GdL-Beauty Bloggers

Seasonal Blockbusters and palettes, LTD sets oh My!

2011-12-02T12:11:00.001-08:00

NARS Kudoki Kabuki Lip Set $125 Limited Edition


DIOR Limited Edition Mitzah Eyeshadow for pricing Dior.com

SEPHORA. $49 (click Sephora)

SEPHORA. $34 Limited Edition
Hello Kitty Eyes/Lip palette

Bobbi Brown's Lip palette $60 (click Bobbi Brown)

SMASH BOX!
(click SMASHBOX)

Betty Davis Eyes

2011-11-21T15:46:00.001-08:00

A client came to my mind the other day. Madeline, an 80+ year old diva client who was attending an evening black-tie affair. She was a beauty in her day with striking bone structure, piercing green eyes, tall, thin and proud of her pale porcelain skin which she honors by staying completely out of the sun and celebrates by contrasting with very red lipstick. She swam in No. 5 and beautiful jewelry, wears her dark brown short hair slicked back and carries on like Liza on a Broadway stage.

A very particular client, but I was able to ease her into some improvements as well as rediscover and learn. I softened her thin drawn in black eyebrows w/ dark brown powder & fluffed out the edges. "As long as they are lonnnnng darling. LONG." Ok, long but proportioned. She gave thumbs up. She let me take down her rouge and give her highlights (using Chanel's Lumiere Sculptee around her eyes and the top of her cheeks). "Just add a dash of rouge and I'll be delighted." Done! But just a dash. I received a wink and a click sound from her back teeth simultaneously.

All done, final look. "Good work." But then she asked me for a green pencil. Horrible thoughts came to my mind, but I gave her what she wanted. After she received Black Jade pencil she passed it sharply back and forth inside her crease then handed the pencil back to me and said: "Now doll-face finish the drama! I want Betty Davis eyes!" When she was done the lines were all over the place. I was doubtful about this technique on such eyes, and actually went back in with a blending brush and eyeshadow to buff out what she did. When I was happy w/ the smokey gradation I gave her the mirror. She looked and said: "More" then reached back in for the pencil. "Just take it across the top here. I've been doing this for years." So, I took the Black Jade pencil back through darkening the crease until enough was enough. I was stunned by the results. Madeline's eyes could handle a cut-crease. When I handed the mirror back Madeline reached up to my face and said: "You make an old gal look like a million bucks baby." Gotta love it! Just goes to show that MAKEUP IS NOT COOKIE CUTTER and sometimes rules don't apply. I was worried that her older eyes wouldn't be able to handle the drama of a cut-crease but dear Madeline looked absolutely perfect for her affair that night.

Great lesson for me especially because I have clients "you never know everything there is to know all the time, even if you're the only professional in the room." I will always think of Madeline whenever I use my black jade pencil.

Mad Lashes

2011-09-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Right now we happen to be a little MAD about faux lash applications. So we've been on a hunt. Searching for the best glue, eye lashes, remover and deal on bulk purchases in NYC. It has become a bit of a challenge, but here are some cool things we found:

The Faux LASH

We found a bulk lash deal at a little wig, hair and random stuff store called Kikko Imports. Address: 825 Avenue of the Americas, Floor 2 New York, NY 10001-6364 (212) 695-6065 (Not without some serious negotiating, Cris got 24 boxes of assorted lashes, individuals, strips, demi, flare, short, medium, etc for $40.) FYI: Regular falsies @ drugstores cost on average over $3 each these days. So, Kikko Imports is a major SCORE.

Just around the corner, Helena's, a wig store that carries a variety of lashes also. Prices are not competitive, but selection is. They definitely have more options. We love these single short individuals for lower lashes but they are best for upper lashline fill-ins. Check out Helena Collection (click) Address: 120 W 31st St # 1, New York, NY 10001-3407 (212) 967-9945

Image: Helena Collection (Singles)

MORE?

For those of you who would like a more ENDURING application we suggest: Deneen Marchel NovaLash Extension Expert (click). Take a look at her services then give her call. If you have any questions remaining or wish to schedule an appointment contact info follows: T: 267.918.8319 Or shoot her an email E: deneen@deneenmarcellashes.com

The GLUE

We like several, so we can tell you what we DON'T LIKE and only highly recommend a few. DON'T LIKE: Any glue that comes w/ the pack in the drugstore. Why? Well, it won't endure all your eyes go through. PASS! Kikko offered us a large bottle of nameless glue but we declined. Why? No names no ingredients on the packaging. PASS! Weave glue (usually local hair salons that offer eyelash applications use weave glue.) PASS! Why? Is that stuff made for sensitive eye area? Hmmm...PASS! We also don't really like clear glue or white glue. Why? It's never really invisible. It flakes when it dries down almost all the time.

We recommend DUO eyelash adhesive in (dark tone) and Ardell Lash tite in (black):

DUO in Dark Tone

Ardell Lashtite in Black

The GLUE REMOVER

We are torn. We like to use an oil-base eye makeup remover which is made for the fragile eye area rather than most of the things on the market. But we do like Ardell's LashFree remover.

Ardell LashFree Remover

To determine which faux lashes work for your eye shape check out Ardell's eye shape guide (click).

MORE RESOURCES UPDATE ($1.05 @ rockeytrading.com for bulk orders min purchase of $75 great for kit!:)
buyfakeeyelashes.com, eyelashsupplier.com, rockeytrading.com

Wink Bat Blink,

GdL

THE RED RED LIP

2011-09-09T02:12:00.000-07:00


Ajak Deng (Style.com)

BEAUTY TREND NOW

We are just obsessed with RED LIPS!  It's everywhere!  Thick bushy  brows, black mascara (also digging faux lashes this season) AND  perfectly lined RED LIPS. Ask Fei Fei Sun (our girl pictured below) and Ajak Deng (pictured right.)  

All the runways this Fall seem to feature gorgeous luscious red lips paired with very clean sheer foundation. Textures for the REDS are matte to cream. GdL has a few suggestions you will love: 

Smashbox - Legendary (bright blue red, creamy, for all skin tones)

MAC - Ruby Woo, Russian Red (bright, blue reds, matte, fair to medium dark tones) So Chaud (bright, red orange, matte, fair to medium dark tones)


Fei Fei Sun (Style.com)

Laura Mercier - Bing Cherry  (warm & rich, brown/orange red, really looks like a bing cherry, it's the best way to describe this color, creamy, great for all skin tones) 

Nars - Shangai Express (warm, brick red, matte, great on all but especially on Olive to Dark skin tones)

These are personal favs! Oh, how could we leave out this fabulous drugstore find for $4.99 NYX's Mega Shine Lipgloss in Plush Red (blue red, perfect combination of cool and bright, ok on fair, but great on Olive to Dark skin tone)

It's back to the classics lovelies!

Ruby Woo Kisses,

GdL

How to BECOME A MUA series- Always learning

2011-09-03T00:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Aspiring MUAs,

I had the pleasure of working with Pro-MUA Michiko Boorberg on the set of Yahoo series THE THREAD. She turned out beautiful hair and makeup in such an easy effortless way. We got a chance to talk in between makeup applications and she gave me some really good advice, even gave me an impromptu blow drying lesson. She was extremely generous with everything she knew. Thanks Michiko!

This was a great experience and I just love working in easy environments where everyone understands there's no need for DIVATUDE. Anyway, here are some things she shed light on for all you aspiring Makeup Artists and freelancers:

Learn how to do hair - styling, that includes grooming for men. Having other skills in the beauty industry increases your value; makes you a double threat. It's also easier to get in the tents during FW.
This industry is very small. Everyone knows everyone. Always be as professional as possible. Let your work and good reputation speak for itself. Build good professional relationships with clients and never cross the line with too many opinions. Give your clients what they want not what you think they should have.
Save all receipts for tax time - travel, purchases for kit, etc. Check out this video: 1040 Schedule C Business expenses (write offs) expertise
An agency can handle all the nonsense you as an Artist don't want to deal with. They can negotiate rates for you. An agency can also get you more exposure than you would on your own. But you have to be ready for the agency to take sometimes a really big percentage of your earnings. Another thing, being signed to an agency (especially if they have a lot of MUArtist signed already) doesn't guarantee work.

Ok lovely aspiring MUAs, be smart and don't make some of the mistakes I did. I hope this was very helpful.

Xoxo,
Cris of GdL

check out: PORTFOLIO

and we're still interested in more of your work: MUA challenge