Now this is what I call a dressing room!

I was working at the TVSN studios the other day and this was the dressing room they gave me...perfect set up for hair and makeup artists! 

There was even a built in sink which is a rarety (at the end, near my new Longchamp bag which I'm totally in love with - thanks to my little sister Diana who gave it to me as a thank you gift). 

If only I could have the same set up at every makeup job I do! 

So much space, so easy to keep my gear tidy!

How to transform a natural look into an evening look

I did a trial today on the absolutely gorgeous face of Daniela. She has the most beautiful skin and eyebrows to die for! 

In this post, I am going to show you how a few very subtle applications can completely change a look! These tips are great if you wear a natural makeup and don't know how to transform that look in to an evening face.

Daniela wanted a very natural look, so I used MAC Face & Body foundation, a translucent powder to set, Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion in Pearl down the centre of her nose and on her high cheekbones, MAC Emphasize for shading under her cheekbones  and on her forehead, and NARS Orgasm on the apples of her cheek (she has the cutest dimples!). On her eyes I used MAC Romp, NARS Surabaya duo, MAC Woodwinked and MAC Ricepaper on her brow bone. Her lip colour was a custom mix that I made up.

I wanted Daniela to see how simply this look can be changed with some false lashes, so I added a half set on the outer top lash line and a soft line of black brown liner to blend the lashes.

See the difference!? Her natural look is now more 'polished' and her eyes have opened up. I didn't change anything else on her face.

Then I wanted to show Daniela how black eyeliner, in the lower inner rim of her lash line could transform this natural day look. Many women are afraid that lining their eyes with a black liner will make their eyes appear smaller. What do you think!? Daniela's eyes actually appear larger and her face more harmonised.

Since it was also Daniela's birthday and she was going to a surprise dinner, I didn't want her to go with her 'bridal' look, so I added some charcoal eyeshadow to her eyelid socket and a smokey line of shadow under her lower lashes. I cannot wait for Daniela's wedding day!

And that, my friends, is how a few subtle applications can completely transform a natural look...makeup isn't hard, so don't be afraid to just try!

xx

Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Recent Work - Wedding Makeup Artistry

Ok, this isn't so recent, it was actually back in March of this year, but I just received these photographs from the photographer, Tim Pascoe. I was so excited to receive these photos because I was really happy with the makeup artistry work I did at Amie's wedding (which was held on Palm Beach. She prepared in a gorgeous house - how beautiful is that bedroom!). Amie was happy too!

Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Recent work & why makeup needs to be heavier for photography

Remember my post a few weeks ago 

'Better than waking up next to Johnny Depp!'?

Well, Bec recently received her professional photographs and kindly sent me some!

Here is my favourite! Absolutely gorgeous!

Take a look back at the photos in my original post  that I took on my iPhone and now take a look at the professional photo here. This is a good example of how studio lighting can 'wash out' makeup. This is why  makeup for photography (including wedding makeup) and television needs to be slightly heavier than what you would normally wear day to day.

The makeup turned out perfectly for Bec's shoot and she is so photogenic! Just beautiful!

Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Anytime Fitness...anywhere makeup!

This afternoon I did makeup for the girls at Anytime Fitness in St Leonards, owners Kim Lloyd and Sally Matterson. They were having their opening night party (Veuve and a red carpet...I should have hung around!). I had the tiniest space to work from, I can't believe I stayed so organised and clean! I'm OCD, but when you're working with little space things can get really messy really quickly! I couldn't put all my kit out, so I just made sure the essentials were on hand...

Anytime Fitness is a new chain of gyms operating 24 hours. Their equipment was so nice, I almost felt like jumping on a treadmill, and I'm not the sportiest of people!. Don't you just love the smell of 'new'!? New car interiors, new shoe leather...this gym had that smell! 

Later Michele (a friend) commented on my facebook that she walked past this gym around 6:15pm just before the party was to start and the girls looked very glam! 

A few celebs were due to attend, including Firass Dirani. The girls mentioned that photographs would be in the social pages this weekend (Sunday papers) and in the Mosman Daily and other North Shore local papers...so keep your eyes peeled! 

These types of jobs (events / media appearances) are my favourite! 

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

YOU CAN!

It has been a very busy week my friends!

On Monday night one of my regulars needed my services for a red carpet event, Dr Louise Messara (you may recognise her as a contributor for Channel 9's Today Show where she often talks about women's health).

Louise is the Executive Director of the SONY Foundation - a leg of SONY which raises funds and awareness for disadvantaged youth . In conjunction with CanTeen, they recently launched 'You Can' to raise $15 million to build youth cancer centre's of excellence in Australia.

In support of 'You Can', SONY teamed up with the Australian Captains' Dinner at Astral, Star City which was MC'd by Alan Jones and attended by many celebrities, our sporting Captains and stars and our politicians such as Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott. It was all over the news on Monday night...Channel 9 even did their weather report from the red carpet. As I was leaving the valet parking I saw Kevin Rudd, Ricky Ponting and one of my favourites Bob Hawke!

I haven't found any red carpet photographs of Louise yet - but I'm still looking! She mentioned they will be in the Sunday papers and in Women's Day, New Idea etc.

Speaking of which, look out for yellow envelopes in this weekends newspapers and donate your old mobile phones to this great cause. Every mobile phone raises $5! It's a very worth cause, and it means that teenagers who have cancer are in their own, suitable facilities rather than in wards with much older people who require completely different treatments for cancer.

I saw Louise again this morning. This time she had a lengthy slot on the 9:00-10:00am Channel 10 news with Natarsha Belling. In the studio sitting opposite Natarsha, Louise spoke about 'You Can'...and I took a few little snaps with my iPhone!

It's definitely not true that for television you have to pack on the foundation.

I used MAC Face and Body which is a really light textured foundation and Louise's skin looked amazing on TV!

I realise the photo resolution isn't the best...but you get the idea!

I also used MAC Romp eyeshadow, a bronze golden brown, with NARS Surabuya to accentuate around the outer corner of her lids, a tight line of MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack along her lashline and MAC Retrospeck on her brow bone. Her cheeks were accentuated with MAC Sculpt powder in B18 and given colour with MAC Blush in Springsheen and NARS Blush in Orgasm. I used MAC Chic lipstick on her lips.

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Better than waking up next to Johnny Depp!

I woke up to these lovely words this morning:

"You are an incredibly talented artist - I have been to a lot of shoots and have never seen someone work with the attention to detail and speed that you do and manage to create EXACTLY what I was after (actually, better than what I wanted) plus have a lovely goss and chat all the way through it. I will be recommending you to everyone!"

Gush gush! These words were from Bec, my gorgie new client. Bec works for a major record label and is about to launch a new music blog unlike any other blog. It's going to set an entire new standard of blogs! She had a shoot yesterday for it...and no doubt the photos will come in handy for the media releases that will follow! 

Bec bought in images of the look she wanted to achieve...and it was easy! With her stunning jet black hair and her piercing aqua eyes, Courtney Cox and Megan Fox would eat their hearts out!

Stay tuned for the professional photographs...I cannot wait!

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

The Knot - Wedding of the Week

My gorgeous client Amanda and her new husband Daniel have had their beautiful 'black and white' wedding featured in not only the Sunday Telegraph (11 April 2010) but also on The Knot : Real Brides - Wedding of the Week! 

The Knot article : click here

Serendipity Corner Photography's blog post: click here

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Darryn McKay Photographer - Blog Feature

One of my gorgeous Bridal clients has been featured on the blog of one of my favourite Wedding Photographers, Darryn McKay. 

I have worked on several weddings with Darryn, and he is one of the nicest and easiest people to work with! I highly recommend him!

Plenty of stunning photographs to inspire! Click here




xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Feature Writer for 'Internet Dating Advice' Website

I was recently asked to submit an article on how to present yourself for a first date to Daters Anonymous Live, an internet-dating advice site.

Click here to read the article and find out how to look your best on a first date, a blind date or any occasion!

Daters Anonymous Live is run by a lovely client of mine, Anita Maree.

A published Author, Anita Maree also holds evening classes at local Sydney community colleges and was recently featured in the Mosman Daily (see article below. Of course, I did her makeup!).

I am also available to do your makeup for dates!

Be assured that you will not have a bit of makeup out of place and most importantly that YOU WILL LOOK YOUR BEST!

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Rebecca Isgrove, Stylist

I meet some amazing people in my line work...some are clients, some are photographers, some are stylists...and some are clients that become stylists! Enter Rebecca Isgrove!
I did Bec's makeup for her wedding in March (photographed by the very talented Trish of Tealily Photography), but we met last year in November and I knew immediately that Bec was someone I wanted to get to know!

Bec styled her entire wedding herself (of course with the help of her lovely husband, Nathan) and was featured on DIY Wedding Australia's blog. She is now a professional stylist...and one to watch out for! I have no doubt her work will be gracing many magazines! Everything she touches turns to gorgeous! She can make a bucket look romantic!