Makeup Artist Brisbane

Being a makeup artist I know the importance of using clean makeup utensils and fresh makeup. Many people don’t realise that makeup has a use by date and can breed bacteria if it becomes old or stale. Eyes can become infected by dirty brushes and old mascaras. I know it’s tempting to hang on to our old makeup especially if it’s expensive but it’s really not worth it as the following article explains.

How clean is your makeup bag?

“In a recent study conducted by Good Morning America, skin care and make up samples picked up from ten US-based stores were tested by New York University’s microbiology department. … Once a week take an alcoholic wipe and smooth over the tip.Yahoo! Lifestyle UK (blog)”
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/tamara-hinson/clean-bag-160440853.html

 

Washing makeup brushes and sponges is something everyone should do to prevent infections and breakouts. People tend to spend a lot of money on skin cleansers and moisturisers but forget about the condition of their makeup and applicators. I hope this has given you all a reason to check your makeup and throw out anything that hasn’t been used in a while. It’s also a great excuse to go and buy the latest shades for the current season.

 

One of the most important lessons I have learnt about wedding makeup is how to make your wedding day make-up compatible with your Wedding photography. Your wedding make-up must be flattering yet subtle. Delicate and not too harsh for the camera. Not all makeup is photogenic and the camera magnifies what it sees. A camera captures light and color slightly different than our eyes. When it comes to your wedding day make-up, your safest bet is to choose an experienced make up artist with the right make-up products for the entire bridal party. This includes the mothers of the bride and sometimes even groom. By doing this, you will create continuity for all faces in the wedding photos.

Here are some make-up techniques I swear by to ensure you will get the best photos possible:

Contouring – Without contouring your face, your wedding make-up in photographs will look flat. Contouring make-up gives your face a 3-dimentional look – Adding a low shimmer bronzer to certain parts of your face will give your face depth where you need it. This make-up technique can enhance your best features and even make you look slimmer and more toned. Highlights are also important for your wedding day make-up and photos – I love Napoleon shimmer dust in Sand Beige. A little on your cheek bones and above your eyelid will project these areas and make them look more prominent in the photographs.

Sparkles – While gorgeous in real life, sparkly makeup and powders will show up in photographs as small white specks on your skin. Whilst most shimmer dusts are fine, glitter reflects so I always avoid it and recommend against it. Shimmer can look brilliant on your cheeks, cleavage and eyes. Most “shimmery” eye shadows photograph well in your wedding photos as long as they do not contain glitter.

Eyes – I always use a light hand when lining your lower lashes. A heavy line is not flattering and I don’t want it to smudge as this would create shadows and darkness under your eyes. I like to use a flat diagonal brush and feather the shadow gradually. This gives the most natural results with just the right amount of enhancement. I always use a waterproof mascara that matches your hair and complexion and the rest of your wedding make-up on your wedding day. I like to use a clean mascara that I am familiar so that the lashes do not become clumpy. Clumps will show in close up pictures and are extremely difficult for the photographers to fix digitally.

Powder – Powder is a must have make-up item on your wedding day. I always advise my clients to get their Bridesmaids to carry a powder in their clutch to prevent shiny skin reflected in flash photos. Lightly dusting your face with translucent or camera finish powder will set your make-up and give it a professional finish. If you have oily skin there are better ways to deal with shine than to bring powder along and continually applying it. I advise against this because adding layer upon layer of powder to your face will make it look “cakey” and unnatural. You don’t want your wedding make-up to look made-up. It is best to purchase inexpensive oil-blotting sheets.

Lips – Color on your lips is very important part of your wedding make-up look, but stay away from dark (or almost black) reds, it is much easier to digitally add color in your photos than it is to take it away. You do not want matte lips; you want them to look soft and shiny but not too glossy. High gloss will not photograph well. I like using a gloss and then blotting it using the oil absorbing sheets (the same as what you use to soak up any excess oil on your skin above.)

False Lashes are an inexpensive, simple and fun way to top of your make-up look for any special occasion. False eyelashes can have a dramatic effect on your look or they can be used to add fullness to your own lashes. They can take your night make-up from ordinary to something really special. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be used for fancy dress, daytime or evening wear. They are also reusable – the glue comes off easily and you can wear them up to 10 times depending on the quality. Here are some simple ways to make the most of your lashes.

Half Sets of Lashes

If you are after semi natural look but still want the ‘full lashes look’ use a half set of lashes. These can be purchased at some chemists/department stores for around the same price as your full set of lashes.

Tip– For the same effect just cut your full set of lashes in half. Try to find a set that is fairly symmetrical so that you don’t have to do too much cutting.

How To – Do your entire make-up as usual including mascara and eyeliner. Apply the adhesive glue to the half lash. Start from the middle of your upper lash line and work your way towards the outer corner of your eye. You want the lashes as close as possible to your natural lash line. Replicate on your other eye. Finish the look by applying a discrete flick of liquid eye liner at the outer corner of the eye – this will open your eyes further and create a sexy, feminine eye shape.

Ultimately, your normal lashes will blend in to the half strip of false lashes like they’re joined together. You can save the unused lash for another special occasion, this way you spend half the money and you have the sexy, delicate make-up look you desire.

Full Sets Lashes

Tip – My advice when choosing a full set of lashes is to choose carefully! They may look great in the box but decide on a set that will suit your special occasion – you can buy small, thin sets which look stunning for weddings but keep the big, thick, diamante lashes for fancy dress!!

How To – Apply the same as the half set of lashes as above. Don’t worry about the white glue, it will dry clear. They may feel a little strange at first especially if you not used to them but once the glue dries they should feel a lot more comfortable. Most full sets of lashes come in a standard size so to fit to your eye size cut the ends until they fit comfortably on your lash line. It is better to cut small amounts off at a time – you can always cut more off but you can’t glue it back on if you take too much off. Make sure both sides and both lashes are symmetrical for an even, balanced look.

Individual Lashes

Individual lashes may look daunting however after some practice they are simple to apply. Individual lashes look like small clusters of lashes which fan out gradually at the ends. There are 3 main lengths – small, medium and long. The long ones are pretty large so steer clear of these unless you naturally have super long lashes.

Tip – Individual lashes can be used to fill in the spaces between your lashes to create a fuller effect. You can also add a couple to the outer edges of your eyes to have them appear more open.

How To – Firstly, curl your lashes with eye lash curlers and do the rest of your eye make-up as normal (inc. eyeliner, mascara). Using tweezers, take a cluster of the individual lashes and dip them in your adhesive glue. I normally like to dab a little on the back of my hand so that you can control the amount of glue being applied. If you want a full set of individual lashes – Start from the outer corner, apply a couple of the shorter lashes then gradually work your way towards the middle of your lash line with the medium size lashes. As you get to the inner corners of your eyes go back to using the small size lashes. Make sure both sides are fairly even and balanced.

False lashes are a wonderful way to enhance your eyes. See my post on Makeup Tips To Enhance Your Eyes for more makeup tips for eyes.

HELP!  How do I fix my eye brows when I have over plucked??

If you have been in this horrible situation before, don’t despair. It is a sickening feeling when you have gone pluck happy. Next thing you know you are looking at yourself in the mirror panicking and thinking OMG what have I done…too far!!!  Lucky there are a few clever and quick make-up techniques you can use so that you do not have to wear over size glasses until they decide to forgive you and grow back (this can take days, months or even years!)

Eyeliner pencils are a fantastic way to fill in the gaps. Choose a shade that is similar to your eyebrow colour. Apply using small feathered motions in the same direction as your eyebrow hairs grow. If your pencil is too sharp, rub it on the top of a small flat/diagonal brush and apply using the same technique as the pencil – this will create a softer look.

Eye shadow is another clever way to fix those brows. Choose a matte eye shadow without shimmer. Also, select a good quality shadow with strong pigment – you can pick out a good eye shadow by touching it only once with your finger and the shadow on your finger should look exactly the same as it does in the eye shadow pallet. Use a small flat/ diagonal flat brush and start fanning out from the inner corners of your eyebrows out.

This technique can also be used if you have very fair brows and would like to re-shape them or make them darker (you may want to create a dark smokey eye look and need balance your brows so they don’t fade into the background.)

Everyone’s eyebrows are shaped differently however here is a good way to see how the perfect eyebrow is shaped: Hold a make-up brush against the side of your nose, facing vertically up to the inner corner of your eye. This is where your eyebrows should start. Then get you brush and hold it diagonally – look straight ahead and hold your brush so that it is in front of the pupil of your eye. This is where the arch of your eyebrow looks the best. Finally get your brush and hold it to nose again, this time point it to the outer corner of your eye. This is where the end of your eyebrow should be where the end of your eyebrow should finish.

Draw your brows so they are full to begin with then gradually get smaller as they progress. Start thinning out your brows with your make-up brush after the arch.

Eyebrows truly do shape your face so use these handy make-up techniques to create the beautiful brow shape you have always desired!!

Whilst a nicely shaped eyebrow can do wonders for your eyes so can a range of other makeup techniques.
Please see my post on Makeup Tips To Enhance Your Eyes and Lash Tips and Tricks

When we look at a person the eyes are the first thing we usually see. For women through the art of makeup, it is quite easy to accentuate the eyes and create a lovely look if you know how. As the old saying goes – eyes are the windows to the soul. Our eyes should look bright and clear but all too often they can reflect how tired and stressed we are not to mention our age. Below are some easy tips to hide tired eyes and with the right makeup applications, make them look fantastic.

Hiding Dark Circles Under The Eyes

Often dark under eye circles are caused by stress, poor diet, allergies or lack of sleep. Fortunately with the right cosmetics and the right tools it is fairly east to hide these dark circles.

Whenever working with the skin around the eyes take extra care as it is very delicate. First moisturise underneath the eye area to avoid the skin appearing dehydrated. If the skin is too dry it will enhance fine lines. Even oily skin needs to be moisturised first.

Choose a good quality concealer. A concealer is a must have item for the makeup kit. It comes in very handy to cover blemishes and dark circles but the trick is to use it sparingly. To hide dark circles apply it only to the darkest parts under your eyes (using it all over will draw attention to the area). After lightly blending it apply the tiniest amount of powder to set the concealer.

It’s best to use a colour that is slightly lighter than your foundation however if it is puffiness under the eyes you’re trying to hide then a slightly darker shade of concealer would be best.

Opening Up Your Eyes With The Use Of Mascara

No other makeup item is as effective as mascara. It is definitely a must have and is the icing on the cake when it come to making up eyes.
Mascara makes your eyelashes look thicker, blacker and longer. It opens up your eyes and makes them look glamorous.

All mascaras have a use by date. Mascara has an anti bacterial agent in it which makes it safe to use for about three months. After that your mascara could be a breeding ground for bacteria which could lead to eye infections. So don’t hang on to out of date mascara. You can usually tell by the way it smells and the texture which becomes thick and just doesn’t go on the same way anymore.

The best way to preserve your mascara and make it last is to apply it properly. Most people pump the wand in and out of the tube but this just adds air into the tube making the mascara dry up. Instead you should unscrew the lid and stir the mascara wand to load the brush. When you apply the mascara, start by wiggling the wand at the base of the lashes. It is the mascara placed near the roots not the tips , which gives the illusion of length. Then pull the wand up through the lashes, wiggling as you go. Finish by placing the wand on top of your lashes at the base and pull through to the tips to remove any clumps. Once your mascara has dried, do not apply any further coats as you will end up with thick and clumpy lashes.

Enhancing Your Eyes With False Eyelashes

For special occasions instead of using mascara on its own why not try false eyelashes.

False eyelashes are like magic really. They have the ability to enhance your eyes bringing out their natural beauty as well as making you look younger and creating a glamourous look. There are many different thicknesses and styles of false eyelashes and once you perfect the art of applying them you will become hooked. Not all false eyelashes have that huge fake look about them, in fact these days they can be very subtle while still creating a nice thick lash effect.

Follow these application steps as the very last thing you do in your makeup routine.

1.  Measure the lashes to the length of your own eyelid. Do this by placing the fake lashes on your eye as if you were going to apply them. Then snip the ends off so that they fit your eyes. If they are too wide, they will feel uncomfortable and look fake.

2. Using a good quality lash glue (it usually comes with the lashes) and put a small amount on the top of your hand. Gently run the edge of the lashes through the glue and wait 15-20 seconds before you apply it to allow the glue to get tacky.

3. Tilt your head back, pick up the lashes with your tweezers and place them just above your lash line. Make sure both ends are well stuck then once you have applied it keep your eyes closed for a minute or two to give the glue a chance to dry. Do the same for the other side. This gets easier with practice.

4. Once the glue has dried, add a small amount of mascara to both your natural and fake lashes to blend them together.

For a more detailed look at False Eyelashes please see my post – Lash Tips And Tricks

The Alluring Look Of Smoky Eyes

Smoky eyes are sexy and beautiful and easy to achieve if you know how. You can make the smoky effect light or dark. A common colour used in this look is black, however, you can use any colour brown, purple, green, whatever you like!

1. Conceal and powder all over and under eye. This is essential for all eye make-up as it forms the base and prevents your make-up from creasing and coming off.

2. Apply light-coloured eyeshadow all over your eyelid, from your eyelashes to your brow bone to help with blending.

3. Then take a dark shadow in a colour of your choice and, starting at the outer corner of the eye, apply the most colour to the outer corners, along the lash line, and up to the socket line. Now you need to blend blend blend, you don’t want to see where one colour starts or finishes!

4. Highlight your brow bone with any lighter shadow or shimmer.

5. Take the same dark eyeshadow that you used in step 3 and apply it underneath your lower lashes.

6. Brighten the inner corners of your eyes with a light shimmer dust.

7. Finish with black liner and loads of mascara on both your top and bottom lashes