High Maintenance Glamour

High Maintenance Glamour by BeachPrincess on Polyvore.com

DuWop Gray Eyes, $32
Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup A, $38
NARS Loose Powder Beach, $34
Benefit Cosmetics High Brow 0.10 oz, $20
YesStyle.com: Beauty: Versace: Lipstick - No. 65 - Free International..., 22 SGD
NARS Eyebrow Pencil Panama, $20
MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil Matte Raspberry..., $17
Opium Eau d'Orient Summer Fragrance, 100ml, 20 GBP
Backstage at Bottega Veneta - WWD.com

Mascara

Anyone who knows me knows I am allllll about the lashes.

I have been a mascara junkie all my life and I think mascara is probably the one product I could never give up. I have been known to use 3 different types in one application, and I am struggling with the new task of using a disposable wand every time I do an eye. Its so hard. I mean half the reason we buy a mascara is because of the brush, right?

This has forced me to work on my application so here are a couple of pro tips that I have picked up over the past few weeks:

1. Use two disposable brushes per application (I know, its expensive, but if you are studying to be an MUA and you have to use them, you can pick up big bags of these from Ebay or other online stores for buttons, girls).

2. Comb through the lashes with one brush and wiggle from side to side PRIOR to application, to separate the lashes. Curl 2 times with a lash curler.

3. Dip one wand into the tube. Have your client (or friend... whatever) look downwards toward your shoulder and make sure you get your wand right into the base of the lash. Don't be afraid to lift the lid (gently of course!) at the eyebrow so you can really get in this. This is where most people go wrong. I absolutely cannot stand seeing black lashes that have blonde roots. Its horrid! Once you have the brush into the roots, wiggle from side to side several times and deposit as much colour on the lash as you can. Quickly brush with the clean wand before the formula dries. (quick tip - if it dries and becomes hard to work with, pull the cotton off a cotton bud and heat up the bud gently with your drier so the plastic warms. Hold against the lashes to warm the formula up again. It sounds crazy but it works)

4. Carefully apply more mascara from the top side of the lashes and wrap the lashes around the wand as you go.

Ok, that kind of sounded more like surgery than mascara application, but it really does make a difference if you take your time and get it right.

For personal application, I LOVE big wands for volume and skinny wands for length and definition. I curl my lashes first, then I apply mascara to the top side first, winding the lashes around the brush. Then I go from underneath.

My favourite mascaras?

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide (blackest black and protective formula), Maybelline Great Lash (good basic mascara with a wand that will get into the smallest areas) and Maybelline Colossal (fabulous volume)

These things I love

I have been a naughty blogger of late and have not updated in ages! I will blame this on the fact that I have been so busy with school and work, that when I am home all I want to do is clean my brushes and fall into bed.

So I am making a promise to blog at least once a week. There is so much going on in my life right now so I have no reason not to.

Anyway, lately I have been trying out new things to stock my kit with and buying up rather hugely, so I thought I would post about things I have been loving in the makeup world.

MAC face & Body Foundation
 

 I know, I know, its all any makeup artist ever talks about, but the raves about this foundation are true. I have been using it on everybody, and everybody loves it. It is so easy to blend, and you can adjust the coverage with different application methods. One of my favourite ways to use it is to mix it with a drop of water and moisturiser and apply with my fingers. It sits right in the skin and does not look like makeup.

For a fuller coverage, use a stippling motion with a good quality sponge and layer in areas that need more attention, such as redness in the cheeks.

The colours are easy to mix for a flawless colour match. winner!

Graftobian High Def Glamour Creme Foundation
 

 This is a pro product, so I don't think many people know about it. Its incredible! I really suggest you look it up and read the reviews.

You can use this straight for a full, silky smooth coverage of mix with foundation thinner (I use RCMA) or primer (I use Laura Mercier) for lighter application. It really smooths out the skin and makes it look flawless. I bought this in a big palette and I can already see this will be invaluable when working on brides. Love.

MAC Blushcreme
 

Totally obsessed with Creme Blush at the moment. My favourites are MAC and my favourite colours are Posey (deep, bright rose) and Sweet William (light rose with fine sheen). I think Sweet William is now discontinued but you can still find it online.

I just adore the way these sit in the skin and make it look like you are blushing from within. You cant beat them for an every day makeup application, and for longevity that will take you through to night, I set them with powder.

MAC 217 Brush
 

 You really need this brush in your collection if you want to be a blending queen. I cant say anything else other than it has changed the way I do eye makeup forever. I have 2 of these now, its really useful to have a clean one handy to blend everything together.

Fresh Sugar Lychee Body Lotion

Its not makeup, but I bought this online recently and its an amazing body lotion. It sinks in FAST and the skin on my upper arms has completely improved since using it. The scent is fresh and inoffensive in a "cant quite put my finger on that clean smell" way. Its a little expensive but the quality is so fabulous I will buy this again as soon as I have run out. The packaging is so pretty and looks amazing in the bathroom.

Redhead

Redhead by BeachPrincess featuring Vivienne Westwood bags

blue lawn - Vivienne Westwood coffee Berkeley bag
1,197 GBP - bluelawn.co.uk
More Vivienne Westwood bags »

Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour Rose Gold
$22 - sephora.com

Anastasia Brow Duality Matte Shell / Lace Shimmer
$23 - sephora.com

Loreal Elnett Hairspray
wilkinsonplus.com

Becca Angel Pressed Shimmer Powder
teamsugar.com

Lily Cole
listal.com

lipgloss
uploadgeek.com

Cosmetaholic » Rimmel Exaggerate Full Color Eye Definer

color,...
cosmetaholic.com

Martin Bray

Last night I had to pleasure of being taught by Martin Bray. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, take a look at him here and here.


I first heard about Martin about 2 years ago through a MAC SA. I researched a bit of his work and was blown away, so when I found out he was taking us for most of our classes I was very excited and nervous.

He took us for skin prep last night, but when we started asking questions about his products, his passion came to life and he spent most of the class sharing his valuable product knowledge. I spent most of the class scribbling pages of notes, trying to keep up with him.

One thing people always want to know is what Makeup Artists use in their Kits. Martin shared with us his list of must have products and shades, and in the interest of sharing, I have listed them below!

Foundations:

MAC Face & Body
MAC Studio Fix Powder
MAC Blot Powder
Giorgio Armani Luminous Skin Foundation
Chanel Vitalumiere
Chanel Prolumiere
Chanel Mattelumiere
Dior Capture
Estee Lauder Maximum Coverage

Tools:

MAC 217 & 216 brushes
Shu Uemura Lash curlers
Duo Glue for Lashes

Concealer:

Paris Berlin (Available from Showface)

Creme Blush:

Inglot (matte)
MAC (Shiny)

Skincare:

Bioderma Crealine H20
Kosmea Hydrating Rosewater Mist
Natural Instinct Products

Eyeshadow colours (All MAC):

Shroom, Brulee, Stain Taupe, Smut, Carbon, Jest, Arena, Embark, Shadowy Lady, Contrast, Bronze, Amber Lights, Mulch, Sketch, Yoghurt, Girly, Browndown, Cork, Omega

Red Lips:

Martin says you only need 3 products to create every different shade of red lip possible

MAC Lipmix (from Pro stores) in Crimson and Red
MAC Cherry Pencil

So there you have it! Looks like I need to go shopping...


We have him again tonight and he is going to bring in some of his kit faves and maybe do a demo. We are also doing foundation practical tonight, so we should be able to pick his brain about his foundation application technique.

Beauty Muse of the Week

This week I cannot get Emma Roberts off my radar. Here she is looking divine at the Met Ball.

Beautiful, right? It helps that she has amazing skin and bone structure, but here are the products I think will achieve this look sans professional MUA:

Base:

DiorSkin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup in Ivory

Clinique Airbrush Concealer in Fair

Cheeks:

The Balm Hot Mama

Guerlain Meteorites Powder For The Face in Mythic

Eyes:

Too Faced Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection

Benefit Eye Bright

YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

Lips:

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

MAC Lipstick in Plink!

Signature Looks

I am a sucker for a signature look. There is something so put together and classy about a woman who nails the same look over and over. I have always been envious of those ladies who have a signature fragrance, but I am too much of a beauty flake to commit to anything long term.

The following lovely ladies have nailed their look time and time again and never seem to stray far from what works. So as a tribute to their dedication, I present to you the Champions of the smoky eye, the wild child, the classic beauty, and the natural girl next door.

Classic Beauty: Anne Hathaway

The girl is beautiful. Classy, but still young and fresh, she wins the Classic Beauty title by far. She knows her best features are her eyes and lips and plays them up to her advantage. Never OTT, never underdone, always polished.

Smokey Eyes: Rachel Bilson

I like my smokey eyes subtle. There is nothing worse than a smokey eye that makes one look like a whore. Rach always does it well, defining and making her eyes pop but keeping it pared down. She often does a smokey eye with colour which I love. Rachel can pull off anything though, in my opinion she doesn't need a stitch of makeup to look beautiful.

Natural girl next door: Jennifer Aniston

Ok haters, back off. Anyone who knows me knows I love a bit of Aniston action. She is clean, pretty, fresh, natural, funny, sweet and down to earth. I don't care what anyone says, Angelina is a weirdo. Anyway, her makeup is always gorgeous and never contrived and she always looks like herself. I like that and I like her.

Wild Child: Katy Perry, Taylor Momsen, Scarlett Johansson

I couldn't pick one. Sometimes makeup is about taking risks and changing it up. But you need the confidence to pull it off, and these three are certainly not lacking in that.