Friday, January 30, 2009

Beauty Tips

By Raquel Siders, Creator and Master Artist of VIP-CAT Academy of Cosmetic Arts
MAKEUP APPLICATION TIPS:
CleanseCleanse face thoroughly using Japanese Wash Cloth with your favorite cleanser.

Moisturizer (Preferably after bath or shower). Make sure your moisturizer isn’t too greasy. Blot moisturizer off face gently with a tissue if this occurs before applying foundation.

FoundationWhen purchasing foundation ask your makeup artist to test color on forehead or décolleté'. It should blend with your skin tone. When applying foundation start at forehead and work down horizontally. Make sure foundation is blended well over eyes and under eyes as well as underneath the jaw line, and down the neck. Apply with either fingertips or sponges.
Always blend foundation onto eyelids and lips; this will make your eye shadows and lipstick set and stay better throughout the day!
Always check your foundation color in the daylight.

ConcealerAny dark circles under eyes or imperfections in the skin can be covered with concealer. May be applied before foundation or after.

PowderThis will set your foundation and give it a matte finish. This is very important when doing photography - you should always aim for no shine. Powder well with a powder brush. When being photographed, apply a bit of powder to neck and chest as the skin without the foundation absorbs the light. On mature skin be careful not to powder too much under eye area, as it may become to dry looking.

EyebrowsUse eyebrow pencil or powder and angular eyebrow brush. In most cases the highest part of the brow arch should be just past iris of eye. There are clear mascara products on the market I highly recommend, as this will set the brow to give it a nice clean appearance. Put this on after your brows have been filled to your liking.
*If your brows are unruly, try and get a professional to do a good wax on them and tweeze any stray hairs along the way.

Eyeshadow1.Lid Color
2. Highlight or Brow color
3. Crease Color
This is a very conventional way of applying eye shadow, I find this works with most clients but remember there are no rules in applying makeup, whatever works for you and gives you the best results is what I recommend you go with.Remember there are many different eye shadow shapes and each one can give you a totally different kind of look, experiment and have fun with it!

EyelinerApply eyeliner as close to your lashes as possible. There is nothing more uncomplimentary then when you see the white line between the lashes and eyeliner line. Choose powder, gel or liquid (I don’t like pencil because it moves as your body heats up and doesn’t stay well). The first point of contact with your brush is going to be the darkest. Start on the outer corner and work your way in, feathering in your eyeliner until you reach the inner corner. This is not easy. Practice, Practice, Practice!

MascaraA fanning, wiggling type movement from side to side followed by brushing the lashes outward, is what I like to do. If you do get the odd clump, separate with metal lash comb, you can purchase this in drugstores or beauty supply stores. BUT be careful, it’s very easy to poke yourself in the eye with these.

LipsLine lips with lip liner. Make sure your lip pencil is sharpened. Lining lips prevents bleeding of lipstick. Follow natural lip line. Fill in lip color, blot and reapply lipstick Gloss (optional)
* Powder first coat of lip liner and then reapply it will last longer

BlushApply to apple of cheek, and dust on tip of nose and forehead. Make sure you don’t see lines. Set make up with powder once again.
*Blend well. Use a good blush brush, dip into your blush powder, shake off or if it's your personal brush blow off any excess powder and apply to areas I mentioned above, lightly.

Finding the Right Makeup Artist for Your Wedding Day

If you are planning on hiring a professional makeup artist on your wedding day, find an artist you are comfortable with, one who listens to your needs and one who offers constructive advice. Look at portfolios if available and do a trial run so you can see how you will look on your wedding day. At the time of the trial run try and have your hair done in the way you'll be wearing it on your wedding day as different hairstyles influence the way your makeup should be done.

When you decide on the lipstick, lip pencil and perhaps gloss and powder you will be wearing the day of your wedding, ask the makeup artist if it is possible to purchase those particular products for the day of your wedding as touch ups in those particular areas will be required. If you have a particular color you want to wear on your lips bring it to the trial run and see if it works with the overall look. Some makeup artists will ask the bride and the bridal party to bring their own mascara. This is for sanitary reasons only! It is always a good idea to take this precaution. Make sure when doing your trial run to view makeup in different lights if that is possible.
It is ideal to apply makeup in a room with natural light. If you feel comfortable with your makeup at the end of your trial run, book immediately with the makeup artist because if you are marrying during a busy season your makeup artist will not hold the date without a commitment.

Precautions
Have a facial: 2-3 weeks before would be ideal to avoid breakouts.
Try to avoid testing new products on your skin as an allergy could occur. Again 2-3 weeks before would be ideal if you must try something new.

Avoid stress: I know this is hard at this time but the week before pamper yourself as much as possible. Warm baths, pedicure, manicure, massage any of these would be helpful if you have the time for it.

Drink lots of water: Try to avoid alcohol if possible. I know it's hard with all the extra entertaining you'll be doing but alcohol does dehydrate the skin and can cause breakouts.
Your lasting memories will be in the photographs and videos you take on your wedding day.
Make sure you look the best you can!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Winter Makeup

Longer nights, darker shades, the year deepens and becomes more romantic, more mysterious. The light colors of summer deepen, growing richer as the year comes to it’s close. Fall Fashion embodies a richer look, a look made famous long ago by the Mod, dark smoky eyes, nude lip and flawless skin. Colors darken, leaving behind the bright pinks and peaches of the summer lines. Deep plums, warm browns, cool charcoals and vibrant gold come to life. Chanel and Dior are advancing new lines where gold reigns supreme. This year the Modern Mod will reign, her eyes, smoky shades of gray and gold, her lips a soft neutral, her skin smooth and flawless.
Smoky eyes with well blended lines, thick smoked out liner. Use colors that compliment you, charcoal or black, olive green, plum or chocolate brown. Highlight your brow bone and lid with a shimmer of VIP-CAT’s White on Gold eye shadow. Then fill the crease with a dark shade of your choosing and blend well. Blend is your friend, always blending up and out, giving contour and depth.
The desired look this fall for lashes is an almost fake appearance, thick and lustrous, thick with black mascara. What better way to achieve that look then by having your lashes professionally extended by a trained stylist at Image Provocateur? Properly applied Lash Extensions will give your eye that thick lustrous fringe and last through fall and into winter with proper care.
Your brows should be properly arched an almost ingénue look, a simple almost natural look like Audrey Hepburn, or if you like the dramatic arch, think Marilyn Monroe. Proper tweezing or waxing can achieve the desired shape.
Light blushing on cheeks and easing contouring over flawless foundation and powder can be used for a neutral look. The original Mod of the 1960’s chose pale skin and lips, her eyes standing out in an almost waif like pale face. However the modern Mod wants a more neutral look, natural toned skin, so light blush and contouring will achieve this for you.
Your lips should be a shade quite similar to your own natural lip color, something simple and neutral, not quite nude, but not made up. However, if you desire color, the simple red lip is a lifetime classic and will turn an easy day look into a dramatic evening look.
Long live the modern Mod, her of the smoky eye and thick lash.
The Modern Mod, the Diva rules the night and by day the Sweet Romantic is the queen. Her skin glows, flawless, her cheeks flushed, her lips rosy like they’ve just been kissed. This flawless romantic look starts with smooth foundation, pressed powder and light, rosy blush on cheeks. Her eyes are contoured softly with a neutral golden brown in the crease, blended out to give depth and warmth. A soft shimmer of White on Gold on the lid and brown bone gives a warm glow to her eyes. A little White on Gold along the top of the cheek bone and down the bridge of the nose will add a nice sparkle to your skin and is a wonderful highlighter for the contour process as well.
Lashes are natural, brows nicely arched to frame the eyes. The lips are a brighter shade of your own natural lip tone, a color that inspires that full lipped, just kissed look, and for added plumping a dab of White on Gold in the very center of the bottom lip will do nicely.
By day a glowing, soft romantic, by night a Modern Diva. You can be all these things with the right makeup. Image Provocateur & VIP-CAT Cosmetics will bring out the look you need. Come in for a personal training class with a Master Makeup Artist and learn all the tricks and gentle nuances that only the professionals know.
Image Provocateur, Where your Image is everything.