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Tips & Reviews Archive
GET THE LOOK | Natural Beauty
The “no make-up” look actually takes a little effort to achieve, but the results are simple and stunning. To get Kristine’s natural flawless finish, try the following tips:
1. Balance out the skin.
Great make-up always starts with a great base. When your skin is glowing, the rest of your make-up shines as well! Use a foundation to balance out the overall skin tone and a concealer to camouflage those areas that need a little more attention (i.e. undereye circles, blemishes – which in Kristine’s case – I didn’t have to worry about at all!)
2. For eyes, cheeks and lips, stick to pinks and neutral (close to skin tone) shades.
Pinks and neutrals are great shades for achieving the natural look. Pinks brighten the eye area, give a rosy glow to the cheeks and highlight naturally kissable lips. Neutral colours work well to subtly define the eye area and add contour without looking harsh.
ARTIST TIP: For professional photos, your make-up will stand out better if you get a little heavy-handed. In the photo above, I could have gone a couple of tones darker to really make things pop. Always try to get a sense of your photographer’s style and take note of the lighting being used, so you know how intense to do the make-up.
See more:
ENGAGED | Kristine & Gino
Posted in Beauty 101, Get the Look
Q & A | Smudging Liquid Liner
Q: I have really oily eyelids so anything I use seems to disappear or smudge in only a few hours. Based on your recommendation, I tried using one of L’oreal’s liquid liners, but find that it’s not working for me either. By the end of the day, my eyelids are still oily and the oils (I think) break down the liquid liner, making it smudge. I’ve almost given up on it, but are there any make-up artist tricks you can advise of? Thanks for the help!!
A: Great question! I used to have this issue when first starting to use liquid liner. In the early days, I experimented with using some concealer and powder on the eyelids to help act as a barrier between the natural oils on the lids and the liquid liner.
But once I discovered MAC Paints and MAC Paint Pots, I never turned back. Just choose a neutral colour that matches (or is slightly lighter) than the skin on your own eyelid for a natural effect. From the Paints, try Sublime Nature, Bare Canvas and Paint Pots in Soft Ochre and Bare Study to see which one best suits your own skin tone. Either apply the product all over the lid from lashline up to the eyebrow or focus the application simply atop the eyelid. You may see some slight creasing later the day (especially if your eyelids are oily like mine!), but the liquid liner will definitely remain intact!
ARTIST TIP: MAC Paints and Paint Pots also double as a great base for eyeshadow application.
Related posts:
ARTIST TIP | How to Make Eyeshadow Last
Q & A | Smudging Eyeliner on Asian Lids
PRODUCT REVIEW | L’oreal Lineur Intense
Posted in Artist Tip, Beauty 101, Q&A
Tagged artistrhi, eyeliner, eyes, mac, rhia amio, toronto make-up artist
PRODUCT REVIEW | The Buzz on MAC’s Naked Honey Skin Salve
Ok, so I’ll be the first to admit that I probably do a better than average job taking care of my skin when it comes to my face…but when it comes to the rest of my body, let’s just say that when winter rolls around my maintenance techniques for the rest of my skin that isn’t visible also go into hibernation!
So of course on an annual basis, the warmer weather of summer comes around and it’s time to fast track my once-covered skin into an acceptable level for public viewing. My usual trusted go-to product is cocoa butter, but ever the fan of trying something new, I opted to use a sample received of MAC’s Naked Honey Skin Salve.
Now a month later, my skin is back to a presentable condition with the help of Skin Salve! I especially love using it on rougher areas of the body like the elbows, knees and feet. The product is derived from beeswax, sunflower oil and other organic ingredients that instantly moisturize skin (especially my dry, neglected winter skin). I’d love to see how this product would work in the winter, but of course, it’s limited edition!
MAC’s Naked Honey Skin Salve retails for $22.50 CAD, and is available at MAC counters and stores for a limited time only.
Posted in Product Review
Tagged artistrhi, face, mac, rhia amio, toronto make-up artist
GET THE LOOK | Subtle Smoky Eye
To get the gorgeous bride-to-be Christine’s subtle smoky eye, try these easy steps:
1. Apply your medium shade as the base atop the eyelid. Keep this colour just below the hollow of the eye.
2. Deposit the darkest colour eyeshadow in the outer corner of the eyelid and blend well towards the inner corner and towards the hollow of the eye. Avoid blending the colour too far up above the hollow of the eye, as this can make the eyes look smaller.
3. Finish with eyeliner by drawing the line thinner on the inner corner that gradually gets thicker as it approaches the outer corner of the eye.
ARTIST TIP:
When using pencil eyeliner, sharpen it first but dull the sharpened edge slightly before applying it directly to the eye. Using the pencil, start with the inner corner first, as the sharpened edge will allow more precision.
When using liquid liner, usually too much product comes out on the applicator brush. Versus the pencil method, start applying liquid liner at the outer corner of the lid to deposit some of that excess product…or if you prefer to start from the inner corner, swipe the liquid liner brush a couple of times against a tissue to rid it of any excess. Remember the less product on the brush, the more control you have. Once the make-up is applied, it’s much easier and less messy to add layers rather than remove them! A little goes a long way…
The subtle smoky eye pictured on Christine can work well for a daytime wedding – just be sure to blend well and avoid using black eyeshadow.
Lastly, to add some drama for the evening reception, line the bottom lashline with your eyeliner. Va-va-vooom!
Photos by Claudia Hung
Posted in Beauty 101, Get the Look
Tagged artistrhi, claudia hung, eyes, rhia amio, toronto make-up artist
BEAUTY 101 | Beat the Heat with Summer-Friendly Make-up Products
We’ve all been patiently waiting for summer weather, and now that the warmer days have arrived, it’s a good time to re-evaluate our make-up routine. When summer rolls around, it usually means playing up the bronzer, while lightening up on the other products in our daily routine. After all, we should be spending less time indoors getting ready, and more time outdoors enjoying the weather! That being said, we still want to look fab all year round! Try these quick and easy tips to keep you looking and feeling fresh all summer long:
1. Switch to a lighter moisturizer.
Increased temperatures are directly proportional to increased oiliness! Increased oil production means you can either use less moisturizer on the face (just address the areas that are dry) or switch to a lighter moisturizer altogether. If you’re using a light moisturizer, switch to a serum whereas if you’re using a thicker cream, opt for a light moisturizer instead!
2. Don’t skip out on the sunblock.
You may not see the effects immediately, but sun exposure overtime can do a number on your skin. Use a moisturizer with a sunblock in it to help protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays. If your moisturizer is separate from your sunblock, skip on using the moisturizer to avoid a grease-fest on the face. Ideally, let the sunblock absorb into the skin for at least 30 minutes before applying any make-up.
3. Use a mattifier instead of (or before applying) foundation.
For those of us blessed with great skin, a mattifier works well to absorb and reduce excess shine throughout the day. When layered underneath foundation, a mattifier also helps make-up last longer and minimize the need for touch-ups! Use tried and tested Cargo’s Blu-Ray HD Mattifier or MAC’s Matte on the areas of the face that are most prone to shine.
4. Keep a pack of blotting tissues handy.
Rather than doing a repetitive routine of constantly applying powder whenever oil appears, use blotting tissues to combat shine. To keep your make-up looking fresh, absorb the excess oil with the blotting tissue first and then lightly pat with your powder to polish it off. This method also works best for helping to reduce the chance of break-outs!
5. Don’t overdo it on the powder.
When you pack on too much powder, especially atop an oily surface, it can approach a cakey look. Blot with an absorbing tissue first, and then use a puff or even a brush to lightly pat the powder on oil-prone areas (pay particular attention to the T-zone area). Avoid packing on the powder as your face will only get slicker (and quicker) before the next anticipated touch-up!
6. Don’t sweat it!
During the summer, the look is all about healthy, glistening skin and the bottom line is that it’s tough to keep up a routine of a matte face when the weather is warm. Instead play up the look by adding a spritz of MAC’s Fix+ for an instant dewy glow. Fix+ is also infused with vitamins and minerals that are a real treat for your skin!
Posted in Beauty 101
Tagged artistrhi, face, rhia amio, toronto make-up artist
