Friday, Dec 30, 2011

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I don’t get it. Women are constantly on the prowl for the perfect foundation. Something that will make their skin flawless. Of course! We all want flawless skin. But why not invest in a great skincare regimen? Why is this the hardest “sell” to women. When people ask me about products to cover their imperfections, they ignore my recommendations to treat their issues. It’s a bit frustrating.

A good cleanser is key. You want to find a cleanser that will break through your makeup and cleanse your skin. It needs to remove impurities while offering hydration. And ladies, just because you have one pimple, doesn’t mean you need to use a harsh acne cleanser. It is doing nothing but drying out your skin. Try spot treating your blemishes with a product like Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. This is a miracle in a bottle. Seriously. It will improve your blemish in two – three days. Ah-mazing!

Bare Escenuals Deep Cleansing Foam is my cleanser of choice at the moment. I’m loving that this cleanser is not drying out my skin like others have in the past. I don’t get that tight feeling after I cleanse which is awesome. My skin feels fresh and hydrated. Love it! I’ve only been using this product for maybe 2 weeks but, in that short time, I notice an improvement. And for $20, come on…You can’t beat that deal!

Please don’t skip moisturizer. It doesn’t matter if you have acne or feel your skin is “oily”. By drying out your skin, you are just forcing it to produce more oil. Some great products: Bare Escentuals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer. At night: Nars Aqua Gel Hydrator is heaven in a jar. It’s a tad pricey at $76 but well worth the money. You don’t need to use a lot of it, so it will last a while. Hit your local Nars counter or boutique for a sample before committing. But trust me! Once you try that sample, you will be breaking your piggy bank open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thursday, Mar 17, 2011

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Last night I attended an event at Elements lounge featuring Flaunt Sessions along with Jerseylicious star, Alexa Prisco. The swap between hair stylist and makeup artist kept you intrigued however I was a little preoccupied watching Alexa work that I didn’t take advantage of the knowledge being given by Flaunt Sessions’ artist, Jason. Sorry Jason. Makeup is my weakness.

Anywho, the team gave us words of wisdom as they worked with inside tips of the industry. Alexa, the “bitch on wheels” (her words not mine), said “I’m really not like that.” It’s just a show. This followed her saying ego will get you nowhere in the industry. I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement. After having the opportunity to meet her after the event and quickly talk about some of the products she used, I could tell that she wasn’t what she is made out to be. She was more than willing to answer my questions and share her knowledge. That is refreshing to see coming from a very well known artist. I only wish there were less people and more time to pick her brain.

Alexa used products from Hard Candy to MAC to Inglot to create her looks.  Having never watched the show before, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with her work.

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Saturday, Mar 5, 2011

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As Anthony put it, every makeup artist has a recipe for blood. This week the contestants were put to the test. Did their recipes hold up? With ingredients like chicken guts, chocolate syrup, and food coloring they had to make a gallon of blood. And with a former detective for a judge, they better get it right. Tom has a slight advantage. His grandfather was a cop. With this, he paid special attention to consistency and “splatter” detail. In this scenario “Less is best”. It paid off. Tom won the foundation challenge and the advantage of picking his model first.

The spotlight challenge showed to be something all the contestants were waiting for. Zombies! The contestants jump right in and get sculpting. Well, it can’t be that easy, now can it? After 2 hours, McKenzie comes in and throws a twist at them. Not only does their makeup have to look good but it has to hold up well because their models are dancers and will be performing before them and the judges. Uh oh. Tate has to change his design and Tom has to totally rethink his concept. All the contestants change the medium from silicone to foam.

During the design phase, Megan breaks out the anatomy book so that she can carve detail as if her zombie’s skin had been pulled away. Great concept! But she then covers all that work and detail with an insane amount of blood. At this point I was preparing to say goodbye to Megan.

The Reveal

It was like a modern “Thriller”. The dancers performed an awesome routine. It was cool to watch. But what was even cooler was that everyone’s makeup held up against the movement. Good job, artists!

Gage’s WWII zombie was freaky. He showed an interesting and different concept with excellent technical detail. Conor took the safe route with a traditional zombie. But he definitely displayed excellent sculpting and painting skills keeping him safe along with Gage. Following this pair, Sam took the zombie to a whole new….weight? In my opinion, her “fast food” zombie wasn’t impressive. I saved the best for last…Tate took a risk by going against what Glenn has advised by sculpting a prosthetic over his model’s mouth. And it worked. Tate was the winner of the challenge and got to consult with the judges on who should go home. And this week it would be 2 artists!! What a great guy he is. He chose Megan based on the fact that she hasn’t proven herself artistically. He declined to choose anyone else.

So the time has come. Megan, Tom, and Anthony are standing before the judges. They run down all of their weaknesses and I was so sure that Megan would be gone. First to say goodbye is Anthony. I wasn’t surprised. His “hooker” zombie was definitely one of the weakest of all of them. Sorry, Anthony. Next is….TOM?!! Really?! This proved that reality based shows are scripted. Tom is a far superior artist to Megan and although his “roadkill” zombie looked a bit too sculpted, Megan’s “I love LA” zombie was nothing but a poorly executed cool concept. But it’s okay. She can’t make it much longer. Until next week.

 

 

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Monday, Feb 28, 2011

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In my opinion, the Oscars were pretty predictable. My eyes were wide open as I watched the glamor hit the stage. It was pretty stunning. Here is a rundown of my faves and my not so faves.

  1. Jennifer Hudson really showed off her new figure in a tangerine colored dress by Versace. I was loving how she toned down her look with soft makeup and nice cat eye liner that added a touch of drama to the look. It accentuated the shape of eyes magnificently. She looked flawless.
  2. Mila Kunis gave me chills. Her Elie Saab dress draped over every part of her body perfectly. It was flowy. It was sexy. The color was awesome on her. This with a soft, sexy updo and vixenish makeup was perfection. 
  3. Sandra Bullock is always stunning. I am a huge fan. She is always classy and sophisticated. And last night was no exception. Dressed in Vera Wang she definitely turned heads. 
    And added to these 3 of my favorites are Halle Berry and Scarlett Johansson.

I was impressed by Anne Hathaway. She was charming and adorable throughout the whole show. I can’t even begin to talk about all the beautiful wardrobe changes. So I will mention my most favorite look of the night. Okay…I take that back. They were all stunning. The stylist hostess wore dresses by Givenchy, Vivenne Westwood, and Oscar de la Renta (to name a few). She arrived on the red carpet with garb to match. Sporting Valentino coutour, Anne matched her nails and lips to her dress and….well the carpet. I’m feeling it. 

I was unimpressed by Cate Blanchett’s Givenchy gown was a huge turn off for me. It is an unfortunate dress on a beautiful woman. What was with those yellow pieces on the shoulders?

Amy Adams, who wore L’Wren Scott, looked incomplete. Her sparkly dress paired with equal bling on her wrist was a bit overwhelming. On top of this, the high neckline of the dress was layered with a two strand necklace that looked out of place. Amy’s hair was kept long and loose. Honestly, she just didn’t look put together. Lucky for her, she has an awesome smile.

 

 

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Sunday, Feb 27, 2011

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I hate reality television. Okay, I don’t hate it but I’m definitely not a huge fan. There is a reality show about everything from families with 101 kids to women who have nothing to do but be “housewives”. Ridiculous. But here is one reality based competition that I can get into. (Since “Blush” only made it through one season) With my crazy schedule I miss the show during the week but oh how I love Fios on demand. :)

This week was the 5th episode titled “Switched and Hitched”. The contestants had to do makeup that was a gender swap for engaged couples. (Make the bride the groom and the groom the bride…) Awesome challenge.

Tate & Anthony: Tate is my favorite contestant. He is self taught, talented, and focused. When their models hit the stage, you can see such great work put into every aspect of the makeup down to an added “shaving cut”. What an eye for detail!

Tom & Jo: “What were they thinking” is right! What a disaster. The “groom” did in fact look like a keebler elf. I mean the makeup was so bad it looked like a student did in instead of a seasoned artist. And JO….beauty makeup??? Not at all. I love Jo, she is a young artist, fresh out of school, with insane potential. But as a makeup artist, I would think you would have highlighting and contouring down to a science. Not here.  She did regular makeup on her “bride”. I’ve seen better makeup jobs on 13 year olds. Sorry Jo, but you blew this one. HOWEVER, you should NOT have gotten eliminated.

Sam & Gage: These two took on a lot. Although the makeup was not the highest of quality, the initiative should be respected. Old age makeup is hard and these two took it on like champs, even under a time restriction.

Conor & Megan: Oh what to say. The judges praised Megan for her “beauty makeup” awarding her the winner of the challenge….Really?! I thought it was awful. Megan’s bride resembled an elongated Arnold Schwarzenegger. I can’t believe she was not eliminated. She is so unbelievably pretentious. During her interviews she states that beauty makeup is about highlighting and contouring. Well, Megan my dear, I didn’t see any of that going on here. Awful. I am terribly disappointed. Conor needs to focus more on the reason for the competition and stop holding Megan’s hand through it.

So Jo packs her kit and turns to Megan to basically tell her how she feels. With a smirk, Megan responds “I forgive you Jo” . Ugh! I can’t wait to see her fail because her stupid smile makes me want to rip my toe nails off.

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Saturday, Feb 26, 2011

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With coffee in hand, I was browsing my youtube subscriptions and came across a video by sayanythingbrook talking about Ginger Kitty Designs. This is amazing. It is a line of jewelry made out of nail polish. The designer can use a polish from her insane polish list OR you can choose to send her a small sample of your favorite polish. If you have a polish that you love, that is discontinued, or that you just want to make last forever… this is the best way to do it. Or maybe you have a polish that you don’t like on your nails BUT you just love the color. Hey, have it made into a bracelet or a necklace. I’m shaking my head with a smile on my face. This woman is genius. I am often blown away by the amount of talent and creativity that can be found in the world. This one….well she wins the award today.

So here is the contact information for Ginger Kitty Designs:

http://gingerkittydesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GingerKittyDesigns#

http://twitter.com/gingerkittyd

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gingerkittydesigns/60913405900?v=wall

http://www.youtube.com/user/gingerkittydesigns

According to the description of the video, you can use coupon code sayanythingbrooke for 20% off your order until March 21st.

 

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Saturday, Nov 20, 2010

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E.L.F. does not get nearly as much love as it deserves. You really can’t beat the price. This has turned into one of my most favorite brands. No, seriously!

When I first discovered E.L.F, I thought it was more like a little girl brand. A new Bonne Bell if you will. Over the years, as the brand introduced new products and tools, I realized this isn’t your little girl’s makeup. I understand you get what you pay for. But with the prices at E.L.F what you get is some surprising quality. I’ve become obsessed.

But now for the most amazing deal. Go to the site now. You have until 11/21/10!!

  • Spend $50 and get a $25 gift card. (Use code CB25)
  • Spend $25 and get a $10 gift card. (Use code CB10)
  • Spend $15 and get a $5 gift card. (Use code CB5)
You can get Holiday gifts for all the makeup lovers on your list. And then a lot for yourself.
Happy Shopping!

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Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010

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I’ve always loved a Neutral eye with a pop of color. Well apparently so does Leona Lewis.

She looks absolutely beautiful and this eye makeup isn’t too dramatic yet it has a little something that makes you do a double take. Here she is using an electric green almost teal. But this look can be done with ANY color. I would recommend to make your eyes pop, we’ll pull out the color wheel:
  • Brown: I believe that with Brown eyes you can pretty much wear any color you want. I like purple tones on brown eyes. But Teal is my go to color with this type of look.
  • Blue: Any color with an orange tone is amazing on blue eyes. This would look awesome with an orangy-ish, copper.
  • Green: Purple tones would definitely make green eyes pop.
  • Hazel: Another versatile eye color depending on what you’re looking for. Purple will bring out the green in hazel eyes or a blue color would bring out the gold tones.
If you’ve always coveted those bright, bold colors this is a great look to introduce them to your makeup collection. Baby steps.

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Sunday, Aug 29, 2010

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I am asked very often, by family and friends, about how to do a smoky eye. So last night, I attempted to film my first makeup tutorial. My boyfriend and I set everything up and I locked myself in the bedroom. It didn’t quite work out as planned and at 1:00 in the morning, you could tell I wasn’t into it. I guess it wasn’t meant to be because the camera went dead before I could finish. I’m not having luck with video tutorials. I’m hoping I’ll get it right sometime.

  1. Prime your eye using whatever primer you’re comfortable with. I used Two Faced Shadow Insurance.
  2. Since mattes tend to go on kind of blotchy (how technical is that) take a creamy brown product and use this as a base as well. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Dark Brown would be a good choice but any brown base would work. Apply this lightly on the lid and blend it out with a synthetic brush like MAC’s 242.
  3. Then take a medium brown color like Espresso by MAC, and using MAC’s 239, pack this all over the lid. Use this color to very softly blend out the crease. (Loew Cornell 1/4 ” Maxine Mop is a great alternative to this brush.)
  4. Next use a rusty, brick color to warm up the crease. Apply this lightly with a fluffy brush like MAC’s 224.
  5. Use a darker brown or a black to lightly darken (lightly, darken-Does that make sense?) the outer V.
  6. Take that same color and use it as a liner on the lid.
  7. Use this same dark color under the eye and concentrate in the outer corner.
  8. Take a flesh tone color, and use this as your brow highlight and to blend down the crease color.
  9. At this point, you can either line your waterline with a dark brown or black pencil. If you choose to skip this step, take a flesh tone pencil and “clean” up the waterline because I’m sure some product got on there.
  10. To add a little shimmer, I took Shroom by MAC and applied this under the brow.
  11. Curl your eye lashes, apply your favorite mascara, and falsies if you wish….and you’re done.
I love to do a matte smoky eye. It’s dramatic without looking too overdone. If it is possible for a smoky eye to not look overdone. :) Sooooo, that’s it. On the lips you can use a neutral color or go all out. It’s up to you.

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Sunday, Aug 29, 2010

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This has been said time and time again but I thought I would revisit the topic. You can tell a brand has gained notoriety when people start to duplicate it. We saw it with Louis Vuitton, Coach, Gucci, and Fendi. And now we are seeing it with MAC Cosmetics. So I thought for those of you that want to know if a product you’re buying is fake keep reading.

I worked on a dance recital a few months back, and the “artist” had this huge brush set. I looked over at it and I said “Oh that’s a nice brush set.” Instantly, she replied “Yeah it’s MAC.” So I thought I would be nice and tell her that she got ripped off. (I said it more discreet than that.) Do you believe she debated me on this? As she pulled out her 120 palette with MAC printed on it. The girl she was working on says “I didn’t know MAC made a palette like this.” And the artist says “Yeah, she says it’s fake but I got it straight from the manufacturer that supplies MAC.” Huh? SMH.

  • Most MAC products found on ebay are fake. We all want a bargain but I would suggest that you hit a CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet) for this. You will most likely be buying a fake product off of an auction site.
  • Any brush set that comes with a sponge tip applicator is fake. MAC doesn’t offer these. With that being said……
  • A 32 piece brush set for $50 is definitely fake. Some of MAC brushes cost close to that or more. Why would they make a whole brush set for that price? So if you see this:.
Don’t bother. It’s a fake. And honestly, it’s not a good brush set either. My friend bought it off of ebay and it’s awful.
  • MAC eye shadows that have a flip top with a mirror and sponge tip applicator underneath…..FAKE. As I said before, none of MAC products come with this type of applicator.
  • The Hello Kitty collection was another huge duplicated product line. Hello Kitty had the Too Dolly quad and the Lucky Tom quad. That is exactly what they are; a QUAD with 4 eye shadows. So if you see a palette with 6 rectangular eye shadows. It’s fake.
  • 120 palette from MAC for $69.99. Come on guys. 1 eye shadow costs $11 for pan only. Let’s do the math. $11 times 120 equals….$1,320. Now why would a company then say but we’ll give you this sweet deal. Now really. Think about it.

Now I know some people say well why does it matter if it’s fake or not. It matters because why buy the product just because it has MAC printed on it. People who know anything about makeup buy MAC for the quality of the product not the name. A fake product may not have that same quality as the real thing. You don’t know what’s in it. It’s just not worth the risk. Do your homework about any product that you buy to use on yourself or, better yet, your clients.

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