Luis Miguel-his makeup trick

This still is from one of the jobs I did with Luis Miguel, this one was a video we shot  in San Francisco.

Want to know a secret about him?  he hates his under eye puffiness and always asked me to use a product to help diminish their look.   I found  a product I loved.  It's called 'Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Eye Mask" by Bliss.

It's got cucumber extract, vitamin C and many Antioxidants.  It's supposed to brighten and de-puff the eyes in 15 minutes and it does!  He loved it!

Remember--hydrate and cut down on the salt if you have that problem but if you really need it... try these strips.  I also like to cool them in the fridge before using them.

So, what do you think?  Are the bags gone?????

Modern 1940's look

I also wanted to show you my own version of a Maria Felix look.  On this model I basically did the same type of 40's glam makeup but made it more modern by using the following tips:

1-don't use a lip liner on the lips and make the line a little bit more natural by only using a lip brush.  Too overdrawn and the lips look way too old-fashioned.

2-Try not using a liquid eyeliner and instead use a very faint line of powder eyeshadow right next to the lash line.  

3- Add a few individual lashes-  a whole strip will also make the look seem dated.

4- Use texture on the eyes,  Stay away from completely matte eye shadows and use some with a little more texture.

5- Have fun trying this look!

La Doña Maria Felix-Cool Latina!

 Mexican actress Maria Felix is the epitome of a Latina movie star.  She was opinionated, somewhat androgynous, married 4 times, had affairs with a married president and many hi profile men.   She was able to turn down Hollywood roles offered to her by saying (I am not going to play an "india" carrying a basket) even if Cecil B de Mille was calling for her!

To add to her fabulousness, she was a huge Fashion icon in her era.  First, she was a big customer of Christian Dior, Balenciaga and Hermes Couture.  But she was really known for her relationship with the house of Cartier.  They actually created some amazing pieces (like the crocodile necklace you see here--made of over 1000 diamonds!)

Her makeup, was classic 40's movie star. Red lips, heavy perfectly shaped eyebrows and lots of eyelashes.  In her older age, she started wearing more eyeshadow colors.  Her skin?  always looked amazing  and since it was probably due to the help of a plastic surgeon--congrats to her. She looked amazing until her death in 2002.

She is a cool latina!

joan collins--WOW

Here's a shot I took of Joan Collins backstage at last years' Emmy's.   I was working backstage and she came up to me and ask me for "a little color on her lips."  She quickly pointed at Mary Kay's red salsa (a color I believe they've discontinued)  It was a really orange red that would be way too bright for most women.  Not for Miss Joan!  She loved it and asked me to also fix her half/fallen fake lashes.  I thought to myself, this woman is wearing soooo much makeup! but she can get away with it-after all she was probably looking natural as opposed to what she wore on "Dynasty"

Moral of my story??? If you have the confidence, anything goes!!!!  Go for it, try it and wear it proudly... the results here?  judge for yourself

Chantecaille for Neiman Marcus

This is a beauty picture that I did for Neiman Marcus.  It was featuring the Chantecaille makeup line.  I do have some favorites of theirs.  Their foundation has amazing texture and they have really nice colors for most types of women.

My most favorite chantecaille items are their lipglosses.  Yes, it is worth to pay more than $30 for a lipgloss.  I love the texture, how long it stays on and the little brush that comes with it.  I didn't care too much for the packaging--the silver ribbon around it started to peel off soon and didn't look very elegant.  I used the gloss for this shot and I really liked it....

Another thing I thought was great was their waterproof mascara, it's really jet black and trust me, it's not going anywhere...

Luis on "Tu hogar" for Telemundo

this is a HILARIOUS video of a show I did a few months ago for Telemundo.  I was part of the "Extreme Makeover" like show in Spanish.  Basically they were re-doing the lady's Master bedroom.  She was a very sweet Guatemalan woman.  

I was to do her makeup and then she would have her hair done and look completely glamorous when she is presented her new bedroom suite.

The funny part was that there was a horrible storm outside (we were filming at her house about 40 min away from Miami)  Her a/c wasn't working and I was given her guest bathroom (with flourescent lighting and all) to do her makeup.

She had very dry skin so I tried to give it some texture and really shaped her eyebrows and eyes.

I really have to ad lib everything I say in segments like this so once I re-play it--OMG it's funny!

Alaska y Dinarama- Cool Latina!

Here's my one inspiration from the 80's.  Spanish punk singer Alaska.  She was our own Siouxsie and the Banshees.  As a young kid in El Salvador-she represented amazing individuality and style!

Her makeup was either completely dark and smoky or she had a phase in which she shaved half of her hair and she would paint weird shapes for her eyebrows (very now high fashion makeup, may I say?)

She always had that beautiful porcelain skin that always contrasted with her hair--which was sometimes in dreadlocks (a la Boy George)  

One more thing about her makeup was the amazing (and obvious) contour she used to shape her face.. you can really see it in the cover I've posted---wow!  Funny thing is that it is the way to actually contour a face -only you have to learn how to do it so that no one can tell you've done anything...

She is one of my cool latinas for sure!!

square faces...

This picture just came out this month.  I shot it in Puerto Rico a couple of months ago.  The model is Puerto Rican and her name is Teresita.  She is a perfect example of a Latina with a very square face.  I minimized it by using blush to contour and darken the undesired areas.  I applied it under the cheekbones and then blended upwards, whatever was left on the brush I also swept all the way down towards her neck. I also did the same thing towards the temples.

As you can see, the magazine features me talking about everything I did and yes, they snapped that shot of me there. I had appeared on the Telemundo show "Levantate the day before.

asian eyes

This is from a shoot a couple of weeks ago in LA.  The model's name is Teanni.  I lOVE to do makeup on asian eyes.  The flatness of the eyelid allows you to create different shapes and also to use the color to add not only intensity but depth.  One thing I loved to do on her was to add eyelashes.  Her eyes just loved them and it fixed the problem of lots of Asian girls who have very straight lashes.  One thing to mention is that there are many Latinas with the same type of hooded eye.  Embrace it hermanas!! it is sooo beautiful.  Watch out for heavy eyeliner that is so thick that your eyes look like they are close.  And also use plenty of mascara or some "falsies"  You could even try eyelash extensions which I think look beautiful but I found that they don't last that long and start to fall off.