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

I won't be a Blogger Statistic!

Hi Guys! So I haven't posted for a few weeks...I wonder if anyone noticed!?

So much has happened - my laptop died after 9 faithful years, my car was written off (it was parked on the side of the street, I wasn't around), I broke my iPhone (again!) and I've been so busy with bookings that all my free time has been dedicated to attending to all the things that I had to replace (computer, car, phone).

I don't have a new car yet, but I have a computer so keep your eyes out for some reviews and goss. I'll post some today!

It's true that bad luck comes in three's...so I am well due for some very good luck!

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 

So Fresh & So Clean

At the moment, I'm working Mondays to Sundays, and this weekend I'm working on a film (which means very long hours) so today I tried to have some time to myself. I was spoiled to a lovely 'Complete Revitalising Overhaul' package at my favourite beauty day spa, Beauty at the Bay in Double Bay. The girls there are so lovely...and they always remember you...it's like time out with your girlfriends!

I was pampered for 3 hours with:

• Body exfoliation with Canadian salt deposits on a warm bed of steam (Vichy)
• Re-energising cocoon of natural clay from Canada (found 1000
  metres beneath the surface) in the hydrothermal steamer (Vichy)
• A steam bath (Vichy)
• Lifting intense facial 
• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Eyebrow tint
• Eyelash tint

The Vichy is like a human capsule...you lay down and the top closes on top of you, leaving your head outside. Sort of like a tanning bed (but it doesn't give you cancer!). It was a little scary at first, but I was relaxed in no time at all! It's a steamer, a bath and a shower (with lots of nozzles) all in one!

My facial was amazing! Irena used a mask (not exactly sure what it was called) that dried almost like plastic...when she rolled it off and showed me it was like an exact mold of my face!

I feel like a new woman! So fresh and so clean!

Beauty at the Bay give me the best mani and pedi every time and they are extremely hygienic (big tick in my OCD book!). My cuticle beds never dry out after I go there and the paint (OPI) lasts for well over a week (and that's saying a lot, since I work with my hands. When I manicure myself I'm lucky to get a few days value from my nail paint). I don't like the "starbucks" nail salons/beauticians...you know, the ones that are in all the malls and have rows of pedi spa chairs. Most of the girls are not trained properly and they have a bad reputation for being very unhygenic - for example, did you know they are not supposed to use a blade to scrape dead skin from your hooves!?  I always feel like I'm on a money train in those "salons"...customer in, nails done quickly, customer out, $$$, next customer in. Nope, I prefer going to a trained, customer service orientated beautician. Or, if you want to relate it to makeup artists...why go to a department store counter when you can come to me, I get to know you and what you like and we build a professional relationship that's going to satisfy every time you have your makeup done! You get my drift.

Beauty at the Bay use Payot, La Prairie, Babor and Gatineau spa products, and OPI nail polishes. 

Oh, and I receive absolutely no compensation or freebies from them for this post...I always recommend products and services based on my own experiences!

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

CLINIQUE GIVEAWAY WINNER!

It's 12:04am and I drew the winner at midnight as promised, using www.random.org. 

I did  not include my 2 comments in the post count - that would not have made the numbers fair.

The winner is......

Congratulations!

Everyone else - THANK YOU for following me and please stay tuned...I will be doing lots more of these giveaways...and I'm not limited to Clinique! 

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

PS. Amy, could you email me your details please. christina [at] christinacleary [dot] com [dot] au

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

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

Only 4 more days to WIN!

Follow my blog, comment on this post and you could win $300 worth of Clinique products!

Only 4 more days folks! 

Goodluck! CC x 

Graphics thanks to Amanda at Calico and Co

xx


Christina Cleary
Sydney Makeup Artist

A Hint of Myint!

Unrelated to makeup (but you never know!), my friend Arnold Myint, who I met on a plane a few years ago somewhere over Asia, will be on US Top Chef Season 7! It's like our Masterchef but with real chefs!

I wrote a congratulations diddy for him on my facebook status (which he then put on his blog, A Hint of Myint...so cute, and I love the name!).

If you live in the US make sure you watch the show and vote for Arnold! 

Of course, if you are ever in Nashville, Tennessee you have to go to one of his very cool restaurants, Cha Chah, Suzy Wong’s House of Yum and PM Cafe!

Mmm yum yum!

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