Healthy, Wealthy & Wise...

One of the best things about traveling with a celebrity client is being exposed to many different things, meeting different people, and really being involved in more than just the make up. I was fortunate to go with Vivica Fox on a trip to Detroit, MI for a FAB event for black women. It was for the Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise Tour. Since Ms. Fox is all of the above, she was a special guest at the Black Women's Empowerment Luncheon. She spoke about her career as an actress, her business endeavors, and even her hair line for some beauty tips! Women who owned businesses, as well as women who worked in politics, and fitness were in attendance. I was at the table sitting by a former Congress woman who loved Vivica's make up:) I look up to women in positions of power, and it makes me want to work harder to achieve the level of success I seek in this beauty industry.

It was a great lunch, great people, and the room was filled with such positive energy. Of course everyone was asking about her make up, so I will share what I used on her!
She wanted to go for a more warm fall look since it was cold and rainy while we were there, I used Eve Lom Serum to prep the skin. I then used my mix of Koh Gen Do foundation, NARS stick concealer in Toffee, NARS Tahoe powder to highlight, and NARS New Orleans powder to contour, Sue Devitt Pointe-Noire eye pencil, MAC Raisin blush, with Orgasm blush from NARS, and YSL #12 Lip Pencil with #33 Rouge Pur Shine Lip stick also from YSL. She looked amazing!

Holiday lip time is here....

It's time to break out those bright red, berry, and burgundy lip colors ladies.....the holidays are fast approaching! I'm sure many of you have holiday parties to attend, well that's the perfect time to add color to your makeup without feeling over the top.

When choosing the right color for your skin tone, make sure you always lightly line the lips with a warmer pencil before going in with the color. It eases some of the shock value when you look in the mirror:) My favs are YSL Lip Pencil #18, and MAC's Cork....or if you're feeling bold, just do MAC's Cherry lip pencil all over your lips like the beautiful Eboni did (pictured)! Always keep the eyes and cheeks pretty neutral when wearing bolder lips! Have fun:)

Make Up on the go....

My client K. Briscoe always has me do her make up before she goes to do any type of press. I never know where she's going, but I found some footage of her with the make up look on:) She wanted a natural girl next door look, and we did just that! She is talking about her new single "Dishes" featuring Busta Rhymes and the reason she wrote the song. Check it out!



If you haven't heard the song, here is a look at some behind the scenes footage of the actual video. You'll see the make up isn't so girl next door anymore:) Enjoy!

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! :)

My...My...Mai

That's all I can say after spending the day working with the fabulous Jeannie Mai, host of Style Network's hit show, "How Do I Look? I met Jeannie in Brazil while we were both there for the Miss Universe pageant, and after our flight was delayed, we bonded instantly:)
She is a beautiful person, and God is doing so much in her life, so I was honored when she asked me to do her make up for her show's holiday special. Her regular make up artist, Uzmee Krakovszki, was booked and I was happy to be her stand in for the day. Norma Blaque, her hairstylist, sweetly kept me on my toes! The production team was phenomenal, and Jeannie was as well. She is a hard worker, and she looks great while doing it. Her wardrobe stylist Bory Tan, whom I also met in Brazil, is a fashion force to be reckoned with. The looks she creates for Jeannie are ridiculous!! I love them all, and I felt so welcomed on set. Jeannie's husband Freddy is a lucky guy, but so is she, because he is also a gem!

The look I did on her for the day was transitional, from natural to heavier make up as the evening scene approached. She is gorgeous and her skin is flawless, so it wasn't hard to do. Jeannie LOVES contour, so I kept my #4 YSL Touche' Eclat close by! We also used Koh Gen Do's OC. 2 White Illuminator for highlighting, Carmel Bronze bronzer, BE02 Lipstick, and Shell Pink Gloss with a dab of MAC's Crystalled Orange glitter for added sparkle!

This day with the "How Do I Look?" crew was one to remember! Be sure to tune in to her show this season, and check her style tips & updates on her personal blog http://www.iheartjeanniemai.com/ Thanks Jeannie! xoxo

Oh so stunning...

I've been doing Vivica Fox's make up for quite some time now, but this particular look on the red carpet made me the happiest thus far. I dolled her up for this year's Stunt Woman Awards. Whenever you have a client that you do over and over again, you become familiar with their face, their bone structure, and you understand what works and what doesn't. I'm very honest with myself as an artist, and I am constantly learning new techniques, and using products that will make my work look better and better.

She looked stunning and her skin had this radiant glow. Everything about this look worked on so many levels, and I love it when she wears her hair back to show off her face. We used the same products we always used, but this particular time I mixed a little Koh Gen Do OC2 White Illuminator with their #301 foundation to highlight her entire face. I then used #302 and NARS New Orleans pressed powder to contour the face. I kept her blush very soft using Peaches from MAC, and her lip color was Caliope Lip Pencil from NARS lined with #7 lip liner from YSL. I absolutely loved this make up, so you will see me try this look again with minor tweaks!! Gorgeous Viv! xo

First of many...

It wasn't the first time Vivica Fox attended a premiere, but it was the first time she took my 4 year old son, Emanuel Christopher as one of her guests:) It was the "Puss In Boots" premiere in Los Angeles, and Viv wanted to share the experience with some kids she knew. My son, and her manager's son Landon, were the lucky ones to go!! The red carpet was a blast for them with all of the fun characters in the movie. Vivica looked great, and the boys had so much fun!



Since this movie was a family movie, we decided to keep her make up light and fresh. The tones were warm and natural. As usual I used Koh Gen Do foundations, which Vivica loves, in #301 and #302 mixed. I also used MAC Antiqued Eyeshadow, Smolder pencil, and our favorite Demi Pixie lashes. Her lip color was YSL #14 Rouge Volupte Lipstick and Chanel #41 Gloss. Simply gorgeous:)