I might be falling in love...with Cover FX/by Richmond Virginia Makeup Artist Aaron Ellerbrock

 

So I know I am not Oprah, but I thought I would share one of my "Favorite Things"! I often get asked what products I love to use and what makeup I think really gives a great pay off. Of course, over the years I have added or changed that list as new products are developed or as old favorites change their formulas and become less than stellar.

I now have a new favorite in the area of creating a canvas (foundations, concealors, powders, bronzers). Of course for my brides I still mostly use the OCC airbrush foundations, but for my other clients I am now recommending the Cover FX line. I can't say enough about how great this product is, especially after their recent relaunch. The line seems to have an amazing grasp on how to create foundations for everyone.

I hear over and over again "I can't find a foundation that matches my skin tone" or "It looked good when I first put it on but then later it just looked wrong". Finding the right foundation can be tricky, especially if you are just trying to pick one up at the drugstore. First and foremost, you should always match your foundation on your jaw line and make sure once it dries down, the color is perfect, meaning you don't see it on the surface of your skin.

I recenty had the great fortune to talk with the Vice President of Glodal Sales and Education for Cover FX, Alisha Gallagher. Since I have several of their products in my kit, I was thrilled to have the chance to ask her a few questions. Here are some of the highlights of our conversation.

Aaron: Tell me a little about the creator of the products at Cover FX.

Alisha: His name is Victor Casale. Previous to Cover FX he was the Chief Innovation Officer at MAC. He is the man who created such well know products as Studio Fix and Lipglass. He is so amazing because not only is he so creative but he is also a chemist! He also created a red lipstick for Madonna on her "Blonde Ambition Tour" called Russian Red. It has become an iconic color. It is very wearable for that woman who is looking for a perfect red and was worn by Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn".

Aaron: Why are your products so special?

Alisha: There are three main points of difference that make us so special. First, our tag line is "Great beauty begins with a great foundation. Can't find your shade? We can!". At Cover FX we have an extensive global color shade palette. 28 shades! But what we do that is so different is we spend a lot of time making sure we focus on the undertone of the skin, not just the depth of color. So many lines have a lot of shades but they go from light to dark without altering much in the undertones. That is why foundations often seem to not match. At Cover FX we make sure we have the right blends of "N" neutral, "P" pink, and "G" golden to ensure a perfect match.
Second, our products are extremely healthy for the skin. They are free of gluten, talc, mineral oil, parabens, and fragrance. As a matter of fact they are actually vegan!
Thirdly, the products have a very high performance level. We use a high level of refined pigments in our products. This allows you to get what you are looking for without having to use a large amount. The beauty is that you can apply them for a sheer coverage or build them to get a full coverage.

Aaron: What would you say are two must have products?

Alisha: That is a hard one, but if I had to pick two I would say the Pressed Mineral Foundation (a pressed mineral foundation with buildable coverage) and the Total Cover Cream Foundation (an emollient cream 2-in-1 concealor and foundation). The Pressed Mineral Foundation has no talc so it is luminious, not chalky or matte looking. And the Total Cover Cream Foundation can be applied as sheer as a tint  or you can build it to a full coverage foundation.


Cover FX is sold at Sephora stores, but not all of them. For those in the Richmond area, they are sold at the Sephora at Regency. For those of you in the Cincinnati area, your best bet is to order from the Cover FX website for now. I would of course chat with Nancy at BRIDEface first so she can assist you in picking the right products. And don't foget to get the right tool for the right job. Cover FX have some amazing brushes that do very specific things. They have used technology from DuPont to help create creulty free brushes that perform amazingly! Also, if you would like to see it in print, check out Richmond Magazine's December "Mother of the Bride" shoot. I used the Total Cover Cream Foundation on our model!

So whenever you feel you are just not having luck in the area of foundation or concealors just remember what Alisha at Cover FX says, ""We have your shade!" Happy Shopping!!

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!

Red Lipped Bride

99.9% of my bridal clients have a trial run session with me prior to the Big Day. I look at pictures of their dress, hair ideas, and inspiration pics of makeup they like. We work together to create a look that suits the mood of the event, their personality, and the gown.

When Valerie met with me, we toyed around between a simply defined eye with a quite bold pink lip vs. a smoky eye with neutral lip. After much deliberation, Valerie decided she preferred the very nude mouth. (To my private disappointment.)

On the day of the wedding, she decided at the very last minute to match her flowers and wear a deep garnet lip, although we hadn't really tried that shade at the trial. It turned the whole look around, brightened her eyes, and gave her an instant look of glamour. I was able to provide her with a sample for touchups (since she had purchased the nude shade for the day) and I just got the images from Daphne Photo Studio today and am absolutely thrilled with the result!

I can't wait to see what 28twenty has in store for her video! Gorge flowers from Katie Elfers.

Valerie was referred to me by two of my former brides, which is always such a high compliment. It's like working with family.