AMW Makeover: Bridal Makeup

Hi AMW friends!
It's another Makeover day!  I hope you like the before and after photos I show and let me know if you have any questions by commenting below!

I've done a lovely bride last Saturday and I really enjoy being part of such exciting event!  That is one reason why I concentrate more on Bridal makeup because the energy is just amazing! 

Here's my gorgeous bride very pretty even sans makeup!

Before and After Noelle

Skin type: Oily and Acidic

Request: Keep the oil at bay at the same time, make sure foundation doesn't darken on her.

I did Trial Makeup on her several weeks before the wedding.  The makeup I've done on her for trial is lighter as compared to the day of her wedding.  Well, I always darken the makeup of my brides on the day of her wedding because of the harsh lighting from photographers.

AMW Makeover: Trial Makeup for Bride-to-Be

One thing that I love about wedding preparation is trial makeup!  I know some of my friends went through a lot of trial makeup before picking "the one", as for me, I was lucky enough to have just gone through 1 trial makeup and booked the makeup artist immediately.

Now that the tables have turned and I am the makeup artist, I understand and highly recommend clients to try as many makeup artists (as long as it fits their budget) because it is the greatest day of any woman's life to get married so looking great is not an option!

As for my first trial makeup this year, I am lucky to have met a wonderful woman whose inner beauty shone so bright she doesn't even need any makeup on!

Trial Makeup Client

Skin type: Normal, perspires easily

Request: None

My client's skin is almost perfect and all I need to do is to prime her skin with Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer as a base for her foundation to apply smoothly and last longer.  Since the client has normal skin, I went for the shade that matches exactly her face and neck and applied all over her face!  Because I want to make sure the client looks picture-perfect, I used Bobbi Brown Concealer and applied a good amount to lighten up the darkness under her eyes and set with a translucent powder.

To create a nice frame, I tinted her brows and filled in sparse area with brow powders by mixing dark and light shades.  It is very important to take extra time in this step and constantly check at the reflection to make sure both brows at least match. 

As for her eye makeup, I've decided to play with these colors:  Bronze, Cocoa, Shimmer Gold and Matte Black (from various brands MAC, Bobbi Brown, Lancome and Shu Uemura).  I've decided to define her eyes by lining her upper lash line with dark brown gel liner from MAC and use the remaining gel liner to line her lower lash line as gel liners stay longer and have lesser chance to smudge and smear.  

I picked my ES Lashes A134 from KKCenterHK and instead of using a pair, I picked only 1 lash and cut it in half and applied false lashes only on the outer corner of the client's eyes.  

Let's talk about contouring and highlighting, as for any makeup for photography, contouring and highlighting is very important to create dimension.  I contoured the client's nose, cheeks and chin and highlighted the bridge of her nose, the center of her face and her chin.  Product used was my favorite Stila Contouring and Highlighting powder.  This creates better looking skin!

As for her cheeks, I used Shu Uemura blush and finished off with a brown orange shade of lipstick.

How do you like this week's AMW Makeover?
How do you perceive your bridal makeup to be?

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Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
 

Tip for the Day: Why False Lashes are Needed on Any "Photograph" Day!

Happy month of May!!!

It is cute how  most of my clients would dismiss the idea of wearing falsies for the reason of: "It's not my wedding day!" 

Well, excuse you lovelies!  Wedding day or not, if you know you will have your photos taken, I strongly recommend you to at least, give false lashes a chance!  It makes a HUGE difference to your overall look!

I can prove it to you :)

Photo Below: Anonymous client who wants very light eye makeup (as she needs to carry her baby around).  Check how her "after false lashes" shot made her eyes look more alive and awake!

Of course, the quality of false lashes have to be really good!  Really good doesn't have to equate to really expensive!

Here are some of the brands I highly recommend ---

ES Brands by KKCenterHK

I love it that ES Brand recently came up with box of 5 pairs of different styles eyelashes for USD15.44 (approx Php664.00 + shipping not included).  I like taking these with me especially if I'm meeting the client for the first time and I wouldn't know her eye shape and makeup preference! 

I am also finding myself stocking on another favorite from ES Brand, the ES A599 lashes!  These also comes in 5 pairs!  I am liking this brand from KKCenterHK because its handmade, the stems are very thin and easy to maneuver at the same time, the lash hairs are super soft and lightweight!

ES A599 costs USD15.12 (approx Php650.00 + shipping not included) and I used this on the model's eyes above!  Feedback from clients are always positive and they would even keep the lashes for future use!

To those who are uncomfortable in terms of online shopping, you can easily order Flutter Eyelashes at Beauty & Minerals.  Quality are the same but the lashes they have are more dramatic ones!  

Available in - Drama Queen, Purr, Feisty and Majestic

A box of 10 pairs costs Php350.00 - 400.00 (approx $8.00-$9.30)

So, are you the type who would wear false lashes on special events or occasions?
If not, why?
Scared to apply false lashes on your own?
Feel free to check out my tutorial here.

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Nail Art Tutorial: I'm in the Galaxy

Good morning everyone!  Ahh Nail Art Tutorial is back!  I didn't stop doing nail art though but my last art was done so intricately but sad to say, no one was taking a photo and I was so engrossed in doing my "sunset" nail art that I didn't bother to take shots!  Don't worry though, given the chance to redo the nail art design and if my dearest photographer is "present" I'll definitely share to everyone!  Promise!

I finally got my KKCENTERHK haul!  It was one unique product that I thought of getting so I can share something unique for nail art lovers out there!

N. Nail Magnetic Nail Polish 

Pattern Shaping Magnet

Whew!  Such a long name!

I also got 2 unique X&D Magic Change nail polishes as this pattern shaping magnet won't work with regular nail polishes.

Comes with 3 plates with 3 unique designs

AMW Version: Here Comes the Rain

Rainy days can put me in a gloomy mood!  It's not because I hate the rain but I dislike the flood, traffic and danger it gives to everyone!  

I am trying to put something positive into everything that's happening around us that's why I thought of creating a Rainy Day Look!  I thought of the dark blue sky, that explains the colors I used!

AMW Diagram

Step 1:

Apply a primer if you want for the eyeshadow to look more vibrant and stay longer.  I used Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer.  I penciled my crease area with Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Teal and top it with Laura Mercier's Blue Sky Eye Quad using the color as pointed by the brush.

Step 2:

With a blending brush, blend out harsh lines from the blue shadow with Dollface Green shade eyeshadow.

Step 3:
Apply light shimmery orange eyeshadow (same from Dollface palette) on the brow bone area.

Step 4:

With a pencil brush, apply the same blue shadow used on Step 1 on the lower lash line.

Step 5:

Apply gel liner.  I am using KATE Gel Liner in Black

Optional:

Apply falsies.  I am using KKCenterHK's ES A155 which is one of the longest and fullest lashes I've tried to date. I am liking the lashes from ES as they are long but not heavy at all!  It feels so light!

 

  

Here Comes the Rain

What's on the rest of my face?

Secret!  *just joking* :P

For the Face

INuovi Lite Base  in 3Y

Revlon ColorStay Powder Foundation

For the Cheeks

MAC Superduper Natural Mineralized Blush

 For the Lips:
NYX Black Label Lipstick in Acapulco

Revlon Colorburst 004 Pink Ice

Rain or shine, 

I'm ready to face the world with a huge smile!

After I removed my falsies, here's how bare my real lashes look! :)

Girls can really cheat with makeup!
Guys....BEWARE!  *laughs*

Do you look different with falsies on?
It depends, the really long ones can give a huge impact to my tiny eyes!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Version: Smoke-ready Summer!

Happy mid-week!  After sharing my nail art for the week, I am sharing another version I've done on my *ahem* gorgeous face!  hahaha  Come on!  Give it to me, this is my blog anyway so you have no choice but...to keep on reading!  (please do!) hahaha

I've decided to play a bit with the smokey look as it's actually nice for people with small eyes!  I've also used a very light brow pencil for those readers who asked why their brow powders or pencils make their brows super dark!  The secret is the shade!   This is the lightest brow pencil shade from Paul & Joe. 

Wondering if you'll believe me if I say

these are my original lashes?  

(Are you shaking your head?)

AMW Diagram

I used my Urban Decay Primer Potion as base

Step 1:

Though I plan to create a dark smokey look, I used an aqua shade underneath.  Applied Ulta's Deep Sea eyeshadow all over the lids.

Step 2:

With Ulta's Galaxy Eye Shadow, pat on the color on top of the blue base that I've created on step 1.  Blend well and add as you go on.  Do not worry about fall-outs at this stage, you can use a huge powder brush to brush it off afterwards.

Use a pencil brush to apply on the lower lash line.

Step 3:

With Ulta's Calla Lily, apply on the brow bone area including the inner corners of the eye and inner lower lash line.

Step 4:

Lined my eyes with Stila Smudge Pots in Black with the remaining gel liner on the brush, apply a bit on the lower lash line to define your eyes. 

Filled my brows and color them light with Paul & Joe Eyebrow Pencil no. 4.  Shade is equivalent to Blonde.

 

Applied false lashes.  

I used EO Lashes from KKCenterHK A88 Lashes

with DUO lash glue

The lashes may look too wild and fake on box but once applied on the eyes, it works perfectly on me and it looks amazing on photos! Very lightweight and it doesn't make me teary-eyed as compared to similar style of lashes.

AMW Version: Smoke-ready Summer

Check out what I used for the rest of my face

I opted to go for orange cheeks and lips as it's a nice color perfect for the summer!

For the face:
Revlon's ColorStay Aqua Mineral Makeup Foundation

in

For the Cheeks:
Paul & Joe Face Color 08
or use any peachy orange blush

For the Lips:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren

Fix your hair and smile!

I want to thank Modess Philippines for sending the 2 shirts that says:

"'di lang ako basta babae" (I'm not just a regular girl)

Lalaki din ako (I'm also a boy!)...joke! hahaha

Modess Angels

Got 2 colored shirts from Tomato.  One will be given to my SIL! :)

Aside from being a Modess Angel, I would strongly suggest everyone to be an Angel to at least..somebody today!  It's not that difficult!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Version: "Work and Play"

(Note from author: All previous comments were gone due to Blogger issues)
Some of the AMW readers asked me what's the right look to sport that they can wear during the office that would still look perfect after office!  I understand how difficult it is to go to your office lugging your whole make-up kit or probably have your make-up done at home but really?  A party make-up inside the office? 

I've created a wearable look that's effective for "Work and Play" with the help of my new Revlon Colorstay 12 Hour Eye Shadow compact. 

How I wish I could brag about my "full lashes" ---> not real! :P

AMW Diagram

Prior to eyeshadow application, I primed my lids with Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer.  Using The Body Shop Kajal Eye Liner in 02 Evergreen, I applied this all over the crease going beyond.  I don't mind if its not drawn perfectly, this only serves as a base for my light colored shadow.

Step 1:

Apply the Green shadow on top of the TBS Kajal Eyeliner Evergreen base.  The pigmentation of the Revlon Colorstay Quad is not that dark, so a good base is important to make the color pop.

Step 2:

I used the same brush to apply the purple shade on the outer corner of my eyes creating a "fake" deep set eyes.  Same quad was used. 

With a smaller pencil brush, apply the same shade on the lower lash line.

Step 3:

With the eye shadow applicator, applied the pearl white shade on the brow bone area to highlight the area.  This trick helps create a bigger eyes.

Step 4:

Used E.L.F. Cream Eyeliner in Black for eyelining with my favorite Ecotools brush.

Fill in my brows with the recently reviewed 

"The Face Shop Lovely ME-EX Auto Eyebrow Pencil"

Since this look needs to fit for after office "play", I chose to use falsies.  In this tutorial, I've used Eye's Chic Eyelashes no. 815 from KKCenterHK.

Note from AMW: I am loving the lashes from KKCenterHK because no matter how thick or long my lashes look, they remain to feel so natural and light!  I've used a lot of the lashes from the said company to my clients who are first-time falsies user and they told me that they feel surprisingly comfortable with it! 

My eyes are ready to work and play!

Now the rest of my face should also get ready!

For the face

CK Infinite Matte Oil-Free Foundation in Porcelain

Lunasol Micro Finish Powder to set

For the Cheeks

E.L.F. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder

For the Lips

Revlon Colorburst Gloss in 004 Pink Ice Glace Rose

You can change your lip color into something brighter when you're off from work!  The nude lips work perfectly to counteract the dark eyes (dark in person).  At the end of the day, your eyeshadow may fade a bit so bright lips is going to rock the party world! :)

What's your Work and Play look?
Share to us for more inspiration!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!