Seasonally Supreme Lipsticks from MAC

If you like creamy/gel based lipsticks... try some of the newer colors from MAC in the Seasonally Supreme lipsticks!

The colors might not be for everyone, but there are some colors that with 1 or 2 extra products you can make it work!!! Here is my take on the Sheer Mandarin from the collection.

Swatches of Modern Mocha

Check the video for the details about the swatches!!

Check out the new video and here are the swatches! If you are looking for more get your your local MAC store or counter!!
~JES

A.E.R Walk with Style.... a look backstage.

The A.E.R Walk With Style event went off without a hitch!! The Lovely Victoria Stiles invited me to work on her makeup crew for the 2nd year!!!! Makeup was provided by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics(OCC )... David Klasfeld hooked up the crew with the full line of airbrush foundations, mixing medium, 2 wonderful pigments, and the created just for the A.E.R event new Memento Lip Tar!!!

There were some heavy hitters backstage.... Victoria of course was the key (head) makeup artist, along with Koren of EnKoreMakeup, Brandalyn , Stacey of Stacey Ford makeup, Ivette of Girlcanpaint , Brooke and myself!! Along with 2 super cool photographers Dan Stiles and Bryan Viper, both hooked us up last year too!! Brushes, makeup, and laughs were bouncing around the small makeup room!! I think we all had a great time!! You could tell that giving back is something all of the artist share. We tackled a small group of models this year.... with some even returning!! My model Micaela was part of the 1st AER event and came back this year.

So let me tell you what we did!! It's all about the skin and prep makeup people!!!! I wiped down Micaela's face with MAC wipes, using clean hands(which I like and wish I did more) I applied MAC Studio Moisture Fix lotion paying attend to around the nose and under the lip area. Next I moved on to priming the skin with like half pump of MAC's Skin Base. While that was setting in I mixed the OCC Mixing Medium/Skin Primer with the liquid Airbrush foundation. The ratio was about 3 to 1. Then like I always do... I attacked the skin with 2 brushes flat foundation brush(like a 190) and buffed it in easyly with MAC's 131 brush.... soooo smooth!!! I am in love with the OCC foundation! Next I used my Coastal Scents concealer palette's 2 lightest shades to blend a perfect concealer... just to hit a few spots. I think I used my fingers for that step and re buffed with the 131.

Next the eyes!!! Eyes were prepped also. I used MAC's Fast Responses Eye Cream around the eyes, and while that was setting I scooped out some of MAC's Paintely paint pot as a soft base. The paint pot was applied with a soft concealer brush. David gave us 2 really pretty shades of Loose Color Concentrates Oberon and Brasstacks. Victoria had us blend the lighter shade Oberon with a fluffy brush on the brow bone and down to the cheek highlight area. This color is super pretty and has a pink opal sheen to it... gorg!! Next, in true Victoria fashion we swept Brasstacks from lash line to just above the crease, blurring out all lines and moved the color towards the outer corner in a square finish. Soft black/deep brown for the liner I used a mix of MAC's Embark, MAC's Mulch, and borrowed from Brooke her MAC Carbon to create the look. This combo was used on the lower lash line as well... concentrating the color on the outer corner and pulling down. Mascara of course... I used my trusty CoverGirl Remarkable mascara.

Now the cheeks were a treat. We used the OCC Liptar color Memento. Here's a tip when using the Liptars as cheek color. OK.... LESS IS MORE!! Wow this stuff is awesommmmme! I squeezed out a drop onto my palette, then with my ring finger I touched the drop and worked it up on the palette! Then after I worked it out on the palette I used my cleaned ring finger on the "worked" Liptar and tapped it on the cheek bone. Just in 3 spots apple, center, and near hair line. Then with my pointer finger I blended it! The OCC Mixing medium and MAC Prep & Prime Base really helped the tar move and blend easily over the skin. The finish was a flush on the cheeks. Then right on to the lips. Lips were prepped at the beginning with good ol' ChapStick! I took the rest of the Liptar from the palette and filled in the lips with it. No liner needed and the finish was satin matte. Here's the finish.

One other super super SUPER special thing that happened at the AER Walk for Style event... I got to meet... JAMES VINCENT!!!!!!!

Well that was it for the makeup!! Watch out for the video on my youtube for the slideshow of the event!!! With more pictures of the event, the clothing, celebs, shoes, and other backstage madness!!!

Special Thanks to Victoria Stiles of Victoria Stiles Makeup, Dan Stiles and Bryan Viper for the photos, David of OCC for the makeup, and James Vincent for the kiss & awe!!

FTC: Please see site disclaimer.

The Prizes The Prizes!!!

Here is a video of the prizes for the YOUTUBE contest I am having!!

Everyone has them... these are some of mine!

Makeup Tips of course
After using makeup for so long... I know I'm not the only one with tips and personal tricks that I use. So here are some of my favs! I asked on Twitter last night and this morning: I'll share the cutiest @ or DM with you all!

Mine:
skin
1. Really Really Really try to remove your makeup before you go to bed!! This is a good practice because it keeps your pillows clean and your skin a bit more healthy.
2. To help with number 1... keep a package of Makeup Remover wipes at your bedside.... for those... "Darn I forgot to take off my makeup" nights. There are a ton of brands out there. Right now I'm using Korres, but once they are done I'm going back to my old faith fun Target brand Makeup remover wipes.
3. Even in the winter months we still need sunblock.
4. If you are drier in the fall/winter months switch up your facial lotion... maybe to a non oil-free. Switch back in the warm months!

makeup
5. Give the look a chance! Many many times I've gotten to about 3/4 of the way done with a look and started to hate how it was coming out. I mean did everything but the liner and lashes and was hmmm errr'ing in my head... 3 sec from removing it and decided.... maybe I should finish the look and see. TAA DAA!! A bit of liner and lashes can really change a look. So the tip: Always finish a look to the end, cause it's the finishing touches that really pull it together!
6. Cotton swabs are your friends... those little wands are very powerful and can help you out in tough spots! Ever over wing the liner??? YES. Just grab a swab with some remover and have at it!
7. Ok so now you have attacked that misguided winged out liner... and now what.... if you went to far and you see your bare skin..... you have to start over in that spot. It's a pain but worth it. So re-prime, powder(or spot of liquid) UPDD(Tarte, Lumene, 2Face, Vital Rad.), eye shadow... the works. And guess what? Use that trusty Cotton swab again!

8. Ok so you decided to go with a liquid liner in black. You made the perfect lines and then... wow that's a bit intense! Grab a small tipped brush(smudger brush, inner corner, or some other tiny mini eyeshadow brush) and with a color from your look(I'd use the mid tone or deepest of the look) and sweep it over the line. This keeps it in the family and tones down the black line. So you don't have to redo the line!
9. Important. It doesn't have to be a million dollars to work! If you only use CoverGirl cosmetics cause that's all you can buy... then WORK IT! Most of us Makeup heads have more than one brand we use! I, like others can really work a $6 dollar quad just the same as a $35 dollar one! 10. Write down your combos/looks. After your down or maybe while you're on a morning break at school or work. Write down your FOTD... so when you're in a rut or in a rush and you can't think of what to do... go to the "FOTD's I Love" section in your notebook!

11. If you pencil in, powder in, or gel in your eyebrows... PLEASE remember to bring that product in your Makeup bag! You never know if you see a hottie and he makes you sweat... you dab your brow and then IT's GONE!!! LOL (ok stop laughing it happened to me YEARS ago).


12.Keep your makeup area organized. I love to label my drawers not only with eyeshadow, but if you have a lot break it down ie. purple eye shadows, H.I.P Duos, lashes, cream blushes, eye glitter, dark lipsticks.


The sweetiest Makeup tip from Twitter:


Weebeasty: My favorite make up tip ever came from my Great grandma who told me that the perfect red lipstick is a must have. Always.

So with all the makeup you have in your collection, play with it, enjoy it and always give it a chance. Take care of your skin cause it's the best base for your art!

~JES
Brush picture credit: http://www.crownbrush.co.uk/studio1.html


EDIT NOTE!!!
The link and the picture are from crownbrush of the UK , The Crown Brush brush I have is from http://www.crownbrush.com. Both have the same numbers and VERY VERY simialr websites. I got my Detailed Chisel Brush at the Makeup Show in May of 2009.