Win Your Wedding Makeup Contest

Written on Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Happy New Year!

I thought that I would start the New Year off with a fabulous contest. I’m giving away a full-face makeup application ($100 value) to one lucky bride getting married in 2012. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!

Here’s what you have to do; log onto your Facebook and:

  1. Hit the SHARE button on the bottom of this entry and post on your Facebook wall – “Help me win my bridal makeup from Styleyes Makeup Artistry!”  I will be checking the walls of the winner.
  2. Comment below to let me know that you’ve shared this post on your Facebook wall.
  3. I will announce the winners on Friday February 3rd 2012 in the evening, so you have lots of time to enter the contest.  The winner will have until Monday February 6 , 2012 at 11:59 pm to claim their prize.  Good luck!

Term & Conditions:
The contest is for a full-face bridal makeup application only and does not include a makeup trial. Airbursh makeup applications are not applicable to this contest. Makeup trials are available for an additional charge of $60. Bridal party will be charged at the regular rate of $70 per person.
This contest is open to brides only who are getting married in 2012 in Toronto – check the website for the service area before you enter. Winners agree to allow Styleyes Makeup Artistry to take pictures for promotional/portfolio purposes only for use on the website, blog, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and any/all promotional marketing materials.
In order to guarantee your booking, a completed contract and photo release form are required.

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FOTD with Ayanna

Written on Monday, June 6th, 2011

This picture is from back in Feburary. My friend and fellow makeup artist Ayanna came over so that we could play with some of the new goodies that I picked up at IMATS in November. I always like to test out new products on myself, friends and family before using it on clients so that I can get a better feel for how they apply and what techniques work best with what product.

The products that we were testing out for the FOTD were Faceatelier’s 0++ foundation (used to contour), Temptu S/B Airbrush Foundations (hand applied), and assorted Yaby eye shadows.

I was really happy with the outcome  especially with how well the Temptu S/B foundations apply manually, but a little bit disappointed with the 0++ foundation. In playing around with it, I discovered that it works amazing as either a foundation or when used as a contour but that it’s a little bit too blue-toned to be used with the other Faceatelier foundations to make them darker. I’ve been meaning to see if I was to add a little bit of heat to it what would happen but I just haven’t had the chance to play with it; I’ll update later on the outcome of that experiment.

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Review: Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution

Written on Friday, June 3rd, 2011

I’m not a fan of “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to cleansing and taking care of your skin so I was so happy to see that Bioderma made a cleansing water aka micelle solution for combination/oily skin. This solution comes in a few sizes but the one pictured above is from a starter set that includes an exfoliant and a moisturizer.

So what is a micelle solution? It’s a liquid cleanser that you don’t wash off. It can be used as a toner (depending on the brand) and it helps to cleanse the skin of dirt, sebum and makeup.

About this product (taken from the website) : Bioderm innovation, Sébium H2O gently cleanses the skin without drying it, through the micro-emulsion of impurities and excess sebum. Enriched with purifying active ingredients, Sébium H2O cleanses the epidermis in depth and regulates secretion of sebum. The patented sebo-correcting complex, Fluidactiv®, normalizes sebum quality.

How to use: Soak a cotton pad and cleanse your face. Repeat until the cotton pad is clean. It can be used morning and evening.

Overall: I really like the way that this micelle solution feels on my skin; it feels cool but not in a irritated kind of way. I also like that it doesn’t leave a residue on the skin and that I can go ahead and apply my serum and moisturizer on top.  I’ve used it to remove my makeup and it removed it pretty well; I would still use an eye makeup remover though as I don’t know that this product is safe to use around the eyes. Although it removed my makeup pretty well, I prefer to  use it on bare skin prior to a makeup application; which would make the perfect addition to the skin prep items that I carry in my professional kit.

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Review: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Written on Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

I had been hearing a lot about Clinique’s new Bottom Lash Mascara for a while now so about a few weeks ago or so, I decided to pick one up to try. I’d never really been one for putting mascara on my bottom lashes and was very interested in seeing how this would work for me. I was speaking with another makeup artist on Twitter and she has mentioned that putting mascara on the bottom lashes was a great way to finish off a look; and I’d now have to agree.

What Clinique says:

Now bottom lashes get in on the action with a brush engineered for tiny tasks and a formula that resists smears. Pair it with any mascara on top, and watch what happens. A full 90-day supply. $12.00 (CDN) suggested retail. It is good for your bottom line.

What I think:

This is a great mascara and a welcome addition to my professional makeup kit. The first day that I tried out this mascara it rained and it didn’t smudge or smear. I realized later that day when I was taking my makeup off that this is a tubing mascara of sorts; the different being that the Bottom Lash mascara removed a lot easier than other tubing mascaras that I have tried in the past. The Clinique website says to splash warm water and the gently press and remove the mascara; I found that it also was removed quite easily using Bioderma’s Sensibo Micellar Cleansing Water using the same gentle press, hold and remove technique.

Overall:

I really like this mascara and would definitely repurchase it again. I like that you can get both natural and super clumpy lashes with this mascara which makes it great for the pro makeup artist as well as the everyday girl. I love that it doesn’t smudge or smear and that it’s really easy to remove at the end of the day. Also, at $12, this mascara is a steal.

p.s If your looking for disposable mascara wands for this mascara, check out Particular Polly.

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Product Rave: Myrabelle Mascara Shield

Written on Monday, May 30th, 2011

I bought the Myrabelle Mascara Shield last year at IMATS and can’t believe that I’ve waited until now to try it. I had a client recently who booked me for her makeup for her engagement photos and I packed this into my kit to take with me. This tool is amazing. It’s easy to use and really does help to keep mascara from ruining the eye shadows that I had just laid down on her eyes. It lifts the lashes so that I can get right to the root of the lashes to apply the mascara; it’s also great for tight-lining the eyes as well.

This is by far the best $8 or so dollars that I have spent on my kit.

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Review: Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System

Written on Friday, May 27th, 2011

After talking with Jill about skincare and skincare tools, I decided to pick up this cleaning system to try it out for myself at Shoppers; it was on sale for $27.99.

Inside the box, you get a water-resistant scrubber, a scrubber head, batteries and a sample-size  squeeze tube of Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser.

What I love about this cleansing system is that it’s super easy to use. All you have to do is dampen your face and the brush, apply your renewal cleanser or your cleanser of choice on your face and the use the brush for about 60 seconds. It also has two speeds to choose from which is a nice touch.

What I think:

I don’t use this daily as I feel that it would be too much exfoliation for me; I use it no more than twice a week and and leaves my face feeling rejuvenated. I haven’t tried this in the shower; I prefer to was my face at the sink  , so I can’t speak to the water-resistant-ness of the brush. I also noticed that the next day when I applied my makeup, it applied so beautifully and seamlessly. This would be a great addition for those wanting to take their skincare routine up a notch and for those that want to get some light exfoliation without having to purchase a separate product. This would be a great tool for brides-to-be to use the night before their wedding to help prep their skin for makeup application.

Overall:

This is a really nice skincare tool and an affordable price. It provides your skin with that little je ne sais quoi that I’m sure we’re all looking for.  It leaves your skin baby-bottom soft and radiant. While I didn’t care for the exfoliating cleanser that came with the kit (I’m using a natural like of skincare due to being pregnant) , I like that I was able to use my regular cleansing with this and still reap some of the exfoliating/massage benefits that the cleaning brush provides.

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Engagement Photos

Written on Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of making over Gerta for her e-photo session with Gina from Beautiful Images Photography.  The look that she going for was inspired by the cover from the Sam Fine Basic Beauty DVD and this is my interpretation of the look.

For this look, I concentrated on evening out her complexion and bringing a glow back to her skin. I used a mix of five different shades of orange blush along with bronzer to help brighten her complexion. We kept the lips more on the neural side using a mix of a brown nude and a pink nude lipstick topped off with a peachy-gold gloss for a little bit of sheen.

I had a great time on this shoot and am looking forward to making over Gerta and her bridal party in July.

To check out the rest of the pictures from the e-photo session, check out Beautiful Images’ Blog.

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Wedding Makeup Tips

Written on Monday, May 23rd, 2011

You will probably never be as photographed in your life as you will be on your wedding day. The trick to choosing your wedding makeup is to take a look at how you wear your makeup in your everyday life. Red lips and a winged liner may not be the best choice for you if you are more comfortable wearing neutral/natural colours and lip gloss.

Another thing to keep in mind is the time of day that you plan to get married because it will also play a factor in how dramatic your makeup can be. The earlier in the day you get married, the softer the makeup should look due to there being more natural light. As the day goes on, you can get a bit more dramatic with your makeup.

If you choose to do your own wedding makeup be sure to practice your look ahead of time so that you’re comfortable applying it. Don’t forget to take pictures in both natural and artificial light so that you can have a better idea of what that makeup will look like in different lights.

*picture courtesy of eonline.com

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How to look good in your wedding photos Pt. 2

Written on Friday, May 20th, 2011

In part one; we discussed skincare and what you need to do to prep your face for makeup. Proper cleansing and moisturizing coupled with drinking plenty of water will help to keep your skin soft supple and ready for makeup.

After your moisturizer has had a chance to sink into your skin, it’s time to apply your face primer. Using a primer is optional but if you find that your makeup doesn’t last during the day, a good primer or mattifyer will help with the longevity of your foundation. If you’re sensitive to silicone, there are ones on the market that are silicone free and work just as well.  Allow about 5 minutes for the primer to set before applying your foundation.

Choose a foundation that gives medium coverage and doesn’t contain spf. Some products with spf contain high levels of titanium dioxide and can give you a ghostly cast in photos. If you have good skin and don’t need medium coverage, you can always sheer it down with a damp sponge. You’ll need two concealers, one for under the eye; these ones tend to me more fluid and should be on the warmer side  to help make you look more awake and to help cover dark circles that you may have, and one to cover any blemishes that you may have; this one needs to match your skin. Set your foundation and concealer with a setting powder. Using too much powder can age you so remember to use it sparingly. A great tip is to blot away any excess oil and foundation using a single ply of tissue before setting with powder.

Use shimmer sparingly. The best places to apply a bit of shimmer is to the brow bone, tops of the cheek bones and on the inner tear duct to open the eyes.  You’ll need three eye shadows to enhance and define your eyes:  one to lighten, one to darken and one to deepen. Be sure to define your eye with liner and a water-proof volumizing mascara. Also be sure to apply blush to your cheekbones. If you need to, you can also contour the hollows of your cheek for added dimension and definition. Fill in any bare spaces in your eye brows with a tinted brow mascara, brow pencil or powder. Define your lips with a lip pencil that’s clear or one that matches your lip colour. Don’t forget to fill in your lips with the liner to help your lipstick or gloss last longer.

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Makeup and Acne

Written on Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

At a bridal trial that I did for a client last month, she asked me if the products that I used were non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores), oil free and ok for those prone to or with active acne. My answer was three fold and I thought that I would share my answer with you.

Before I add any new product(s) to my kit, I do my research. I check out reviews and swatches, as well as talk with other makeup artists. I also purchase the product or order a sample for myself to test out.  When I’m looking for a product, I want to make sure that it has good staying power, looks natural on, blends well and with minimal effort and  most importantly is photo friendly. Next I take a look at ingredients and where possible try to stay away from products with ingredients that I don’t care for.

As a makeup artist, I have to carry a variety of products in my kit that are suitable for different skin types and skin tones. A product that’s meant for normal-dry skin may not be the best choice for someone with combo/oily skin and vice versa. Everyone’s skin is different and may react to something in a product which is why I always recommend that brides book a trial first. It’s also important that the makeup artist that you pick is sanitary with his/her products, doesn’t double-dip and uses disposable tools as not to cross contaminate the products.

That said,not removing or improper removal of your makeup before you go to bed will contribute to the way your skin looks and feels. To thoroughly remove your makeup, I suggest double cleansing; first with a cleansing oil  then follow it with your regular cleanser. Double cleansing is the best way (in my opinion) to remove all traces of your makeup and sunscreen as well as the buildup of pollution that’s on your skin.

Don’t forget to clean your makeup brushes regularly; especially if cream or liquid products like foundations and concealers are used . Bacteria can grow in the brushes and lead to all kinds of nasty things like acne and infections. I wash all of my brushes before every makeup application and clean and sanitize my brushes with brush cleaner and 99% isopropyl alcohol in between clients.

I’d love to hear your thought on this, so please leave me a comment below.

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