A Hydrated Face is a Happy Face

                         



 One of the things that many of us suffer from during the winter season is dry skin. What I notice about myself is the need to use less powder and amp up my moisturizing cream usage. One of the tricks to the trade that I am taking advantage of during this season is mixing my concealer with my moisturizer instead of using a foundation and concealer. Using a concealer with your moisturizer allows you to use less product, monitor the coverage you want (sheer to full), and gain the advantage of having hydrated skin. Here are some tips of how to do this.

• If you have very dry skin, I would start by putting a light coat of moisturizer first. If you don't have very dry skin, skip this step.
• Sparingly dot your concealer and moisturizer on your forehead, both cheeks, and chin. Oil-free moisturizer works just as well. Just because you have oily skin, does not mean that you don't run into rough dry patches.
• Blend out this combination with your fingers or a foundation brush. My favorite is using my fingers because of the warmth. This allows both the moisturizer and foundation to heat up and seep into your skin instead of the make-up just laying on top . This technique allows your foundation to look more natural.
• If you have any dark spots or circles that you would like more coverage on, use a little more concealer in those areas by patting the concealer into that area with your ring finger for maximum coverage. Make sure to use a little eye cream around your eyes first or mix it into your concealer for a seamless look.
• If you need to use a powder, use it sparingly in the T-zone area (forehead, nose, and chin).
• Try using a cream blush or stain instead of a traditional powder blush.

  


         Hope this tip helps liven up your make-up winter regimen...Stay Warm!

Tis the Seasons for Holiday Specials

 Happy Holidays!


As a gift to you this holiday season, we are offering complimentary bridal trials in the NYC and NJ area. This includes the whole SHABANG! Airbrushing and false eyelashes included. Take advantage of this GREAT offer for the holiday season!


Stay warm and festive!

To book your complimentary appointment, please contact us at:

info@embbeauty.com

(347) 952-0444








*This offer expires on 1/16/2012

Quick, Fresh and Sexy Summer looks done in a Flash!

Summer has definitely arrived in all its hot and humid glory. This is definitely not the time when you want to wear a pound of make-up only to sweat it off. Well, what can we wear in order to look beautiful and sexy without looking overdone and streaky? Here are a few tips that can help you continue to look glam this summer.

To Dew or not to Dew?

As a make-up artist, I always love glowy skin. Beautiful, clean, and dewy skin always gives you a youthful look and minimizes the appearance of lines. If you tend to have oily skin, try a oil-free tinted moisturizer. Remember, less is more.


Try:

Normal to Dry Skin

Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer

Oily Skin

Laura Mercier Oil-Free SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer

Pouty Lips

For a beautiful, natural, and moisturized pouty lip, use a lipstick layered with a lip balm or lip gloss on top. Use a tinted lip balm that naturally resembles your own.


Try Using:

Korres Tinted Lip Butter

Rosebud Perfume Co. Lip Balm

Natural Blushing Cheeks

Nothing says healthy like good ole fashion rosy cheeks. Try using a cheek stain which gives a dewy look or powder blush on the apples of your cheeks.

My favorite products by far to achieve this look are:

Tarte Cheek Stains in Blissful or Tipsy

Tarte Cheek Stains  

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush 

Dare to be Bold 

Summer is all about color. To take your look to the next level, try using a brighter lip color. Orange-red lips are totally in this summer. Let your inner vixen shine through by wearing this bold color!

Dare to try:

M.A.C. Cosmetics lipstick in Lady Danger 

Nars Lipgloss in Wonder

Wing it!

Nothing makes your eyes more noticeable than beautiful winged eyeliner. For a  a bolder look, try this classy eye look with a splash of color. For a classic look, use black liquid liner. Take a look at my previous blog Liquid Liner 101 on how to create a perfect wing liner.


Wing it with:

Nars Single Eyeshadow in Daphne


M.A.C. Cosmetics Superslick Liquid Eyeliner


Liquid Last Eyeliner

Always remember to finish your look with one or two coats of mascara. If your mascara tends to run due to humidity, try a water-proof mascara. I have a couple of suggestions for you on my past blog  What is the Best Way to Make My Lashes Look Longer and Thicker

Stay Cool and Have a Wonderful 4 of July!!!

Liquid Liner 101

Have you ever wondered how some make-up artists are able to do a perfect wing-tip with liquid liner?
Well here is a step by step way of achieving those "Angelina Jolie" cat eyes. You will need liquid liner and 2 small pieces of regular tape. The kind we use to wrap our gifts during the holidays. It's light weight and won't pull the skin.

1) Apply two small pieces of tape on the outer corner of each eye in a slanted position facing outward.

2) Start applying liquid liner from the inner corner of your eye the with the side of your brush as close as possible to your lash line.

3) Drag it across your lash line and lift your hand just a tad as you approach your outer eye to the or    over the tape in order to create a thicker line. In other words you will be now drawing a line on your eyelid as opposed to keeping close to the lash line.

4) Sometimes a space is created when you transition the line from the lash line to the eyelid. Fill in that empty space with liner sparingly.

Don't forget a few coats of mascara to finish the look!

VOILA!!!

My Fabulous time at "For Colored Girls"

I had the great pleasure in working for Tyler Perry in the movie "For Colored Girls" as well as this wonderful Essence cover shoot. This was an amazing black tie gala themed shoot that was very appropriate for this All- Star cast . The actors were nothing short of amazing. This was a wonderful opportunity to work with fellow talented make-up artists and hairstylists as well. I had the pleasure of doing Tessa Thompson's make-up for this shoot. Isn't that purple dress simply breathtaking?? I would totally wear that.

Well let me share with you the essentials I used to complete her look. Obviously, the first thing you see are her beautiful red lips. Like I twittered earlier this week, Ruby Woo lipstick from M.A.C. Cosmetics is a lipstick I can't do without personally and in my make-up kit. I paired it with Shu uemura's True Flame Red lip pencil which is an amazing blue undertone (blue makes teeth look whiter :D) red pencil that I love filling lips with as a base or even using it by itself. Yes, it's that gorgeous!

I used Make-up Forever's Face and Body Foundation on Tessa because to be honest, she doesen't need much. This is a great foundation if you want something light and water resistant. It covers beautifully and you can also use it on your body to cover any veins or blemishes.

To create her light and smokey eye look, I used M.A.C. Cosmetics Teddy Kohl pencil as a base for her eyelid followed by Bronze and Amber Lights M.A.C. Eyeshadow on top. I then used Beauty Marked Eyeshadow in the outer eye and crease. I used Smolder Kohl Pencil by M.A.C. on her top lid close to her lash line which I smudged lightly. I lined the bottom of her eye with Teddy Kohl Pencil and layered it with Bronze eyeshadow which was blended out to give it a soft smokey line.

Under Tessa's eyes, I used Amazing Cosmetic's Amazing Concealer and dotted it wherever I need a bit of a heavier coverage.  A little goes a "looooong" way with this concealer. It  truly is an "Amazing" product that covers dark circles and any other skin imperfections.

I used one of my favorites..Touche Eclat by YSL on the corner and under her eyes on top of her concealer as a highlighter.

I followed her look by warming her skin up with M.A.C.'s Mineralizing powder that was two shades darker than her natural skin tone as an accent around her face. What I mean by accent is I contoured her cheeks with it lightly, used it on the edged of her hairline by her temples, jawline, and a bit on her neck.

Lastly, I used a combination of Peaches and Pink Swoon Blush by M.A.C. Cosmetics to complete the look.

Try it out! It's a fabulous evening look. Let me know if you need help :D

What is the Best Way to Make My Lashes Look Longer and Thicker?

How do I get great lashes? This one of the most common questions I get asked. A lot of us have busy lives and want to savor those last couple of minutes of sleep then wake up early and put on make-up. As a result, we are hastily applying make-up in the car or in front of all your peers on the subway. Where am I getting at? When we are in such a hurry, we barely work those lashes..probably just putting on not even a coat of mascara. Here are a few steps you can follow to make them pop a little more. First, always have a fresh mascara on hand. A fresh mascara  in my opinion is one that is no older then 3 months. It makes all the difference in the world when it comes to building "coats" of mascara and avoiding clumps.

Before you apply your first coat of mascara your might want to try the following:

1) Prior to doing anything, use an eyelash curler to open up your eyes by curling them. This method is a guarantee to make your lashes more dramatic. Try Tarte's Eyelash Curler which is perfectly contoured to suit all eye shapes and my opinion by far the easiest to use.

2) Try an Eyelash Primer such as Tarte's Multipleye Primer. This is an eyelash enhancing product which is applied prior to mascara which lengthens, thickens, and conditions.

2) Try an oldie but goodie make-up trick.  Rub a little of your powder in between your fingers and gently press it into your lashes. This coats the lashes and creates volume. You can repeat after your first coat. Warning...Don't do too many layers as it will clump and make your lashes look dry. Two coats the max.

Lets Start

•  Always start from the root of the lashes and work your way up. 

 Starting from the root pops your eyes wide open and makes them look larger. By starting from the bottom of your lash, you are coating your whole lash thus allowing them to lengthen and thicken to their fullest capacity. I would do a gentle back and forth movement starting at the root and glide on up to the tips.This separates the lashes as well. Applying the most at the base of the lash gives a more natural and voluminous effect. Give it a couple of seconds to dry, repeat.

• Go Under Your Lashes

 Sometimes we forget that we have two sides to our lashes. We always coat the front of our lashes but always forget the back. Coating the back of our lashes draws them out even more...thickening and lengthening them.

•  Use the Tip of your Mascara Wand

By using a wind-shield washing movement across the tip of your lashes, it deposits mascara that give the illusion of longer lashes.


Bottom Lashes

Gone are the days of struggling with regular mascara wands and looking like you were part of a bad 80's rock and roll video. There are now itty-bitty mascaras made for bottom lashes and are waterproof.
Try Bottoms Up Lower Lash Mascara from Tarte Cosmetics. Works Great! You can also fold a piece of tissue paper in half and slip it under your lashes to prevent mascara from transferring on your skin. Look, no smudges!

My Mascara Must-Haves 

• DIORSHOW by Christian Dior

J'adore DIORSHOW . This is an industry favorite. I love the thickness of the formula which gives lashes a lot of volume and length. I absolutely enjoy wearing the blue color for fun during the summer months.

           

• Lights, Camera, Lashes! by Tarte Cosmetics

This "Push-up Bra for your Lashes" received the 2010 Elle Green Star Award for best mascara. This natural mascara has no parabens or synthetic ingredients yet delivers the full impact of what a girl is looking for in a top selling mascara.....lengthening, curling, volumizing and conditioning.

 

  

• Great Lash BIG Washable Mascara by Maybelline

This is my FAVORITE least-expensive mascara which is clump-free and volumizes beautifully.  It washes off easily with soap and water.

In my opinion, mascara is one of the key elements to a finished make-up look. It really makes all the difference in the world especially when a little effort is put into it. Let me know if one of these mascara's or techniques have helped you.

Any suggestions of what the next post should be about? I would like to hear from you!


Till then...All the best!

Monique