Days of Summer

 I cannot believe it is almost Labor Day. What a fast summer, if you call it that here in Cleveland. It was VERY wet and cool. One thing that I know is that it was one of my busiest summers yet.  I was not doing makeup on famous people but work for lawyers updating their websites, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and models looking for their big break.  I even took my makeup case on the road to see clients.

     In the last couple months I was able to focus on my makeup agency, Karen Siat & Associates. I am very happy to say we are booking jobs and getting our name out there. Speaking of names mine will be changing; I recently became engaged and so delighted and blessed to start another new chapter in my life once I am married.

   What is next for the fall?  I will be offering lash extensions to clients and doing makeup workshops for up and coming makeup artist to learn how to get in the business.  As we leave one season and head into a new one remember pursue your dreams, follow your heart and never lose faith.

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Model in the making. Eric Mull photo credit.

Roger Mastroianni/ Photo Credit/ US World Reports

Kyrie Irving

 Back in March, I received a call from photographer Tim Mantoani from San Diego. He was coming into town and asked if I could work on a Sunday, which was actually St. Patrick’s Day. I RARELY work Sundays as I feel it is my only “family” day and I'd rather spend it with the kids. Tim told me he could not discuss the job yet, but did tell me I would have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. In the back of my mind, I knew I might have to make an exception to my Sunday rule because only big jobs ask you to sign these agreements. I accepted the work and a week out from the shoot date Tim gave me directions to the studio. Not until I arrived did I find out the client was the Cleveland Cavaliers' point guard Kyrie Irving and he was going to be on the cover of an ES Sports PlayStation 4 game!

 As you can see in the photo, I did not wear my green hat or St. Patrick's Day beads for the shoot but I did arrive on time and got all set up. Kyrie’s uniform was sent over by the CAVS' office and I steamed it to get it ready for the photo shoot. A photo below shows all of the shoes sent over by NIKE for Kyrie to pick from to wear for the cover shot. He actually ended up wearing his team shoes instead. Once Kyrie got his uniform on, he said he didn’t think it looked right. I said to him, "The CAVS' office brought it here personally; however, I steamed it. Maybe that is why it looks different?" He laughed as he adjusted his shorts and said, “Maybe that IS it!"

 Kyrie had still photos taken on a green screen first and then went on camera to talk about his career and what he likes about EA Sports Games. That footage took about an hour to shoot and I was able to sit in for touch ups and hear how he has grown as an athlete. Kyrie is really a great role model for young athletes and I think EA Sports has a slam dunk on this year’s pick for the cover. As for me, I am glad I said I would work. I am not into green beer at all and my kids made plans with friends, so the day was just as exciting and I didn’t have to sit in parade traffic.

NIKE shoes sent over for Kyrie 

Kyrie Irving Tim Mantoani

Karen and Kyrie

Hobby or Career

  I was not  sure if I wanted to write this blog. I am usually upbeat and positive but I needed to clear the air. My job really ISN”T a hobby! I have worked in my career for 26 years; I have two licenses from the state of Ohio and countless hours sitting in workshops and classes to be current in the field of beauty.  You Tube is NOT my Alma Mater. I might sound upset here and your right, I am. Here’s why.

   Say you have a leaky sink or an electrical outlet not working you can do two things.  Either shop at a hardware store for a part that may cost fewer than ten dollars to fix then hope your handy work sticks or pay a professional to come and fix it right. Now if you’re a bride you can go to a store buy and apply makeup for your wedding day yourself and hope it last twelve hours or hire a professional to apply the makeup so it is picture perfect.

   My career is fun but it takes intelligence as well. I know what to do to avoid  a chemical burn or even spot something irregular going on with the client’s scalp or eyes. Can the lady at the cosmetic counter offer that? Probably not that is why you hire a professional. I help out with charity events but I can’t do complimentary  work all the time. When calling a plumber or an electrician I bet they are not asked to negotiate the price, why am I?

   As years go by cost go up.  Products and gas to travel to a client are on the rise as well.  I try to stay affordable to clients and feel today my prices are very fair. Consider buying your makeup for your wedding day, a good foundation and face primer alone are priced at what my fee is to do the whole application. 

   Many professions not just mine are under appreciated and not taken seriously.  I work hard to build up clients and maintain my business. Having no paid holidays or personal days I still love doing it. When it comes to my career I get very fired up when people act like it's just "makeup". There is so much more to it then  the products.Without my skill and knowledge many people would not be complete for their photo or events and photographers may not have a model worth photographing.  So if you thought my job was more like a hobby I hope this blog gave you a new perspective on my career and how passionate I am about it. 

Earth Day Cosmetics

    Today is not only my oldest daughter’s 17^th Birthday, but it is also Earth Day. I was asked to be on our local NBC morning show Live on Lakeside to talk about “green” cosmetics. I know about some of these products because I have allergies but while researching for the show it opened my eyes to so much more. Cosmetic companies are not regulated by the FDA unless it has a color additive added. On the packaging it might state organic, vegan or natural on it. To an average consumer this is confusing. Here is what I learned. To be organic it has to be made by certified organic growers. The crops need to be free of pesticides. Any vegan product means there is no animal testing done or animal byproducts included. For natural products no preservatives are added and only a few ingredients included come from the Earth.

   Here are the products I  featured; Juice Beauty; it is manufactured in a solar power plant and uses recyclable paper and soy ink for packaging. Fruit juices, seeds and essential oils make up their products. 100% Pure; it is vegan and gluten free. California Baby;  products  are all organic, vegan, soy, dairy, oat and gluten free. Burt’s Bees;  more of a natural cosmetic. No preservatives are in it and no animal testing is done. London Butter; is a nail polish free of formaldehyde and other carcinogens. EcoTools;  are makeup brushes that have cruelty free synthetic bristles and recycled aluminum bamboo handles.

   When buying a “green” product it is best to narrow down what is important to you. Some companies such as Aveda, Origins and Paul Mitchell will give back proceeds to charities that help the environment. Some retailers such as the Body Shop will give you a discount if you bring back in your bottles to refill them. At MAC cosmetics they offer a free lipstick for six glass, plastic or metal containers you return to their store. My best advice is to read the package, it will give you insight into what you are buying and if it fits your needs and beliefs. If you have access to the Internet look up the company and see how the product is made and if money is donated to a charity for the environment.  

 

Spring Cleaning

   It is that time of year to “spring” clean our homes, I think it might be time to clean out our makeup bags as well? At Christmas I received a designer purse as a gift, recently I looked at my makeup bag and thought "Wow this is an ugly mess and it doesn't match my new purse at all. So the hunt was on for a new cosmetic bag. Some are tiny, others are too big,  I was feeling a lot like Goldilocks in search of the right fit. I need the bag to not over take my purse, yet hold all the contents that I carry around. Ideally clear in material. Did I find my perfect bag? No! In fact I bought the worst one yet, why? Because I thought a black one with polka dots would look so cute with my new purse. Right now the problem is I can't find my tweezers or my eye brow pencil, it is a black hole, too dark inside to see anything.

  I want to share with you tips on spring cleaning your makeup bag. Throw away makeup that is old. Meaning old shades of lipstick you wore two years ago and stinky old. If it smells pitch it.  Eye creams might be expired check the dates and if you have foundation over two years old end your attachment and just get rid of it. Clean your tweezers with alcohol. Your eyelash curler might need a rub down also. Replacing the pads inside the curler might be a good idea, if it has been around awhile. Clean any makeup brushes in a bowl of baby shampoo or brush cleaner then rinse and dry them flat.

     If you have mascara for three months it is time to get rid of that also. You don't want an eye infection or clumpy makeup due to the formula being thick. Make sure to wipe out the bottom of your makeup bag. Add some band aids inside for summertime blisters and hair ties in case of a humid day. Drug stores sell small SPF tubes that might be a good addition inside as well.

    Unlike my awful pick of a makeup bag, it is wise to invest in a bag that is insulated to protect your makeup.  Don’t keep your makeup in too hot or too cold (now I sound like Goldilocks) elements because it will wreck your makeup. A clear makeup bag is good choice so you can see what you need fast and it pushes you to be neat all the time. I know we are all busy and this might not be a priority, but just think how much better you feel having a clean makeup bag. Plus if you go to an event all dressed up you can pull out your makeup bag and not feel embarrassed on how it looks.  Be the complete package when you go out not just the bow.

Insulated  bag

My cute but awful pick

Clear bag

Nashville

         When you hear "Nashville, Tennessee" two words, country music, come to mind.  Yes in the last year the television show Nashville has taken off as well, so maybe that was your first thought?  Growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio and spending my entire life in North East Ohio, Nashville is the city I dream of living in someday.  My Mom was born in Elizabethton, Tennessee and some of her family still live there.  As kids, we traveled extensively to the South.  I was country before it was cool.  My Uncle Wayne had a small ranch home which sat in front of his barn.  He owned a horse and many other farm animals.  We really got to see the countryside.  My Grandparents moved the family to Ohio in 1957 as it was a state with huge job growth.

                 I now live in the suburbs of Cleveland in the snow belt of Ohio.  The city sits near the lake and we can get clobbered with bad weather.  As an adult, I don’t partake in winter activities and HATE winters since we get five months of it here.  In the last few years, Cleveland is on the comeback but the economy has taken a HUGE hit.  As a makeup artist I could make three times more what I do now in Chicago or NYC, but I don’t want to live there.  WHY?  I want to live in Nashville.  There is more work for me there, it is the hub of country music, and has an energy that can’t be described.  An added bonus is the kind people of Tennessee; it has a family friendly atmosphere, and NO snow!  In the last few years, I have been networking in Nashville to set the stage for my future move.

                

I am a firm believer in sending  positive thoughts out into the universe with the hope they will come true.  My family knows I want to move and my friends keep asking when I am moving.  So why haven’t I?  Timing!  I am not twenty anymore and my life isn’t just about me.  Last year, my partner and I did travel there so I could sell him on the city.  A few years back, I took my kids and they loved it.  This year I will visit again with leisure in mind, but I might schedule a small photo shoot while in town.

                I think the television show Nashville has pushed me to have a greater desire to be part of the country industry. Would I miss Cleveland? Maybe, but I would be following my dream. This dream has been there for many years. In addition, our friends could always come and escape the gloom of Cleveland  winters and visit us.  One thing I have learned in my past is we can set goals and make all the plans we want, but then God laughs and we realize he is still in charge.  For now I will continue to work in the Buckeye state taking my coat and boots along to all of my shoots waiting for the right time to move on.

So cold in March, with singer Erica Lane

Summertime! I am  in a hoodie at the beach...No lie!
Eric Mull photo

Mascara Mania

 On February 12, 2013 I was on Live On Lakeside WKYC/NBC  to talk about mascara. Below are my tips  about the product  and the link to the segment for  the show.

Do:
1. Curl your lashes, make sure they are free of mascara. Use the curler three times on each eye lash. First the root then  shaft and end ten seconds for each motion.
2. Apply mascara at the root, wiggle product as close to lid as you can. Pull product through to the ends.
3. Apply only two coats on the lash,don't let the first coat dry do both coats on the  eye at once.
4. Separate lashes before they dry. 
5. Clean up marks on your eyelids and under the eye if they smear.


Don't:

1. Don't pump your wand in the tube it will cause air and deposit too much color on the wand causing clumps.
2. Don't hang onto your mascara if you had an eye infection, it will harbor bacteria for another infection. 
3. Don't keep your mascara for longer than three months, it starts to dry out and you also risk eye infections. 
4. Don't pull at lashes while removing. Instead use a saturated cotton pad with remover or makeup remover wipes and hold on the lash for ten seconds, then wipe down and out. 
5.Don't  wear waterproof makeup everyday. It is too harsh and will damage your lashes. Water resistant is a great alternative. 


Another great tip is to wear two different colors of mascara, black on the top lashes three quarters out then  brown on the tips. This will give the illusion of thick and long lashes. 
 Also If your lashes are sparse consider a eyelash growth product. 

http://archive.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=283258