Makeup products i'm obsessing over.....

It's been a minute since I have done a makeup blog, so I thought that I would come on here and tell you about all the products that I am loving right now! There are always new products coming out and I feel like I have to buy all of them and try everything. Here are some of my favorites that I have been using on almost all of our boudoir clients lately...

1. Foundation -  Huda Beaut Faux Filter Foundation

"WHAT IT IS: A full-coverage cream foundation that visibly conceals blemishes and imperfections, for a filter-like finish.
 

WHAT IT DOES: Packed with a high percentage of ultra-refined pigments, the #FauxFilter Foundation visibly smooths and evens skin texture, diminishing the appearance of blemishes, scars, hyperpigmentation, and redness to create a flawless, airbrushed finish. Enriched with argan oil and centella asiatica—both known for their hydrating properties—this fade-proof formula blends seamlessly with skin leaving it matte, with a hint of sheen for a luminous appearance. Wear it alone for full coverage, or blend it together with the Huda Beauty Complexion Perfection Pre-Makeup Base Primer (sold separately) for an even more natural finish." According to www.Sephora.com 

2. Concealer -  Tarte Shape Tape

"WHAT IT IS: A best-selling, full-coverage, vegan, blendable concealer that instantly brightens, smooths & shapes skin.

WHAT IT DOES: Provides a flawless matte finish that won’t flake or crease, even if you have dry skin, fine lines, or pore problems – no setting powder necessary. Mango seed & shea butters naturally regenerate & illuminate all complexions, letting you play with light to lift your features." According to www.Tartecosemtics.com

3. Eyeshadow - Colourpop Super shock Shadows in Frog and Nillionaire

"Super Shock Shadow Our famous long-wearing crème powder formula with a unique bouncy-like texture. It's super creamy, insanely pigmented, and has one swipe intensity with zero fallout. According to www.colourpop.com"

4. Highlighter - Inglot Sparkling dust in 02

"This frosted loose powder is highly pigmented to provide the ultimate glow to any part of the body. Can be applied directly on eyes as an eyeshadow or mixed with lip gloss, nail enamel, foundation, moisturizer, or Duraline to add a touch of magic to one’s makeup." According to www.inglotcosmetic.com

5. Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel in 77

"Once applied, this buttery formula will not go anywhere. Boasting a smudge-proof, budge-proof, and crease-proof finish, this highly-saturated gel eyeliner has a continuing coverage that just won’t quit. " According to www.camerareadycometics.com

These have been my faves recently, hopefully, you guys can try them out and see how fantastic they are for yourself! 

XOXO, Sarah 

Some Vintage Flare

I love it when I get to do something just a little bit different. Not that I don't LOVE a smokey eye and a nude lip, I mean ,that's my most favorite thing in the whole wide world! A bold red lip though, is empowering. I've been doing Courtney's makeup for years now, and she never wants anything less than bold, striking and daring. I like that about her. 

So, what I was thinking for Court was a little bit Elizabeth Taylor, a little bit Dita Von Tease. I knew she could own it. 

For her face, I primed it with Maracuja oil. I used smashbox primer all over so she would not get oily. I started on her eyes and used a light brown in her crease as a transition shade. I then used a darker brown to deepen it up. I put a vanilla shade on her lid and used bobbie brown gel liner to give her a sultry wing.  For her under eye, i kept the water line clean and used a brown shadow close to her lashes. I used champagne pop for her inner highlight and slightly on her brow bone. I put on some mascara and lashes to complete her eye makeup 

I used tarte amazonian clay for her foundation and contoured with Bobbie brown foundation. I used tarte shape tape under her eye to conceal. I then set her face with Laura Mercier translucent powder. For her blush, I wanted to keep it simple so I used a muted pinky beige blush. I highlighted with Becca champagne pop on top of her cheek bones, her cupids bow and down her nose. For her lips I mixed a darker red and a brighter red color to give courtney a perfect vintage lip. I then set her face with urban decays all nighter spray and that was it! I think she looked fab! 

Wildly Beautiful!

I mean, This girls hair! I cannot tell you how excited I was to work with Lauren. Shes gorgeous, shes unique, and I have never worked with anyone with a look like hers. She was so fun to be around, so sweet and her shoot was nothing short of AMAZING! Here is her product breakdown....

For her eyes I used Soft ocre to prime her lid. From the Anastasia Beverly hills Modern Renaissance palette I used Red Ocre in the crease and Primevera on the lid. I used Bobbie brown gel liner in black to liner her lids and placed Mug black shadow over it to set it. I tightlined both the top and bottom lid with Marc Jacobs black eyeliner. I then smoked out her lower lashline with Red ocre and Burnt orange and used koko lashes in 501. 

For Laurens face I used Maracuja oil to moisturize. I then used Mac Match master foundation in 6.0 mixed with Tarte amazonian clay foundation in tan deep sand. For concealer I used Tarte shape tape in medium, I then set her under eye with ben nye banana powder. I used MUG Half hearted and bad habit to contour and Mac springsheen for blush. For a pretty glow I used Lorac tantalizer in bronze and becca champagne pop. For her brows I used ABH brown gel in Medium brown and powder in medium brown. Last but not least for her lips I used Mac lipliner in current and dose of colors liquid lipstick in brick. 

Lauren is stunning! Thanks for letting us share in this special experience! 

Sarah 

A Little Edgy

This is Cristinas second shoot with us, yay! Her pictures turned out fantastic! This time around, I went with a totally different look for Cristina. I wanted to do more of an edgy smokey eye with a pop of color. Here are the products I used to achieve this look.....

For her eyes I used Soft ocre to prime her lid. I used Brule eyeshadow from Mac all over the lid. From the Anastasia Beverly hills Modern Renaissance palette I used Taupe in the crease and Cypress Umber on the lid. I then added Macs Blue brown pigment on top of that dark brown color. I went back into the ABH palette and used Red Ocre to blend out the crease. I used Bobbie brown gel liner in black to liner her lids and placed Mug black shadow over it to set it. I tightlined both the top and bottom lid with the Bobbie brown gel liner.  I then smoked out her lower lashline with Antique bronze and then went in with dark umber closer to the lashline. For lashes I used Koko lashes in Iris. 

For her face I used Maracuja oil to moisturize. I then used MUFE foundation and Tarte shape tape to conceal. I set her under eye with Rmca translucent powder. I used RCMA foundation to contour and set that with Laura Mercier translucent powder. I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour palette to countour further and Lorac tantalizer in bronze to bronze up her face. For blush I used Tarte Paaarty and for highlight I used Becca champagne pop. For her brows I used Smash box brow pencil and for her lips I used Jordana lipliner in rock n rose and Abh liquid lip in crush. I set everything with Fix plus and she was done! 

~Sarah

Sexy Siren

When Mindy sat in my chair, the first thing I noticed was her beautiful skin. It was smooth and tight and I that's where i wanted to put the focus. Above everything else, the skin is my favorite. There is nothing better than  flawless skin! 

For Mindy's eyes, I used some MAC shadows and the Anastasia of Beverly Hills modern renaissance palette, My obsession.  I used a light warm brown color in here crease as her transition. I then used Cyprus umber on her lid to darken it and then put a little bit of red ochre over that for a beautiful burgundy smokey eye. I then blended it all together with a bit of burnt orange and raw sienna. I lined her lids with Bobbie Brown gel eyeliner in black and smudged it out a bit with a black shadow. I topped off her eye look with some demi wispies

For her skin, I used maracuja oil for some hydration as I was doing her eyes. I then primed her skin with a smashbox primer. She had some brown marks under her eyes, so I went ahead and color corrected with an orange shade by derma color. For foundation I Used the Amazonian Clay full coverage foundation with a flat top kabuki brush. I concealed under her eyes with Tarte shape tape and blended that out with a beauty blender.  I also used the shape tape to highlight her forehead chin, and small bit on the top of the nose. I then set her skin with Laura Merciers translucent powder. I contoured Mindy's face with hoola benefit bronzer, and then used the Lorac tantalizer for a beautiful bronzed glow all over. For blush I used buff by mac, and for highlight I used Becca champagne pop. For her brows I used Anastasia Beverly Hills pencil in soft brown and then a the same soft brown powder to set it. Last but not least, Lips! I used MAC lip pencil in stridown with dose of colors in truffle and inglot #53 lip paint.  

Makeup brush cleaning 101

I get asked a lot about how to clean makeup brushes and its really quite simple. I used to stand at my sink for hours on end cleaning every single brush with soap and then having to wait overnight for them to dry. I seriously don't have time for that, considering I have to wash my brushes after every client. Now, if your not cleaning your makeup brushes you should be, and yes, I'm judging you! There is so much bacteria and build up on your brushes, it's definitely not good for your skin. So what I do is grab some rubbing alcohol, make sure its 91% or higher, and put it in a small bowl. now you can dip your brush in it and wipe it off on a towel. Repeat a few times with the same brush until it swipes clean on the towel. This is a great because your smaller brushes will dry within a few minutes and they will be ready for use again. Now everyone, go grab those brushes and get to cleaning! 

OMG! Best foundation tip Ever!

I'm not sure if I have shared this tip with you guys yet, so here it is!

This Technique is so great and works out for almost everyone. People with super oily skin would not benefit as much as people with dry skin or more mature skin. What we are talking about here is adding oil to your foundation. Take any beauty oil, whether it be maracuja, argan, jojoba or whatever it is that you have and add a drop to the foundation that you are going to put onto your face. Mix it together and either apply it with a beauty blender, a wet sponge or any flat top kabuki brush. Let it sink in for a few minutes and then blot off any excess oil with a dry sponge. This will leave on all of the pigment and everything that that has already absorbed into the skin. After that, Set it with powder and finish the rest of your face.  

This technique will literally help your foundation be one with the skin and the outcome is beautiful. Just glowy, healthy, hydrated skin! If you give this a try, let me know how it works out for you.