Q&A With Stephen Moleski

Last month, I got the opportunity to interview Stephen Moleski, a celebrity makeup artist.  I am so happy with the chance and I thought of some questions right away to be shared to you!

He has worked with Kim Kardasian, Mel B., The Pussy Cat Dolls and Adrienne Bailon.

He recently launched his own eyelash line by the name of Smoke and Beauty Mirrors. Jennifer Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Carrie Underwood are all fans of his amazing lash line.

 

AMW - Can you please describe to me your or distinct/unique make-up style? (glam, natural? etc..) Your Kim Kardashian's "The Smokey Eye" makeup is really famous worldwide by the way! Congratulations!

Stephen - Thank you! I love when a woman looks in the mirrror and makes “that look” and is in love with herself. She feels sexy no matter what is going on in her day or life. I love to bring out everything that makes up the woman. the smokey Iook is a traditional glamourous look that can be done on many skin-tones. I love the Glam why elese put makeup on?

AMW - What made you decide to go on and pursue a make-up career?  How old were you then?  

Stephen - I was always an artist from the time I was 5. I fell into makeup though when I decided not to go to art school cause I didn’t want to be a “starving artist”.
My friend was a local fashion designer and needed help with his shows. After a few months of helping him and the makeup artist. Someone said “Your really great at makeup! Thats when the lightbulb went off and I knew what my destiny was! and how I was “Not” going to be a starving artist! 

AMW - What are the top 5 makeup items a woman should have?  You can disclose specific brands too :)

Stephen - Smoke and Mirrors Beauty Lashes, Beauty Blender, Japonesque eyelash curler, Studio fix mascara - LOVE! Girlactik skin tint Moisturizer, YSL semi loose powder

AMW - What's the most difficult make-up project you've done and how did you cope with it?

Stephen - I havent had one.... I love makeup so its all easy... 

AMW - What's the most requested make-up look by celebrities?

Stephen - Smokey eye 

AMW - I know you came up with your own brand of lashes called SmokAndMirrors Beauty,  can you tell us what is the difference of your lashes as compared to other brands available in the market?

Stephen - Mine are custom lashes I designed for my clients now available to the public. The lashes are the highest quality human hair and the band is light weight and silicone do it is much more comfortable and flexible. 

AMW - Any tips or advice you can share to AskMeWhats.com readers?  

Stephen - An eyelash curler is your best friend!~ Don’t be scared of makeup, try new looks ... it washes off!

Thanks Stephen for taking the time to answer my queries.  If you want more information about Stephen Moleski and his brand. Visit  www.StephenMoleski.com and www.smokeandmirrorsbeauty.com. 

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

For the past 2 weeks, I've been stressed out with so many things!  It was a perfect timing for me to add up to my stress level by finally adding Disqus on my blog!  If you read my tweets, you would know how much I love the new comment tool but hates the fact that I lost all my old comments.  Well, not really "lost" but I can't seem to make it visible as I always get IMPORT ERROR!  If anyone knows how to tweak HTML because I want to make Disqus possible only to future posts and leave the past comments the way it is.

Am I asking too much?  I think not! :P

If you're wondering why I'm sharing "one of my stress" is because for the past 2 weeks, my stress level shot all the way up and I've been stressing out a lot of things!  Adding up to the stress are positive vibes like TV guestings, make-up gigs etc...those good vibes are great but left me with no ample amount of sleep or rest!

(inserts Eureka Moment music here)

The Point Is!  I've been lacking sleep for the past week and I am surprised I don't look like a walking zombie at all!  And I'll share to you the reason why! A lot of raves and I'll share to you the weak points of this product! 

Clinique All About Eyes Serum
De-Puffing Eye Massage

**photo taken from Clinique website

The product itself does not sound as exciting as the first time I heard about such innovation through Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll On (review HERE).

Clinique All About Eyes Serum says ---

This instantly cooling rollerball helps massage away bags, refreshes and hydrates puffy eyes on contact. Brightens eye area immediately and over time. Combats dark circles, too. With caffeine, potent antioxidants and soothing botanicals. Oil-free, non-irritating. Ophthalmologist Tested.

AMW Bulletin: Click For A Tree by Tupperware Brands

I got an email from May of Tupperware brands asking for our help to spread the word about a campaign worth sharing!  

Click For A Tree

Tupperware Brands shows its support to participate to the global World Environment Day celebration with this campaign.  It aims to gather 10,000 clicks for protection of 1,000 trees for one year in the La Mesa Watershed, where Bantay Kalikasan has started a reforestation program in 1999.  The La Mesa Watershed, the last forest of its size within Metro Manila, is the source of water for over 12 million people in Metro Manila and is the transit point of water coming from three other watersheds.

Statement above is true and I hope it moved you a bit!  And if it did!  Here's what you can do to help out!

Tupperware Brands is the authorized distributor of some of the world's prestigious brands including Tupperware, Colour Collection, Ivana, Wonderbra, Playtex, Hanes, Baby Care Plus, Circus and Zwitsal.  For your questions and inquiries on how to be a dealer, log on to www.tupperwarebrands.ph or email questions@tupperware.ph.

I couldn't be more excited to share my own "CLICK" to join the pledge for "greener planet"!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

(Note: Author is not affiliated with the company/brand.  This post is for information purpose only.)

AMW Reviews: EOS Sweet Mint LIp Balm

EOS - Evolution of Smooth

The name itself says it all!  I've seen various beauty bloggers raving about the said spherical-cased lip balm!  I've been wanting one myself but I swore myself not to do much international online shopping because it takes forever an a day before it reaches me!

Thanks to my dearest Shobe Sophie for giving me one to try!  And she knows me too well because she gave me the flavor I would choose in a blink of the eye ---  MINT!

After a week of using this on a daily basis, I will give my initial review as I have been applying and re-applying this on my lips for "God can't even remember!" :P 

Here's how the inside looks!

EOS Lip Balm says ---

Can a lip balm make you smile? We think so. That's why we invented this one.

• Long-lasting moisture
• Shea butter & vitamin E
• Smooths on clear
• New smooth sphere precisely glides on to lips
• Twist-off top
• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• Petrolatum-free
• Phthalate-free

EOS lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, EOS keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

Available in: Summer Fruit, Lemon Drop, Honeysuckle Honeydew, Medicated Tangerine and Sweet Mint.

AMW says ---

Pros

• Packaging is the cutest I've seen!  Enough said!

 

• Sealed quite well once new. Expiration date printed on the packaging.

• The packaging can stand on its own which makes it easy to put on top of your work desk or vanity table.
• 95% Organic, makes me confident to apply this on my lips and I wouldn't mind eating this!
• No petroleum or paraben that other lip balms have!
• Not tested on animals!
• Inexpensive, I've checked multiply sellers selling these for less than Php400.00.
• Because of its unique shape, packaging, easy glide-on-lips balm, I find myself addicted to re-applying my lip balm which makes my lips more moisturized!
• I do not need to blot my lip balm before lipstick application as this one isn't waxy so lipsticks do not glide off.
• The minty feel of Sweet Mint lasts for more than 10 minutes! 
• With its wider shape, its easy to apply also on the corners of my mouth and outside the lip area which usually dries up easily on me.

Cons

• Not super moisturizing as expected.
• Not widely available in local market.
• The lines on my lips did not disappear or at least lessen its appearance.
• I was told that not all the scent are a hit!  It really depends on your personal preference.
• Once you lick your lips, you can literally taste a very sweet, sugar-like substance.  

Overall

The texture of EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm is almost the same as my favorite Mentholatum Lip Ice in Lemon minus the waxy feel!  This is going up the notch as my favorite lip balm because of the fact that its Organic and Paraben-free! 

Tips

• Read ingredients list and expiration date before you peel off the wrap!  All the writings will be gone! 
• Slowly twist the cap to prevent ruining the cute lip balm!
• Apply this on clean and dry lips!
• As much as possible, wipe the top part of the balm with a clean tissue at least once a day.

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone who likes lip balm application.

Where to purchase and how much?
Search local resellers via Multiply.  Price between Php300.00-450.00 (approx $7.00-$10.00).

Here's the size of EOS Lip Balm
A bit bulky for a lip balm but 
I like how I can easily grab this inside my bag!

Have you tried this famous lip balm?
How do you like it?
I personally think there are better lip balms out there BUT
because of its smart packaging, gorgeous Sweet Mint scent, I can't stop re-applying!
*re-applies* Seriously, I just did!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Nail Art Tutorial: AMW Nails on StyleSpeak July 2011 Edition

Happy Tuesday!  Because of my super busy schedule over the weekend, I wasn't able to do my nails but it does not mean that I won't be showing off my nail art for the week!

Last month, I was contacted again by the wonderful staffs of StyleSpeak Salon & Spa Journal (India).  I've contributed to them my Christmas Nails which was featured January 2011!

One feature was enough to put me on Cloud 9!  But thanks to the people working for StyleSpeak for entrusting me with another nail project!  I was requested to do a Water Marble Art specifically for The Nail Issue StyleSpeak!   How can I say no to such sweet request?  

If you have seen my nail art tutorials, you've probably noticed how I don't do Water Marbling because I find drawing my nails therapeutic, and I didn't know I was going to enjoy this nail art design as much as regular drawing! 

After a couple of tests, I've finally came up with my favorite shades which is evident that I like them so much because it was the similar color I used as my wedding theme.

Blues and Pinks!

A closer look on how random the lines are but still look presentable!

I finally got my own hardcopy of 

StyleSpeak Salon & Spa Journal 

The Nail Issue July 2011!  

My own 2 full page article on Marble Art

You can checkout instructions by clicking the photo to enlarge!

2nd page to finish the Marble Art technique

Some tips to keep in mind if you plan to do Water Marble Nail Art ---

• Always test your nail polish by dropping it on distilled water and see if the polish will spread out.
• Do this on room temperature and never do this in front of a fan.  It may dry out the polish easier thus preventing it to spread out.
• Be creative, do not worry about color combination but drop as many shades as you want!
• Tape your fingers as this can get really messy!
• Use a sharp tip to spread or create random designs!  Each nail doesn't have to look exactly the same so...chill! :P
• When it comes to dropping polish shades, work fast!  Super fast!
• For the water marble to show up better, use a Matte White polish underneath.  Then once you're comfortable with this technique, you can experiment with different shades as base.

Any other tips you may share? 
Thanks StyleSpeak India for yet another chance!
I will hold onto the copies for life!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!