Make-Up For Photoshoots

Tags

CoverGirl Natureluxe, Dr.Jart BB cream, Make up for Photoshoots, Make up Forever, Paula Dorf, UrbanDecay

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This was done recently at Woodlake, for a small photoshoot, by photographer Corey Daniels.

The photos were taken on a Saturday, and he posted these the very next day. Very minimal edits were done.

There are certain ways to do make-up to ensure that it is done properly for photos, and it need not be the most expensive kind.

Prepping:

- For ultra smooth skin, exfoliating is a must. This ensures that make-up will properly lay on the skins surface. I used

Next is face care. I used Dr.Jart BB Cream as a base as I ran out of lotion, and BioElements eye cream. This can double as a primer!!

Foundation

For this I used CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation and applied with fingers.

-TRICK- AFTER applying foundation, I took a small amount of smashbox primer and applied it over the foundation to my under eye area. Next, I applied Maybelline Age rewind concealer

IMPORTANT STEP: COLORLESS FINELY MILLED FACE POWDER.

You do not want shine ALL over, so a good face powder for shoots is a must. Great picks are MFE HD face powder or, what I used is Colorless Face Powder by Paula Dorf

Next, use a small amount of your favorite bronzer, dust it all over to warm up the complexion.

 

THE EYES

Colors Used

Flash by Urban Decay. Apply wet, pigment right onto the lids.

Bronze Shadow, dry, into the crease and dust a little over the purple

Blend a dark brown shadow into lash line on upper lids, and outer lower lids.

Curl Lashes and use a black Mascara.

 

Set and “dilute some powder” with

 

Voice it-Do you think Cosmetic Advertisements Need a Disclaimer for Photo-shopping?

 

 

THANK YOU MAKE-UP FOREVER for having BALLS! And yes, they really do have beautiful skin, and good lighting. So what.

Research it

Yes, we can retouch here, retouch there but we need to see REAL RESULTS particularly for make-up ads! I believe that we can manipulate some photos if the camera itself just cannot capture the picture of how it really is. Okay, you have something in your tooth. Okay you have a couple zits when you normally don’t. Okay you’e been up crying all night. And yes, sometimes the camera can bring out flaws that normally wouldn’t appear in that lighting.But when is it too much?

How can you sell a cosmetic to people when you have literally applied 60 layers of photo-shopping. For my non-computer geeks, layers are literally a duplicate of the original photo that is edited and manipulated and added over top the original and merged. This process can be done over 100 times. ( tools include smudging, softening, coloring, drawing, warping, plastic/matte affects, clone)  Then that image can be saved and done again.

I am now at a point where I cannot even look at any magazines, as I see them all as trickery and scamming. After learning the photo shop process, I can easily point out what is what. Yes I feel that falsely AIRBRUSHING skin in a foundation add is complete BULL. I now scan through the pages knowing I cannot rely on those ads for the truth, just a display of what new product is out. YOU HAVE GOT TO KNOW THIS. How can I trust what these companies say when I know that all of their photos have been layered with a plastic effect.

It’s fun 

It is fun. It really is nice to see what we would look like if we were all avatars on a computer. But this is real life. And in real life, we can have beautiful skin, and in real life we wear make-up. And in real life we have great lighting. But a product with a highly photo-shopped face is like saying ” and with this product you get to leave the house with a photo-shopped face”. Uhm, no we don’t?

I’ve done it before. Yes, I have retouched my photos. And it was obvious, because I didn’t know what I was doing. How embarrassing.Then I started to know what I was doing. I could literally fool every person on earth into thinking I had plastic skin. Then they saw me in real life and said, oh’ okay so you have real skin…but with make up on it.

Not that photo shop = perfect skin

There is a difference between looking like you have an unearthly material covering your face, and a difference between a child’s skin. Real skin is beautiful. If you take care of yourself, and have good genes. But to add good genes, good lighting, young skin, a beautiful face, loads of make up, expensive lighting, a great camera, and $$$$ for it all to be hidden with stuff on a computer?

<via http://fstoppers.com/makeup-ads-banned-in-uk-for-too-much-photoshop>

You’ve got to be joking. I mean you really think that this make-up can smear your skin into thin air? You think that text just appears there? No, its added, and so is the skin.

 

<via http://www.savings.com/blog/post/Dont-Buy-Into-the-Hype-My-Top-Five-Cosmetic-Advertising-Pet-Peeves.html>

First thing is first. Stunning woman. This is a dead give-away. If her hair is wet, her body is wet, and her neck , they are showing that she has just emerged out of the water right? Well that’s not very hydrating.They forgot to add water droplets on her face.

 

 

 

Looks like Sephora’s Blush Get’s a Make-Over, we get the scraps!

Tags

All skin types, Blush, Combination skin, Nars Super Orgasm, Sephora Sale!

 Stock up on essentials this blush is on sale for $5, originally $12. I bought the one in the store that is shimmery pink, and am VERY pleased. It has some sparkle and kind of reminds me of a “watered down” Nars SuperOrgasm. I love this so far, I’ve been searching for a blush that is not too expensive, and not too bright, not too shimmery, not too sparkly etc. This one is perfect, and can layered for more intensity. Suites most skin tones.

 

The Sikorsky 5-Jennifer K. Sikorsky

Tags

beauty, Birds, Family, God, grievance, Loss, Love, nature, Sadness, Sister

 

Jennifer Karen, Sikorsky. What is there to say.  My sister, 27 passed away in a car wreck June 25, 2011 on sight, as a few stayed and prayed. How cliche ( I say sarcastically) I know. But we love (d) her.

We have what I like to call ” no family”. The definition of this is well, 1 grandmother, a father, a distant mother and was…5 daughters. She was the middle and she gave life to two: Stella ( youngest) and Hazel.

I wanted to stop and say for a moment…that beauty never fades. I hate to use these common terms, but this is when they are true, accurate, and present. She was so beautiful, and still is. Death happens, but her beauty is still alive. In fact, it’s all around…

 

A Case Study: $1 Eye Primer

On a previous post, I raved about E.l.f’s $1 eye primer. Here, I have tested two different types of eye shadows: the mattes and the metallic. I have swatches on my arm in pairs: the one on the left is without the primer, the one on the right is with the primer. I have also rinsed it under water to show you who lasts… 

By Urban Decay ( from left to right) Moss (rich green), Painkiller ( Baby teal), Flash ( electric purple) and toasted ( bronze). Both swatches were applied with the same intensity, amount and pressure. Remember the one on the left is without the primer, the one on the right is.

Who remains the winner?

Urban decay is great eyeshadow. Nontheless, the primer kept it bright and intense.

The mattes by Sonia Kashuk…this one really proves the $1 primer works.

Do you like my sheets? LOL. Anyway, from left to right in pairs is a smokie dark grey brown, the middle the highlight, and then a warm chocolate at the end. Immediately you can see a drastic difference in the pigmentation, intensity, evenness, and visability. The one towards the end was applied mid-dry so you can see that there is minimal streaks. You can even see the highlight is not even visable unless the primer is applied! Incredible.

Sink test…

It got cloudy so the coloring is not the best, but you can see that even after being douced under water, ( even if I applied in a non recommended way), the primed eye shadow remains intense and mostly even. Please note that the primer and shawdow was not applied evenly, and still looks great.

 

How do you judge?

$1 Eye Primer Review! Must read…Duplicate of Urban Decay

Just sayin’, this is ONE DOLLAR. You can purchase it at most Targets that have E.L.F. brand.The consistency is nearly identical to Urban Decay’s Eyelid Primer. I am working on getting a swatch picture to show you the huge difference it makes. Here’s my review:

1. Bare Escentuals Mineral eye shadow: I have their eye shadow in a coppery bronze. This works WONDERS. The eye shadow itself is beautiful as is, but literally with one, or two, breathes, it can be blown away. We also know that some eye shadows applied with water are intense, but yes, can clump. This stuff literally has the same effect as a applying shadow with water, except the surface is smooth, and literally is like a paint primer. It dried quickly, and even brightens the lid.

2. Matte Eye shadow: Wait until the primer dries ( which is very quick) and apply evenly. I have the most difficult time with matte eye shadows. This helps tremendously. Applies evenly over this primer fully dried.

3. Sparkly Eye Shadow: This does the trick. We all know that we LOVE the glittery stuff, but HATE when it ends up on our cheeks, or in our eyes. This keeps it right on.

 

Overall, I would score a 10 out of 10. I am very impressed. It must be removed with eye make-up remover because it will not come off in water. Another thing to note about this product

I will post some different swatches of “with” and “without” the primer and after it has been rinsed under water.

 

 

 

I would love to put this on my wall…

Valentino

<via www.vogue.com>

Juicy Couture Fragrances

Tags

beautiful, delicious, energetic, everyday, honeysuckle, Juicy Couture, mandarin, perfume, romantic, Sephora, Ulta, versatile

 All of these fragrances have a warm, sweet, fruity and floral notes to them.

From left to right….

1. Peace Love & Juicy by Juicy Couture-4 out of 5 stars. Sweet with a “zing”. Energetic. Good for everyday Springs and Summers. The smells are sweet, beautiful, fruity with a base of patchouli. It also has lemon blossom, apple, magnolia and black current.

2. Original Juicy Couture-5 out of 5 stars. A little more mature of a scent, but good for day time. It has sweet top notes of watermelon, mandarin, passion fruit, and keeps staying power with deeper notes such as creme brulee, vanilla, rose and dash of patchouli.

3. Knock off ” La Vida Loca”-3.7 out of 5 stars. This is a knock off of ” Viva la Juicy” . Good if you are trying to stretch out the wear of your Viva La Juicy. It is VERY similar, but you can smell the alcohol a little bit more. Used in conjunction, you could not tell the difference. The cost was $3.99.

4. Viva la Juicy- favorite- 5 out of 5 stars. One word delicious. Laced with berries, honeysuckle, caramel, praline and mandarin. It has a seductive base note of sandalwood. Perfect, versatile, amazing, addicting. Smells different on everyone.

 

 

Product Review: SmashBox Soft Lights, MakeUp Foever Invisible Conealer, and E.L.F. setting Mist!

Tags

Eyes Lips and Face, glow, good results, illumination, impressive, long-lasting, Make up Forever, Sephora, setting spray, Smashbox, Ulta

 I have been told I look like a cartoon character in this- which makes it even better.This picture was taken Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Richmond Heat. As you may know, Richmond, Virginia is notorious for their humidity and muggy weather. I inadvertently put these three products to the test…

1. Make Up forever Invisible Concealer. Hands down has been the best concealer for the under eye area. I seriously suggest to invest in this product if your eye area is of major concern. It claims to do the following, and actually does do the following:

• Create a soft focus on the eye area
• be virtually undetectable on camera, and mostly in general.
• Is light weight, and has a silicone applicator that can be applied PRECISELY to any area such as blemishes

My own thoughts… it does what it claims. While we know that there really is no miracle cure for heinous and unsightly features,some products sure can come close In addition, it does NOT crease if you use a setting spray OR a primer. Naturally, products will crease by the laws of physics, but hopefully it will hold off until your next shower/face wash! Hands down, has been the best within my budget.

I do not have a photo of this, but you can get more information at www.sephora.com

2. Smashbox Soft lights. Cannot say more about this product. This is a limited edition version, but there are many beautiful colors offered at Sephora, Ulta, and Smashbox.com  I did something risky, and took a blush brush and ran it under the faucet. The colors melted together BEAUTIFULLY, and provide a perfect sheen. You can also apply them individually, using lighter colors as a highlight, darker to contour, and brightest on the apples of the cheeks. Nothing has yet to match it.

3. Finally, the beloved E.l.f setting spray that costed me $3. On my previous post, I marked that it leave a grainy un-comfortableness, yet it did not that evening. I used the spray, and soaked up the rest with a tissue. Make- up lasted perfectly all night!