Lip Glosses, the new nude!

Lip gloss has always been a product many women love or hate. Since the 1930s, when Max Factor created this product for films and TV, it has revolutionized the way lips are seen in the beauty industry. Nowadays, there are many finishes to this product. We have from a lightweight natural shine, to a very thick and strong high shine product; we even have them with glitter, which adds more to the shine factor of it. But is this product becoming the new nude? I think it has.

I remember my fascination with lip glosses when I was young. I remember they sold this lip glosses in a roller bottle with different flavors, and strawberry was my favorite one because it had a reddish tint to it, and tasted so sweet with a strong strawberry smell to it. Since then, I have really liked the finish the lip gloss gives to the lips. I like for lips to look full, big and sexy, and I feel lip gloss gives me that look.

A couple of years ago, lip glosses weren't really a thing, brands had very few shades of them or finishes; some brands didn't even carry lip glosses. But I would say since late 2017, lip glosses have become one, if not a high selling product on the lip line of any beauty brand. We can now find different colors, finishes, textures and even smells and taste of them.

To wear lip gloss, I recommend you to try a good one first. Buy one from a brand you know carries good quality of products, it doesn't have to break your bank; a brand that I enjoy and has very affordable glosses is Colourpop. I have so many glosses from them, and they all perform well and have beautiful finishes and colors. Another recommendation is not to apply to much of it, as it can accumulate in the inner side of the lip and can look a little gross.

A light application is recommended, and on lips that are dry and exfoliated. If you want to use a lipstick before applying a gloss, I recommend a regular cream lipstick, not liquid lipstick; the reason why is because some liquid lipsticks tend to come off when you add the gloss, and form lumps on the lips after a few minutes, which it doesn't happen with a regular lipstick. You can also line your lips with a lip liner of the color you want to wear, and use the lip gloss to fill in the rest of the lip. This technique is very popular right now as it was also very popular in the 90s too.

In conclusion, we can say that lip gloss is really a product you have to adapt to; it's not easy to use or wear, but is definitely very fun and versatile. A lip gloss can turn a very natural and low key look into something very extravagant, sexy, fun and fashionable. I hope you get to try it if you haven't!

Why does your makeup not last all day?

This is actually a very controversial topic, because there are so many techniques and products out there that are supposed to help your makeup last the longest time possible. The reality, however, is that makeup is not permanent, it will move around and even disappear after a few hours of wearing it. There are definitely ways to make it last longer than 5 hours, but you have to have in mind that you will have to do some work before, during and after applying the makeup. There's not such a thing as a makeup that last and doesn't move or a makeup that doesn't need retouching.

I'm going to share with you in this article what I, as a professional MUA do, to make sure makeup last the longest amount of time possible:

• Prepare the skin before makeup: This step is crucial, if not the most important, for a great makeup day.

  First, I always ask my client if they have any product on. The reason why I do this is because sometimes clients come with their everyday skin care routine done; and since I have no knowledge of what, or how their routine is, this might affect the final result of my makeup.

  The products I avoid using when I want a great, and long lasting makeup day is any type of face cream that has oils in them. The reason why is even if you have dry skin, oils don't absorb to the skin leaving it fresh or plump; oils generally create a shield and makes the skin very slippery, so foundation or other products don't really grab to the face. Instead, I like to use Water based/Gel facial creams, and a good sticky primer (like Milk's Hidro Grip Primer). Water based/Gel facial creams will give the plump and fresh look to every skin type, and the sticky primer will help the foundation really stay on.

• Make sure to set very nicely all your cream/liquid products: After I'm done applying all my creams and/or liquid products, I make sure I do set the makeup in place and as quick as possible to avoid it to set in fine lines. I don't bake and I really don't like this technique at all, I feel that when you bake, you actually are creating a mask and clogging your pores with all that powder.

  I just take my powder and with a brush or puff, I apply it to the face gently and making sure I'm hitting all the spots!

• Use eyeshadow primer: I wasn't a fan of eyeshadow primers as I thought this product was kind of gimmicky, but one day on a job that I had, I decided to give it a try. I wanted the eyeshadow look not to move because it was outside in FL, with a 90 degree weather. After that day, I really started to like this product and believe in it. I recommend to first apply the primer without setting it. Apply all the mattes first being gentle when blending, and make sure you don't go heavy at first, or it can get patchy. When applying shimmers or glitter, make sure you wet your brush and dab the product, do not blend it because this can be messy as the brush is wet and wet eyeshadow is difficult to blend.

• Use a good setting spray: Setting sprays help in giving a final blend to the skin so the makeup looks more natural. You are probably using more powder or product as this is a long lasting makeup look.

  The best one out there is Urban Decay's All Nighter. The reason why I like this one a lot is because I feel like it does the job, and also helps re-moisturize the skin.

• Have a good Blotting paper or powder: For after hours retouching, I recommend to use a good blotting paper. Any brand is fine, they're all the same really, just make sure you have a package in your purse. I also recommend the blotting powder as this don't apply extra product, but helps refresh the makeup after it's looking shinny. Fenty Beauty's Invisimatte Blotting Powder is actually really good and does the job!

I hope all this information was helpful, these tips will definitely make a difference for sure on the way your makeup will look after hours, believe me, it has taken me a lot of trial and error. These have been the steps that I apply with clients and myself when doing makeup. They have worked time after time.

Till Next time!

XO,

Lennie.

Makeup Removal Hacks!

I know this topic might be very simple and might not have caught your attention because, what is new about makeup removal? It's just taking a wipe and done, but in reality it's more complicated than that. One of the things I ALWAYS say to every single person that sits in my chair, and asks me how to take care of their skin is, ALWAYS REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP NO MATTER WHAT!

I'm a freak when it comes to make up removal, I like to make sure every single bit of makeup has left my skin. I have a three step makeup removal that has worked for me, and I'm pretty sure it will work for everyone!

Here is every step, plus a little explanation so you really get me:

1. Begin with a makeup wipe: One thing that I've learned after all these years of wearing makeup, and now that I'm a makeup artist, is that makeup wipes are effective but not really trustworthy. When you remove your makeup with a wipe, it might feel like it did the job; but wipes always leave a sticky, and for me, very uncomfortable liquid in the face. If you move to another product you'll see there's still residual makeup left. So that's why I added the next step to my routine.

2. Face oils: Face oils are the best when removing makeup, especially if it's waterproof. It melts all the products and you can see how it's all dissolving, and leaving you with a very soft skin afterwards. You could stop here and be like, ok it's all gone now, I can start my skin care routine, but no! Remember when I said I'm a freak when it comes to makeup removal? Well, I added the next step into my routine when I learned about the amazing qualities of this product.

3. Micellar Water: YES! Love, love, love, micellar water! After I use the oil to remove the makeup, I like to take a cotton pad with micellar water and go around my face with it, to make sure it's all gone; specially in my eyes, brows, and neck. Generally these three areas hold the most residue. We use heavy products on those areas, and the in case of the neck, we sometimes forget we applied powder, foundation or bronzer there. I also have combination skin so the micellar water also helps to remove the oil left.

If you have very oily skin and you're not into face oils at all, buy a face balm instead. There's so many out there that are amazing at makeup removal. You don't have to do all these steps every single day, these are only for when you wear very heavy makeup, or a full face. If you only wear, for example, light foundation, and natural eye makeup; not too much but still a full face, you might be good with steps 2 and 3. I always recommend step 3 to everyone, because this is like your insurance, you're sure that everything it's gone.

Hope this helped you and answered some questions about makeup removal. Let me know if you put them into practice!

Bye Bye!  

Brushes! So many to choose from, but how many do you really need?

Yes, this is a very common and confusing topic for Makeup lovers. Right know there are a bunch of brands out there offering a whole range of makeup brushes, some expensive, and some very cheap; but do we really need one brush for every little step of a makeup application? The honest answer is NO!

Here, I want to share with you my must have brushes for you to have that will help you build your personal set; or if you are a Makeup Artist, then I recommend you to add these brushes to your kit. I will give you brand and prices for each brush.

FACE:

1. KEVYN AUCOIN THE ANGLED FOUNDATION BRUSH ($68): I know this is an expensive brush, but the way this brush blends and buffs the foundation, and how it feels to the skin is INSANE! The bristles are very soft, and dense for a flawless finish.

2. REAL TECHNIQUES COUNTOUR BRUSH ($9): This very affordable brush is heaven when you want to apply bronzer, blush or highlight since it really blends the product to the skin very seamlessly, making it look very natural.

3. BDELLIUM TOOLS MAESTRO TAPERED BRUSH ($17): I use this one to apply powders to the under eye area, or center of the face because of its pointed shape. It will reach every little corner of the face.

4. BEAUTY BLENDER: I'm not a fan of sponges for liquid foundations, even if the sponge is wet. I feel like it applies very hard and too much, but I do use sponges for powders or cream products. It helps pushing the product to the skin when you gently press the sponge and make the application look more blended.

5. SIGMA F5 LARGE CONCEALER BRUSH ($18): I love this brush to apply creams and liquid foundations or concealers, and also when I want to cover spots around the face to correct the skin.

EYES:

1. SMITH COSMETICS 247 FLAT ROUND CREASE BRUSH ($27): Amazing brush to define the crease and hit the corners of your eyes.

2. SMITH CONMETICS 235 FLAT QUILL CREASE BRUSH ($27): this is a bigger version of the 247 brush, I use this one to blend the harsh lines of the crease and pack color.

3. SMITH COSMETICS 220 EYESHADOW FINISHING BRUSH ($24): LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this brush to do a very defined eyeshadow look, and to pack color to the bottom lash line.

4. SEPHORA PRO ALL OVER SHADOW #12 ($20): Great to pack color and blend shadows. It also works great wet, for shimmery or strong eyeshadow finish.

5. SMITH COSMETICS 203 MICRO ANGLED LINER BRUSH: I use this one for eyeliner, to define lips and for brows too. Its shape helps you get the definition you want on whatever you are doing, is the perfect detail brush.

LIPS:

1. SIGMA E05 EYELINER BRUSH ($9): LOL I know this is an eyeliner brush, but there's no rules for makeup. I use this one to help me outline the lips when I am not using a lip pencil. This brush has the perfect firmness, size and shape to do this job.

2. KEVYN AUCOIN THE SMALL EYESHADOW SOFT ROUND TIP BRUSH ($32): Yes, I know, another eyeshadow brush; but hey, I love how soft and precise this brush is when applying lipstick or liquid lip products, and I think this brush is too small and too soft to use for eyeshadow application.

3. SIGMA L05 LIP BRUSH ($15): Love this one because is flat and firm so it packs color very easily, love it for all type of lip products.

Well, these are all my must have brushes I recommend to you in case you wish to add, replace, or build a new brush set.

Hygiene, be clean and organized!

Being organized and clean when you are a MUA can be a little challenging, specially when you are working almost everyday and with multiple clients, but it is very important to be organized and to master hygiene if you want to be successful and an artist your clients can trust.

Some tips I can give you to have in consideration in order to be organized and clean are:

• Try to have a least 2 or 3 sets of brushes OR doubles of your favorite brushes to apply makeup. The reason why is, just in case you don't have the time to clean up your brushes for your next job or client, you already have clean one to use.

• Be disciplined on maintaining your brushes clean and disinfected. EVERY TIME I finish a job I sit down and clean all my brushes. That's something I pushed myself to do because it's very time consuming, piling them up and then cleaning them all at once. Also, I wash all my brushes every week with shampoo to maintaining them looking like new and fresh.

• If you are working with different people at once, make sure you separate the brushes of each person and have your brush cleaner ready to clean brushes if you have to re-use them.

• Have disposables, like mascara wands, beauty sponges, lip applicators, etc.; that helps a lot when working with more than 2 people at a time because those you can just throw away and be done!

• Clean all your makeup pots, like foundation bottles, powder pots, eyeshadow palettes, etc.; take a makeup wipe and wipe them all, you don't want your client to see your kit all messy, that talks about you and your work ethics.

• Lastly, have alcohol or Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer always in your kit. It's important to clean your station before and after you work; also, use hand sanitizer to clean your hands before starting with a new client.

These are my most important tips I've followed to make sure I have a good hygiene and organization in my makeup practice, hope this can also help you to be a better artist.

Bye Bye!