Candace Corey Hair & Makeup Artist

2011-12-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

As a beauty director and makeup artist I am always trying new products and looking for ways to make it easy to look your best. This month I wanted to talk about a few tips on how to look great when you need to go from the office to a corporate party.

PREPARATION IS KEY!

If you prep properly, you LOOK like you put a lot of time and effort into your style without the hard work.

1. Be Camera Ready!

Many of the pictures from the office parties end up in the Corporate newsletters or are emailed as news blasts to everyone in the company. Make sure your smile isn't full of coffee stained teeth from late night hours of work and holiday shopping. Polish away surface stains with Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste, which is the most awarded whitening brand, to create a brighter smile. Leading up to the party, give yourself a whitening boost by applying Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips. The secret is in the strip to remove up to 14 years of deeply set-in stains.

2. Don't Undo Your Style

The last thing you want are sweat marks on your clothes while shaking hands with a CEO or stains smeared on your garment from deodorant. So choose an antiperspirant that fights wetness but won't leave a trail of white marks when you dress, like Secret Natural Mineral. It uses odor fighting capsules that work with your body to help neutralize odor instead of just masking it. Opt for the unscented version that won't compete with any fragrances that you decide to wear for the evening.

3. Wear The Proper Undergarments.

Celebrities know how to look their best for special events and your office party can be the "red carpet" event for the company, so bumps, bulges and sagging are big no no’s! Instead create a youthful liftwith Bring It Up Breast Lifts. They lift the bust up to 6 inches and eliminate peek-a-bo bra straps or unsightly back fat! It's the secret weapon that celebrities have been using for over 10 years to look their best. Fits cup sizes A to D. Get special saving by using code: CHICAGO50 to receive $15 off of any purchase of $30 or more! VISIT www.BRINGITUP.COM

PARTY DAY

1. Choose Your Accessories Wisely

A great way to transition your office clothes and into an elegant party outfit is with diamonds. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Stiles and Kelly Osbourn have been spotted on the Red Carpet wearing Forevermark. What makes a Forevermark diamond special is the unique inscription inscribed on every diamond that is invisible to the naked eye. With each inscription you can track your responsibly resourced diamond from the mine to your local retailer. Go to ITunes and download the “Forevermark” app to register for a chance to win a trip to Africa and explore the mines. Forevermark can be found in Chicago, at James and Williams or Fey &Co .

2. Brighten Your Skin

The holiday season is stressful and makes skin look dull and lifeless so before you use your regular moisturizer start with serum like Le Mieux Vita-C which uses a powerful stable form of vitamin C called MAP (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) that penetrates 31% faster into skin. It boosts hydration, collagen production and brightens skin by repairing sun damage and hyperpigmentation.

3. Minimize Makeup Maintenance

Eyeshadow can fade by the end of the day so use a shadows like Covergirl Intense Shadowblast, that is highly pigmented and has a built in primer. Color is waterproof, fadeproof and smudge proof for less touch ups. Create a simply yet sophisticated look by applying color on lid to crease for day, and adding liner at lash line by night.

Instead of a traditional lip gloss use Vaseline Lip Therapy Original to add shine, soften lips and lock in moisture. Since it isn't a color you won't have to worry about it getting on your teeth. Now available in a mini, on-the-go jar that you can keep in your pocket or clutch. Register to win a limited-edition Swarovski Crystal Vaseline Lip Therapy Original jars designed by Mad Fashion star Chris March worth $46 by going to www.VaselineLipTherapy.com.

4. Use Hair Treatments For Better Performance

Salons know that treatments can make hair perform better. Get improved hair moisture and texture with Nioxin DiaMax hair treatment. It is the first to use HTX technology to thicken the hair strand on the inside and also outside for longer-lasting effects. Key ingredients are Niacinamide, Caffeine, Panthenol and Dimethicone to provide added strength and resilience. DiaMax officially launches in salons in February. Visit www.DiamaxEffect.com from December 1st to January 2, 2011 to register for a chance to win a full sized bottle, which is valued at $50.

5.Wear Soft Scents

A fragrance that is too strong can repel people so use a scent that is subtle like Christina Aguilera Royal Desire. It is an Oriental fruity blend with rich floral and warm sensual notes that evoke a feeling of luxury and royalty. Each bottle comes with a silver charm which can be worn on a necklace or bracelet.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "What model agancy should I contact? I'm 14 and really want to do modeling. Its my dream."- from Chloe in London.
Answer: Talk to your parents FIRST before you contact a modeling agency so you don't get scammed by the wrong one. Some of the top agencies are Ford, Elite and IMG. Models have a certain look and style. Different agencies represent different types of models. There are fashion models, commercial models and even models they call "real people". Ask your parents if the models on the agency web sites that you are interested in contacting look like you. If so, then contact the agency and ask them what is required for consideration. Just remember, even though modeling looks like it is just a fun time taking pictures, it is a business and can be a lot of hard work. So as RuPaul says "You better WORK!"

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is getting proper rest. Most people are overly stressed and extremely busy, especially in December, so they don't get the right amount of sleep. Lack of sleep can cut into crucial repair time which can create havoc on your health, skin and even effect your weight gain. This month I'm going to try to take my own advice and slow down....and rest more!

2011-05-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

This month The Ellen DeGeneres Show teamed up with HGTV'd to surprise a couple in Killeen Texas and I got to do all of the makeup and hair for both shows.

Giving Jeanie some
bronze eye shadow

Working with Tanika Ray and David Bromstad of HGTV is always a treat for me but it was especially fun to work with Jeannie Klisiewicz, the production assistant from The Ellen show.
When Ellen isn't able to go on a location, Jeannie does it, so she interviewed the homeowners. I start the day off really early doing the hair and makeup on HGTV'd host Tanika Ray, so she can look her best when everyone arrives.

Gotta get the homeowners camera
ready before they see the big reveal

Next in my chair comes David Bromstad. After a bit of moisturizer, sunscreen and grooming with anti-shine he is all set to head over to the construction tent so he can work with the design crew about the needed changes. He never needs a lot of work, but sometimes I have to adjust any tan lines he might get from wearing his sunglasses in the hot sun. One of his favorite skin care items is....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "How do you determine your best beauty feature to highlight, or is that necessary?"- from Gina in Chicago.

Answer: If you want to focus on your eyes for the day, use deep shades that will draw more attention to them but keep lips and cheeks simple by using a softer color.

When you want to focus on your lips try a darker or brighter color, and keep eye simple by only using mascara or nude colors so they are not as prominent.
There are no rules. It doesn't have to be your "best feature", you can highlight what ever YOU want.

Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing today is Gatorade. Even though we drank water too, I think the TV crew and I went through several cases of it. My favorite flavor is the fruit punch! Yummm!

2010-12-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the year, but that doesn't mean my work slows down. I seem to be on planes just as often as I've been before. This time I'm heading out of town for another episode of "Bang For Your Buck" for HGTV. Each time I work on the show I am astonished at the home interiors, and the value that design plays on your property value.

If you've never watched the show, let me give you a little background on what it's about. The show is about 3 separate homeowners who have remodeled a certain part of their house. All 3 homes have redone the same part of the house...for the same amount of money...BUT the question is, who used their money more wisely according to their design for the room and most importantly resale value! That is where the professional designers like Vern Yip, David Bromstad or Taniya Nayak come in. They look at everything, with a real estate expert to determined...

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "What is a good moisturizer for aging skin?"- from Jamie in Connecticut.

Answer: Dr. Sadick Park Avenue Prescription is a great option because it contains a daytime moisturizer to protect skin, a night time serum and night cream with retinol to renew and rejuvenate all in one set. It targets hydration and anti-aging all at the same time. The formula feels light weight without feeling greasy.

Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing to mention this month is to leave your skin a little damp before adding your moisturizer to add extra hydration since the weather is so cold and dry during this time of the season. A great way to do that is to spritz your face with Evian mineral water.

2010-11-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

This month has been quite busy with traveling. I went to North Carollina, Ohio and Seattle to do makeup for E! THS Investigations with TV host Laura Ling. Laura investigated 2 interesting stories. One was about "Teen Depression and Suicide". The second story was about "Military Wives" and what they have been going through.

I was quite moved by the stories, and was in awh with the compassion Laura had while she interviewed people. Each individual story enlightened you on the personal blessings that you may be having right now but may take for granted because of seeing the things that these people had undergone. It was amazing ....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Can you recommend a good air-brush makeup applicator for the everyday consumer to use?"- from Cheryl in Pennsylvania.

Answer: Airbrush has been a Hollywood secret for makeup artists for years, but now Temptu has a consumer friendly AIRbrush Makeup System that you can get at Sephora that is great to use. Since a professional airbrush makeup system can be rather tricky to clean, it's great that there is an easy one the people can use everyday to look flawless and natural just like the celebrities. I not only use it on my makeup artist jobs but I also use it on myself as well.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing right now is LIFE. After seeing up close what other people have gone through the only thing I can say is that I appreciate what I've had and the family and friends who have been with me through out my life. I'm very thankful!

2010-10-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to work with the new Covergirl model, America's Next Top Model winner, Krista White. My friend hairstylist Bestsey Meade and I were prepping Krista for special private event at the head quarters of Covergirl cosmetics.

We started our day at 7am at the Westin hotel so we would have plenty of time to get her hair and makeup done before her limo came to get her. Bestsey started by getting her hair smooth and shiny with a flat iron and then swooped her hair over into an elegant side ponytail. She added soft curls to the end of her hair, that cascaded over her shoulder, for texture and sophistication.

Next was my turn.....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Wanna know what your favorite eye cream is for early thirties. hint hint... I'm looking for a new one!"- from Lindsey in Wisconsin.

Answer: You would think that the first signs of fine lines and wrinkles that you see are due to getting older, but it is usually caused by the on-going lack of hydration. Since your body is mainly made up of water, it can really take a toll on your skin. So the earlier you take care of your skin, especially around the delicate eye area, the fewer wrinkles you will have as you get older. Kind of like the saying goes..."it is easier to prevent than correct."

There are a lot of eye creams on the market that I like. A great one to start with should have multiple benefits other than just hydrating skin , like Jan Marini Age Intervention Eye Cream, and include anti-aging and firming benefits as well.

Be careful not to apply too much. You only need a little. The warmth from your body will cause the product to automotically slide inward towards the rest of your eye area so be sure to apply the cream on the orbital bone, which is the edge of the eye socket, so it won't get inside your eye by mistake.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year because of the great fashion! The best way to look good in your clothes is by starting with great underwear. So my favorite thing this month is the Body By Victoria push up bra. It gives your bust the lift that you want but is smooth and seamless so you look even better in your clothes!

Not sure if you know your correct bra size? No problem! Victoria's Secret has sales people that know how to measure you properly so you get the right size and fit you need.

Here is a little bra trivia! The proper way to put on a bra is to lean forward so your bust falls evenly into the cups, snap the clasps shut, then sit up and adjust the straps as needed. Keep in mind that you usually wear your bra daily. So to ensure that you are getting proper support replace your bras every 6 months because fabric and elastic can become worn out.

2010-09-05T15:59:00.000-07:00

This month I headed to Vegas to work with the Westcott Company for the Photoshop World Convention. When they first talked to me about doing makeup and hair for the event I was working with them on their current catalog of an ice princess. I thought working on the cover was fun, but creating looks for the convention was even more exciting and creative!

The event was 3 days, and each day consisted of 4 mini sets that attendees could do photo shoots on. Each set had a different model with a theme and scene. We did a western girl, a bridal look, and Steampunk.

They even brought in amazing props like a vintage tub and period style furniture for the 50's pinup look, and even a cool red motor cycle for the Catwoman and James Bond themed shots.

One of my favorite looks was the Queen of Hearts. I started the by rubbing white Kryolan pancake makeup all over the model to make her tan skin as pale as possible. Then .......

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Best products & routine to take care of your face - does it include toner, stuff for eyes/mouth area, moisturizer, etc. What all do you need to do?"- from Christine Lee in Florida.

Answer: The total basics for a skin care routine would be a cleanser and a moisturizer for face and one for your eyes. Toners can be optional. They are designed to put skin back at the correct PH after cleansing and to remove any excess dirt that the cleanser missed. Kind of like a rinse cycle for your skin. So depending on the cleanser you are using, you may not need one.

When selecting a cleanser for your face choose one that won't totally strip it of all it's natural oils, even if you have oily skin. You want one that only removes dirt and excess oil. If the cleanser is too harsh it will make skin feel tight and dehydrated which can kick in your oil glands, which can be a problem if you already have oily skin.

If you wear makeup, be sure to start with a makeup remover. Most facial cleansers are not designed to break down the complex makeup formulas that we use today, especially if the cosmetics are designed to be long lasting. Great add ons that I would highly recommend for your skin would include serums, night creams and scrubs.

Serums are like vitamins for your skin because they give added boosts of nutrients like vitamin A & E, gloucosamine and nano peptides, to give your skin better resilience especially during times when skin looks stressed and worn down. Your body heals itself during your sleep so night creams are specifically designed to use that time help combat anti-aging and lack of hydration to skin. Scrubs are the best way to remove blocked pores like black heads and dry patches so your skin looks smooth and refined.

If you aren't sure what you want to try first, go with a skin care set like Clarins Multi Active Starter Kit that contains a gentle exfoliating cleanser and two moisturizers in smaller sizes so you can see what you like before you commit to the regular sized products.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is Blot Out Offensive Shine + Oil Control cream by Nurturing Force. It hydrates skin, gets rid of shine, blocks oil (especially great if you are extremely oily) and slows degradation of makeup.

I use this a lot when I'm working in hot sticky weather, where oil and sweat can break down the makeup. Great stuff!

2010-08-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

This month the commercial for Gatarade that I worked on with Dwayne Wade finally came out. It was a day full of grooming Dwayne, designing wigs, and creating rip away clothes. It was a great time, but I'm sure I'm not making any sense right now so let me just slow down and start from the beginning.

Well it all started on a hot day in June when I got a phone call from my booker from the Opus Beauty agency. They wanted to see if I was available to.....

Beauty Questions
Beauty question: "I'm African-American with a dark brown complexion. I normally wear fuchsia lipstick but I would like to try a more subtle brown lip color, but I'm afraid it will just blend into my skin. What do you suggest?"- from Marcy in Ohio.

Answer: If you feel a typical brown lipstick is not to your liking, try the shade in a different texture like one with shimmer in it. I like the Black Opal Patent Lips Liquid Lipstick in Uptown Brown. The bronze flecks of shimmer give the color additional depth and dimention that won't 'blend in' to your skin town.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is the NYX Black Lable Lipstick. I really like how you don't need a lot of it, because it is so highly pigmented. I like to apply it with a brush instead of straight from the tube so I don't waste any of it.

It is a great creamy lipstick to try! Love it!

2010-07-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

These past couple of months I was able to work with The Limited. The look they wanted was a fresh "out of college" look that shows that she is ready to take on the world in a stylish way.

To create that look I started with airbrush makeup to make skin look flawless then gave cheeks a pop of color with soft pink and highlighted the skin with gold shimmer.

Some of the makeup used was by Urban Decay and Estee Lauder. Eye color consisted of bronzes, chocolate brown, pink, lavendar or white shimmer to give definition without looking too made up. Lips were only a gloss.

Hair was kept flowing with a touch of wave by using a clipless curling iron, or by just winding hair around the barrel of a regular curling iron and then pulling it as it cooled down so waves stayed loose and natural.

After long days of shooting the creative director, wardrobe stylist and me hopped on set with the model to show our enthusiasm! Gotta make time for a little bit of play!

Not only did I get a chance to do makeup and some of the hair for the online catalogue but I also had the opportunity to do makeup for some of the toured fashion shows.

One of the biggest perks for doing makeup for the fashion show was to do makeup on the New York designer Jodi Arnold. Jodi has been popular for her "no fuss" chic style and has a boutique that inspired a collection specifically for the Limited brand.

The next time you are in The Limited, you just might be looking at some of my work!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I get red on my cheeks in the summer and would like to tone it down, but make it last all day. What can I do?"- from Wanita in Florida.

Answer:
You can use a yellow based concealer like Covergirl Simply Ageless Corrector concealer, before your foundation. It will help tone down your red, and it will last without making skin look pastey.

Just be sure to hydrate skin first, pat a small amount of concealer on first then follow it with patting your foundation on TOP of the concealer and finish with face powder. If you decide to use a blush, go with peach or a golden bronzer or you will fill like you are adding the red back to your face again.

Let's talk about....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is the Nars Kabuki brush collection. I got a chance to try them and love how soft they are and their ability to blend very easily.

I love makeup brushes!

2010-06-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

I love watching HGTV and I love finding great buys for my house, so when I was called to do makeup and hair for HGTV Endless Yard Sale TV show I was excited!

We traveled from yard sale to yard sale with 3 groups of women to see if they could find the items they needed to decorate their favorite space in their house.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "How can a guy contour his round face?"- from Mark in Florida.

Answer: When you contour a woman's face, you need it to look round and soft. When you contour a guy's face you want it to look strong so I like to create more angular lines. I normaly start by shaping the forehead with a bronzer like Tarte Bronze To Go on the temples to make it look a bit more square, then I apply it to the sides of the face to give the jawline a more square shape as well.

I don't apply to much, just enough to look natural but keep him as masculine as possible.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing is a bit unusual. Since it was so hot, I kept drinking water, but when it was time to address my sweet tooth, I prefered to have a Edy's Fruit Bar instead. It is refreshing and cool in the summer heat but has vitamin C, real fruit and is only 80 calories per bar. Better than the ice cream from the ice cream stand that everyone else ate!

2010-05-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

I get to do all types of projects but one of my favorite things to do is fashion shows because of the time I get to create, and the energy that goes on. One of the most interesting fashion shows that I get to do is the Asian Bridal Fashion Show.

I love the detail on the clothing. Everything is hand beaded, in rich vibrant colors. From head pieces to sarongs, to shoes. No detail was left out. The men looked like kings and the women looked like queens.

To create the look I used.....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "How did you make the lip to be so glossy,and how did you get the eyes easily shaped."- from Timilehin in Lagos State.

Answer:
I start with a high shine gloss like Wet N' Wild Glassy Gloss for impact. It creates a shine like glass, but the formula is thick so it won't easily slide off the face. After I apply my choice of lipcolor, I PAT on a small amount of gloss with my fingers so I don't over apply the product. This creates the look that I want but makes as long as possible.

My ability to shape eyes is from years of experience, but my biggest tips is to layer your colors. This helps product to blend better more seamlessly!

Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is Swiss Gear luggage. I am always traveling from one East coast to West coast, so I love using this because it is durable and has a 10 year warranty. My favorite color?...red!...just like a lovely shade of lipstick of course!

2010-04-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

This month I did a beauty spread for Vestiture magazine called "Paint By Numbers". Since the theme of the issue was Art & Artitecture, the first thing I thought about was the old school paint by numbers sets that tried to help you paint like a pro...or at least make you feel like you were.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "What is the best mascara that will make my lashes look longer and fuller?"- from Toonisha in Illinois.

Answer: One of my favorite mascara's is Lancome Definicils because it creates a crisp long lash but it isn't designed to thicken too so I use Covergirl Lashblast Fusion mascara because it can do both!

They fused the lengthing mascara from the yellow tube with the thickening mascara in the orange tube to create one that does both (in the purple tube). It gives you lush glam lashes and doesn't break the bank either! Vavoom!

Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is my Twitter and Facebook pages! It makes it easy to give you more up to date info about the fun shoots and beauty tips that I do so be sure to join me!

2010-03-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

I am always doing makeup for all kinds of things like editorial spreads, catalogs and commercials. This month I got a chance to do makeup for the FMI event in Florida.

I did various makeovers on the attendees but the highlight of the event was my time working with Tim Gunn of "Project Runway". "Project Runway" is a TV show that takes some of the best up-in-coming fashion designers and gives them a chance to win their 'dream come true', to show their collections down the runways of New York Fashion Week and to have the start up money and press needed to create their own lable. As a makeup artist, fashion and beauty go hand in hand, so I was estatic to be able to work with the guy that helps mold the new fashion designers into the next fashion gurus of the future.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I have hazel eyes and find it difficult to find eyeshadows that look good with my eye color. Anytime I apply eyeshadow, I immediately rub it off because I feel like I look better naturally. Any suggestions for a good color for hazel eyes?"- from Ashley in Ohio.

Answer: Covergirl Exact Eyeshadow takes all of the guess work out of chosing the colors because they do it for you in one set.

MY FAVORITE THINGS
My favorite thing this month is Black Opal's Fade and Conceal concealer.

I like how it totally hides my dark under eye circles with the correct undertone since I get hyperpigmentation from rubbing my eyes too much from allergies and lack of sleep.

It also corrects the discoloration by fading it to my regular skin tone. So it hides my flaws until it is finished correcting them. LOVE THAT!...RIGHT!

2010-02-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

This month is the Spring/Summer issue of Brides Noir magazine. As the beauty director it is my job to make sure the look of the makeup is up to date with the latest colors but can be translated to brides as well.

The colors for Spring this season is yellow, soft purple (lavender), greenish-blue (teal) and tan. The theme of the issue is DRAMA and our model Megan Lewis was the perfect person to created the look we needed with style.

To create her look I used purple in a dramatic way for the eyes. I started with a soft lavender on the lid and contoured in the crease with a deeper shade of purple.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I really need help !!!!! my elbows are very ugly and much much darker than my arms, I am a fair skin...sometimes I put (Covergirl) Queens face makeup on my elbows and most of the time I wear 3 quarter length sleeves, but I just got a dress w/ short sleeves so please help and thank you"- from Dee in Louisiana.

Answer: Start by changing you normal body soap and use a body wash that is designed to even out your skin tone, like DDF Brightening Cleanser. The cleanser is also specifically designed to use on your face too, so you can save money by using it for that as well.

It exfoliates the skin with alpha hydroxy and salicylic acid, to make skin smooth and even, but it also helps prevent additional discoloration by using licorice to impede the melanin in the skin.

Follow your cleansing with a body lotion that is effective for elbows like Ambi Soft & Even that has Shea butter and soy to hydrate your skin and make it soft while it has the additional benefits of correcting discoloration as well.

By using both products you will have an even complexion much faster. Expect to see a difference in your skin tone within about 4 to 6 weeks.

That was a good question! I look forward to answering another one next month.
Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is the Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quads . I started using the quads when they had a limited edition set that consisted of beautiful shades of bronze, gold, copper and coral. I loved it because it added a wonderful shimmery that I could use on all skin tones but I also like the "Amber Honey" and "Smoky Pink" sets too. Hmmm....I don't think I want to use them on anyone else now except me! Maybe I like them too much! lol!

2010-01-17T19:26:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! In this month's issue of Vestiture magazine I created the beauty spread. The theme for the issue was white & black so I based the beauty spread off of those colors. I'm sure you are wondering why I am particularly excited about that since I do so many beauty spreads. Normally when I do a beauty spreads I have to be very conservative, but this time I got to be more creative so it was really fun.

I started with 2 models, one Caucasian (Rianna) and one African American (Michelle). To play up the contrast of light and dark I took their skin tones to the next level.....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I need to know the best technique to use when applying concelor and makeup under the eyes of mature skin that has dark circles and fine lines. How can the discoloration be corrected and the fine line minimized? "- from Lisa in Texas.

Answer: Start by using a moisturizer. Don't try to take a short cut by applying a face moisturizer on your eye unless it is designed to do that. The skin in that area is 3 times thinner with smaller pores. It is more delicate then the rest of your face so a face cream can be too rich and thick. I like to use gel based moisturizers for the day with light reflecting abilities because they are light weight, soften the looks of wrinkles and usually combat puffiness as well.

Next apply a concealer by patting, not rubbing, for the best coverage. Tugging on your eye can cause additional wrinkles so using your ring finger, which is the weakest appendage, will be the best way to apply it.

Laura Mercier Un dercover pot is a great one to try because it is creamy, not dry and cakey, and highly pigmented so you don't need a lot of product to cover your imperfections. The extra benefit is that it has both a light and dark color in the set so you can create the appropriate tone you need.

If you have very dark circles, take the time to apply thin layers instead of getting the urge to pile on a lot of product all at once. This will keep it from looking masky and fake.

Lastly set your concealer with a little bit of powder. The Laura Mercier Undercover Pot includes the translucent powder as well. I like to apply it with an eyeshadow blender brush so it goes on sheer, and then press it into the skin with a velour puff for a seamless finish.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing is definitely the Bobbi Brown BU foundation set. I use it on Shaun Robinson when I do Access Hollywood, and it was the base I used for this Vestiture beauty spread as well.

It has tons of shades from the lightest to the darkest. Something for every skin color. There are concealers, foundations and correctors all in one set, but I like that there are two textures of product too. So I can use a concealer as a foundation if I like that texture better or a foundation as a concealer.

The best part?....great pigmentation! So you don't need a lot of product to do anything. A little goes a long way.

2009-12-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

Not only do I get a chance to do makeup for TV show and magazine, but sometimes I appear on TV shows, magazine interviews and radio shows as a beauty expert to give advice for beauty delimas.

I got a chance to be interviewed on the Amy's Table radio show and then give a makeover to one of her listeners. To register for the makeover they had to write in and say why they felt that they needed one. The obvious winner was Laura Brown. This is what she wrote:

"I am a 38 year old mother of two children, ages 6 and 4. I had a very complicated delivery and recovery due to a rare bleeding disorder that is now in remission. I was given chemotherapy for about two years and heavy daily doses of steroids for .....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Hey Candace! I was wondering what you would suggest for pale skin every day lipliner/lipstick. I love Taylor Swift's youthful look but I don't want to necessarily look like I'm wearing a lot of makeup. Very natural and something that stays on! Thanks so much and have an awesome day!"- from Jeanie in Tennessee.

Answer: When I want to create a natural lip I look at the inner rim of the person's mouth to get my inspiration. The color is usually a shade of brown or pink with a touch of brown. I normally pick a tone that is slightly deeper then their natural color.

Start by hydrating your lips with a face or lip moisturizer instead of a lip balm. Balms usually have beeswax in them, which can effect your lip color from lasting longer on lips.

Next base lips by lining and completely filling them in with Estee Lauder Stay in Place lip pencil in color like Spice, because it stays on for 12 hours and the color looks like the natural rim of the lip. Use the lip brush on the other end of the pencil to smooth it out before you apply lipstick.

Next add lip color, like Estee Lauder All-Day lipstick in Mocha Pink or Caffe Latte. It will give you medium coverage with a satin finish without making lips look too dry or matte.

If your lips look too exact, or formal, then take your index finger and smudge the edges to make it look more natural. This will give you the look you want, but skip using lip gloss to ensure that your look lasts all day.

I look forward to answering more questions next month. Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is the Ken Paves Nano Silver Tourmaline Ceramic curling iron. The tourmaline technology locks in 20% more moisture to the hair. I love to spritz on a little leave in conditioner before using the iron on the hair. It makes hair soft but locks in the curl without damaging it like some hot tools can.

I used the curling iron for my makeover with Laura. I curled her hair in different directions to mimic her natural curl, just to give it a little boost without making her look all 'dolled up'. At the end of the makeover I let her keep the curling iron as a gift from me. I hope she enjoys using it!

2009-11-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

I got a chance to work with one of my favorite clients HGTV for 3 seasons of "Bang For Your Buck". The show goes all over the United States looking at homeowners renovations to see who used their money to get the best "bang for your buck" with design and resale value.

This month I hit the road to work with Monica Pederson in New York, Vern Yip in North Carolina and David Bromstad in Colorado. You can see more behind the scene images and video by clicking onto a picture.

The homes that we go to are always so beautiful and I always get a new tip on what you should and shouldn't do for spaces but sometimes each location can be an adventure in itself.

My adventure this time?....New York!

When heard I would be working in New York I got excited because I love New York. --Who doesn't?!--but then I heard it was Albany New York. Hmm...."Don't know too much about Albany," I thought "Great! A new city to explore." I decided to be adventurous and fly into New York city at the JFK Airport and drive to Albany, you know, so I can catch more of the scenery. With my trusty GPS system I couldn't get lost! Besides Albany was only about 1 1/2 hours away. I'll have plenty to see.

I picked up my rental car, threw on the radio and started driving. Everything seemed fine until...

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I am a medium toned african american woman with yellowish undertones. Normally, only red lipstick looks good on me. How can I find a nude lip color and gloss that will look great on me and won't make my teeth look yellow. Please help."- from Angela in Texas.

Answer: I like using Maybelling New York Color Sensational Lipstick. The texture is creamy so it glides on smooth and makes your lips feel moist and soft. They are specifically designed from the latest runway colors to ensure that your look is up-to-date yet wearable.

Picking a shade is easy because all of the colors are in categories of either plum, red, brown or natural. Since you want a nude color, I would suggest picking from the 'natural' catagory.

Start by looking at your lips to see if it has more brown or more pink-brown tones, then choose a shade that is the closest to that color. To make sure you teeth look their brightest avoid picking a color with a lot of yellow or orange to it. Opt for a more of a neutral or cool tone instead. One of my favorite natural shades is Autumn Rush because it has just the right amount of brown and pink to look great on most people.

Or you can try the Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lip Gloss. My favorite natural glosses are Touch of Toffee and Broadway Bronze.

So do you have a beauty question? Come on, don't be shy. Ask me! I'll be happy to answer it for you.
Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is my Japonesqu makeup brushes. I love how thick and soft the bristles are. I have 3 full sets of brushes since I have so many projects. It makes it easier to just grab a clean brush when I need it instead of worring about cleaning it between applications.

My favorite brush is the blender brush, or some brands call it the blending crease brush. I use it to soften eye shadow color, and to apply face powder in small areas of the face, like around the nostrils. It picks up just the right amout of product I need!

2009-10-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy working with celebrities because you get a chance to really see them as a person instead of just the character that they play on a show. I recently worked with actor Peter Gallagher for his TV appearance about his singing tour. Did you know he sang?...I didn't! He has even performed on Broadway....Wow!

Even though he has recently been on TV series "The O.C." and "Californication", I remember the first time I saw Peter in 1995. It was on the movie "While You were Sleeping". He co-starred with Sandra Bullock....

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "My eyebrows are not as dark as I would like them to be, can you recommend a good brow powder or pencil? Also a tip on how to do it right? I have trouble lining my brows evenly!"- from Jennifer in California.

Answer: Eyebrows are like frames for a picture. When you have a good frame the picture looks even better. The Brow Express Kit by brow guru Anastasia Soare. The set has 2 colors to work with so you don't make your brows too dark or too light.

If you put a pencil on the side of your nose and let it run straight up to inner corner of your eye, then that is where your brows should start. Keep the pencil in the same area by the nose, but let the other end pivot over to extend to the outer corner of your eye. That is where your brow should end. This is where people make the most mistakes because they have their brows too short. Short brows can make your eyes appear small.

The outer edger of your iris should mark the highest point of your brow's arch. Don't think you can get it right?...don't worry. The kit also has stencils and easy to follow instructions to help you create a perfectly shaped brow for your face.

So do you have a beauty question too?....don't be shy...ask me! I'll be happy to answer it for you.
Now it is time for.....

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is a lovely Avon fragrance called Vitality by liiv botanicals. I usually prefer to use light fragrances like this in the summer because the scent is to "crisp" but when I first tried on the scent I found myself wearing it all the time.

I even liked wearing it when I worked on shoots. Normally I don't wear fragrances at that time because I am working closely with people and fragrances can be over powering...but not this one.

The citrus and cucumber mix makes it very fresh!

2009-09-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

This month Oprah had her 24th Season Kick Off Party in the middle of the street on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The streets were blocked off all the way down past Ohio street filled with about 21,000 people to see her show. When I heard that her show was going to be outside I thought...."GREAT! Maybe I will get a chance to come down and hang out with the rest of the crowd too!" Little did I know that I'd be getting a phone call 3 days before the show from Access Hollywood to do makeup and hair on Shaun Robinson to interview the queen of talk shows herself....OPRAH! Not for just any day either....during Oprah's Kick Off Party!

Ok...I won't try to play it cool by lying....I almost dropped the phone!

Beauty question: "What is the best product to use to help prevent oilyness or shine after my makeup has been applied?" from Dina in Georgia.

Answer: Kryolan Anti Shine powder is great to use. It is a colorless light weight powder that is especially designed to make skin look matte but not cakey for long days at a photo shoot under hot lights. Since you don't have work under those conditions, it will be even more effective for you.

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is BOOTS! Not just any boots but the Sorel boots which are waterproof yet fashionable.

Yes...I know. How did I come up with boots being my favorite thing this month? Well as you know I travel constantly and I have some tv shows that I have to work on in very cold areas this year...and I have to be there during the winter months, so I had to get some boots that looked good but were very functional. Well, these boots are them!

I decided to go with the Helen of Tundra style. I liked how they looked. Simple. Slim, not too bulky. Can go with a pant or a skirt. Nice for my fashionista side but what about the wearability?

When I slipped them on, it was warm and cozy, and when I had to lugged my suitcase of makeup and hair supplies in the harsh elements (up and down steps outside too!) I didn't have to worry about slipping and crashing on the pavement.

Yep! Definitely my favorite thing of the month!

2009-08-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

I love music, so I was especially excited to be doing makeup for a music video. The video was for a Chicago based singer/song writer named Gas. He has been in the industry for a long time, but behind the scenes writing for others so he decided to come in the fore front with his song "No. 1 Baby".

Since I had Gas to groom, several backup dancers and a lead girl, Claudine, to do makeup and hair on I brought in my team of assistants to help.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I have combination skin and I use an oil free moistiurizer daily, however with the winter time, I feel my skin tends to get a bit more drier in areas of my face that generally tend to be more oily like my nose. What is the best moisturizer to use for my skin type to get the hydration I need without it being too much moistiure and looking oily?"- from Kelli in Chicago.

Answer: If you feel that your moisturizer is doing fine but you just have occassional dry patches, then try adding a hydration mask to your beauty routine in the winter.

You are adding a boost of hydration to your skin without having to worry about your it looking or feeling greasy with a heavier moisturizer.

You can try the Borghese Fango Delicato mud. The mud is from Italy, but you should be able to get it at any fine department store. It hydrates and firms. The green tea and chamomile oil will soothe and calm irritated skin as well.

Leave on a freshly cleansed skin for 5 or 10 minutes and then rinse and add your regular moisturizer. It is also great for your body as well!

That was a good beauty question. Do you have one too? ...well Email me and I'll answer it for you!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing is my trusty Palm Centro. I can't do anything without it. I like it because I can make calls but unlike a regular cell phone, it is like having a computer and an assistant in your pocket as well.

I use it to check all of my email when I'm on the road. Some of my photo shoot instructions are on Word documents or pdf files, so I can just load them onto my Centro and have it.

I can also listen to the radio, watch videos and keep up with my Facebook and Twitter.

I also like using the alarm to remind me of important events and tasks, or just to wake me up because sometimes the hotels forget to set your wakeup call. ....yea....that has been a problem several times!

Since the next few months look crazy busy....I think this will be my favorite thing for a long while!

2009-07-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

This year was my first time doing makeup for the south east Emmy's. I've never really been that close to an event like this before. I've only seen it on TV. Many people don't know that when the Emmy's come on TV that it is bigger then what they see in Los Angeles. Since the awards are so big there has to be various divisions so all of the industry can be covered.

So I started my day by getting my assistants prepared and my makeup and hair kit in place. We had various set ups ready just in case we had to go to hotel rooms to prep people, or go behind the stage. When you have an award show like this, ANY THING can...and will happen so you better be ready.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I just turned 50 and am noticing the fine little veins especially in my cheeks giving my skin a reddish look. What products can I use to tone down the red?"- from Michelle in Illinois.

Answer:
It sounds like you are starting to get broken capillaries. Broken capillaries can be caused by using scrubs that are too abrasive over the years. If you like scrubs use ones that have rounded beads in them instead of chips of things that can scratch and tear skin.

You also have the option of using a cream or lotion that can have the exfoliating benefits without being harsh. Sonya Dakar Enzyme Peeling C ream is great way to gently remove dead skin and excess oil that can clog pores by using pumpkin enzymes.

Now that your skin is smooth and soft, use DDF Redness Relief to tone down redness while make skin stronger and more nourished with Cocoa and Barley Extract.

Send me more of your beauty questions. If I use them I might send you a beauty goodie!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is Mally Beauty Shimmer, Shape, and Glow Face Defining System. It is contouring, blush and glowing all in a set. Mally Roncal is the makeup artist that has made JLo and Beyonce look amazing so I wasn't surprised that her blush set was amazing too.

LOVE IT!

2009-06-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

I've never been to London but I did get a chance to work with Britian's Got Talent singer Paul Potts. He is doing concerts around the world to promote his CD. I got a chance to do his makeup for his appearance on the CW channel in Chicago.

When he came to the tv station he practiced for a few hours to warm up his voice. The moment he opened his mouth I was blown away. The power that his voice gives vibrates through you. It was like standing in front of a speaker on full blast! I can just imagine how amazing the concert was that night.

Even though he has this amazing...

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I have a question for you, I am trying to find a good concealer to cover scars on my head. I am planning to shave it-not much hair left. Of all the products out in the market which would you recommend. I have heard about amazing cosmetics, Janet Iredale and Dermablend...are there others.what are my best options?"- from Albert in Sacremento.

Answer: Since it will be on your head I would suggest Dermablend Leg & Body Cover Foundation. It is a creamy consistency so it is easy to apply, but also lays flat against your skin so it won't look like makeup.

Get 2 different shades to make sure you match your skin tone correctly, especially through the Winter and Summer seasons. Makeup applies best on hydrated skin so don't forget to apply an oil free moisturizer to your head first. Use one with an SPF for the best protection.

Send me an email and ask me your beauty questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is the Biotone Facial Therapy Microrefiner. It is especially formulated for face, neck and decolletage area so it is gentle, with Vitamin C to boost collagen, and Vitamin K to reduce the appearance of tiny viens. I used it on my face for several weeks and each time I used it my skin felt like silk!

Hmmm....I just got a great idea! I think I'll start with my feet and work my way up to my head! Ok....Gotta go now....it's SPA TIME!

2009-05-10T22:23:00.000-07:00

What is beautiful to you? Well Procter & Gamble is hosting a tour called My Black I s Beautiful to celebrate the beauty of our moca divas! I had the honor of being featured as the 'celebrity makeup artist' for the event and shared the stage as a fellow panelist with various actors, singers and other celebrities to encourage women of color. The panelists included Queen Latifah, Angela Bassett, Sheryl Underwood, AJ Johnson, Daphne Valerius, Layla Hathaway, DJ Keith Garrett, DJ Frances Jaye and more!

Beauty question: "What is the best waterproof foundation, lipstick, and lipgloss? I am currently doing make-up for weddings, galas, and pageants. I need makeup that lasts for hours and doesn't transfer." from Andrea in Texas.

Answer: Not all waterproof makeup products are transfer resistant.
If you have a favorite products that you currently use, you can make them waterproof and durable by spraying a makeup sealer on top by using Blue Marble Selr. It can also be used on sensitive skin as well.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is THE FLIP HD camcorder. I love how it is small enough to fit in your pocket but it is 8GB giving you up to 120 minutes of video memory.

Some electronics require some sort of college degree to just use the thing, but not this one. One touch record and playback.

You can use the HGMI output for instant viewing on your television or you can edit your movies with the built-in movie making software, just hook it up to your computer with the pop up USB jack!

YouTube here I come!

2009-04-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

I am not really what you call a sports fanatic. I like to play sports but I don't normally watch them but I just might have to start though. This month I did grooming for the Wheaties campaign featuring Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics. Before the shoot I was instructed to be ready to only have minutes to groom him, so I brought 2 assistants with me to ensure that I could keep things moving quickly and smoothly.

By the time he came to the photo shoot...

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "tell a easy way to make my nail grow pretty and nice, and even and to look nice without a french manicure"- from Amnah in Karachi.

Answer:
Start with taking vitamins and supplements to give your body the needed nutrients to produce healthier nails. Vitamin A and B are two that can help make nails stronger but you can go to a pharmacy or health foods store to get a multi-vitamin for nails that will include various nutrient for better nails.

You can also change your hand lotion to one that helps both skin and nails. Vaseline Hand & Nail Lotion has specific ingredients to target the extra damaging effects that your hands and nails endure daily. In 2 weeks your skin and nails will be softer and stronger.

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is a lovely scent called "Vanilla & Anise" by Jo Malone. The fragrance starts off from the rare vanilla orchid of Madagascar with additional notes of citrus, clove, white amber vanilla bouron absolute and tonka bean.

I love how it isn't over powering yet gives a statement of elegance and sophistication. This flirty fragrance is perfect for a day of shopping with the girls, yet sexy enough for a dinner for two.

Now follow me on

2009-03-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

On March 7th my team and I had the previledge of working on the Women's Empowerment Series event. As the featured celebrity makeup artist for the event I was able to do makeup on another featured guest, best selling author Nikki Turner. She has been a best seller on several books, being featured in Essence and USA Today, and has been labled the "Queen of Hip Hop Lit". She was so cool she gave me copies of all of her books and even signed one of my copies!

Other guests at the event were Jennifer Hudson who performed various songs, celebrity HGTV designer Vern Yip who gave home tips, and 'America's Next Top Model' model Taccara who was the host for the fashion show.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I am going to apologize for my ignorance up front, but I'm going to still ask the question. I have a bi-racial grand daughter almost 2 yrs old. I can't seem to find pants or jeans that fit her her little figure. The ones I buy do not cover her butt. Being in the fashion industry I wondered if you know of any brands that might fit her better. Any guidance you might have would be greatly appreciated."- from Deb in Iowa.

Answer: I do makeup artistry and beauty direction so I'm not a guru at clothing by any means but when my kids were little I would go to stores like WalMart because I knew they would grow out of things so quickly, so I focused more on cost then anything else, but you need more options.

Go to stores that are a bit more chic and give you more options of size, fit and cut of clothing. Start in stores like Target, which have designers like Isaac Mizrahi and Mossimo, then try stores like The Children's Place, Limited Too and Gap Kids. You can find the same variety that you love as an adult for kids. Gap Kids even has a skinny jean for little kids.

Osh Kosh B'Gosh is another store to consider because they have a guarantee on their clothes. So if it tears or rips you can come in and get another one. You need that for childrens clothing!

If you can't find the exact fit, go with the best fit you can get and give her room to grow then go to the dry cleaners or a seamstress and have them taken in. As she grows you can get them taken back out again without having to buy more clothing....saves you money and she looks stylist.

Even consignment shops or thrift stores can be a great place to find what you are looking for. I suggest you go to stores located in neighborhoods that the fashionista or artsy people seem to go so you can have more opportunities to find the designer lables, unique pieces and a higher quality of clothing. The clothes will also be more up to date and less worn. See!.....good question!

Even if you don't think your question is a good one...keep asking!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I was doing makeup for a TV show and one of the cast members said she was going to quickly brush her teeth since we just finished lunch. I said "ok" but wondered why she was still standing in front of me looking in her purse, since we would have to start shooting again. Then she pulled out this pack of individually sealed mini toothbrushes. I was so surprised without even thinking I blurted out "what in the world is that?!....a mini toothbrush?!"

"Try it!" she said as she laughed at skepticism, "They're great and you don't need water". I said I would try it but I actually stuck the package in my pocket deciding it was a waste of time. A week later I was running late and jumped in the car to get ready to go to a photo shoot and realized that I forgot to brush. Looking down on the dash in my car I saw that mini toothbrush, still sitting in a sealed pack where I ditched them, and decided to finally try them or else I might put everyone in a coma from my bad breath. OMG!! These little things really work! Not only did it give me fresh breath but it also gave me that just brushed feeling...without the sink!

So I was forced to admit it...... she was right..and I now keep some in my car, makeup case (because everyone on set always thinks I am the drugstore) and in my personal bag which is especially great for days when my kids forget to brush.

I LOVE them!...now they just need to have a recycling system for them. lol!

2009-02-04T22:42:00.000-08:00

If you love a good makeover then you will love the show Peter Perfect. It is about a celebrity hair stylist, Peter Ishkhan, going to business owners and helping them to redo the look of their business and themselves to help them grow. Well it is now season 2 of Peter Perfect and I was able to work with the crew on the Brewing Up Success episode. You can see a clip from the show by clicking onto one of the images!

The day started with Peter going through their business to see what needed to be adjusted to give their business the pazazz it was lacking. He adjusted the paint color, layout and various decorations. When he was finished it look fun and sophisticated without looking over the top. It is amazing what a little bit of tweeking can do.

Everyone knows you only have one chance to make a first impression so now it was time for the business owners for a head to toe makeover. He started with their clothing. Before they looked nice, but a little too casual to look like they owned the establishment but he didn't want them to feel uncomfortable. So he went with various clothes that not only looked good on their body type but felt good to wear through out the day.

Next was the hair. Since Peter has a successful salon in Los Angeles with celebrity clients, he knews exactly what to do to make their hair look like a million bucks! He cut and colored each person's hair to not only look chic but to also be easy to maintain according to their individual lifestyle.

After their hair was complete it was time to add the finishing touches....makeup! Even though Katy Eyer is Peter's personal makeup artist and is the one that appears on the show, in reality she is swamped with making sure Peter looks camera perfect at all times while he spends his busy day with business redesignes and hair styling. It is a lot of work to be on set AND be offset doing makeovers at the same time.... so that is where I come in! While Katy stays on set taking care of Peter, I take the girls to the makeup room in the back to give them a new look.

First I prepped their skin and gave them beauty tips that they could use in their daily lives. Then I created a makeup look to enhance each person's unique features and personal beauty style. Once complete they were rushed back on set to shoot other sections of their makeover. This gave me time to explain my makeup application and tips to Katy so she was prepared to know to say in front of the camera for the 'makeup tip' segment of the show.

Then voila! a new store, a new look and a new style!....all in 2 days! Thats the magic of TV!

Beauty Questions

Now that I am getting so busy I'm only able to feature one beauty question per month. I know....I know! I'm sorry. But keep writing me and I'll still keep answering you back!

Beauty question: "Hi Candace,I saw a video of yours describing different sunless tanners used by celebrity clients. I have tried a few sunless tanners and was wondering if you would recommend one for darker skin tones. I have tried the St.tropez and like that, but because I already have a darker tone I need a tanner with a darker result. I would greatly appreciate if you could recommend a something. Thank you"- from Ambika in UK.

Answer:
One of my favorite self tanners is Sun Sauce. Since you are in London, the easiest way for you to get it is online at http://www.sunsauce.com/. I like it because it glides on your skin smoothly to hydrate and enrich the skin with vitamins while it gives you a deep dark tan that never looks orange. It is so popular it was even used on the tv show "Dancing With The Stars". Make sure you exfoliate before you use a self tanner, and clean your palms immediately afterward, so you don't give away your secret!

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is actually a candle. Surprised?...me too! I love candles, I've always have but when I took a whiff of The Healthy Candle by Lavanilla Labratories, I couldn't help myself. It smells like vanilla with a touch of coconut. Not only did it smell good, it is also good for you?.....yep! that's what I said good for you!

The candle is all natural candle with no parrifin, which is actually bad for you because it is petroleum-based. The American Lung Association even confirmed that the toxins that are released upon burning is as harmful as second-hand tobacco smoke. Yuck!

So now you see why I LOVE it!

2009-01-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

New year and a new president! I got a chance to do grooming on Tony Potts for Access Hollywood again to see all of Barack Obama's old hang out places in Chicago. We went every where! We went to his family's favorite resturant, the place he took his wife Michelle for their very first date and even to his personal barber shop on Hyde Park.

His barber of choice?.... Zariff. Since he had great skin I didn't have to do much to get him ready for the show just a little bit of powder to tone down the shine on his skin. With me being only 5'2" and he was over 6 feet tall I felt like I needed an elevator just to reach his face but he was patient with me and bent down so I could reach him. "This is my first time I've ever had my own makeup artist so I definitely want to get a picture of this!" he said jokingly.

Zarriff has cut President Obama's hair for many many years, even before he was a candidate for the presidency. So it wasn't surprising that the new president brought him along to the White house to keep his mane picture perfect for all of the media segments and important meetings he would now have.

So what is the most popular hair cut at the barber shop now? The Barack Obama hair cut of course!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Can you tell me what they use on the inner corner of eyes for highlight. Jennifer Hudson wears it a lot. What color or product do you know to get the effect?"- from Diana in Illinois.

Answer: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty used to have a product specifically for that but it is discontiued but you can use any nude, white, gold or bronze based shimmery (preferably not frosty) eye shadow to achieve the same thing. I like creams because you can blend them into the skin better to look like it is glowing instead of just makeup sitting on top.

For parties you can add an extra punch to your look by using one that has a bit of diamond-like sparkles to it for additional drama. I love the POP Glitter stix for that. I suggest the nude shade but you can also use silver as well. POP Beauty products are based in the UK but can be found at the new 360 stores or you can get it online for less then $10.00!

Beauty question: "How can I contour my face to make it look slimmer in the DAY TIME? I have fair skin and its more on the oily skin. I'm not sure what and how to use it. Also can you do videos on your blog demonstrating- from our questions?" from Ana in California.

Answer: Great idea!...I might do videos in the future. For now I'll give you some easy step by steps to do.

For oily skin I think it is easier to work with a powder. Use a face powder that is 1 or 2 shades darker then your skin tone. You don't even have to use any thing fancy to contour your face, you can try L'Oreal Bare Naturale Translucent in Medium. It has a build in brush and the powder is loose so it may be easier for you to use. If you don't want to use the brush applicator try using a clean blush brush.

Start by smiling so you can locate the apple of your cheek. Take your finger and put it in the center of the apple, then drag your finger down to the bottom edge of the apple of your cheek. This will be your stopping point!

Put a little bit of powder on the brush and apply powder sparingly from the bottom of your cheek bone at your hair line to the center bottom of the apple of your cheek. Make sure you use a little bit...not a lot...you can always add more if you need it. You don't want a dark racing stripe that you can't get rid of, you just want to shape your face a little so it looks contoured yet natural.

Now apply the same line of powder below the line you created. Yep!...that's what I said...another one! Make sure you stop at the same point as the first one...just lower. Now add one more...getting the hang of it yet?.....well make this one lower then the previous one. Now you should have a wide stipe on your face.

Ok! Ok!...don't panic! I'm not going to leave this way! Now comes the blending part! With a face powder brush buff the powder until it's not very noticable but you can still see the benefits of the contouring. I like to do circles when I'm buffing because it blends the edges better and gives it a softer look. This will make your face look slimmer but won't be noticable.

If you are heavy handed, just top everything with your regular face powder to tone it down even more. Now voila!...slim...contoured face for the day time. You can try the same thing with bronzing powder when you have a tan in the summer just be sure to BLEND! BLEND! BLEND!

Beauty question: "What should I keep in mind when doing my make up to come out well in my wedding photos? I am planning to do my own make up versus having someone doing it."- from Elizabeth in Texas.

Answer: There are several things you can do on your own to look your best for your wedding. If plan to do any professional procedures like tooth whitening or eyelash extensions make sure you know the best time to get them done.

Eyelash extensions need 24 to 48 hours for the adhesive to cure or your extensions can come off, which is very important to know especially if you plan a honeymoon where swimming will be involved. For teeth whitening you need to wait at least 24 hours before you drink or eat anything that can stain your teeth. So plan the procedure in plenty of time BEFORE your wedding day. Some companies like the Da Vinci Teeth Whitening, will even do the tooth whitening as part of your bachelorette party so you and your friends can all have fun and look good for your wedding at the same time.

The closer it gets to your wedding day the more stressful it can become. causing skin to break out or become more dry so do facials and special skin masks at least 1 month before the day of your wedding. It will help relieve stress and give your skin any additional things it may need while your nerves are on edge.

You don't always have to go to a professional to get a facial, you can do it yourself. Try doing back to back masks to give your skin an added boost. Since your body repairs itself when you rest this is the perfect time to start using anti-aging moisturizers at night to help your skin to glow the day of your wedding.

For makeup stay away from a lot of shine and shimmer all over the face. Only have shine exactly where you want it or your skin can appear greasy in your photos. Great places to add shimmer to the face would be the inner corners of the eyes, the center of the eye lid, lips and upper outer cheek bones (just a little bit) AFTER you have applied all other blush and makeup. One of my favorite products to use is Julie Hewett cheekie & shimmer duo because it is a blush and shimmer that you can use it on lips and cheeks. It has a natural look and doesn't look greasy on skin.

Congratulations on your special day!

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

This month I don't have a favorite thing...I have a favorite event! The Bronzeville Bridal Expo. The event will be held on April 26, 2009.

Since I am the beauty director for Brides Noir magazine I am always excited to do our bridal expo. We will have fashion shows, cake decorators, prizes and more! This year the sponsors are Macy's department store, Grey Goose Vodka and Rome's Joy Catering. It will be held in Obama's old neighborhood. I'll even be giving makeup tips! I hope to see you there!

2008-12-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Some people are addicted to soap operas...me?...well....actually I'm a bit addicted to HGTV. I just love the shows. From Househunters, to Design to Sell. I can't get enough of them.

Maybe it's because I want to buy a house soon so I love the tips. Or maybe it's because I also want my current living space to look better. I can't decide the main reason but either way you can see why I'm addicted to the shows.

I'm sure you are now thinking, "what does this have to do with your beauty blog?"...ok!...ok!...I'm getting to it! I was called to do the makeup and hair for the new HGVT series "Bang For Your Buck". Talk about ecstatic! I get to work face to face with HGTV designers Lisa LaPorta, Sabrina Soto Monica Pedersen and Lytel Young. Yeah!! I thought I would ask them a million design questions....but I didn't. The beauty diva in me overwrote all opportunities to get new tips on the down low for my home, and I ended up giving beauty products and tips of my own. *sigh* Oh well! Maybe next time.

The show is about 3 homes with the same type of renovations for the same amount of money. The designers and real estate experts for that area determine if each home used their money wisely for design and for resale value. The fun part?....you get to see what the homeowners think about the experts comments. Good...and bad! Some homeowners had a 'take no prisoners' approach to their comments. lol!! It was GREAT! I loved every minute of it!

I started my day at 6:30 am. setting up shop in the home owner's bathrooms getting ready to style the designers and real estate experts. If we had enough time, I was allowed to style the home owners too. One of my favorite things to bring was my new Banana Republic candles. The scent was so calming, it set the mood for the day. Next it was skin care, skin care, skin care! People always ask me what I use so this time I'm going to let you know my tools of choice for the show. I even took pictures so you can see for yourself!

As a beauty junkie I must admit I love trying new products so I'm always changing up but when I work on a TV series I prefer to stay with one set of products through out the whole show. For skin care I used Repechage Algo Mist to start and followed with Olay Regenerist Derma-pod eye moisturizer and Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 30 moisturizer.

Once every one's skin was prepped it was color time! I mainly used Temptu airbrush foundation, Revlon Brow Fantasy and Repechage for eye, lip and cheek color but I sometimes threw in a touch of Tarte eyeshadow as well. For hair I used my new David Babaii products. I love that proceeds go to wildlife so I feel like I'm able to do 2 things, get what I need for work and help the world, all on the same dime.

Once everyone was finished it was show time! Wanna see how it turned out? Well tune in on April 3rd to see!...but you can get a sneak peek now by going to the HGTV "Bang For Your Buck" web site.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I heard you say (on a tv segment) that wetting the eyeshadow gives a deeper look. Does it ruin the shadow once you start wetting it or should you shave off the portion of the shadow you intend to wet."- from Robin in Ohio.

Answer: No it doesn't ruin it. Most eyeshadows are fine to use wet them with water but some don't and you have to use makeup fixiers to do it.

The best way to wet your shadows is to not put water directly on the shadow but to wet your brush or applicator instead. Then just use one spot on your eye shadow so the other areas remain dry.

Since most people have a tendency to smear the compact with water I suggest using products like Sorme' Long Lasting Wet/Dry eye shadow which are especially designed to do that.

Beauty question: "I have visible spots on my ace from acne that doesn't seem to go away and I would like to know what can I do to conceal the spots without having to put alot of makeup on?" from Danandra in Indiana.

Answer: Begin with a light coat of foundation. Start at the center of your face, which normally needs most of the color, and work your way towards the edges. I like to blend with my fingers or a foundation brush. Then study your face to see where you need more coverage. In those areas get a concealer that matches you skin tone and pat, don't rub, on top of the areas you want to hide. Patting makes the coverage a little thicker without it looking cakey.

To ensure you foundation doesn't look heavy wait a moment and let it settle and warm up against your skin. Then pat all over it one more time with a clean makeup sponge. That will lift any color that isn't adhering to your skin and may be excess product. Follow with a little bit of face powder to set it. I like to apply it with a little makeup brush like Billy B #13 makeup brush. The small size keeps me from picking up tons and tons of powder and also makes it easier to apply around the small areas of the face like the nose and under eye.

Once you powder, press the powder into the skin with a clean sponge or velour puff to make sure it really sets the foundation and not just sit on top of the skin.

Now you are ready for color and your skin doesn't look like plastic!

Beauty question: "Alot of product lines are making foundation primer to go
along with their foundations, is this really needed? I always thought that as
long as you cleanse exfoliate and moisturize, you would be okay? What do you
think."- from Tiffany in Michigan.

Answer: Exfoliaters are designed to unblock pores and smooth skin by removing dead skin. Moisturizers are designed to hydrate the skin. Both of those benefits are not the same thing that makeup primers are designed to do.

Depending on the primer, just like primer for paint on your walls, they are usually designed to make your makeup go on smoother and last longer on the skin. Some primers have additional options like vitamins and anti-aging benefits like the Bare Escentuals Prime Time primer but the main benefits are usually the same in all primers.

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS
My favorite thing this month is the Banana Republic candles. I know I talked about them earlier but I really really like them! It is nice to have a soothing clean scent around you instead of a heavy one. I didn't even know they HAD candles but I'm glad I found out they did. They are going all through my house!

2008-11-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

This is the time when most people are getting ready for family functions but I'm usually looking for the beauty spreads from all of the Fall magazine issues that I've worked on. This year I was able to work on 2 spreads, so I was elated. I not only did the makeup design but I also did the creative direction so I was able to have a little more control over the over all theme of the shoot.

For one spread I wanted the look to be wearable for the everyday person not just for the photo shoot, but I still wanted to include an evening look to it since most people are doing special dinners with family and business colleagues. So I used the rich red on the lips but kept the eyes to a minimum by using browns and soft grey. For one of the other looks I created more color on the eyes with shades of green and deep brown, but kept the lips more neutral with a shimmer based beige. All of the looks were definitely wearable no matter what age or what skin tone.

For the second beauty spread I wanted to go all out sexy! Winter is the time when everyone is snuggling up isn't it? So I used a variety of colors for this spread but I made sure the looks weren't too made up to keep them very approachable. No one wants to think you are sexy and then wonder who you are when the makeup is washed off the next day. Right?!

For this beauty spread I did 3 different looks. The first was also the classic red lip and I used Sorme for this look but I really made the skin pop by adding some highlights to the cheeks after I added the blush. Red lips were the Fall staple this year so I had to include it but I think glowing skin is always seductive so it was the perfect element for the spread.

For the second look I did a complete look of beige and browns with MUD cosmetics. The sexiness of neutrals is perfect for the shy person who is waiting to just unleash. It's not too abrasive, yet it still grabs you hard!

I did smoky eyes for the last look. Typical hugh? Well....you can't do sexy without adding some smoke right?! Instead of the usual heavy smokey eye I decided to be a little more structured by keeping the rest of the lid really simple and rimming the eyes in black liner and softly smoking it so the color stayed by the lash line. I used makeup by the Julie Hewett collections.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I have very sleepy eyes. In fact, I'm always told that I look tired or sleepy. Is there anything I can do to make my eyes look more awake or larger?"- from Kim in Indiana.

Answer: To make eyes look more awake avoid lining the top and the bottom of the eye in the same color. Line the top eye in a rich dark color like charcoal or black and line the bottom eye with a sofer shade like taupe or sable. Then line the inner rim with a white or off-white to make eyes appear more awake.

On days you are truly tired avoid shades that have red in them like burgundy if you are trying to look more awake because the red undertones will highlight any red in your eyes and make you look sleepier. Instead use shades that have a cooler tone to it like the blue in the Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeshadow Quads Blue Smoke. It will make the white in your eyes appear brighter.

Beauty question: "I am 49 yrs old, and have thinning hair on top. What are the best products to use to get more volume/thickness and lift?" from Eileen in Illinois.

Answer: There are a lot of hair care lines with volumizing products that can make your hair appear thick and fuller but there are few lines that actually stimulate and restore your hair but Lanadil can.

They have a complete system of shampoo, conditioner and serum to make it easier to get your hair back and their 30 day money back guarantee it makes easy to try it.

Beauty question: "I have big pores, and acne. My skin is dry when I put coverup on. Do you have any tips on what kind of foundation is good and long lasting, and how to apply."- from Alaa in Illinois.

Answer: The first thing you should do is start with proper skin care like a moisturizer. Cover up doesn't make your skin dry....lack of moisture makes skin dry. So even though you have acne you should still apply a water based moisturizer to balance your skin.

I suggest a moisturizer that will also help to minimize your pores like DFF Wrinkle Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum. It hydrates and exfoliates to make skin look younger and pores look more refined so they will look smaller.

Oil-free cream to powder foundations or silicone based foundations are great to use when you are trying to get the coverage that you need and make skin appear more smooth. Stick with a matte finish instead of a dewey or satin finishes to keep skin from appearing greasy.

Foundation Application tips:

To make foundation appear as natural as possible start with a primer to help make product last longer and spread better. Then apply foundation with the center of the face and blend outward towards the edges with a thin layer of foundation. This will give your skin an even look.

For ares that need additional coverage like blemishs, apply concealer on top by patting. Remember....don't rub! Rubbing just thins out the effect of the concealer then you won't be able to ...well...conceal your areas.

Make sure the concealer is also the same color as your skin, instead of lighter, since you are applying it on TOP of your foundation. If you are using a cream to powder foundation, feel free to pat on the same foundation over areas that need additional coverage instead of using concealer. Usually cream to powder products have a lot of pigment, so they are able to give a bit more coverage if you need it.

This application will give you the coverage that you need without making skin look heavy and mask like. After you have all of your imperfections corrected, then finish with a light dust of powder all over to set it. Take a makeup sponge or velour puff and press powder into skin, then dust the excess powder off your face with a clean powder brush. If you are using a cream to powder then just skip this step.

Now your skin looks even and you are ready for color!

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is the Fig body cream from The Soap and Paper Factory. It slides smoothly on your skin like butter. My knees and elbows especially get really dry this time of year so I really wanted something that would soothe it without making it feel greasy. This did the trick!...and the yummy smell didn't hurt either!

2008-10-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix musice videos with the Jason Aldean country music tour?....the Top 20 Countdown with host Lance Smith! I got to wear the press badge and go behind the scenes of the concert tour for CMT. My makeup of choice for everyone that day?.....Kett Fixx Crème Palette. Since everyone had great skin I didn't need much, and the palette is so versatile I was able to find the perfect shade for each person. Just a dab here and there was all I needed.

We started our day shooting the Countdown at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and then ended the day hanging out with Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum (group members Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood) for sound check and to talk about music and the 2008 CMA Award nominations that both of them had.

Since the day was so perfect everyone decided to take a break and do some of the show outside. I was first a little worried about the wind messing up everyone's hair but the Bumble and Bumble hair products kept everything in place without giving anyone helmet hair.

After I gave everyone a quick touch up for shine Lance, Jason and Lady Antebellum roasted hot dogs and threw footballs for the rest of the interview then it was back inside to get ready for the show!

While the groups got ready we finished the countdown while the fans screamed with excitement in the back ground. A few of the fans were also fans of the show and asked for pictures and autographs from Lance too. I almost felt like a body guard when people kept tapping me on the shoulder asking if they could get a picture with him as well. "Sure! He's great and would love to" I said as I took camera after camera so I could shoot a picture of them.

Everyone was great to work with. I had so much fun it didn't even feel like work. Ok....Time for us to go!....no more pictures...the concert was about to begin and we just did our last segment for the show. I wish the best for the rest of the tour and hope one of them wins the 2008 CMA Awards! Good luck everyone!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I always have problem with picking the right color of blush. What should I pay attention to? Is there any rule like skin color (I am blonde, blue eyes)or day/night make-up, clothes color...thank you"- Sylwia from in Maryland.

Answer: Blush can be very versatile and you taylor it around the look you want to create.

For a more uniform look to match the hues of your makeup you can base your blush on your lip color. For example, if you are doing deep burgundy lips with a soft brown based eye shadow, then a soft burgundy blush would work well.

If you wanted a very natural no makeup look you can base your blush from your own skin when you become flush. If you aren't use what that looks like try rubbing the apples of your cheek to see what color surfaces. Then base your color from that.

If you want a warmer glow to your blush base your chioces on warmer shades like peaches or terra cotta. If that is too orange for your taste go with corals which are more universal to all skin tones. A great blush to try is Urban Decay 'Afterglow' that has a bronzed pink look with hints of gold to create the glow you want.

Beauty question: "I wanted to know in your professional opinion what are the best makeup brands to use for everyday use." from Dina in Georgia.

Answer: Most of the brands on the market are usable for every day wear. There are a lot of selections to choose from. Even brands that are not expensive can be great to use for everyday. Black Radiance have great products and they are very inexpensive.

One of my favorite cream eyeshadows is the Black Radiance Starry Eyeshadow quads. They are creamy, very easy to blend and have a lot of pigment.

My biggest suggestion is to purchase them at a store like CVS or RiteAid that has return policies for makeup when they don't work for you. Then you can return any of your mistakes.

Beauty question: "Hi, Candace! I recently got a digicam and I've noticed with the flash on, the pics have a beautiful turn out, but the makeup seems more toned down in the pics than in person. Is this normal? Should I just add more makeup? Any tips are appreciated"- from Jillian in New York.

Answer: Light is a major factor in proper makeup application for pictures. Light can cause the makeup to look like a different shade and it can wash out the color that has been applied to the face. So if you are putting on your makeup to take a picture, when possible, try to see what the lighting is going to be and apply your makeup on in that type of lighting.

More, more, more beauty questions please! Next month will be more answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

This month my favorite thing is not a beauty product...it's a book. While working with Lance I found out that he is also a writer of a children's book called "The Old Man And The Cat". Since I'm a Mom, I was so excited I had to ask for a copy of my own! You gotta get your own too!...it's great!

2008-09-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl my aunt taught me how to do a cartwheel and that was the beginning of a whole 'nother world....gymnastics! Even though my parents couldn't afford to put me in a class that didn't hold me back. I would watch the Olympics and then teach myself how to do round offs, hand springs...anything I could.

I would drive my mother crazy when I would always flip around the house. My favorite place to tumble was in the living room which was the worst place to be since it was the nicest place in the house, but I didn't care. I felt all of the punishments and scoldings were worth it because it was the perfect place....right in front of the TV so I could see Nadia Comaneci and the other Olympic gymnasts. I'm actually surprised I'm still alive today. Not because I thought I would hurt myself, but because my mother didn't kill me!

Even though I didn't become a professional gymnast like I dreamt, I still got the chance to do makeup on the Olympic gymnatic medalist Alicia Sacramone, Shawn Johnson, and Nastia Liukin for Cover Girl. Their signature looks were created by makeup artist Molly Stern with all Cover Girl products, so I had to duplicate the looks for the commercials and print ads. I even got a chance to get a picture with them. This was the first time I was taller then the people I worked on. It was GREAT!

After shooting all morning and afternoon the girls took a quick nap and then it was time for me to do touch ups so they could be ready for big Rouge magazine event. At the event the girls signed autographs and took pictures. I was invited to be one of the beauty experts and did makeovers and gave tips on all of the attendees. I had so much fun!

Rouge magazine is a new magazine created by P&G. It keeps you up to date on fashion and beauty trends.....and the best part?......you can get a subscription for FREE! So go get one!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I am a 20 year old attending college and I have been noticing my skin turns quite dull every year. It is very upsetting I exfoliate once aweek use blush, exersise, wear sunscreen, eat healthy and don't over moisturize. But nothing seems to be helping! My skin is fair I wear mauve lipsticks, mica powders and blush but my skin still looks dingy and brown."- from Eire in Florida.

Answer: It may not be your skin that is the problem but the color choices of your makeup. Since we wear more makeup in the Fall and Winter, it may be more apparent at that time then the warmer seasons.

First start with your foundation. Stop by a makeup counter that can custom blend your foundation like Prescriptives, and have them do a color analysis on you. Even though you have a fair complexion you may have warm undertones like Nicole Kidman. You might need to wear a yellow based foundation like Prescriptives AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15 in Ecru, but be wearing a foundation with cool undertones which can make your skin appear muddy and flat.

Also try switching from the cool tones of mauve lip color and blush and use corals and peaches. Whether cool or warm toned, most people can wear those colors beautifully and it can give your skin the 'kick' that you are looking for.

Beauty question: "Being 49 yrs of age I do not as of yet have any noticable wrinkles, but do have some very faint lines. The reason I know this is because I have found with using some translucent powders to set my makeup, it will show/bring out these lines. UGH! Suggestions?" from Eileen in Illinois.

Answer: When TV and video switched to HD, which stands for "high definition" it is great for viewers to see all of the action up close, but it was horrible for makeup artists because regular transucent powder can look heavy, cakey and bring out ever fine line of the person's face, but we still need to set the makeup, which is the same problem you are dealing with. Many makeup companies have now addressed this issue by creating alternative powders, like Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder.

This powder is not only very fine in texture, which keeps it from looking cakey on the skin, but it is also 100% mineral silica to set makeup while softening the appearance of imperfections. It can be used on all skin tones.

Beauty question: "I have a lot of acne, is there any sort of make-up or face wash that you know of that helps with breakouts. I want to be a model but my skin is really holding me back."- from Willow in Oregon.

Answer: If you keep trying the traditional acn products and it doesn't work, then you might want to try some of the new products that include technology along with skin care like Thermaclear.

The device uses Thermal Pulse technology, which is gentle bursts of heat, to neutralize the bacteria that causes acne to help you have clear skin. For added help they also have a cleanser and clarifying lotion that you can use in conjunction with the device to clean your skin without over drying it.

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I love the smell of vanilla so when I heard about the Black Vanilla Leave-in Conditioner by Carol's Daughter, I had to try it.

Not only did I LOVE the smell but I was impressed that I was able to use it on any type of hair without a heavy weighed down feeling.

I see why many celebrities like actress and wife of Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, loves their products too!

2008-08-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

As much as I love doing makeup on models and celebrities, one of my favorite things to do is to work with every day people to help them enhance their natural beauty. Why?....because I'm a mom and a business woman too so I understand how hard it can be to take a little time for yourself to look good when you don't seem to have time to even sleep! Well, recently I got that chance to do that as the beauty spokesperson for Kroger and Covergirl!

Kroger is a megastore that recently remodeled their locations to better suit the shopping experience especially for the beauty needs of women. It was redesigned to be more like a beauty boutique with skin enancing lighting to make choosing foundation much easier, mirrors, sample sections and isles that are easy to find product. I was really impressed!

So when the store did their makeover, they decided to do a beauty makeovers as well. That's where Covergirl and I come in! 3 winners were chosen after they had to write in to WARM98 radio station to say why they deserved a makeover.

The winnbers received bags filled with products from Pantene, Olay, Cover Girl and Herbal Essence. They also received face and hair makeovers from me right in the radio station.

I started with skin care and tips to correct any problems they had. Then I used Covergirl makeup to airbrush their flaws away. For their hair I used a variety of products from Pantene and Herbal Essence to create hair styles that would be easy to do at home. Wanna see more? Just click onto a picture to see more behind the scenes images!

After the radio makeovers were complete I was carted off to do even more at the Kroger store. With tv cameras every where, brushed and fluffed everyone into perfection! I had so much fun working with everyone and seeing their excitment from their new beauty looks. It was one of the most fun things I've done all year!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I need make up that will last and not run for a team of Broadway dancers. what can I use that wont smudge or run?"- from Crystal in Florida .

Answer: Whether in a club with your friends or on stage for Broadway, you want a makeup that can truly hold up through hours of sweat and heat from dancing vigorously under hot lights, so always start with freshly washed, hydrated skin and prep it with a primer so makeup will not only glide on evenly but give your products additional gripping power to stay in place.

Follow with a foundation like Revlon Color Stay that is designed to last yet look like real skin instead of a mask. There are various formulas to suit your skin type, in a broad range of colors.

To even out skin tone and make eye shadows and lip color stay on longer, apply it on lids and lips before additional color as well.

Beauty question: "I have very oily skin, so are there any products that actually work for oily skin?Because I tried a lot of stuff but they dont work, maybe I am not applying it right or something else. Can you help me ?" from Ruby in Ohio.

Answer: It's difficult to say what you are doing right or wrong without personally going over everything that you do but there are a few tips you can keep in mind to help you current routine.

1. Don't be too abrasive by overly cleansing your face. Many people with oily skin can get frustrated and go over board with cleansers, by washing their face 4 and 5 times a day. Doing this can irritate skin or cause surface dehydration, which makes your skin kick out more oil to help protect itself.

Washing your face in the morning and the evening may be all that it needs. If you feel that you need to do something through out the day, try using an oil blotting paper followed by a spray on toner like Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist for oily skin to soothe and refresh skin with Aloe and Peppermint.

2. Don't skip hydrating your skin. Oily skin doesn't need more oil, but it still needs water. So don't skip using a water based oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen. By giving your skin the water that it needs, it helps it to become balanced instead of just dry, which is the ultimate goal...right?!

3. Don't pick your pimples. It can drive you crazy to see a breakout trying to surface, so the first thing you want to do it squeeze it to get it out. Leave the pimple extracting to the professionals who know how to remove them properly. Doing it yourself can cause the infection to burst inside your skin and spread bacteria to create new break outs. You can also damage your skin by applying too much pressure and eventually you will start having scars on your skin or pock marks.

There is something you can do to help. Since your body uses sleep time to repair itself give it a boost to correct the pimple problem by doing a few extra steps before you hit the sheets. Start by steaming your freshly washed face to help loosen blocked pores, then follow with a face mask for oily skin, moisturize and finish with a leave-on pimple cream. Let your body do the rest!

These 3 tips should help you get your skin in check.

Beauty question: "Hi my older sister is trying to start doing some modeling, but she has a hypopigmentation disorder on her chest and a bit of her stomach that makes the affected skin lighter than the surrounding. We've tried foundadtions to help blend in the skin but the problem is that thier either not dark enough because she's african american with very dark skin, or the makeup is not non-transferable and ends up staining all of her clothes. I was wondering if you had any idea of non transferable makeup that could be used for people with dark skin tones."- from Aundrea in Conneticut.

Answer: Unlike hyperpigmentation which causes the skin to become darker, hypopigmentation is a loss of color which is caused by melanocyte depletion. Both skin problems can be masked with cosmetics that won't rub off on your clothes.

There are more choices then before to look flawless without staining your clothes. You can use makeup like Dermablend Leg & Body Cover. Dermablend has been the cosmetic of choice for many years, to cover up skin tone discoloration without detection. It comes in 15 shades and 4 shades of the shades are for darker complexions. This long wearing cream based foundation is non transferable and will give you extra full coverage without looking or feeling thick on the skin.

You can also go high tech like the celebrities and use airbrush makeup like Kett Hydro Proof makeup which is also waterproof, smudge proof and non-transferable. There are only 10 shades, but they have an adjuster so you can custom design your color to make a perfect match every time which can be especially helpful when your going from winter to summer.

Next month will be a more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I usually try all types of things but I've seemed to shun away from long lasting lip colors because many feel dry and cakey on the lips, or they just don't really last.

This month my favorite thing is Outlast lip color! Yea..I know! I can't believe it. It really lasts without transfering on everything you touch. Best of all, your lips don't feel like the Sahara desert!

There are different types of Outlast lip products to choose from but I'm partial to the Double Shine because you can use it with or without that gloss...or be a diva and add even more gloss! Ha ha! That's me!

Love it!

2008-07-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

July isn't really Breast Cancer month, but I was still able to get involved with a great fashion show called "Pink Perfection" to help raise money against breast cancer.

Me and my team of assistants Kim D., Jana, Deidra and Kim used Repechage and Sugar cosmetics to create the looks. The eyes were in a beautiful deep purple with black liner and a beautiful bright pink lip in honor of breast cancer awareness.

The designs were a mix of gowns and evening wear by a variety of designers including the famous twin Double Stitch. The show started with pink sleek elegant gowns and had a mix of men's wear with pink shirts and ties.

Great fashion show, great cause!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I have oily skin, do you think with a light concealer and Imans's cream to powder foundation will work for me? Or what do you think I should try?"- from Tiffany in Michigan.

Answer: Yes it will. Unlike most cream foundations that are oily, IMAN Second To None Cream To Powder Foundation is oil free. It will feel light and natural on the skin but give you the coverage that you want to correct any look of uneven skin tone.

After you choose your foundation shade, pick the co-ordinating concealer to go with it. It comes in Sand, Clay or Earth, so it is very easy to select.

Before you put on the foundation you should start with the Iman Under Cover Agent Oil Control Lotion to help keep your oily skin in check. It is also great to use through out the day,right on top of your makeup, instead of powder to pat on skin and tone down shine as well. It will help you keep your makeup looking fresh without the cakey look that you can obtain from powdering your face all day.

Beauty question: "I have dark circles under my eyes. I get plenty of sleep, and no matter how much cover up and concealer I put on, it doesn't help!!!!And it ruins the rest of the make-up on my face and makes me look ugly, just for the under eye circles!!!!!Please tell me what I can do to rid myself of those circles!!!" from Samantha in New York.

Answer: One of the best ways to combat under eye circles is to start with your skin care. Dry skin can make under eye circles appear even darker so be sure to hydrate with products specifically designed to moisturize and brighten that delicate area of skin. A great product to try is DDF Erase Eye Gel because it has kojic acid in it. Kojic acid is derived from mushrooms, and is a natural skin lightener. So it will help lighten up the dark circles under you eyes, while giving your skin the hydration that it craves.

Since your concealer isn't working for you, don't give up hope because it may have the right shade but the wrong color. Most people choose concealers that are one shade lighter than there skin, but some dark circles need a yellow or a salmon toned concealer to color 'correct' it as well.

Try the Eve Pearl Magic Salmon Concealer to make muddy dark circle warm and even with your natural skin tone. When applying it be sure not to treat it like a foundation and spread it. Instead pat away the discoloration that you're trying to hide. This application technique keeps the color where it needs to be without making it look fake or thick and heavy.

Now your skin around your eyes will look flawless like the rest of your face!

Beauty question: "I'm seeing the old Mark Traynor face & neck lift systems popping back up. Art Harding also has a system. Marie Claire even hailed them as the "retro beauty must have" item. Do they REALLY work?? Are they invisible like they say they are? Just wondering how these things work. This almost 50 year old just isn't ready for surgery yet."- from Tess in Texas.

Answer: Yep both the Art Harding's Instant Face Lift and Mark Traynor Temporary Face Lifts REALLY work! I've used them on commercials to make an older actress look younger. There are lifts for the face and neck to give you options.

There are 2 shades to choose from, brunette and blond. You need to pick your kit according to your hair color so it can hide them easier. Start by wiping skin with alcohol to rid it of oil and dirt. Then after it has dried, apply the tapes to the areas of the face and neck that you want to lift. Even though the tapes are clear and matte to make them less visible, be sure to apply them as close to the hair line as possible.

After you get the results that you want, style your hair around your face to hide any possible detection. Easy! Instant face lift without the surgery!

Next month will be more answers so keep sending me your beauty questions !

MY FAVORITE THINGS

In the winter months I use a cream to treat and add moisture to my scalp and hair, but in this hot weather I needed something more light weight so I tried the CHI Olive Nutrient Therapy Silk Oil.

I see why they named it that way because this leave in treatment makes your scalp and hair feel smooth as silk! It contains certified Organic oil to treat the hair by helping to repair split ends and it replenishes the scalp with nourishment to keep it healthy...and it doesn't feel heavy. Perfect! Just what I was looking for!

2008-06-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

Summer time is here!!! Don't you just love this time of year?! The sunshine always puts me in a good mood. It reminds me of when I was younger and I would be on Summer break from school and the only think I had to worry about was which party I had to go to first!

No more books...especially book reports. The only time I didn't mind doing a book report was when I had to do a report on Alice In Wonderland. I knew about the story but never really paid attention to it until we had to do a report on it in school. After that I loved it! The thought of going to Wonderland, to a place of whimsy and odd characters?....that is always fun for a kid.

I guess I never really grew up from it because that story was actually my inspiration for the Spring/Summer beauty spread of Brides Noir magazine. This issue was the "Fairy Tale" issue so I went all out and had a blast creating the "Through The Looking Glass" beauty spread.

Just like in story book, I used the fun off the wall make-believe land of Wonderland to create a magical place for beauty. We had dangling watches, crowns, top hats and edible cookie staffs! From the Mad Hatter to the Queen of Hearts, I was like a kid again! It must have brought the editor-in-chief back to some happy memories as well because this was the first time that the beauty spread also became the COVER! Well....you got no complaints from me for that!

So....? Wanna see what happened when Alice jumped through the mirror too?....well go to the news stands to find out. I already know what happened!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I purchased foundation from Clinique's make up counter and I kept telling the sales person I have yellow undertones and she stated it did not matter and now my foundation makes my skin look ashen and greenish. Do you have any suggestions for a sheer coverage foundation for African American skin. I just want to apply it to certain areas and blend it and finish up with some bronzer."- from Shontell in Georgia.

Answer: It sounds like a poor color choice by the beauty consultant, but if you are looking for another brand to try....trust me!....there are a lot of brands that have perfect choices for you.

I recently used Stila Natural Finish Oil Free Makeup for a photo shoot and was so impressed with how it blended that I used some on myself as well. I LOVED how it felt (because it didn't feel it on my skin) and how it looked. The true golden undertones were a perfect match.

Since the foundation is "buildable", I didn't have to use a concealer. I first used a sponge apply a sheer coat as a foundation. Then I used the same sponge and kept "patting" more product in areas that I needed to conceal and it covered seamlessly. I think you will love it as much as I did.

Beauty question: "I would love to get hold of some really decent hair for weaving or a lace wig. I have a couple of events coming up and want to look my absolute best. I would love to know actually who does Shaun Robinson's hair. I know there is a lot on the market but I want to purchase what the celebrities use.

Also my makeup seems to fad after a few hours especially if the venue is hot, I mean everything eyeliner, eye makeup and lipstick. Any tips." from Lornamae in London England.

Answer: I can see why you would want to look to Shaun Robinson as an example of beauty to emulate, she is stunning. As a makeup artist, I get to see people without a stitch of makeup on their face and her skin is truly flawless without anything on it. Before I used anything I started with the Skindinavia Face and Eye primer. I use it on all of the celebrities that I work with especially for TV and video because I have less opportunities to do touch ups but there are more chances for makeup melt down while they are under those hot lights.

For hair extensions or wigs I suggest using natural instead of synthetic, so you can have more versatility by being able to blow dry or curl the hair with hair tools when you want another look. Another benefit is the option of natural over synthetic is to be able to color the hair to match yours to make detection less noticeable.

One brand that is favorite amongst celebrities is Great Lengths. They have a variety of hair colors and hair textures. Their extensions are also applied "strand by strand", instead of a long weft, to make hair flows naturally as it moves....even on a windy days.

Sometimes there is a misconception that because extensions are "fake" that you don't need to take care of them....but you do!

The best way to keep hair in good shape, even extensions, is to keep give them the moisture and conditioning they need to keep them flexible and shiny. You can use cruelty-free products like David Babaii For Wild Aid shampoos and conditioners. They have a variety of hair products that you can use on your hair and your extensions, and 10% of each dollar you spend is donated to Wildaid to better the environment. So you can look good and also do good for the earth.

Beauty question: "Hi, in June i have my final exams as a makeup artist in Zurich. My model has a really dark skin and i have no idea what colour i should take for her lips. I have to do an evening makeup, photomakeup, mannequin makeup, and a wedding makeup..i know, my english is not perfect but anyway, i hope that you can help me."- from Selina in Switzerland.

Answer: Thank you for your beauty question. Congratulations on going to school to be a makeup artist. I've been a makeup artist for over 20 years and I still love what I do. It's a great career.

I'm not going to tell you exactly what to use because that would defeat the purpose of having a "test" but I will give you some advice.

The best makeup artists are known for breaking the rules! So the best thing to do is to get your "hands dirty" and do a practice run before the test by trying several shades on your model. Don't be afraid to try mixing the ones that you THOUGHT might not work with other colors. It will help you to LEARN how to be a good makeup artist and let your creativity move you to perform.

One of my favorite shoots was for a spread called "What Inspires you?". I created crazy lashes for the model to wear...when I wasn't even sure how or IF it was going to work. By letting my creativity move me, I was able to come up with a way to do it and it turned out amazing.

So don't be afraid to let yourself CREATE! Good luck!

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

As a makeup artist, you try not to wear a lot of heavy fragrances, especially in the hot weather. The last thing you want to do is make your client pass out because your fragrance took over their oxygen.

So I decided to look for a few more fragrances that I could wear that everyone would love to smell while I wore it. A fragrance that would make me feel pretty and fresh, not sticky and too sweet. You know that smell...when you let soda pop sit in the your car and the hot sun beats down on it. Yeah...it just smells like thick sticky syrup? Yuck!...that is NOT what I wanted.

Low and behold I found a fragrance...well 2 actually....BONUS for me! Victoria's Secrets has a new collection called the Beauty Rush Tropical Cocktails. Who wants to say NO to a cocktail? Ummm...not me! So I tried the Lotta Colada and the scent brought me back to the time when I was in Jamacia. It was fruity yet not too sweet or overpowering. It was light and fresh, and of course....sexy!...it's from Victoria's Secrets, what else would it be?

The other fragrance was for my man. What?!....Did you think I would leave him out? My husband isn't really a "fragrance" kind of guy but when I got a whiff of the Tommy Hilfiger's Summer Private Cabana fragrance, I knew it was too perfect to pass up. It has a unique mixture of driftwood backed with the cool notes of Spearment leaves that gives it a crispness that I knew he would like. Kind of like fresh washed sheets blowing in the wind. Love it...and so did my man!

Wow! All this talk about cocktails and sheet makes me want to take a vacation! I think I'll go check on a weekend get away! bye!

2008-05-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

Usually when the weather is warmer that makes everyone happy. The sun is shining and you wear brighter more vibrant clothes. For others this is not a time to smile because this is the beginning of allergy season for them.

You get puffy eyes, a red face and a lot of congestion. You look and feel TERRIBLE. How can you still LOOK good even though you are feeling bad during allergy season? Well...that was the main subject that I addressed on the Good Company show.

You can see my tips by clicking onto the video screen talked about beauty products that can take the redness out!....and I don't mean Visine! I also talked about how to keep your skin from looking puffy and simple ways to prevent additional allergic reactions.

Instead of just taunting you with a few details why don't you click onto the video screen and see for yourself! You might find a few useful tips that can help you look great between sneezes.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I've heard eye bases are excellent for eyeshadow to stay on all day. I use foundation on my eyelids and its stays on somewhat. I've tried some but I do not like them like Urban decay the eyeshadow looks cakey. Some people say to use MAC paint or a stick shader as a base. What is a good everyday base that doesn't look cakey"- from Ana in California.

Answer: Eye base can not only make shadow last longer, but they can also keep color from creasing and and fading.

Elizabeth Arden Eye Fix is a great one to try because it is feather light, and can work on any skin tone because it dries completely clear. It also makes shadows, liners and powders glide on more smoothly for a better application.

If you have a lot of natural color to your lid and you need an even tone to the skin try topping the base with a touch of concealer instead of foundation. Since concealers have more pigment than foundation, you will use less product which will prevent a cakey look.

Beauty question: "Is there a way to prevent those pimples that can pop up during a woman's menstrual cycle? Also, when they do come what would you suggest to use as a concealer or cover up when wearing makeup?" from Nina in Tennessee.

Answer: Pimples that occur during your menstrual cycle are from your hormones, so there aren't any over the counter products that can prevent them from occurring but you can use a triple antibiotic to speed healing and take out some of the swelling.

To hide it, use a concealer that is a little darker than the pimple. The raised area of the pimple usually appears lighter, so use a concealer that is a little darker then the skin to make the swollen area appear more flat like the rest of your skin.

A great concealer to try is Lancome Effacernes because it doesn't look cakey on the skin and it is also waterproof.

Beauty question: " I enjoyed your lecture at the ABS show, and felt as though your class was very informative. I just wish there was time to see you put eyeliner on, I always find it hard sometimes to apply that."- from Brooke in Illinois.

Answer: Thank you for attending my lecture on makeup application at the America's Beauty Show. I had a great time teaching.

I agree that eyeliner can be tricky sometimes, especially if you are applying liquid eyeliner. The easiest way to put on eyeliner is to NOT go all the way across the eye in one movement. When you draw all the way across, the skin moves and it is hard to draw a straight line....and a thin line. One side is thin and perfect and the other side....well....you know that it just looks a total mess!

Instead, start from each corner end and stop in the center of the eye. So you would be the right corner of the eye and stopping in the center, and then the left corner of the same eye and stopping in the center.

By doing this you will find that the skin doesn't move, so it makes lining much much easier especially. It also makes it easier to make both eyes match as well.

One of my favorite eyeliners is Prestige Waterproof liner, because it glides on smoothly without skipping, and it's easy to smudge. Then it sets and becomes waterproof. So you don't get liner running down your face through out the day.

Do you have a beauty question? Great!.....then ask me! I'll get you an answer!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite thing this month is surprisingly NOT makeup. Can you believe it? It's a fragrance. I tried the Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile De Fleur, which means "veil of flowers" by the way, and loved it. I guess the last thing I should be talking about is a fragrance this month since allergy prone people are more sensitive to scents at this time but I can't help it.

I normally don't like floral scents but I love how the scent it sexy and sophisticated and...surprisingly....floral! Beautiful scent especially for the Spring.

2008-04-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

I always love watching the latest celebrity news on Access Hollywood so when I got a phone call to do makeup and hair on TV hostess Shaun Robinson for the show, I jumped at the chance.

I must admit though......I was a bit nervous! Well....wouldn't you be?! I mean seriously......think about it! Shaun does all of the red carpet interviews and talks to all of the stars. This was Access Hollywood!

Well my nerves must have started taking over because when I headed to her room and I spoke to her for the first time I could have kicked myself. I greeted her saying "Hi SHAUN I'm here to do your makeup and hair!" My mind began racing. "What just came out of my mouth!!", I thought, "OMG!!..... what was I thinking! I shouldn't have called her by her first name, I should have said 'Ms Robinson!"

Without hesitation she warmly replied "Come in and I'll be ready to start in a moment!" I expected her to be offended but her down to earth demeanor calmed me down immediately and made it seem more like two girl friends hanging out instead of work. I exhaled a sigh of relief...."Whew!"and prayed that I wouldn't trip or spill something on her clothes....and I didn't! Who said prayer doesn't work?!

Here are a few images from the TV segment that was shot that day. As you see, Shaun likes to look "pretty", and not all heavily made up. So to create her look I used a little bit of Bobbi Brown Honey foundation and Cinema Secrets concealer to even out a few imperfections. When you are as pretty as she is, you don't need much so I finished her look with a touch of brown eyeshadow in her crease, and cranberry blush and lip gloss, which was also by Bobbi Brown, and she was good to go.

For her hair, the top was kept smooth but I added a touch of waves at the ends using my FHI hair tools and Voila!.....I was done. Time to go on set now! Lights....camera...and action!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Sometimes my face looks whiter than my neck in pictures Why?am i wearing the wrong make up- I use Estee Lauder double wear and translucent powder? I hate it what do you suggest?"- from Ana in California .

Answer: I'm sure your makeup choice is fine for every day wear but it might not be the perfect choice for pictures.

Many makeup products have titanium dioxide in them, which can be reflective when taking a picture. So your makeup looks great in real life, but when the flash bulb goes off your face can look whiter than your body. Read the back of your makeup bottles to see if the ingredient is listed, and where it is listed. The higher it is listed as an ingredient, the more of it is in your product.

One of my favorite foundations to use when I am working on a model at photo shoots is Cinema Secrets. It is creamy but light height on the face. If that is hard for you to find, try Laura Mercier Liquid Foundation. It is another makeup artist favorite for perfect looking skin that is photo perfect!

Beauty question: "What's to do about facial hair, some cremes don't do a good job, and the little lady shaver, does not get the little stubble. What about hair on the arms? What's the best way to remove it?" from Ariel in Louisiana .

Answer: Ridding yourself from hair is just a wax away. Unlike shaving or creams, waxing will remove the hair follicle too so it will take longer to grow back and it will come back finer. You can do it at home with a wax kit but since it is your first time, I really suggest that you go to a professional so you won't burn your skin.

I you want a more permanent solution you might want to consider laser hair removal. The doctor uses a special light (the laser) to make the hair follicle stop producing the hair. You are left with smooth hair free skin.

Before you do any of these procedures do your research. Find out the best professional in your area to do it, and make an appointment with them to ask question so make sure your choice is right for you and your needs.

Beauty question: "Im am very light complected and my cheeks get really red out of nowhere or when I get blemishes my skin gets really red I want to know what should I do. I also have so much trouble trying to find my color foundation I've tried so many and also the right blush color that wont exagerate or make me look like if I have so much makeup on?"- from Gina in Illinois.

Answer: If you seem to get very very red, you might want to check to see if you have a mild case of rosacea. Check with a dermatologist to be sure. If you have rosacea, they can tell you certain things to avoid to keep flare ups from occuring.

In the meantime, choice if your face is too red to choice the correct foundation then focus on picking your true shade by looking at your neck or chest. If those area of your body is more accurate, focus on that.

Start with a color correcting green primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Correcting Foundation Primer. The green will neutralize the red in your skin so your regular skin tone can be the focus.

If you want to still use a blush try using peaches or corals, like Stila Convertible color in Gerbera, to give you a softer glow instead of the really red look that you are already trying to tone down.

Come back next month to get more answers for your beauty questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

One of my favorite things this month is a product that I just suggested in the beauty questions....the Stila Convertible Color. I really LOVE this product. I used to use is a long time ago and started using it again.

I love how it glides on the skin but it never feels greasy. The color is rich but sheer enough to look natural not masky and fake. You can also use it on lips and eyes! My favorite shade? As a makeup artist, you know I can't just pick one! My two favorites are Petunia and Poppy.

Ok...see everyone next month!

2008-03-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

Skin Inc. magazine is one of the top beauty industry publications that keep salon and spa professionals up to date for the latest and greatest beauty tips and tools. This month's issue showed the pros how to translate the latest Spring runway makeup into every day wearable looks.

The story entitled, "Spring Is In The Air" included looks that I created for the spread, and the step by step applications as well. I used Blue, teal, green and pink to spotlight the new bright looks of Spring, with added touches of bronze and white to compliment all skin tones.

If you click onto the picture you can catch a glimpse of one of the looks. To see more images and the how-to tips, grab a copy so you can bring in Spring!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I love the way my hair looks when I get out of the shower, compared to what it looks like when it is dry. How can I keep that "wet look" all day long?"- from Shyla in Ohio.

Answer: Great curls start with proper cleansing techniques. Since curly hair tends to be more dry then straight hair, avoid washing hair every day. Shampooing hair too often can cause hair to become more brittle and frizzy. Focus the cleanser at the scalp by massaging with your finger tips and do not pile hair on top of head while washing to avoid creating tangles. If you need to comb out tangles, do so before you begin washing it for best results.

Keep hair hydrated by using a deep conditioner twice a month and a leave in conditioner daily especially before you use styling products. Keep curls in tack by gently squeezing the conditioner onto hair in sections and avoid rubbing, combing or brush curls which can pull hair out of shape.

After rinsing hair, dry hair by sandwiching it between two towels to pat out the excess water. If you need to use a dryer make sure to use a defuser and apply styling products like pHormulate 4c Control Mouse to give make curls hold it's shape. Top hair with PHormulate 4a Anti Frizz Shine Gel to keep it glossy without getting frizzy so your hair will look great all day!

Beauty question: "I am a caucasian women in my mid-40's and do wear sunscreen year round but have noticed a few sunspots on the side of my face. Do fade creams work and what would you suggest I use or do to keep my skin tone even?" from Suanne in Illinois.

Answer: Yes they fade creams really work. The active ingredient is usually Hydroquinone. Try using DDF-Doctor's Dermatologic Formula Fade Gel 4 that also has salicylic acid to brighten dark and smooth out texture of skin.

Once your discoloration has been corrected maintain an even tone by only using it on uneven areas instead of the whole face, and wear sunscreen daily.

Beauty question: "I've been thinking about coloring my hair "red..." I've never been a red head so I'm not sure what ALL colors of eye shadows work. I have fair skin, brown eyes, and brown toned freckles on my face."- from Christina in NE .

Answer: Corals look good on everyone but especially red heads because it compliments the hair color really well. Since that is one of the season's Spring colors it should be easy to find a variety of tones to choose from. Eye liners are very big this Spring and can add drama without looking overly done. Try using purple on your eyes to make them stand out like the Sephora Liner Electro - Glitter Eye Pencil in Mauve Electro.

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

When I usually pick my favorite thing it is either a makeup, skin or hair item but this time it is for your nails. When I attended the ABS show I notices these wonderful shades of nail polish called Orly. The creamy soft look made me want to slow down and take some to me off to pamper myself. So I gave myself a manicure and LOVED how they made my nails look.

My favorite shade was "Dream Boat". My nails looked great and the color didn't chip off so I guess the title is perfect!

2008-02-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

Ooooh!.....I just love, love, LOVE!! doing makeup. I normally only get to do very "clean" looks but this month I had a great opportunity to show off my love for color and creativity in 2 different projects. One project was an ad campaign for FJW. The other was a beauty spread for Image Chicago magazine.

For the beauty spread, I was the creative director and the one who did the makeup and hair. I wanted to give the models a strong burst of color, while keeping the looks sophisticated and wearable so I titled the spread "Color Splash"! To achieve my goal I didn't always use eye shadows on eyes. I applied what ever had the strongest impact of color, like jade gel eyeliner all over the lid, as eye color.

To create added drama I asked the photographer to create a lot of shadows with the lighting. I think Roman did an amazing job of capturing the look I wanted. If you want to see more, you have to pick up your own February copy of Image Chicago magazine.

For the ad campaign it was completely different! I was able to mix futuristic with Sci-Fi to come up with this look!

The premise was a sexy fem-bot that was created by the little robots. What was the client selling?......those white light boxes that you see in the back ground! Cool way to make a photography tool more interesting in an ad isn't it?!

To give her a robot yet girlie look, I attached tubes to her head to give the look of a crown. Girls like crowns and the tubes give it a industrial feeling....so I think it was the perfect choice. Then I added metal-like pieced to her face to her look more of a robot/human aspect.

One of the funniest things in this shoot was trying to get that latex suit on. The model brought her little sister to the shoot to help out....good thing because that suit was a monster to get on! If you've never worn a latex outfit, (which most of you probably haven't) then you probably have no clue what I'm talking about so I'm going to try to paint a picture for you. Picture this! You are trying to put on pantyhose made out of Hubba Bubba bubble gum on a hot sticky day! OH!....and....the gum is so thick it doesn't want to stretch for you to put it on. So you have....hard to stretch when you NEED it to stretch and sticky, when you don't want it to stick! Yea! Tricky wardrobe!

Needless to say, by the time we got her suit on we could barely zip it because we were laughing to hard. We made such an uproar, the photographer and the client had to come and see what the commossion was all about.

This shoot was a lot of work and detail but I loved how this turned out! It was a fun shoot!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Does that blow dryer (ProSilk Far Infared) REALLY matter or make a difference. My hair is thinning as I age (44) and I want to prevent it from getting any thinner. I also color my hair with touch ups and highlights, can you use that treatment with that? "- from Susan in Illinois.

Answer: As you know through out the years technology has grown to help us in our day to day lives and the beauty industry is no different. We have seen the benefits of flat irons and curling irons by adding ceramic, and now they have added benefits with tourmaline to help lock in moisture in the cuticle of the hair, so it shouldn't be surprising that blow dryers, like the ProSilk, would also catch up to that technology with Far Infrared.

As Chi Activate states, "Infrared heat can be used for the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, and muscle spasms. The heat treatment will widen blood vessels and increase circulation, allowing more oxygen to reach the injured areas." Now those same benefits have been added to consumer blow dryers for daily use.

The infrared helps bring moisture to the hair follicle and the scalp,. Since hair is dead, the best way to have better hair is to make the scalp and the follicle better, and far infrared targets that.

I don't know if you have health issues that is causing your hair to thin, or if you are having problems due to chemical damage, or even blow dryer baldness. All I can do is let you know about the products that are available and their benefits. You have to decide what will be helpful to you in your situation. So look up information about the benefits of Infrared so you can decide what is best for you accordingly.

Beauty question: "I am a hairstylist and Makeup artist. What do you think is the best way for me to promote or market myself to get clients?"- from Kimberly in California.

Answer: Your question is a very good one, but it is not a beauty question it is a business question. My blog is not really designed to be a marketing class but I can tell you a few things to think about.

There are many parts of the industry. There is television, film, editorial, commercial, music videos, fashion shows, salons, etc......the list goes on so the first thing you need to do is to decide what part of the industry you want to be in so you can understand what types of clients you are trying to reach. Once you understand who you are targeting then you can send the proper promotional pieces to grab their attention and open doors.

If you need additional guidance on the business part of the industry, feel free to attend one of my workshops to help you fine tune your marketing skills.

Beauty question: "1. hair regrow for patchy alopecia for african american ladies 2: I am a gym rat: african american 6 days a week but my hair is getting shorter and dryer with a bit of alopecia. have been trying olive oil. Please advise."- from Rose in Illinois.

Answer: I'm limited with my knowledge about alopecia, but I do know that is a hair-loss condition due to the body's own immune system attacking the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation.

So far the only hair regrowth product that is FDA-approved is rogaine, but I don't know if it will regrow some one's hair if they have problems with alopecia. It is best to check with a trichologist. Just like a dermatologist's specialty is the skin, a trichologist specialty is the hair and scalp. You can also to stay informed with NAAF (National Alopecia Areata Foundation).

If you are looking to moisturizing products try a hair treatment you can use weekly like Aveda Damage Remedy TM Intensive Restructuring Treatment to moisturize and strengthen hair with with plant oils and quinoa protein.

To give yourself an intense treatment, by doing a "piggy-back" conditioning treatment. Just follow the package's information to condition your hair, then rinse and redo the conditioning treatment again. You can even put a plastic cap on your head and sit under the dryer with the conditioner on as well. This piggy-back' treatment has been a salon secret for years.

Keep sending me those beauty questions and I'll keep you informed about products and techniques!

MY FAVORITE THINGS
My favorite thing this month is the L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliners.

I love how smooth the color glides onto the skin. It's like butter...BUT!...it doesn't melt like it. It dries to a non-cracked look like some eyeliners. So I can create a thin line or a thick line and it looks great!

2008-01-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

January has already been a great start for 2008 because I was able to appear on NBC in Chicago again to talk about beauty tips for various ages. My segment was to show how you can look great at any age, whether your style is "classic" or "trendy", with the right products and makeup application.

I used models who were in their late 20s - 30s, late 30's - 40s and 50s and older to show how you can keep YOUR OWN STYLE without focusing your age. How?.....by just looking GREAT! As they say...."age is nothing but a number"!

Wanna see the segment yourself?...well....click onto the picture to take a peak.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: " Hi Candace I wanted to know what is the best nude lipstick - Gloss and lip liner -color for a ivory skin, I cant find one that looks good."- from Ana in California.

Answer: Finding a nude lip color can seem like a hard task but if you look for the right color base, it will help narrow your search. I feel that there are 2 types of nude lip color....a beige-brown nude or a pinkie-brown nude.

Since you are very pale, you probably have a lot of pink in your skin so beige-brown nudes can appear muddy but a pinkie-brown nude lip color will look more natural for you.

Most stores do not have testers for drug-store brand cosmetics but Ulta does. They have testers for their Ulta brand, drug-store brand and department store brands. Make sure you get a free Ulta membership card to get points for free beauty products.

Avoid putting "used" tester products on your mouth, by bringing a bottle of your foundation with you to the store. Rub an even amount of foundation on the back of your hand to ensure that the color on your hand will match the color on your face. Then apply test samples on the back of your hand so you can choose you lip colors accurately. Once you have the lip color that you want, just pick the matching lip pencil and clear gloss. Ulta brand products have great colors and don't put a dent in your wallet.

Beauty question: "I am African descent and I have really pretty eyes sort off like a slit and a Siamese cat and they are also dark in the circle part of the eye with very long,thick eyelashes. I was wondering what eye makeup techniques that I can use to really make 'em pop? I also love to use golds, bronzes and other earthy tones. I would like to use some sort of copper or silvery eyeliner underneath my eye to essentuate the shape" from CJ in Trinidad.

Answer: Since you already love earth tones, why not "mix it up" by adding burgundy to it. It would be a great addition to your golds and bronzes. This will be a great way to compliment the colors you are already using and make your eyes "pop".

Try putting your gold as a highlight and bronze on the lid, with a rich chocolate brown in the crease. If you really want to use copper or silver, try using it in the inner corner of the eye to add a brightening effect to your eyes.

Then complete your look by dusting the burgundy eye shadow on the top and lower lash line before you line your eyes with a black or navy pencil, like Sorme' Waterproof Smearproof Eye liner. Just make sure you keep the line very thin and close to your lashes so it makes your lashes look thicker without creating a smokey look.

Beauty question: "Hi, I enjoy watching you on NBC 5 Chicago Sunday morning. Does that Phormulate anti aging hair treatment keep your hair from getting thinner, will it make it thicker? I also color my hair with touch ups and highlights, can you use that treatment with that? "- from Susan in Illinois.

Answer: Hair can become thin due to various reasons like heredity, environmental damage and damage that we cause our hair and hair follicles through styling or chemical treatments.

pHormulate Anti-Aging Leave In Treatment can't change the effects that heredity bring but it can help protect hair from environmental and styling damage like UV rays and damage from the effects of heat from styling tools.

The leave-in treatment can be used daily, and right before getting your hair colored, as well as other chemical processes.

Those were great beauty questions....do you have one too? Ok....well stop being shy and write me. I'll answer yours too!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I know I already mentioned this ProSilk Far Infared blow dryer on the video segment, but I was REALLY impressed by it.

I like how the technology helps with more than just the hair cuticle, but with the hair follicle and scalp as well. Since the follicle and the scalp is where hair begins.....that is a major break through. So this was my favorite thing this month.

2007-12-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

Now that it's December and 2007 is fading away fast, have you decided what you plan to do next year? Everyone seems to have New Year resolutions and goals. Most of the goals include taking better care of themselves.

Well my goal for 2008 is to take better care of myself and eat right, but to also help others reach their beauty potential. So to be able to reach my goal I've agreed to be the beauty spreaker at the America's Beauty Exo (formally called the Midwest Beauty Show).

If you've never been to the expo, you are in for a total treat. Just click onto the picture. You know the saying "kid in a candy store"....well...that is what it's like if you love beauty. There is everything for everyone who loves hair care, skin care and makeup. So now you you see why this was the perfect place for me to keep my goal!

I'll be speaking on March 3 2008, so pick up a program so you can stop by to get more beauty and makeup tips from me. Oh!.....if you come to the Expo make sure you stop by to say hello...I might have a few goodies to give you!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Since the weather is getting colder it seems I'm getting dry areas on my face mostly around my nose Do you have any tips to keep it moisturized?"- from Lindsey in Ohio.

Answer: When the weather gets cold it is easy to want to make bath water as hot "as you can stand it" to melt the chill away, but that can be very dehydrating. So instead of making water too hot, keep the temperature to a comfortably warm setting, and use a hydrating bath cleanser like Molton Brown Bath & Shower Inspiring Wild Indigo from Bath & Body Works.

It not only cleans and gently moisturizes your skin but it also helps produce endorphins to boost your mood. Next to a tall cup of java, that is the perfect pick-me-up to start your morning!

Beauty question: "what makeup brushes are the best? And would you say all of them are from the same brand or do you mix brands and take the best brushes from each brand?" from Sarah in Canada.

Answer: There are a lot of great brands of brushes that are available now. From expensive to very inexpensive, there is a brush that can suit all budgets and still be of great quality.

When you are choosing brushes think about what you will be using it for. Some like to buy brushes in a kits, but I prefer to hand pick each brush so I have the type of brush that I need instead of tons of brushes that I won't use.

For example, if you like to use eye makeup but don't like to contour or use powder blush then it might be better for you to take your time to hand pick several eyeshadow brushes instead of having a big variety of powder, foundation and blush brushes.

Be aware of the type of hair that you have in the brushes. Different brush hair will effect how your makeup glides across the skin or how it blends. Close your eyes and rub the brush on the back of your hand to see if it feels soft or scratchy. If it doesn't feel soft on your hand it will be worst on your face.

There are many types of hairs that are used in brushes. Synthetic bristles are usually used on foundation brushes so it doesn't absorb cream or liquid foundation into the hair but instead goes smoothly in sheer coats onto skin. So skin can look natural instead of like a heavy mask.

For blush and face powder sable hair is better to use than synthetic bristles because it won't scratch skin through on-going use and it keeps product from "grabbing" in areas of the skin.

For eye shadow and other brushes you have a variety of hairs that are used, Taklon, boar, Badger, raccoon, and even sponges but one of my favorite type is squirrel hair because it is so soft. It blends seamlessly without irritating the sensitive skin on the eye area. Japonesque has a range of brushes and hair type to choose from. You can buy them in a set or individually.

Beauty question: "I am a makeup artist and I have worked for Mac, Chanel, and began to do some TV and print work. I would like to know, if you ever hire assistants that can learn and grow with you. Your work is really amazing and I was curious if there would ever be any kind of opportunity like this."- from Derya in NY/NJ.

Answer: Your question isn't really a beauty question but I'll be happy to answer it for you anyway. Yes! I do have an intern/assisting program. My intern/assisting program is only available for my Makeup Artist Workshop students. It is designed to help my students grow in skill confidence and build thier resume.

They have assisted me with fashion show, cover shoots, tv shows, films and ad campaigns. When I'm not available to do a project, they are the ones that I refer my work to.

Many of my students have branched up to work full time in the industry. Some of their accomplishments include:

~makeup for QVC
~makeup & hair for singer Kelis
~key makeup artist for singer Ledisi "Alright" music video
~working on the Beanie Sigel/R. Kelly "All Of The Above" music video
~key makeup/hair artist for the Cry of the Afflicted CD
~and one is already scheduled to work at the 2008 Stella Awards

If you are intersted in attending the 2008 Makeup Artist Workshop, this is the perfect time because the class has been extended from a 2 day to a 3 day class. Sale prices expire December 26 2008.

Send me more questions and I promise to keep giving you more answers!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I had a photo shoot to do and tried a new product called Absolute Facial Toner by Von Natur...and really loved it!

Their products are natural, organic and Vegan certified. When you use the toner it not only smells really good, but it also gives your skin this great tingle. So you skin is refreshed!

It has Rose and Glycerin for hydration, and Aloe to sooth skin while it refines pores.

Well.....I'm gonna search for more great things to try and I'll see you next month! See ya in 2008!

2007-11-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

Movies, movies movies! I love watching movies, but this is my first time being a department head for a feature film. I just finished working on a film with Law & Order actress Carolyn McCormick. The days were cold sometimes but it was great working with the cast and crew.

I especially enjoyed working with Carolyn! Being only 5'2", of course the first thing that I would notice was how her 5'10" height towered over me, but what really caught my attention was how slim she was. "Isn't she a mom too...just like me?" I thought, "OMG! She looks great!" and that was no exageration.

What I didn't know is that she wasn't just skin and bones like some people, she was actually very fit and energtic. She would get a million things done all while working on the film. From handling business for her upcoming tv shows, to working on thank you cards and even talking to her family. Everything! I was happy to just bathe in the morning but this woman could do it all including her exercise workouts.

Between scenes she would go to the makeup area, pop in a workout tape and do step exercises! The music for the workout was so addicting and she made it look so easy and fun that I would find myself exercising along side her. I usually don't like the Fall/Winter seasons because I gain weight but this year I think I already lost a pound or two! Carolyn is getting a big thank you basket from me!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Hi I am hmong like Brenda Song but I am full hmong. I was wondering how can I get my skin clear like Brenda Song because I love her skin color it is beautiful. I got a lot of pimple and I have tried Neutrogena and clean and clear but it doesn't seem to work on my face. Also I want to know what kind of makeup would match my face because I got light tan color. Thanks!!"- from Tina in Wisconsin.

Answer:
Like many other celebrities, Brenda used ProActive skin care. Even before we did makeup she applied the lotion to her skin. She also loves makeup, so she likes to try and use different kinds of products. She is especially fond of eyeshadow so I had the opportunity to make her eyes look dramatic instead of plain like she wears it on the Disney series "Suite Life of Zack and Cody".

To ensure that you are using the right foundation shade, stop by a Shisedo makeup counter and have them do a color swatch. Their formulas and tones will be perfect for your complexion.

Beauty question: "I'm 76 yrs. old. What can I use to diminish deep wrinkles that works?" from Joyce in Illinois.
Answer: You can use a Microdermabrasion kit, like the Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System, to smooth skin. It was even awarded the Women's Day Beauty Award. It has 2 steps to it, to polish wrinkles away. Your skin will show signs of improvement upon the first usage but will increase with ongoing use.

Keep in mind that over the counter products can't be too strong because the consumer could hurt themselves if used it incorrectly. So if you need a stronger version, you will have to talk to your dermatologist about getting a professional microdermabrasion. Their chemicals will remove the first layer of skin and encourage collagen renewal. You will have renewed skin, but you will have to heal from the process, so don't do it before a special occassion. Wait until you can have time to rest after the procedure.

Beauty question: "Candace, I have been looking for mascara that doesn't contain any harmful chemicals like parabens. What brands should I look for? Thank you."- from Patricia in Illinois.

Answer: Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics. Jane Iredale Purlash Mascara has a great rating according to the cosmetic database.

Jane Iredale products are mineral based with great pigmentation so all skin tones can find a shade that will suit their skin tones without the problems of a lot of harsh parabens to worry about.

Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I have stopped putting relaxers in my hair because I wanted to finally embrace my naturally kinky curly hair....and because I'm lazy when it comes to taking care of myself!...and my sister found a great hair product called Kinky Curly! Can you believe the irony of that name?!

Well I really love both the custard and Knot today products. For someone that works a lot, travels, has 3 kids to take care of (4 when I count my husband) and trying to look good all at the same time, this product was a life saver!

So everyone out there with kinky curly hair REJOICE! You don't have to be frizzy, you can look good too!

See you next month! ....oh! I need more beauty questions so contact me!

2007-10-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

It's finally October! This is the first time my work has been in 4 magazines all in one month! It is in Rolling Stones, Oprah magazine, Brides Noir and Beauty News this month! Wonderful! Looking back on each shoot for those magazine, I can think of great memories but one of my favorites was the shoot with Vanessa Simmons!

The shoot took place in New York, the fashion district, at Rodney Young's studio. Rodney shares a studio with photographer Francis Hill so of course the studio was awesome! I walked in and saw her being fitted for the gowns and stopped dead in my tracks. When I first saw Vanessa, it was on the tv show "Run's House". She looked so young and girly on the show, and the person that stood before me that day looked so elegant and sophisticated!

Since this month's issue was the grooms issue, the spread was called "Alter Ego" to focus on men's inspired outfits and girly gowns. Since we were doing to styles of clothing, I decided to do 2 styles of makeup and hair.

Since Vanessa's skin was so smooth and clear I only had to use a touch of airbrush makeup from Kett to add glow to her skin. The first look was clean and sweet, using Aveda products, for the girly looks. The look reminds me of her sweet personality. Even though she is a very successful entrepanuer, with a shoe line, and 2 jewelry lines she is still down to earth and humble, saying "all of this is a blessing and I want to always be humble about that!"

Since I showed one side of her personality I had to make the second look different. I wanted everyone to see that Vanessa isn't a little girl that everyone thought they knew but a strong sexy sophisticated woman that can take charge so I did smokey eyes and a clean lip!

Now that I'm looking on newstands at the cover I'm glad the Alter Ego spread could show off the many talented personalities that make up Vanessa Simmons!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "What is the best foundation you use on your clients? I love how it looks so flawless, yet natural! Also, what product do you recommend for a nice glow? I wear C6 in Mac's makeup (and actually that's a little too dark for me, yet unfortunately the closet match). So what would you recommend to give me a nice glow. (And I dont mean a bronzer, I mean a bright glow.) And one last question for you Candace, I love how makeup artists use a technique to make the nose look smaller and more defined. I've tried that trick myself but when I do it, it is too noticeable. I use Mac's Refined Golden Bronzer to define my nose and I think it's too reddish and that's why it stands out. Can you recommend a better bronzer for a C6 skintone? And when you define your nose you just use a small brush to go straight down the sides right? Am I doing it ri!ght?"- from Tisha in Illinois.

Answer: A great foundation to try is by Cinema Secrets. It is creamy so it doesn't look dry and cakey on the skin. It also has high pigmentation so you don't need a lot.

If you are looking to put a shimmer on your skin try Kevyn Aucoin's Liquid Shimmer. Pat it on the upper cheekbone area and in the inner corners of eyes and upper bow of lip to add more "POP" to the look.

If you are trying to contour your face and a bronzer is too red, try using a face powder that is 2 shades darker then your skin. If you prefer a bronzer, go with a golden instead of a red based one. Wet N Wild has a golden based bronzer with little to no shimmer in it so it will look more natural. Use a eyeshadow blender brush to apply it so you don't get harsh lines.

Beauty question: "I am only 17 but I feel like my skin isn't as vibrant as a lot of girls my age. I don't know if I should sleep more or drink more water or if I'm missing a vitamin in the foods I eat, but I want healthier skin! Any ideas?" from Haley in California.

Answer: All skin needs good exfoliation to get rid of dead skin cells that can give you a dull look. Try Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula. It is even one of Allure magazine's favorite products too.

It is gentle enough to use daily to get rid of dull skin cells to make your skin more vibrant. Dehydrated skin also looks dull so always finish with a moisturizer every day. If you have a oily skin you have plenty of oil in your skin so opt for a water based moisturizer instead of a regular one.

Beauty question: "I dont know if you can help me with this i am a latina i use mac studio fix nc40. I am getting highlight in my hair dont know if to get a hair something with more ash color in it or more orange tone in it. I dont want my face to look darker than it it is. I found out that my skin tone is warm and i might say be more of a light olive or so."- from Miss Guzman in California .

Answer: It is hard to give you hair color suggestions without seeing you but if you have any red in your skin, go with only gold in your hair. Any additional red in your hair will make you skin appear even redder. If you have golden undertones but a touch of green to your skin, and some Latinas do, then go with a more coppery hair color to add more warmth to your skin.

If you are still not sure go to a wig shop and try on wigs with both hair colors and you will be able to see what you look like before you invest in the real thing!

Next month will be more beauty answers but only if YOU keep sending me those questions!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I am really loving the Skindinavia products! I spoke about the Makeup Finishing Spray on a tv segment and have been using it ever since. I love how light it feels on the skin, yet has a heavy impact on keeping your makeup in place and your skin looking flawless! It is definitely a MUST HAVE!

2007-09-05T04:25:00.000-07:00

This month I think I'll do something a little different. I have talked about my photo shoots on tv show, for fashion shows and for magazine shoots. This time I'm going to just devote this month to beauty tips starting with this video clip.
Just click onto the picture to view it. It's tips galore this month!!! Ha ha!!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I cringe everytime I hear "you may kiss the bride" and her lipstick is off of her and on the groom! What lip products do you suggest for the bride? I've tried some "transfer resistant" products, but they seem cakey and flakey."- from Stacey in Indiana.

Answer: On the video segment I mention the Longevita lip colors by Borghese. I love how smooth they go on the lip and how vibrant the colors are.

Another option is to top your favorite lip colors with makeup fixers to set color in place. Makeup Forever Lipstick Fixer is wonderful to try. Make sure the fixer dries completely before you apply a second coat.

It makes lip color water resistant so it's also great in tropical weather......even if a bride gets married under water!

Beauty question: "What kind of make up would you recommend for someone with olive sink tone? I want to look like I am not even wearing make up." from Becky in Illinois.

Answer: There are a lot of makeup lines that have great foundations for olive skin tones. One makeup artist favorite is by Face Atelier. It is also a favorite of celebrity makeup artist Billy B.

They have a variety of founcation formulas to choose from but my favorite is the Face Atelier Ultra Foundation. Their foundations can suit the palest to the darkest skin tone and still look natural. The high pigmentation keeps the color consistant through out the day.

Beauty question: "My daughter is getting married and I want to do something special with my eyes as they are my best feature. Should a middle age woman with just a few age lines wear a matte shadow instead of the new shimmer shades?"- from Nora in Illinois.

Answer: You can wear shimmer if you keep everything else matte. I suggest putting shimmer on your lid. The area that is between the lash line and the crease. That area is usually the smoothest part of the eye so it has fewer wrinkles then another areas. For the crease and brow bone use mattes.

Another thing you can do to accentuate your eyes is apply a thin line to the top eye with a charcoal grey or black pencil...as close to your lashes as possible. You might like the Define-a-Line by Maybelline because it glides without pulling skin and it is retractable so you don't have to sharpen it.

For the bottome lash line use a medium tone brown eye shadow to line eye as close to the lashes as possible. Smudge bottom line with your finger to keep it soft.

Using different colors will give you the definition that you want to make your eyes "pop!" but using a darker color on top with bring more attention to the upper lashes and make any wrinkles in the corners or lower eyes less noticable. Just make sure that the brown shadow that you choose is not very dark or you will look the effect that your trying to achieve.

Great questions!!!! I look forward to hearing more....so make sure you email me so I can keep your informed about great beauty tips!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite this month has been the LaMer Body Serum. I love how it hydrates your skin. It feels like silk going on, but it is supposed to also help with discoloration of the skin too. So your skin feels and looks great. It is also good for the decolletage (the bust) area too....and there aren't that many products that help with that area now is it?! Love it!

2007-08-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Isn't this year going by so quickly. I can't believe it is already August! It just seemed like it was yesterday when I was in Vegas at the beginning of the year doing makeup for the reality show "Best of the Best III". Now it is already August and the first episode is on the air on MAV tv.

My makeup crew and I spent almost 2 weeks doing makeup and hair for this exciting modeling reality show. Even though the beautiful models made it easy to do great makeup, the weather didn't always do the same. Sometimes there were hard conditions to work in, like 60 mile an hour winds at the airport, and 100 degree temperatures in the middle of the dessert but we got through it.

When it all ended we had a great time bonding with the models and joking with the photographers to get great pictures. I can't wait to do it again next year!

OH!....what did you say?.....You wanna see what happened? Ok! Click onto the picture and you can see a video! Enjoy!!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "What do I have to do to get into the world of professional makeup artistry and, do I need to get skin license?"- from Shelley in Florida.

Answer: Your question isn't really a beauty question, but instead a business question. There are many ways to get into the world of makeup artistry. There are schools and even workshops that you can attend. I teach a 2 day workshop for makeup artists too. You can see more information by clicking onto the image.

In the state of Florida you do need a cosmetology license to be a makeup artist. In other states it differs because each state has their own laws, but most other states do not require a cosmetology license if you are a makeup artist for magazines, commercials and TV. If you are a makeup artist in a salon, no matter what state you are in, you are required to have a cosmetology license.

Beauty question: "I really love colors. I love to have fun with makeup. What product do you use and the brushes. Currently I am a MAC fanatic. Should I become more versatile?" from Wendy in Illinois.

Answer: As a makeup artist, I use many brands and like to try all types of products. Many makeup companies have a lot of products, including MAC, but trying products from other brands can give you an opportunity to find products that you didn't even know existed and sometimes save you more money.

Some of my favorites are Wet n Wild Bronzers because they don't have a lot of shimmer in it and they match real skin shades when they are tan. I use them on men and women.

Some of my favorite lip liners are by Lacome. I use the Le Lipstique pencils in Bronzelle, Sheer Chocolate and Fraichelle pencils. I can use one or a combinations of two of their pencils on all skin tones to create a natural lip color. They feel creamy and are also waterproof so they last a long time under most conditions. I use them as a lip color by lining and coloring the lips in, then top it with a lip gloss.

Beauty question: "My eyebrows are very light and sparce, what can I do to makethem look more darker and natural"- from Ramona in Illinois .

Answer: Try Revlon's Brow Fantasy gel and pencil set. It's great to fill in your brows and give it the color that it needs.

Great questions! I'm running low on beauty questions to answer so send me more and I'll have more solutions for you next month!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I love the Bath & Body Works peppermint flavored Mentha Lip Tints lip glosses. They make your lips tingle, and make your breath smells good too. I got addicted to this gloss while stopping at the Bath & Body Works in the airport. a store clerk suggested that I try the tester to see if I liked it and the next thing I know I was grabbing glosses for my sisters, mother and daughter. Now I have one if my car and one in my makeup kit so everyone can feel good and spell good.....oh!....it tastes good too!

2007-07-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

I love July because it's warm enough to swim, hike and do a lot of things in the 'great outdoors'. I know you can do things in the winter too, but the sunny weather of the summer seems to put everyone in a great mood. Clothes become smaller so people watching is even more fun. Who better to look at than the People magazine's bachelors that are earth friendly?!

I had the chance to work with one of them, Aaron Rourke for the July 2nd issue of People. This 44 year old bachelor loved sports and also competed in triathlons, so we went to the forest to shoot his spread.

You can tell that he was a true lover of mother nature when he handed me some trail mix to snack on. "This will give you some energy to keep you going thru the shoot" he said as he handed me the bag of munchies. By the end of the day I still had my energy plus great tips on eating and exercise. This shoot was one of my favorite ones yet!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Hello candace, I just wanted to ask you how do i apply false eyelashes and do i put them on before applying eyeshadow or after?"- from Symonea in England.

Answer: There are 2 kinds of false lashes, individuals and the strip. You can apply false lashes before you put on your eye shadow, but I prefer to put it on afterward so there is less shadow "fall out" onto your false lashes.

To apply the strip, you need to first make sure that the strip isn't longer than your eye, so place it at the lash line. If they are too long, trim them to the length that you need. Then run a bead of waterproof eyelash glue on the edge of the lash strip. Make sure you wait a little bit so the glue can become tacky or it won't stay in place. Then apply the strip as close to your lashes as possible. Make sure the glue has totally dried before you close your eyes tightly. Now they are in place even through crying. I like to use Ardel lashes and glue because they have a variety to choose from.

Beauty question: "I am an African American woman with chocolate brown skin. Is there a sunblock that won't make my face look ashy or orange?" from Shareka in California.

Answer: If you have problems with keeping your sunblock from making you look ghostly, try using makeup products with the SPF already added like Jane Iredale mineral makeup. Their loose powder called Amazing Base Loose Minerals has an SPF 20. That yave deep shades like Terra so you will get no ashy or orange color with that!... On days that you don't want to use makeup, try using a moisturizers with the SPF included.

Beauty question: "I've noticed that Asian eyes sometimes look better with color and mascara only on top, whereas others pop a lot more when definition is applied to both the top and the bottom. I suppose a lot depends onthe size and shape of the eyes, as well as how deeply they are set and the length of the lashes (though false lashes can help that.) I was wondering if you had any insight into how best to define different kinds of East Asian eyes?"- from Esther in California.

Answer: Just like all eyes Asian eyes have their own unique beauty, so instead of trying to make them look like traditional almond shaped eyes embrace their beautiful shape. You can line the top and bottom eye to give a dramatic effect or your can just focus on the top part of the eye to create a more natural look. What ever look you decide to use false lashes can always add the right amount of "glam" to the look. THI has false lashes that were especially designed for Asian eyes. The lashes conform better to the distinctive shape that Asian eyes have.

Ok...that's it for the questions but keep on asking and I'll keep answering!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

This month my favorite thing is for the hair! I came across this great hair product that is for your scalp. I helps detox to encourage healthier hair from the scalp up. It is made up of a mixture of natural oils like lavendar, almond, and rosemary. With all of the products that we put on our hair, it is time to really work on the source....our skin!

2007-06-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

It's June and weddings are popping up left and right so this is the perfect time to show you the Brides Noir fashion show. I love doing fashion shows because of the ongoing excitement and of course the clothes!

We started early mid-morning because the show was in the early evening. Models were everywhere! I designed an understated smokey eyes for the show that looked sexy without overpowering for a wedding. We used a deep mocha eyeshadow with a touch of black to enhance the eyes while complimenting the skin.

By the time the show started everyone was sultry and sophisticated....want to see what happened?....Ok.....here is a front seat!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I get dry patches on my skin. I use a toner, exfoliator and moisturizer. I also use a mask about once a week. I've tried different moisturizers, but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions for these 'patches'? "- from Jen in Wisconsin .

Answer: If the exfoliators and toners are not helping, then you might be doing too much to try to scrub your dry skin away. Instead use a hydration masks and change your moisturizer to a formula for extra dry skin. Try Cosmedicine Hydra Healer Maximum Strength Moisture Cream for more hydration. It has vitamin E to heal skin and vitamin C to boost skin's resistance.

Before investing more money into new products, ask for samples or get trail sizes of the products you want to try first. When you find the right one, then you can purchase the full size.

If that still doesn't seem to help, then it might be more than just "dry patches". You might have a mild case of eczema. Go to a dermatologist and let them get your skin the help that it needs.

Beauty question: "I am an Afro-Carribean with slightly oily skin/blemishes and hyperpigmentation. I am in the market for a good moisturizer, sunscreen (can be worn under make-up) for my face and body now that summer is here. There are alot of products in the market today, but some people believe that people of color do not need alot of the ingredients in these products and that often times they just clog our pores. What's your take on this?" from Tanya in Connecticut .

Answer: No matter what your complexion may be the sun can still do damage to it. It can even increase the look of your hyperpigmentation, so protect yourself.

If you have a very busy schedule like me then using products that multi-task, like a moisturizer, with a SPF 15 sunscreen and the ability to make your skin tone look even also, is a must, so suggest the Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming UV Moisturizer.

I must admit....when I first used it I got it all over myself because the foam was so light and fluffy, but when I got the hang of it, it was great and you will like it too. It is so light weight you won't believe it! It feels like you are putting water on your skin. Oh.....did I mention that it also has anti-aging ingredients in it too?! For faster results to even out your skin tone use the cleanser too.

Beauty question: "How do you keep makeup from rubbing off onto your clothes for very oily skin?"- from Josephine in Illinois.

Answer: When the weather gets warmer, oily skin kicks into high gear so help keep your makeup ON your face by updating your skin care and makep products each season.

If you used cream foundation in the winter, then use liquid foundation in the spring and summer after your prep your skin with a makeup primer.

If your skin tone is fairly even, try using only concealer (in your skin shade instead of lighter than your skin tone) in the areas that you need correcting and skip foundation all together until Fall comes back around.

For color use powders and liquid stains for longer lasting results. Finish your look with a final seal, like Makeup For Ever Mist & Fix to prolong your makeup even under harsh conditions.

Did you have a beauty question?...then speak up! The more you ask me the more I can answer for you! Click here to ask your beauty question.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

My favorite is product this month is Sugar lip gloss. If you want to visit their web site click onto the image.

I really love this lip gloss not for the usualy reasons, the way it goes on and looks but mostly because men love how it smells and tastes! When I have an opportunity to do makeup on a bride I use it all the time. The bride loves it because she looks good but the groom loves it because she tastes good too! I guess that is why it's called....well....Sugar!

Ok I'm outta here! See ya next month!

2007-05-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Brides Noir magazine wanted to show off some of their favorite brides maids and prom dresses for the Spring/Summer 2007 issue, so the perfect person for the "To Love & To Cherish" fashion spread was actually 3 persons.....three of members from the singing group Cherish from Capital records.

We started the morning at about 10 am. as Fallon, Neosha, and Felisha came strolling in the building looking cool in their large sunglasses, t-shirts and jeans....all designer of course! We listened to music from Aaliyah, Janet Jackson and Usher while I did their makeup and hair.

I asked the usual nosey questions like "did you always want to sing ever since you were little?" and "how is the sweet one, who is the bosey one, and who is the mother hen of the group"....you know!....stuff that you would ask too! We had so much fun laughing and talking that the editor-in-chief had to scold me for doing more socializing then styling so I had to get my butt in gear to hurry up and finish. LOL!!

After a light spray of airbrush makeup on their skin (BTW....their skin is GORGEOUS so I didn't need much of anything!), I used La Prairie cosmetics to give their eyes polish with a cream based eye shadow and finished the look with pinkish blush and lip gloss to keep the skin fresh and soft. They wore gowns in color ranges of chocolate, green, off black and orange. I would tell you more, but I want to give you something to look forward to when you look in the issue too.

Well.....I guess I can tell you a little more.....not about Cherish but about the beauty spread in the same issue. The "Total Package" beauty spread will show you the perfect way to incorporate the trendy Spring colors into classic looks for your wedding! Ok...ok...that's enough! I've told you too much already. You can get your own copy to see for yourself. LOL!!!!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "And how do you get rid of the small black heads that appear on your face?, because Biore strips do not work"- from Tierra in Illinois .

Answer: Try giving yourself a full facial. Start by cleaning off all traces of makeup. Since makeup formulas can be rather complex and some facial cleansers are only designed to correct skin problems, use a makeup remover. Then cleanse your skin with a facial wash that is suitable for your skin type.

Next steam face for about 5 minutes to loosen additional dirt and oil in your pores, by holding face over a facial steamer or a large bowl full of steaming water. Immediately afterward use a facial scrub, making sure to rub it in small circular motions, to gently unblock pores. Follow scrub with a face mask to absorb additional dirt and oil that are set more deep within pores. Lancome Pure Focus Exfoliator with micro beads that won't scratch skin, and Pure Focus Mask is self heating with salicylic acid to unclog pores.

Finish the facial by rinsing skin with warm water, using a toner and water-based moisturizer to hydrate. Over time regular facials will remove built up blackheads and keep them from reoccuring.

Beauty question: "I have big bright eyes,how can I apply eyeliner without them looking extremely big." from Geline in New Jersey .

Answer: Big bight eyes are stunning, and lining them can enhance them even more. Start with a wash of color from your lashes to your crease. Try a powder eyeshadow in a shade of brown that is 2 times darker than your complexion. Then use a wet makeup brush (preferably thin and flat) and mix up the same color to create an eyeliner. Then line upper lid close to the lashes. While the shadow is still damp, use your finger to smudge the liner. This will create what I like to call a "sunset" effect. Where it is darker close to the lashes and fades to a lighter shade up the eye. You get the definition that you want without making it "too much" for your liking! Jane iredale cosmetics has a great Daytime Eye shadow kit that you would love! Sexy!

Beauty question: "Is eyeshadow primer always suposed to be used with eyeshadow or is it ok to go without "- from Derek in Chicago.

Answer: Eyeshadow primer is designed to help keep eyeshadows from creasing and sometimes to help even out skin tone so the color of the eye shadow shows up better on the skin. You can use foundation as a primer or you can use products that a specifically designed to be primers. One of my favorite primers is Elizabeth Arden Eye-Fix Primer. It is clear so it is great for all skin tones.

Thanks for your beauty questions! .....wanna get more answers? then ask me more questions so I can keep you informed!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I'm really enjoying Face Atelier's Face Finish! It prevents makeup from fading though out the day and also hydrates the skin. This alcohol free pick-me-up is also a great boost for your skin when you need moisture while in the office because you can use it right over your makeup!

2007-04-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

I LOVE my job.....even in the freezing cold snow! I got to work with VJ host Steven Smith from "Steven's Untitled Rock Show" of Fuse TV a couple of months ago with my assistant Keli Hearon. We had to go all the way to Cleveland to prepare Steven for his "Destination Untitled" show, but it was worth it.

We started the day early in the morning. I'm not sure if I was even totally awake.....but I faked it well. After I did Steven's makeup and hair he was set to brave the storm! Even with a little sleep in my eyes, I think I did a pretty good job! Ha ha!...happy dance!!

After admiring my handy work Steven threw on his goggles and braved the blizard like conditions like a man!....well....like a man in VW with heated seats that is!

Wanna see some behind the scenes video footage?!....of course you do. Ok....come on! Just click onto the images to see me making him look sexy for his "Good Morning Cleveland" track in the snow. Then see him "Behind The Wheel" as he drives off to his first tv interview of the day!

That was fun shoot but I'm glad it's warm now! LOL!!!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Hi I'm a dark brown black woman in need of makeup advise. I'll be getting married this June, but I'm also in a wedding party this upcomingMay. Can you help me figure out what do with eye and lip color? My skin is combination so I suppose I need powder as well. I've always thought that my lips were too big to pull off reds and pinks so I basically live in brown glosses. (which I love) But I'm open to new suggestions please."- from Starlet in Conneticut.

Answer: People pay to have full lips, so embrace them!.... but not everyone loves what they have. So if you still feel that your lips are too big, then switch your glosses, which will make lips appear fuller, to more matte lip colors.

Even though you love browns, the new colors of the season are pink, lavendar, bronzes and champagne. If you aren't a woman of change but want to finally venture out of your comfort zone try using a pinkish brown to give yourself a new look without going too far from what you are used to.

To also tone down lips, put more focus on your eyes. Try using the new Bridal Face Palette by Bobbi Brown. Dust eye lids in soft shade of pink and give eyes contrast by adding brown to crease and outer corners of eyes. Add sparkle to the inner corners of eye with a shimmerry shade of lavendar. Finish the look with a bit of rosey blush and a few false lashes.

Beauty question: "Is Vaseline and cocoa butter good for a skin moisturizer? " from Tierra in Illinois .

Answer: Cocoa butter is a good but I prefer Shea butter as a moisturizers instead of Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline).

Shea Butter is from the nuts of the Karite Nut trees in Africa. It's properties help improve cell regeneration and capillary circulation. It not only moisturizes skin but they also contains vitamins to help promote healing.

It has natural anti-inflammatory agents and a minor sunscreen agent so it aids from the UV rays and is good for skin problems like sunburns, some rashes, small skin wounds, and eczema. The natural anti-elastase characteristics make it great for improving the signs of stretch marks.

Even though Petroleum jelly prevents the skin's moisture from evaporating, unlike Shea butter, it doesn't absorb into the skin so it shouldn't be used on open wounds. It's also bad for sunburns because it traps heat within the skin, worsening the burn.

Cocoa butter is also from a plant, the cacao bean. It has natural antioxidants and enhances the skintone by aiding in the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

So if you want a good moisturizer, with added benefits then use beauty products containing cocoa butter and shea butter to keep skin soft and skin tone even. A good lotion to try is Palmer's Cocoa butter moisturizer with Shea Butter.

Beauty question: "Since you see so many types of skin in your line of work, what type of skin care products (or line) do you recommend for reducing the look of large pores?"- from Andrea in Florida.

Answer: Most people with large pores have oily skin. If you have large pores you can make them appear smaller by the products that you use. There are many great skin care lines on the market to use. Some of my personal favorites are Lancome, Olay, LaMer, Clarins, Repêchage and ProActive.

Pores are more noticable when oil glands are excessively active. By keeping skin clean, and properly hydrated.....yes...oily skin needs water too....you can make pores appear smaller. When skin doesn't have the proper hydration it needs, it thinks it is drying out causing your body to protect itself by producing more oil. Using an oil-free moisturizer will give the skin the water balance it needs, helping to reduce the skin's need to produce additional oil.

Whiteheads and blackheads can also cause larger pores. Doing regular face masks and facial scrubs will also help keep pores free from blockage that lead to whiteheads and blackheads.

When applying makeup stay clear of foundations that have a "dewey" finish, which can appear to look "greasey" on skin with larger pores. Instead use foundations with a matte or velvette finish. Silicone based foundations, like Temptu S/B Makeup, are great because they have oil-absorbing factors.

For touch ups through out the day, opt for using blotting powders instead of tons and tons of powder. Too much powder can look cakey and by the end of the day skin can look thick like an orange peel.

Thanks for your beauty questions! Send me more by clicking onto the link.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Ok.....can we say luxurious?!! I am really loving the La Mer Body Serum. It feels like silk as it adds minerals to the skin and helps with the apperance of discoloration. I especially love it for the legs!

2007-03-01T06:17:00.000-08:00

March is here and we can now officially "Spring forward" to the new season. The first place to start is to get lip tips from the March 2007 issue of Sophisticate's Black Hair magazine entitled "Perfecting the Pout".

In the article they interviewed me and a few other celebrity makeup artists to get a list of our favorite products and the latest trends for your lips. The issue is in stores now so keep an eye out for it. If you look close enough you can even get a glimspe of a smiling picture of me!

With Spring colors comes Spring fashion. The Spring collection of Paul Stuart is now available. I got a chance to do the makeup, hair and men's grooming for the campaign. I had a great time working with the crew and Switzerland photographer Christian Coigny. Even though the model looks happy and warm in the outside shots, it was actually very windy and cold. He looks great doesn't he?!

They carry men's and women's clothing. I really love their color palettes in this collection. Look at that yellow! It's so fresh and beautiful. Their classic style would look great in anyone's wardrobe....hmmm....maybe I need to go back to their online catalog and see if there is something I need to get.

Well....I think I'd better start answering your beauty questions instead so I won't start spending money! LOL!!!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "Exfoliator, what are the different types, and what is most preferred?"- from Elizabeth in Missouri.

Answer: There are exfoliators for the face, the body and the feet. All exfoliators are designed to remove dead skin so younger looking fresh skin can show through. Exfoliators are also great to make the texture of the skin smooth, so products like moisturizers, bronzers and shimmers can go on more evenly and quickly onto the skin.

Exfoliators can range from simple scrubs which are made up of tiny granules to gentle rub off the dead skin, to complex lotions and creams that exfoliate. Some may contain ingredients like alpha-hydroxy to remove the unwanted skin to reveal fresher skin. There are also tools, like loofahs, brushes and scrub pads that can be used as exfoliators also.

Exfoliators for the face are the least abrasive than the ones designed for the body, while scrubs for the feet are the most abrasive because the skin is thicker.

If you are looking to start using an exoliator for the first time, for your face, try a mild one like Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer that is mild enough to use twice a daily.

Beauty question: "My daughter is wearing a deep teal dress with silver jewlryfor her formal, she is 16 yrs old how should I do her eye colors and lip colors?" -from Carrie in Arizona.

Answer: The teen years is usually the time when girls like to be more trendy and funky but when it is for a formal it is more important to keep her makeup simple and complimentary to her best features to ensure that the attention stays on her and not her makeup. Start with a good moisturizer and foundation only where her skin needs it, so skin looks flawless without looking cakey.

Cheeks can have a natural hint of color by using a cream blush instead of powder in a soft pink like Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow in Pravella. Then lips will look polished but not over powering with a sheer lip color like Almost Lipcolor in Almost Blush by Cliniques. To finish the look and add a bit of sparkle to the eyes, just sweep lids with Metallic Cream shadow in Portobello 011 and then line upper lash line with a thin line of Special Eyes Eyeliner pencil in Azure Shimmer 121 and extending the liner slightly past the edge of the eye to add a touch of drama. Now she will be ready to dance the night away looking like the beauty queen that she is!

Beauty question: "I am a fair skinned girl with a Latina background. I was looking to actually higlight my hair so that I can do something different with it. The problem is that I have very dark brown hair and I don't know what color would best suit and enhance my overall features. Can you help?"- from Jackie in Florida.

Answer: I am not an hair colorist, but my best suggestion is to take a hint from mother nature. As we head towards warmer weather, think about what your skin will look like. If your skin turns more golden or sandy then lighter brown and golden highlights will compliment your skin. If your skin gets more red or bronze, then auburn and copper highlights will look better.

To see what you will look like with the new hair, stop at a wig shop and try on wigs with the same color that you decide to use. This will give you a preview of the tone of your hair against your skin. No matter what you decide to do, always go to a professional especially if it is your first time coloring your hair.

To help make your color last use shampoos and conditioners to help lock in moisture and hold color. Nioxin has a variety of products to consider including a hydrating mask for your hair.

Keep the questions coming! The more you ask, the more I can answer for you.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

For every makeup application that I do I love to hydrate the skin first by spritzing it with Algo Mist by Repechage before I add a moisturizer.

It has a light refreshing seaweed mist, that is great to use in the morning and through out the day when your skin needs a quick pick-me-up.

2007-02-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

Since February is supposed to be the month for love, I'm going to devote this blog to all you makeup "lovers" with a lesson on how versatile makeup can make you look.

One of my favorite "makeup lovers" are those who have decided to turn their love for makeup into a profession as makeup artists. This month I had the pleasure of working with some of those makeup artists at my Makeup Artist Workshop. Since I don't get a lot of time to "play" with color I especially use this time to do one or two creative looks that I really want to do.

In this look I worked on model Daria, in various shades of brown using Jane Iredale cosmetics. The goal was to give her a fashion look that would be sleek and chic without taking the focus away from her and her clothes.

Lips were made pale with contoured her cheeks. Then eyes were softly smoked using mainly dark brown and bronze with only the lash line lightly rimmed with black liner. I used a small amount of Chi Straight Guard to make her hair simple yet very sleek. The fuller long bang adds a touch of trend to finish the look.

To show you how versatile makeup is, I'm going to show you another look of Daria again. This time the look was created by my makeup artist student Cheryl Dailey during the Makeup Artist Workshop.

The goal for this look was to give her a soft beauty look. Hair was made to look tousled to give a feeling of freshness. Cheryl used shades of natural pink and brown to compliment her skin tone. Lips were glossed instead of a full lipstick so natural color would bleed though. Skin looks soft yet glowing.

Same model....totally different looks! I really loved both of these looks on her, don't you?!

Now that you can see what makeup can do, lets address your makeup questions!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I will be in Trinidad for carnival and want to adorn my face with gems/crystals. What type of gems/crystals do you suggest? I need something that will not leave terrible tan marks. Also, what type of glue should I use that will withstand sweat? Thank You!"- from Nicole in GA.

Answer: Feel free to be creative! You can use any gems or crystals that you want to use but it is best to use gems that are flat on the back. Try going to an arts and craft store like Michael's or Dick Blicks. You can find an assortment of various shapes, sizes and colors of gems to use.

Make sure that skin is free from oil before applying them, by rubbing skin with toner or astringent first. Use waterproof eyelash glue, like Duro, to keep gems in place. Apply the glue to gems and let the glue get a little tacky then press gems onto skin.

If you sun bathe with gems on your skin you will have tan lines. If you use interesting shapes, like hearts or diamond shaped gems, then tan lines might be very sexy! Use your imagination! Now you are ready to party!

Beauty question: "I'm of Italian decent though I'm not very dark. My skin tone is medium golden with some olive in it and my natural lip color is highly pigmented a bright rosey color. I have tried (in vain) to create a a non-frosty nude lip to wear with smokey eyes but either my lips look greyish or they just look like I don't know what I'm doing. Could you give me some pointers, please? Thanks!" from Lisa in Texas.

Answer: There 2 versions of a nude lip that I am going to give you. One nude color that is natural looking for your lips, and a second nude color that is a pale brown shade. I'll tell you how to create both.

Since you have a natural rose color to your lips, find a lip color that matches the inner rim of your mouth, then mix a little bit of your foundation with it to tone down the rose into a more rose-brown tone. Rub it on your lips and them blot. Then mix some of the color with clear gloss and pat on the gloss to give yourself a bit of shine.

Now you have a nude color that is closer to your natural lip tone. Not all lip colors have to be made from lipstick. For a pale brown nude version, start with your foundation and mix a little bit of your concealer with it to lighten the shade. Make sure you only go one shade lighter so lips don't look like you've eaten flour. Then follow the other instructions by blotting and topping with gloss.

Cream foundations are my favorite to use, when I am using them as lip color. Try are Black Opal foundation stick or Cream to Powder foundation by Iman. Both versions will give you the natural matte looking lip color that you crave! Enjoy!

Beauty question: "Cheek highlighters; can you please help in advising where the best place for application is? I've been told to apply to the t-zone, using more above the cheek bones. do you agree?"- from Angela in California.

Answer: That technique is great if you are looking to highlight other areas of your face as well.

If you just want to focus on your cheeks you can achieve a natural looking highlight by putting a matte bronzer or a face powder that is one shade darker than your skin on the hollow of the cheek bone and then putting a shimmer on the tops of the cheek bones.

A great matte bronzer to try is by Wet N Wild. Their bronzers come in a golden shade and a bronze shade. Pick the one that resembles how your tan naturally. For a shimmer you can try Sephora Cream All Over Color. The color can be used on the cheeks as a highlight or as an eye color.

Now that you have created shape to your cheeks, take a clean blush brush and blend, blend, blend. If it looks too harsh tone it down by topping it with a little face powder. When you are happy with the tone of the contour and highlight, then put your favorite colored blush on the apples of the cheeks. Now you look fresh with a natural looking highlight and blush to your cheeks.

Keep the questions coming! The more you ask, the more I can answer for you.

MY FAVORITE THINGS
Brrrrr.....it is so cold! I just started using the Lip Tint by Aveda and can't seem to put it down because my lips can get so dry in this freezing cold weather but I don't want to sacrifice my craving for color.

It gives a smooth feeling to your lips that is not waxy like other chap sticks, while it still gives you enough color to make you look polished. It also contains an SPF 15 so your lips can look as good as it feels even when the weather warms up again! Love it!

2007-01-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

The new year is finally here! Didn't 2006 go by sooo fast?! Well, I enjoyed 2006 and plan to make 2007 even more memorable.

Did you look gorgeous for all of the Holiday and New Year Eve parties? Well I talked about party makeup and winterizing your skin on NBC News Today. Unfortunately I don't have the video clip yet but I promise to post it when I do.

With the new year comes a new look! In this month's issue of Image Chicago magazine I provide an abundance of looks to choose from with makeup by Lancome, Sorme, La Prairie, Nars, Sisley, and Joey New York in a beauty spread called "White Washed".

Here is an image from the spread to give you an idea of what you have to look forward to. You can see more in the current issue!

What did I use to create the look in this image?....(Makeup provided by Lacome)
eyes: Embellished Colour Focus Palette 4 Ombres
lips: Vega Le Rougue Absolu topped with Thrill-SeekerJuicy Tubes Smoothie gloss
cheeks: Mosaique Rose Blush Subtil Mosaique
Nails: Well-To-Do Vernis Magnetic nail Lacquer
hair products by: Aveda and BioSilk

If you promised yourself to do more traveling this year, make sure that you remember to pack all of your beauty products in your suitcase because you aren't allowed to carry many beauty products in your purse now and don't forget to get your passport. Before you could just show 2 forms of ID. but the new year also brought new laws for traveling overseas. So GET THAT PASSPORT!

Now that I got that off my chest lets talk about your new year beauty questions!

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I'm a Latino woman and I always have a problem finding foundation, but most of my frinds tell me that I don't need to use it because my skin tone is even and I don't have any pimples so I use pressed powder but after a while my skin gets shiny so I don't know if I should use foundation or not, also I have dry skin so i dont know why my skin gets oily during the day."- from Brenda in Florida.

Answer: It sounds like you have combination skin instead of just dry. Combination skin types have some areas that are dry or normal, and the other areas like your T-zone can be oily.

Make sure you are hydrating your skin properly by doing hydrationg masks that infuse water into the skin and then top your skin with a water based moisturizer. This can help balance your skin and make it less shiny in the oily areas but give your drier areas the moisture that it needs.

If you skin is clear you don't need a foundation but if you prefer to use one try a tinted moisturizer or just use concealer in dark areas or any blotchy areas on the skin. Skip the powder and just use blotting tissues instead. This will keep your dry areas looking great while mopping up any oil on other parts of your skin.

Beauty question: "What is a good hair color for me? I am a light-skinned african american with green sometimes hazel eyes with medium length hair....Do you have any suggestions I want highlights, my hair color is dark brown."from Nickie in Georgia.

Answer: During colder seasons try subtle Auburn highlights but focus most of the color around your face so it will boost to your skin tone. If you like your new color, then add more auburn highlights mixed with honey golden highlights when the weather is warmer. As your skin deepens into your summer tan, you hair will compliment the look to create a great sunkissed look.

If you want permanate hair color, go to a professional who not only works on African American hair but also specializes in hair color. If you want to try to color your hair on your own, opt for a color rinse instead of permanate hair color which will wash out after several shampoos so if you mess up all you need to do is try again after your color washes out.

To keep your hair color lasting as long as possible try using color enhancing shampoos and conditioners from Aveda. It will keep your locks hydrated and your color in tact, as long as possible with fewer touch ups.

Beauty question: "What inspired you to do artsy things with make-up? How do you get your new cosmetic ideas? Is it hard coming up with new things to create? What things are the hardest to do with make-up? Where do you get your ideas? How do you know what looks good together?"- from Becky in Massachusetts.

Answer: I've been doing makeup artistry for over 20 years. So just like any profession, your skill grows over time.

Inspiration for styles that I do come from every where. From people I see, from nature, from shapes.....every where. When I do creative makeup for a magazine, the magazine gives me the theme to start with and I grow from that. Other times I create the themes myself. I always keep a note pad or sketch book around me, so when I have an idea I can write it down. So those ideas are usually pulled from the notes and sketch books I have jotted down from over a period of time.

Since you are interested in becoming a makeup artist, stop by the MAKEUP ARTIST WORKSHOP page for the new 2007 schedule.

Now that I've answered this month's beauty questions I just have to tell you about this great beauty product that I found!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Just like we all have our favorite outfits, I have a new favorite beauty tool...the Beauty Bender! Ok! Ok! it looks like an egg....a cute pink egg but the shape is not there to look pretty. The round end blends foundation into skin seamlessly while the pointy top can reach in the nooks and crevices of the face like no brush can...all while feeling like your skin is being touched with velvet! For all of those of you who hate to use sponges because you don't want to be wasteful, you don't have to compromise your "earth ethics...it's REUSABLE AND RECYCLABLE! It comes with a sample of the cleanser, or you can get the twin pak with the large size cleanser and 2 reusable sponges. When you can't use it again...they even have a recycling system for it. So you can look great and while keeping the earth pretty too!

2006-12-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

It is now December and the new year is right around the corner. So this is the time that everyone tries to travel to visit family or to use the rest of their vacation time at work so they won't loose it. So off everyone goes to exotic destinations filled with blooming flowers and warmer weather so they can take a break from the winter cold. In honor of you vacationers I would like to share a beauty spread that I did.

I used makeup and skin care by Borghese to create this soft sexy look that is perfect for those sandy beaches while you are on vacation, but you can still come back home and be in style for all of those holiday parties you will be attending!

Speaking of party looks, I did another tv appearance about winter skin care and the perfect party makeup! I'll save that for next month's issue....just to keep you coming back! I know, I know...I'm mean. Well, to make it up to you I'll answer some of your beauty questions.

Beauty Questions

Beauty question: "I have attempted on several occasions to appl false eyelashes,strips and individuals, the problem is that they only stay on for 1 day. I am using MAC duo eyelash glue. How do you get the lashes to last for over a day, ideally I would like to keep them for 1-2 weeks."- from Aida in Michigan.

Answer: If you are trying to reuse eyelashes, the biggest thing you need to do is clean your false eyelashes AND your eyelashes thoroughly so there aren't any traces of eyelash adhesive on them. This will make it easier to reapply the glue the next time you want to use them again.

Even though it is suggested not to use a non-oily makeup remover, I like to use Lancome's Bificil because it is designed to remove waterproof mascara. It will also make it easy to remove the adhesive residue as well.

Pour some of the remover into a small container so you can put the false lashes into the container to lightly soak as much of the adhesive off. Then take the false lashes between your fingers and rub them to see if you feel any aditional adhesive. Once you don't feel any more adhesive wash then with warm water and a bit of shampoo to get any oils off the lashes then rinse them with warm water and let them dry.

For your real lashes, saturate a cotton ball (not acrylic) with the remover and then set the cotton ball on your lashes for a couple of moments before you wipe. This will give the remove more time to break down the adhesive and prevent any of your eyelashes from breaking. Then use a cotton swab to rub between lashes to ensure that they are totally cleaned. Now you shoule be able to reapply the lashes again.

I haven't been in a situation that the person wanted to wear their lashes for several days without taking them off, but if you wanted to do that I would suggest trying Ardell LashTite Adhesive. It is very strong and waterproof.

Beauty question: "I'm getting married in 90 degree weather next year. Have narrowed down the wedding makeup to coral blush and lipstick. I am, however, stuck on what to do with my eyes. I fear a smokey eye may be too much for my skills. My regular look is black eyeliner across the top lashes and mascara. Do you think simply that with the coral blush and liner would look nice, or could you give me some simple tips on easy eye looks that I could practice?" from Becka in Canada

Answer: It sounds like you have a simple yet classy style, but you want to add a touch of sexiness to it for your wedding. If smokey eyes are too hard for you to do, then lets to a variation from the style that you already know how to master.

Before we start talking about your eyes, lets add some sexiness to more areas of your body.

Nothing is sexier than healthy glowing skin so start by using Olay's "Touch of Sun" lotion right after your shower to moisturize and give your skin a soft sunkissed glow.
It will become dry to the touch so it won't leave marks on your clothes, but it's 24 hour moisture lock keeps your skin hydrated all day and sun kissed all night without appearing fake or orange!

Next add that sun kissed glow to your face by applying a powder bronzer to all areas that the sun would naturally give you a touch of color. Brush it on your cheeks, chin, temples and softly arose your nose. Then apply your coral blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Now lets work on those eyes! I like to put a little bronzer on the eye lid from crease to lash and as an soft eyeliner on the lower lashes using the Sable Eye Detailer brush # BP-211 by Japonesque. Now line your upper lash line with a pencil, but instead of using black try using another shade like Lancome Le Crayon Khol Waterproof pencil in Raisin Noir or Prune. It will compliment your skin tone and bring out your eye color. Make sure you line a little bit heavier than you usually do so you can use the Eye Detailer to smudge it and give your eyes the touch of smokiness that you want.

To add more sexiness try a few false eyelashes on the outer corners of your eyelashes. Then curl your lashes and add a few coats of waterproof mascara and finish with your lipcolor. Voila!!! Now you look sexy yet elegant for your wedding!

Beauty question: "This isn't a beauty question but I wanted to know where you got your training from, I'm interested in becoming a makeup artist also but i'm having a lot of trouble finding a school. I would love to attend one of yourworkshops or even be an apprentice to you. Do you know of any internships or any one in need ofan apprentice? P.S. I LOVE Your Work "- from Danielle in Massachusetts.

Answer: I became a makeup artist the hard way, I was self taught. I have been a makeup artist since 1985 and I started my career as a freelance makeup artist for cosmetic companies. Through my skill and creativity I quickly became a national makeup artist for companies like Lancome, Borghese and Ultima II when they were in department stores.

To learn I would absorb any bits of information that I would get. I would read beauty and fashion magazines. I would study the techniques of other makeup artists, and I would read beauty books. The most thing I would do is practice, practice, practice!

When I decided to start the Makeup Artist Workshop, I wanted it to be exciting and creative for the students. So it is all hands on, with lectures, demonstrations and Q&A. I even have opportunities for students to assist me on real jobs to help them build their skill and their resume.

You can go to THE MAKEUP ARTIST WORKSHOP page to see the next class dates, or you can sign up for the newsletter.

I look forward to next month's beauty questions, so keep on writting in!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Everyone always asks me what new product have I tried and this is the perfect time to share one of my new favorite things. As a makeup artist, we are asked to create things that can be hard to do as if we had a magic wand but now we have some help with a little MAGIC WATER by Model Co. . It might not be real magic but it can work wonders! It can transform powder eye shadow into water resistant eyeliner. Keeps your eye liner on all day too! Who says you need pixie dust! I love this product!

2006-11-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

Many people ask me what inspires me and it changes all the time. But this month I got a chance to write about it.

Rock and Roll has always been a major influence to society for years. In this month's issue of Cosmetech magazine I show it's influence through a beauty spread called "What Inspires you?"

In this shoot my inspiration was from rock icons David Bowie, KISS and the Rolling Stones. They made such of an impact that generations later, people are still influenced.

To create most of the looks I used Kett airbrush Hydra makeup and the Hydro Pro makeup so the colors would be vibrant and beautiful.

Ok, now that I told you what inspired me this month, let me know your beauty questions so I can inspire you too!!

Beauty Questions
Beauty question: "I am an African-American woman with very pigmented lips. I am in search of a lipstick/gloss that will give me a nude or natural look. Alot of times colors actually change on my lips. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated."- from Melissa in Ohio.

Answer: Many people have the problem of lip colors changing, but don't worry it's not a health problem. Your body's natural acid is causing your lipsticks to change.

Who says that you have to use lipstick to create lip color anyway? Try using other products like powder blush on lips when you want color.

For a nude lip mix foundation and conceal on the back of your hand until you create the color that you want. If you don't like to mix shades, then just look for a tube of concealer that is the shade of your choice. Black Opal has a wonderful selection of concealer shades to choose from.

Apply a thin layer on your lips with your finger. Next blot lips so it doesn't look or feel thick.
Next line your lips with a lip pencil. Choice a brown shade that will compliment your skin tone. I like to use Black Silk or Espresso by Iman cosmetics. After lining your lips blend the line with your finger to soften the it so there are no obvious lines. You should now have the perfect nude lip that you love that won't change colors.

To add shine, lightly pat a very sheer layer of gold gloss on your bottom lip. Press lips together to disperse product to the top lip as well. Try Iman's Luxury Lip Shimmer in Impetuous. If lips look "drippy" glossy, then you used too much and all of the colors you created will slide off quickly through out the day. Lips should have a delicate shimmer of shine.

Beauty question: "i read that you did brenda song's makeup what makeup andcleansing products did u use on her skin? thank you!"- from Sana in California

Answer: Just like many celebirites, Brenda also uses Proactive to take care of her skin.

As a typical teenager, Brenda loves to shop, she loves shoes and loves makeup. For her tv appearance I used several makeup brands to create her look.

I used Tarte eyeshadows to create the fun exotic look on her eyes in shades of gold, black and plum. For her cheeks I used 2 shades of Victoria Secret Mosaic blush colors. I started with a golden bronze shades to emphasize her skin tone and then finished with a pink on the apples of her cheeks to add a flush of color.

For her lips a mixture of various lip glosses by Sugar were used. Not only does it make your lips look good, but it smells great too. The body moisturizer used was Quench by Olay.

Beauty question: "When I was having my hair colored(blonde)at the salon, thehairdresser tried to convince me to let her color dye my brown eyebrows toblonde. However, I said no because I didn't think blonde hair and blonde browswould look good the same color. Was I right? Isn't contrast needed?"- from Pat in Florida.

Answer: Congratulations on your new look, but your stylist is right. If you are coloring your hair, then you need your brows to compliment your look. You don't want to look like a female Groucho Marcs with a heavy looking brow or look like your are stuck in the 1980s.. Let your stylist color your brows to compliment your hair color so it will look more natural. A lighter brow color can also make you look younger. So trust your stylist. Keep in mind, it is just borw color and it can be changed again if you don't like it.

I look forward to your next set of questions. The more you ask, the more I can answer for you.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I get to use many different products but one of my favorite things that I like to feature this month is Kett's new Hydro Pro airbrush products. I was able to create many looks with it this month and the colors were impeccagle!

2006-10-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

Being a makeup artist can be a lot of fun projects especially when I get to travel to other countries to do fashion and beauty shoots. One of my favorite project to do is tv appearances because I get to talk about skin care and makeup tips. Recently I did an appearance about makeup for back to school. This was particularly fun because I get to encourage the younger generation to take care of themselves and to express their individual beauty. You can see footage of the appearance by clicking onto the picture.

I also enjoy talking to other makeup artists, especially when I host the Makeup Artist Workshop. This 2 day HANDS-ON workshop teaches the makeup techniques needed to become a professional makeup artist for print ads, editorials, TV and video. The workshop will also provide challenges to help develop good makeup skills and increase creativity within the artist. The Makeup Artist Workshop is having its LAST CLASSES OF THE YEAR on November 18 - 19, 2006. Some of the things that will be discussed are:

The understand the profession of being a professional makeup artist.
Break down what TYPE of artist you want to be, so you know how to move forward to the next level
Learn what style of makeup to focus on while on set
Learn what to have in your kit
Learn proper hygiene while on set
and much more!

There will also be a makeup artist business class called "Mind Your Business" on November 17, 2006. For those wanting to learn airbrush makeup, there will be an Airbrush Workshop on November 20, 2006 (class questions? )

Ok! Lets get to your beauty questions now....

Beauty Questions
Beauty question: "How would you go about being able to apply makeup like a professional for yourself? Where would you go to learn? I Don't have any Classes Nearby where i live that Offers makeup classes or anything of the sort."- from Jillian in Alabama.

Answer: Even though you are in Alabama, there are things that you can do to learn how to apply your makeup better, and even master it. Start by reading beauty magazines like Allure. They will keep you informed about makeup trends that you can apply to your style so your look never becomes "dated".

You can also get books that have a lot of step by step information about applying makeup.

Some good ones to try are Hair & Makeup" (shown to the left) by Jane Campsie, "Makeup Your Mind" (shown to the right) by Francois Nars, "Making Faces" (shown lower left) by Kevyn Aucoin and "The Power of Makeup" (shown lower right) by Trish McEvoy. You can get the books through Amazon or your local book store.

Look at the various styles in the books to find the style that suits you and your lifestyle the most, then practice the look on your face.

If you prefer more of a one on one approach, try stopping at your local department store. Many makeup counters, like Lancome or Bobbi Brown, at the department stores have well educated makeup professionals who can help you. Ask for a makeup application by the person that has a makeup look that you like. As they apply it to one side, ask to duplicate what they do on the other side of your face. This will help you to learn perfect your makeup technique.

Beauty question: "How do you make the lipstick and lipgloss look so good without making clumpy and making it look so sheer? I put on my lip gloss and lipstick and it looks clumpy."- from Ailyn in Georgia

Answer: Make sure you start with great skin. Chapped lips can make lipstick and gloss look clumpy.

Start by putting a warm damp wash cloth on your mouth so skin can absorb the moisture and soften dry skin. Then apply a liberal amount of vaseline to the lips and brush the skin with a clean unused toothbrush. This will exfoliate the skin. Next apply a lip base like Base de Maquillage by Lise Watier to keep lipstick smooth and make it last longer.

Keep lips hydrated and moisturized to maintain healthy skin.

When applying your lipstick try using a lip brush to only apply what you need. Start with the bottom lip, and then press your lips together to put lipstick on your upper lip. Then fill in any missing areas with your lip brush. If your lipstick still looks a little heavy take your index finger and blot some of the color off. The warmth from your finger and your lips will also help melt the color onto your lips so color becomes a thin veil instead of a heavy layer of color.

Beauty question: "How would you go about covering scars or unsightly marks on the body while keeping it looking naturally?"- from Jane in Ohio.

Answer: The trick is to not pile on tons and tons of makeup to cover it. Thin layers of high pigmented product is better to use. For very special occasions you can also get it professional airbrush with waterproof and smudge proof makeup. It lays against the skin like a second layer without a heavy feeling, yet giving you the full coverage that you need.

I look forward to your next set of questions. The more you ask, the more I can answer for you.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

One of my favorite things has been the new Olay Creme Ribbons Body Wash. I love this so much because it suds up with thick velvet bubbles, that leave your skin soft and smooth with it's moisturizing effects. Once you try this you will be as hooked as I am!

2006-09-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves watching America's Next top model. The spunky 5'7" model Eva Pigford, who won in the 3rd season seems to be a favorite of everyone.

She has been seen in Cover Girl ad campaigns, on the red carpet at award shows, on the cover of Essence magazine, and has played the leading lady of Jaime Fox's new music video Unpredictable.

She has also been acting and will be in the film "I Think I Love My Wife" with actor/comedian Chris Rock February 2007. When she was younger they used to call her "Eva the Diva". If "Diva" means "all eyes are on her" now you know why.....she can do it ALL!

As the beauty director for Brides Noir magazine, I had the opportunity to do her makeup for the cover and the 7 page spread for this month's September issue. We shot the spread at Breezes Runaway Bay resort in Jamaica. That same spunky fun loving attitude that you saw on the ANTM show was the highlight of the shoot and the whole trip.

Our day started at 7am. in an air conditioned office that was converted into a dressing area. I worked on getting all of my makeup organized while celebrity hair artist Nedjetti arranged her CHI hair products and curling elements.

Even though the air conditioning was a little cold that early in the morning, we definitely needed it as the temperature outside kept rising throughout the day. We can't have everything melting before we hit the set!

New York fashion stylist Fatimah Simmons brought some of the most beautiful gowns and pant suits for her to wear. They were gorgeous! The gown that became the cover shot was by Reem Acra . It had beautiful elaborate beading on the upper bodice! Can you say...."Luxurious!"

We shot for 12 hours, only to break to eat breakfast, lunch and the occasional mango from the fruit tray they provided. We went from location to location, changing looks and clothes for each one. You would think that after a long day this pint sized celebrity model/actress would go off to be alone and not want to be bothered. On the contrary! She is an amazing person! We finished our day with the laughter of her jokes at the dinner table and then danced the night away in the resort club! I think I lost 5 lbs on that trip!

Time for your beauty questions!!

Beauty Questions
Beauty question: "I have a pretty nasty scar and i cover it up with make up, but my make up sometimes looks pretty heavy on my skin. What do you recommend for that?"- from Michelle in Oregon.

Answer: I am not sure which makeup product you are currently using as a cover up, but if it looks heavy on your skin than it may be a result from improper application of the makeup, instead of the product itself.

I suggest using Dermablend or Dermacolor products because it is designed to cover scars and major discoloration problems without transferring to clothes. It is even waterproof so you can swim with it on as well.

When you are applying these types of products, they are already highly pigmented, and thick in consistency. So there isn't a need to apply it in a thick layer. Instead use sheer layers and build according to your need. It is always easier to keep adding product, than to try to remove too much of a product. This will also ensure that your application looks as natural as possible.

I prefer to press the foundation into the skin with my fingertips, so the heat from your fingers can melt the product seamlessly around scar edges. After you are satisfied with the look and coverage then set the product with the special setting powder. Use a velour powder puff to press and roll it into the skin.

Beauty question: "If I put all the lotions and potions on my face that I need (moisturizers, anti-wrinkle cream,serums,primers, sun screen, etc)my foundation certainly would glide on smoothly, but then I'm left with a greasy, slimy feeling to my face! What can I eliminate so my face doesn't feel so dirty? And the summer heat and humidity in South Florida also adds to my problem!"- from Pat in Florida

Answer: When it is hot outside, the last thing you want to feel is greasy and sticky. So skip some of heavier creams or treatments and save if for night time.

Use a serum in the daytime, which is usually light weight, and put it on your skin immediately after washing your face and then let it sink in. Comb your hair, brush your teeth...do something while your skin takes it's time completely drinking in the benefits.

Then put your moisturizer that has multipurpose things included. For example, instead of using a separate SPF get an anti-aging moisturizer that has an SPF included. Use eye gels instead of creams for the day, and save the creams for night time.

Then your use light weight makeup products. Try using Kevyn Aucoin's Skin Enhancing foundation. It dries to a non-transferable finish that doesn't require the use of face powder.
Use powder blush and eyeshadow instead of creams, so skin feels less sticky. All of these things will help you feel as good as you look.

Beauty question: "What is the best way to cover up moles? I mean large moles on my back. Thanks"- from Toni in Arizona.

Answer: Talk to a dermatologist, esthetician or regular doctor if it is a raised mole. They have the technology to remove raised moles, as if they were never there.

If it is a flat mole try covering it up with the Dermablend products that I mentioned earlier. You can also try using the Spray on Stockings or Air Stockings. The product is light weight, looks natural and is usually non transferable. It looks great on legs, and the body. Just make sure you don't put it on too heavy.

No matter if the mole is flat or raised, please have them checked regularly by a doctor to make sure that they are not cancerous.

Keep all of those great beauty questions coming! If you have a beauty question click onto the listed link and let me know what it is and I'll post it here!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

One of my favorite things has been the new Fall colors from Nars. I had a chance to use them with several beauty shoots. I also used it to create the cover look on Eva in the image above. The colors are in shades of chocolate brown, gold and cream which are subtle yet with a touch of shimmer that adds sexiness that is perfect to go from day to evening.

Cover Colors on Eva: The bronze part of Bohemian Gold on the lid with the dark part of India Song in the crease and lower outer eye. The cheeks are Oasis on the apples, after I contoured. Then I mixed Café Con Leche with a gloss for the lips. Voila'!

2006-08-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Now that the Fall trends for hair, makeup, fashion and nails have already come and gone from the runway, it is time for the public to apply the new styles of the season to their personal wardrobe. So this month's issue of Skin Inc. magazine keeps pros informed about what to expect for the Fall/Winter makeup and hair looks.

For this story I worked with makeup assistant Kellie Keck, another Makeup Artist Workshop student. We used products from Sorme, Joey New York and a few other brands to create the colorful, yet elegant looks.

Here are a few looks to see what styles are great for this fall. You can read the article by clicking onto the image.

Even though Fall is around the corner, it is still hot outside so I'm sure you are wondering what to do with your skin care and makeup in this summer heat. Well NBC channel 5 in Chicago asked me to talk about that very subject.

With office parties and evenings out after work, there isn't always a lot of time to look refreshed and beautiful when you come straight from work. So I mentioned a few tips that will help you look like good even after a long hectic day on the job. To see the whole video clip, just click onto the image.

Time to answer some of your beauty questions!

Beauty question: "I have been getting laser surgery for tattoo removal, and am looking for a good cover-up makeup. I've heard about airbrushing. Do you think this would work for me? I just need it temporarily until the tattoo is completely gone."- from LaDonna in Indiana

Answer: Here are the pros and cons to airbrush for tattoos. If you are looking to cover a tattoo for one event than airbrushing is nice because it lays close to the skin and is feather light weight so in the Summer heat you don't feel your makeup. Airbrush is also great if your skin is going to be sensitive to the touch because you don't have to touch it to apply it to the skin. The feeling of the air and makeup flowing onto your skin feels great.

What is the downside? If your tattoo is on an area of your body that might have constant friction, like your lover back, then conventional tatoo cover up would be better suited because it will have better staying power. I suggest either Dermablend, Dermacolor or Kryolan. There are individual pots or mini palettes like you see here, to work with. Click onto the picture to get more information or to purchase the product.

Another thing you need to consider is the number of times you need it covered. If you want to cover your tattoo daily until it is completely gone, then getting your tattoo airbrushes can get expensive if you are not doing it yourself.

If you want your own airbrush, consider purchasing one at Temptu. They have various formulas to choose from. Just tell them what you want to do, so they can pick the correct product for your needs.

Beauty question: "Maybe you can help clear something up! I have been having a difficult time reconciling the whole "warm" vs. "cool" tone with myself. I have dark blue eyes (cool, right?) and olive skin with bluish veins (also cool, right)? Ahh, but the hair... it's a deep brown color but when I go in the sun it picks up great reddish-gold highlights... which is warm. Whenever I have tried to highlight my hair in the past with "cool" tones, it takes on an awful greenish hue... so am I just really off-base, or is it possible to have warm AND cool elements? And if so, how do I reconcile them?"- from Susan in Texas.

Answer: When determining your skin's undertone, focus on your skin instead of your eye color. If you have bluish veins instead of green ones then your skin's undertones are cool, so cool tones will look more natural on your skin, but that doesn't limit your options. You can still wear warm tones, they will just give your skin contrast.

An excellent example to look at is Nicole Kidman. She has pale skin with cool undertones. When her hair is a medium blond (without golden undertones added) she looks more natural and soft, but when she changes things up to a warmer reddish shade of hair color the contrast to her skin gives her a sexy sophistication that looks just as beautiful.

So if you want to warm up your hair with a reddish color with golden highlights, try using shades of coral or peach on your cheeks to compliment your hair but give your skin a nice contrast that will still look wonderful on your skin.

No matter what you decide to do, if you are ever in doubt about your makeup look at what nature gave you. Look at lip color and mimic it. Whether a shade lighter or darker you already know you will look great. For a natural looking blush, just pinch your cheeks to see what shade to use.

Beauty can be "skin deep" if you just look.

Beauty question: "hi I'm a 13 year old girl and I'm really crazy about my skin looking great but i haven't found anything good to put on it im very confused like do i need foundation or something else if you could suggest a few products it would be really great!! I'm just trying to go for a natural and flawless look and also what is the best but not expensive bronzer?? thankkk u soo much!!!

Sorry again but just one last question i was wondering if Burt's Bees Marshmallow Vanishing Creme moisturizer will be good for me also i want a more finished face should I buy Bare Minerals foundation or just the face color??

Sorry also i was wondering what products are good for a natural look?? thanksss ALOT!!"- from Sana in California

Answer: I am glad that great looking skin is important to you because that is your best beauty feature especially when you are 13 years old. Start by having a good skin care regime. Olay Dual Action Cleaner & Toner is a great place to start. It is inexpensive, and you are able to do two steps in one.

You can also keep your skin looking great during sports activity or between classes with Olay Daily Facials Express Wet. You get 30 disposable cleansing cloths for about $5.00. I use them all the time on myself and models to completely clean skin or to correct makeup mess ups without the need of a sink. It can even remove waterproof mascara. It's one of my favorite products to use.

I haven't used Burt's Vanishing Cream either, but it is supposed to be a light weight moisturizer that is great to use in the day time. If you have normal to dry skin, than this might be perfect for your skin. To get the best benefit make sure to only use it on freshly cleaned skin.

I have used many mineral based products, but if your skin tone is already even, you don't need foundation even if it is a mineral based one. If you only have a few problem areas to cover up, skip foundation and just use a concealer the same shade as your skin to cover them up. If you need a little more correction try a tinted moisturizer so your skin can show through.

When you want to add a little color try one of my favorite makeup products, Victoria Secrets Mosaic Blush in Spice. I use it as an eye shadow and as a blush to compliment the skin without over powering it. Then I use a nautral lip gloss, like Victoria Secrets Mirror Mirror Shiny Lip Gloss in Bronze Baby to finish the look.

For bronzers try Wet N' Wild, they are my FAVORITE. They are inexpensive yet give you a look of golden sun kissed skin without looking orange or fake.

Great beauty questions! If you have a beauty question click onto the listed link and let me know what it is and I'll post it here!

MY FAVORITE THINGS

I've mentioned a few but I can repeat it. Wet N' Wild Bronzing Powders are great to give your skin the glow you crave without the orange look you want to avoid. It is a great makeup find for only $4.00.