Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Eve Pearl-Aquisitions


Top Row L-R 
ChaCha, Park Avenue Rose, Pink Stiletto, Love Story, Enchanted, Nude Beach
Middle Row L-R
Minosa, Blushed,Vampire Kiss, Amaretto, Cherry Cola, Hollywood Affair
Bottom Row L-R
Climax, Stardust, Baby Doll, Hot Chocolate, Brown Sugar, Skinny Dip




So I couldn't resist the Eve pearl Discount promotion-and just had to order a few things...I'm a true sucker for palettes- love naything where I get multiple options/colors/ etc- because it just expands the uses and makes me feel like i've got every base covered- and will nevr be caight short with something I need, but don't have.
I ordered the Cylinder Brush Holder- to travel & store- and use on set- all my brushes. I'm hoping this will streamline my working- so we'll see- I have yet to use it, as it came flattened- and I have placed round bottles in it to sit for awhile & stretch it out....
Without Flash
I also ordered the professional clear travel makeup bag- for on set work- I now use a black backback- which I will prob keep for those mountain hiking/woods crawling shoots I do with a specific photographer (Stephanie- you know who you are!) but the clear will make it so much easier to find, at a glance, exactly what I'm looking for- and it has a long strap that I can wear over the shoulder, or cross body.
The only true cosmetics product I ordered was lipstick.....
With Flash
I ordered the Dual Performance Lip Color- Ultimate Palette- and at 55% off I thought it was a great deal at $18, as opposed to $40- When I opened the palette- i was quite shocked at how small it was- about 4 inches long, and about 2 1/2 inches tall- and with it containing 18 colors- you can imagine that each well is very tiny, each being just slightly smaller than the size of a dime. I also find that a lot of the colors are very similar in shade- a lot of pinks, and mauves, and bugundy-ish colors. There are two distinct reds- one yellow based, and one blue based- (top row, farthest right, & second row, first from left) and if those weren't represented I would have written off this whole palette- because both are key to any good lip palette- the yellow based color, however- does show very coral- and would need to be mixed with the other red- to brighten it to a TRUE red shade. There's only one color, Cha Cha, that I would call a "nude" and even that may be to pinky/coral for all complexions- it did not work well with my sallow skin. There are a couple that have some shimmer, but are fairly sheer so I don't think it would preclude anyone from using those particular shades for everyday wear, I would be more hesitant on a photoshoot.  I was concerned, once I saw how small the palette was, that perhaps the lipsticks themselves would also fall shorter than my expectations by being really sheer, and devoid of great pigmentation- that would have taken this palette from being a decent deal at $18-to an abysmal failure and complete and utter waste of good money. I was gratified, however, to find the pigmentaion in most of these lipsticks to be excellent! They are small, yes, but very little is needed to get good coverage, and color payoff. I barely broke the surface of one of the colors and did my entire top & bottom lip (swatching different colors on each lip) to good payoff. The colors are reasonably creamy and all have shine- none are a matte shade- so if you're looking  for matte cream-this is not the palette for you. I would say- a good deal at $18, I will most likely use several of these on some shoots, but I would be very hesitant to shell out $40 for this palette. I will try powdering down, and layering some of these colors- and report back how well this works- as it will double the versatility of many of these shades. I will also make a point to mix shades (since I pretty much do that anyway- I rarely use a shade straight-up).
I would have liked to see more, brown, caramel, nude matte colors- and perhaps a few good mattes- in red, nude, & burgundy. I think, while payoff is good, there are better palettes- such as Graftobian, to be had.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hire an MUA!

here's a non-model I did!
 I have been doing plenty of makeup, but lately it's really been more promotional makeup for my cosmetics line, rather than shoots. though i am waiting to hear back from a photographer regarding the definite date for our shoot- a jewelry look book w/ a NY designer- when that comes about I may get a shot that I can share, but you never know- usually the shots don't belong to you- since the client paid for them, and your services, but we'll see! I should get some pics of the "real" women I do every day- they are awesome- and usually a true inspiration to me- they are so grateful for my teaching them how to look their best, and they're not shy in letting me know it! I get a lot of satisfaction from this kind of work- I don't believe all those makeup artist secrets should be kept just for the pages of a magazine, or a slick ad campaign- I think every women deserves to know the techniques to improving their look. I do recommend hiring a true MUA to instruct you- we know bone structure, eye shape, face shape, skin texture, tone & undertone, color theory- all this and more- and can determine which techniques will work for you- it's not just some random slapping on of color here, there, and everywhere, but rather using light and shadow- as well as what we see in your unique person- that helps us decide what looks best, and why...then it's our job to teach you!