Summer Makeup 101

Summer heat can be horrible for those of us who like to be made up. The more makeup you put on, the more cakey and gross you feel by the end of the day. I have a few suggestions for you gals who may want a light pretty face for the day.

1. Make sure your eyebrows are groomed to your liking (wild hairs aren't attractive on a clean face)
2. Make sure once you've washed your face, you apply a moisturizer with and SPF of 30 or greater. I recommend Murad's Perfecting Day Cream. $47

3. Apply a light concealer to problem areas.(Under eye, blemishes, dark spots, etc.) I recommend NARS stick concealer $22. Use a brush to apply it and let it melt into your moisturizer.

4. To avoid shine, take a large powder brush and dust a light pressed powder all over to set your concealer and finish evening you out. I recommend L'Oreal True Match pressed powder. $11

*Please note, if you have no blemishes and your skin is flawless, just a tinted moisturizer will do for steps #3 and #4.
5. Take a blush brush to apply bronzer to your cheeks (for lighter skin), or to apply a warm blush to your skin (for darker skin). This will bring your color back once you've evened your face out.
6. Finish your look with mascara and a nice lip conditioner with a tint. I recommend Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 $22.50 and L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

7. If you have oily skin and you need to touch up throughout the day, I recommend Poreless Face Defender by Mally Roncal. This product is great against shine and it sets your makeup.

Your finished look should be clean, seamless, and just enhancing your natural beauty. Remember less is more, especially on the beach:) Good luck! xo

What's in my kit??...

People are always asking me what's in my kit. I just say a little bit of everything, because it's the truth. Starting out at Prescriptives, working 7 years with MAC, 2 years with YSL, and freelancing in Barneys New York....I have way more products than I actually use. My MUST HAVE staples are Koh Gen Do Foundations, NARS powders, YSL Touche' Eclat concealers, MAC eye shadows, and blush from anybody I like at the time. I am a huge fan of YSL lipsticks as well as Milani lipglosses for that hint of shine! I am obsessed with Mally Roncal's Poreless Face Defender, and Eve Lom Skincare for under my make up. If there are any new products on the market, I'm always willing to try them once on a test shoot first to see how the product responds. I never try new things on clients, especially red carpet clients.....I fear unexpected surprises once the cameras go off:) I like to mix it up, but I'm pretty much a creature of habit when I do make up...so although I have LOTS to choose from, I can get a face camera ready with only 7 items!

Check back to my blog as I compare beauty supply and drugstore brands with higher end brands. The look is just as flawless...just you wait and see!

Shine STOPPER!

Ok, so this little compact is the new love of my life! A make up artist friend of mine, Tiffani Banks, turned me on to it. After her bride in humid New Orleans stayed flawless and matte on her wedding day, I was sold!! It's the Evercolor Poreless Face Defender by Mally Beauty. You all know Mally Roncal, the make up artist to stars such as Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez?? If you don't, you should! She is a make up artist that I like because her looks are always clean. Anyway, this is a perfect way to stop shine for anyone. It's great on set for touch ups, bald heads, and guys who don't want to wear make up, and all my clients got one for Christmas for those red carpet touch-ups when I'm not around:) It's only $40, and you can get if for a little less on QVC. I got mine from www.mallybeauty.com. This item is a must have!!

Voice over debut...

We know him as hip hop artist, actor, and poet...but now Common can add voice over animation to his long resume. I love him as an artist, and as a person. He is so humble and down to earth, and he's that way with everybody! I had to groom him for his Happy Feet 2 press junkets, and it's always a good time with his camp!

My new favorite thing to use on men and women to reduce shine is the Mally Roncal, Evercolor Poreless Face Defender. It's silicone based, so it's no powdery residue left on the skin when you touch up. I only touched his face 3 times in 3 hours of shooting.

Be sure to check out Happy Feet 2 where he plays Seymour, a musically cool, swagged out Penguin dad! Congrats! :)