Holiday color and Sparkle! Not just for your tinsel

Holidays are the perfect time to get a bit creative and not just your decorations, but with your makeup too! Whether you add a little sparkle or go for a splash of color, you really can’t go wrong. Here are a few ideas of how to go about it without making your makeup match your “ugly Christmas sweater”. 

Main attraction...

This Holiday season, lips can be downplayed and we focus more on the eyes. We’ll be drinking and eating so many yummy things, who has time to constantly touch up lips anyhow? So bring out those falsies that you've been dying to wear. Not into falsies? Try thickening mascara! My favorite is  really like Rimmel London Flex; it lets you build up the mascara and never leaves it clumpy.

Festive Colors...

If you opt for adding pops of color instead of sparkle, you’ll enjoy this. While washes of color were popular earlier this year, using bursts of just one shade is the way to go during the holidays. Why not add a swipe of bright eyeliner to an otherwise neutral eye? You can also do this by opting for pretty pink blush, or a smudged green shadow, keeping the color burst focused on one portion of your makeup.  

Updos!

The recent runways have been packed full of striking updos, from killer ponytails to funky braids; so if you like the added glamour of having your hair up or just don't want to fuss with it while you hit the dance floor, then this is the trend for you. Normally, flowing, movie star curls have ruled the holiday season/party scene for years, which I still love, but this is a great way to change it up. 

Metallics

Its no surprise that metallics are popular over the holidays, but it's how you work the look that really matters. If you're much more of a lip color fan and aren't completely sold on the glittery eye trend then why not take things up a notch and go for a metallic copper or berry lip? It's a daring move but it will look simply stunning, not to mention it is perfect for the holiday season!

Braids, braids, and more braids 

As I have said before, these babies aren't going anywhere! There is no limits to how creative you can get with the style, even incorporating it to your updo's. Pull your hair into a unique braided style or go for a more relaxed loose braid. Might be a little different than what you would normally do for your holidays, but it will look beautiful with just a bit of practice. 

Hope this helps get you into the holiday spirit and please! Send me your pictures when you try these tips; I would LOVE to see them! <3

I've been a Busy Bee this year!

Hey Everyone! So it’s been a few months and I wanted to share what I have been up since I last posted. I have been super blessed this year with TONS of work, have met wonderful new people and am ready for more!

I started out the year working the People's Choice Awards with my agency's team of amazing artists. The people we worked with were so good to us and even gave us VIP passes to the show!  We not only got a chance to hang out on the red carpet, but got to hear so many great musical talent live. I also had the opportunity to do a fun photoshoot with The L.A. Shoppe by Jena Cruz-Lichauco, D.Bel Films and some of my wonderful models and MUAHs! You can check out Jena's styling and designs on my Mermaid Queen Photoshoot album.  :)

And not sure if you all are aware, but SO MANY people got married this year! Seriously, I have been working on weddings the entire year and it isn't over yet. I have a few destination weddings in which I will be glamming up brides and their wedding party and I already have bookings for next year! It's pretty awesome, especially that they have given me the honor to contribute to their special day. Every wedding is so unique and I get uber excited for each of my brides. Wish them and their grooms the best marriage ever.

In April I did a very cool video with the extremely talented Ghoulmaster for his kick starter. I did hair and Laney Chantal worked on makeup. Really cool, goth-styled shoot. :) He raised more than enough money for his project too! Now we wait for all his pieces to fall into place. Check out some stills on my Ghoulmaster Video Album.

Then in June, I was so extremely honored to do makeup for none other than THE SUPREMES!!! I worked with Scherrie Payne and Susaye Green on their re-release event for "Supreme Partners" and had the incredible chance to hear them harmonize as I did final touch ups. Sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself to believe this is all true! So honored. Below is Cristina and I working on the ever so lovely Scherrie Payne. The stylist for this event was talented Laura Hunt which I thank for getting me in contact with these ladies. 

I was published in Elegant Magazine this year and it was very suiting that it was with one of my favorite photographers and dear friend Cass from Cee Jae Photography. Not only did I get a chance to work with her, but also with my favorite people Laura Hunt and Eya Winters and the chemistry of our friendship shows! 

Recently, I had a chance to work on the Welcome Walk at the Emmys thanks to Beauty Bus Foundation and the Television Academy. It was so beyond awesome and the fact that it was with a great foundation made it that much better. We worked on so many celebs, all which were nice to us! 

All in all, I have been a very busy bee and loving every moment of it. I am looking forward to everything that has yet to come, including a much needed vacation for me and my wonderful boyfriend to Italy. Once I get back, I hit the ground running with bookings to wrap up October. If you have an event or a photoshoot you would like to book me for, feel free to email me at Cynthia@CynthiaAngelina.com. Until next time! <3

Makeup Mishaps

Poor Angelina. She always manages to look flawless (and by she, I mean her makeup artist makes her look flawless), but we are all human. I’ve seen this photo circulating and was talking to a friend of mine about my makeup techniques. 

Many artists use the white translucent powder to help set the makeup or even catch fallout from the eyeshadow they are applying and then brush it off once they are done. The translucent powder can be hard to see in person, but the reflection it creates is hardly ever missed on camera. I have seen these mishaps happen before on photos/photo shoots and that is why I only use powder which matches the clients skin tone, which I recommend everyone to use. I usually only use the translucent powder for any Special FX work I do and by doing that, I avoid these embarrassing moments. To her MUAs benefit, maybe she was busy and Angie did this to herself (?). Angelina (Drew, and Nicole), call me if you need a backup!

Haircut/Styles for Guys

Slick back hair/undercut fade 

Slick hair has been a very popular look for models, celebrities, and hipsters all over and is becoming a look that more guys are trying out, even if it is a modified version of it.  

With an undercut, you are able to comb hair straight back, on the diagonal, or across. Without an undercut, the hair can be styled with a defined part deep one side, combing hair in the opposite direction. One notable change to the usual slick hair is an increase in height. (see gorgeous Beckham's photo above). This is a must for thick  hair but can also can be styled with medium hair, but not for fine hair as it requires thick locks to pump up the volume. 

The shaved sides of the undercut are getting an update for 2014. Rather than shaving hair and leaving just the top long, this version shaves hair about 2″ from the hair line all around. It can be a dramatic contrast or a more gentle fade into the hairline. This is a clean cut look that can be paired with any hairstyle of your choice. It also grows out easily when you're ready to make a change.

 

Love for Your Lips

#‎MakeupTips: When wearing bright lip colors, be sure to moisturize your lips the night before and exfoliate them with a lip scrub the next morning. Bright lipstick looks great on soft lips so make sure to care for them accordingly!

To make the color more vibrant, apply foundation or concealer over your lips and set the color better. Use a subtle lip liner to keep the color from bleeding; this will also make your lips seem fuller and plump.

If you have a makeup emergency and do not have time to go get a scrub, use some sugar and that’ll be the sweetest way to buff that kisser!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Blush(ing) Love

I usually just use my bronzer and a similar bronzed blush, but yesterday I was looking for a soft, more pink blush to use since I am in the Valentine’s Day/love mood. I went out and bought this blush/highlighter from MAC Cosmetics yesterday called Stereo Rose and I really love it! It’s pretty light and if you shake off the excess from your blush, it can be a highlighter around your temples and top of your cheeks.  

I still added a bit of bronzer as the contour for my cheeks and then did a sweep on my cheeks to blend both colors in. The bronzer I use is also from MAC and is called Refined Golden.

I guess even my camera was in a romantic mood because it kept getting this “glow” effect and I didn’t use any filters haha! 

Anywho, on my eyes, I used a cream eyeshadow base, similar color to my blush, and then swept a brown color on top. Kept is soft with just mascara and some black eyeliner on the inner part of my lash line. 

Mascara Getting Clumpy? Read This Tip:

If your mascara is getting clumpy and leaving your lashes looking spidery, its time to toss it out. The reason this happens is that it is dried out and old. Same goes for any mascara that has started developing a smell.

Quick Foundation Tip!

To avoid those funky foundation streaks (Tide marks), make sure that you have the right color for your skin. Sounds simple enough, but as the seasons change, so does our color. If you are having to apply a thick amount down to your throat to even it out, it's time for a new color match-up.

Applying Lashes

Lashes can be the thing that tie your look together, especially if you are feeling extra flirty. But getting them on can be such a pain! Here is a quick step by step for getting them on without smudging your makeup and all that glue on you.

Before Applying:

Place the lashes on your lids to measure and make sure that they fit your eye properly. They should not extend past your eyelid and the end of your own lashes. If they do, they can make your eye look droopy or smaller. If you need to, cut them and make sure they are both the same size.

Now to begin!

Put a drop of glue on a clean mirror/flat surface and give it a minute to get a little tacky. This helps them glue on to your eyes faster without having runny glue on your lids. 

Once the glue is ready, add it to the lash you are applying. If you have a hard time holding the lashes, use tweezers to hold them still (you can always just use your fingers).

Place center/middle of lash on first, then glue either side. This helps center it and easier to put on.

If you have eyeliner on, make sure to touch it up if need be. Add a little mascara to all lashes (helps blend yours with the falsies) and you are ready to go!