Every Day verses Special Event Makeup..The Run Down!

I recently worked on an editorial photoshoot where the model hardly ever wears any makeup. As I finished working on her, and I saw her glance in the mirror I definitely read a little horror in her eyes. It made me smile and I explained my philosophy on makeup that photographs amazing. You have to over due slightly, even for the most natural look. The camera reads things differently. Every day natural makeup is different than special event makeup. Do you really want to look like you have nothing on when your face is going to show up on five hundred instagram photos? I didn’t think so.

We all have our regular makeup routines, right? A little concealer, some bronzer, maybe mascara and we are good to go for the day. But when it comes to makeup for special events, it takes a little more.  Every day makeup can look great, but usually doesn’t last for more than a few hours.  Try these tips, take some pictures and see the results. Simply stunning but not over the top.

Tips for longer lasting, looks amazing in photos makeup:

• Prime, Prime and Prime.  A skin primer is mandatory for helping makeup last through all the booty shaking and fist pumping. Primer acts as a barrier between your skin and the actual makeup. It’s the glue that helps it adhere to the skin.
• Set and Forget. Setting your makeup with a transluscent powder is another mandatory step that helps lock in your foundation. Use a large fluffy brush and a rolling motion, pushing the powder into the skin.
• Waterproof mascara. Use it! It adheres better, smudges less and over all lasts longer.
• Make sure you face matches your chest, not neck. Everyone’s neck is slightly lighter than the rest of them. Match the foundation to the chest. Don’t you hate seeing a photo where everyone’s faces are a shade lighter? Drives me crazy!
• Less can be more, but in this case more is better! Traditional makeup (ie. cream and liquid foundations) heat up with your body temperature and melt off the skin.  Notice by lunch time most of your makeup is gone… You need a little bit more for long lasting special events. My rule of thumb is to be a little uncomfortable with the amount of makeup you wear for a special event look. Makeup fades down with in the first 2 hours, realize this and compensate for it. Be a little uncomfortable but still feel pretty…You’re shooting for pretty not trashy, so just a little more than normal.
• Judge your makeup at a distance. Cameras are always taking pictures from a distance. No one is zooming in on your face. Stand back and evaluate. Makeup will always seem more up close and is not accurate of what others are seeing.
• False lashes are highly recommended. They really can open up the eyes, and enhances the eye shape. Shoot for natural looking falsies, not so long that they are hitting your eyebrow. yuck.
• Most IMPORTANTLY: If you aren’t “feeling” the way you look, it will show up in your pictures, and you’ll end up not liking them. So even if I say less is more, if you don’t think so. Then do what you feel looks best. Makeup should enhance, not detract.

I always tell my clients to stand back and judge special event makeup through a lense. Take some photos at a distance and see what the camera sees, then evaluate.  My model from the other day did just that, and loves her pictures! What the most important thing is to “feel pretty” and to feel like you still look like yourself!  

ps. I highly recommend airbrush makeup for long lasting special events, such as weddings. The longevity of airbrush cannot be compared to traditional makeup!

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight

I have to admit this was an impulse buy but I think it all worked out for the better. Like who needs another highlighter made from real 24k gold sheesh! I dont! Just kidding I love love love this product. I was impressed with the fact that its made with real 24k gold and that it delivers a light shimmer hmm just candlelight. Its good for any skin tone whether it be the fairest of the fair or dark like ebony. I have read some people only like to use this product on the as a highlighter but I beg the differ. Used lightly it can be used all over but be careful too much of this powder will just make you face look oily and that's not very cute. I also have Nars Albatross highlighter same gold concept but it has way more shimmer to it but I think I prefer this one because the shimmer is light and not to heavily pigmented.

A few more great things about this product is that is vitamin enriched so its good for your skin and you can also use it to set your foundation. Of course with everything that Too Faced cosmetics makes the packing is so cute. It comes in a cream and gold colored compact and the mirror on the inside states "Why be pretty when you can be gorgeous". You get a sponge applicator with it but its best to use this product with a kabuki brush if you have one. Applying it with the sponge applicator may coat it on and then you have that greasy oil slick look.

MAC Finally Flawless Collection

This is my first M.A.C. mineralized foundation and I am impressed. I have never tried their mineralize line. This collection is actually a relaunch from 2010 but is part of their permanent line. The foundation consists of a gel like feature based system that provides extreme comfort and creaminess in application, making this formula appealing to all skins but especially normal to dry. It make your pores invisible and the blend ability is amazing.

Now I wore mine out on Saturday night and got tons compliments all night about how flawless my skin was and how perfect, or if I had a new skin regimen. Its light weight , creamy, and moisturizes the skin. Downside is that it is a little greasy I had to really tone down the shine with my MAC prep and prime translucent powder here is why. 

This product is made for normal to dry skin so if you are the type of girl or guy that has combination or oily skin you may want to pass on this product. The foundation alone without the powder made my face look like a greased rubber ball.  

Many cleints who wear foundation know that they have a few different ones they use due to the time of year. You know something more for summer usually a matte foundation due to heat and humidity and during the winter something that is going to add moisture because your skin tends to be more dryer during that time of year to maybe up to spring. If you have dry skin or your a silver fox this is your go to foundation. For me it seems like I will on be wearing this foundation during the winter. 

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

This is one of my favorite MAC foundations I have been wearing this foundation for about 2 years now. This was released in 2009 and was supposed to compete with Make Up Forevers High Definition Foundation. Its gel based, true to color, moisturizing, with medium buildable coverage. Some of the ingredients include antioxidants Vitamins C and E, which help to defend against free radical damage. This one of the best foundations I have tried in years. I have a few foundation rotating and as long as MAC makes it will be in  MY permanent collection. 

As far as comparing it to Makeup Forevers High Def Foundation this when hands down. When you use this foundation and combine it with MAC prep and prime setting powder its like butta baby. Im really dark skinned like NW47 in fact but when I used MUF High Def foundation it made me look like I had a really dark mask on (not cool) and always an awful line of demarcation. I just used it so I wouldn't waste my money (40.00). When I use MAC Studio Sculpt it just melts into my skin no line of demarcation just blends well. great for normal to dry skin if you skin is oily or combo you will still benefit for this foundation.

MAC Quite Cute Collection

The MAC Quite Cute collection launched on April 7th and the promos for this collection were just girltastic. Everyone wanted a piece of this collection. The colors looked so spring-like and bright. It just reminded me of jelly beans,  but when bloggers got a hold of some of these products before the launch they seemed disappointed. 

The collection included an eyeshadow quad named CUTiE, five lipsticks, three nail lacquers, three lip liners, three mineralize blushes and four plush glasses. All the shades in this collection were pastels, meaning baby pinks, peaches, lilac and pale greens. None the less it did not shy me away from the collection. I wanted those colors! I had watched numerous other bloggers do their review on the collection and I have to admit some colors did not impress me, but others -- I knew I could have so much fun with. 

Out of the collection I bought three things. I bought the CUTiE quad -- which I love -- it is not as pigmented as it could be (especially for MAC), but I knew I could work around it and not make the colors the focal point of the eye look. I bought the matte lipstick, Candy Yum-Yum, which is just divine. It screams girl! It is such a bright pink. I mean it’s neon -- it might as well glow in the dark. I own a lot pinks, but nothing like this. I had to have it. The last thing that I bought was the mineralize blush, Sakura. MAC was really on-point when it came to the marketing for this one. It has the whole package: good product, nice packaging and cute presentation. It’s a two-tone blush with a heart-shaped fuchsia center and a surrounding lavender area. 

See Also : Matte Lipstick

The plush glasses were not for me I’m afraid. Why? They’re lip plumpers and my lips are big enough. Genetics were on my side. LOL. Plus, they make your lips feels like they just had a collagen explosion. The nail polishes are gorgeous but they are easily duped. If you don't have anything like them in your collection I would recommend them. 

Some final thoughts on the collection. This collection is made for the fairer skinned girls out there. For someone that is a warm or darker skinned, this collection could be a challenge for you. If you don’t want to work hard at trying to make it work for you, then I would avoid it. I personally thought it was fun to make it work and I think it did in my opinion. Being a woman of color, I guess I have gotten used to working a little harder for a look that is not supposed to be for my skin tone. I think this collection had something for everyone. If you didn’t want to buy the make-up you could have gone for the nail lacquers and vice-versa. This collection is available at MACCosmetics.com, MAC stores, Dillards, and Nordstroms. Prices are ranging from $14.00 - $36.00 and PRO discount is available.