Cute Makeup Tips

From October 20th - October 22nd I ran Comment4aCure where readers could leave a comment and I would donate $1 to each comment made. To say thank you to those readers that left comments I would like to give away 3 thank you prizes! Winners were randomly chosen out of a hat.

The first prize give-away goes to Arianne!


Thank you so much for your comment! You have won an adesign Mini Brush Set valued at $45 USD! I have quickly become a fan of adesign brushes and my brush set never goes without it. I have Eye 1 and Eye 5. Eye 1 has a unique tip that will expertly define your eyes. I especially love to use this in the crease for definition and to blend my shadows. Eye 5 is an angled liner brush that has the perfect firmness. It easily applies liquid and cream liners, as well as wet/dry shadows. There are many more brushes I'd like to add to my collection: all the foundation brushes and Pointed Concealer Brush. I'm sure you will love these brushes Arianne!

About adesign brushes

adesign introduces innovative makeup brushes that are bringing a new life to the world of makeup artistry. Developed after 20 years of collaborated experience in the beauty industry, adesign’s management team has created unique and high quality cosmetic tools. Every brush is crafted of the highest grade of both synthetic and natural hair fibers that will effectively pair with any cosmetic brand to achieve an outstanding make up application. adesign only uses cruelty-free natural animal hair from animals that are first used as a food source. With extensive knowledge of new advancements in the beauty industry, adesign is a leader in consumer and industry trends. With commitment to education and training, adesign is quickly becoming one of the industry’s foremost leaders in cosmetic brushes.

The Education of Shana King

Shana King, founder of adesign believes innovation and practicality are the fundamentals of cosmetic brushes. As a child in Toronto , Shana was interested in beauty and soon this interest developed into a passion. Inspired by the beauty and fashion pages of Vogue, she yearned to make this passion a career. Shana trained in Toronto as a professional makeup artist in the fashion and entertainment industry and gained a keen eye for trends and business know-how. From her experience with at some of the top beauty brand make-up counters and a regional manager of Aveda, Shana’s business savvy expertise transformed itself in to the world of professional makeup brushes. She is dedicated to design innovation and has an affinity and passion for consumer education.

www.adesignbrushes.com

To stay tuned for the winners of prize 2 and 3!

Plucking those brows can be a lil' painful, but you'll forget about the pain knowing that 50% of all proceeds from the sale of Anastasia's Limited Edition Swarovski Pink Ribbon Precision Tweezers will go to The Entertainment Industry Foundation - Women's Cancer Research Fund. Hand-adorned with a genuine Swarovski Crystal Pink Ribbon, these tweezers not only give off a pretty twinkle but they can grab at the finest and shortest of hairs! Love it!

Available now for $33 USD at Nordstrom stores and at www.anastasia.net.





http://beautyblognetwork.com/

Week 3, yes it's only week 3. I missed it last week because I just didn't have time to no! no! (yes it's a verb lol) so I made up for it this week. Usually, I no! no! in my room for 2-4 hours with no music, no TV, no distractions. This time I thought if I had some music on, no! no!-ing wouldn't be such torture. I also threw in a mag to flip through while I was doing it - not a good idea. Instead of easing the pain of sitting there going over and over sections of my legs, I ended up finishing a painful 3.5 hours later instead of the usual 2 hours! I woke up early just to no! no! and it still proved to be a time killer.

On the up side, I had to shave in between no-noing and I did notice that my hair grew back slower. In the past, my hair would grow back within an hour after shaving but my legs remained smooth and stubble-free until the next day. Hooray! Have I had enough? Am I realizing that my dreams of hair-free legs for life is too far-fetched? Despite the torturous long hours, sore back, and fighting pins and needles I will keep on truckin' into the 4th week! Yes, I'm crazy!

Be sure to check out Week 1 and Week 2 if you missed out on them!

As a makeup artist, it’s crucial to be as hygienic as possible, especially when working with multiple clients in one session. Always making sure you don’t double dip is important because not only will you be preventing bacteria build-up in your products, you’ll be saving those key clients from any skin irritations.

When I was first starting out, I was clueless on sanitation for my products and I heard a story about a client getting a big cold sore on their lip after a makeup application, yuck! Not only is that gross, it's a great way to ruin your makeup career considering most business is achieved from word-of-mouth. After hearing that, I've become an absolute stickler when it comes to cleanliness. I carry an extra train case (fairly small!) to every gig I go to with only cleaning products – alcohol, hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, sponges, cotton pads, q-tips, mascara wands, lip applicators, paper towels, brush cleaner, face wash, lotion and most importantly, a spatula and palette for scooping out makeup.

The best way to eliminate contamination is by using a spatula and palette. I definitely recommend the Cinema Secrets Stainless Steel tools as they are designed for professional use and are very easy to clean.

The spatula which is made from the finest German Stainless steel, is used to scoop out or scrape off makeup, whether it be foundation, concealer, lipstick etc. It comes in two sizes, the standard and the deluxe. I prefer the deluxe one because both the handle and the surface area of the spatula are bigger.

Once you have the product on the spatula, place it onto the stainless steel palette (it comes in small, medium and large). The palette is a great tool for mixing shades and smoothing out the product. It also eliminates the need for placing product on the back of your hands because no matter how many times you wash your hands, bacteria is always present. Clean both the spatula and palette with either a brush cleaner or alcohol after every use.

The best part of it all, the spatula and palette is versatile - after cleaning you can use it for just about any product where contamination would occur. By using the spatula for your moisturizers and/or masks it will help prevent the oils from your fingers from entering the product which means the shelf life of your expensive skincare regimen will be extended.

Stay clean and beautiful!

If you're unlucky to have stick straight, short lashes like me you'll be happy to know there are tools to make your lash luck change! Shu Uemera eye lash curler has been a staple in my makeup bag for years. When I heard that Shu Uemera was coming out with a mini lash curler I wanted to get my hands on it. My bubble was burst when I found out that Canadian Sephora's didn't carry it and it was uncertain when or if Canada would carry it. The next best thing was Sephora's Detail Lash Curler. I LOVE this curler! You can focus on one area or just on the outer corner for a flirty fringe. I use it everyday now along with my regular Shu Uemera lash curler for major curl action. It takes some time to get used to the flat design but you get accustomed to it after a few tries. One negative is that it doesn't include an extra eye lash pad. But if you're in a lash rut this lash curler will take your lashes from ordinary to extraordinary! Happy shopping! Have you tried this curler? Love it? Hate it?

I heart Billy B. and ever since I met him back in November I became more obsessed with his work and now I'm obsessed with his brushes! He's the type of person many makeup artists aspire to be but the truth of the matter is that there can only be one Billy B. Having been a professional makeup artist for over twenty years, Billy B. was never really happy with the brushes that were available on the market. He realized early on that well designed brushes were essential for beautiful makeup and decided to create his very own collection of professional brushes, billybBeauty "Paintbrush" Collection. He carefully designed each brush specifically for its individual function and paid close attention to the handle, length and weight. For anyone that carries brushes around the weight is important whether you drag around a makeup kit or a purse. The brushes are a range of high quality blends of both natural and synthetic hair.

I heard about his amazing brush collection through the buzz of the beauty world and was dying to get my hands on them. I had expected to receive his eyelash curler and lip brush but was super stoked when low and behold, there laid his Essential Paint Brush Collection (includes 8 brushes) at the bottom of the box! From the little happy dance I did, you would have thought I won the lottery! First up, the brush roll.

billybBEAUTY Brush Roll is probably the smallest brush roll I've ever seen. You'd think this was a travel set but it's not! It's so compact you can fit it in any purse or toiletry bag. The brush roll was specifically designed to fit his 8 essential brushes. It's very chic all in black with nylon lining and is machine washable. The brush roll can be purchased separately ($19 USD) or with the billybBEAUTY Essential Paint Brush Collection ($189 USD) where it is included. Love it!

Beauty trends are just that - trends. Not every trend will suit everyone but you can find ways to make it work for your skin tone and face shape. This Fall makeup trends go from one extreme to the next; uber glam girl, sultry siren, a bit pop-art, to naturally radiant. There's bound to be a trend that will tickle your fancy. Here are some tips to make the fall beauty trends work for you.












3. Graphic Eye Liner: The little black liner comes in every shape and size and even colours this season. Cat eyes are once again popular and making me purrr. Winging out the liner gives the illusion of bigger eyes and looks tres sexy. Now, Cleopatra eyes and neon pink liner winged out would probably not go over well in an office environment. I recommend using charcoal greys, navy's, or deep purples to line the eyes. They are work-appropriate colours and are definitely in keeping with the trends. Instead of winging your liner out to the edge of your brow, wing it out slightly past your eye meeting at or just before your outer crease. Pull your temple taut and slightly up to help accentuate the liner. I like to use an angled brush for precision and control. For an edgier look, line the bottom lash line as well. Play around with different shapes until you're happy with one that suits your eyes. You can compliment lined eyes with a smoky eye or go more classic with natural tones on the eyes making the liner the focus. Adding fake lashes is also fun and amps up the prrr factor. If you're daring enough and love colour, line the eyes in royal blues and bright purples.

Makeup Junkie faves: MAC's Fluidline in Royal Wink and Waveline and MAC's Liquidlast Liner in Point Black, Electrolady, and Inky


4. Fresh Face: For those of you that prefer a minimalistic approach to makeup (or you just don't have time!) then you're in luck for Fall. Eyes, lips, and cheeks are all in natural hues of beige, stone, and peach. Skin has a semi-matte finish and is luminous in all the right places: cheekbones, inner corner of eyes, and above the brow bone. Try foundations that have a bit more coverage but still have a natural finish to the skin. I like silicone-based foundations because it floats on top of the skin rather than settling into fine lines and pores. Mix semi-matte and shimmery shadows together to give the eye some dimension. Colours on the cheeks are more luminous than shimmery and have a subtle sheen. Lips are either matte or creamy rather than shiny. Brows are also shaped and filled in. This look is polished and looks beautiful on anyone.

*When choosing a nude lip colour for darker skin tones stay away from shades that look chalky on your lips. Go for warmer or deeper browns or shades of caramel tones.

Makeup Junkie faves: Face Atelier Foundation, Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation, Giorgio Armani Matte Silk Foundation, Cargo Eye Shadow Palette - Ibiza, Nars' Duo Eye Shadow in Key Largo, Smashbox Decadence Blush in Ecstasy, Nars' Multiple Stick in Copacabana (highlighting), Smashbox Decadence Photo Finish Lip Luxe, Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pixel


5. Glam Girl: Glam girls like to go all out. Everything from head-to-toe is polished to perfection almost effortlessly. Skin is flawless and has a velvety matte texture. Brows are strong and defined. Lashes are flirty and lush. Cheekbones are contoured. A swish of black liquid liner is all that's needed to draw attention to the eyes with a bit of contouring in the crease. Lips are defined in a matte rich shade of red. Adding false lashes to this look is a must. Visit Step #7 of my Makeup 101: Creating the Perfect Smoky Eye for how to apply false lashes. The key to this look is well-defined lips. Using a lip liner is a must for this look to prevent feathering and bleeding of your lipstick. Choose a liner that is similar to your lipstick colour. Apply a primer to the lips to fill in fine lines and to give your colour a long-lasting effect. Line the lips starting at the bow of your top lip which is the 'v' shape. Start on one side working the line to the outer part using short strokes. Repeat the step on the other side. Lining your lips inner to outer instead of outer to inner gives a more accurate shape. Next line the bottom lip and fill in the entire lip with the liner. Hold the liner on a slant instead of a point for more control. Use a lip brush to apply your lip colour for precise application and to ensure your colour is well-blended. If you make a mistake, dip your concealer brush or pointed Q-tip into a bit of concealer or foundation and blend over top any messy edges. This is a timeless look that is gorgeous on every woman. There's a red lipstick for every skin tone - try every one until you find the perfect match! Remember to reference what works with your skin's undertone.

Makeup Junkie faves: Quo lashes (found at Shoppers Drug Mart), MAC Lipstick in Diva and Viva Glam, MAC's Lip Pencil in Burgundy and Cremestick Liner in Red Enriched, MAC's #318 Retractable Lip Brush

The fun thing about makeup is that you don't have to be stuck with one look so change it up this season. A lot of the clothes this season are in lovely shades of grey so play up your face with a smoky eye or a bright lip. Remember that you wear the makeup - don't let the makeup wear you! ;)