Amelia C

Fit for a Queen

2011-07-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Amelia C team converged for a beauty queen workshop. Brittney Cobb of Fit for the Crown helped us wrangle three reigning queens for us, who loaned us their beauty and kindess for the day! Beautiful dresses... bedazzled earings... and smiles that could light up the city... Enjoy! Hair and Makeup by Amelia C & Co, Photography by Orange Soda Photo

Ms. Teen Nevada Princess 2011, Tayler Schatteman

Miss Nevada Collegiate 2011, Audrey Dennison

Mrs. Nevada 2011, Amanda Kouretas

Double Trouble from the hot blonde...

2011-07-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

A month ago, I had the pleasure of working with Rochelle on not only her wedding, but her trash the dress session immediately after. This girl was a doll from start to finish, and had two very distinct looks... a somewhat traditional, sweet bridal look. The next day was followed by a daring, smoked out eye and lots of neon. Lucky for me, bad-ass photography Mike L not only captured these two kids, but shared the shots with me! Check out my two faves below, but make sure you visit Mike L's blog for the full effect of the holi powder!!!!

Pin Up's for Patriots... SUCCESS!!

2011-07-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great time was had at our first annual Pin-Ups for Patriots! Imagine- 56 women, two days, four hair and makeup artists, one photographer, and two pin-up models to coach and dress. WOAH. Sue Altenburg of Altenburg Studio was the brainchild of this fundraiser, who's goal was to raise $5,000 for the U.S. Vets chapter here in Las Vegas. So, how did we do? $6,500, and COUNTING!!!! Hair and Makeup by Amelia C & Co, LLC.

Fav's from the most epic Mad Men Shoot

2011-07-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Some of you have kept track as the photo's from this amazing shoot slowly trickle in. It will tak me some time to post everything, it's like a mother trying to select her favorite child. I cannot say how much fun I had on this! The hair, the makeup, the clothes, the people. Of course, shooting in a posh suite at Palms Place was pretty wicked, too. In particular, I loved Joe Latters grainy take on our Audrey, it makes me want a manhattan this very instant.

Will you be my makeup artist?

2011-07-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Unless your some diva with the ability to hire a makeup artist on a regular basis, you probably have no idea what your doing when you call one to get some info about your event. I imagine it's something like buying a, er, lady of the evening...awkward and unsure. You think you have an idea about what your supposed to ask, but really, all you have to go on is what so-and-so's cousin or sister or mom said, and a smattering of information written by uninformed editors to fill the gaps between ad space in $5 magazines. Hopefully, we pick up where you left off, but sometimes the questions don't exactly give us an opening. So, let me help you out. Consider this your hand delivered cheat sheet to calling one of us up and sounding like a cool cat on a hot day-

1) Tell us your name and what dates or events you want covered.
The thing is, you may have 20 minutes worth of quizzing to find out if we are the one for you. But none of that matters if we are already booked for your date, and it makes us feel like jerks having to cut you off to check that first. Also, those of us who have a legitimate agency or practice usually field dozens of calls a week... you won't be our only call that day, so if you don't tell us your name, you fall into a space where you'll basically have to repeat the entire conversation a week later. Again, we feel like jerks. (You may have to do that anyways if we are slammed, but help us out here!)

2) Don't make assumptions based on what you heard in a forum, chat room, or from your mom's/ cousins/ sisters stylist.
There's really no formula to makeup. Sure, there's tips and tricks and generally accepted idea's of what looks good and what sucks, but there isn't exactly some government endorsed evidence to support any of it. The most common example of this misguided advice I hear is "do you do airbrush makeup?" No. It's assumed that because some companies charge more for it, or someone had it, that it is the one and only great way to have makeup, which is far far far from the truth. The better choice would be to look at a companies portfolio and resume and reviews long before you pick up the phone. Like what you see and hear? If so, then it's safe to assume whatever the company is doing is working well. Would you ask the chef if they only cooked in All-Clad, so long as the food was amazing? Trust me, if the artist's products or technique sucks, you'll know it by looking at the photo's or hearing about it thru reviews. And, the perfect makeup line does not exist. Pretty must any reputable artist you come across is using stuff across the board. We use what gets us the results we want, and if you like those results, you like us.

3) Ask the right questions.
Here's what you need to ask an artist or agency before you book them:
Do they require a contract and/or deposit?
What's the cancellation policy?
What artist will be showing up that day?
What is the booking procedure?
What's your rate, and what does it include?

And here's what you need to find out on your own:
Do you like their portfolio?
Do they come across as having been in business for a while?
Easily accessible- IE phone number, email address?
Do treat you kindly and professionally?

4) Do your homework, but don't dilly dally.
Make no mistake, you should definitely do your homework. Look at portfolio's, read reviews, make a few calls. But keep in mind that even tho we all say "Sorry, can't hold your date without a contract or deposit", we generally put it in our books with a question mark so we remember to call you up in case some else tries to book it. It's just a courtesy (at least with my company), because it's important for me to feel like you KNOW how much I value you as a client. That being said, we hesitate when giving your date away because we want to check with you first. When you sure you've met "the one" (makeup artist, of course!), get it booked.

Hopefully you leave this post feeling well informed and ready to get yourself all hooked up with an MUA knowing that your making a good choice AND giving your future artist warm fuzzies!

2011-07-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

Amelia C & Co, LLC is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011

Las Vegas, NV - 7/5/11 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is pleased to announce that Amelia C & Co, LLC is WeddingWire Rated 2011 for Beauty and Health. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program that distinguishes wedding vendors across the country for their excellence. Based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews, WeddingWire Rated is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to find the best local businesses for their wedding.

Amelia C & Co has 83 reviews on WeddingWire. Reviews by our newlywed clients include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions about their experiences working with our business and staff. Our reviews provide transparency for potential clients, assisting them in making the most informed decisions for their big day.

"We are delighted to unveil the 5th annual WeddingWire Rated program," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. "Amelia C & Co, LLC has made a commitment to capturing their clients experiences on the nation's leading wedding review site."

As the largest site for wedding reviews, WeddingWire empowers engaged couples with the most comprehensive and trusted review system available. The WeddingWire Rated program provides Amelia C & Co with a simple platform to capture customer feedback from their wedding planning experience. Newly engaged couples can easily access all of the reviews for Amelia C & Co on WeddingWire.com. We would like to thank our newlyweds for our WeddingWire Rated 2011 recognition.

Pin Ups For Patriots!

2011-07-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Remember that fundraiser I kept posting and talking about? Well, I TOLD you it was a big deal, Fox news came out and covered it, it made both the local AND the National news! We were sold out and had a waiting list, so next year, your gonna need to book early! The final numbers are not in yet, but we know we raised at LEAST $6,000! Stay tuned for the full blog on it, but enjoy the clip. Cheers from Amelia C & Co, and again, thank you to those who have served our country!!

Pin Ups For Patriots

Aubrey & Oliver

2011-07-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

DragonRidge Country Club - Aubrey & Oliver, November 2010
Highlight Reel from Memory Lane Video-Cinematography

Much love for Misikko!

2011-06-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

Like a knife to a chef, sometimes we get something that just makes us feel sexier about what we do.

Last fall was so busy that by the time I had a chance to color my hair, my roots were SO out there they weren't roots...they were full grown stems. Best part tho is that I finally saw my real hair color...which I haven't seen in 14 years. And was pretty. So, instead of dumping my usual level 3 dark brown on, I got my friend to hook me up with some ashy highlights and got my sexy on! At the same time, I got my new Hanna Misikko hair dryer. I wanted to wear my hair straight to show off my posh new hue, but I got enough hair for three so it's not like I can use my usually whimpy blowdryer. This bad boy knocks the wet out and smooths it in record time! I also love the fact that it get's it sleek enough that flat-ironing is minimal. Major props to Misikko!

Laura and Charles

2011-06-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

Bridal Spectacular Headquarters - Laura & Charles - Preview Trailer from Memory Lane Video-Cinematography.

Pin Ups for Patriots!

2011-06-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to be a pin-up? NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!

An Open Letter to BRIDES Magazine

2011-06-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Editors, Copy Writers, and general informers at BRIDES Magazine,

As a beauty professional in the wedding industry, I have subscribed to your magazine for several years now. I think it's important to keep up-to-date on wedding trends, fashions, and what brides these days are thinking about. You typically have several great campaign spreads that tip me off as to what I will be asked for in the upcoming wedding seasons. There's also usually a few beauty products in there that I would not have been exposed to, otherwise. For all this and more, I thank you.

However, in this most recent edition, June 2011, I really have to ask...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!

"No Makeup Artist, No Problem?" Really? Do you have any idea how much money these women spend on their photography? It is, by far and large, one of THE most important parts of their wedding day. When the flowers have died, and the cake eaten, and the presents unwrapped, what are they going to have left besides new housewares? That's right, their photos. And the one thing that will be in almost 80% of their shots will be THE BRIDE. So, why on earth would you suggest the possibility that they jeopardize their investment on photography by not having professional makeup?

Of course, I had to read the story. You must have been joking when you published that. Starting with a beautiful woman: DUH. The mark of a good makeup artist is NOT how pretty she can make and already pretty woman. But guess what? Most brides don't look like that! They have their own concerns- pimples, wrinkles, dark circles, small lips, small eyes, wormy looking eyebrows... THAT'S really what we are there to help them deal with. It's great and wonderful and all that you used such a naturally perfect girl for your piece, but come'on...that's about as realistic as an ice-cream wedding cake in the Vegas summer.

So let's say that by some chance, the woman reading these is as flawless as your model. DO YOU REALLY THINK BLACK AND GREEN EYESHADOW IS THE WAY TO GO??? I can count the number of times on one hand that the situation warranted green eyeshadow. And shimmer? Course I have a lot of shimmer in my pallets. But green and shimmer at the same time for a wedding day? Assuming that combo is pretty, as your spread does make it look pretty good, how many girls do you really think that's gonna look good on? The rinky-dink caveat that you put two pages later suggesting other colors does not nearly make up for the gigantic full page demo of makeup that really doesn't suit most women. You could have at least offered a bigger disclaimer somewhere in there.

I was married three years ago. I have been a makeup artist for seven. Guess what? I had a makeup artist on my wedding day. I knew damn well how to do my own makeup, but I not only was shaky with nerves, I sure could use someone else's perception. In fact, I've done SEVERAL weddings where other beauty professionals have hired me just for those reasons alone.

Your article really does your target audience wrong, and if your going offer DYI advice, stick to what you know...programs and favors.

Kindly,

Amelia C

Las Vegas Mad Men

2011-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

MAD LOVE FOR MAD MEN

An inspired shoot, presented by Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings and Victor Sizemore Photography

Hair and Makeup by Amelia C

When Summer Watkins from the design extrodinare blog Grey Likes Weddings called me for a Mad Men themed shoot, I just about squealed. I'm not a TV watcher, but have gotten hooked on 1960's drama and was totally enamored with the beauty trends of the time period. Set in the ever posh Palms Place, I could not have asked for a better team. Photographers from all over the globe attended this workshop to glean from Victor the telling of a story thru photography. I now, humbly but excitedly, present the fruits of our labor.

Thanks to Evonne & Darren Photography, Eliza Jane Photography, Erin Lassahn, and Ashleigh Taylor Photography for these awesome pictures!

Shoot @ Trump International Hotel

2011-06-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

You know something good is about to happen when you take a bunch of chicks, tell them to have at it, and end up designing a mock-up wedding just for the fun of it! Special thanks to Savannah, our "bride.". My doll, you are truly beautiful, inside and out.

Catherine from Layers of Lovely Floral Design did her usual exquisite job on the floral arangements, and she is so fun to work with! Kristin from Gimme Some Sugar didn't skip and beat and produced desserts that deserve their own editorial spread.

The delicious candy bar was set up and stocked by Erin from For the Love of Candy. Nancy from Creative Coverings provided the gorgeous linens for the rental furniture provided by Niki from Rebel Party Rentals. The beautiful day was made even more beautiful with the help of Annette from Chaviano Couture who provided the jewelry and wedding dress and Nicole from Tux One who provided the tuxedo.

The whole day was planned and designed by Lacy and Kaila from Plush Weddings and Events and the invitations were made by Lori and Paper & Thread Studios. These beautiful pictures were taken by Amy Campbell from Amy Rae Photography.

As always, I had a great time doing what I love to do!

Krista rocks the martrimony like none other...

2011-05-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Krista was married on February 19th and she was such an wonderful person to work with. She had such a fun and colorful wedding. Krista wore a pink crinoline and a smasgubg pair of shoes by Betsey Johnson.

Good times were had by all!

Thanks to Brian Saculles for taking these beautiful and playful pictures of Krista and her husband on their wedding day.

Photo Shoot with Tricia Bennett, inspired by Elizabeth Taylor in the film Butterfield 8.

2011-05-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Whenever Trica Bennett is behind the lens, you know some seriously femine things are about to happen!

Tricia doesn't leave a detail undone. Shot at MGM Signature Suites when she came to visit for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International here in Vegas last February.

Per usual, the wardrobe was esquisite, the mood was on target, and the true beauty of the subject shone thru. Always a pleasure, Tricia!

You waxed what?! A hairy tale...

2011-04-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

On one of my infrequent days off this spring, I ended up in a small boutique spa near my house. I live on the outer edges of Las Vegas, which means that in order to get most of my product, I have to commit to at least 30 minutes in the car. Refusing to go more than a handful of miles for a new exfoliating mask, I found myself at Elements. Earlier that day, I had come to the awful realization that I had short, little black hairs coming out of my nose. Great. All I could think of what how many clients had gazed at me for an hour close up while I did their makeup, all the while noticing this. This is why, after a lovely esthitician named Cheri helped me, I ended up on my back in her room with a glob of wax stuffed up my nose.

Note: I am generally not in the habit of letting strange women put hot wax into my orifices upon first meeting. Cheri was exceptionally charming.

To say I was terrified is an understatement. I made her do only one nostril at a time. After the wax hardened, she pinched my nose right above the booger-on-a-stick and pulled down fast. I hardly felt it. It was amazing! By far the least painful waxing I have ever done! I was flaring my nostrils in delight, checking myself out in the review mirror all the way home.

Just when the beauty profession thinks they've got it covered, along comes something new. Not that nose waxing was new, but it's not exactly on the "Specials" board. In my life both as a woman and a makeup artist, I have waxed all the major stuff you've heard about before, except for the armpits (STILL cannot bring myself to do it). Maybe because I'm in people faces all day, I'm hyper aware of any fuzz that doesn't belong to a lash line or eye brow. I have to say, now I'm an addict. I must get my nose waxed again, if only for the satisfaction of knowing I've finally found something to wax that doesn't hurt!

The Birth of Amelia & Co.!

2011-03-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to announce the addition of two awesome new members to my team,
Lisa S. and Christa H., and the birth of Amelia & Co.!

Lisa is a master makeup artist with almost 20 years of experience. She's run around on music video sets, kept many brides calm, and she can keep up with the best behind a camera.

Check out some of Lisa's excellent makeup work

Christa is a senior makeup artist and stylist who brings an edge to her work that emulates the glossy covers of magazines and red-carpet photos. Christa is best known for her sassy up-do's and her urge for perfection.

Check out some of Christa's beautiful work

An Arrangement with Catherine Thompson

2011-03-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

I am super excited to be working with Catherine Thompson,

the proud owner of the new über-posh floral boutique, Layers of Lovely Floral Designs.

Catherine and her crew provide amazing personalized service,

with emphasis on creativity and individuality.

At Layers of Lovely, style is innately natural, earthy and organic.

Catherine is my new go-to-girl when it comes to flowers.

Not only have I worked with her, but I have been the recipient of her amazing floral arrangements. She has such a sweet and professional personality, and no event is too big or too small for her.

Check out some of the stunning work Catherine has done at
Layers of Lovely Floral Designs.

Hair and makeup by Amelia, and beautiful, near dusk shots by Adam Frazier.

Meet the Baker's.

2011-03-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

The Baker’s have edge, and they are not afraid to show it -- just check out these fabulously dark, and decadently Vegas shots.

Amelia on hair, Lisa providing flawless makeup, and the master photographer, Jeff Moore comprised the dream team behind these dream-like scenes.

The Baker's are sure to be as timeless as their beautiful wedding was.

Wish Upon a Wedding coming up!

2011-02-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am sooo excited! In June, I get the honor to be the hair and makeup artist for a Wish Upon a Wedding ceremony in Las Vegas.

In case you didn't know, Wish Upon a Wedding is a nonprofit organization that provides weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation.

Inglot, the newest, freshest Euro-cosmetics line to take over the world!

2011-02-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

Fun, fresh and versatile ... no I don't mean me, I mean Inglot, the newest, freshest Euro-cosmetics line to take over the world - now available at select locations in the states!

The most amazing thing about Inglot, and the reason you should definitely check it out, is that Ingot's line was developed with flexibility in mind - their 'Freedom System' allows you to assemble your own palette from over 3,000,000,000 color combinations! Wow, let's get creative, girls! With so many possibilities, you'll probably never get caught without the proper shade again! I'm particularly obsessed with this salmon-y color... it has almost an orange hue that you would never suspect would look so great. I cannot get enough of it!

Just hungry for greater creativity in your powders and products? Go from simple stylist to astute artist in a jiffy! It's this easy: each case includes a palette of 10 swatches, and each swatch can be customized with any number of colors - you choose your dream colors and they pop them into the palettes. I'm getting dizzy thinking about the possibilities. Not to mention the ever-so-dainty three and five palettes.

With products for face, eyes, eyebrows and lips, the 'Freedom System' welcomes experimentation and embraces complete creative control. Heck, get wild with their gorgeously pigmented product; finally you can create the custom you-look that has never been possible with stock colors and shades.

Oh, and for you sensitive-types out there: Inglot is completely paraben-free and NEVER tested on animals.

Don't miss out on this exciting new product!

US Locations:

LAS VEGAS
The Forum Shops at Caesars
Town Square

MIAMI
Aventura Mall

NEWPORT BEACH
Fashion Island

NEW JERSEY
Westfield Garden State Plaza

NEW YORK
1592 Broadway

The Knot's Best of Weddings 2011 Hair and Makeup Artist Award!

2011-01-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

Big news people! I just learned that I was picked as a of the winner of the The Knot's 2011's Best Weddings vendors!

The Knot asked recent brides in Nevada to rate and review their wedding vendors. The result was their annual list of the best Nevada wedding venues and top wedding pros in Nevada, and guess who made that list?! Yup, yours truly!

What an awesome honor, especially since the Knot is the Internet's most-trafficked wedding planning site, and trusted bridal source to many! Check out the Knot's Best of Weddings 2011!

Hot Date With Kiti Kobain!

2011-01-13T10:48:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had the pleasure of styling the ever-sexy Las Vegas pin up model Kiti Kobain. These gorgeous photos were taken by the truly awesome Sue Altenburg. Kiti typically goes for the 1940s and 50's pin up look and did not disappoint when we chose to recreate some vintage prints from those days.

From 2010, with love...

2010-12-31T08:20:00.000-08:00

This year has been...incredible. As I sit here on the very last day, hours even, of 2010, I'm feeling somewhat sentimental as I realized all the amazing things that this past year has brought me.

The fact that I was not the only one to wish 2009 good riddance actually made me feel better about the whole thing. At least I wasn't the only one wallowing in some kind of despair that only a national recession can create. And have you ever noticed that when you don't' FEEL successful and confident, the rest of the world just kinda... sucks?

I set out for 2010 to be different, and it was. I didn't even know what an empty vessel I was for information, but I hope that I always remain that way. It feels good to get filled up with new experiences. So, here's what this amazing year has taught me:

1) Most people need to feel taken care of. Make someone feel good about themselves, and let them know how very important to you they are. And, be genuine about it. It will take you miles further than any product or service.

2) Don't spend hours agonizing about something you may-or-may-not have screwed up. You never know that the one thing you stressed so much about may be the very thing someone praises you for later. Unless someone directly tells you that you screwed up, just drop it.

3) You will not make everyone happy. That's ok. As long as you can leave the situation feeling good about yourself and the choices you made in that situation, then it's fine. And sometimes, there isn't the "right choice", there's just "I made the best decision I could at the time" choice. That's cool, too.

4) Never miss an opportunity to shut the hell up. This tidbit it worth it's weight in gold.

If experience is the best teacher, I've been enrolled in his class for a year now and can vouch for him. Getting out there, taking a risk, and doing my thing has been huge. There's so much that I thought would be a BIG deal, like some sort of long, hard, overwhelming task I would have to endure and struggle with. I had built it up in my mind to be something way more elaborate than it really was. Then the weirdest thing happened... the stuff that seemed insignificant, the stuff that required me to focus and be consistent on day to day tasks, were the ones that required the most of me. The big leaps were easy. I just had to jump. And jumping covers way more ground than walking in the same amount of time.

So, for 2011, it's time to jump. Stretch, reach, leap. Momentum is powerful, once you put it into play.

Wishing you a very, very best New Year.

Oh... wait... this is supposed to be a blog on beauty... tip: Urban Decay's Red Revolution. The most perfect red lipstick I have ever found. And you'll need it for the retro inspired looks parading down runways and wedding aisles.

Pin-up princess Tiffany Rose Thomas ditches her retro ringlets for a more sleek, dark and very sexy look.

2010-12-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

Last week at Lucky Cat Tattoo in Las Vegas, model, Lucky Cat owner and body piercing diva Tiffany Rose Thomas, infamous tattoo photographer Issac Madera, and yours truly, Amelia C rocked out one hot photo shoot. Straight, sleek and modern tresses took the place of Tiffany’s normal sweetheart 50’s updos. The results were totally Vegas sexy, check it out …

So Hot!

Holiday 2010 Must-Haves

2010-11-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

This holiday's make-up trends are leaning more toward the gray shimmer of the Winter Wonderland than the vibrancy of the festivities indoors, but they are just as exciting. Fresh and radiant skin complimented with smoky lids, heavy lashes, and bitten red lips take this seasons look to a natural, but classically chic feel. Set off by the playful, loose hairstyles that have been coming down the runways and red carpet this fall, women can look effortlessly timeless and confident.

1. REDKEN BODIFYING CREAM MOUSSE KIT: Big soft curls and waves, loose buns and braids – looks like this serve to frame up your face with this season's messy yet still glamorous trend. Can't afford a glitzy do or stylist? Well, Redken offers a do-it-yourself kit, complete with their bodifying cream-mousse and quick-dry instant finish spray, for a reasonable $22, available in select salons and Redken dealers.

2. LA MER LUXURY ESSENTIALS KIT: Keep your skin fresh and flawless, and show it the love it deserves by splurging on La Mer Luxury Essentials kit. It is every thing you, or a very special women in your life, needs this winter season to give a perfect glow, despite the elements. From the iconic sea-mineral-based skin-care line coveted by women the world over, this La Mer ket contains serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. La Mer Luxury Essentials, $395, cremedelamer.com.

3. Lash Allure MD Lash and Brow Enhancing Serum 0.12 fl oz. What girl doesn't want big, sexy, buxom... lashes? Clinically proven, this bad boy on the lash market gets results! And, hearing horror stories about self-applied fake lashes, I'd venture to guess it's alot easier for you to use on your own.

Whatever look you're going for this holiday season, whether it's candy-apple festivity or Snow Princess elegance, make sure to keep it classy by using some of the posh products above. And if you're shopping for an equally classy lady this Christmas, take our suggestions seriously – she might be so pleased with your trend-spotting that she'll corner you under the mistletoe! Happy holidays indeed.

Winery Wedding

2010-09-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

I got an email from my girl Kaila over at Plush Weddings and Events
wanting to know if I'd want to help with a mock wedding shoot over at the Pahrump Valley Winery... Hell yes! We had so much fun getting our "bride" ready, Mindy Bean graced us with her photography talents... it was all just lovely. Thanks for inviting me girls! Enjoy!

Pin-Up Shoot

2010-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

**OK, I ADMIT, I'm back-peddaling here. I started this post and for whatever reason, forgot I had to upload more photo's. So here I am, finally, getting to it! This was in Spring! But, still saucy just the same**

Where do you go when you want to take the best pin-up photo's ever?

The middle of nowehere. Of course.

This is the plan that Sue and I hatched after deciding... what exactly we decided was I'm still not sure, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. And, unlike most idea's that "seem like a good idea at the time", this one actually was. Which is exactly how we found ourselves driving to a ghost town about 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas on a hot and dusty Sunday afternoon.

We started at the studio, because being the spoiled makeup artist that I am, I was gonna do most of the work in a well-lit space with running water. Here's pin-up model Tiffany Rose Thomas pre- and post- transformation.

This is Angela, our wonderful, pretty friend who offered her services for our project!

And of course, here are the spoils of our labor! Between posing and changing we had to watch for rattlesnakes, scorpions, and "jumping cactus", but as you can see, it was more than worth it!

Easy on the Eyes

2010-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

As of this blog, I am a mere 26 years old. I say mere not to indicate that I think I'm younger than I really am, even though I try not to think about 30 being within arms reach. I say mere because most girls my age aren't even thinking about fine lines at this point, but I've been putting on eye cream religiously for several months now. It's almost like being a grown up.

We don't usually take care of things until they've gotten to a point where they need to be cared for. Sunburns are a great example... everythings fabulous on the beach until someone needs the aloe. Then of course it's all "hind sight's 20/20".

Living in Vegas means lots of dry weather. Combined with the Accutane (a medication I'm currently on that dries me out) my skin feels like a cross between plaster dust and sand paper. I suppose it's a blessing in disguise, because I'm frequently aware of the dryness around my eyes and am using copious amounts of Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream by Bare Escentuals. I'm almost out and I'm looking into getting a cream from Suki... they are known for their eco-freindly practices. I'm topping off my eye cream with the usual slather of SPF 50. Were all so damn worried about looking greasy or shiney that we forget the other option is dry and crinkly. Well, I'm here to tell you that oil is what keeps your sking healthy and smooth, so get over it and start properly moisturizing.

What are you doing to protect your eyes? You 20-something girls, listen to me. Now is the time to be taking great care of the tender skin around our eyes. One of the number one complaints women have is the fine lines around their peepers. It cannot be prevented, but it can be delayed. And if you've already got some, you can at least halt the progress. Sun damage and dehydration are going to ruin your lovely peepers.

"I want my eyes to pop/stand out." I hear it almost as soon as her tush hits my makeup chair. We all love our eyes, and most of us thinks it's our best feature. Show them some love by wearing that sunscreen, applying that eye cream, and trying not to tug, rub, or pull. You'll never know if it worked or not because you'll never know what "would have been" if you had kept your wicked ways, but trust me, it's worth it.

The Extension Question

2010-08-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

About a quarter of my clients either have extensions or want extensions. If your considering getting them, know that there are several options available to you. Most women fantasize about long, thick, flowing hair and why shouldn't they? Here's the low-down on the locks you crave.

To understand the different methods of applying the hair, we first need to know what kind of hair can be put in. In general, there's two different kinds of hair used: Weft and Individual.

A weft (or track) is a sheet of hair all bonded together at the top. It's can be used in sewing, beaded, clip-in, or glued methods.

Individual hair is hair bundles that have been gathered in individual strands and bonded together into an I shape at the top. This is used for beaded or fusion methods.

You typically will only see the weft hair being used, because the time and cost involved with individuals is somethings most women don't want to commit to. So, for all intents and purposes, we are going to talk about the weft.

Clip In Extensions:

These are the best idea if you only want them for one day but think you could use them again in the future. Easy in, easy out, add fullness, and not to hard on the wallet. You can find these just about anywhere, but make sure you get real hair! If it's synthetic, you can kiss curling it good-bye.

Beaded on Weft:
Not really a technical term, it's just the method.

These are a personal favorite. They take about an hour to put in, blend well, and are easy on the hair. A weft of hair is clipped to the roots, then individual beads are threaded onto both the weft hair and the clients hair, then the metal bead is clamped down to secure the two together. They last about two weeks before a touch up is needed, and can last more than a month if they are maintained properly.

Sewn in Weft:

Hair is braided in horizontal rows, then a needle and thread is used to sew the weft onto the braid. The original and still most common use of weft hair.

Bonded/Glued Weft:

The hair is sectioned off and the weft is glued in panels. A quick way to get extensions in, but not the most popular. Very temporary, but not as temporary as clip-ins.

So, what extensions are right for you? Depends on what kind of investment you want to make. I find that clip in's are usually the best choice, but I also have worn other methods. Day to day you'll want something more permanent, that's for sure. There's a ton of other hair pieces on the market, too. Bands with tufts of hair, hair on these weird wire comb thingy's... most of it's synthetic. That's cool if you don't need to change the texture of the hair, just make sure you that you are happy with it exactly as it is before you buy it. As for the real hair extensions, those can be colored, curled, flattened, just like your own. Hope I answered your extensions questions!!

Choosing a Makeup Artist

2010-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

If I had a nickel for every horror story.

Grown women have cowered and cried over a bad makeup job. I had a model once tell me how her previous artist licked a q-tip and tried to use it on her face! Breakouts, dirty brushes, attitude problems, or just plain ugly makeup jobs can make a girl quiver in fear.

Anytime your using someones services for the first time, it's a crap shoot. The best laid plans of mice and men, as they say. It sucks that we usually learn how bad a company can be first hand, but you can certainly increase your odds of landing a good one if you have a basic idea of what your looking for.

When searching for a makeup artist, first and foremost know that the competition is cutthroat. If you live in a major metro area or even a large state and only find a couple, your looking in the wrong places. You should have at least a half a dozen or so to choose from, but more than likely alot more!

Testimonials are very effective in finding a great MUA. If other people have good things to say, then chances are you will too. Most websites have policies in effect so that all reviews are verified as legit. Also, it takes effort on our part to get former clients to write those reviews, good bad or otherwise. A MUA with reviews is an MUA who is pretty serious about their careers and makes the effort beyond just showing up to appointments.

Portfolio's can be a big help too. Your looking for a good selection of styles. If all you see is tight, curly updo's and your going to a corporate event, that may not be the artist for you. It's kinda a gyp to the client that Photoshop is so mainstream now, I've seen many a shoddy makeup artist with a great portfolio when it's mostly a graphic design team's work. There's no way to tell this except to look for consitency in the photo's. If only a few are amazing but there rest suck, it probably means that the MUA lucked out and got a good post-production clean up.

Now that you found an artist with great reviews and a smashing portfolio, the follow thru is going to seal the deal. Most of us are our own secretary's. That means, when work is good, we probably aren't going to be able to get back to you immediately. But, you should hear back from an artist within two days of your initial contact. We may be on set all day, but especially if you email us, we can usually write back from our Blackberry's an iPhones. You want an artist who responds in a reasonable time frame, answers your questions, and is freindly. This all confirms the good stuff you've read and the photo's you've seen.

Don't be afraid to have a trial if your unsure about your artist. If it's a big event and you need to be postive about the person your working with, schedule your trial. Yes, it will cost you extra, but it would be worth your peace of mind. Also, you can make sure that the artist LISTENS. One of the biggest complaints I hear about other artists is that they didn't listen to the client. You need someone who can walk the fine line between giving you good, professional advice and still giving you what you want. Sometimes that line can be shaky to tread, but an effort must be made just the same.

There are some truly amazing artists out there, just waiting to be found!

Me + Brian + R2K = One sexy shoot

2010-07-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

As always, I'm a couple months behind in posting. This bad-ass new studio in the arts district of Las Vegas (yup, we have one, and your damn right they serve alcohol) had just opened up and what a juicy piece of space to sink our teeth into. Brian, the uber cool photographer and my brother-from-another-mother discovered it, coerced a couple hot models into showing up, tracked me down, and got a killer wardrobe. What we ended up with was raw, sexy, and undeniably one of The. Best. Shoots. Ever. Polaroid never had it so good.

Thanks to BRIAN SACULLES for yet another fantastic shoot!

Beauty: You are what you read.

2010-07-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a known avid reader. My idea of a hot date night would probably involve Borders. I get my hands on anything I can, except I've never been able to make it thru an entire Forbes magazine.

A couple years ago at an industry convention, I signed up for this 10 magazines a month deal for dirt cheap, something like 20 bucks a month. It had all the goodies in there... Vogue, Glamour, Allure, and more. Add in a few more gift subscriptions and I was getting 14 magazines a month. If I had all the time to read those, I would have been unemployed.

I got the magazines to educate myself and stay on top of trends. For me, it's actually a tax write off because it's considered research, and rightfully so. Where else should I get hair and makeup ideas, beauty tips and tricks, other than a monthly magazine devoted to exactly such topics? Seemed like a good idea at the time.

After a few months of getting these amazing vessels of information, I was starting to notice a trend. If these magazines are designed to target women like me, then the people who run them must think I'm overweight and desperate to improve my sex life. Oh, and that my vagina and breasts rotate months for having issues.

It seems like every single month, there's 99 new ways to turn him on, or ground-breaking research of our feminine parts, or new no-fail diet plans. There's a whole slew of people whose careers are devoted to finding out what we women want to read about. With all due respect to them, I only have so many orifice's and therefore I doubt there really are hundreds of new things to do with them every year.

And of course, there's some editorial spreads stuck here and there that tell us all about OPI's new seasonal nail color, and the hot lipstick now. I can get behind that, and usually end up going thru the mag at lighting speed ripping out the precious few articles to do with beauty. These tear sheets then lay scattered across the table till I realize that if I took the time to read them, I wouldn't have time to read the other things I find important and then into the compost bin they go.

I hate to say it, but I'm knocking the beauty mags. While there may be pearls of wisdom hidden between the condom expertise and the vagina monologues, digging thru to find the diamond in the rough has become a chore. And, what's more, if I had more time to waste reading about the latest fad food system I might actually do it. Thankfully, I am lucky enough to be kept busy with work and by default don't buy into half the crap that ends up in my mailbox. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the dishing out of sex advice. Women have fought long and hard (pun intended) for the right to display their sex knowledge in bold pink in the checkout aisle. I'm just saying that if I pick up a beauty magazine, I want to read about... beauty.

If your really wanting to get some great beauty advice, I got a couple idea's for you. Check out The Green Beauty Guide. While author Julie Gabriel is so far on the eco side that she's beyond even my zip code for green, she provides a plethora of information that even the laziest environmentalist can do. I love reading her recipes. They combine my three favorite things: Cooking, Reading, and Beauty. Another fantastic read is Gorgeously Green by Sohpie Uliano. This book contains more than just good beauty advice, but at least it's supplements aren't laden with some neo-feminist assertions. I also like Paula Begouns series. This chick is not joking around, she's going to dissect just about any product you could imagine. I've got more up my sleeve, but those three have the most worn binders on my shelf.

Everyone has their thing. That thing you do that's your own dirty little pleasure where the only value gained is a mental break from reality. And if reading these glossies is yours, then definitely go for it. But take it from the professional: Don't get your real beauty advice from there. It's like the pretty boyfriend you once had. Totally fun fling, but with no substance. Enjoy the fun, and when your ready for the real deal, move on.

Budget Beauty- When to Save, when to Splurge

2010-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

In these lean and mean times, a girl still has gotta look good. It's a good think that a few awesome products and pretty tricks separate the hotties from the...uh...homely. Don't feel like your pay cut means a trip back to the dollar store.

Splurge

The general rule of thumb when it comes to purchases is that you want to invest the most in what is going to be with you the longest. A classic pair of black pumps will run you more than seasonal flip flops. Same thing with beauty. You need to be investing in what's going to be with you the longest, and that's your skin. Cut back whatever it takes for you to afford good skin care. Keep to the trifecta: Cleanse, Exfoliate, Moisturize. Nope, don't bother with toner. I haven't found any toner that was really needed. But the other three are must haves. Not saying you have to run out and drop a few hundred on Chanel. There are amazing lines available that work even better than department store brands, you just need to do a little research. When you do find the best for your skin, buy it and do without your weekly lip gloss purchase if that's what it takes.

Save

Get rid of the fake tan. You shouldn't be spraying your body with synthetic dye's anyways, and the good-for-you stuff ain't cheap. You can be fair for a while. You'll live.

Splurge

Continue to get the eyebrows done. Now that we have all those awesome little threading joints popping up, you can spring the 15 bucks to get cleaned up every few weeks. It's just good housekeeping, and totally worth the money.

Save

No more highlights. It's summer, so you can let them grow out sufer-girl style. If you've been darkening your hair all over either from gray's or just preference, find out how you can stretch out the space between appointments. If you've been with your stylist for a while, you can probably level with her.

Splurge

Don't cheap out on the foundation. If your a girl who wears foundation every day, your going to look silly if the cheap foundation you got doesn't quite match your skin tone. If you can't afford the right color and formula for your skin type, just skip it. But, if you need to have it, continue to get the correct color with the best forumla.

Save

Resist the urge to pick up a new gloss at the register. Those sneaky little devils in their pretty display right at check out, those pretty color's glistening under the store light... no. You must remain strong. That $4 purchase 3 times a month will pay for those brows to get fixed, and trust me when I say no one is going to be looking at your lips if your eyebrows look like Robin Hood and his Merry Men are going to come running out any second.

It's not going to be easy. Being on a budget never is. But, with a little self discipline and a firm grasp of what's important, you'll literally save face till we pull out of this. Then, if you go back to your wicked ways... well, that's OK.

How to Speak "Hair Dresser"

2010-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Really, someone should come up with a standard language that means the same thing across the board so we all know what the other means when we say "big curls". But, since that doesn't exist yet, and they don't seem to have a font for it either, here's what we hair dressers think when you try to describe a style.

Long Layers: This means you want long hair with some layers in it. Very few layers, at that. Your asking for mostly long hair with a couple of inches of layering at the ends. That means your shortest layer is going to be quite long, depending on how long your hair is.

Soft Curls: This usually means hair is curled with a big iron and little hairspray. Depending on the texture of your hair it might not hold, but it will be soft and if the hairdresser is good, smooth.

Wave: Wave? What kind of Wave? Jessica Simpson style, messy with straight ends? or Veronica Lake style, big and smooth? Get a picture for this one.

Up-Do: Do you want it high at the crown, centered in the back, or low on the nape? That can also mean something to the side. The term up-do has really changed, because girls stopped getting the crunchy-curl high and tight look and started going for low and full. An up-do just means that the hair is up somehow.

Ringlets: This usually means you want a tight, super firm curl all over. Think Shirley Temple. Be very careful with this. If you want a Playmate do and ask for ringlets, don't get mad when you come out looking like your off to grammar school.

Half-up: Pretty self explanatory, but be prepared to explain how high you want the part that's up pulled. It can be brought low and loose for a romantic, hippy feel or with tons of volume and high for a modern sexy effect.

No matter how aptly you describe your style, keep in mind that things can always be misinterpreted. A visual aid is always the best when trying to explain how you want your hair, or makeup for that matter, to look. This is just what goes thru my head when I am asked for these things. And keep in mind: The hairdresser who cuts and colors your hair is probably not the best person for styling. It's two different beasts so their scope of possibility may be limited. Not saying they aren't a fantastic hairdresser, but just like I'm not the God's gift to women with gray hair, they probably are the same to special events and brides. Just sayin.

Bridal Style: Sexy Sweet

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Super-pretty bride Andrea invited me to do her hair and makeup for her wedding in Janurary and I have to say, she was stunning. When I showed up to her trial a few days before the wedding, I was tired and wet from a day of catalog shooting. This bouncy little girl greets me by the hotel elevators and I get a second wind. She was already beautiful, and had an easy spirit. I left her trial so incredibly excited for her wedding a few days later, and Saturday did not disappoint! Her and her posse were fun, energetic, and just all around chill to be with. She is a great example of a modern bride. Her white dress and veil really gave due respect to the occasion, but the smoked out eye and long hair (enhanced with clip-in extensions) left down still left her feeling pretty and looking very romantic. She just goes to show you, you don't have to give up the richness of the formality of it all in order to feel young and sexy. Fabulous. Thanks for sharing these with me, Andrea!

Tricia B and the Brides

2010-06-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

In March, I got a wonderful email from Trica B, a Calgary-based wedding photographer with an offer to shoot a couple of brides. The big WPPI convention that happens every year brings talent from around the world, and for industry cats it's like being in a candy store. It's always good to work with new talent, and the shoot did not dissappoint! The ideas were creative and modern, and her model selection was outstanding. We started at her suite and then moved around for different sets and lighting. Kiti Kobain, pin-up model extraordinaire, displayed every one's efforts beautifully. Of course my guys over at Seasons Floral Boutique hooked up some amazing buds. Big huge thanks for the invitation Trica, the shots are great!

Amelia's Top Tips for Lookin' Good

2010-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Consider this entry your guide to Amelia's Commandments. There's no perfect solution or magic combination of things that can be applied to every woman. If you have ever done a friends makeup just like your own and had horrible results, you know this to be true. I get asked alot what my number one beauty tip is, so here's what I'm saying:

Groom them eyebrows!

Nothing will pull your face together faster than well groomed, properly filled in eyebrows. Think about it like a kitchen- if it's cluttered and messy, it doesn't matter how good that dish tastes because the space itself is too distracting. Clean those suckers up and make sure you tidy them with brow fill-in if they are sparse.

Wear sunscreen. Every day. Period.

Especially around your eyes. I wear an SPF 50 every single day. It's true that everyone needs about 10 minutes a day of pure sunshine, it's good for our moods and bodies. But you can get that when your watering your garden. Sun damage is going to age you fast, protect your skin and slow up those wrinkles.

Heat up your lash curler.

Hold your blow dryer about 6 inches from your metal lash curler and blast it for about 15 seconds. Make sure you test the heat of the curler with your hand before using it on your eyes. Your lashes never had it so good. Top off with a paraben free mascara.

Exfoliate, hydrate, repeat.

Dry skin can cause makeup to drag. What happens is those dry patches will grab onto and suck up anything applied, so you end up with these spots of deeper, darker color (foundation, eyeshadow, blush) and try as you might your not going to blend that out. Once a week, exfoliate your skin to get rid of what you can, then follow up with a hearty dose of your daily moisturizer. And don't even think about using some chemical laden, fragrance filled, dye soaked soap on your face.

Bridal Style: Modern Vintage

2010-05-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

Rachel was the epitome of the perfect bride. Sweet, beautiful, great sense of humor, and a style that can’t be beat. When I arrived for her trial, she didn’t really have pictures to show me what she wanted but after some conversation I was able to pick out the effect she was going for. A classic bridal style that hearkened heritage and substance but with a layer of sexy to bring out the modern girl she was. We ended up with what I would describe as the perfect marriage between modern and vintage. When you’re looking to create a retro effect, it can be too easy to come off looking costume-y. You may want to feel like a classic Hollywood movie, but care must be taken so that your look isn’t so exaggerated. Trying too hard should be left to theater folk, not brides. This hairstyle completely sums up a 1940’s glam icon, but instead of going for a matte red lip and distinct winged liner, we went with a smoked out cat-eye and a muted lip with a modern feel. The result was outstanding. Thanks for sharing these, Rachel!

Mrs. Colorado 2010

2010-05-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Miss me?
Ok, I know I have been an absent blogger lately, but let me explain- things have been fantastically busy! And I have so much to share with you that in due time you will have my alibi as to why I haven’t been around the past month or so, starting with my recent stay in Denver to work with a contestant in the Mrs. Colorado-America Pageant 2010.
Because I work in Vegas, most of my clients come to me from, well, everywhere. Kathy has been a client of mine for a while now, I get to see her a couple of times each year when she comes to Vegas for vaca and I get her glammed up for her nights on the town. I was totally stoked when she told me she was running in the pageant and asked if I could come out to Denver to help her look fabulous! I hadn’t done a pageant before, but I had worked with pageant queen’s before and thought they were a riot; these women with grace and etiquette and me with my Chuck Taylor’s and tea dresses. It’s always good times.

Kathy was the perfect Barbie. Amazing hair, beautiful tone and build... showstopping all around. Her dress was custom designed and the pictures just don't do it justice. During my stay I got to hang with her kid, Madison, and meet Lily Scott from American Idol. It was fabulous all around and I'm quite lucky I had the opportunity to be part of the event. Thanks Kathy!

What I'm Loving Now

2010-04-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

You don't know what you have till it's gone! I had to re-supply recently and get full stocked (tis the busy season) and I'm feeling particularly fond of a few things I absolutely must have in my kit!

Lights, Camera, Splashes! by tarte

Of COURSE you have to have waterproof mascara in your kit if you do weddings! This amazing tube of lash-joy is waterpoof AND meets my snobby standards for being non-toxic and eco friendly. I was desperate to get my fresh supply and was literally scraping out the remains from the tube till it came. So happy it's here for the weekend!

Naked Lipstick by Urban Decay

I have a love-hate relationship with Urban Decay. I love, love, LOVE their Vegan Lipsticks! For the longest time I only used thick creamy lipglosses because the lipsticks on the market were so dense and old-fashioned. Then lipsticks came back in town and boom! This is, by far, THE perfect bridal color! Now, if I could just get the girls over at UD to be a little more accomodating.

Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean & Cranberry Facial Scrub by Pangea Organics

This yummy scrub somehow strikes the perfect balance- it has enough coarse granules to do the job, but it doesn't feel like I've taken a foot file to my face post-scrub. And I feel good about the ingredient list!

Do you have a favorite something? Email, comment, let me know! Some of my favorite things I use because someone else loved it, and me, enough to tell me about it!

Shooting with Andras Schram

2010-03-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

A big, fat YES for WPPI! This international convention happens every year in Vegas and being a Wedding and Portrait Photographers Convention, it brings with it a vast array of the globes finest! This year did not dissappoint, I had an opportunity to shoot with Andras Schram the Award Winning Photographer from Calgary! Imagine my luck when I was invited to shoot with him and the beautiful Megan and Kelly. What a great opportunity for me to test out some higher fashion looks and really reach beyond the norm. Thank you Andras, Megan, and Kelly for having me. For you followers: Enjoy!

Safe Cosmetics Database

2010-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I was forwarded an email asking my opinio about lead-based lipsticks. You know how you get those chain emails where everyone is worried about a health or public safety concern and it's the same email that's been circulating for like, years? That's what this was. Only, it was true. So I was pretty suprised when I told my friend "Of course" and she seemed suprised. That's when she explained to me that she never heard of it before and I decided I should elaborate.

There is no real government body that regulates cosmetic ingredients.

Read that twice, girls and boys who want to be girls.

The stuff you shalack on your face and body every day really hasn't been approved by a saftey comission or regulatory group. Maybe some things kinda sorta get watched, maybe there's some basic idea's about what you can't put in cosmetics, but it's so loose and so unregulated that it really doesn't matter. No one really cares if the emmolient in your body lotion is a known carcinogen. I suppose you would, if you knew, but as most of us aren't chemists we are none the wiser.

Cue hero music, enter the Enviornmental Working Group (EWG)

The EWG is a wonderful organazation who has taken the liberty of collecting the very information that we are not privy to and putting in an accessible place so we as consumers can go and get an unpleasant education about our beauty products. By visiting their website http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/, you can look up the various goodies in your makeup bag and see how they rank on their comprehensive Hazard Scale. The scale rates cosmetics from 0, being the most begnin, to 10, being toxic sludge. It also includes in their crafty little ranking why that particular cosmetic was ranked as such. Case in point: My new favorite mascara, Lash Hugger by Tarte. Let's see how it looks to EWG: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/234542/tarte_Lash_Hugger_Eco-Friendly_Natural_Mascara%2C_Black/ Not bad. Not bad at all. Get's a 4, which is pretty low, so that's a good start. I know that the tube itself is made from recycled aluminum, which is a bonus. Still has hazardous ingredients but on a scale going up to 10, it's pretty mild.

I try to go thru this process every time I make a new purchase. It doesn't always happen. If I need a product and there are no other options, I won't look it up in the database because if I'm going to have to buy it regardless, why torture myself. If there are multiple options available, I always compare proucts thru the database. You should do the same. Do that with your cosmetics NOW so that you know what to refill and what to change next time you run out of something. While your there, make a donation. It doesn't have to be crazy, five or ten bucks is plenty. But these people are going to save our asses if we let them so let's fund our own education.

Another thing that fascinates me about all this is that there are some cosmetic lines that are actually banned in the UK for toxic ingredients. So, it's ok for us American girls to slowly slaughter ourselves with our own vainity because ignorance it bliss? I don't think so. I'm not going down without a fight.

And when you hear me pull out the soap box, just remember: There is no real government body that regulates cosmetic ingredients.

Is this thing on? Hello?

2010-03-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Just a quick test to make sure my blog is feeding right...

Introducing Tantrum!

2010-03-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Amy and Mikell with TANtrum are just fabulous! I normally discourage brides from getting spray-on tans before the big day, but Amy and Mikell not only did an amazing job but when I drilled them about their back-up plans for emergencies, they not only had plans but backed up their work! I feel very confident in sending my brides to TANtrum before to ge the perfect wedding-day glow. The first sunless tanning company EVER that I could honestly refer!

Amelia C recieves Bride Choice Award 2010

2010-02-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas, NV– 2/11/10 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Amelia C has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Beauty & Health.

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Amelia C is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Amelia C is among the very best Hair and Makeup vendors within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. "I would like to thank my past newlyweds for nominating me for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards!"

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/amelia-las-vegas/399696507baf4965.html.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Amelia on Airbrush Makeup

2010-02-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

I get requests all the time for airbrush makeup. So let's talk about it. I have experience in both traditional and airbrush makeup techniques, so let's take an assessment and see which one suits you.

Let's start with understanding exactly what airbrush makeup is: a thin, lightweight product that is applied thru a spray gun. It can be water based, silicone based, or sometimes a combination. Major lines that carry it are Temptu, MAC, and Kett, amongst others. Dior even has it's own makeup-in-a-can line that mimics an airbrush technique.

And none of this makes it better than any traditional foundation. There is quite a bit of confusion surrounding airbrush makeup, including some well-sold circulated myths.

Myth 1: Airbrush makeup will make me look flawless.

Sure it will... if you are already flawless. Airbrush makeup is not designed for: skin with fine lines, acne, discoloration, dark under eyes, or freckles. The same rules still apply when working with specific skin concerns. If you have fine lines, the drying effects of airbrush makeup can really make those suckers stand out, because the makeup never really works into the skin. If you have acne or dark circles, the same basic concept of concealer before foundation applies just the same as it does with traditional foundation. You will still need to provide some sort of area-specific coverage with a creamier and denser makeup before you airbrush on top of it, so it's really kudo's to the concealer that your getting flawless skin. But, if your a model with perfect skin who needs just a mist over for a photo shoot, then airbrush makeup's a great way to go.

Myth 2: Airbrush makeup will stay put all day long.
Well...kinda. If you don't get it wet. True, mild dry-rubbing (brushing up against something, gentle hugging, ect) will not budge the makeup. But... if it gets too wet, it can streak, and now you have a real problem on your hands. Because airbrush makeup dries so well, it has no blendable properties. This is so much of a problem that some airbrush makeup artists will actually do their eye makeup work first before they apply foundation, so that they can clean up any mess under the eyes and therefore not have to fix the finicky foundation after the fact.

(side note: First time I ever saw airbrush makeup, I was headed to a wedding with another makeup artist. We stepped out into the sunlight and it was so weird... it looked like her skin had been splattered with something, I cannot even describe it. Apparently she decided to airbrush her foundation that day and it somehow got splashed. So weird.)

Myth 3: Airbrush makeup will feel nice and light, better than traditional foundations.

A great makeup artist has worked with and is good at traditional foundation. Even my makeup artist friends who use airbrush still know how to use a traditional foundation, and are great at it. If you've had that horrible, heavy, carve-your-name-in-my-foundation kind of makeup, your experience had alot more to do with you artist than the medium. One of the greatest makeup artist I know managed to get a bride ready at the last minute with products from Wal-Mart. THAT is a GREAT makeup artist. Major props to her. I'm not saying that drugstore makeup is the way to go... if she had her own kit with her at the time I'm quite sure that would have been her preference. I'm just using that situation as an example of how much more the artists talent matters than the tools she uses. The tools we makeup artists choose to use are more of a personal preference, but they certainly don't make the artist. And having worn airbrush makeup myself, I can assure you there's a penalty you pay for wearing a dry foundation: it feels like a tight mask. Kinda like how your face feels after a good wash but before you moisturize.

So what's the deal? If airbrush makeup is in fact NOT the greatest thing since sliced bread, what gives? How'd it get so popular? This is why-

Which photo of Gale is airbrushed? The second one, of course. But it's not makeup. Airbrushing is a casual term that refers to a Photoshop technique that creates flawless, luminous, perfect skin. So when you see a beautiful, amazing model with not one blemish and they say she's airbrushed, this is what they are referring to. It most certainly is not a product of her makeup. Makeup can do lot's of things, but this immaculate smoothness doesn't come from a can or a brush or a machine. It comes from your friendly neighbor graphic designer.

Make no mistake, this particular blog entry doesn't shed too much favorable light on airbrush makeup. I figure you probably have heard all the wonderful things about it and I would just be repeating others of I listed the good attributes. And I am not saying that airbrush makeup doesn't have it's time and purpose, I have alot of respect for some artists who happen to use it and in some situations airbrush makeup can be the best solution. But as of right here, right now, I prefer to use a universally adaptable technique with skill and precision rather than a hit-and-miss technique that still has to be supplemented by my original methods. Call me crazy.

Photoshoot with Issac and Becky

2010-02-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

Last month I got to shoot with bad-ass tattoo photographer Issac Madera with Wasted Space chick Becky. I was super excited to see the shots and am ready to share them with you! Issac is known for his photography for the uber-cool tattoo world in Southern Cali. Becky is a hardcore rocker chick, and I had fun giving her a mohawk and killer dark eyes. It was fun to break out of the box and done some rocker hair and makeup. And, anyone who knows me knows Chucks are always a welcome site :) Rock on Issac!

esty.com

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Either because of the recession, or because they want to be unique, brides aren't buying the mass-produced tiara's anymore. There is something particularly exciting about wearing a sparkling crown on your wedding day, there are so few days in your life where it is perfectly acceptable to look like royalty! However, the tiara is definitely on the back burner of bridal trends and handcrafted, original accessories are becoming more and more popular.

When asked for suggestions or idea's to compliment a brides dress, I always send her to etsy.com. This beautiful, gem of a site is a gathering place of sorts for independent designers and artisans to showcase their spare-bedroom creations. Recently, I had a sophisticated bride shop their for a unique but understated compliment to her flowy and modern gown, and I was blown away with what she pulled out of a tissue box on her wedding day. A simple flower handcrafted from feathers with a center of sparkling rhinestones. The very same designer also created a similar and complimentary red version of her wedding day hair accessory to be worn the night before at the rehearsal dinner. It is safe to say that I've seen my share of wedding hair jewelry and this particular piece was most definitely nothing I had ever seen before. What's even more special about it is that there will never be another like it, and by purchasing directly from the designer my bride was able to support her local business and keep her expenditures within the US. It's a win-win all the way around.

If your a bride who's still struggling with the right hair piece for the big day, I definitely encourage you to check out etsy.com. It is absolutely worth your while and you will be amazed with what you find!

Primping in the Rain

2010-01-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

The start of the year is bound to bring the cold and the wet, but just because I know it's coming doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. If I have to endure yet two or three more months of this, I might as well look good. When you wash your hands as many times a day as I do (gotta keep the money makers clean, who wants someone with dirty hands touching their face?) the cold weather just kills. KILLS, I tell you. I combat the urge to dunk my paws in a vat of extra virgin olive oil by slathering them when I can with hemp lavender lotion. The wet, on the other had, makes a joke out of my regular grooming routine. I, like most women, tend to heat, blow, and brush my hair into submission. Granted, I'm not trying to look like an Oscar winner every day, but I at least want to look like a hairdresser. If your a member of the frizz fighting force like I am then you know that the wet is just a big, fat, raspberry in our direction flat out disrespecting our hard-worked locks with it's humidity and ....wetness.

Count this as your get-out-of-jail-free card, today you get to be lazy! Since your not gonna win a bet against nature and the rain, join em. If your hair has absolutely any wave to it at all, you can use the raunchy weather as a curl amplifier. Towel dry that hair and work a curl amplifier into it, making sure you get from the ends to the roots. I really like ISO Bouncy Cream. No one wants hair that looks like uncooked Top Ramen, so ditch the crispy product. Bouncy Cream leaves the hair with all that awesome natural curl, but with that softness. If the stiffened ends of your hair could put an eye out, time to switch product. Those of you blessed with that perfectly straight hair, pull it back today. All us hairdressers got together and voted and looking like a wet seal is so not this seasons look. But you know your locks are lovely most other days, so this is your lazy day too. Put on a big soup pot and enjoy the rain!

New Years Beauty Resolutions

2010-01-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope the holidays were filled with all the things you love best, whatever they may be.

I love the holidays because I feel like right around the corner we can leave it all behind and start with a clean slate: New Years. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and I cannot think of anything more well-intentioned than the New Years Resolution. We all have them, regardless if we share them or not. And every year, it never fails, all those glossy magazines, billboards, and TV advertisements have a say in what your resolution is going to be.

This New Year, I challenge you to make a beauty resolution that will impact more than just your product collection. I challenge you to replace one current beauty fav with an eco friendly version. I'm not asking you to give up the only hairspray that will lift your limp locks into the heavens. But what about your daily body lotion? I've recently switched to Pangea Organics Hand and Body Lotions, and am obsessed! I love that the packaging comes with seeds embedded that when watered and buried, begin to sprout a basil plant! How awesome is that? You get your lotion and your spaghetti ingredients in one package! What about your lip balm? Body wash? Even tarte carries a great mascara called Tree Hugger (who's packaging is made from recycled aluminum)

Throwing out product is not the ultimate goal. Too much has been used on packaging, manufacturing, and shipping (not to mention your hard-earned dollars) on getting that product to you in the first place. I'm simply suggesting that next time you make a beauty run, you scope out your local green options. Because of the increased demand for environmentally friendly products, beauty companies are refining, expanding, and improving on their offerings which leaves the rest of us in a great position to take advantage of their green goodness! Consider this your formal invitation to get trendy and get green. And if you love your resolution, it's really not that hard to keep.

Stacia's Bad-ass Rockabilly Halloween Wedding

2009-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

This past Halloween I was the lucky artist who got to help get Stacia and her rockin wedding party ready for the big day! As much as I love traditional weddings, it's exciting and invigorating to be a part of something really unique, not to mention showing off my awesome teasing skills. Stacia's killer orange dress looked exactly right with a pair of Converse kicks, and the attendants bouquets lit up thru the petals. It was like Cry Baby 2, Viva Vegas! Thanks Stacia for having me!

Tarte Spring 2010

2009-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that while we are all still scrambling to purchase Christmas gifts AND make a Thanksgiving dinner, our favorite cosmetic lines are already done with next seasons collection? I think it's because they have a lot of assistants... I want an assistant...

I was checking out some previews and came across Tartes collection. The soft tones and brow-perfecting tools launching will mi mick the seasons hottest trend of nude nude nude! All across Spring 2010 Fashion Week we saw neutral eyes, matte and natural lips, and ultra-perfect skin and eyebrows. It seems to be the designers way of easing those eco-resistant beauty queens into a greener routine by starting with making natural fashionable. No, we aren't seeing arm-pit hair on the runways...yet?

If you aren't familiar with Tarte, it's definitely worth your while to check out. The lines mission is to nourish your inner diva with minimal impact on the environment. Earthy ingredients like coconut oil and minimal packaging make this line stand out even further. My favorite product of theirs right now is their refillable eye-shadow palette. I know how much it sucks to have emptied all of one color in your daily quad and then have to purchase a whole new quad to get your favorite back. It's a colossal waste of packaging and makeup, not to mention your precious beauty budget. With their palette, you can add your 9-5 eyeshadow before your weekend smokey eye has run out. This is a luxury that I don't see too much in retail lines. As a professional makeup artist, I use refillable palettes all the time because I can replace what I need only, customize, and add to. Once you start using a palette like this, you will never go back. If the price seems a bit steep to you, think about all the money you have thrown away in the past on almost-full palettes. Check them out at www.tartebeauty.com

Beauty.com Sale!

2009-11-24T14:13:00.001-08:00

Just got another of those nifty emails from http://www.beauty.com/. Right now, there are giving $20 off your purchase of $100 or more! It looks like it's for members only, so sign up and get your discount. There's lots of holiday buying to do these days, so every $20 helps! http://www.beauty.com/ is also linked to http://www.drugstore.com/, so I think the discount is interchangeable... I mean to say, I think you can purchase $100 from both of those sites to receive the discount. And you know there is SOMEONE your getting that bubble-bath gift basket for this year. Check it!

Kitchen Beautician #3

2009-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

This little gem of a facial scrub is a decadent treat for that tired skin. I had been sitting at the computer all day and just felt so "yuck" that all I wanted was something to get rid of the stale feeling on my face. I flipped thru some of my organic body care books and just didn't have the ingredients on hand that they called for, so I just opened the fridge and stared. Staring back was plain yogurt, the perfect base for a mask. I love sugar scrubs, and came up with a treatment better than I could have imagined. Mix one tablespoon of plain yogurt (make sure it's plain, and preferably organic) and two tablespoons brown sugar. You can thicken or thin this concoction to your liking. Mix well and apply with gentle pressure over face and neck. Be sure to put your hair back first, as it is sugary and therefore sticky. You don't want your hair to get stuck to your face that would ruin the experience! Massage into skin until the sugar is almost dissolved, then rinse thoroughly. The lactic acid in the yogurt acts as an exfoliant, as does the sugar granules. Your skin is left soft and smooth, ready for your favorite moisturizer. And, unlike those synthetic scrubs, this will taste quite pleasant should some you "accidentally" eat some.

Look Amazing in Holiday Photos

2009-11-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

We have all had that experience. We spend a little extra time on our makeup and hair, go out of our way to make sure we look exceptionally good, only to see photo's later that just don't do our efforts justice. We look shiny, pale, or flat out un-made up. Even I, as a professional makeup artist, have fallen victim to this casual catastrophe from time to time. Our perception of our faces in the mirror is never reflected the same way in the camera, and while you may not be hiring a professional you can still look fabulous. This year, you are going to look amazing in those family-gathering photos, and here is how you are going to do it.

Bring your foundation ALL THE WAY down your neck. Many women are choosing to wear mineral foundations, or foundations with sunscreen, which are highly reflective. It's these reflective properties that cause your face to be so much paler than your body in flash-photography. By bringing it further down your neck, you're at least assuring that your face doesn't stand out so harshly in comparison to the rest of your natural, un-made up body.
Use a warm blush and don't get stingy with it. This isn't really a time for shimmer or overly bright colors, so use a warmer tone more on the neutral rose side as opposed to the coral tinged ones. You also want a matte blush, as the flush from all that holiday cheer-in-a-bottle can make slightly shimmery blushes go from subtle to sweaty. Also, our fair faces need a pick-me-up during the cold months were our precious sun is limited. It's safe to say most women do not apply enough blush in general, so if you're in doubt add a touch more. Don't worry, even if you give it a few more strokes you still won't be able to compete with Grandma.
Deepen your shadow, even if it's only one color. I prefer to spend my morning routine on my body care versus a complex make-up routine, and usually stick with one great eye-shadow. During the winter, I darken up my eyes a bit by either moving to a darker shadow or applying it a bit more intensely. Smokey blacks and purples look particularly alluring in dimly lit dinner parties. (Note: Not vibrant, spring purple. Go for the more muted shades that are just a hint of color.)

Kitchen Beautician #2

2009-11-20T08:00:00.001-08:00

I think that what we put in our bodies should be just as attractive as what we put on our bodies. Lovers of life can all ascertain that food can fuel the senses and the soul the way no other daily activity can. This recipe was developed when I had an extra half pound of feta after making my Grandma's spanikopeta. I add some of my favorite pantry staples and this was the result. Food should be like your beauty routine- elegant, easy, and beautiful. This dish fits that bill.

Shrimp with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Feta

1 lb medium shrimp (21-25 count)

½ lb high quality feta

½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil

2 garlic cloves

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs butter

2 roma tomatoes

1 pound penne

Rinse shrimp and remove tail and shell. Remove vein and allow drip-drying in strainer. Chop sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, toss with shrimp in bowl and season with salt. Allow shrimp to marinate for at least an hour in the refrigerator. In the meantime, get a pot of salted water boiling for your penne and cook pasta to al dente. Seed and chop roma tomatoes. Add butter to a large skillet and sauté roma tomatoes for a minute, then add shrimp with marinade. Sauté shrimp until just pink and cooked through. Cut feta into small chunks. Drain pasta and toss with shrimp mixture and feta. Serve in large pasta bowls.

His Fantasy Present

2009-11-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

You've heard me say it and I'll say it again… a boudoir portrait from Altenburg Studios is the absolutely best Christmas gift you can give him this year. This time of year we bring out the tree and presents for our special Christmas set that is only available during the winter months. Santa's little helper can make sure he is very holly-jolly indeed when he spies her helping him decorate the tree, deliver presents, or tending the fire. Of course, this is a gift he can enjoy year round because your session includes 4-6 different looks of your choice. Detailed sets and in-person consultations mean that you can truly personalize your portraits to suite yours and his tastes. Unlike last year's overpriced tie, this is a gift he will love not just months but years from now. And, looking so sexy and stunning is kind of a gift to you, too! Visit http://www.altenburgstudio.com/ or call 702.610.8699 to book your consultation. Time is running out for delivery by Christmas!

Winter Wedding Beauty

2009-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest things about Las Vegas is that the weather is almost always perfect for a wedding! And even if those of us natives are shivering in our boots come December, pretty much everyone else from other parts of the world think it's pretty damn nice outside!

Regardless of your personal feelings regarding the temperature, it's no secret that the hard air and cold temps of winter and wreck havoc on your skin. If your a winter bride and coming up on that special day, here's some idea's to make sure your flawless no matter what the meteorologist says:

1) Keep hydrated. Ok, this one is a gimme, you should always keep hydrated, but water is especially important during those cold winter months when the wind smacks against your tender lips and face. The cold air wants to practically air-dry your skin out so don't let the lack of sun fool you into getting lazy with your skin care.

2) Exfoliate. Again, those pesky dry temperatures threaten to get the best of you and your skin. Exfoliating at least once a week helps remove all those scaly cells that have built up on the surface from your last ski trip. With the wind-warriors gone, your moisturizer can then penetrate full force and really get down to where you need it the most. Also, a build up of dry skin can make putting on makeup a rolling, flaking, cracking nightmare. Help your artist out. Exfoliate.

3) Accept the fact that you are going to be pale and stop trying to overcompensate for it. It's completely natural for us to lose our hard-earned tan during the colder months. If you wanted to be a beachy tan bride you would have planned a summer wedding, right? Instead of glooping on the self-tanner, embrace you porcelain skin and show it off with a rich, ruby lipstick and a dark winged eye. Use this as a time to play up your key features, something that is usually forgotten in the sweltering months where natural is sexy.

Winter weddings are so wonderful and special. The world is just a big prettier when every business and home is decked out, and in general people can be a bit nicer when they are in the holiday spirit. Congratulations on your winter wedding and here's to a very Happy New Year!

Free Smashbox Blush!

2009-11-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

Just got one of those fabulous email promos's from www.beauty.com. They are giving away a full size blush in Famous with any purchase! I was scoping out their Glam Eyes Beauty kit, and it's got all the good stuff I"m just loving for this fall. The metallic brown shadow quad alone is worth the $39 purchase! But they also include a mascara, pencil, and eye brightener in the kit. So, for $39 bucks plus shipping you've got your fall look covered. That will leave you some funds leftover for martini's to show off your new look!

The Ultimate Gift this Christmas

2009-11-11T08:51:00.001-08:00

This is the year you will give that perfect guy the perfect gift… a boudoir portrait from Altenburg Studio. Boudoir portraits are intimate, sexy, tasteful, and timeless. They are classic and sensual, and always well received. He would never guess that you would give him such an amazing gift. Sue Altenburg and Amelia C have been working together for over five years perfect the art of boudoir portraiture. Photography so revealing requires a very special set of skills to make sure the end result is sexy enough for him, yet flattering enough for her. In the comforts of our private studio, our all female staff has worked diligently perfecting the art of boudoir photography. Our sets are designed to appeal to any tastes, and personalization from our clients is welcomed and encouraged. Imagine sitting by your tree on Christmas morning as he opens a stunning portrait of you sprawled by a romantic fireplace, your hair spilling over a fur rug and firelight glinting on the outline of your perfect legs. Concerned about those legs? Had a child and worried about your tummy? Leave your fears behind. Real women are given the same advantage as professional models by having the benefit of full post-production retouching. Every square inch of your chosen portraits are retouched and refined for and incredibly smooth and sexy finish. The result is a flawless photo that leaves both of you in awe. If it's your figure your concerned about, Master Photographer Sue Altenburg has years of experience posing and lighting women's bodies to slim and thin. Our rule is that we show what's flattering and hide what isn't. Hair and Makeup artist Amelia C (yours truly) provides services within the studio and accompanies you throughout your shoot to make sure your perfect from start to finish. Ladies will be stunned when they see themselves as their men do; beautiful, sexy, amazing. This is the year. Wow him with the ultimate gift of a lifetime- a portrait from Altenburg Studio. Visit http://www.altenburgstudio.com/ for more information, or contact Sue directly at 702.252.7557. Don't wait, book your consult now so you can have your photo's ready by Christmas!

The Cost of Beauty

2009-11-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'm sure makeup artists and hairdressers alike are cringing as they read this… it's commonly known in our industry that what we charge for our services can be a very sensitive subject! I'm going to spill the beauty beans on why we charge what we charge. It's usually the first question I get asked, so obviously it's something that needs to be talked about… "What are your rates?"

I have to charge enough to cover my cost of doing business. If you have ever spent more than 10 bucks on an eye shadow, you can certainly understand how the cost of doing business for a makeup artist can quickly add up. It's taken me over 5 years to get my kit where I want it to be, and yet I still have items I would like to add. Now, great products do not a makeup artist make, however, bad products can make my job a living nightmare. It's in both my clients and mine best interest to stock my kit with the best products available to me with the widest variety to accommodate any race, ethnicity, style, or whims of my clients. I add to my kit at least on a monthly, if not weekly basis and I'm constantly searching for better primers, smoother lipsticks, and softer blushes. There's also all my disposables; mascara wands, tissue, lip brushes, q-tips…All this adds up and I need to take that in account when I figure out what a job is worth.

I also need to consider the extra things about my business that help me run my business. I could be the perfect makeup artist for a job, but how would that client ever find me if I didn't advertise? I do myself and my clients a disservice by not making my presence known. Most of my work takes me on-location and I not only need the ability to transport my kit without breaking anything, but I also need to take with me other things to insure my job is done correctly. That usually involves a professional portable light kit I've invested in and a director's chair so my chiropractor doesn't yell at me. Transportation is important, too!

But the biggest impact on how I price my services is the going rate for similar services in my area. Pricing out the same service for one geographical area, in particular Las Vegas can yield such a wide range of pricing that it's staggering. Some artists charge on the really low end of the scale to earn the business of the budget client. Other artists charge sky-high rates just because they can. So what do you lose with a lower-priced artist and what's to be gained from paying more? It depends on your perspective. As a professional, I want to be contracted not for my price, but for my talent, and I don't really believe that I'm worth a certain dollar amount per hour because the feeling a client has when she feels her most beautiful is absolutely priceless. I want my clients to book me because they feel I can achieve whatever it is they are looking for. Having a happy medium pricing for my area is the answer because it eliminates the questions of more or less.

So what's your beauty worth to you? Of course, the budget is a factor and must not be thrown out of the window, but I encourage you when you are shopping around for your artist to look more at the value of the artist and what they are bringing to the table as opposed to their rate. If an artist fits within your budget but artistically doesn't jive with your style, is that really a smart buy? The same could be said for the priciest artist in the area. The cost of your beauty is first priceless, and secondly valuable. Find your own style and the price will always match.

Acne Part III B

2009-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

With the green movement taking off, everyone is starting to realize that maybe there is something to living a natural (or at least as natural as you can get) lifestyle. Acne solutions are no exception to the rule.

A few years back in the midst of my acne plight, I tried several earthy methods of ridding myself of this embarrassing affliction. I don't know if they would have worked or not, because I never stuck with them to find out. I think that's the problem people will run into- the body doesn't just magically heal itself overnight, it takes consistency and time. Two things people with acne are short on. But, if you think you have stamina to see this thru before resorting to harsh chemicals and liver damage, try these out.

Internal Cleanse- There are several different brands of this, but ultimately they all involve some sort of strong fiber packed with vitamins that is intended to clean out your colon and intestines. The vitamins and supplements also help draw toxin out of the body to be flushed away. The way of going about it varies from brand to brand, but the whole overall point is that you are getting rid of toxic sludge in your body. It is thought that build up of toxins and feces (the average human has up to 40 pounds of excess excrement in their intestines) impedes healthy and vital body functions, and produces bad bacteria. It's then reasonable to assume that when you clean house, everything is more healthy. Usually a 30-90 day program. Be sure to use an all natural method and follow the directions carefully.

Omega 3,6,9- Fish oil! To be honest, I'm not sure why or how this works, but many people have experienced success by increasing their intake of the essential omega fatty acids. While I don't know WHY it works, I can tell you this: The American diet is over flowing with too much Omega 3 and not enough of Omega 6, which in turn is causing all sorts of cardiovascular and weight problems. Our ratio is so out of whack, it's now being discussed that lack of Omega 6 may be named a disease in itself and have subsequent specialized treatment programs for it. Incidentally, it's also been known to work wonders to promote healthy skin. You can get these oils in capsule or liquid, just make sure you take enough. If anything, you should have some sort of supplement of omega 6 added to your diet anyways unless you are a serious fish eater.

Zinc- A few years ago I was in the line at the grocery store, without a stitch of makeup on. An old man who was behind me scooted up to me and bent down to whisper "would you be offended if I gave you some advice on your skin?" Zinc. Zinc is the answer. Take it in high doses. I went home and did some research online, and come to find out, the old man was right. Unfortunately, for me it goes back to the same thing... not enough consistency or time. Before you go swallowing a bottle-full, do some research and make sure you don't get into that scary toxic level, because any vitamin in too much quantity can be bad.

Calcium Bentonite Clay: I discovered this at an aesthetics conference I annually attend. Up until recently, I would spend at least the first half of these industry professional conferences eagerly looking for some new and untold acne resolution. Supposedly, this particular clay was from only one canyon in the whole world, and completely natural. The only thing you had to add when you got home was water. My experience of the clay was this: yup, it will dry out your skin all right. It supposed to draw out all the impurities of your skin. This is one of the few methods that I truly don't think will work for someone with chronic severe acne. I think it is a great thing to have on-hand for the occasional breakout and oil problems, but I would fore go this option for those with more intense skin problems.

Allergies: Allergies? Allergies cause acne? Well- maybe. Here's what I figure. We all KNOW how screwed up the American diet is. Natural products are minimum and premium, because synthetic foods are much cheaper to manufacture. Not to mention, most Americans have not been eating the same thing for generations like other countries will long-established heritages do. So how do we know if our genetic makeup causes us to break out when we have milk, wheat, or some sort of tongue-numbing flavor preserving phyto-chemical? This is the longest, most tedious process of them all. But, I would be amazed if you didn't find yourself living an overall more healthy lifestyle. There are as many ways of going about the allergy issue as there are Italian mothers to lecture you. The important part about doing this is to really do it- don't cop out, get a few "allergy tests" from your Dr, and call it good. (Hives isn't the only way to have an allergic reaction.) I think that this is an excellent, albeit lengthy, method of getting yourself in great skin and overall health.

Green Beauty

2009-11-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

If the thought of "Green Beauty" reminds you of that at-home highlight you did in yourself in high school, be consoled by the fact that even the most meticulous beauty queen is going "Green" these days. We are following the emotionally charged country on a bandwagon of contemporary hippies pleading with our candidates to "Go Green". Oh sure, it's easy enough to recycle, watch your watering schedule, and buy your veggies locally, but one aspect of our existence that is perpetually there yet fallen to the "green" wayside is our beauty routine. A few steps, and your on your way to Beauty Nirvana.

Buy products NOT tested on animals: We all know that we would never want to be part of a bunny torturing contest, but do you know how important even the smallest animal can be to preserving our eco system? (Not to mention the gas and resources spent chasing them around to catch)

Know your fragrance: Take a few minutes to read your fragrance; if you see the word

"-butane" attached to some other long word, you might want to reconsider.

Let your locks go: Go "red-carpet" and follow the beach wave trend. Save energy on letting your hair air-dry into those waves, the work a polishing product in to de-frizz.

Help your Hair Out: Or in, rather- the best conditioning we can do for our hair is to let our hair take care of itself. The natural oils produced by our scalp really is the best thing for healthy hair, so skip that daily shampoo and go two or even three days. Throw your hair up in that scrunchi you kept long after middle school when you shower. You'll save water, and your hair will thank you for it. Feeling greasy? Comb you hair from scalp to ends to spread out that oil, and use a light hair spray at the roots, which will dry it out a bit.

Make a Fashion Statement: Find a really cute, really amazing bag to use for your shopping. A reusable tote is one of the best things you can do for your environment. If you don't like the ones you can buy at your local grocery store, use this as an opportunity to buy that oversized bag you thought was way cute but didn't know what to use it for. Just make sure you get a few- one bag may not be enough always. Keep them in your car for last minute shopping!

Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle: Not just a friendly mantra, this simple theory is tested and true. Donate your old blow-dryer, actually use a whole can of hairspray, and see if that shampoo bottle can be recycled.

Buy Better Quality: If you spent the extra on a better disposable razor, you wouldn't need to replace it as often. Same goes for hair care- the higher the quality, the less you typically need to use. Less product-Less Waste.

Take Better Care of Yourself: Ultimately, the best way to be beautiful AND take care of your environment is to take care of yourself. Not using sunscreen will cost you in wrinkles you'll spend money and resources on to fix. Eating the right foods helps you stay healthy and keep you out of energy-high hospitals. Look for skin and hair care that is organic, or better yet, find a company who supports the environment by reducing or eliminating harmful products that damage the earth and it's resources. The better you take care of yourself, the better you take care of our earth. Be beautiful for it.

Article featured in Roxanne Magazine.

Acne Part II

2009-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Everyone who doesn't have acne seems to know why you have acne. Have you ever noticed that? It's like all those clear-faced people around you seem to have some advice to pass around. It's a catch-22 tho- On one hand, if they had acne then you would know whatever it is that they did wasn't working, but on the other hand, if they had clear skin, who knows if it was because what the did was working or if they wouldn't have had it in the first place regardless of their skin regimen? As they say, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions...

So here you are, loathing the smooth skinned person in front of you who is lecturing you on Omega 3s or milk cleansers or light therapy...

(WHY IS IT THAT THEY ALWAYS ASK "HAVE YOU TRIED PROACTIVE?" Of course we have tried Proactive! You think that we have avoided the most heavily advertised acne product? You think we live in a shell in which the Proactive propaganda doesn't reach? You think that we would willingly avoid a "miracle" product that is actually affordable?)

(...to that end, yes, I know you meant well. It's not your fault anymore than it is mine. We know your trying to help. And we do appreciate it. Which is why I smile and say "yes" instead of bellow at you.)

... and you still can't figure out why you and not them. Well, doc's haven't figured that out yet either- they know the ingredients to the acne recipe, but they don't know where those ingredients come from.

Three things occur to create a zit- All three of these things happen in abundance when you have chronic acne. They are: bacteria, sebum (oil), and un-shed dead skin cells.

Almost all the acne treatments you will find on the market, regardless of their form, treats one of these three things. The product is either designed to be something of an anti-bacterial, to dry up the sebaceous glands, or to shed the buildup of skin cells.

That's it. That's what all those products do in one way or another. If it's clever, like Proactive, it does two of those things- three if you buy their sulfur mask.

For example: The cleanser of Proactive is an exfoliant of sorts (shedding skin cells). Then you follow up with a toner (useless and damaging). You finish off with their Repair Lotion (which is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial of sorts). If you use their sulfur mask, then your treating the hyper-activity of your sebaceous glands (sulfur reduces oil production).

I'm starting to sound like an infomercial, so let me clarify by saying I am not telling you to go buy Proactive. I'm using this product as an example because it's widely known and contains treatments for all three parts of a pimple, therefore is an example of what logic should tell us would work. Unfortunately, that isn't so.

If we know the pieces of the acne puzzle, then why is it so hard to treat? There are, literally, only three parts to a zit and we know what they are. Mystery gone, right? Here's the kicker: those things have to be caused by something. Therein lies the problem- you can treat the bacteria, oil, and cell shedding, but all your really doing is treating the symptoms. It's as effective as taking a cough syrup for a cold. The cold will still be there, the cough syrup just makes is bearable. It certainly does not make the cold go away. And if that cough is caused by something more severe, like a respiratory infection, then even the highest quality cough suppressant isn't going to make the hacking go away.

And that's when it gets really frustrating. What is the problem that is causing the symptoms? And that's something no one has been able to figure out.

So let's recap:

Three main components that create a zit:

a) Bacteria

b) Excess Oil

c) Excess Dead Skin Cells

What do most products do, Rx or OTC? Treat the symptoms, but not the problem.

Why can't we treat the problem causing the symptoms? Because we don't know what the problem is.

Why me? Who knows? But, they haven't figured out a cure for the common cold yet so it's not like we are the only thing science is missing. Next time I'll talk about the different products available to treat the symptoms.

Acne Part I

2009-11-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

In January, I entertained the thought of blogging about the Accutane journey I was about to start. I took photos of my face without makeup- the plan was to take photo's every month to see how I was progressing and have a documentation of it. I chickened out when I saw the original photos- it was bad. I couldn't bring myself to post them or talk about it.

But now, I'm nearing the end of the treatment. Accutane is recommended to run a 6 month course, and this past week I got my 5th month Rx. Just in the past few weeks have I started to notice a significant difference in my skin. There was a while there that I was so frustrated because it wasn't clearing up fast enough, for all the hoops I had to jump thru to get it. (And trust me, there are A LOT of hoops!)

The reason I'm writing now is because I feel as if I'm finally, over a decade later, coming to the end of my acne journey. Like anyone who has acne, the longer it lasts, the more the desperation builds. For me, the sheer fact that I am in the beauty industry seemed to make it so much worse- the more successful I became in my career, the more ashamed I was of my skin. I have even been known to avoid jobs because I was too embarrassed about my face. When I would do clients makeup, my face would always be close to theirs and I felt like I had to explain myself. I could cover up color, sure- but if I had a lot of bumps, it was obvious. Some days, all I wanted to do was scream "It's not my fault! I can't help it!" I could go on about the humiliation, but that's not why I'm blogging...

There is SO MUCH information out there on acne; it can be hard to sort thru. And again, desperate people do desperate things. So I'm going to lay out, very simply, what I have learned. I've had the added benefit of having access to professional products as well as retail products. I've also devoured any industry literature on acne that I could find... I think it's only fair that I pass it along.
I'm going to divide this up into sections- I will do my best to do one a week. I'm going to start with the basics of acne. Again, the purpose of this is to simplify the options- sometimes there's just too much information; I'm going to streamline it for you. I will chronicle what I know, as a professional and as acne patient. If I'm feeling especially brave, I'll post pictures, but I make no promises...

If you have acne, subscribe to this blog. I may not tell you anything you don't already know, but if anything, you'll know that you're not the only one out there who feels like this. Just knowing you have company may make you feel better.

Acne Part III

2009-11-03T22:03:00.001-08:00

The main reason why I started blogging on this is so that I could clearly and effectively stream-line information about acne. The purpose of this is so that when you set out to help yourself, you don't go in circles trying the same method in different ways. That's where a lot of us got stuck... and you won't really know your options until you try every avenue. I got on Accutane as the very last resort. I had two dermatologists try to convince me for over three years to go on it, but I wasn't going to subject myself to such an intense and potentially damaging medication unless there were truly no other options. I'll talk more about the Accutane process at the very end. It really does need to be your last resort.

OK- the So-Called Solutions. The title is self-explanatory, I'm sure. So with no further introduction, let's jump right in.

Anti-Bacterial: Treats one of the three causes of a pimple. Can be both OTC and Rx. Key words to look for that indicates it is an antibacterial: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, oral antibiotics. Milder, more natural options may include aloe vera and witch hazel (not a proven antibacterial, but may be indicated as such.) All of these are topical (you put them on your skin, not in your body) with the exception of oral antibiotics.

Where you will find them: In cleansers, moisturizers, masks, spot-treatments, toners. The key to getting this type of treatment to work is finding the right strength and application. How much patience do you have? (PS- the repair lotion in Proactive is what makes the system work. It's a 2.5 benzoyl peroxide, the "just the right amount" strength that has worked with a majority of people.)

Products that serve as antibacterial: way too many to list. Peruse your local drugstore looking for the keywords listed above. I highly recommend skipping the oral antibiotics. I have never seen them work, on me or anyone else. I have had some success with the acne regimen found at www.acne.org, a systematic anti-bacterial way of clearing your skin.

Exfoliants: Treats one of the three main causes of a pimple. Can be OTC or Rx. Key words to look for that indicates it is an exfoliant: AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), scrub, exfoliant (duh), fruit acids, and any reference to retinol.

Where you will find them: Occasionally in cleansers, mostly in extra step options (steps outside of a normal skin care regimen of cleans, tone, moisturize). You can find some effective products at your local drugstore, but most of them worth anything will be found from your friendly local esthetician. There are some strict regulations on chemicals with highly exfoliating properties (and with good reason, they remove skin, literally!) so she will tend to have the concoctions in high enough concentrations to make a difference. Your dermatologist has highly exfoliating products too... but you're going to get info from him, not me, should the time come.

Sebum Reducers: Treats one of the three main causes of a pimple. Almost always Rx or at the least from a licensed esthetician. Key words: light therapy, sulfur, isotretinoin. Plain English... they reduce the activity from your oil glands, therefore you produce more oil.

NOTE: A TONER IS NOT A SEBUM REDUCER!!! I am sorry to say that more people than not try to fight acne by drying out their skin. Wrong! Stop! Do not try and dry out your skin on your own! I know only of effective products that help reduce the appearance of oily skin, but I know of no OTC products that actually stem the flow of oil. And wrecking havoc on your skin because you think that surface oil is the culprit is just wrong on so many levels. If this is what it comes down to, go see a dermatologist. Using Sea Breeze is not going to help, and your skin will suffer for it. The bottom line is, this is the hardest way to approach an acne issue.

So let's recap.

Three ways to treat acne: Anti-bacterial, Exfoliants, Sebum Reducers.

Antibacterials are common, easy to find and use.

Exfoliants are an extra step, and the good stuff comes from your aesthetician.

Sebum reduces are a tough route to go, and can be both dangerous and effective so don't use without professional guidance. Stop trying to dry out your skin.

What a mouthful! Next time, I'm going to chat about some alternative methods to treating acne-

In case you're starting to feel overwhelmed, despite my best efforts to keep things simple, I will offer an all-over recap at the end of this series.

Kitchen Beautician #1

2009-11-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

The dry and cold weather of winter can be brutal to lips. Flaking, chapping, and wind burned puckers are anything but attractive and can be quite painful! Head to your pantry for some comfort food for your mouth… mix up a couple tablespoons of organic cane sugar with a few tablespoons of organic extra virgin olive oil. (I usually have enough for two or three applications per batch.) The goal is to have a paste. Apply it with your fingers over your bathroom sink to your lips, rubbing gently to scrap away flakes and allowing your lips to absorb the super hydrating effect of the oil. Rinse well and polish off your treatment with a great lip balm… I love, love, love Aquaphor! Exfoliating is important when you want to rehydrate your lips because it allows the moisturizing elements to penetrate past the scaly skin and down to where it matters. The granules of the sugar provide just the right amount of sweet scrub to let the oil and lip balm do its job.

Beauty.com Sale!

2009-11-03T08:45:00.001-08:00

I opened my email this morning to find a promo email from PayPal... November 2nd and 3rd, recieve 20% off your beauty.com purchase when you check out usuing PayPal. YEA! I'm all about the discounts. For those of you who haven't ordered from beauty.com before, they are an excellent site for all those random things you have to run around town to buy. They have top lines, like Smashbox and one of my personal favorites, Origins. You can also hit up drugstore.com and checkout just once for both stores! Do some lunch-time online shopping and don't forget to use PayPal to check out today so you can get your discount!

Makeup Comparison: Airbrush vs. Mineral vs. Traditional

2009-09-29T12:22:00.001-07:00

Authors Note: While the following is an excellent synopsis of each system of makeup and its results, bear in mind that all makeup is only as good or bad as the artist applying it. Application and skill will always be the more significant factor regarding any makeup service. As neutral as this article attempts to be, other makeup artists may agree or disagree with it depending on their own personal experience. The actual makeup product does not make or break the look, regardless of what makeup medium is used. It is the artist and their method alone that truly create long-lasting, flawless and impeccable beauty, and therefore should be considered with more care than the product used.

Makeup: Airbrush vs. Mineral vs. Traditional

Makeup today has evolved so far from even 20 years ago, where a slick and oily foundation dominated the main market and therefore, by lack of option, determined what women wore. Today, we have a wide range of products at our disposal, from oil-free, non-transferable, medicated, and even makeup that touts claims to make skin look younger. When it comes to a big event, be it photo, wedding, or just plain fun, the claims makeup lines can make to prove their product worthy of your hard earned dollar can be somewhat contradicting. Here's the real scoop on the three main stream and most requested types of makeup.

Airbrush:

What it is: A light-weight makeup applied through an air gun machine that produces a thin, even layer of makeup and creates a very matte finish.

How it's used: A small amount of a very thin makeup designed for air brush use is put into a chamber of a gun. When the machine is turned on and the gun trigger pulled, a light spray of makeup comes out of the gun in a fine mist.

Airbrush makeup has become extremely popular in the past few years. This is largely due to perfect complexion models that are "airbrushed" to give every part of their body a flawless finish. Most women confuse "airbrush" with makeup, when it is actually a technique used in PhotoShop, a picture alteration program, to make the models look flawless. Airbrush makeup is non-transferable, meaning that slight rubbing or brushing against something or someone will not cause the makeup to come off of the face. Black clothes will remain black after hugging someone wearing airbrush makeup.

Airbrush makeup, like any other makeup, has it's ups and downs. On the upside, once it's on, dry rubbing won't make it transfer, and unless it gets wet, it won't go anywhere until you wash it off. On the other hand, if it does become wet thru crying or sweating, you run the risk of it streaking. Imagine a dusty table, if you ran your finger across it, you could clearly see a line from the surface underneath, even if the colors are the same. And like a dusty table, once that line is there, you can do nothing to blend it back. The table must be wiped entirely clean. Same thing with airbrush makeup, if the makeup for any reason gets wet and leaves a streak, there is nothing than can be done to blend it. Even airbrushing over the area will not blend the streak. The solution to this problem is to constantly be aware of any wetness and to maintain it throughout the day by dabbing your tear ducts and remaining cool so you don't sweat heavily. If you're attending an event where you're positive you will stay and remain dry, airbrush makeup can offer that red-carpet finish you have always wanted.

Mineral:

What it is: Several minerals are treated through various oxidizing processes to create different shades, and then crushed together to form fine powders that can be applied to the face and used as makeup.

How it's used: Mineral makeup is usually applied with a brush, although it can be used with a sponge for thicker and more precise applications. Some lines offer different steps to wearing their mineral makeup, including primers that are applied to the face before the foundation to provide holding power, create an even porosity on the skins surface, and a smoother, more matte finish all around.

Mineral makeup is another makeup that has taken the nation by storm over the past few years. With science and research looking into the effect we have had on our planet over the past hundreds of thousands of years, we are starting to become more aware of our environment, and therefore, more aware of our own health and well being. The organic industry has soared to new heights, as we search to become a healthier nation filled with natural living options as opposed to chemically enhanced lifestyles. Makeup is no exception. When the chemicals that were used to manufacture makeup were exploited in a whirlwind of propaganda, mineral makeup became popular and the chemicals in our every day makeup caught some flak for why our skin is too dry, too oily, too acne, too wrinkled, so on and so forth. Using mineral makeup creates a feeling of good health, both on the inside and out.

As wonderful as mineral makeup is, it's not suitable for everyone in every situation. Women suffering from acne, or getting at any time facial treatments that compromise the integrity of their skin, will greatly benefit from the use of mineral makeup as their daily main stay. Its minimal ingredients assure that no unnecessary chemicals are being added to their already sensitive skin, and create a minimal reaction to any treatments they may be undergoing. It is not appropriate, though, to use mineral makeup in any situation where photographs are an important part of the event. Its natural composition includes minerals with reflective properties, creating an almost pearly finish. When worn while taking a picture, the light from the camera and any surrounding light will reflect off those minerals, creating a bright and distinctly lighter face than any other body part. This makeup, while a great choice for daily wear, is simply not camera ready.

Traditional:

What it is: Pancake, liquid, cream, or pressed powder that is usually applied with a sponge or finger tips. Traditional makeup comes in the widest variety of any other makeup, with every shade available. It's also the most versatile of all the makeup; it can be as basic as a sheer tint of coverage, or combined with other properties to create a makeup that targets specific problems.

How it's used: This particular makeup is the only makeup that, given the appropriate formula is chosen, can be used in any situation at any given time. It can be applied many different ways, from brush methods used with thicker foundations, to finger tips used for light and well blended applications.

Ah, the days as kids when we would sneak into our mother's vanity to smear that thick, gooey substance across our faces and prance around as if we were going to a party. This is probably the makeup that is sitting in your case right now. It can be liquid, it can be pressed, and it may even come in a stick form that you have to twist up. Whatever form it takes, the right formula can do wonders for your look. Women with dry or mature skin benefit from the thicker of the traditional foundations. As their skin typically needs large amounts of hydration, the oils that compose of a cream based foundation lend kindly to their skin, creating a smoother finish. Young adult women tend to prefer a more liquid, oil free foundation or a pressed powder with good coverage. The formula that suites you best would be based on your skin type, and with many more options to be listed than could possible fit into this article. Nothing but good research and trial error can lead you to the formula that's right for you. Then the teenagers have their makeup too. Usually a cheap, watery substance to make them "look" and "feel" like they are wearing makeup and to cover the occasional pimple, investing large amounts of money is not usually needed. However, if the teen as severe acne or other skin problems, you will want to talk to a dermatologist and find the best solution for their skin, as their makeup may be part of the problem. If you or your teen is fair and the skin in good condition, the best bet is a tinted moisturizer with a high SPF or sunscreen underneath.

Traditional makeup, put simply, can be amazing or disastrous depending on what the formula is and how it's applied. This is the one makeup that it totally dependent on the person applying it- even a good, high quality product can look awful if applied in a sloppy fashion. And a low quality, inappropriate formula can sometimes be adjusted with an experienced hand to create the right look. And although, like its main competitor airbrush, it typically does rub off slightly or fade a little over the course of the day, it is highly bendable therefore anything can be fixed within seconds. It's my personal belief, off the record, that this is the most versatile, therefore the best option, for wedding makeup.

Every makeup has its own virtues, and its own sins. Ultimately, your personal preferences will be the biggest factor in choosing what you wear on what occasions. However, if you take nothing else from this, understand: The best kind of makeup you can wear is the makeup that is customized to fit YOU. Don't buy into the propaganda about how this versus that is oh so much better. In reality, that foundation may be great for their skin, but your skin has different properties, different assets, and different problems of its own. A great makeup artist won't have a set way of doing makeup; she'll have a variety of styles to choose from so she can create the best look for you and your event. So what if your beautiful sister-in-law had her makeup done with the fancy airbrush machine? So what if your organic-yet-so-cool co-worker ONLY wears mineral makeup? And if your rich Grandma swears by that $400 bottle of liquid foundation? Who cares? Trust me when I say this, no one is going to look at your makeup and know if it's one of those three, or how much you spent on it. They are only going to see how beautiful you are.