Mesmerizing Eyelash Extensions

Have you ever had eyelash envy? It's when you see someone with long, thick, curled lashes and wonder why you were jipped in that beauty department. Most of us have experienced "eyelash envy", so mascara is the ritual makeup tool we use to create those full and lush lashes we dream of, only to wash them away when we cleanse our faces. Sad but true, we need mascara everyday to give the illusion of length and fullness....until now that is.

Thanks to a fairly new method created a few years ago, eyelash extensions can give you those captivating eyes, morning, noon and night without the need for mascara. The process consists of a certified eyelash technician who applies the extensions one-by-one to your natural lashes with a special medical grade glue that bonds them together, creating a water-proof seal. The results are mesmerizing lashes that can last up to 2 months with proper care.

So what's the difference between eyelash extensions and false eyelashes? Simple; one is temporary, not lasting more than 24 hours and can look fake. While the other is semi-permanent, lasting 4-8 weeks and looks amazingly 100% natural. Touch-ups are needed every 2-3 weeks to replace any fallen lashes that occur through your natural shedding cycle, or for new lashes that have grown in. The extensions are water-proof in the shower, pool, or spa and require minimal care to keep them looking great and lasting long.

Eyelash extensions are a safe way to get those eyes that capture attention. You can wake up with beautiful eyelashes every day without effort. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul...so why not have a gorgeous frame around those windows? In addition to being a makeup artist, I am now a certified eyelash technician, so visit my website for more information and how you can get those dream lashes.

10 Makeup Tricks

1. Using eye drops (that are meant to get the red out) on a red blemish will "take the red out" making it easier to cover with concealer.
2. Using a concealer brush or a Q-tip works best to spot cover blemishes when you apply it in a tapping motion on and around the edges to blend in.
3. When you brush your teeth, run your wet toothbrush over your lips to exfoliate and make them smooth.
4. Applying foundation and powder onto your lips prior to lipstick makes it last longer, and if you wear lip liner, it prevents it from feathering (bleeding into lip lines).
5. Applying mascara FIRST before any other eye makeup allows you to clean up smudges or smears without ruining eye shadow or liner you may have already applied.
6. When buying blush, the color of your cheeks when you pinch the apples (highest part on cheekbone) is your true color when you blush, and a great guideline to finding a natural color for you.
7. Colored mascara is a great way to make your eyes “pop”.
8. Makeup removing cleanser cloths (without water) are the best way to take off makeup before bed if you’re too tired to wash your face.
9. Woke up with puffy eyes? Wet and chill a wash cloth in the freezer for 5 minutes and sit up while pressing it on your eyes to reduce swelling. Limit salt and alcohol intake before bed because that’s the culprit!
10. Blotting sheets (oil absorbing papers) work better than powder to remove shine throughout the day because it won’t disturb your makeup and will leave your skin matte.

Lipstick Goes a Long Way

Remember when you were young and you would watch your mom put on her makeup, and how every time she pulled out her lipstick (which was usually red), you begged for her to put some on you? We believed then that lipstick was what made you look prettier, and actually, that feeling never really changed as we got older. Lipstick is the last thing we apply when we do our makeup. It’s the first thing we use after we’ve finished our meal out at a restaurant. It’s the one thing we carry to touch-up throughout the day, and why? Because without it we feel naked. The lipstick color you wear can reflect or even create your mood, so with the endless choices out there, you are destined to find your signature shade and wear it with confidence. If lipstick is the only makeup product you do wear, it works, because never doubt that a little bit of lipstick can go a long way.

Makeup for Redheads

I was interviewed for an article on DivaVillage about makeup tips for redheads. Enjoy.

www.divavillage.com

The Magic Powers of Makeup

Let's face it, not too many women can wake up and look glamorous without makeup. We may look presentable, yes, but glamorous, hardly. My love for makeup started at a young age, and even before I was allowed to wear it, I tried to sneak it every chance I could. Needless to say one of my older brothers lived to tell on me, so that euphoria never lasted long, but even then I knew the magic power of makeup because I was forbidden to wear it and that just made me want it more.Every time I leave my house I have the potential of encountering a new client, so not only do I need to know what I am talking about when these opportunities arise, but I also need to look the part too. I guess you could say it's part of my "job" to look presentable, but I really do believe it's every womens responsibility to present her best face at all times. Makeup isn't meant to mask who you are, but rather let your personality shine through, because we all know how good we feel when we "fix ourselves up".

As a makeup artist I always try to find the beauty in everyone I encounter because there is always one feature we love about our face and makeup only enhances those features. When you look good, you feel good. It's that simple, and it can really change your mood, make you more confident and speak up, rather than wanting to be invisible and just get through your day. Yes, makeup really does have magical powers and you need to allow yourself to fall under its wonderful spell.