4:28 PM 1
Hi Bellas,

Thanks for participating in my recent giveaway.  I used random.org to help me find a winner.  The winner of the Jan Marini Age Intervention Prime Face Primer is:

Bibliophiliac

Congrats!  You have until Monday at midnight eastern standard time to email me your name and mailing address to makeupbyren@yahoo.com and I'll have the company send you your prize.  After that, the prize will go to someone else.

If you didn't win, don't worry because I'm planning for new weekly giveaways starting next week.  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Atlanta Makeup Artist

10:03 AM 4
Hi Bellas,

Back with another review.  Today I'll be focusing on hair.  My hair type is straight and super thick.  However it's not the stick straight kind that looks nice on it's own.  And it's not like some of my friends with beautiful wavy hair who can just wash and go.  If I let my hair air dry completely and that's it, i'm left with a big stack of straw on my head.  The layers are not defined and it just looks messy.

As a result, I like to blow out my hair using a round bristle brush and a blow dryer.  The key is to wait till your hair is almost dry and use a heat protectant before doing this.  That way, your hair doesn't sustain as much damage.

I currently use a Chi round ceramic brush to blow out my hair, but recently http://www.brushlove.com/ sent me one of their new Pure Ceramic brushes to try out.



Website description:  Ceramic-infused thermal barrel hair brush with heat resistant nylon bristles.

 At first glances, the brush seemed sturdy and of high quality.  I like how it comes with a pointed handle. This helps to part and section the hair.  When you wrap the bristles around your hair, the blowdryer heats the core which helps to curl the hair. 


To read more, click here
,

12:10 PM 36
Hi Bellas,

Today i'll be reviewing the newest product from my favorite skincare line, Jan Marini.  I was excited to test out the Age Intervention Prime Face Primer.  I'm already a fan of the Age Intervention products.  I use the eye cream and moisturizer daily and have become addicted to the face mask - it really does work!  When I heard that they were doing a primer I was super excited.  The idea of combining amazing skincare with makeup is a phenomenal idea.


What the Product Claims (from http://www.janmarini.com/):
The website claims that this product will give you an Immediate "Airbrushed" Effect Plus Skin Rejuvenation Benefits.  The product contains new agents that target elasticity, skin volume, inflammation and wrinkling.

Age Intervention Prime instantly perfects the skin and provides a radiant plumped and refined surface. Prime can be worn with foundation for an incredibly smooth and flawless long-wearing finish. Even without foundation, skin looks polished and beautifully reflective while pores and imperfections are minimized.

Age Intervention Prime also delivers a potent combination of anti-aging and anti-inflammatory technologies that dramatically lessen the appearance of many aging skin flaws. Skin looks and feels younger from the first application and results are progressively more noticeable with continued use.
***Picture credit from Jan Marini Website

To read more and find out how to win your own Jan Marini Age Intervention Prime Face Primer, click here!

10:51 AM 12
Hi Bellas,

It's great to be back!  Thanks for sticking with me on my blog while I was away for about a week on vacation.  The cruise was great!  My BF and I definitely plan on doing it again.  We did a lot of fun stuff...snorkeling, lying on the beach, taking a crazy scooter ride across the island, dancing it up at Senor Frog's...it was a blast!  Unfortunately, on the last leg of the cruise I caught the flu!  Now, it's not a big surprise that I got sick, but I was sick for real on the last part.  I had a fever, body aches, sore throat, the works.  Luckily, I had some time over the weekend to stay in and recover.

Meanwhile, laptop update.  The BF has managed to get my laptop up and running again.  It's able to log-on but the internet won't work still because of the virus.  Keep your fingers crossed, but I hope to have it up and working enough for me to have a video up this week and hopefully I'll be able to recover some pictures of reviews that I've been holding off on.

Meanwhile, stay tuned for tomorrow's post.  I plan on reviewing Jan Marini's new face primer and giving one away as well!

Ciao Bellas!

Atlanta Makeup Artist

10:30 AM 12
Hi Bellas,

Thanks for getting through the week with me.  It's been hard to post without my laptop and the videos, pictures saved on it, as well as the video editing and photo editing capabilities.  Thank goodness I can blog from work.  Last night the boyfriend continued to run his scans on my laptop's harddrive...we're getting there!

Today is my last day of work and I'm off all next week!  Maybe of you have been hearing me excitedly tweet about going on a cruise need week with the BF to celebrate our anniversary.  I've been on a couple of cruises before, but never with the BF.  I'm really excited but usually I travel with the girls and this is my first trip out of the US with him, finally! 

Click here to read more!
,

12:10 PM 17
Hi Bellas,

Happy Thursday!  One day closer to the end of the week and then I'm off all next week on my cruise :)

Laptop Update:  Still being worked on...the BF has all the parts he needed to transfer the harddrive to a desktop PC so that he can scan for the viruses.  Thanks again for your patience!

In addition to yesterday's post, today i'll be offering specific advice for aspiring artists.  Again, I get a lot of questions from my readers on what tips and tricks I can offer.  The bullet points below answer most of the questions.  Please pay specific attention to the last bullet point as well :)
  • Practice practice practice. This is the only way to learn. First, you have to master doing makeup on yourself…you’re a walking advertisement of your services. Try to venture outside of your comfort zone and do new techniques you’re not used to doing. Next, practice on your friends and family. Everyone wants a free makeover! Try working on models of various ages and ethnicities…believe me, it’s a lot different from doing makeup on yourself.  This is where you learn what works and what doesn't.  Pay special attention to speeding up your application time as well as your verbal rapport with clients.
  • Do your research: There is so much to learn about makeup and beauty in general.  From color theory to skincare, it's more than just slapping some makeup on people.  Knowledge is key.  Take a trip to your library or book store and check out the amazing beauty books out there.  This is where you can learn the basics.  I for one love the Kevyn Aucoin Books - he shows you step by step picture instructions on his celebrity makeovers, and just plain inspires you with his artistic genius. Also utilize the web: some of the most helpful videos are off of YouTube.  If you're truly trying to learn the technique of applying makeup on others, I highly suggest EnKore Makeup and Goss Makeup Artist - a quick youtube search will yield several of their videos. Don't forget about blogs too!
  • Sign Up For Classes:  Class instruction is something that both new and experienced artists should partake in.  Check out schools in your local areas.  Even MAC and some other large department store brands offer classes if you inquire about them.  After a bit of internet research, I was able to locate an airbrush teacher in my area to teach me all about airbrush makeup.  I continue to seek out classes to hone my skills and learn new techniques.
  • Assist other Artists:  This is a great way to learn.  We all have something special to offer as artists and you can pick up so many tips and tricks through assisting.  Contact artists in your area...some of them other lessons for a fee, and some will allow you to assist them on gigs.  Hands on experience is truly invaluable.  If you're in the Atlanta area, please feel free to email me for assisting opportunities or makeup lessons.
  • Build a kit:  Building a kit is very expensive and definitely takes time. To get the most bang for your buck, try buying in palettes. It’s so easy now-a-days to buy makeup artist friendly items via the web. Also, try buying from brands like Mehron, Ben Nye, and Kryolan. These are theatrical makeup companies that offer high quality, pigmented products at a third of the price of department store brands. As a makeup artist you'll need at least two sets of brushes especially if you work with multiple clients. For specific kit recommendations, check out my makeup kit blog posts. 
  • Get business cards:  Give some to your friends and family so they can hand them out for you.  These are also great for helping getting pro discounts.  Every time you have a client, give them a few to hand out to people they know.
  • Build a portfolio: Start taking pictures of every makeover you do…whether it’s your friend or an actual client. I love taking before and after pictures because this is what my everyday client wants to see. For a professional portfolio that you’d show to an agency, you don’t typically have before and afters so keep this in mind. Partner with a photographer…a lot of sites like www.modelmayhem.com are great places to do TFP work. Do the makeup on models and you’ll get pictures in exchange…this will help to build your portfolio.  Keep in mind that pictures in your portfolio should be clear, have good lighting and show off the makeup.
  • Do a website:  For aspiring artists, a blog is a great way to start out.  It's free and easy to use and you can easily show pictures and contact information.  Use an online photo service like Flickr to start housing your online portfolio.  From there, try transitioning to a professional website.  You'll get a lot of new business from web hits.
  • Apply for discounts:  This will help build your kit. Every major cosmetics company offers one.  The information is usually listed on their website under "pro discount".  For information on specific discounts, do a search at http://www.specktra.net./
  • Advertise  Sites like Cragislist are free and you can advertise your services. Try working with other people in the industry like photographers, wedding planners and see if they can advertise your services on their web pages. Leave your business cards at restaurants and tack them to bulletin boards. Lastly, word of mouth is the best kind of advertisement.
  • Grooming:  Look professional at your gigs.  You are a walking advertisement for your business.  No one wants services by someone with badly done makeup.  I like to wear all black and a black apron to my gigs so that the know that i'm the makeup artist.   Don’t smack gum with clients…mints are better.  Make sure your kit also looks clean and is sanitized as well.
  • Pricing: Check with artists in your area...prices vary depending on where you live.  As a new artist, don't charge too much or too little.  It's definitely important to price also according to your experience level.  Don't be afraid to charge extra for special services like lashes, brow work, and airbrushing.  Over time, as my experience and kit grew, my prices also slightly increased.
  • Product Sponsorships:  I get a lot of questions about how to receive free products from cosmetics companies.  Honestly, if you have a popular blog that offers professional reviews, companies should start coming to you.  You can leave contact information on your blog or website for companies looking for you to review products.  It's up to you whether or not you want to review or accept their product.  I'm honest with companies and if they offer a product that I don't like, I don't review it and don't use it in on myself or in my kit.  When you get to the professional level, many artists are offered free products in exchange for naming the products in their published works and campaigns. 
  • Taxes: The goal of most aspiring makeup artists is to eventually own, manage, and expand their own business. That could mean operating a simple website, or opening up a brick-and-mortar store. While those two things can help you prosper, it is important to understand that owning a business brings with it a whole new set of implications. One of those implications, taxes, is rather important. A good long-term goal would be to grow large enough to require an accountant. In the short-term though, you can do your own taxes with a little time and effort. In most cases, there are plenty of free tax filing options available that are convenient and easy-to use.
  • Questions:  There's so much to learn about the business and we all have questions.  My suggestion?  Google it...a lot of times people ask me for advice on basic questions which are easily answered by a quick google search to find that many other blogs or sites have posts on it.  As an aspiring artist, you really need to get on your grind, read your blogs daily and research to obtain your own knowledge.  It's more fulfilling and beneficial this way because you learn a lot more in the process.  I'm always open and willing to answer my readers' questions, but I would definitely suggest trying to find your own answer first...be your own teacher.
These are my top tips for aspiring artists.  I tried to think of every topic I could but again, you always have the last bullet point :)

Atlanta Makeup Artist
,

2:11 PM 22
Hi Bellas,

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's post on How I Became a Beauty Blogger.  It's important to read that first, so you can get some background on today's post.  The question I get asked every week is "How Did You Become a Makeup Artist and what advice can you give me for becoming one?".  I often get this question from a lot of viewers and of course i'm happy to answer.  I think it's about time that I finally make a detailed post on it.

It Started With A Blog
As you all know, my passion for makeup turned into a beauty blog.  Having a blog really steps your game up to another level.  You try to challenge yourself to do new makeup looks and techniques.  As a youtube Guru and blogger, I do feel a little bit of responsibility to help others with makeup.  Sometimes, I feel like I do the same kind of look and push myself to do something different and show my viewers new ways of doing things.  I did a lot of research on the web, learning techniques from other beauty bloggers and watching countless youtube videos.  To this day, I try to learn at least something new every day.

Doing Makeup On Others
After doing my blog for several months, I started to feel pretty comfortable doing my own makeup.  My boyfriend told me, "Why don't you start doing this Professionally on other people?"  When he told me that, I was like "What, I'm not ready!".  I can definitely say that doing makeup on yourself is a lot different than doing makeup on others.  However, he had ignited a spark.  Now, my research turned to doing makeup on others.



I find that with the influx of beauty blogs and youtube pages, a lot of people try to go out there and become makeup artists without the proper preparation and practice.  This is hard for the actual artists out there who have the professional products and expertise.  Newbies often undercharge for their services making it hard for pros to get the rate they deserve.  I always tell clients though, you get what you pay for.  If a makeup artist asks you to bring your own foundation for instance...that's a problem.  Makeup Artists should have a complete kit...but i'll get into that later.

Makeup Schools
A lot of people ask me "What Makeup School Did You Go To?"  Well, I didn't...I'm completely self-taught.  I'll admit, the internet has made it so much easier for aspiring makeup artists to learn tips and techniques not possible before. However, that doesn't mean that you can watch a few YouTube videos and run out there.  I spent countless hours on the web, learning topics such as:  applying mascara on others, how to build my kit, how to sanitize makeup, how to work with older skin...etc.  I even had a huge book filled with notes, printouts and pictures which I referred to daily.  My point is that Makeup School is a viable option for many, but not completely necessary.  If you choose the route of learning yourself, you have to put in the same amount of time or more that you would spend learning at a makeup school.

Practice Makes Perfect
Of course research only takes you so far.  You really need to practice.  I asked all my friends and even their moms to be my models.  Actually doing makeup and practicing is where you learn the most.  You make mistakes along the way and learn from it.  When I first started practicing, it could take me over an hour and a half to do a face...practice helped me to ween that time down to 20 minutes if necessary.  Try doing makeup on a variety of ethnicities and ages so you can be a more versatile artist.

Building Your Kit
I also made sure to build my kit along the way.  I'm not going to lie, it's a big investment costings hundreds and thousands of dollars.  Looking back, I probably could have bought more efficiently.  Oftentimes, I'd run to MAC spending hundreds of dollars...completely ignoring other great professional brands.  I highly recommend that beginning artists buy in palettes...it's cheaper and most cost effective in the long-run.  I love sites like http://www.camerareadycosmetics.com/ because they tailor to makeup artists and offer those great pro brands that I love.  A lot of us are makeup junkies and have dozens of eyeshadows and lip glosses.  But as a professional, you really need to start separating your personal stash from your kit.  This is where sanitation practice comes in.



Putting Myself Out There
Once I felt comfortable, I decided to put myself out there.  I advertised online and on craigslist.  Eventually, I got my first gig!  I was so nervous but my motto is "Fake it till you make it".  Keep your composure and if you make a mistake, no need to alert the client, just fix it.  That's the good thing about makeup, it wipes off.  The cool thing about this gig was that the client posted an online review of me on http://www.theknot.com/ which got me a lot of referrals!  It's important to have a positive interaction with your client...after all this is a service industry.  Forming these kind of relationships can get you repeat clients and referrals.

From there, I started booking more and more clients.  Sure I had my ups and downs - sometimes no clients and sometimes I was super busy...but that's the nature of freelancing.  It really helped that I had a blog and YouTube page since my viewers often sought me out and booked me for appointments.  In the meantime, I continued to post videos and entries and still practiced practiced practiced.



Portfolio
At the same time, I knew I had to work on my portfolio.  I always requested that clients send me pictures of their makeup if they were taking professional pictures.  I also made sure to keep my digital camera on hand for before and after pictures.  It's also a great idea to do TFP shoots...doing makeup in exchange for pictures for your portfolio.



I try to learn something new from every gig.  It's been about 2 years since I started freelancing and i've learned so much during that time.  In that time, I've attended makeup seminars...took on airbrushing and built a website.  I've done weddings, fashion shows, makeup lessons, makeup parties, photoshoots.  I've also met and worked with many great photographers, makeup artists and models.  The key is to keep pushing yourself and growing each and every day.

I hope this helps some of you all.  Please feel free to leave any of your own advice in the comments section.  Check out tomorrow's post for my advice for aspiring makeup artists.

Atlanta Makeup artist
,

11:03 AM 48
Hi Bellas,

Again, no new pictures or videos until my laptop is fixed, but today i'll talk about a topic I get asked out a lot?  How Do You Become a Beauty Blogger?  A lot of my viewers ask this question wanting to know how I got started and how to get a successful readership.  I usually answer the question each time, but I think it’d be more helpful to do a post on it.

I always loved makeup. When I was a little girl, I would read through all of the teen magazines like Seventeen, YM, Teen…looking for makeup tips! That’s how I learned the basics.





















Then when I was a teen, I got invited to my first Mary Kay Makeup party from a lady who went to my church. It was there that I learned the outer V eyeshadow technique which changed my life! From there, I stepped up my makeup game…doing makeup on myself and my friends. I’ve always had a knack for it.




 
It wasn’t until about 3 years ago, that I started getting serious. I was googling one day looking for makeup ideas for New Years. I loved makeup…but everytime I went to the counter, especially at MAC, they would end up doing my makeup like a baby doll. They refused to put on eyeliner except a super thin amount always telling me that it would close up my eyes. I knew that I needed more eyeliner than the average person, or else it would disappear as soon as I blinked an eye. It was when I was searching the internet, that I first came across http://www.asianbeautyblog.com/. This was a forum where a lot of girls who looked just like me showed different makeup looks and did all these amazing looks. That’s where I First me a lot of bloggers...Stephie, Vanessa from Nessasary Makeup, Alien Man, Fei…just to name a few. We started to form a community of Asian Bloggers…this is where I really learned how to do makeup.



It wasn’t just my basic outer v technique. I learned about primers, how to make makeup show up, what tools to use…all these great things that you wouldn’t know about. It was the beginning of an addiction! Every night for months, I would be in my bathroom mirror after work, trying to recreate a look I saw. There were many nights where my eyelid skin was raw from removing and reapplying makeup. But the practice really paid off! My makeup techniques were expanding and really transforming. I knew I had some kind of makeup skills and decide to finally step up to the plate. Starting a blog is so simple…sites like www.blogger.com are free and have easy to use templates. I armed myself with a digital camera and started documenting the looks I created.



In the beginning, I think I had all of 2 viewers, lol. However, I stayed consistent…kept on practicing, kept on posting. Over time, the posts began to get easier. I got in the habit of taking pictures of my makeup, writing down what I used. Over time, my posts began to diversify…I started doing product reviews, as my confidence grew even videos.

With my own personal blog, here are some things I learned along the way in order to be successful:
  • Sign up for a blog!  I used http://www.blogger.com/ which is super easy.  Others use http://www.wordpress.com/   
  • Tailor your blog posts to what you think others would want to read…try to pick topics of interest that would apply to a lot of viewers
  • Show your personality...make your posts fun and lively, no one wants to read an encyclopedia, lol
  • Be consistent with posting…your readers begin to form a relationship with your blog and it’s hard to keep that going when you hardly ever post 
  • Make videos…my YouTube videos brought in a lot of blog viewers…just remember to mention your blog on your videos.  Videos also add another dimension to your blog.
  • Sign up for beauty blog networks...this will again get you exposed to a lot of other bloggers and audiences...it will help promote your blog as well.  I'm part of the Total Beauty network which has given me the ability to review products from larger cosmetic companies as well as generate revenue from ad space.
  • Make use of subject tags on blog entries…this will help when people search google for topics…I’ve gained a lot of new viewers that way
  • Stay professional…by maintaining a professional blog, it’s helped my business as a makeup artist grow and has attracted sponsor companies.  Please note, if you have a personal blog, it's fine to be yourself and share your own personal experiences.  However, if you choose to do a specific blog, like a beauty blog, it helps to keep things a bit more professional.  This will help you network and make contacts in the industry.
  • Host give-aways and contests for viewers…it will give your audience incentive to continue reading and keep them actively involved in your blog. Urge them to “follow and subscribe”
  • Partner with other bloggers…this helps get you exposed to many other audiences that you might not reach
  • Read other blogs regularly... leave comments and form relationships with other bloggers.  Reading other blogs also keeps you up to date on current product developments as well as get familiar with how to write and format posts
  • Pick an easy to read blog format that will keep readers wanting to come back…no one wants to read a blog with hard to read text and unflattering color schemes
  • Set up an email address specifically for your blog...it helps so that you can make sure to answer reader questions, get in contact with sponsor companies...and keep life separate from your private emails
  • Proof-read and grammar check...just makes your blog easier to read
  • FTC Disclosures:  make sure to include this on your posts where you review or endorse any products. 
This is the story of how i became a beauty blogger.  Of course, everyone has their own journey and tips and tricks.  I hope you all can benefit from some of my experiences.  Please feel free to leave your own advice in the comments.

 
This was just the beginning for me…want to learn how I became a makeup artist? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post.

Atlanta Makeup Artist

2:10 PM 9
Hi Bellas,

How was your weekend?  I was productive and it went fast.  The BF and I put away the Christmas tree and decorations, and did some last minute shopping for our cruise next week.  I'm excited!  I even convinced my boyfriend to get a pedicure with me so that his feet could be beach ready, woo hoo!

Meanwhile, update on my laptop status.  The boyfriend had to order some parts in the mail so he could fix my computer.  The parts have shipped and should be arriving this week.  I really hope he can get my laptop up this week.  I have a lot of videos and pictures saved on there, ready to post including product reviews and Christmas gifts from my readers.  Thank you for your patience in letting me resolve these technical difficulties. 

Since I don't have access to anymore pictures, I'll be doing random posts this week on topics I can think of, lol.  Today I'll be talking about IMATS 2010.  Have you all heard of this?  It's also known as the International Makeup Artists Trade Show, put on my Make-Up Artist Magazine.  It's pretty much the largest makeup convention in the world with thousands of attendees at each show.  Makeup artists and fans attend this two day conference where they can take classes, listen to speakers, and buy from the largest makeup brands at huge discounts.  These brands include many of the big hitters like MAC, MUFE as well as smaller up and coming brands.  A lot of YouTube gurus and beauty bloggers attend as well, making it a sort of family reunion for this industry.  I've wanted to go for the last two years, but have had wedding or vacation conflicts each year.  This time, i'm determined to go!  I've already started putting money aside each paycheck to cover flight, hotel, meals and of course all the makeup I'm going to buy!


I will be attending the convention in LA on June 26th-27th.  To see details, click here.  I hope to see many of you there!  They also offer the convention in other cities including London, Toronto, Vancouver, and Sydney.  This year, I plan on trying to spend far less on MAC collections.  This will help me save a lot of money, especially for IMATS.  This means less MAC haul videos but I'll still be doing many makeup looks using MAC products.  With the past four collections of MAC, i've been really good and probably spent a total of $50.  I hope this streak continues!  Luckily, a lot of the recent collections have been pretty dupeable and similar to permanent products.

Meanwhile, if you plan on attending IMATS this year, I hope all of you can work with me on spending less and saving more!  I'm also looking forward to a Blogger Pow Wow, my first!  I'm excited, can you tell?  he he.  So that was today's random post, let me know if you guys are planning to attend.  Ciao Bellas!

Atlanta Makeup Artist

11:03 AM 10
Hi Bellas,

Happy Friday!  We actually got snow in Atlanta yesterday and as a result, our offices opened up an hour late today.  Dern, no snow day for us, lol.  However, it was nice to sleep in an hour :)

Today, I'm posting another look I had on reserve.  My laptop is still messed up from the dang virus, and the boyfriend is working on it.  So no new videos till that is fixed :(  I'm going to try and see if I can use the BF's MAC and I-Movie to get some up.

Today's FOTD is a look I wore a few weeks ago.  I was experimenting with my clampless curling iron which explains the super curly hair.  This tool really helps to curl my thick, straight hair and the curls last for days!

For my look, I wanted to do something pretty simple and nice for the winter season.  Basically, this is a neutral eye look with plum lips.  I wore it out to dinner with my girls and it's really easy to do.



Here's What I Used:
Luckily I took a picture this time to remember!



EYES
-Steelo Cosmetics eyeshadow base in medium
-L'Oreal HIP Matte e/s duo - used the brown side
-Maybelline Natural Smokes eyeshadow quad
-Ben Nye Neutralizer crayon in light
-MAC Penultimate liner
-L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara
-MAC criss cross lashes
-Steelo brow pencil in earth brown
-Smashbow brow tech trio

FACE
-MAC Studio Tech foundation in NC43
-MAC Select Sheer pressed powder in NC40
-MAC beauty powder blush in Shy Beauty
-MAC MSF in light flush
-Graftobian e/s in warm cocoa and warm creme as highlight and contour

LIPS
-MAC lip pencil in plum
-Steelo cosmetics lipgloss in Ego

I hope you guys have an amazing weekend, stay warm!

Atlanta Makeup Artist

9:25 AM
Hi Bellas,

I wanted to spotlight another one of my viewers' looks.  It seems as though my MAC Mermaid Barbie Look was a very popular inspiration for my readers since I've had a couple of recreations so far.

Check out MochaMakeupLover.Blogspot.com and her take on the look.  She did a great job with the colors and they definitely look great on her skin.








If you recreate any of my looks, please send me and email with pictures to makeupbyren@yahoo.com and I'll make sure to feature you in a post.

Till next time, Ciao Bellas!

Atlanta Makeup Artist
, ,

9:48 AM 4
Hi Bellas,

I wanted to share with you some pics of a shoot I did a few months ago.  Have you ever heard of Body Magic?  It's a recent phenomenon that's hit the country.  From what I gathered, it's a girdle type suit for the body that realigns your organs, and helps you lose weight.  Their tagline is "Drop 3 Sizes in 10 Minutes".  Mind you, I'm not a spokesperson for the brand, and have never tried the product; I just did the makeup for the shoot.

I made over two women and they took before and after shots with and without the Body Magic.  Not only were they personal users of the product, but they also were Team Captains and sellers.  These pictures will be used on their website for promotional use.  To go with their new bodies, they also wanted makeovers.  The client below wanted to look fierce with a smokey eye.  She also told me that she's never been able to get a proper foundation match...trips to department store counters like MAC always make her too red.  As a makeup artist, this is where you can step in and show why you're the expert.  Most times, I find myself mixing colors to find the perfect shade.  That's why Foundation Palettes come in handy.

 Funnily enough, my client told me she never wore makeup, but in the end she wanted more makeup!  I wish I took a before shot, the transformation was huge!  As a makeup artist you have to read the body language of your clients.  Try and use your expertise in creating a look that they like as well as one that you know will suit them.

Some shots I took before the shoot.


Action shot.


Update:  My laptop still has a virus and won't even log on.  I had a lot of material on it for videos and posts.  At this time, I'm relying on posting blog entries which I had saved in Blogger and can upload at work.  Hopefully I can have this issue resolved soon and get new material and videos up.  Thanks for your patience!

FTC Disclosure:  I am not a spokesperson for Body Magic and was not paid to promote the brand. 

Atlanta Makeup Artist

11:22 AM 5
Hi Bellas,

I wanted to share with you another client from my most recent Makeup Bar I participated in.  Tonya was so easy to make over.  She had gorgeous skin and a great eye shape to work with.  I used Jennifer Hudson as my makeup inspiration and went with her signature smokey silver eye with a touch of brown.

For her look, I used a combination of Yaby and MAC shadows.  Remember, when doing photography makeup, it's okay to go a little heavier than you would with everyday makeup to account for bright lighting.  This is especially true when it comes to blush.

Here are a few shots I took prior to the shoot.



Here are a few of the pro shots.  Credit to MMFotography


Till next time, Ciao Bellas!

Atlanta Makeup Artists

9:42 AM 1
Hi Bellas!

I hope you all had an amazing New Years.  It was great to have a long, relaxing weekend :)  I wanted to give guys some updates on what to expect from my blog and YouTube.

First off, my laptop has a virus and can't even log on.  Until then, no new videos unfortunately.  I'll try to consistently post though and hopefully this issue will be resolved soon.

I have a lot of videos coming up, these include:
  • Sigma Makeup reviews, tutorials, and the return of Sigma Makeup Friday giveaways
  • drugstore makeup review and giveaway
  • Review of new Eve Pearl products
  • L'oreal Matte Eyeshadow Review and Tutorial
Thanks for your patience in sticking with me guys, Ciao bellas!

Atlanta Makeup Artist
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