Eye Candy

Over the course of my career eye makeup has changed so much, from blue eye shadow to the smoky eye. Usually, trends start at Fashion Week and move into the mainstream. Cream and glitter shadows are worn on celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Christine Aguilera. This type of shadow is pretty but I do suggest if you are being photographed by camera phones for an event that you mix in some matte shadow. This will help bring down the shine of the lids.

  First, before you apply any shadow, use an eye shadow primer first. A liquid foundation can also work on your lids, this will help shadow stay placed and not smear or wear off before you want it to. Many cosmetic companies sell lid primer. I like Laura Geller’s it can be found at ULTA stores or on her website. You really don’t want to use more than three colors on your lids. If you do exceed three, it just looks a mess. If you’re afraid of color choices ask for help at the department store or Sephora. Don’t ask the clerk at Walgreen’s; while they are nice, they generally are not trained for this.

 Cream shadows have a nice pearl look to them. I suggest SMASHBOX Limitless it is 15 hour long wear. I use a lot of this product as a base and also alone. It has build able coverage and you can use matte shadows with it. London Butter has an awesome cream shadow called WINK color English Rose It comes in a tube with an applicator. The colors are beautiful and highly pigmented.

 As far as bold colors, Urban Decay has velvety suede shades. Pictured below is Free Love it is a peach color and in this  spring it will be a must have. M A C also has Pigment it is a highly concentrated loose powder shadow.  The gold I have photographed below has a sparkle high shine metal look. It does not streak or smear. I suggest with all shadows you do your eye makeup first to avoid shadow fallout on your foundation under your eyes.

 Eye shadow can look more intense my patting it on and not using brush strokes. It is best to use brushes not a sponge applicator. I hope these tips help you with your eye shadow choices. While I am at the makeup counter, I see the shadow colors and it reminds me of candy; not that it is sweet of course but how I usually can't pick just one.  

Laura Geller

Smashbox

London Butter

Urban Decay

MAC

A New Year

It is January again and a year since I started to blog.  I have many new ideas for this year and must start bringing them to life.  I have always been a goal setter and once I accomplish one, I begin setting new goals.   I feel this forces me on my toes and keeps things fresh.  Since I started doing makeup, my style of makeup has been “beauty.”  I can do over the top makeup, but what sells in the Cleveland market is CLEAN makeup.

To be honest, there may be something else behind why I do this type of makeup.  When I was in kindergarten, the nun at my school wanted to hold me back because I colored too darkly (true story).  My mother would not have it, so I went on to first grade.  Maybe it stuck in my head, “If you use too dark of colors, you will be a failure.”  So now I have to ask myself, “Should I play it safe or is it time to set a new goal for myself?”

Over the years, I have had calls from New York and LA.  I feel that I may have lost out on a few jobs for the lone reason that I don’t have artistic makeup examples in my portfolio.  It is actually harder to do beauty makeup than heavy makeup.  Anyone can do makeup all over the face and call it artistic.  Not everyone can do beauty makeup on someone to make them look years younger, older or to give the illusion of clearer skin without the help of Photoshop.

My #1 project of 2012 was to make over a pretty girl with lots of color.  I recruited Maddie.  She is a beautiful young lady that I had the pleasure to meet last year.  Her photos have been on my website before, so I asked her back to bring to life my idea.  Maddie and her family made a three hour drive each way to participate.  I was so grateful because, with the help of Eric Mull, we nailed it.  She was perfect!  I was able to not only do her makeup pictured below but her hair adding in the feathers, which is so popular now.

I know one look might not magically change whether I get a job or not, but it shows the less imaginative person that I can apply makeup with a heavy hand.  It also proves I can make attractive people look as if the were touched by a MAC makeup brush. (If you have been to a MAC cosmetic counter you now exactly of which I speak,)

This year it is all about what I CAN do… even better.  It’s time I mark the map here in Cleveland.  My goal is set.  Is yours?

Karen Siat/ Eric Mull

Karen Siat/ Eric Mull