Perfect eyeliner for Latinas!

I did this shot for Jemma Kidd makeup.  It was in a Neiman Marcus Beauty advertising.

Jemma (the sister of Jodie Kidd who was once a very famous English model)  sent a drawing which showed me how she wanted the makeup to look.  I just had to follow the steps...

The reason I am posting this picture is that many people feel that wearing eyeliner around the whole eye is a no-no for just about everyone.  As you can see in the picture, it can work at making the eyes the focus of the makeup.  Here's a few things you have to make sure you do when wearing a look like this.

-Wear tons and tons of mascara or even fake eyelashes.  Also, curl lashes a few extra times.

-Make sure you have a lighter-yet noticeable-color on the crease.  This will help to open up your eyes more

-Use eye drops

-Make sure your eyebrows are not as dark looking as the eyeliner itself!  Very important or you'll look too harsh!

By the way, the model was Brazilian (forget her name)  She is also a Revlon model.

I did LOVE this black eyeliner--I like the fact that it looks really black and it really stays.
Available at:
www.neimanmarcus.com

The products

For the posting below  I thought I'd share with you some products to achieve a similar look.

See that little bit of shine on her skin....use a little bit of mac "strobe cream" over the foundations in areas in which you want highlights.  I recommend using it on the temples and the areas above the cheekbones.  (look at the picture and you'll be able to tell exactly where to put it on)

On the lips?  My favorite red lipstick right now..great texture (not too matte not too shiny-not too blue but not too orange!)  Mary Kay lipstick in RED.  And did I say it is probably the perfect red for most latinas?

strong eyes/nude lips or light eyes/strong lips?

Here is a picture of me doing a presentation to US and Latin American Magazine beauty editors in New York a few months ago.  Everyone from Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar to Elle were there.  I loved it and it got a great response.  We had a circular stage that moved and I would step in and out of different rooms with different decor and a completely different model in it!

This specific segment was about old "rules" and misconceptions about wearing makeup.  One of them is that most people feel that you either can wear intense color on the lips or on the eyes but never at once.

As you can see in the finished product (headshot) the intensity is both in eyes and lips and it works out beautifully!  The answer?  Texture!  On the eyes, I used an almost translucent gray color and stayed away from completely covering the eye in black.  Instead I built the intensity with layers of a lighter color.  It creates drama but it doesn't look like one strong stain.

On the lips, I used the same technique.  Using a red/blue tone and layering it with a little gloss with gold specks on it.  I wouldn't have gotten the same effect if I would have just used a matte lipstick alone.

So the way to do it is.  Build the color with layers of a soft tone...don't start dark and then try to soften..>This way, you'll be able to master dramatic looks... 

bronzer!

Here's a "backstage" picture of a shoot a did with model Magdalena Wrobel.  The client wanted her to have a "sunkissed" look and she was flying in from Paris and looked as pale as a ghost!

I applied her foundation a little darker and then used a powder bronzer concentrating on the areas where the sun would hit the skin first. (I used Mary Kay bronzing beads) 

I then used my favorite light bronzer Jergen's body lotion all over the body (include the neck) which actually turns a bit darker as the day goes on.   

My last secret???  A Clarins gold oil spray.  I bought it in Mexico and don't know if they sell it in the States.  It's awesome!!  that is what gives her skin the glow that you see.

So, in about 45 minutes Magdalena looked like a California sun kissed girl!

Beauty shoot Feb 2,2009

Here's an un retouched "raw" image from my last beauty shoot.  The model is Gabriela who is in LA for a few weeks from London.  She is actually Brazilian but raised in London.

I really wanted to give this picture the feeling of a Summer wedding.  I applied the lipstick in layers by applying it once then blotting and then repeating the step a few times.  This will insure that a bride can really keep her lips on as long as needed!

I really love the blush and they way that it makes her look so fresh.  I tried to steer away from too much sparkle anywhere because on that special day a bride should shine (not her make up products!)

Waterproof mascara is a must and if needed some individual eyelashes can really help to open up the eyes.  

Now, I know some novias don't get any sleep the night before their "big day"  One trick I recommend is putting a little white eyeliner inside the lower eyelid.  I did it on this model and it helps the eyes to look bigger and more "awake"  

Don't take my word for it...buy one (even CVS has good ones)  and you'll see the difference. 

Perricone at my house!

Here's a picture from one of the set ups at my house the last few days.  It was the shoot for Dr. Perricone skin care and our house was "The Perricone Institute"

I used my airbrush machine on Dana Bledsoe, Perricone's spokesperson.  She commented on how much she felt like she didn't have any makeup on.  I loved the fact that I didn't have to keep putting powder on and I didn't have to redo the make up even after 12 hours of shooting.

I learned a lot about the Perricone line and might really give it a try. The director and everyone in the crew were wonderful to work with!

By the way, this is before all the rain we've been having...Just in time!!

Pretty picture

I just looked at the blog and I think it needs another pretty picture.  But I just love to shock you guys with all the crazy makeup that some of your hermanas wear!!!

Here's another one with my shoot with Rie/Rick Gradone did the hair/Dominick Guillemot did the picture.

Enjoy..

Irma Serrano "la tigresa"

If you grew up in the US you might not know her and if you do-well you know that she's worth the space in my Latina makeup blog!

Irma Serrano (La Tigresa) was a Mexican actress who got her nickname from the movie that made her famous.  She dated all kinds of scandalous men, supposedly gave her soul to the devil, wants her remains to be mummified, has been a Mexican state senator, has been married as many times as Elizabeth Taylor, tried to get pregnant a couple of years ago at age 70 with sperm that was frozen 12 years ago with her previous husband's sperm!  She then lost the baby and said it was the fault of all the reporters that made fun on her and claims to have put a curse on them (with the help of Lucifer--the devil!!!)

She is now dating a 29 year old! yes, the guy on the picture with her and the ring.  Look at that red hair on her.

We'll look at the makeup~ actually some of the things she does can work but only if they are done slightly and basically invisibly!

Eyes;

She paints the eyebrows way up high to open up her eye area, then she has "stenciled" in strategically placed hairs

uses a "beauty mark"  that looks like a bindi to me..

Makes her eyes look bigger by putting little "diamonds" in the outer corners of the eyes.

Crazy amounts of mascara---lots of fake eyelashes

the picture with the "subdued" makeup was at a funeral of one of her husbands.  I think the nose job is starting to go south.  Looks like she has permanent eyeliner on.

And oh... those lips..she's so happy dressed like a "charra" with that dark lip liner on!

Wow!

lucia mendez

Ok...here's Lucia Mendez.  On the picture to the left (2004) she claimed to have had a "little something" done to her face.  On the one to the right (2007) she claimed she didnt have more work done...hummmm mentirosita!

I say lots of botox, an eyelift and some injections of something on her lips... I'm sure she looked better a few months after all that was done.  I think if you are going to have so much done at once, you should wait a few months before hitting the red carpet.  Let things "settle" a bit..

YES YOU CAN!!!!

Wear bright colors that is..
ok..I'm always asked by women how they can wear color.  I try to explain that the first thing they need to forget about is that color doesn't have to look so strong, that most make up companies now produce colors that are translucent enough that they can be worn and not make you look like a clown!

I saw some great new products at CVS the other day and actually used some in the picture that I am posting.  It's so great to be able to use all different kinds of make up and don't think for a moment that a $50 lipstick is all that different for a $9 one.

This are the colors I used on this model.  On the eyes I lined them with a Revlon green eyeliner (it has a square flat tip).  I love green on a brunette with brown eyes.  The color makes the eyes "pop"  The trick here was to combine the green with neutral tones (other colors I used were golds and browns)  Then, lots of mascara which gives the look another neutralizing effect.

Key with color on the eyes is --don't do a monochramatic wash of color (ie blue eyeliner/blue mascara combo) Always use black mascara and neutral eyeshadows  to counterattack the bright color.

As far as the lips, I first lined them completely with a neutral brownish lipliner.  I then applied a covergirl orange lipgloss (on the tube it looks super bright)  It actually looked (and smelled, I must say) beautiful~

Look at the picture and see how pretty it can be to wear green on the eyes and orange on the lips!

I'll talk more about mixing pricier products with cheap ones at another time but this time remember, it's ok to wear bright colors but always neutralize them by combining them with browns/charcoals/blacks.  Unless you are singing Karma chameleon for Halloween!