Makeup Tips

Emily's Must Have Makeup Items

chris.com (Cheekadee Author) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Emily's Makeup Must Haves

Ok, onto makeup. This is the fun part. I love when people email or write me a thank you note explaining just how long their makeup wore for their wedding. I always explain that the idea is for the products to be applied in soft layers, so it doesn't look or feel like a ton of makeup. Primers and eye shadow base are two very important products. If it weren't for these items, I wouldn't expect the colors to come up true, or last throughout the day.

For oily skin, I love using MAC Matte in the t-zone to matte out any shine.

And just ask any Makeup Artist the importance of primer. I prefer Smashbox Hybrid 2 in 1 Primer.

And finally eyeshadow base� I love Chanel's Professional Eye Shadow Base in Bright...[more]

On to foundation� after understanding the true affect that HD television has had on our industry, I was on a mission to find a truly great makeup. My needs were simple, I needed a makeup that not only wore well, but looked great in photos AND on the big screen. Makeup Forever rocked my world, and I will never go back. You can say what you want about airbrush, but this girl will never graffiti you!! Makeup Forever HD Foundation is amazing god-send stuff!

If you were to ask me which item I could not live without, it is this� Bobbi Brown's Bisque Corrector. This stuff comes in three amazing shades, Light Bisque, Bisque and Dark Bisque. For your kit, you should have all three. For yourself, pick one.

Of course, no kit would be complete without the essential Laguna Brozer and Orgasm Blush by Nars. If you are lucky, you can get them both in the same compact like below...

I find that these two colors alone are sometimes too warm, so I like mixing Lorac's Desire Blush in the apple of the cheek. This bright, cheery pink really makes for a beautiful and romantic look. And the combination of cool and warm shades really adds to the dimension of the look.

On to eye makeup� I have a technique that I like for the eyes. I line with a waterproof pencil, and then I go over it with a shadow liner to set it. And sometimes I use a liquid line, depending on the look I am going for. These are the two must haves for this look. One thing that I have found is that you can spend any amount on a waterproof pencil, they are all the same. So, for an item that I am constantly restocking, I go cheap. Ulta, Maybelline and Avon are all fine for this job. As long as they are retractable and waterproof, you are good. I really like Avon's Waterproof Glimmersticks Eyeliners in Black, Espresso and Navy.

If I am doing a liquid line for a retro inspired glamour look, I love Trish McEvoy's Finish Line. It is a product that turns any eyeshadow into a waterproof liquid line. It Rocks!

While on the subject of items to cheap out on, this holds true for mascara too. There are so many brands out there, with so many kinds it can be confusing! General rule of thumb� if you are looking for a lengthening mascara, look for a wand with the bristles close together�typically a longer thinner brush is seen with these. And for a thickening mascara, look for a brush with the bristles further apart. Most of the newer models sport rubber wands, which are amazing for length. I prefer Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe. I know that people LOVE Christian Dior's DiorShow and Lancome's Hypnose, but as someone who keeps her mascaras on constant rotation, it is just not worth the splurge here. But, to you, it may be. It is a personal thing. And for a makeup kit, only waterproof will do. No use keeping a regular one in there, if you happen to mix it up and use it on a bride on her wedding day, your name will be MUD!!

Eye shadow is something that is a make or break thing. It is that thing where people will say, what did you use on her!? The pigments must be strong and come up true and blend easily without caking or creasing. The brands that I love to use are Chanel, Nars and MAC. Some of my favorite must have colors are Chanel Eyeshadow Quad Beiges de Chanel, Nars Indian Summer, and MAC Blanc Type and Typographic.

Someone once described eyebrows as the painting hanging above the sofa. I thought that was both hilarious and stupid all at the same time. But you can visualize what they meant. What I recommend for eyebrows is to first have them groomed by someone who will not make you look like Jean Harlow. This is something to invest in. Whatever you do, do NOT let the girl who does your nails, do your eyebrows! Big mistake, and you will be sorry�for a long time.

What I like to use on the eyebrows is a Boars hair eyebrow brush, Smashbox Beeswax and a MAC brow color. This creates the most natural look. Dip the brush in the beeswax first, then dip into an eye shadow color that matches or is a little lighter than your brows, then use small upward strokes to fill in.

The final must have product for eyes is the Shu Umura Eyelash Curler. I like to use once before, then once again after the mascara is applied if a lash is super straight.

Lips are the finishing touch and so important to complete the look. Lipstick and lip gloss colors are so personal, so I will just be touching on products here. I love Chanel's Ultra Wear Lipcolor as a base. It has the longest wear of anything I have tried.

I wish that I could find a lip gloss that I didn't love as much as Chanel's Glossimer. This can be worn alone, or on top of lipstick. Not sticky or gloppy, I love it!!

Makeup is an art form; and with this art form, you will find endless interpretations. The above items happen to be products that I use and love. I am an unbiased consumer and receive no compensation for recommending these products. In my experience, these are tried and true to me.

Skin Care Regimen for Combo Skin

chris.com (Cheekadee Author) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Skin Care Regimen

People are always asking me about my favorite products; and if I stick with one line of makeup and skincare, and my answer is no. There are so many great products out there, but how do you know which ones to choose?

From my many years of experience in trying different products for both skin and makeup, I have come up with what I believe to be a very good basic skin-care regime for combination skin. And the next blog posting will be a must have makeup list.

The most important thing to remember when taking care of your skin is to be consistent. Keeping your skin clean is just as important as applying sunscreen. This means you must remove your makeup every night no matter how tired (or drunk) you are�no exceptions!

You may notice that most of the skin care products are �affordable" items, while some are �splurge" items. I figure that if I save money of a few things, that will allow me to not feel as bad when I purchase a few of my splurges. And note-ably these are items that I feel are worth it.

Remove all traces of eye makeup with Chanel Eye Makeup Remover by using a small amount on a cotton square or round; swipe down for best results.

Cleanse am/pm with Cetaphil cleanser. It is important to keep your skin clean while maintaining your PH balance. Use a pea-sized drop on a washcloth and remove all of your makeup from the day...[more]

Tone with Thayers Witch Hazel. They make many different kinds, I love the smell and feel of the Lavender. Saturate a cotton square or round and remove any traces of makeup and dirt left behind by your cleanser.

Apply a half of a pea-sized amount of the Avon Anew Clinical Eye Lift all the way around your orbital bone. This should go nowhere near the eye itself. Tap it in gently. Use the gel, during the day and the cream at night. The gel will help with puffiness and dark circles, while the cream will focus on fine lines and wrinkles. Everyone should use eye cream�from the age of 15 +! That means YOU!

Environmental damage is the single worst contributing factor to premature aging. By using a moisturizer with at least SPF of 15 (30 if you are very fair), you are not only hydrating your skin for the day, but you are protecting it from the environment. I recommend Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15.

UVA and UVB rays are extremely damaging to the skin. So, as great as it looks to be tan now, it is speeding up the aging process by 100%, so please stop going to tanning booths. Do you really want to look like a football when you are fifty?! If you must be tan, try Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel, or better yet�a spray tan by a reputable salon.

And a question that I get a lot is why should I moisturize at night? Moisturizing at night is important because this is when your skin is resting and essentially repairing itself. Nighttime is the time when your skin can handle a little more moisture and firming. Some night creams are too rich for combination skin and can cause breakouts. What I prefer to use instead is a serum by Origins. Origins Plantidote Serum was created by Dr. Andrew Weil and contains mushroom extract, which is a well-known anti-oxidant. This is one of my �splurge" items, but well worth it, as it lasts a very long time.

In my opinion, Origins is a very good skincare line, and aside from the serum, a very good price point. There are two more products that I am constantly recommending to my clients to improve the texture of their skin. If you use each of these products 1-2 times a week, you should see a noticeable improvement to your skins texture and clarity. Origins Modern Friction is an enzyme mask/scrub that helps exfoliate (or sluff off) the top layer of dead skin cells, leaving your skin brighter and softer. Origins Clear Improvement is a great clay mask that helps draw out any impurities such as blackheads. I recommend using this right after a hot shower while your pores are open. Both products require rinse off. And both products last a really long time. And one of the best things about Origins is that they have a wonderful recycling program. Check them out!

And finally, keep in mind that you never want to try a new skincare regime too close to your wedding date. Just as you would not get a facial within 2 weeks of your wedding. When dealing with troubled skin, you may expect your skin to get a little worse before it gets better. Be patient-- good things do come to those who wait! Remember that if you take care of your skin now, you will be thankful when you are older.