Fall 2012 Makeup Trends/Richmond Makeup Artist Aaron Shows Some Looks

 

Fall 2012 Makeup Trends Are In

 

 

When you look at the above images, some of them may seem a little extreme. That is because these are taken from fashion shows. When you translate what you see in the shows to what you where in "real life" things get much more tame. The idea of the runway look is so we can see the extreme and then take that look and modify it to our style.

 

I wanted to share a few of the fall trends with you so you can stay up to date and maybe update your makeup a bit to stay in style!

 

LIPS! LIPS! LIPS! Lips always seem to be bold for fall. I like a strong lip color and it shows that you have confidence when you where one. Last fall all we saw was red...everywhere! This year the red is still there, but it has taken on a deeper tone. The reds are tweaked with shades of mulled wine, chocolate, and mulberry tones. The fun part is that the "finish" of the lip is up to you. You can use a creamy matte color or a high shine gloss if you like. Just remember if you are using a bold color to use an exfoliating lip treatment to get rid of any flakes first. You can also lay a clear lip balm down first so as to adjust the intensity of the color to your comfort level. One more tip is to remember to add a warm blush or bronzer on the cheek to make sure you keep the skin looking alive and healthy.

 

Defined brows never seem to go out of style. Sometimes the definition is more rounded, or more pointed, or more thin. This season the big and bold look is in. Good news for those of you who do not own a pair or tweezers! Use a pencil and feather it through the brows, especially accentuating the arch. This gives that "fuller" look. And if you want to be a little sassy you can always use a little shadow that has a shimmer in it. Sparkle is back!

 

The classic smokey eye is slightly different this year as it has moved from the very deep blacks and carbons to a more muted brown and taupe look. Try rimming your eyes with a khaki or rich mocha and then blend it up from the lash to the crease. Make sure you layer on more color vs. putting too much on to begin with. This helps the look from becoming too muddy. Gold accents are also being shown everywhere. This is the perfect opportunity for you to highlight the inner corner of your eye with a little metallic shadow.

 

And if you could not tell from the first shot above, liner is back in a big way! We are seeing tons of dramatic and over-the-top ways to wear our eye liner. One comparison I read was that is was like "Bridgitte Bardot meets Cleopatra". While this works for the fashion shows, it may be a little much for your work place. However some subtle things like applying it a bit thicker, building it up to create a slight "cat-eye", or extending it past the outer corner of the eye are all ways to take the runway look to your everyday look.

 

Now just because I shared 4 of many trends out there does not mean you have to do all of these at once. That could get a little tricky! Pick one or two of these trends at a time and show them off. I challenge you all to try this. I can't tell you the number of times I hear a client say, "I do the same thing eveyday with my makeup". STOP THAT!! I have just given you a chance to step out of the box a little bit. Give one of these a try and see how you feel. You just might surprise yourself and find a new found excitement for putting on your makeup!

 

As always, send me a message and let me know how you are showing off your fall face! Can't wait to hear from you all!

BB Creams; What is the hype about?-Richmond VA Makeup Artist Aaron

So BB creams have been getting a lot of press lately. With that press seems to come a lot of confusion from the consumer. So let's take a minute to find out what a BB cream is about and if it is worth all the hype.

First, BB stands for "Beauty Balm" or "Blemish Balm". It really became popular in East and Southeast Asia during the 80's but was originally formulated in the 1950's to be used after surgery or laser procedures. The reason for their popularity in Asia was the fact that the product was a great multi-tasker. There are tons of formulas on the market, many touting anti-inflamatory or soothing properties. The ones that you will find in US stores generally combine the following benefits: a skin prep (think primer), light weight coverage (think tinted moisturizer), hydration (think light weight skincare), and anti-ageing protection (think SPF and antioxidants). Now some of the formulas are heavier on one benefit and lighter on the other, so you need to do a little research to find out which is best for you.

Even though BB creams have not been available in the US for many years, they have flooded the market and have people flocking to stores like drag queens to a foam padding sale! Clinique, Smashbox, Stila, Dr. Jart, Garnier, Maybelline, Too Faced, Estee Lauder, and Boscia are just a few of the ones out there now. The price range on these is anywhere from $12 to $40.

Now Dr. Oz raves about the Boscia one and it has a good amount of skin care properties to it. However, it is only one shade, but can read the skin to mimic your tone. I think if you have some olive tone you are OK but otherwise this one is better as a skincare product. Many makeup artists like ones from lines like Smashbox and Too Faced as they have more coverage to them and more shades to choose from. This is why you have to pay attention to ingredients and color options. Do you want one that offers a lot of hydration, or do you want one to give you nice coverage. The best way to find the one that works for you is to try one out. If you love it great! If not, pass it on to a friend or family member and try another one.

In my experience (but note, I have not tried all of them) I really like the products but do think they have some limitations. If you are on the dry side, or it is in the Winter months, I don't think they offer enough moisture and you probably would still need a moisturizer under the BB cream. But, right now (in these crazy warm Summer months) if you are normal or oily, you can probably get by using it without a separate moisturizer.

Secondly, be aware of ones that have an SPF of 50 or more. Most doctors and dermatologists agree that once you get that high of a number, the product is really no more effective (30-45 are great numbers to look for).

Thirdly, many of the BB creams will have ingredients to help make the tone and texture of the skin more even and smooth. This is often done with light reflecting agents. That may translate to "shimmer" or "sparkle". So, if you are putting a bronzer on top, you might want to try a matte bronzer instead of one with more shimmer. Remember "disco balls" are fun but can date you too!

If you are someone who requires a heavier coverage, this may not be the one and only product for you. However, it is a great way to "refresh" your SPF as most BB creams can go on over traditional foundation if you desire.

So in closing, my opinion is I like BB creams, but for the right person and the right time of year. I think they are worth the hype, as long as you are realistic about they payoff. When you need to lighten up a bit, this is a perfect product, but I don't think I would use it alone as we head into late Fall or Winter. I do think you should check one out, especially now as Summer is beating down on us. With this new phenomenon I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave me or Nancy a message on our Facebook pages (BRIDEface Richmond or BRIDEface) if you have tried one. Share your experience so others can benefit!!

Jessica, sans makeup?

Okay, so the very top image is a paparazzi shot, and the rest are all from the new Marie Claire.I have had soo many people ask my opinion on this cover, and I will say that there was definitely some enhancements made. If you compare the top pic to the bottom one, you can clearly see that Jessica does not have black eyelashes in real life.Her eyes in the top photo are absolutely tiny in comparison to the images below, and they have quite dark shadows underneath. They either tinted her lashes, used extensions, or both. She also most likely has tight eyeliner on the upper waterline; many men wear that on screen or in print and it is quite subtle.
They are even claiming her haircolor here is 100% natural, and that there was no styling done for the shoot.

She defintely had some major help in the brow department-I am guessing that they dyed them brown.
She probably had been cramming on facials up to the shoot, just as she worked out an insane amount before wearing those Daisy Dukes.Isn't she a Pro-Activ spokeswoman? I see no signs (large pores, scarring)that she was ever acnaic in her life. Hmm.
I am intrigued by how crooked her face is-I am impressed that they didn't alter that. Her makeup artist must do some wicked shading on her nose and jawline!
I am assuming they did the old Scarlett O' Hara trick of pinching the cheeks and biting the lips?Because her lips in the top image are very very light in pigment.
A lot of artful shadowing and obscuring of her face, too.
She sorta looks like Jennifer Jason Leigh.What do you guys think-?

Stars without makeup? you tell me.

People Magazine recently did a spread of "stars without makeup". Now I can see calling it "makeunders" but you can't tell me these women have no makeup, not to mention these shots are photoshopped to death. At any rate, Eva Longoria looks amazing here, without all the scary fake tan and overblown eye makeup. Jessica Simpson is trying way too hard to look smoldering and comes off looking just really pissed off.

Allure takes a few celebrities every year and gives them totally different looks. This month they have celebrities naked. Again, Thank God for Photoshop!