Should Men Wear Makeup?

Question asked by a friend of mine and I must admit, I had to ponder it for a bit.

For TV, music videos, photo shoots, the answer you get from me is a definite YES. We all have something that needs a little touch up here and there and by no means are men different as far as the camera is concerned (sorry guys). 

But should men wear makeup as part of their day-to-day?

I think this becomes a question of personal preference. If you are going to do this gentlemen, please follow these instructions to help you do it the right way. After all, why should women be the only ones who get to look flawless? Unless you are going for drag or rock star makeup, the key is subtly in applying it. Great men’s makeup is one that no one can tell it’s there. A one on one training with me or any makeup artist is class is a great way to learn the basics, but until you come see me, here are some quick tips:

Start by covering any blemishes, purplish under eye circles, or red splotches with a green undertone. Green cancels out the redness and irritation on your skin. Be sure to blend this out really well.

Next, cover these areas with a light cream based foundation, matching your skin tone as close as possible. I prefer to not use a concealer on men, as it has a tendency to show more than foundation. If your skin tends to be dry, the concealer will also cause your flaws to show more than it actually hides. Blend this very well! If you use too much foundation or it is not properly blended, it will show! I would recommend investing in a duo fiber brush such as the one shown below. This will help maximize blending and minimize your risk of an uneven application.

To create an even skin tone, cover your entire face with a very small amount of foundation and again BLEND, BLEND, BLEND. You can dab the foundation onto your face with the brush and then blend. The key is for it not to show.

Afterward, apply a bit of loose powder on the nose and forehead if needed to set the foundation. Don't forget any shinny or oily areas. As a finishing touch, go over your lips with chap stick, which will bring out you natural lip color

If you have questions on this or would like a one-on-one training session, please feel free to contact me. All comments and feedback are welcomed!

Contouring & Highlighting: finding the balance between dewy and too shiny

 

What is a great illuminator to make your skin look dewey and glow without looking too shiny?

There are many different types of illuminators out there and while many work great, it is also important to know how to apply them. The two that I use are bareMinerals READY luminizer (The Love Affair) which is a powder and Stila All Over Shimmer (*3) which is a liquid.

I apply the powder once I have applied my foundation, set it with translucent powder. The chart below shows where you should highlight and contour as well. NOTE: It is important not to overdo this as it will make you look shiny and overdone. Your skin should look slight shaded (when you contour) or highlighted and not obviously done. Blend, blend, blend! I use a brush, similar to this one for both highlighting and contouring, though the size of the highlighting brush is slightly smaller.

Ways to test if you are on the right track: 1) With a mirror and good lighting, turn your face side to side; you should be able to see a hint of glow and no more than that. 2) Take a picture on your phone and review it; this should show you how you will look in the sun or in front of cameras.

The liquid illuminator will be tested the same way but application is slightly different. You can apply it over your foundation, making sure only to this in the appropriate areas (see chart). If you happen to overdo it and do not want to take all of your makeup off, simply go over the areas with a small amount of your foundation. Once this si done, set your entire face with a light layer of translucent powder. You may also use the liquid foundation on your entire face for an all over glow by mixing a small amount of the illuminator with your foundation. Follow this with a light layer of translucent powder.

When you highlight, you will also need to contour to balance out your face. When contouring, you should opt for a color that is two shades darker than your foundation and no more than that.  You can use bronzer, contouring powder, or even eyeshadow (yes, that’s right!). You can also use darker foundation, but I find that powder gives you more control over the application. Using our handy dandy chart again, those would be the areas to contour. Not everyone needs to contour every single area that is shown and some areas might be trickier than others so I recommend at least doing your cheeks and under your chin/throat area. It would be a good idea to consult with an artist (like me) on a one-on-one consultation to figure out what your needs are and teach you personalized applications.

Follow these steps and you will be a glowing goddess, ready to conquer the world! Please share your comments when you try this out; I would love to hear from you!

Texturizing Hair Spray; Is it for you?

What does texturizing hairspray do? How does it help when styling hair?

Texturizing hair spray helps you create volume and lets you style hair without making it flaky or too stiff that you can't mold it to your liking.

For example, if you want the beachy hair look, you could use texturizing hairspray to create the look without it losing the style (but still manageable). I have short hair right now with a sharp long edge towards the front. I love using texturizing hairspray to add volume and give it the "messy" look.

 

Have any additional questions? Let me know!