Halloweenie!

Just a few quick blarbs while I'm actively posting things on the internet!  I am THOROUGHLY enjoying reading my Dick Smith materials. I told myself I wanted to read through it and highlight notes, then go to the DVD, then probably the book again. It's been many a year since I 'studied' anything so I need my brain to be an active little sponge.  The course has made me beyond thrilled.  I am taking advantage of my surplus of products purchased. I've cracked out my airbrush machine, and made a promise to figure this damn thing out. I think I'm too impatient right now, and the coverage when compared to liquid foundations is polar opposite.. it's so light. I'm a person that tries to cover my freckles and I feel I have uneven skin. Maybe it's a perspective thing that I have to change. Originally the OCC airbrush products came with my airbrush purchase. These are water based, which I chose to go with over silicone just based off reading that silicone remains movable, and there's a prevalence in silicone allergies over.. water or alcohol.  I have been testing out alcohol based lately. If anyone has or knows someone with airbrushing experience that wouldn't mind me bugging them, pass a name along? When I applied the Skin Illustrator airbrush product- which is alcohol based- I did keep having to layer it up for coverage.. it's "ghastly" so it's an incredibly pale color which I'm pale but again covering freckles. Alcohol is very drying and to me that kind of showed. I'm trying to figure out the best way to prep skin. Tonight I used the Temptu Dura Inks and had MUCH better results. They are also alcohol based, but this time I remembered to put a moisturizer on a bit before, and used Illamasquas matte primer which is water based over silicone as far as I can tell.  These Dura Inks are the deal, I really enjoyed working with them. I still have to perfect airbrush use in general but I had much better results.  All of these things are ultimately for my work through the course- the Skin Illustrator brand has fantastic reviews when working on appliances and detail work. They have varying palettes which quite a few were made for movies Ve Neil has worked on. I will say their glazing gels are.. magic. I'll have to get in to that more when I do more with them. Anyway, I'm a pretty firm believer on "self experimenting". It's easiest for me to use my face to do things vs. wait on another person to have availability and using a product is the best way to gauge a performance. So the more things I do.. hopefully the more inspiration I'll have to update.

I have been on the ball with Halloween looks having such fantastic products in reach.  I've done a different look for the past 4 days, and knocked out about all my top listed want to attempt looks. There is a zombie walk Saturday so I think next up is trying to figure that out. I think I want to use an Audrey Hepburn inspired dress I purchased from Lady V London and a dark wig and go as "Breakfast IS Tiffany" zombie. It's between that and a red wig and go as "Lucielle Maul" (but Ricky...).  That will involve maybe some airbrush but definitely body paints (been taking advantage of some Wolfe FX paints as of late.. it's been a good experience!).  Anyway, enough blabbing. I'm very hopeful to have some good results with it- say prayers to the makeup Gods.  Here are a few Halloween looks I've done, with extra photos after the jump. Anyone that I don't personally know that subscribes to this blog feel free to facebook me here, and I really love feedback. I'm on Beautylish & Makeup Bee where I'm trying to get in on a contest, and just network more. Any awesome bloggers want to send some makeup folks my way, I love that too. I just really thrive off feedback and suggestions. These pictures have a general a filter just for artistic effect as a personal preference, and some were taken on a cell phone but no other editing was done. I like doing pictures on both my cell phone & my camera because the light translates different and sometimes it works.  I don't even know how to work photoshop, but it's a pet peeve when looking at makeup and someone has edited it so far the makeup or skin texture is gone.

 

MAC Call Me Bubbles Makeup tutorial

Guess who did makeup? AND recorded it!? GOSH I'm on it.  This is one of my favorite day to day looks when I'm in a go using the Call Me Bubbles quad from MAC Shop, Cook. Product/brush detail listed in the description. Side note, I didn't record my foundation application but you'll see after the 3:38 mark my skin even out and coverage on my freckles.  All I have on is the new L'oreal BB cream under powder. It is fabulous, I'll do a separate review but it's pretty much everything I ever wanted a tinted moisturizer.

Xtreme Lash eyelash extensions

I also should add I redeemed a groupon today I got last year for a full set of individual eyelash extensions. I got the "diva lash" which is the fullest set at up to 120 lashes per eye. It retails for $325.  I do believe my groupon was only $100 and included this initial set and one free fill (retailing at $65-$75). I've had these lashes done before and LOVED them but they are costly to up keep. They are worth it especially for me. My eyelashes are white like my eyebrows, so if I run out of the house at the least I have to fill my brows in and put mascara on.  Here are my results that I could pee over a little.

This picture is without mascara to blend my naturally white lashes in with the black extensions so when I do fix them all up it'll just make me thrilled.  The gal was really nice about it. My next fill is part of my groupon but I mentioned to her I'd be out of town until the 18th. She's booked until April 2nd and said she'd fill them in however much I needed due to scheduling. The process took about 2-3 hours and I slept through almost all of it. I'm pretty sure I snored, though at one point it started storming and I believe some thunder made me jump.

I can't say enough about how great this is if you can budget it as a little self treat. The initial fill is a hefty price but if you keep up with it, it manages out to be the same over time as doing a pedi or nail fill considering most folks go twice a month.  I remember the first time I had them done they try to sell you this up keep stuff like gentle eye cleanser spray or a special mascara so it doesn't loosen the adhesive. Luckily I still have some cleaner and the gal didn't try to sell me on anything additional. I'm pretty sure there's a cheaper alternative. As far as mascara I don't recall any impacting time they lasted.  My prior ones hung on for almost two months before they started becoming terribly sparse.