Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

THE SECRET TO DRAWING A RETRO BOLD BROW

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Post + Photography by Amy Nadine, Graphic Design by Eunice Chun

This is a simple but powerful trick that even I didn’t learn until 8 years into my makeup career! I’ve shown you how to wet the brush for a more intense eye shadow in our Wet Shadow Video Tutorial, but now I’m suggesting if you want a really strong drawn-on retro brow with sharp edges, try dampening your brow brush before dipping it into the shadow. Here’s how:  (more…)

BACK TO THE BASICS: HOW TO APPLY FOUNDATION

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post + photography by amy nadine, graphic design by eunice chun

Today we’re going back to the basics and we’re starting with foundation application! We’ve already learned not to go against the grain in our Foundation Direction tutorial and now we’re taking it a step further. When you apply your foundation, always start in the middle of your face and work outwards. This way, the concentration of product is in the center (where we need it the most) and thinnest along your hairline. Here’s how:

TOOLS:

  • Your Favorite Foundation — I used Cle de Peau Cream Foundation on our model Mahala because it gives full coverage but NEVER  looks like you’re wearing makeup. It’s an investment but if you’re into combining top skincare and makeup, you’re going to die for this foundation.
  • A Foundation Brush — by now you know how I feel about this flat-headed Shiseido Foundation Brush! It really presses the makeup into the skin as opposed to swirling it around on top of it. It’s such a game changer.

STEPS:

  1. Squeeze a nickel-sized amount of foundation onto the palm of your hand to slightly warm it up with your body temperature. Dip the brush into the product to load it up.
  2. Start in the center of your nose and imagine it’s the center of a star. Draw each star point by tracing the brush in a line from the center to your forehead, then back again from the center to your left cheek, then from the center to your jaw, then from the center to your chin, etc. Once you’ve drawn all of the star points, do not re-load the brush with product but simply use it (or your fingers or a sponge) to blend and distribute what you’ve already applied to include the rest of your face.
  3. Finally, go back and re-load the brush into the remaining foundation in the palm of your hand (there shouldn’t be much left) and apply it all over your neck. It’s important to make sure your face and neck match, but if you’re wearing a collared shirt or a turtleneck sweater, make sure to blot your neck with a tissue after so it doesn’t transfer onto your clothing. (Not cute!)

 

 

OUR FAVORITE BEAUTY SOURCES

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photos/post/design: Kristin Ess

Over the past decades or so it seems like sources for beauty products (both pro and not-so-pro) have multiplied in a way that’s almost overwhelming. It’s hard to tell which spots have the goods and which ones just have a good facade. As professional hair + makeup artists we search high and low, online and offline, for the best products at all price points and we want to share our resources with you guys. Here we go!

(Click the name to be taken to the source!)

1. Favorite Nail Polish Sources:

  • Beauty.com – great range of polish brands in one spot. They always seem to have the ones that are hard to find.
  • American Apparel – plain + simple, they just have great color options.
  • Wilshire Beauty Supply – fave spot in LA for new trend releases when I want to see them in person. (They also have the best nail tools!)
  • Sephora - an obvious leader in the nail trends game.

2. Favorite Makeup Brush Sources:

  • Hakuhodu – some of the finest brushes in the world.
  • Cozette – Vegan! Love!
  • Make Up For Ever – available at Sephora.com, and Make Up For Ever Boutiques.

3. Favorite Bobby Pin Sources:

4. Best High-end, Middle-end + Affordable Products All In One Place:

  • ULTA- from Frederic Fakkai to Wella to Tresemme they have it all. It’s like hair, makeup, skin + nail heaven. They also stock a large range of Hot Tool curling irons which are our favorite. (BTW- We snag codes from Robot Oatmeal to get discounts + free shipping at Ulta!)

5. Best Fragrance Shop On Earth:

6. Pro Beauty Supplies (All great spots for hair + makeup artists specializing in TV/Film, or anyone who just wants to get in on the goods!):

7. Best Department Stores for Makeup: (We love big department stores because they let you try almost anything before you buy!)

  • Bergdorf’s – in-store + online.
  • Henri Bendel’s - in-store + online.
  • Bloomingdales - - in-store + online.
  • Nordstrom - in-store + online.
  • Macy’s – good source for Clairsonics + Brush sets, often on sale! In-store + online.
  • Neiman Marcus - in-store + online. Love their beauty replenishment service! If you run out of something (like foundation or powder) every month or two, you can set a date and they’ll automatically send you a new one!

8. Best Places To Shop Drug Store Brands:

  • Target - There’s nothing better for drugstore beauty, really. Have you guys checked out the new Target City’s that are popping up??? They. Are. Amazing! We also love that Target it expanding it’s natural lines like Burt’s Bees as well as their products for CURLY HAIRED GIRLS, like Mixed Chicks and Miss Jessies! HOORAY!!
  • CVS/Walgreens
  • Walmart
  • Drugstore.com (go to the drugstore without leaving the house.)

9. Best Place To Find Cool New Trends In Beauty:

  • We’re going with Sephora because they usually lock down the cool new stuff first and make it available to all of us, no matter where we live.
  • Also check out all of the Pro Beauty Supplies listed in #6.

10. Best Place For Hair Chalks:

11. Best Place To Find Hot Tools:

12. Nail Art Wheels (good for practicing your skills before doing them on yourself, and fun to build a collection of nail art wheels!)

13. Best Airbrush Makeup Machine:

14. Best Travel Products:

  • 3floz.com – they carry travel sizes of most of the brands we use and love! No more mess with filling bottles!

15. Best Nail Brands For New Trends:

  • Zoya – pixie dust + gold flakes!
  • Ciate – caviar nails, velvet nails, sequined manis!? Yes please.

Got a secret source you want to add? Please do so below! We want to hear them all, no matter where you live!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LIPS LOOK BIGGER

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post + photography by amy nadine, graphic design by eunice chun

I confess. I’m a total cheater. And there’s nothing wrong with the natural shape of our lips! It’s just some of us have uneven lips or could benefit from a little volume every now and then. (Remember The 3-D Lip Illusion and The Fuller Lip Effect from my Beautician Magician Series?) I’m not suggesting you wear this technique to the grocery store, class or the gym. But grab a lip liner and play with your lip shape next time you feel like getting made up and you might really like it. You can cheat a proper cupid’s bow, correct an uneven smile or just draw outside the lines to make them look a little bigger. Here’s how:  (more…)