Hot & Stranded Update

Sorry for the absence but I've been away on a bit of a vacation...which reminded me about the ad I did for Relative Space w/ the girls on the flooring raft lost at sea.  Alexander the photographer sent me the finished ad awhile ago but I sort of forgot about it...opps.

Anyway, here's the ad.  Overall, I like it.  Interesting way to sell flooring lol.

Another INK Editorial - Strange Days

So as I mentioned before I have 2 editorials in the latest issue of INK Magazine which is kind of exciting :)

Still I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed in the layout of this second editorial. There were so many beautiful images from this story and a lot of times I'm never happy w/ the images the magazine goes w/. Sometimes I just don't get their point of view or where they are coming from w/ their selections. To be honest pretty much all my fav pics from the shoot were not picked :(...and to make matters worse they cut the story from 8 pages to 4. This is esp. disappointing b/c IMO our story was A LOT stronger then some of the stories that were 6-8 pages.

It was shot by Zach Hertzman who is quickly becoming one of my fav young photographers to work w/. He has such a great style and I can't wait to shoot our next editorial together (we're already planning it and it's going to ROCK!) and styled by Alexandra Loeb (again one of my fav stylists to work w/). The whole team just has such great chemistry! I loved our model too...Danielle truly is a gorgeous girl...I'm jealous lol!

Anyway, here's the editorial...plus a few of my fav images that the mag didn't pick up.

Twists of Time

So here is my first editorial in the latest issue of INK Magazine (I actually have 2 editorials in the latest issue :) ) . You may remember me writing about this shoot mths ago when I did it...wow I remember it was all cold and miserable then and look at it now - HOT and humid! I'm proud of this story b/c it's my first real "hair story". I think it turned out really pretty and it's right on trend :) Wish I would have done a few more braids that I've learned since then though...but that's how it always is - there's always 1 or 2 things you want to change or improve upon.

Photographer: Kira Bucca
Hair & Makeup: Jessica Jean Myers
Model: Ellen (Next)

Which image(s) is/are your favourite(s)?

More MUFE Product Reviews!

Hey sorry for the absence been super busy w/ weddings, proms and other jobs...which is always good! Hopefully, some of the beautiful brides I worked w/ will send me some pictures from their special day and I'll be able to share them w/ you. Plus I have a couple of editorials coming out this week...FINALLY so there will be lots of updating with them :)

Anyway, back to my review. This is a product I've actually had in my kit for awhile but I've found that I've been using it a lot lately (ppl getting a bit too much sun perhaps ;) ) so I thought I'd talk about it.

I always prime the skin before I put down my foundation...unless of course I'm using Face Atelier which is a silicone based foundation and therefore has a built in primer. When I was in school I was taught it's like painting a wall - you always prime it first. For those that don't know primers are a great way to create a smoother surface for the makeup to lay on. It helps create a barrier between your skin and the foundation and it can help prevent your foundation from migrating into those pesky fine lines. It also helps blur any skin imperfections and helps your foundation last longer which is always a good thing for weddings...and esp. in the heat we've been experiencing lately.

Primers like the Make Up For Ever HD Primers can also be great for adjusting and minimizing certain discolorations in the skin. A common discoloration problem is redness in the skin whether it be from rosacea, acne or a sun burn. The green MUFE primer is great for reducing these issues before you even get to the concealer and foundation step. Now I'm not saying this primer is a miracle worker and it will take out all the red from the skin but it will reduce the problem and it can be a great product for someone who doesn't actually like to wear makeup but wants something that's going to finish the skin w/out the use of foundations...even guys could use it...and a lot of guys do tend to suffer from excess redness in the face... of course sometimes that has to do w/ a little too much drinking and not skin discoloration lol!

So recently I've had a lot of clients w/ all sorts of skin concerns (I guess this is what happens when you work w/ "real" ppl and not models all the time lol) - a mother of the bride w/ rosacea, a bridesmaid w/ acne, a girl going to her prom that got burnt in the tanning bed the day before (NEVER tan the day before a big event...even when you have a miracle worker makeup artist coming to your house lol!). Anyway, what they all have in common is that I used the Green MUFE HD Primer on them to start...and they all looked fabulous when I was done w/ them ;)

Quickest Brazilian in Town!

So it's officially Summer and you know what that means...patios, drinking, beach time and bathing suits...Eeek! It also means I needed to go for a Brazilian. I decided to try Aroma Wellness Centre & Spa, it's literally a 5 min walk from my apt., it gives a 15% discount on waxing on Tues & Weds and after reading all the glowing reviews about their Brazilian experts I thought I can't go wrong.

So they were able to take me on short notice which was great. I called yesterday and asked if they were available first thing when they opened at 10 am and they said they could squeeze me in. Mary my Esthetician was great. Very friendly and quick w/ the waxing and she told me exactly where to pull and hold to help w/ the resistance and therefore pain. Of course it wasn't pain free...they day they invent a pain free Brazilian I'll be right there front of the line lol. But it was quick - probably under 10 mins which is great b/c if you can't have it pain free you might as well get it over as quick as possible lol. The spa itself is very clean and they don't double dip the wax sticks which is good to know.

What really made the experience great was that I told Mary how last wk I had been there for a facial (they have VERY affordable spa packages) and now I had a couple of cystic like pimples (I have acne prone skin) come up (you know the rock hard painful ones that are under the skin :( ). Mary said she would look at my file to see what the other Esthetician - Alaa had used on my face and then she would use their ultra light therapy treatment on me free of charge :) Basically, it sort of felt like getting little shocks on the affected area. I thought that was great customer service and I'll definitely be going back! Not only for the Brazilians but I'm definitely curious now to try other services...esp. since they are so affordable.

So in total my waxing after tax and w/ the 15% discount came to $31.00 + tip...can't beat that! Plus it was less then 30 mins for me to walk to and from the spa, get the waxing and get the ultra light therapy!

Product Review: MUFE Aqua Liners

For the Red Bull Air Race event my makeup look consisted of a very heavily winged liner...like Amy Winehouse style sort of...but hopefully less dirty and slept in lol and it incorporated two colours not just the solid black. Plus a sculpted cheek and nude lip w/ gloss...but the main focus was the eyes w/ the huge winged liner covering the whole lid and ending just near the end of the brows...plus some wicked cool lashes.

I had 5 girls to make up every morning...this is makeup & hair...and they had to be ready early so that usually meant my day was starting at 6 am (ugh). So 5 girls, elaborate makeup & hair and I can't take all day to do it but it still has to look good b/c well I don't like to put sloppy shit work out there lol.

My biggest concern about this whole thing was this huge winged liner b/c 1. I'm a perfectionist and I like to get things balanced on both sides 2. Winged liners are actually something I struggle w/ a bit...always get that one side good but can't match it to the other. I knew w/ there being 5 girls that I would need something that would allow me to breeze through these girls really fast and hold up to the heat and sweat of working outside all day in spandex body suits, full sleeve jackets and boots.

So w/ this being said it occurred to me that I should get some Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners in the colours I wanted to do the eyes in. I figured it would be much easier to draw a huge winged liner w/ a pencil and colour it in then try to be all perfect w/ eyeshadow and a brush. Plus they are waterproof how can I go wrong! This seriously had to have been one of the smartest investments I've ever made for a job! These babies are insane and totally did the job I needed. I got Silver, Black and Teal and the colours are gorgeous. After I drew in my design and coloured it in w/ the pencil which was sooo easy and saved me sooo much time I then pressed a little bit of shadow over it in the coordinating colour just to give it extra punch. Although I'll say the colours alone were totally powerful. This stuff didn't budge at all...even in the heat and w/ the girls sweating. I didn't have to touch the eyes up once throughout the day...no creasing...nothing!

To give a perfect example about their staying power. One of the models was sick the night of the first day. She went back to her room and puked and passed out in her bed still wearing the makeup (sorry for the grossness lol). Anyway, her roommate said the next day when she saw her the makeup was still totally in place and perfect like I had just applied it! It's sweat, puke and sleep resistant...holy shit that's amazing!

The crazy thing is I've never been much of an eyeliner makeup artist...just one more thing to carry IMO. I've always just used an angled brush and either eyeshadow w/ a transforming gel or some cake liner but I have to say these little babies just might make me a convert for other occasions too!

Seriously, check them out! Side note - the MUFE lashes (Valerie #112) I used were amazing too. Totally big and glam and yet the girls said they were pretty comfortable and light and had no time wearing them the full day...which was like 12 hrs! Sometimes girls have trouble even keeping their eyes open w/ a huge full false lash but no issues here. Plus they were able to easily reuse them the entire 3 days and they still looked like new!

Red Bull Update...Finally!

So I know the Red Bull event was like a wk and a half ago but I wanted to wait until I had pics of the event before I wrote about it. Plus I've been super busy since I've been back...hello wedding business YEAH...and even a male model testing gig w/ Mckenzie James whom I've wanted to work w/ for awhile...he's so much fun (hopefully we'll work together again ;) )!

So yeah back to the Red Bull event! It went wonderfully...like it couldn't have gone better! The girls were a HUGE success and there's a very good chance that we'll be asked back next year - $$$. Plus one of the guests really took a liking to the girls and we might be booked for a private party in July :)

So as I believe I mentioned before I had to drive the girls down to Windsor in a minivan...I don't think I mentioned - I haven't driven in quite awhile! Well the driving went really well...even through huge thunderstorms on the first day. GPS actually makes me a confident and much better driver.

The girls were really nice and a pleasure to work w/. Unfortunately, the one was sick almost the entire weekend but all were really sweet. I roomed w/ Mika (the redhead) and she was totally awesome. We got along wonderfully.

So as many of you know Windsor is my hometown but I literally didn't have 1 minute to visit my family. I got up at like 5:30 am to get ready and get the girls ready and went to bed at midnight or later w/ every minute scheduled but it was worth it. The days and nights were filled w/ lots of schmoozing w/ all the guests at the conference. Friday night there was an amazing fine dining dinner and Saturday night there was a great boat cruise w/ dinner and dancing that was so much fun. What was funny w/ the boat cruise was how much responsibility I was given. I was basically in charge of the buses and everyone on them getting to and from Detroit to the boat cruise. The bus drivers were even coming up to me at the end of the night for instructions on what to do next which I found amusing since after all I am just the makeup artist lol. A few of us went out later that night in the Caesars Casino Windsor for a few drinks and some more dancing ;) Both Sat. and Sun. were filled w/ great BBQs and Air Racing. So as you can see in between the working and long hours there as also time for a lot of fun.

Even got to meet (very briefly) the Canadian Red Bull Pilot - Pete McLeod. There was a door prize the first night that included for the winner a limo ride w/ 2 of the girls (Air Champions as we called them) and Bjarni Tryggvason (keynote speaker and one of the first 6 Canadian Astronauts in Space) to the Red Bull Plane Hanger where the winner got to meet Pete McLeod and take a few pictures plus go up in one of the planes and do some tricks and flying w/ a pilot. What an amazing prize!

So w/out dragging on and on here are some pics from the event. You can see how elaborate the costumes and makeup were...not your typical promo model look that's for sure! People everywhere were stopping the girls for pics. Plus the plane pics are pretty cool too!

The Air Champions posing w/ Sandra Pupatello (originally from Windsor). She's the Minister of Economic Development and Trade

The girls w/ our boss - Susan. Amazing woman who really did an amazing job!

Door Prize Winner Jimmy w/ Mika and Danielle in the Limo. I think he likes them lol!
The Air Champions w/ Bjarni, Jimmy and Pete McLeod (Canadian Red Bull Pilot)