Who was in attendance:

• James Vincent from The Makeup Show 
• Alphonse Wiebelt from MuseBeautyPro
• various Bay Area makeup artists

What we talked about:

• Mainly we talked about the makeup artist community here in the Bay. What we can do to improve it, to make it better - basically opening up the lines of communication between each other. Don't be afraid to talk and lean on one another for support.
• The stronger the community and the more we get our names out there, the more local companies will hire us for jobs (instead of those from other cities). We have the talent - why not elevate it!
• We did discuss The Makeup Show a little bit and how we should introduce ourselves to other artists while we attend.
• It's all about the networking! Not only will it help us build a stronger community, but it will help us grow as artists. 
• How to become a Makeup Show Ambassador and what an ambassador is.

My favorite part? Getting to know the other artists and listen to their stories (including James Vincent & Alphonse Wiebelt). But I'm a total networker/social butterfly at heart so this was right up my alley.

By the end of the night, I was so pumped ... and now I'm psyched to attend The Makeup Show LA in two weeks! If you are going, don't hesitate to say hi!! I love meeting new people!! :)

So when I saw something called Pocket Contour Class mentioned in an article about new technology within Sephora, I had to check it out! Here is what I thought:

• it took me a few tries to get the picture right, but I figured out that I was holding it too close (obvi I needed to follow the directions better) - so read the instructions first
• I love that it provides recommendations of contour products and shows me directional arrows of how to blend = AWESOME
• and big kudos to Sephora for having it send a step-by-step guide (with your picture in it) to your email of choice. Perfecto!

My email looked like this:

And a SHOP NOW link to all the fabulous contouring products Sephora has to offer is added to the email. So cool! Give it a try - it's so much fun!

How did it taste? This blend was good but not as flavorful as I would have liked. I feel like it was missing some sort of herb or something ... no matter though, I really enjoyed how fast it was to make, so I would gladly purchase it again!

Thankfully, Muse Beauty knows my love of trying new things and gifted me the new esum Pro Makeup Kit Bag (THANK YOU!) so I've been having some fun testing it out on weddings and beauty appointments over the last couple of weeks. And I have to say that I am really enjoying the freedom that comes along with carrying such a lightweight bag! More than I thought I would! Gone are the days of lugging big bags up stairs or clients becoming overwhelmed from all my stuff! The esum Pro Makeup Kit Bag has definitely changed my game, in a positive way! My back thanks me, my clients feel more at ease, so I feel like it’s a win-win situation. Enough about me though, let me tell you more about this bag …

What I love about the esum Pro Makeup Kit Bag:

• Even when filled to the brim, this bag is SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT.

• Unlike other makeup bags made of canvas, this one is constructed of a vinyl-like material which makes it EASY TO CLEAN.

• The zippered pouches inside can be taken out or rearranged to the hearts desire.

• Many different types of palettes from Viseart to MAC to Z Palettes can fit in the zippered pouches (see images below).

• The straps inside can hold a brush roll or airbrush compressor securely.

• If you like using makeup brush cylinders, this bag has a space for that too.

• Can be slipped over the handle of luggage, which is AWESOME FOR TRAVELING ARTISTS.

• Because of the size, it really does force me to create an EDITED KIT which keeps me from bringing everything ... including the kitchen sink!

• When traveling, I no longer have to worry about lost or destroyed makeup because I can take the bag on the plane - keeping an eye on it at all times! My kit is my baby.

• Canvas from other makeup bags used to ball up some materials of clothing but the vinyl-like material of this bag works well with clothing, my sweaters and leggings thank me. 

• This bag is SMALL BUT MIGHTY. I was able to fit everything I needed for appointments (see images below) and not once did I spend extra time digging around in the kit - everything was at my fingertips!

Small note:

• The esum Pro Makeup Kit Bag zips a little differently than some makeup bags. The zipper starts at the top of the handle/strap area, loops around the bottom and then back to the top (there are two zippers, so it makes it easy to zip either way). Make sure to zip all the way around and back to the top, so you don’t accidentally lose anything - that's not in a pouch - out the bottom (I almost did that once when I was in a rush – whoopsie!).  But this unique zipper design keeps all the handles/straps out of sight (when kit is open) to make it look clean and professional. A beautiful presentation! 

Measurements: (they are on Muse Beauty as well)

Sizing of the esum Pro Makeup Kit Bag compared to the  Zuca Flyer Artist and the MAC Pro Travel Case:

Recommended for:

• beginner makeup artists
• pro makeup artists (watch out! you may never want to go back to a huge kit again!)
• makeup lovers
• anyone who travels and cares about keeping their makeup safe and sound

The esum Pro Makeup Kit Bag is currently $140 on Muse Beauty.

And so far, so good! This cream has been the answer to my prayers!

Over the last year or so, I started to notice that my under eye area was feeling rather parched and not as healthy as it used to look. I thought all my anti-aging creams and serums were giving that area moisture but it turns out not enough. So putting my esthetician knowledge to work, I began reading ingredients of all the eye creams I came across ... looking for something with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to draw in water and help rebuild the skin. I also wanted the cream to be inexpensive because after all, it was just going to moisturize without any fancy anti-aging stuff. And bingo - this CeraVe one fit the bill!

What I love:

• skin looks and feels healthy again
• most of my fine lines disappeared because of the awesome hydration
• it's perfect as a primer before concealer
• the formula is non-greasy and glides across skin easily. No tugging = happiness!!
• under $15 bucks - yay! :)

Although the Samsung Gear in VOGUE was this one, I decided to go with the Gear 2 Neo because it had awesome reviews and the features I wanted. Now I can keep track of incoming messages, texts, phone calls and cool fitness type stuff like heart rate and how many steps I take - all from my wrist! I have even answered a phone call or two, straight from my watch!! Talk about a Knight Rider moment!! LOL

There are a ton of apps that can be added to this watch (I'm probably not using the watch to its fullest) but so far I've kept it down to a few. And in the few months that I've had it, its only needed to be restarted a couple of times - so basically no real problems. And its connection with Bluetooth - how it communicates data with the phone - has a pretty good distance to it. I can easily leave the phone in the living room and still get messages in my bedroom = bonus! 

But does it look good ...

Yes it does! Here's what it looks like with some fun bracelets:

Cute, right? Now go get yourself one!! Your heart/body and significant other will thank you!

Guess who got to attend the Beyond Wonderland electronic dance festival as a mad hatter last weekend?!?!? THIS GIRL!!

I've always wanted to wear different colored eyeshadow on each eye, so when I got the opportunity to do something cool with my makeup for the festival, I took it! It wasn't easy, and definitely took a couple tries to get it right but on the last day it came out perfectly! 

My outfit was mostly bronze, black & gold because we went with a more steam-punk vibe for our mad hatters crew, however, I absolutely loved Johnny Depp's makeup in the last Alice in Wonderland movie so I decided to go with that color palette. Why not, right?  Plus I knew it would make my face pop in the sea of bronze & black. And I must have done something right because a ton of people loved it!! *happy dance* I'm in so many photos ... ha ha ha. 

How did I achieve this look? Honestly, I just used Johnny's picture as inspiration and went to town on the MAC Chromaline waterproof gel/cream liner product line! I always go to that line when I want a long lasting, vibrant look. I knew the colors would pop in pictures, even in bright daylight. Pictures came out great and makeup didn't even budge - not even a crease (and I danced a lot!!!) - totally happy with this choice!!

As far as techniques ... I used the good ol color wheel/color theory, mixed a couple colors up but the others came straight out of the jar (Hi-Def Cyan & Process Magenta). Of course, the design was adjusted to fit my eye shape, then gave it my own flair. But the most important thing that made this extra special was creating some depth & dimension within the colors - making darker areas within each color and adding glitter & pigment to make things pop - totally made the look!

Overall, I really enjoyed doing this look and would love to play and tweak with it some more - there are so many possibilities!! Give it a whirl and you'll see what I mean. :)

Products Used | Kett Cosmetics Foundation, MAC Cosmetics Chromaline, Lashes in a Box, UD Perversion Mascara, LimeCrime Velvetines in Pink Velvet, NYX Glitter Liner in Crystal Aqua, MAC Cosmetics pigment, Anastasia Dipbrow in Auburn. 

Here are 7 TIPS that helped me CREATE THE NUDE MAKEUP LOOK ...

1. INVEST IN SKINCARE ... I know, I know, you hear it all the time but it is true! The key to this look is great skin. So the next time you're debating between full coverage foundation or a great skincare treatment - buy the skincare product! And if you aren't sure what to buy or where to start? This is a great time to see an esthetican! They can easily map your skin and steer you in the right direction. And I can't seem to stress enough that sunscreen is your best friend - in life and with this look. Sunscreen helps prevent fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, dark spots, (oh and also that thing called melanoma!)  ... basically all the things we don't want on our face when we're trying to do the natural look! My go-to skincare brand? Dermalogica of course! They have something for every skin type (even sensitive!) and you can mix and match to customize your regimen.

2. KEEP THOSE BROWS IN CHECK ... Nicely shaped brows make or break this no makeup look, so opt for a brow pencil like the Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil to draw in individual hairs instead of shadow or dipbrow. This technique will give the brows a more natural appearance. And for those of us not blessed with beautiful brows, see a brow architect/specialist! They will reshape or show you how to rehab brows back to beautifulness (that's what I am going through right now). 

3. FIND A GREAT CONCEALER OR LIGHTWEIGHT FOUNDATION ... BB creams work great too! If you're like me and have some blemishes, dark circles or pigmentation to cover up then match yourself with a great concealer like the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer or a lightweight foundation like the MAC Face & Body Foundation. They're silicone based, so the they mimic the skins texture very well. Plus they are super long-wearing and water-resistant. Got flawless skin? Then skip this tip and show it off, baby!!!

4.  TIGHTLINE OR MAKE A THIN LINE OF EYELINER ... Tightlining really amps up the lashes and is my favorite tip for making eyes pop! It involves lining the inner rim of the eyelid, creating the illusion of dense, long lashes. If you're not into that, then feel free to do a very thin line of eyeliner, very close along the lash line (tapering off a little before the tear duct). The purpose of this is to just fill in any gaps along the lash line to make them seem more dense. And only do the eyelid for this, not the bottom rim of the eye ... because again, we want it to look super natural. My favorite product to use for this is the MAC Cosmetics Fluidline in Blacktrack because my lashes are black but if you have lighter lashes, find a shade that works better for you.

5. DON'T FORGET TO CREATE A LITTLE DEPTH AND DIMENSION ... Use taupes, browns, illuminating shades - ones that are great for contour & highlight. Make sure when you contour, the shade is matte (no shimmer). Sometimes I use a concealer or foundation that is 2-3 shades darker than my skin tone to contour. And remember, don't go overboard - this is not the time to Kim Kardashian it! In the picture above I have on the MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre as a base shade and then added a little matte taupe color (bobbi brown Taupe #4) in the crease. And for the cheek contour, I used a MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer that was 2 shades darker than my shade. Then I picked a shade from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette to highlight my cheekbone/temple area - just a little sheen but not super obvious on the skin. We're going for the glow within look - you know?! 

6. LIPS & CHEEKS SHOULD LOOK FRESH, NOT OVERDONE OR ARTIFICIAL ... Look for pinks, peaches or nudes to work with and keep them within a couple shades of your natural tone. Stains, lip balms and glosses are perfect for this. MAC Cosmetics just put out a cool video on how to make a stain with a lip liner and gloss - it's great, check it out! I often do this trick because I really like some of the shades of lip liner more so than lipstick. My only tip: blend and blend well - no lip liner lines for this look. And for cheeks, gently stipple on a bit of cream blush ... to give them a light wash of color. Stila makes an awesome cream blush called Convertible Color that also doubles as a lipstick.

7. LOVE WHAT YOU GOT ... Part of this nude makeup (no makeup) thing is to really appreciate and love your own features, skin, and whatever uniqueness you've got going on. You must learn to accept any imperfections and work with what you got mama! So remind yourself that you are awesome and beautiful - you totally can rock this nude makeup look!!! You got this!!!

Day 1 Outside Lands | Kett Cosmetics foundation, Mac Cosmetics & Bobbi Brown eyeshadow, Stila gel eyeliner, Esteelauder mascara, Kryolan concealer,  Make Up For Ever lip liner,  Dolce and Gabbana lipstick, Bite lipgloss

Day 2 of Outside Lands | it was colder than day one, so I knew that I would be wearing my Foxy Monster bear hood all day long | Mac Cosmetics foundation, paint pot, eyeliner, Urban Decay Electric Palette, Bobbi Brown eyeshadow, NARS bronzer & blush, Kryolan concealer, Anastasia dipbrow, Lime Crime velveteen lip, Esteelauder mascara

Day 3 Outside Lands | I was inspired by this picture of Cara Delevingne - loved the dark eyes!! Of course, I decided to change up the lip a little with a bright red. | Mac Cosmetics foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, Bobbi Brown shadow, NARS bronzer & blush, Sephora cream lip stain, Estee Lauder mascara, Anastasia dipbrow, Kryolan concealer, Kett Cosmetics powder

If you were at Outside Lands, what was your look? Feel free to share below! xoxo

Two of the photoshoots (Rock City & Eva Shaw's Jet-Set Life) have come out on VegasRated.com already. The third will be in the fall The Shops at Crystals Aria LV magazine - which I can't wait to see because the clothing and jewelry was to DIE for! I mean there was one day where the jewelry needed its own security guards! (SO COOL!!)

ROCK CITY | Pearl Theater. PALMS

This was the busiest day of all the shoots! There were so many people to do, but they were great sports - so easy-going!! I loved getting to know the artists while listening to their music!! For the girls, it was all about smokey eyes or winged liner. And the boys were easy peasy, just simple grooming! To read the full article click here. 

Eva Shaw's Jet-Set Life | Private Jet, Las Vegas

Having a shoot on a jet was not as easy as I thought it would be! It was a small space, so not very many of us could be in there. VIPs ONLY!! I helped with some light body makeup in the beginning but sat outside while all the photos were going on. Either way, to see this process go down was super awesome!! And I loved how Donald did her makeup so light and natural. Eva had gorgeous smooth skin & beautiful full eyebrows = a makeup artist's dream!! To read the full article click here.

Here are some BEHIND THE SCENE photos:

Stay tuned for when the other shoot (The Shops at Crystals LV) comes out ... I'll be sure to share it here!

Basically here's how it goes ... you grab some real organic juice (my personal fave is lemon or lime but I'm sure any fruit will do) from the juice isle in sprouts or whole foods (because theirs usually isn't loaded with as much sugar and bad stuff) and add a splash of it to your water. That's all. Easy right? You thought there was going to be more, huh? Nope. Its that simple. And it taste's yummy! 

I'm a big fan of the Lakewood Organic Juice or Santa Cruz Organic Juice (shown below). I've even used them in my daily smoothies to flavor things up. They are great juices! One thing to note though is that you will have to refrigerate them after opening. And of course they don't last forever so watch that expiration date! But that's a small price to pay for the beautiful, perfectly hydrated body & skin you'll get from drinking all this tasty water!! 

Happy drinking!!

In no particular order, these made the cut:

1. L'oreal 12hr Infalible The Super Slim Liquid Liner in Black Noir

2. Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Noir

3. Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 003 Brown

In this session, we practiced waterproofing her look (in case a bride cries), a lightweight eyelash technique, and some eyeshadow/cheek color recommendations that were supposed to enhance her features - to make them pop!

For fun, Lauren put this makeup to the test! Not only did she wear this look to her job that night (she is a manager at a restaurant) but she slept with it on! Which is usually a skin no-no but she wanted to see how it turned out. The results? She got a ton of compliments from her customers, staff, AND even got a compliment from a lady behind the counter at Nordstom! And the kicker - the makeup "still looked good!" the next morning!

It feels so amazing to know that my makeup made it perfectly all night long. And truth be told, I kinda knew it would because I'm the girl that lived in VEGAS for 4 years and know what it takes to make looks last! YAY! *pat on back*

Thanks again Lauren for letting me have some fun with your face!! xx

This year The Makeup Show occurred on Saturday March 1st through Sunday March 2nd (Oscar weekend). And I can see why they scheduled it that way - lots of great speakers & makeup artists were in town which made it easier for everyone to drop in on the event. There were about 60+ exhibitors, 7 keynote speakers, 7 hands-on workshops, 12 focus kit building series and an Icon Gallery (Kevyn Aucoin).  In addition, many demos by various artists (and a school - Ruby Make Up Academy) were going on throughout the show.  My attention was definitely captured the entire time!

For my very first show I chose not to attend any workshops ($140+ each) and focus series ($12 each). I did that because I wasn't sure what to expect. Looking back, I definitely should have taken advantage of all the workshops & series!  Next time I will. I mean, here in the Bay classes like those would cost $400 + up! And such a variety of artists - in one place - is difficult to come by these days. So yea, next time this girl is TAKING ADVANTAGE!!

Here was my beauty haul (below). My goal at the show was to touch and feel products, decide if they had any place in my kit.  But man was it hard! There was SO MUCH fun stuff!! Plus there were things at pro-price, which I normally don't qualify for (because I'm a just starting out as a makeup artist), so it was extremely difficult to stay focused and not buy the world! LOL

And some pics from the show ...

Overall, it was a great show and I'm excited to see what they have in store for next year!