Beauty School Series: Life Lessons

Sometimes you go through things in life not because you want to but because you have to.  They mold you into the person you need to become.  My almost 6 months in school for Esthetics taught me so much.  It also helped  me open up more, broaden my dreams and open up about my real feelings.

I graduated years ago with a bachelors degree in Computer Information Systems, but wasn't really excited as I took the classes or even when I graduated.  One of the most exciting things about my college years was pledging my sorority and the friends I met along the way.  There never was a true passion for computers, it was more about making money and taking a traditional job.



Looking at my Linkedin page I noticed that one of the jobs I have held the longest has been makeup/skincare related.  It is one of the lowest paying jobs I have held but it is connected to what I am passionate about.  It made since to broaden my horizons with an Esthetics License.

When I started Esthetics school I was so excited for my first day.  It was even exciting to go over information I already knew, such as makeup, just to get a different perspective.  Working at a counter allows me to work on all ages compared to doing fashion and editorial shoots.  School also allowed me to work on different ages regarding makeup and skincare.  Learning how to do facials and waxing opened up other opportunities to me and increased my love of skincare.  

Spa room/My Happy Place

My first two months were mainly comprised of learning in the classroom.  No hands on with clients was allowed at that point.  My teacher taught up the basic facial, waxing, makeup, and individual lashes and then we practiced on our mannequins and each other.  As we moved closer to our minimum hours to get in the actual spa room with clients we also learned body wraps and more advance facial techniques, etc.  

That first 2 months showed me I am more than just a makeup artist!  It also showed me I was still a great student.  

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....   

IMATS Toronto 2010 Series Part 5

Beauty Thesis and I

My main reason for going to IMATS Toronto was the workshops. While checking out some of the booths, I noticed I can get some things like NYX for cheaper in the US due to bogo sales, etc.  I still don't understand why as the US dollar has dropped compared to other countries like Canada, that the prices have not changed for those countries.  You would think that the prices would be comparable, but Canadians still have to pay more for MAC, NYX and some other brands.  I think that is unfair especially since MAC is a Canadian brand.  Reason I plan to wait until The Makeup Show Chicago and IMATS NYC to purchase some products that I really don't need right now but plan to get for my kit.  So off to more workshops....

 The next workshop I attended was Nadine Luke, Director of Makeup Artistry at MAC Cosmetics.  She held a workshop on Fall/Winter runway trends.  We watched a short video of behind the scenes of some runway shows showing the trends and then she discussed the trends.  The four trends mentioned are:

Redd Velvet- Red lips of all colors...
Satin Eyes - liner, soft washes of color, brown smokey eyes, etc.
Voi Ve Veil - Gothy, Graphic, Art Forms...
Cashmink- skin 

She also stated tools make a difference.  Quality tools were mentioned at almost all workshops.  She also created the trends on a model.

 Next workshop I attended was Perfecting Each Brush Stroke with Koren of Enkore Makeup.  He is just as wonderful in person as he is on Youtube.  Pursebuzz was his model. Koren also stressed having quality tools and priming/moisturizing the client/model.  He gave out some excellent tips.  Checkout www.beautylish.com  for those tips.  Koren makeup tips.  Christina has some detailed information.

I actually meet her and ? at Koren's workshop.  It was great meeting her and ?.  They even gave me a Beautylish tee which I love.  

? and Christina T of beautylish.com

Beauty Thesis

I also finally meet in person one of my favorite bloggers and youtubers Beauty Thesis.  It was cool  meeting and hanging with her.  Her makeup was looking fabulous as usually. Before the day ended I also got a chance to meet Enkore.

Koren and I

IMATS Toronto 2010 Series Part 4

My 1st IMATS was great.  It took about 4 hours to get to Mississauga, ON Canada(suburb of Toronto).  I arrived Friday evening and checked into my hotel.  My mom and I decided to drive around and check the area out.  I decided to checkout the MAC Pro in the area.  The MAC Pro in Chicago is the closest one to me besides the one on Queen Street.  I finally got a chance to see The Bay store also.  It is very nice.  The whole mall was gorgeous.  I love the way it is designed.  I also love the food court being on the upper level.

MAC Pro store is very nice even thougt I didn't get a chance to see the area where the pro products are located.  I will have to do that next time.  I noticed that one of the MUAs in the store had on some fabulous looking makeup.  We were walking thru and I didn't a chance to find out what colors she had on.

The next day I work up early and arrived at the show around 8:30 am.  The parking lot had at least 30-40 cars on the side that  I entered.  Lines were already formed to pick up tickets.  As soon I walked in, I saw the fabulous Deepa Berar.  She has a great blog and Youtube channel.  She looks just as fab in person as she does in her videos and is so nice.  I entered into the show and headed straight for MUFE.  I had to see what deals they had.  The booth was already crowded and it wasn't even 9:00am yet, lol.  I didn't purchase anything from MUFE.  I have enough for now, but I should have bought the flash palette.  It was only $62 and I may never find it again unless on ebay way over priced.

I checked out all the other booths, and tested some products at Temptu while watching Dani Fonseca do a demo on a potential customer.  Dani looked like she had no foundation on(She had on Temptu of course) and her skin looked flawless.  MAC Pro was not selling any products, but they were signing up people for the Pro discount card on site and talking about the student kits.  You could actually go to the local Pro store and purchase products the same day with the discount!  The MUA I saw the previous day was there.  I headed over to Crown brush booth and purchased a few brushes for my kit before heading to hear my 1st speaker.  I didn't plan to see Kandee Johnson speak because she was having a Youtube Guru Q&A.  I was at the show mainly for skills and technique workshops.  I decided to get in the long line to hear her speak because I do like her channel and personality.  I am glad I did.

Kandee mentioned she condensed her kit down to her Zuca and normally carries 5 foundations and concealer to get rid of redness.  She was asked who was her favorite MUAs and of course Kevyn Aucoin, Scott Barnes, and Topolino was named.  She likes artist who think outside the box.  Makeup is an art form, fun and has no rules to her.  I agree with her view on makeup and her favorite MUAs.  She gave an inspiring speech and then had a meet and greet at Makeup Artist Magazine booth where she was giving away Cover FX, Dinar Airbrush and many other items.

I had to look up Topolino.

 "He is a self-taught, conceptual, make up artist who hailed from the late 80s.  He has produced influential, visionary work for Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy. He’s inspired by everything, from trash to insects." 

I stayed at the main stage for the next speaker and one of the main reasons I came to IMATS, Kevin James Bennett, award winning makeup artist and author of the website www.inmykit.com.  I made sure I was upfront and center for his workshop.  How many opportunities would I have to hear and see an artist like him live and in person?  Not many... so free giveaways could not move me from my seat.

KJ Bennett as some call him is amazing, down to earth, and loves what he does.  He talked about using quality tools regardless of price(you can find great tools from low to high prices).  He also talked about durable makeup, creating makeup looks that last.  He stated even if the model/client states they have moisturized, etc., it is still best to start with a clean face so that the makeup will be durable/lasting.  He also talked about using the right makeup cleaner to clean up the eye area, etc. so that when applying concealer and foundation later they will not crease.  He used extra primer(Cover FX primer) to remove any fallout, etc.  Even though he his serious about his career in makeup, he stated makeup is fun and we should have fun doing makeup. He explained so much to us while creating a flawless look on the model.  

     
Before the Student Competition Award Show,  I headed over to Royal & Langnickel Brush Mfg. booth to purchase some the brushes he mentioned and were using.  The booth was busy and at first I could not find the brushes I was looking for.  Much to my surprise who walks over to assist me, while he is already assisting others... none other than the man himself, KJ Bennett.  I mention that I was in his workshop and that I was looking for some of the brushes he was using.  He finds all of them for me and even converses for a minute.  It was a great pleasure finally meeting him and being able to sit in not one but two of his workshops.  I hope I get a chance to sit in on a master class that he teaches for the Makeup Show or another IMATS.

Stay tuned for part 5... continuation of  Day 1 of IMATS.....

MAC, Rodarte and the Controversy Part #2

Love what MAC has done even though they did not have to give all proceeds from the Rodarte collection.  Sad to see that so many still are complaining that it is not enough.  No matter how much you try to fix a mistake you can not please everyone and shouldn't try to.  It is interesting that many who are complaining will expect MAC to do all the donating, but will never donate themselves. They will never go to a women's shelter to help or serve food to the homeless,etc. They will get back in their bubbles and forget this ever happen.  They will forget in a month, 3 months, 6 months or further down the road.  Sad but true. We expect people to forgive us when we make the slightest mistakes in life but will crucify everyone else as long as we can or until we get enough views.

And for those who claim one issue at a time because that is all they can handle, now that MAC has agreed, now are you all ready to sign petitions and boycott the companies that are creating the environment in Juarez, Mexico?  Are you all ready to blog and Youtube about the companies that are paying $5-7 a day in Juarez and forcing people to work overtime for pennies while you all wear the $50 shoes, watch the $1000 TV or upload videos on the $500 computer that they were paid $5-7 a day to make?  Do your research on that and blog/Youtube on the real issues. 

Also while MAC is making donations and creating awareness on different issues what are you doing?  Do you hold workshops on HIV/AIDS awareness?  Do you hold programs and let people know about what is going on in Dafar, Juarez, etc?  Do you blog or youtube about issues like this when it is not a major news story? Or do you just care when it makes you feel better about purchasing that new lipstick, etc?  I do... reason I have less time for Youtube and my blog right now.  Ever since going back to work, I had to give up time on something and my community service was not going to be one of those areas.  

I say put your money where your mouth is.  If you expect MAC to donate why not you?  They talked and they did something.  What are you going to do to make a difference?  If everyone signed petitions, boycott, etc and that was it.... nothing would be fully achieved.  Make your donations to these organizations, etc.  Give your time. Don't buy from the companies that are creating the issues in Juarez and similar places until they make conditions better for their workers, women, men and children.  We expect companies, celebrities, and others to always take the moral high road, and do community service, etc. but what about us?  How can we hold standards to companies, and people that we do not even hold for ourselves?  Remember we make up these companies as workers so if we hold them to these standards we should do the same.  Stop making excuses for why you can't.  If you didn't accept MAC and Rodarte excuses why should we accept yours for not doing anything before or after all of this?