Back to School Intro: Beauty School No Drop Out(Grease Fan)

Hey Divas!

I decided it was time to make some more changes in my life and started school.  Instead of going for my Masters Degree, I decided to follow my passion.  Great decision for my career and life.  I dropped out of the IT world a while back due to conflicts with my true passion in life.  I have also been presented some opportunities as a makeup artist, but they wanted someone licensed.  All of these led me to Michigan College of Beauty for an Esthetics license.  Also I love great looking skin and showing people how to get and keep great looking skin.

So please join me on my journey from Makeup Artist to Makeup Artist/Licensed Esthetician.  I will be writing about my experience in beauty school for the next 5 months.  If you have any questions I will answer them also.

New Kit Products to start off 2015

Happy New Year Divas!

Revamping my kit and set up for 2015.  I ordered new products from TPG(The Powder Group) Store and renewed my membership. First time ordering from the TPG Store and I couldn't be happier.  Below are some products I picked up to up my kit game.

I love my MUFE brush holder so I decided to get the Monda Studio one also.  They look almost the same and are great for small spaces and repacking my brushes and kit.

Next I purchased the Three Custom Color Light and Medium Clarifier Pencils.  They are great multi-taskers for lining the lower inner rim of the eye for a natural look, reshaping lips and defining the brows among other uses. I have great things about these pencils from many makeup artist I admire.

Also picked up Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner.  I first tried it at IMATS Toronto a few years back and it worked great.  I have been using Parian Spirit but thought I would give it a try.

The last two items are items I have wanted for a while but never purchase.  I have heard great things about Alcone Make-Off wipes.  I was sent the wrong ones but after realizing this TPG rectified the error quickly. Great customer service and wonderful people!  I also wanted the Twissor for my kit and picked up one.  That was a big mistake.  I should have ordered 2-3.  This is a great little product.

I also received some products due to a special they were running.  They include Eve Pearl Dual Salmon Concealer which I have loved since I was a part of her team for IMATS Toronto a few years back.  I also received Shadow Shields, Jao Refresher/Sanitizer, and 3 Pencil Me In pencils in Amethyst, Black Velvet and Char-khol.  I can't wait to try these products!

Stay tuned for reviews....   

Product Review: The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

The Body Shop has always had great products.  One of the products that I have continued using is the Camomile Eye Makeup Remover.  Recently they have come out with new products to the Camomile line.  I decided to try the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter.  It is great for removing makeup from the full face, but I mainly purchased it for the eye area.

I was low on my personal kit eye makeup remover and decided I would branch out from my normal ones.  I love the Camomile Eye Makeup Remover but wanted to try something in a solid form.  The Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter is made with Community Trade Camomile and can be used on all skin types.

The Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter is an indulgent make-up remover for the whole face.  Developed to gently and efficiently melt away make-up and impurities, and removes all types of makeup.  It leaves the skin feeling clean, refreshed and pampered.  It also works great for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers.  

I used a small dab on my eyes and it removed my mascara with ease and with no eye irritation.  You still want to use a facial cleanser to fully clean your face after using this makeup remover.  The Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash is a great cleanser to use after this product for combination oily skin people like me.    

You get 2.7 ounces in the twist top tin.  It does have a slight fragrance and is more transparent in color.   

Check out The Body Shop website for further information on the product and others from the line.  

Product Review: Bdellium Tools Bold Lip Brush #542

I have been in search of really good lip brushes for a while.  I started with disposable lip brushes but moved up to e.l.f. concealer brushes.  Those were not the standard I wanted for my kit so the search continued.  I wanted lip brushes that I could line with, angle for unique lip looks and to blend multiple colors.  I have found this with the Bdellium Tools Bold Lip Brush #542.  

Bdellium Tools Bold Lip Brush #542 is a wide, firm-bristled tip brush that helps to define all the contours of the lip with ease and precision.  It works well with all lip formulas and is made with all synthetic fibers.

As a makeup artist and makeup lover, I look for tools that work great for my clients and myself.  This a great product for a personal or professional kit.  I used the 542 brush recently to create and add more dimension to my lips with two colors and a liner.  Applying the two lipsticks directly would not allow me to create the ombre affect I wanted.  Using this brush allowed me to blend out the liner slightly with a darker color after applying a lighter color in the middle of my lips.  

The shape of the brush allows for precision application with ease.  The design and size of the brush is just right and a comfortable fit.... the way it feels in your hand as you apply the products is wonderful.  I love the smooth wooden handle and the firmness of the bristles.  In other words I love this brush and it does what I need it to do!       

Check out Bdelliumtools.com for this and other great products.

BCB LLC

Getting Ready and Staying Ready

As I dive further into my career as a Full-time Freelance Makeup Artist, I am learning how to be a better business person.  We plan for what we want in life.  We schedule months... sometimes a year in advance for events we deem important. That vacation in Hawaii you are going to next month was planned 6 months ago.  The bride you are doing makeup on next weekend scheduled her wedding date and put a deposit on the hall a year to two years in advance.  We as Makeup Artist, Hair and Fashion Stylist, etc. should be doing the same thing.

I am going to the Artist Summit in October this year and some things are being paid off now that if I had planned better earlier would have been paid off sooner.  I could be sitting back and not worrying what I need to do next.  I have learned from this and other experiences(TMS Chicago), that I still have a ways to go in running my business.  I have taken business and accounting classes in college, but have learned to run my MUA business better in the past 2 years. When we took vacations as kids, the hotel, Disney World tickets were paid for 3-6 months.  My parents most likely just put food and emergency money aside the last few months before the trips.

Tripit App I am using to track my MUA events

Now with the changes in technology we have new options.  There are various apps on the mobile phones to track your trips. You can sent up special savings accounts for your trips so that the money is available.  We have to stop making excuses for why we can not achieve our dreams.  If you can plan a family trip 6 months in advance then you can plan to attend The Makeup Shows, IMATS, The Artist Summit, classes, etc.  My 2014 events, I plan to have payments made 3-6 months in advance.  Things happen in life that prevent us from from doing what we want, but we can plan ahead for those events.  When we make planning ahead a habit then we are ahead of the game.

App also allows you to add your confirmations in.

So if we go to our favorite coffee places, restaurants, etc. less and put those funds in a special account for classes, and shows then we can "live the dream"!  With the advances in Technology and all the options out there, we can make our dreams come true if we just  "get ready and stay ready".

BCB LLC

Monday Makeup Must Have: Inglot Cosmetics Eye Shadows

MAC Cosmetics use to be my go to brand for most of my personal kit especially eye shadows but the quality change made me look for new products when I started to upgrade my professional kit.  As I grew and learned more as a professional artist, I also learned more about the products other Makeup Artists were using.  MAC eyeshadows were not as pigmented as they were during the Frank & Frank years.

Inglot Cosmetics started over 25 years ago by Wojtek Inglot,  a chemist and businessman with the goal to create higher quality products at reasonable prices and with the best possible ingredients.  He achieved that and more with this brand.

Inglot shadows are one of the best pigmented brands on the market.  They last over 8 hours with very little to no creasing.  Summer time my lids are greasier than normal so I tend to crease a little.  They are great for photo shoots and fashion shows.  The colors blend nicely and stay in place.  The price is great if you are a professional makeup artist or just looking for a few shades for your personal kit.  

The Freedom system and Z-Palettes are great ways of storing the shadows. The Freedom System has slots specific to the size of the shadows and is magnetized.  They also connect to each other which is great for stacking them in your kit. Also you can stack the shadow palette with the blush palette, etc.  

The Z-Palette give you the option for different products of different shapes in one palette. They also come in various designs and sizes.  Both palettes provide a see through top so you know what colors you have in the palettes.  

BCBLLC

Monday Makeup Must Have: Ben Nye Banana Visage Poudre and Makeup Forever High Definition Powder

Two of my favorite finishing powders in my professional kit include Ben Nye Banana Powder and MUFE HD Powder.  I am one of those people that love loose powders.  I also love universal products that work on a variety of complexions.

Ben Nye Banana Visage Poudre is great for all complexions, but it is especially great to have for darker skin tones.  It gives a more natural look on darker skin tones when some other powders tend to cast a gray tone when applied.  It now also comes in a pressed powder compact.  

Makeup Forever High Definition Powder is another great product that works on all complexions.  I prefer to use it on lighter complexions, but when used properly it looks great on all skin tones. It should be applied and then a finishing spray such as MUFE Mist & Fix should be used afterward to avoid that famous look most people get when used wrong.  The product is great when used properly.

  

BCBLLC

Set Your Goals And Achieve Them!

We all have dreams that we would love to live.  The first step to living our dreams is to make a plan and set goals.  I find that when I write out my dreams, and goals and set a plan, I tend to achieve those goals.  When you write down your goals you act on them.  You make them a reality.

• The first step is to know what is your dream.  You have to know what you want to do. 
• The next step is to write down that dream.
• Then you want to set realistic goals to achieve then
• Stay Focused.  Never let the negative people and things get in your way.
• Remember you will have set backs but they should not stop you.
• Once you reach your goals set new ones.  
• Always inspire to do great things!

   There are plenty of informational websites, books, etc., if you still don't know where to start.  Check out the book 30 Days at 100% by Crystal Wright.  It was the book that finally put me on the right path.  Dale Carnegie Books also helped me with my confidence, and public speaking when I was in my teens.  I still refer to them now.  Google is also great for looking up information as we know.  

BCBLLC

Monday Makeup Must Have: Iman Perfect Brow Pencil

Hey Divas,

Great looking brows accentuate the face.  Many people will shape them or have them shaped, but still need a little brow powder, gel or pencil to create the perfect brows.

Iman Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in Blackest Brown is a great pencil for your personal or professional kits. I can always find it at my nearest Walgreen and many Ulta stores.  The price is reasonable and the color is universal.  I keep mine sharp so that I can draw in hairs for a natural look.  It is just the right firmness and shade. There is a pencil on one end and a brow brush on the other end.  It stays on all day and does not move.

    
Tweeting my brows today so I thought it would be great to include a photo of one tweezed and filled and and the other not worked on.  My brows have always been naturally thick so I try not to thin them out too much. 

Check out her products.  They are reasonable priced, easy to find and great to use.  

BCBLLC

The Makeup Show Chicago 2013 Haul

June 8th to the 10th I attended my 3rd The Makeup Show Chicago.  This year I was honored to assist at my Mentor's Booth, Crystal Wright Live.  While there I picked up some great products for my kit.

Bdellium tools is always one of my favorite stops at The Makeup Show and IMATS.  Daniel and Edward are always so nice.  Azia was also there helping them at their booth.  I picked up (3) 948 Foundation brushes and (3) 542 lip brushes.  I am currently on the hunt for the perfect foundation brushes for my kit.  This may be one that will stay.  The same with the lip brush.  Plus I love the yellow handles.

Makeup Forever is also a must have stop.  I picked up a few items this trip.  I picked up Dany's Pouch, 3 Magnetized Metal Palettes, 2 Lip Line Perfectors and Aqua Cream #54.

Even though I love using a brush belt, Dany's Pouch is going to be great in my studio and on the go.  Aqua Cream #54 is a gorgeous lavender color and limited.  Aqua Creams do not move and I love that!

I also picked up Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre, a kit must have and and also Hydra-Mat Emulsion.

I finally picked up 2 Z-Palettes.  One is also already half filled with Inglot shadows that I also purchased while there.  I mainly picked up matte and neutral shadows.


I also picked up some Esum Pro Detailing Buds from Muse Beauty and Rubber Mascara Wands from Nigel Beauty Emporium based on my fellow Makeup Artists love for these products.

I also signed up for the makeup artist discount card while at Muse Beauty Booth.  Many brands were ready to sign artist up while at the show.

Eve Pearl lip gloss is another must have in my kit.

On Makeup Magazine is one of my favorites of the show also.  I always pick up copies of issues I may have missed when I am at the show.  Michael DeVellis always has great words of wisdom and the work by fellow artists is always amazing.  Plus the articles are great reads.

Last but not least I have to show you the fabulous shirt my mentor Crystal Wright was selling at the show.  If you missed it you can purchase them online at her website www.CrystalWrightLive.com

Be Blessed

BCBLLC

Follow Your Dreams and Make Them A Reality!

Life can sometimes throw you off the road you should be traveling.  That does not mean you should stay on the path that you have been thrown on.  It means you should get back on the path you were meant to be on.

Too many people including myself have been sidetracked in life due to set backs, financial situations, and so much more. We allow our families, friends, coworkers and more tell us what we can't do instead of knowing what we can do.  A few years back I decided to change all of that.  I can do well at IT(Information Technology) jobs but I love being a Makeup Artist.  Two years ago I decided to go to The Makeup Show Chicago.  I could not purchase many items for my kit but I knew I needed to be there for the education, and the seminars.

That was the year I meet Crystal Wright, James Vincent, Michael DeVellis, Sam Fine, and Johnny Lavoy.  They changed my life.  They all inspired me to strive for my goal of being a full time Makeup Artist.  I knew after hearing them speak that I could achieve that dream.  I knew that all the negative I heard that I could never make enough money as a Makeup Artist was a way to keep me in the so called stable jobs I hated.  I also knew I had to take Crystal's class.

Crystal Wright  is a great coach and mentor.  I took her class in September 2012 and learned so much.  I have grown from the knowledge she has passed on to me.  I advise new and upcoming artists to take her class.  She teaches you the knowledge you need to succeed in this industry but also provides an honest opinion based on her experience as an Agent so that work improves.  Crystal Wright offers classes though out the year in different cities.  She also has great books to help you get started and also to improve your life in general.

I have not reached my overall goal but I am moving towards it.  Never give up and never give in to the fears that others try to put in your head.


XOX
Belinda Campbell Beauty

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Clinique New Chubby Sticks Shadows Tints for Eyes

I love hearing about new products especially when I have similar products that I love that have been discontinued.  MAC a while back discontinued their Shade Sticks.  I loved Shade Sticks for the packaging, product, price, longevity, and usability. They were easy to use and great for travel.  

New Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints for Eyes

Clinique has introduced a new product to go with the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balms! The New Chubby Stick Shadow Tints for Eyes are very comparable to the MAC Shade Sticks.  They are a bit thicker but still have some of the traits that I loved about my Shade Sticks.  The don't crease when used properly except on some people with very oily lids.  Oily lids people may have an issue, but a great base can take care of that.  Also they blend great together and with other products.  

Swatches of Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints for Eyes

I also compared them to the NYX Jumbo Sticks and Covergirl Smoky Shadow Blast.  I prefer the Clinique Chubby Sticks over both.  The Chubby Stick last longer and I prefer the colors and pigmentation.  The Chubby Sticks come in 12 beautiful colors and you MUST Click them Closed to ensure that they don't dry out.  

I use them as a base, liner, blend them to create new colors and alone.  The price point is good also, $16 each.         


Pros:

• Does not crease(oilier lids may need a base such as Urban Decay Eden)
• blend great together and with other cream and powder products
• Great as a base for dry to combination oily skin types
• Great as a liner, especially the darker colors
• Long Lasting(I wore 8 hours while working at the counter and no creasing or touch ups)
• Great variety of colors

Cons:

• None so far 

BCBLLC

The Makeup Show Chicago 2012: Building on my Career!

Hey Divas,


This year TMS Chicago was short for me but still sweet.  I was tired from working both jobs the days before but knew this was an opportunity I was not going to miss.  I drove down with some other wonderful artist from the Detroit area and we arrived in time so that our wait in line was short.  My first stop was Makeup Forever.  Last year I missed out on purchasing some empty flash palettes, and other items even though I was there when the show opened.  This year that was not going to happen again(lol). 

I stood in line for about 15 minutes and was able to get everything above that I needed for my kit.  This year I picked up the "The Flash Palette"(HG product), 3 empty Flash Palettes, 2 Magnetized Metal Pans and 2 Empty Stackable Cases.  I wanted the Lip Line Perfector but that was already sold out. :~(  My goal was to get what I needed only and I think I did pretty good. :) 

Next stop, Bdellium Tools for some of their amazing brushes that I love.  Daniel was there with his winning smile and I purchased 5 brushes.  I picked up 3(714) Flat Liner brushes and 2(708) Bent Eyeliner brushes. 
  

Tools and Trends with James Vincent for Crown Brush was the first seminar I went to.  James Vincent spoke on having multiple purposes for your brushes, such as using a bent eyeliner brush to create a clean line for the lip.  He also stated that if you have your brushes you can do anything(don't lose them!).  When you are traveling it is best to keep them close just in case luggage is lost or delayed. Having the proper tools is important especially when you have an average of 28 minutes to get hair and makeup done. 

My next stop was the Inglot booth.  I decided to hold off on the matte neutral palettes I wanted and continued on to the Kevyn Aucoin Booth where I picked up two Sensual Skin Enhancers(#3 and #5).  Frends Beauty Supply was next door so I had I to check out the Stilazzi cases. They are definitely on my wish list.  I will be purchasing them later.  While there I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and reacquaint myself with artists I meet last year and online.

It was time to head back to the seminars, the main reason I was there.  AJ Crimson was speaking on a career in makeup and I was not missing what he had to say.  AJ has been in the business for over twelve years and just "up and did it".  He advised us we need to find a way to quit our current non makeup artist jobs, believe in yourself and never let the lack of money stop the dream!  He advised us to carve our niche, invest in ourselves and have a Vision Board.  If anyone was making excusing and not motivated to do more to advance their career as a makeup artist before his seminar, they definitely were motivated and left the excuses behind after listening to AJ Crimson!

 Stay tune for part 2....


XOXOX
BCB
    





  

IMATS Toronto 2011 Series: Donut Friday with Elessa and Koren

IMATS Toronto started early for me.  I arrived Friday at 11:00 am with fellow MUA Alia to assist the fabulous Eve Pearl with setting up her booth.  After getting things set up and checking into the hotel we headed over to Donut Friday at Jordane Store.  The store is small and quaint but has items to start off or stock a makeup kit.  Koren and Elessa did demos using some of Jordane products while we looked around the store at things to purchase and snacked on bite size sandwiches, cupcakes and timbits.

I only purchased 2 items, an artist style palette and a tube of black mascara for my kit.  I love the design of the palette.  It is easier to hold and has more space than my rectangular one.  Koren of Enkore Makeup used the mascara during his demo and I loved how it applied with the mascara fan brush and the spoolie.   

      Donut Friday with Enkore and PurseBuzz 

Koren also talked about color theory, and brow anatomy.  The above link shows a video from the event.  

Skincare: Know Your Type...Are You Using The Right Products!

Hey Divas,

Skincare is very important and high on my list of things to do for my clients.  I currently am not a licensed esthetician but plan to be one day.  I have the books the schools use, have read them and currently plan to save funds for my esthetics's education. That is how important skincare is to me.

Many times people think the makeup they are using is causing their skin to break out, make them too oily or too dry.  The truth is that many times it is the skin care products we use that cause these issues and what we put in our bodies.  Drinking plenty of water helps, but also using the right products for your skin type helps also.


There are various skin types, Dry, Combination, Oily, Acne Prone, etc. and you have to know how to treat the different types. Clinique is one of those brands that does their best to educate clients on skincare.  They were started in 1968 by dermatologists.  Their main focus still is skincare.  

My regiment: Oily Liquid and Travel Soap, #3 Clarifying Lotion
and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel(DDMG)

I have been using their 3-Step System for over 6 months and have noticed a difference in my skin. I use 3 because I am combination oily.  I love the products because they work great, are 100% fragrance free and allergy tested. 

The system is numbered from 1-4(1 for the driest skin and 4 for the oiliest). The numbers and types are printed on all the products to make it easier to know what to use.  Not knowing your skin type and using the wrong products can make your skin dryer or oilier than it is normally.  You should use what works best for your skin and not others.   

Clinique also has an iPad app in a majority of stores and online to assist with skin typing. Along with Clinique hired and constantly trained Consultants/Beauty Advisers this is a great tool.               


Check out various brands and sites such as Clinique and many others to see what they have to offer and how to learn your skin type.  Knowing your skin type leads to using the right products for your skin.  

XOXOX
BCB