Showing posts with label MAC Cosmetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MAC Cosmetics. Show all posts

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

flesh-toned

flesh-toned

I've been loving this trend for quite a while now. I bought a special edition Sephora nail color in "Going Nude Eh" after Christmas. This colour was part of a collection designed by the amazing runway Nail artist Sophy Robson (http://sosoflynails.tumblr.com/).

I used the colour on a couple of photo shoots and I loved how easy it was to apply and how it made the models hands look clean and chic. I recently put it on my toes and loved it so much for a nice, neutral look when you are wearing sandals and open-toed shoes for the Summer.

I had a tough time finding it at the time, but now there are tons of flesh-toned polishes out there (check out the links below for some of them). I'm also really loving a nude-coloured/beigey nail with a dark, pastel or neon French tip.

Here is another idea which is a neon pink heart on a flesh-toned nail...

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Tuesday, 17 July 2012

easy-breezy

easy breezy

































So here is yet another extremely simple look I thought was good for the Summer, or really anytime!

1. Moisturize skin/apply SPF and then dab your fave concealer where needed. I like MAC Pro Longwear in the Summer since it stays put longer in the heat and humidity.
2. Apply some longwear concealer or primer as a base on the eyes and apply a golden brown shade of eyeshadow, like the second in on the right (golden brown) from this Tarte set. Swipe a little under the eyes too.
3. Curl lashes really well! I just had a lash perm done and it's been great! Then apply thin, long coats of mascara to get extra length without too much volume. You can wipe your mascara to take of the excess product to help with this effect.
4. Smile and dab a hot pink cream blush, like this Make Up Forever HD one. Apply to the apples of the cheeks and slightly up the cheekbones (I tell my students to imagine a tear drop/egg shape). Dab a little bit onto your lips.
5. My brows are sparse in some areas, so I lightly filled them in with a MAC Brow pencil.

That's it... done! This is a very natural look, which is great for days when you are in a rush or it's so hot that you don't want to be layered in makeup.

This is what it looked like on moi:


Here are links to the products used (I used Clinique Mascara though, I actually really dislike the one from Tarte that comes in the set shown :s):
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Thursday, 14 June 2012

MAC S/S '12

MAC Summer '12

I recently obtained a little "haul" of new MAC products that are out right now, most for a limited time. I love taking advantage of the newest products from MAC since I love that they are always coming out with new and exciting collections.

I didn't realize it at the time, but what I got went together for such a quick and easy look! I love that! Here is how I used them and a little review of each product:

1.  I started out with the new Mineralize Concealer, which I must say I love! The texture is quite silky, making it easy to blend. I put a few swipes on my face and blended into the moisturizer I had on (MAC Comfort Creme), then patted a little more under my eyes and over any redness.

2. Next I used this new "Shade & Smoke Shadow Liner" and OMG... this thing rocks! It's so handy. I used the white lightly under my brows and in my inner corners of my eyes. Then I wrapped the black in a smokey line around my lashline and blended out the edges. I know Covergirl does something similar as well (which I haven't tried).

After that, I curled my lashes and tried the new MAC "Extended Play Mascara". If you were a Maybelline "Lash Discovery" fan, you will probably like this one. The brush is nice and thin, making it easy to reach all of your lashes... especially great on small eyes like mine.

3. Next I threw on a little bit of this new "Hey Sailor Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder" in the colour "Nude on Board" just to give my face a little dimension. I love this honey tone of this bronzer on a pale girl like myself, and it's supposed to stay on longer which will be great on hot days.

4. Onto another product I am lovinggggg... these little pots called "Casual Colour". I've loved Bobbi Brown's "Pot Rouge" for awhile now, so I was glad that MAC came out with something similar. Basically it's a creamy colour that can be used on lips and cheeks. I love multi-purpose and easy to apply products, so these are brilliant. They give the cheeks a dewy look without shimmer which is great on young to mature skin. I used "Relaxation", but I also got "Lazy Sunday" and "Keep it Casual".

5. "To the Beach Bronze Body Oil" is very similar to NARS "Body Glow". Also from their summer collection "Hey Sailor", this is great for that summery glow on face and body. I rubbed a little into my shoulders, arms, legs and tapped just what was left on the tops of my cheekbones.

So that was it! I had this look done in 10 minutes and was good to go. There are lots of similar products you can use instead, but just thought I'd tell you about the ones I was impressed by. Now just waiting for the Vancouver sunshine to join us to I can get into the Summertime spirit!

Mac cosmetic
$20 - maccosmetics.com

Mac cosmetic
$15 - maccosmetics.com

Mac cosmetic
$22 - maccosmetics.com

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Saturday, 26 May 2012

colour-mix

colour mix

The other day, while teaching my makeup class, I was flipping through the Master Kevyn Aucoin's "Making Faces" book. I can honestly say that this book inspired me to become a Makeup Artist. I was rather lost, working an office job while I was deciding what to do with my career. One day I went to the library and took out this book. I loved it so much that I went and bought it, as well as "Face Forward." I would sit in front of my mirror and try to recreate his looks and it dawned on me that I should take a makeup course. The rest is history, so I am very thankful for finding his book that day.

I am currently drawn to this look he did on Kate Moss. I love the myriad of colours he has delicately mixed around her eyes for such a pretty and fresh look.


Here is how I might achieve a look like this:
1. Start with a sheer foundation. I recently tried Nars new tinted moisturizer and it is glorious!!! If you are on a tight budget, maybe go for Covergirl Natureluxe.
2. Apply a golden base all over eyes, such as this golden primer by Urban Decay or MAC Base Light paint around the entire eye (up to brow bone and under eyes as well).
3. Very sparingly apply green shadow to top inner corners, outer corner and lower lash line.
4. Apply a small amount of shimmery teal shadow to bottom, outer lash line and blend.
5. Curl lashes well and apply lots of your favourite mascara.
6. Sweep a pretty pink blush, such as this one by Bobbi Brown, along temples and cheekbones.
7. Apply any brownish-pink lipstick, like this one from MAC, and top with a coat of any matching or clear gloss.

Use this same technique to mix other colours on your eyes as well!
Posted by at 11:46 0 comments
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Saturday, 24 March 2012

pastel/neon hair


Last year, I was noticing some people wearing colourful, pastel streaks in their hair in fashion shows and street style photos. I tried to mimic the trend for an editorial shoot, by using blue, pink and purple Halloween hair sprays very lightly (to get a pastel look) on different sections of the models hair. Here is how it turned out (XO Spring/Summer '11 issue, Photographer Kelly Jill, Stylist Coreen Miller, Model Andrea Milner):


Later in the year, I found a video of Kevin Murphy demonstrating how he used pigments rubbed into the hair as is done in India. So I tried this technique on an Indian-inspired shoot a few months ago, using bags of coloured pigment I found in an East Indian shop on the ends of the models hair. (Magpie Darling Magazine, Photographer Matthew Burditt, Stylist Yvadney Davis, Model Tori Quales)

Recently, I was on another shoot, where hairstylist Ala Friesen used Kevin Murphy's colour bug for one of the looks and it works amazingly, without all of the mess. One side is plastic, which you hold on to, and the other side is like a cross between chalk and pressed pigments. It glides on and looks fantastic! (Aroha Silhouettes Campaign, Photographer Kale JF, Model Shereen Alex).

So these are just some of the ways you can easily and inexpensively try this trend with the option of washing it out. I have ombre hair where my ends are bleached out, so I've been finding it quite fun to rub pigment (such as MAC Neon pink) or use my Halloween hair spray to colour it. I've also heard that coloured chalk works like a charm, or you can always use clip-in inserts/coloured hair extensions...


If you are wanting something semi-permanent, you can try the line of fun colours from Manic Panic (which are sold at places like the Rock Shop on Granville or Hot Topic in the US). For permanent colour, go to a pro. In Vancouver, I highly recommend Award-Winning hairstylist Ala Friesen (at Space Salon) who I had the pleasure of working with for Aroha Silhouettes. She actually had the most amazing pink hair herself! 

If you would like to give any of these options a try, here's some inspiration to get you going:

 

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