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 & 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

Smashbox Primers now @ KIT. A brief review...

Recently I was given a bag full of Smashbox primers from KIT.  I've used the original Photo Finish Primer tonnes of times before, and I love it. I'm not really a pro-primer makeup artist, because I believe that good exfoliated and moisturised skin is enough for a gorgeous foundation base. But these OIL FREE Primers do give a great finish to every one's skin, particularly 25+ skin.

In order of the photo:


Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (original)

Amazing foundation finish, especially for older skin or acne scared skin.

Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15 Primer

I haven't tried this one yet but having SPF in your Primer is better than having it in your foundation (it can make foundations greasy).

Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer Blend (Peach)

Apricot will blend colour and correct skin tone including concealing under eye circles, veins and sunspots.

Didn't see much of a difference on my skin but being very fair and having translucent skin I need a little more coverage with eye circles, veins and dreaded sunspots. 

Smashbox Photo Finish Bronzing Primer

I can't test this one on myself, I'm just too white and it would look ridiculous! But can't wait for the next client opportunity. Although I wonder if it will have much effect, since you apply foundation over the top anyway. I will let you all know! - UPDATE This product is fantastic if you need a bit of extra colour to match a spray tan when the tan hasn't taken to your face (or you've washed it off but your body is still brown). It gives that little extra oomph to your foundation!

Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer Adjust (Green)

Green will correct colour and counteract redness. I tested it on my cheeks where I have a bit of redness - a slight difference but not that noticable. I'll keep using it for the next week and then decide whether it will go in my kit or not. - UPDATE  I haven't really found any difference between this and the original clear primer...it really doesn't adjust your skin at all.

Smashbox Artifical Light Luminizing Lotion in Pearl

This is quite gorgeous! Although it's best applied after foundation and blended well down the nose and along the top of the cheekbone. It can also be mixed with foundation; looks best at night, during the day it just looks too greasy. - UPDATE Loving this for evening clients!

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

Fantastic! No eyeshadow creasing from 6am until 11pm when I washed my face!

Conclusion - Photo Finish Lid Primer is definitely a kit must have. Of all the Primers, I'm going to stick with the original as a favourite because I just don't feel like the others make much of a difference. The Luminizing Lotion is also lovely.

Tip - It's best to wait at least 15 minutes between applying the Primer and applying your foundation. Give it time to set, otherwise you may have trouble keeping concealers in place.

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

Beauty Blender Review

I was given a Beauty Blender as a gift yesterday. I've always wanted to buy one, but I couldn't justify the $29.95 when I have an abundant supply of disposable wedges. As soon as it was given to me I couldn't wait to try it out and see it was as great as the magazines say it is...I thought "Blog! Review!".

The Beauty Blender is a "hot pink, teardrop shaped, latex-free and hypo-allergenic makeup sponge used to create a flawless makeup application". And it delivered! I dampened it a little bit (the instructions say this is how it works best) and away I went, stippling (bouncing) it all over my face. I used the tip end for concealing the corners of my eyes and around my nostrils...my foundation application was perfect!

After use, I cleaned it with the Beauty Blender Cleanser as recommended and left it to dry in it's perch (the packaging it comes in...which you keep for this reason).

You can purchase it through Lehved makeup supplies, either on their website or at their cute little store in Surry Hills (the owner, Eve is absolutely lovely!).

The Beauty Blender was awarded Allures Magazine Winner for the "Best of Beauty" in the category of Beauty Tools for 2007 & 2008...and now I know why.

I highly recommend!

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist 

How to stop your eyeliner budging!

Hi Girls! It's been a hell of a day...my cute little Volkswagen Golf, Betsy (who I haven't had for very long) was smashed while she was parked legally on the side of a road...in 16 years of driving I've not had a car accident, and though I was  not in the car at the time, I am so sad (Christina, remember, it's just a car, you can get another one and never give your car a name...you will get emotionally attached). Sadly the driver of offending vehicle (an elderly man) is in hospital.

Ok...on to happier things...makeup tips! 

We all love a good makeup tip, especially from a makeup artist...right!?

Today a client asked me how to stop her eyeliner traveling during the day. I get this question a fair bit. She said she found that by lunch time, the eyeliner (either top or bottom) travels giving her 'panda eye'. This is because your eye area have tiny glands that secret oil...so you need to address this before you apply your makeup.

Simple remedy! 

Apply your foundation all the way up to your lower eye rim and all over your eyelid. Set it with powder. Or, if you don't use foundation, put powder around your eye so that the eyeliner has something to GRAB on to! This also applies to eye shadow. If you don't wear foundation or powder, try Urban Decay Primer Potion before you apply your eye makeup. This stuff is gold!

My favourite personal look is to wear 'french style' eyeliner along my top lid with a little 'flick' at the ends...I always apply my foundation and powder to my eyelids and my eyeliner never travels (I personally use Christian Dior liquid 'DiorLiner').

If you like to line the lower inner eye rim area with pencil, get a small brush (I use MAC 266 Small Angle Brush) and an eyeshadow in the same colour as your pencil. 

Using your brush, press a small amount of eyeshadow on to the line you have drawn. 

It will feel a little odd at first, because you've just dried the area out...but this will pass and will beautifully seal in your pencil line. It will not only soften the intensity of a stiff line but also make your liner last a lot longer! 

This trick is used by Cameron Diaz's makeup artist...Hollywood actresses don't want to be running to the loo every hour to touch-up their makeup, especially at the Oscars!

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist