.] When we fall asleep in makeup it blocks the sebum production and causes a buildup, which in turn causes skin to breakout.  Have you ever went to sleep in makeup and then woke up with a pimple on your face? If so, that's because of clogged pores.

If you won't to prevent waking up with unwanted pimples then I suggest you remove your makeup before going to bed.  There are a number of ways to remove makeup before bed.  The best is cleansing your skin, using a toner, and then moisturizing, BUT if you just don't feel like taking all those steps then choose one of the following:

• facial wipe
• make-up remover
• cold cream 
• cleanser 
• toner 

Remember sleeping in makeup can cause: irritation to skin, an allergic reaction, and infection (if eye makeup is left on.) 

      

GIRL TALK

This Thursday, October 4th Join Ms. Jennah & Ms. Cassie on Ladies Tell All. They will be starting off the fall season bringing in a house of "HOT BEAUTY" with owner/operator of Consumed by Beauty Ms. Tiffany Latrice, Atlanta's new up and coming MUA/Esthetician. She will be chatting it up with the ladies dishing out all the do's and don't's on make-up and skin care.

To tune in go to www.blogtalkradio.com/ladiestellall or call in to 805-727-7101

Breast Cancer Awareness

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH! 

Check out your local Ulta for amazing deals on makeup, skin care, and other cosmetic products. Show your support and give for the cause by shopping pink or donate with a kiss! For more information on how to do so go to: www.ulta.com/donatewithakiss

Get Crazy for Halloween

None of these Images are mine...I just thought it would be great inspiration for Halloween :)

THE MARILYN MONROE MAC COLLECTION IS HERE

Check out the hottest new fall make-up collection to hit the streets....Are you ready for the wrath of Marilyn?

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile  I am just a girl who wishes for the world."

_Marilyn Monroe

Contouring

Contouring is one of my favorite parts about make-up.  It's an advance form of make-up and takes a lot of practice in order to master and do it properly. The purpose of contouring is to define, hide, or strengthen your face, by using dark or light shading.  Dark shading will minimize facial features and light shading will make facial features more prominent. If you're unsure of how to contour I've found this website with the perfect diagrams of each different facial shape.  It shows exactly which areas to highlight and which areas to contour in order to create perfect look. Check it out!
 http://www.my-virtual-makeover.com/contouring.html

Benefits of contouring:

• If you have a round, pug nose you can contour the sides in order to make your nose appear more slender.
• Highlighting under your eyes with a concealer or foundation 1 to 2 shades lighter than your exact foundation color will open your eyes, hide dark circles, and help to define your cheeks. 
• Contouring a large forehead will reduce the appearance and make it seem smaller. 

These are just a few of the many benefits of highlighting and contouring.  The website above provides everything you will need to know in further details. 

What are your favorite skin care or make-up products?

Tell me 2 of your favorite skin care or make-up products and I'll tell you mine.

Aveda Lavender Oil is absolutely one of my favorites, this product is perfect for calming, soothing, and healing the skin. This plant based essential oil is used for various different skin problems such as: sunburn, chafing, eczema, wounds, cuts, and rashes.  It's antiseptic and anti-fungal properties are what make it so unique and useful to the skin. After any type of hair removal always apply a little lavender oil to help heal and soothe the area.

Aside from me loving the name of this MAC Lipstick called "Lady Danger" I just love the color pigmentation and how long it stays on my lips.  It's very bright, bold, and edgy.  Lasting up to at least 3-4 hours without having to reapply.  This reddish/orange lip color is sure to spice up any make-up look, but you can't be afraid to wear color.

My Top 5 Beauty Quotes

“Don’t be too serious: It’s only Makeup! " - Francois Nars 

Makeup is a way for a woman to look and feel like herself, only prettier and more confident”- Bobbi Brown

“Beauty without expression is boring." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." - Gwyneth Paltrow

"Makeup allows you to express your inner beauty onto your outer canvas" -Tiffany Cantlow 

Why do you wear make-up?

There are many people who love make-up and can't live without it and then there are some who have never ventured into the crazy cosmetic world other than a chap stick application.  Many people, women especially, where make-up for many different reason.

I know me personally I wear make-up for many different reasons.  It really just depends on my mood.  As a professional make-up artist my make-up is inspired by numerous things like:  where I'm going, how I'm feeling emotionally, what I'm wearing, a picture, place or thing.  I really just never know until I see the finished product.  Lol 

I know some women are so into everything natural that they don't foresee wearing makeup because they feel it isn't pure and takes away from individuality.  While every one is entitled to his/her own opinion, I couldn't disagree more.  I see make-up as another creative way to express yourself.  Now, I will admit that some people get a little carried away with make-up because I sure have seen my share of bad make-up, but those are just people who haven't fully been educated on proper make-up applications.

So why do you wear make-up? Is it to cover up some scar, hide acne breakouts, or make you feel pretty because you have been told you were ugly? Let's talk about it.  

Has It Been That Long????

Omg, it really has been a long time since I blogged.  I'm so terrible at blogging.  It's always something keeping me from sitting down at this computer. LOL  Well ladies, as you know it's getting that time. The holidays have rolled around and the parties are jumping.  I'm sure you guys have so many questions on what to wear, and what kind of make-up look you should go for....so I'm hear to guide you guys and give you as much advice as you need.  For any christmas party, since most of you ladies will probably have on some shade of red, green, gold, or purple. I suggest that you keep your make-up soft and easy.  Play down your eyes and spice up your lips.  Now with New Years I say play down your lips and spice up your eyes.  A smoky eye has become a natural born make-up classic look and perfect for just about any occasion.  Do a super sexy smoky eye with sultry shades of blue, deep purples, charcoals, and grey's/sliver.  Add some dark liner and lashes and go PARTY PARTY PARTY!!!!

xoxo