Hello, Hello, Hello! December’s Boxy Luxe is here and I’m loving it! This month is a lovely combination of items and I can’t wait to try them out. For those of you who are still waiting for your Luxe mine weighed 2.3lbs with dimensions of 11x10x4 in. Did you get yours? Drop a comment and let me know what goodies you got!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
Instagram is killing it with brows right now. I don’t know about you but I can’t carry that bold of a brow now that I’m over forty. Here are some tips on a natural brow for anyone, 40 or younger (or older)
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
Eye liner always seems to be a challenge. Even more so if you’re like me and have a droopy lid brought on by genetics and now, age. During my long career I’ve run into countless eye shapes and decided I’d give a few pointers to those out there struggling with a droopy crease like mine. I hope this video helps you in finding the perfect wing for your fabulous eyes!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
Hey everyone, I’d like to introduce you to one of my all time favorite palettes. As you know I love Morphe Cosmetics, they make some of the most cost-effective and high quality shadow palettes on the market. They pump out winners all the time and one of those winning palettes has got to be their 35C Everyday Chic Palette. Not only is it the quality I’ve come to expect from Morphe, it is a full face palette. What I mean by full face is you can literally do a full eye with this single palette. Most palettes will lack a color or two needed to do a full eye look, requiring the use of two or more palettes. Not so with the Everyday Chic Palette. This beauty has everything color you’ll need all in one place to create dazzling shadow looks in a variety of shades.
If you’re looking to add to your collection, I’d suggest adding this palette.
Until next time!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
Hey everyone, I just LOVE a half half shadow look. It gives a fun smoky affect while bringing some light and brightness to the eye. It helps add size and dimension, can be done soft and natural or with dark and dramatic colors.
Definitely one of my main go to patterns for almost any eye shape, from small to large, this is one of the best patterns there is.
And now here are the step by step how to, just for you!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
In this month’s Boxy Luxe I received a lovely little palette from Hipdot. I immediately fell in love with these colors. Not only were they all the colors I LOVE, they are very pigments and the transfer stays very true to color. Check out my review and a fun demo using this handy little palette.
Until next time!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
Blush can make you look like an 80’s throwback or bring your entire look to life. It’s all about choosing that right undertone and making sure your placement complements your features. This weeks video lesson focuses on finding the right undertone for your skin and locating that perfect placement.
Bring some life back into your face, bring on the blush!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
It’s HUMP Day! And if you’re like me you could use a little SPARKLE to brighten up your week. Here’s a fun and smoky look to give you some inspiration for this weekend!
Enjoy!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
This wasn’t how we expected 2020 to go. I’m sure I’m not alone in that sentiment. For many of you 2020 has been a year of hardships, the loss of jobs, a struggle with finances and for many, the loss of loved ones. As we enter another long month, the future still unknown, many of us have a hard time looking past all the negative changes that have plagued our lives. It’s hard to see anything but the negative, the uncertainty and fear in a world struggling with conflict and more a political and societal unrest that is terrifying to all of us. We don’t know what the future holds, so it’s hard to see the bright side. It’s hard to see the beauty.
I struggle every day to look for the good, the positive. In a normal year I would be firmly entrenched in my bridal season, experiencing the brightest, most exciting day in countless lives of woman as they enter a new chapter with the person who makes them feel complete. This year has a very different perspective. Most of my brides have been forced to reschedule to 2021, while a small handful have met the challenges thrown at them by 2020 and our current pandemic and embraced the idea of mini-monies (miniature ceremonies).
The first mini-mony I participated in was a very surreal experience. I still wasn’t used to working in masks and gloves, and it was strange to be around people wearing masks like I was while I worked. No hand shaking, no happy hugs at the end. But what I learned from Kimberly, was that even during these hard times you can find ways to celebrate. She and her love turned their home into their venue with only her parents and his in attendance, all in full masks. Her wedding dress couldn’t be finished in time because the dress shop was closed, but instead of losing her joy, she chose another dress that she loved. She was full of energy and joy and excited to be joining her life to the man of her dreams. What Kimberly taught me that day was that you can find light even in the darkest of times.
This past Saturday I saw how a creative and flexible bride can have the full bridal experience even while in quarantine. While I worked on her hair and makeup, again in full mask, gloves and outside in fresh air, her bridal party joined her via Zoom. All six women were there on her computer screen, watching the process, sharing in the moment – while wearing their special bridesmaid robes and sipping champagne – so that she wasn’t alone on a day when having your tribe around you means so much. She was able to have the full bride experience, even though they were miles apart. Her wedding ceremony had zero physical attendants and yet was watched by all her friends and family during a live stream.
So, even though 2020 has not gone as planned, there are so many ways to be creative, so many ways to have an experience you will never forget. So many ways to connect with your loved ones and in the end still be able to say ‘I do’.
So, to all the brides who are embracing mini-monies…Thanks for finding the color and joy while the world is so gray. And for the rest of my brides, I’ll be seeing you in 2021!
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
Video Tutorial CLICK HERE
Brands I recommend: The LA Girl Liquid Correctors Yellow & Green. They make an Orange but I personally feel this is too dark and creates more work than necessary to get a good color for your correction. The best orange in my opinion is the MAC Pure Orange. This is the best orange with a really nice bright tone that blends beautifully. I also love MAC Cosmetics Ochre which is an excellent yellow corrector.
Brushes to Use: I prefer using a small concealer brush for under eye correction & small blemish correction. My favorite is the Ben Nye DB-12. For larger area correction I like a larger concealer brush, such as the Ben Nye FCB-18.
When I was in training my mentor didn’t believe in color correctors, she felt they were a waste of time, money and product. Because of this, it was a belief I carried with me long into my solo career. However my eyes were opened and I don’t know how I went this long without it. The way it works is pretty simple. Using basic color theory, these colored correctors cancel out colors on the opposite side of the color scale. So basically, orange colors cancel out the blues and purples of dark eye circles. This little trick, takes only a few extra seconds to do, and blending a soft orange over dark circles will save your face and your clients. So, now, I am a strong believer and cannot live without this lovely little orange corrector.
I used to think that color correctors, you know the ones that come in lovely shades of orange, purple, green, etc, were a complete waste of money and time. I have since changed my tune. While I personally don’t find much use for the ones in purple, I am a very strong believer in the green and orange color correctors. It is now a staple of my Pro Kit.
There is something I really have to say about color correctors: Most skin colors can’t handle straight orange or green corrector without darkening the client’s skin or being too intense of a color. Seriously, correcting dark circles with a dark orange just makes more work for you. And smearing green all over your face and then putting your foundation over it is going to make you look like the Bride of Frankenstein on camera. So just DON’T DO IT. Ok, so the most efficient way to get the perfect coverage for your blemishes is to mix your orange or green corrector with a concealer that is 1 shade lighter than your skin color. Once you achieve the right shade of correction color apply to the blemishes, then blend out lightly before applying your foundation.
MUST KNOW: Color Correctors are NOT Concealers. Don’t expect the blemish to be 100% gone with the color corrector. Color Corrector removes undertone NOT blemish. You remove the undertone with the corrector, then use foundation and concealer to fully remove the blemish. Those steps will remove all blemishes and leave you with a light weight, natural foundation.
PURPLE: Ok, so we know there is a purple color corrector, but in the 16 years that I’ve been doing makeup I’ve never found a use for the purple. Purple Color Corrector is to counter Yellow blemishes. I’ve never had a client so yellow they needed a violet corrector. But, if you find that Purple works for you, use it. And drop me a comment and tell me how it’s worked for you.
Blemishes:
There are many places you might need to use corrector. Some areas you might find you need an orange corrector would be under your eyes or on your lids. This corrector is for BLUE toned blemishes. Use orange under your eyes for these blemishes.
For purple toned undereye circles or lids use yellow corrector. Yellow also works for women of color who might have darker blemishes on their forehead, upper lips, darker rings around the neck, darker lines leading from the edges of the mouth or darker frown lines. Yellow helps counter the graying undertone and brightens the skin.
For pimples, redness in the nose, cheeks, chin, or even sun damage in the chest, use a Green color corrector.
Remember while doing correction if you turn Red/Flush in your chest, neck or face when you drink alcohol, exerting yourself or embarrassed. If you do make sure to color correct in those areas to prevent them turning red in photos later.
Areas that you may need to use blemish control:
Darker ring around the neck – this can be found more commonly in women of color. Yellow correctors work best to brighten and counter the blemish
Darker lines coming from the outer edges of the mouth – this can be found more commonly in women of color. Yellow correctors work best to brighten and counter the blemish
Darker pigment on forehead – this can be found more commonly in women of color. Yellow correctors work best to brighten and counter the blemish
Freckles – Yellow correctors work best to brighten and counter the blemish. NOTE: Freckles are not blemishes to everyone. Some clients love their freckles, some do not. Be sure to ask them.
Dark circles under eyes – orange corrector for blue toned circles, yellow for purple toned blemishes
Pimples – green to counter the red pigmentation
Rosacea – green to counter the red pigmentation
Bright pigmented cheeks, chin – green to counter the red pigmentation
Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School
