I couldn't be happier with these images by Sherri Barber. They perfectly capture Regan's radiance and ease. Isn't she gorgeous? And I am partial to the shot of Me and Jen Nally fussing over her as well!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Cincinnati makeup/Regan, married!
I couldn't be happier with these images by Sherri Barber. They perfectly capture Regan's radiance and ease. Isn't she gorgeous? And I am partial to the shot of Me and Jen Nally fussing over her as well!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Makeup Bag Monday!
The rundown..
Bare minerals fairly light and warmth.
Maybelline falsies flared mascara
Ulta cream shadow in '108'
Maybelline expert wear eyeshadow quad in natural smoke
Estée Lauder double wear in pink blush
Covergirl exact eye lights eyeliner in vibrant pearl
Bare minerals eye color in soul
from Jessica: "No, I dont wear all the eyeshadow at once. :) I'm a personal trainer/group fitness instructor by day, so I need a very natural, not 'done' look that'll last through sweat. While I have time most days, sometimes I have to be at the gym by 6, yikes! My other 'job' is dancing for a local sports team, so I need something more dramatic but still sweatproof! I moisturize daily, a neutrogena face lotion with SPF and benefit hope in a tube for my eye area. "
My suggestion is to wear something lightweight, with spf-it's no secret that I love Mercier's tinted moisturizer. It will even you out but be sheer. I always think people should wear the least amount of coverage they can get away with. L'oreal beauty tubes are even better than waterproof mascara-they don't come off until you douse them with warm water, so it will stay on perfectly through your workouts. For your cheeks, Smashbox o glow is so pretty and just plain fun. It goes on clear and morphs into a pretty pink with the warmth of your skin! It also wears forever.
Moving on to eyes= for when you are dancing and need a lil drama-start with a Pixi waterproof liner. (Use a brush; these go on pretty gooey but once you are used to them they are the bomb) smudge upwards from the lashline. Follow with a deep shade from the Kat von D palette. You will get a lot more bang for your buck with these highly pigmented shadows.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Laura Mercier new radiance primer RAVE
It is certainly no secret that I am madly in love with All Things Mercier. Though it has been seven years since I left the company, I still remain loyal to her products, particularly her "flawless face" series; primer, foundation, secret camouflage, and translucent powder.
There is an addition to her family of primers and I have to say I am rather obsessed with it. Unlike her other primers, it does have a sheer tint to it, but it is by no means as much coverage as her tinted moisturizers. Worn under any foundation (I am especially fond of her creme smooth and silk creme) it imparts that "lit from within" effect (think J Lo) that so often eludes us. I felt like I had a healthy glow to my skin. Every client i have used it on, no matter their age or skin type, has looked just incredible in it.
the tricky part is finding it-it's been out of stock everywhere! i ordered mine through Nordstrom and it only took a few days.
The Mascara Diaries, by Rachel
Let's face it, we all spend a ton of money on mascara. It's probably the number one makeup commercial you'll see on TV on a daily basis. It's like a small little treat you can buy yourself on a whim without breaking your bank, and the makeup companies know this and inundate us with ads constantly. (Drew Barrymore in orange foundation for Cover Girl Lash Blast anyone?) But in all reality, these ads always feature models wearing false lashes. Sometimes over the top, sometimes more natural looking. As a makeup artist, this really makes me mad. It's false advertisement, and I always wonder if Jane Q. Public knows that they're wearing falsies. I myself had recently stopped wearing lash extensions, and was feeling a little inferior in that department after having such long dramatic ones every day when I rolled out of bed. So I decided to go on a mission to find the best mascaras out there. It was expensive. it was messy, and sometimes not pretty. I put down my Cover Girl Lash Blast that I have been using since it came out and went out of my comfort zone, and tried several new ones. The following are my notes and thoughts, totally unbiased.
For a really great basic everyday natural mascara, you still can't beat Maybelline Great Lash in the pink and green tube. It has been around for over 40 years, and is still a staple in many households, as well as pro makeup artist kits everywhere. It won't really lengthen or thicken, but you'll get great dark lashes with no clumping or stiffness. The formula has been tweaked here and there over the years, but it's still a great product that always delivers, and is very affordable at drugstores everywhere. If you just want to swipe on a little bit of color before running errands, this is your girl.
Speaking of drugstore mascara, let's go back to my old standby, Cover Girl Lash Blast in the fat orange tube. This stuff is pretty darn good, especially for the price- I often find that Target has a package of 2 for around $10. STEAL! I keep this in my kit and use it on all of my clients. It really makes your lashes look nice and thick, especially after 2 coats. I love the rubber brush in it...makes for very sleek non-clumping lashes. Not a whole lot of lengthening ,though, and who doesn't want that? But I knew I could do better, and I wanted to experiment a little.
So I went high-dollar. I got the cult fave, Dior Show ($24.50 at Nordstrom). I was so not impressed. It didn't do anything my Lash Blast didn't do. In fact, it wasn't even as good as the drugstore one I had been using. It made them nice and dark, but barely thickened, didn't do much for the length, and definitely didn't curl them. It claim to do all three. Also, it's REALLY hard to get off...not just your lashes, but your skin as well.I felt like I was sloughing off skin I had had from the Clinton Administration trying to remove it. Fail.
Onto the one I was REALLY excited to try...the new mascara from Benefit, called "They're Real!". ($22 at sephora.com) After the first coat, I thought it was so-so. But holy moley, I put that second coat on, and I'm a believer! My lashes looked so stinking LONG! And it's so black, it actually almost does double duty as an eyeliner when you get it all the way down to the base of your lashes. I love this stuff. The only thing that' a bit of a downer is that it does make your lashes feel stiff, but I shouldn't rub them anyway and just shut up. The brush is great,too. It's rubber, so no clumping, but it also has this little spiky ball at the end for getting those unruly lashes on the outer corner of your eyes to behave and join the party. If you're a friend of mine, you just might be getting this for Christmas.
So even though I was loving my Benefit mascara, I saw one more I wanted to try, so I gave the Dior 'Iconic' mascara a day in court ($28, Nordstrom). Simply because it promised to curl my lashes, which is important to me. Curling your lashes actually makes them look twice as long. My lashes are indeed decent, but very straight, so that makes them almost unnoticeable. And as I'm the laziest makeup artist when it comes to doing my own makeup, I never want to curl them manually. I'm always afraid they'll break. Probably not true, but hey, we all have our fears in life. So when I read the reviews on the Iconic, I knew I had to try it. I was not disappointed! This medium rubber wand actually has the bristles on the bias, so it really does lift your lashes sky-high! And they stay! No real thickening or lengthening to get excited about, but hey, those bad boys were curly! So impressed, which I was happy about after my disappointment with the Dior Show. So I am now using one coat of the Dior Iconic, followed by two coats of Benefit's "They're Real!" mascara. They are long, thick,dark as John Mayer's heart, and uber curled. And $92 later I love my lashes.
Keep in mind, this is some work, and if you're just running around during the day or just want a natural look, stick with the Maybelline or Cover Girl. But if you want some awesomely glam lashes, go for it. Layer different mascaras. Mix and match. Makeup artists have been doing it forever, plus it's fun to have a mascara 'wardrobe' to suit your mood. Whatever mascara you use, just be sure to use a pretty heavy duty eye makeup remover...even if you're stumbling in from a long day at work or a night out with the girls. Take it off, sister! I find the ones that are the dual-layered that you have to shake work the best, getting all the makeup off with minimal pulling on your eye area. I personally am a big fan of MAC's Gently Off Eye and Lip Remover ($19, and MAC store or Nordstrom). It get's the gunk off without tearing your eyes apart.
Here's looking at you, kid!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
two amazing drugstore finds...
I swear, I can do some damage at a Walgreen's. I go in to pick up one thing but those cosmetic displays draw me in every time.
I have been absolutely loving Revlon glosses lately, so I couldn't resist these two cute palettes. at 6.99 a pop, why should I?
The top one is a collection that celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman did, and all 5 shades are for lips.Really great mix and matching possibilities there, and impressive pigments to boot.
But the multi-use one on the bottom really made me swoon. I have such a weakness for pops of coral; nothing brightens up a blonde like a peachy lip. And to see such an interesting color combo-the two top products are a cream blush and highlighter, the two bottom ones are cream eye colors, and the bottom red one is for lips.
Those who know me are aware of my deep love for cream cheek and lip-you get a dewier, more modern look, and if you layer coordinating powders on top, you can achieve a more matte, but very long lasting effect.
Now, the question is, do I stuff these in my own stocking, or put them in my kit-?
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Cincinnati bridal makeup/a photographer gets married
I don't normally put detail images in, but the look of this wedding is so personal and gorgeous I just couldn't resist! I went to Louisville to do Amanda and her attendants' makeup. Being someone who is not a fan of the car, I wouldn't make that drive for just anyone; Amanda is an amazing photographer who I work with frequently and I just knew I had to be a part of her big day. And looking at these images i know I made the right decision!
Images, Geri Ciulla
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Makeup Bag Monday!
from Sarah:
"Well, I am very lazy in the morning so I don't spend much time on makeup. probably 5 minutes. I like the products I use at home, especially the mascara and eyeshadow, but find in other light it doesn't look the same. I have trouble covering dark circles under my eyes and my face is always a little red, so I'm afraid to use any blush. I don't think what I use moisturizes enough and it seems like foundation settles into what are the beginning of smile lines but I tell myself are delayed-onset dimples. I'd like to look a bit more polished for work but not overdone. God, are you sorry you asked yet? You probably feel like part makeup expert/ part psychiatrist getting such detailed responses about makeup routines..."
Firstly, let's address skincare. Be certain you are exfoliating a couple times a week (throw a gentle face scrub in your shower so you won't forget) You may also wanna amp up your moisturizer during the winter to something more emollient. Clinique's redness solutions line is fantastic for your ruddiness.
If your foundation is settling you should definitely use a primer; it gives you a layer before your foundation and makes it wear so much better.
I adore the Benefit rsvp cream shadow you are using-be sure to apply with a brush and very sheerly so it doesn't look too "chunky" or too shiny. Add in a lash curl before your mascara so your eyes will really pop. The concealer you have is not one of my faves; it always seems to look a little chalky and dry and the pigment probably isn't sufficient for you. Switch to a fuller coverage.
Sarah, by Sarah!
from Sarah:
"It was such a pleasure working with Emily on her wedding day! Emily is from Tennessee and her entire family of course came up to Cincinnati for the wedding. I loved being surrounded by so much southern charm! Emily's reception was in a barn (awesome!) and instead of a hotel room, her family members from out of town opted to rent a house, which I thought was brilliant! I met up with everyone there and had a blast beautifying Emily, her mother, and her lovely bridal party!"
images, Laura Leppert
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