Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2

I have so many favorite summer makeup products that one post just wouldn’t cut it. Here are the rest of my essentials for long-lasting and flawless summer makeup:

1. Tinted Moisturizer:

A tinted moisturizer can completely replace your foundation if you’re comfortable with a sheer coverage. I, on the other hand, still use a light coverage foundation on top of my tinted moisturizer because I have minor skin imperfections. If you are blessed with great skin, a tinted moisturizer is all you will need in the summertime. Tinted moisturizers do exactly what they sound like they do. They tint the skin, covering discolorations slightly, and moisturize. If you decide to strictly use a tinted moisturizer, make sure it has a high SPF of 30+.  A  great money-saving trick I love is to use your daily foundation and your daily moisturizer and mix equal parts together to make your own version of a tinted moisturizer. It works just as well. I have finally found the ultimate tinted moisturizer I’ve been searching for:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $42 at Nordstrom

This moisturizer gives great coverage, while still letting your natural skin show through. I absolutely love the texture and feel of it. It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and not tacky, like some tinted moisturizers tend to. It has a long list of luxurious ingredients that actually help to improve your pigmentation after 4 weeks of use. I’ve tried a lot of tinted moisturizers and this one exceeded all of my expectations, so it will stand alone on my list of favorites. In fact, this product is so good that it’s what Gwyneth Paltrow wore at the Golden Globes this year.

2. Bronzer:

It wouldn’t be summer without bronzer. Summer is the only time of the year you can get by with looking like a bronzed goddess without being questioned if you just came back from an exotic vacay. With that being said, bronze away! While the sun is one of my favorite things, I prefer not to lay out in it because of its harmful effects, so I definitely put my bronzers and self-tanning creams to good use in the summertime. One of my least favorite things in a bronzer is one with an underlying orange tint. If you’re trying to be cast as the latest Jersey Shore housemate these bronzers are NOT for you:

NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Department Stores

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder with Real Cocoa, $29 at Sephora 

Bare Escentuals Warmth, $19 at BareEscentuals.com 

3. Bright Pink Lips:

Bright pink and fuchsia lips happen to look amazing with muted down makeup and luminous summer skin. In the summer, keep it easy and choose one focus point or just keep everything simply neutral. My lovely cousin Arantha, author of the blog Gourmet Beauty, recently did a post on fuchsia lips. You can view her favorite colors here. One of the colors she has recently recommended on her blog has become one of my new daily favorites!  These colors are very stylish and fun this season, so give them a try!

Nicki Minaj for MAC Viva Glam, $14.50 at MAC stores

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Candy Pink, $8.99 at drugstores

4. Finishing Mists

I am in love with finishing mists. One of my favorite things about them is they feel refreshing, like you’re giving thirsty skin a drink of water.  They  set your makeup and give it staying power. It’s Indy 500 week here in Indianapolis and for those of you that don’t know, that means a long, 90 something degree day in the direct sunlight. My makeup has to withstand the heat and also last for hours. These products will help it to do just that:

Urban Decay All Nighter, $29 at Sephora

MAC Fix+, $20 at MACCosmetics.com

Are there any essentials you must have for summertime? Everyone have a safe & happy Memorial Day!

Summer Makeup Essentials Part 1

In the summertime I’m all about quick and easy makeup that will last all day without making me look too “made up”. Summer is a time when you want your skin to look fresh and luminous. What I love about summer makeup is my routine is cut almost in half! This leaves me a lot of other time to get stuff done, such as laundry web surfing. In Indiana, we have a lot of humidity and high temps in the summer. I need my makeup to last (and look good) from the time I put it on to when I wash it off at night. This can be hard to achieve but with the right products and routine seen below, you will be on your way to long-lasting, fresh-faced, summer beauty.

1. Primer

Primers are specifically made for either the face or eyes. A primer helps the longevity of your makeup. It creates a smooth surface for applying your foundation or eye makeup.

A facial primer not only helps to reduce the appearance of your pores, it also helps to control oil and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re using a face primer, a little goes a long way. You usually only need one pump, if that.

An eye primer keeps your shadow adhered all day long and also keeps it from creasing. It also works to the benefit of the eyeshadow by bringing out the true pigment in the shadow. I would consider an eye primer a staple in anyone’s makeup collection, but if you’re someone with oily eyelids then a primer is an absolute necessity. When wearing foundation or eye makeup in the summer, I definitely recommend trying one of the following:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer, $23 at BareEscentuals.com

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer, $34 at Sephora

2. Neutral Eyes

Think beachy and bronzed…and J. Lo. Summertime is when you can get away with minimal eye makeup, so use it to your advantage. The great thing is you don’t have to be makeup savvy to create a look. I usually keep it simple with one light, shimmery color all over the lid. For evening, pop another color into your crease and you’re good to go. Here are some of my favorites.

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, $50 at Sephora

MAC eyeshadow in Naked Lunch, $15 at Nordstrom

Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sugar, $14 at Nordstrom

3. Peachy Cheeks

When I think of light, fresh makeup I think of peachy-pink cheeks. You want a shade that gives you a natural-looking flush of color. The focus point shouldn’t be on your cheeks. You just want a pop of blush that gives you that little pick-me-up, making your finished look polished.

NARS Orgasm Blush, $28

MAC Buff Blush, $24

Kirsten Dunst at Cannes Film Festival 2012. Summer makeup perfection.

What are your summer makeup essentials? Stay tuned for Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2.

What’s the secret to great makeup? Great skin.

Your skin is the foundation you build upon when you’re applying your makeup, therefore you need to do your best to take great care of it. Without a smooth foundation you won’t achieve optimal results from your makeup. There are 3 key steps you need to take in your skincare routine every single day:

1. Cleanse:

Cleansing your face is of the utmost importance. It’s essential to wash away all of the oil and impurities your skin has accumulated during the day, allowing your skin to breathe. Make sure you do not use a cleanser that is too harsh or drying and always use a cleanser that is chemically balanced for the face. Currently I’m using this cleanser & I love it! It completely removes all of my makeup, eyes included! Not only does it remove my makeup but with four weeks of continued use you will notice your skin looking much more radiant and feeling smoother.

Burts Bees Facial Cleanser $10 at Target

2. Exfoliate:

Exfoliation rids the skin of dead skin cells allowing your moisturizer to penetrate deeper into your skin. Make sure you do not over exfoliate. Some skin types only need it once or twice a week, while others can benefit from a gentle exfoliation daily. You can use an exfolating scrub such as Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream or this handy-dandy tool that I could never live without.

Clarisonic Mia 2 $149 at Nordstrom

3. Moisturize:

I cannot stress this enough, moisturize! Moisturizing is absolutely a must. In my time as a makeup artist I have seen the effects of a lifetime of not moisturizing. Trust me, you do not want to go there. I always say that no one is too young to start moisturizing or using eye cream. Not only does moisturizing help quench thirsty skin, it also prevents lines and wrinkles and retains your skins natural moisture balance. I’m currently using coconut oil as my moisturizer. Not only do I use it to moisturize, I also use it to cook with. The health benefits and uses for coconut oil are endless. I only use this as my nighttime moisturizer but you could also use it during the day. This also comes without the hefty price tag of most moisturizers you will find at the department store. You can pick this up at Whole Foods or my favorite local store, Natures Pharm.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic “All One!” White Kernel Unrefined Coconut Oil $11 at Natures Pharm

Cleanse, Exfoliate, Moisturize. Goodnight!

A Trial Run Is Peace of Mind.

A trial run is the time where you can pick out colors and describe to your makeup artist the look you envision for your wedding day. It’s a great time to bring pictures of bridal looks you love. It also allows you to see yourself in natural and artificial lighting so you can get a feel of how your makeup will look on the big day. As a makeup artist, I suggest brides do a trial run so that everything can be planned out, therefore going smoothly that day. You won’t be hit with any surprises. The consultation is simply peace of mind. When you book your wedding, a trial run is included. Here are a few pictures of some gorgeous brides during recent trial runs:

A Makeup Artist's 11 Must-Have Beauty Items

Reblogged from Gourmet Beauty:

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My gorgeous cousin Rachel, pictured below, is a mother of two adorable 8-month-old twin girls and she’s also a makeup artist! She specializes in wedding makeup and you can see the beautiful work she has done on brides here. You can also follow her on Twitter for her expert beauty opinions. She was kind enough to share her must-have items that she has found to be the most universally flattering.

Read more… 472 more words

My amazing cousin was kind enough to feature me on her blog today! Follow her blog for reviews of fabulous beauty products and yummy recipes!

Spring Brides

I’ve had the pleasure of working with some gorgeous brides this Spring, one of which is a dear friend of mine. The wedding was a beach wedding in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It was a such a beautiful wedding spent with amazing friends, in such a gorgeous setting. It was an honor to get to do her makeup for her special day. Here is a peek of  her wedding & what else I’ve been up to this Spring.

Such a stunning bride.

True love.

So beautiful! She was such a pleasure to work with!

Brides, Bridesmaids & Proms

I’ve had a busy, booked Summer, and now taking appointment for Fall & Winter weddings!  Here is the latest:

Pretty pretty prom girl