I See Beauty in All Things

Hi everyone!

I have my own website now!

Brittany Lauren

Check it out.

Love it!



Until next time.

Peace

Tonight I was checking out several makeup websites and blogs, when I decided that I wanted to do a new look with a OCC pigment that I have yet to try. The color was red iron oxide, and it looks like rust.

So I picked out my MAC eyeshadows in Flip and French Cuff and just improvised .


I started out with the Flip on the inner part of the lid and up into the crease. Then I took French Cuff and put it on the middle part of the lid and extended it out to the corner. Next was time to try the pigment, and I took my tapered blending brush and applied it to the crease and just kept on extending it out until I was satisfied.

To blend, I took my Maybelline Eyestudio eyeshadow quad in Irresistibly Ivy and used the lightest color with my blending brush and softened the harsh line of the pigment by my eyebrow.

For a little added effect, I took the Flip and put it on the inner corner of my eye and a little under my lashes using a pencil brush. Then from the outer corner in, I applied MAC 100 Strokes under my lashes up to the Flip.

Lined my eyes with Stila black smudge pot and an angled eyeliner brush. For mascara I used my new CoverGirl Lash Blash Fusion ( it is in a Black/Brown because I wasn't paying attention when I bought it and I didn't grab my favorite, blackest black. ) This is my new favorite mascara. It gives you volume and length and it last for a long time.

Blush was a cheeky cake in beach babe from POPbeauty.

Lips was my go to lip of MAC subculture liner, MAC Marquise'D Lip luster and Love Nectar Luster Glass.

The end result was exciting! I really like how the pigment turned out (in the pictures it is less vibrant then in person, but you get the idea)

There are plenty of times that I will look through a magazine or watch a runway show and will be in awe of the makeup. But most of the time, those looks don't work for an actual look that you can wear out.

So how are you supposed to take that trendy runway look and make it work for you. The key is to see what the elements are:

No mascara ... try wearing a natural mascara or going for a brown colored one, instead of that jet black one that we all love.

Color all of the place ... try wearing more color on your eyes, or a bright blush, or even a bright lip stick (not all at the same time, unless you are going for that trendy "clown" look)

Nude lip with foundation ... find a good nude lip stick and put a little clear or light pink gloss on top (if you go for the foundation on your lips, be sure to put some kind of sheer pink gloss on top, unless you want that "dead" look)

Crazy designs ... don't draw arrows on your forehead, instead try mixing up your eye liner. Extend it out in a more dramatic cat eye, or place a few dots extending out from your liner.

These are just a few examples of ways to incorporate runway to every day.

Robyn, our makeup artist at Sally Hershberger, received some of the newest spring collections and shared it with me. The biggest thing that I saw was that there are some beautiful blushes out this season. As I thought more about it, I realized that my kit was in desperate need of some new blush colors. So, with my gift card and coupon in hand I headed off to Sephora find the perfect addition to my ever expanding kit. About an hour later, I decided on the NARS blush in "Desire". So I decided that I would create a concept look and then create an every day look to complement it. I was inspired to finally create a look that has been on my mind for several months (inspired by a yellow and pink rose) with my new blush.


The concept look has the yellow overflowing from the eye to the blush, and the blush was more contouring then on the apples of the cheeks. Then I dusted the yellow and gold eyeshadow on the lashes to give them that dusted look. The foundation was heavier as well to give it more of a porcelain look (which isn't hard to do with my already pale face!)

For the every day look, the foundation was more sheer and showing my skin ( and freckles) more. A little concealer under the eyes and then the UDPP on the lids.

Next, apply some white shadow on the lid and up to the brow bone. Take a tapered blending brush and apply some yellow and gold eyeshadow to the middle of the lid and in the crease. Blend well with the white. Then use the same brush and blend a light taupe brown in the crease to give you a little more definition.

Then take a pencil brush and apply a dark brown under the lashes on the lower lid. Take an angled brush and apply that same color as a liner on your top lid. Using an eyeshadow as a liner will give you a softer feel, which you want since the concept look is really soft.

Apply a brown mascara to the lashes, I used the L'Oreal Voluminous in black brown.

Take your blush and apply it to the apples of your cheeks and sweep it up to the hair line. Use a kabuki brush to buff the blush so it doesn't look so harsh. The blush used was the NARS Desire.

Use a kabuki brush again to apply some powder, I used the MUFE HD Powder.

Finally, line your lips and apply lip stick and gloss. The ones used in the look were MACs lip pencil in Subculture, Revlon's Matte lipstick in Nude Attitude, and MAC's lip gloss in Love Nectar.

Until next time.

Peace.

*******After I finished this post, I was on Sephora and saw that NARS has a look just like the one that I posted. The look I did was something that I have been working on for a while and it wasn't until after I was done, did I see the NARS photo. *******

Back in March I went to Florida for my cousin's wedding. I was able to do the makeup for her and her bridal party and her mom. It was nerve racking at first, but Michelle is so easy going that I felt completely comfortable the day of and was so excited to be able to be a part of her big day.

My mom found an old kit box that she had back in the days that she did nails, and she gave it to me to add to my kit. It made it easier to carry everything to and from the wedding. Before then, I had a small kit bag and then my old dance duffel to carry everything in.

Packed with eyeshadows, lipsticks and eyelashes up to my elbows, I headed out to The Tides. When I arrived, Michelle and everyone was already there and ready to get started. First thing, first...Mimosas!



Then I started working. My younger cousin Katie watched me set everything out. As I opened my kit, and the drawers expanded, she said "You need all of that!?"

It was priceless.

It took about 3 1/2 hrs to complete everyone, and I almost forgot to put mascara on Melissa (Michelle's sister) !

It felt so amazing to finish work and then go watch my lovely cousin marry the love of her life. The ceremony was beautiful, and the reception was a load of fun. Michelle felt beautiful, which made me so happy. The pictures turned out fantastic.

It solidified what I want to do, be a makeup artist!







Until next time.

Peace.

About a week ago, Megan and I did a photo shoot with Steph Fowler for a new clothing line. It was an amazing time. We got there around 2pm and started working on the models. They were two 17 year old girls, who were so sweet and beautiful. Megan did a fabulous job with the hair and I am so happy with how the makeup turned out.

First, we did pictures in the studio. She had the lights and everything already set up, so it took no time to get all of the pictures.


Then we moved on to the pictures outside. These ones are my favorite. The late afternoon light was perfect and the girls look gorgeous.


For each girl I used mostly the same products.

The face was prepped with Smashbox photo finish primer, and then I put the MAC Strobe cream on their "T" zone so that it would catch some light. For foundation, CoverGirl TruBlends (as always) and the concealer was NYX concealer jars. I finished the face with MUFE HD Powder.

The eyes were primed with UDPP (original) and then I used the 88 eyeshadow palette for each girl.

The liner was the Stila smudge pot in black and the lashes are Ardell strip lashes with Eve Pearl black eyelash glue.

The cheeks were Estee Lauder blushes.

The lips were a combination of colors from my NYX lip palette (which is a life and space saver for my kit).


Steph was so great, and she let Megan and I keep a few of the pieces for ourselves.

If you would like more information on Steph's photography, check out her blog and website.

To book Megan for hair, you can e-mail her at mklammer21@yahoo.com

For more information on the clothing, check out Vintage Creations and Eko Chic

Until next time.

Peace.

Hey everyone!

So I have more pictures from the photo shoot I did with Megan back in December.
I am so excited to have these because now I will be setting up my website! I'm just going to be all over the place.








In other news. I did have some requests to do a video about beginners make-up. I am in the process of creating those videos for you. The will be a series of short tutorials on each part of make-up call Beauty Basics. They are coming! If there are any specific questions that you have, shoot me an e-mail.

Until next time.

Peace.