Enhancing Brown Eyes: Makeup Tips and Tricks

Brown eyes are truly versatile and naturally captivating. Their rich, warm tones provide a stunning canvas for various makeup looks. Whether you want to create a bold statement or a subtle enhancement, there’s a perfect makeup technique for you. Here’s a comprehensive guide to bringing out the best in your brown eyes.

 **1. Choose the Right Eyeshadow Colors**  

Brown eyes pair beautifully with a wide spectrum of shades. Here are some top recommendations:  

**Earthy Tones**: Shades like bronze, taupe, and copper accentuate the warmth in brown eyes.  

**Jewel Tones**: Emerald green, sapphire blue, and deep purple provide a striking contrast.  

**Metallics**: Gold and rose gold add a glamorous shimmer perfect for special occasions.  

**2. Master the Art of Eyeliner**  

Eyeliner can frame and define your eyes, making them stand out even more.  

**Classic Black**: A sharp winged eyeliner is timeless and elevates any look.  

**Colored Eyeliners**: Experiment with navy or emerald for a fun twist.  

**Smoky Effect**: Blend a brown or charcoal liner for a sultry, smoky eye.  

 **3. Amplify with Mascara**  

For luscious lashes that draw attention to your eyes:  

- Use a volumizing mascara to add depth.  

- Opt for dark brown or black mascara to complement your eye color.  

- For an extra flair, try colored mascara like burgundy or plum.  

**4. Highlight and Contour**  

Add a subtle highlight under the brow bone and in the inner corner of your eyes. This trick brightens your look and makes your eyes appear larger.  

**5. Bold or Nude Lips?**  

To balance your makeup, pair bold eye looks with neutral lips, or match subtle eye makeup with vibrant lipstick.  

**Final Thoughts**  

With the right techniques and shades, your brown eyes can truly shine. Remember to blend well and use quality products for the best results. Whether you’re getting ready for a casual day out or a glamorous evening event, these tips will help you achieve a stunning look highlighting your natural beauty.  

Cream Contour vs Powder Contour

Contouring is the best way to add dimension to the the structure of your face. It will help define your features, and sculpt your cheekbones. You can then use the highlighter to bring the light back into the center of your face, and accentuate the areas you have contoured. Finish off the look with some blush, and you’ll be ready hit the town in no time.

Cream contours have more of a natural finish. It's great for everyday natural look and is much easier to work with compared to powders. If you have oily skin you can run the risk of looking even more oilier throughout the day. Using too much cream can look caked and unnatural. I only recommend it to clients who have normal to combination skin.

Powder contours can give you a more defined look and a completely matte finish. I personally like to use a power because of it's staying power and I love the finish. Please keep in mind when working with a powder you must use very little. You could end up with very harsh lines and you could look very over done.

How to Take Care of Your Skin Before your Wedding

Skincare can be easy and very important. Here are the key things to remember when prepping your skin for wedding:

-Start prepping your skin at least 6 months in advance.

-Begin a daily beauty regimen that includes exfoliating, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

-Remember to treat your whole body not just your face.

-If a blemish appears, Don’t poke or pop it! (My secret weapon: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion) Works like a charm overnight!

-You are what you eat—and so is your skin. Drink lots water, eat healthy, and take your daily vitamins.

-Stick to the routine and keep stress levels low, and you’ll have a beautiful wedding glow!

-Preparing the skin for your wedding day might seem like a never ending task, but once you get into a  routine, your glowing skin will make that routine hard to break Even long after your wedding. 

-Do you have a favorite skin care product, or more tips for healthy skin? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

Airbush Tattoo Cover Up

Tattoos can be really beautiful but there are times when you don’t want them to show. Weddings, job interviews, and other imporant events may require a more natural image.

That’s where an airbrush tattoo cover up can help.

Airbrush makeup can temporarily restore your natural appearance. By using the same techniques that they use in FX movies. Your airbrush tattoo cover up will last up to 24 hours  or longer. I love to use the Temptu Dura line. Their Dura line is waterproof which will not rub off.

If you are in the middle of tattoo removal or getting a new tattoo, airbrush makeup offers the camouflage you need. It's the fastest, most complete coverage for tattoos, birth marks, sun spots, scars, acne, post-operative bruising, psoriasis, rosacea, vitilig0lo and more. Coverage is smooth, fresh and flexible with no flaking, fading or cracking for about 24 hours or longer, depending on your activity. Temptu products are hypoallergenic, Highly pigmented, alcohol-based and waterproof and won't cause acne. They cover and conceal beautifully.

Airbrush Makeup & FX Coverage

Traditional makeup can be used anywhere, but when covering something like a tattoo, discoloration, or scar, the pigments in regular makeup don't cover well enough. That's where airbrush makeup excels. It provides a finish that other products cannot match.

It's far superior when covering large portions of the body, doing body painting or special effects. While imperfections can all be camouflaged with traditional makeup, there is no doubt that airbrush makeup will provide 100% coverage.

Other advantages include its quick application, longevity, and durability; but the true advantage lies in the beautiful, finished result.

Book your appointment with us today!

Different Types of Makeup Primer Pt. 2 My Recommendations

My Favorite for Oily Skin:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch

https://www.fentybeauty.com/pro-filtr/instant-retouch-primer/22353.html

Makeup Primers for Dry Skin

Dry skin is a little complicated to prime. You want a primer that will moisturize your skin and give you a dewy finish.  Dry skin types have the hardest time finding a great makeup primer. The goal is to find something that is hydrating and creamy, but with a very light texture.

My favorite for dry skin:

Stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Primer

https://www.ulta.com/aqua-glow-perfecting-primer?productId=xlsImpprod12451009

Makeup Primers for combination Skin

The worst of both worlds – I would know, because this is my skin type. With combination skin types there are two options: either choose a neutral primer that won’t overly mattify, but won’t make you look shiny either. It’ll just make your foundation go on smoother and last longer.

My Favorite for combination skin:

Arbonne Makeup Primer

http://www.arbonne.com/Pws/daninastewart/store/AMUS/product/Makeup-Primer-7825,1597,261.aspx

Makeup Primers for Mature Skin

Primers are excellent for mature skin types, because they can fill in and blur wrinkles. Look for a lightweight, moisturizing primer without shimmer. A lot of makeup primers for mature skin contain anti-aging ingredients in them as well as antioxidants, so they can actually have a positive impact on the health of your skin.

My favorite for mature skin:

Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer

https://m.sephora.com/product/timeless-smoothing-primer-P387228?skuId=1627009

Different Types of Makeup Primer Pt. 1

What is a Primer? Do I Need it?

The answer is YES! Just like you prime a wall before you paint it, you can prime your face before you apply foundation.

Makeup artists like me swear by primers. They go one step further than moisturizers. They will even out your skin tone, help your makeup stay on longer and absorb oil with salicylic acid.

Face primers are like a lotion you apply before you put on foundation. All you need is a pea-sized amount and dab it all over your face. Try to get an even amount on all areas of your face. They actually work much like a moisturizer under your foundation does they ease the application of foundation and are meant to create a barrier between foundation and skin.

Other benefits

1. They allow foundation to "stay put" in hot weather.

2. Help prevent skin from absorbing talc and pigment from your foundation as well as preventing talc from drawing oil from the skin.

3. Some can contain botanicals such as lavender, orange, jasmine, rose, geranium, grape, kiwi and aloe extracts to soothe and refresh the skin.

One of the final benefits to using a foundation makeup primer is that you will use less of your makeup. Instead of your foundation absorbing directly into your skin, the primer acts as a base, with the foundation adhering to the primer rather than the skin itself. With a primer reducing the imperfections of the skin's surface, less product is required to cover those areas. There are different primers available suiting different skin types.

Makeup Primers for Oily Skin

If your skin is oily, you will need a mattifying primer. A mattifying primer will prevent your skin from becoming shiny and greasy throughout the day.

Most people with oily skin normally have larger pores, a primer for oily skin types will also have a pore-minimizing effect. Lastly, since oily skin-types are more acne prone, there are some makeup primers out there with anti-acne ingredients that will help keep your breakouts at bay.

Lashes Make Everything Better 101

Your wedding is one of the most photographed days of your life. Looking your best in all those pictures is a must!

I get a lot of brides ask me, “ Should I wear lashes for my wedding?”

I recommend every bride wear some type of false lash, whether you’re the natural bride, glam bride, or anything in between. When it comes to picking out the perfect lash for your big day know your options and how long they will last. A bride who wears a full face of makeup every day might want a full set, with a longer length and thickness. Verses a bride who prefers a no makeup look will simply need a half set, with a length that matches their natural lashes.

Strip lashes can be natural or dramatic. It all depends on their intensity, volume, thickness and length. They can lash 24 hours.

Individual lashes come knot and knot-free and last up to two weeks. The application process is quicker than lash extensions that can take 2 hours. 

Lash extensions are the closest you will get to achieving a natural and long-lasting look. These can last up to six to eight weeks, if cared for properly. I encourage all brides that want to have lash extensions for their wedding to have a trial at least two months before their wedding date. Having a trial gives you a chance to do a patch test, this will test the glue on your skin to make sure you won't have a reaction. This will give you a chance before the big day to ensure you are comfortable and you like the way they look.

As you can see there are so many different types of lashes out there to fit your personality and look. False lashes will give your eyes more of a finished look, opening up your eyes so they look amazing in photos.

Camera Ready Makeup Vs Everyday Makeup

The tricky part about doing makeup for the camera is that it’s just not the same as doing everyday makeup on yourself. Some things that look great in person just don’t translate well in pictures or on video. This is especially true for makeup, which tends to photograph about two to three shades lighter.

The number one thing you need to remember about makeup for photoshoot is that the camera never captures makeup and color in quite as much vibrancy as you see it in real life. It is very important that you apply more makeup for photos than you would for going out of going to work. Even if you want a subtle makeup look for your wedding in your photos, the makeup artist will still need to really exaggerate your makeup, because it will not show up as strong through the camera. The light bouncing off of makeup changes the way it looks, and makes it look less dramatic than it really is.

Always remember after you see your makeup after your bridal trial, don’t be alarmed because you have on more makeup than you are used to wearing. In real life, there's nothing targeting and bouncing light off of your face or washing out your features. The human eye sees things differently than the lens of a camera which is why you look very different in the mirror versus in a picture.

It’s very important to hire a professional makeup artist for your wedding. Do your research! Make sure they specialize in weddings and know how to make you look good on camera and in person.

When and who should I book my makeup and hair trial for my wedding?

“When should I book my makeup and hair trial for my wedding?” Is one of the top questions asked by our soon to be brides.

It all depends on the bride.

Booking your makeup and hair team and doing a bridal trial months before your wedding date is a personal decision.

Research is key when deciding on a makeup and hair team for your big day. Bridal hair and artists book up months, sometimes even a year in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute or you will most likely miss out on the team’s work that you love! When choosing your team, you want to make sure they specialize in bridal makeup and hair, meaning they do weddings and understand the severity of the day. Look for a team whose work you consistently like and have worked on actual brides. Always make sure they have a contract and are 100 percent professional.

There are 2 types of brides when booking a makeup and hair team.

The bride that feels comfortable booking makeup and hair through email or over the phone and having their trials 2 months before their wedding.

Then there is the bride that wants to be sure that their makeup and hair team is someone they mesh well together with.

If you’re nervous about the way makeup and hair may turn out I suggest you book your trials 6 months or more in advance.

We even have brides that book us to do their engagement photos, so they can see what our work looks like in photos. Then if they like us book us a few months later to have a bridal trial.

I always tell my Brides to keep an open mind and to trust me.

When it comes to finding inspiration for your makeup and hair, most brides go straight to Pinterest and start pinning away!  Even if you've created a Pinterest board of your dream makeup and hair looks, there's no guarantee that any of them will look as good on you. So definitely use it as inspiration, trust your makeup artist and hairstylist to make it look that will work for you.

When you work with an experienced hair and makeup team they can take into account your face shape, hair texture and wedding dress all to create the perfect look for your wedding day. Having a hair and makeup trial months before the big day will allow you to try a few styles to see which one you feel the most beautiful and comfortable in.

If you are very picky about your hair or makeup (or both), then let your makeup artist or hairstylist know! After the trial, if there’s something that you want to add or change let them know that. Keeping the lines of communication open is key. Makeup and hairstylists are there to help you be the best version of yourself. If you don’t tell them, they will never know how you feel.

Makeup can easily be taken off. Hairstyles can be changed. Finding an artist & stylist who will listen to you and happily makes changes is really the number one thing to look for when looking for hair and makeup team. Always remember, The way that they apply makeup and style hair on you is not how you would do it on yourself.

We know that each and every one of our Brides have a different style and also have different needs. So, When you go out and choose your hair and makeup team make sure it’s someone that you trust and has your best interest at heart.

Setting Powder vs Finishing Powder vs HD Powder

Is there a difference between the three powders? Do you know the difference?

If you don’t know the difference, that's okay. Most people don’t know the difference because cosmetic companies do not clarify the difference on the packaging. You might see words like “finishing,” “setting,” “perfecting” and “HD,” but you ask yourself. What’s the difference? Does it matter which one I use?

Some of the artists that work behind the counter in department stores don't even know. Even some of your favorite YouTube gurus don't know the difference. Video and flash camera makeup read off very differently. You wouldn't physically be able to see the difference.

What’s the difference?

What is a Setting Powder?

Setting powders come in two different forms. Loose and pressed. Some people prefer pressed powders because they feel like it’s easier to use and not as messy as a loose powder. Setting powders are to set in your foundation. People who use liquid foundations or have oily skin, most of the time prefer to use a loose powder. Setting powders are formulated to be used after applying foundation. A setting powder can absorb excess oil, reduce shine and set your foundation so that it won’t be rubbed throughout the day.

What is a Finishing Powder?

Finishing powder is a product you just dust on at the end after applying your setting powder. Finishing powders are softer and silkier in consistency and help soften and blur out any fine lines and wrinkles on camera. It will give you a “ airbrushed finish.” The are great for events where you’ll be photographed a lot or for special occasions where you’re looking to achieve a flawless finish (Like your wedding day). If you have dry skin try a finishing powder with a luminous finish or a hydrating finish powder.

What is HD Powder?

HD powders are almost the same thing as a finishing powder. They are marketed slightly different. HD is short for high definition. HD powders are mostly used by professional makeup artists. They are geared toward those looking to appear “flawless” on film or camera. Some companies use words like “photo-ready finish” on their HD powder packaging. This means that the product is meant to be used as a finishing powder over your setting powder to blur imperfections and soften the look of skin under harsh lighting. If youset your foundation with a HDpowder I guarantee you your face will turn white with flash photography. Some professional makeup artists didn’t how to properly use HD powders. They baked it on like a setting powder, and low and behold their poor celebrity clients end up looking like they had been slapped in the face with flour in pictures using a flash.

Tip: Make sure check the label before you buy a Setting Powder, Finishing or HD Powder. Take a picture of your client or yourself with the flash when your done so this won't happen to you or your client. Catch it before it happens!

The Ups and Downs of Wedding Makeup Artistry

Our makeup artist DaNina is featured in a article for The Beauty Consultant Magazine. We would like to say thank you to Anna Maria Little for giving us the opportunity.  You can check out the article  by clicking here

Winter Makeup Tips

- Instead of dusting a powder onto dry winter skin, try 1-2 drops of your favorite foundation mixed with your moisturizer. Apply a thin layer on the cheekbones, nose, and forehead for a dewy look.

- Bring a little of that magic to your complexion this winter by dabbing highlighter drops onto the cheekbones, inner corners of your eyes, and brow bones. To draw out the warmer tones in darker skin, opt for a gold shade. For fair, pink tones opt of a pearl shade for a natural glow. 

- Mix your one pump of your favorite hydrating primer with 1 drop of your foundation. Mix the two together and then apply using a foundation brush or beauty blender. It gives a lightweight finish and leaves the skin with luminous glow all day long.

What is Airbrush?

Airbrush foundation is a light-weight makeup applied through an air gun machine that produces a thin, even layer of makeup and creates a matte or satin finish. I will mix foundation colors for a perfect blend to match your skin tone. Since it’s such a fine mist your true skin tone shows through which makes it look natural and like second skin. It will not transfer onto clothing and in professional photos it looks amazing! Airbrush makeup is waterproof (so bring on those tears!) and it won’t go anywhere until you wash it off. Be sure you don’t wipe away sweat/tears and instead ‘blot’. This will help guarantee 16 + hours of wear.
 

The Importance of a Bridal Trial

I highly recommend every bride to be to have a bridal trial. It is very important. Instead of stressing about your exact look on your big day, booking a bridal trial will give you the freedom to tweak and perfect your final look BEFOREHAND. This also gives us a chance to get to know each other. Because you've went through with your trial, now everything is spelled out for the big day. This will give you piece of mind and lets you concentrate on other things.

Quick Tip: Glow on your Wedding day or other Special Occasion

On your wedding day, apply one to two drops of Dermablend  Glow Creator Drops to your body lotion apply it to you shoulders and arms before you slip in to your dress, and you'll glow, glow, glow!

Which Eyeliner is Best for You Part 2

Continued from Part 1

Gel or Cream Eyeliner

Gel or Cream liners are easier to apply than liquid liners because they aren’t as wet. Personally, I favor this type of eyeliner over the others because it’s easy to apply with practice, I can control the thickness of the line and it applies smoothly (I don’t hurt or tug my eyes when I apply this. Gel/Cream eyeliners give you a somewhat defined (not as defined as liquid), matte line. It’s one of the longest lasting liners (some don’t come off until you use eye make-up remover. Once it’s dry, it does not smudge and it’s usually waterproof. However, it’s less convenient to bring around as liquid liners because you have to bring around a brush to apply it. Also, you have to buy the brush to apply it.

Pros: Defined and matte line, Versatile, Easier to apply than liquid liner, Amazing staying power, Smooth application, Smudge proof and usually water resistant.

Cons: You have to buy a brush to apply It, not convenient to bring around, More difficult to remove than other liners, You have to clean the brush often.

Cake Eyeliner

Cake Eyeliner is the liner many professionals use. It’s the most versatile out of all the liners. It can create clean, precise lines (depending on the brush), or you could blend it out before it dries (unlike liquid liner which dries much faster). Cake liners are water-activated powders that are packages in small compacts, much like eyeshadow. In order to apply it, you need to wet an eyeliner brush in water first then put it on like a liquid or pencil liner.

Pros: Versatile, Buildable, Vibrant, Stays on for a really long time, Does not flake off, Can create smoky eye.

Cons: You need to buy brushes, Might be difficult for a beginner to use, More difficult to find than liquid, pencil, and Gel/cream liners, Dries slower than liquid liners, you have to clean the brush.

If it’s your first time using eyeliner, it’s best to start with a pencil. Once you get comfortable with applying eyeliner, you can try using the other types of liners until you find the best eyeliner that works for you.

Have fun!

Which Eyeliner is Best for you? Pt. 1

There are so many different eyeliners out there to choose from. Choosing the right eyeliner is important. But before you choose your brand of eyeliner, you have to choose what the best eyeliner application method is for you. There are four basic types of eyeliner: Pencil, Liquid, Gel or Cream, and Cake. Each type of eyeliner has its own pros and cons.

Pencil Eyeliner

Pencil liners are the easiest of the types of eyeliners to use. They are easier to control and are usually more subtle than the other types. Because of it’s ease of use, these types are the best eyeliners for beginners or those without a steady hand.

There are different types of Pencil eyeliners: Powder-based, Wax-Based, and Kohl.

Powder-based pencil liners are the best for beginners. They are the easiest to handle because the tips of powder-based pencil eyeliners are harder. They can create a beautifully defined, natural looking lines. However, they’re less pigmented and over sharpening the pencil can hurt your lid.

Wax-based pencil liners have a softer tip. The wax in the pencil makes application smoother so it’s more difficult to use than powder-based pencil eyeliners. These liners are more prone to smudging. However, being more prone to smudging is not always a bad thing. Wax-based pencil eyeliners can create beautiful smoky eyes.

Kohl is a soft powder that’s been used for centuries.

Kohl eyeliners glide on more softly and smoothly while imparting a high amount of pigment. It also smudges more easily than wax liners. However, it’s imprecise and more difficult to get a natural look when using this. Rather than use it for daytime events, school or office, It’s recommended for nights out.

Pros: Easiest to handle, More natural, good for beginners, good for creating smoky eyes.

Cons: Smudges more easily, difficult to create clean lines, Less pigment than the others, You need to sharpen it.

Liquid Eyeliner

Liquid liners are one of the most difficult types or eyeliners to apply. You need a steady hand or else your lined eyes will look like a mess. Even though it’s more difficult, liquid eyeliners can give you fine, clean, sharp and defined lines as well as high pigment. Once you get used to applying it, liquid liners can be applied very quickly and they can easily create tapered lines, much like a brush stroke.

Liquid eyeliners usually come in a bottle with an applicator. The applicator can be either brush or felt tip. Felt-tips are generally easier to use than brush tips but it’s more difficult to apply over eyeshadow.

Pros: Sharp and intense lines, Water Resistant, Usually Smudge-proof, Convenient, Fast to apply once you get used to it, Dries Quickly

Cons: Difficult to apply for beginners (especially for brush tipped liquid liners), Does not last as long as Gel liners, Cannot create a smoky eye.

Has your Makeup Expired?

If so, chances are you are slathering on expired makeup.

What's lurking in your makeup bag???

Like food, makeup has an expiration date, and over time cosmetics can harbor harmful bacteria that can lead to infections. Makeup studies have shown that some women keep their make-up for up to six years after their expiry date, and 70% of women never clean their makeup brushes.

Check out the dates below and find out when you should toss your makeup stash. Expiration dates begin from the time you first open the product. Each brand has their own expiration date for their products.

Powders and shadows: 6 months to 2 years

Cream shadows: 6 months to 12 months

Liquid Foundation and Concealer: 6 months to 1 year

Lipstick & lip liner: 1 year

Mascara: 3 months

Eyeliners: 6 months to 1 year

Moisturizers and Skin Care: 1 to 2 years

Makeup brushes: Clean weekly using a mild detergent

Makeup sponges: Replace weekly, or when sponge becomes soiled

Tips for keeping your skin clean and your makeup fresh:

Smell your cosmetics. If they have an unusual odor, they may contain bacteria and should be discarded.

Always make sure that products are closed tight and stored out of sunlight, as this can destroy the preservatives.

Don't use any eye products if you currently have an eye infection.

Don’t use any lip products if you have a cold sore.

Let's talk about How to Highlight and Contour...

Contouring is also called shading. It has gained a lot of attention in the last year or so as if it's a new thing, but it’s actually a trick that makeup artists have been using forever. With contouring and highlighting you can define your bone structure. Contour will make your nose appear smaller, cheekbones more pronounced, jaw more angular, forehead smaller, and eyes bigger. You can change the shape of your face with just using makeup.

Apply your highlight color on the top of your cheekbones, under your eye area, down the bridge of your nose, and in an upside-down triangle on your forehead.

Apply the contour  color in the hollow of your cheekbones, down the sides of the nose, underneath your chin, in the depth of the temples, and along your hairline.

Next blend, blend, blend

If all of this sounds a little confusing to you, don’t worry it's okay because some Cosmetics lines have made it simple to make your face appear more lifted and bring out your best features instantly! Anastacia Beverly Hills, Kat Von D, SmashBox and Sephora have contouring kits I recommend.

If you want a no fail help with contouring and highlighting try a palette that comes with 2 to 4 contouring shades designed to match all skin tones and 2 highlighting shades in both a shimmer and matte.

Here are some helpful tips for when you are contouring and highlighting. For contour, you want to always use a matte shade. It should be 2-4 shades darker than your skin tone. You may use a cream base or a powder for contouring. For highlighting, use natural shades that are lighter than your skintone, in powder, cream or liquid form.

Dermablend Original Setting Powder and Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder are two of my favorite powders to set the highlight under the eyes.

Invest in a good setting spray. This step is optional, but I highly recommended it. A setting spray will help your makeup last all day and keep everything looking natural and not cakey. Dermablend Set + Refresh Setting Spray is one of my favorites.

Now get contouring!

The Concealer Hack Every Woman Needs to Know

    You should always apply your foundation first, you'll find that you don need to use as much concealer. If you apply concealer first, you'll remove most of it while applying your foundation.

    The best way to apply the concealer is to draw a triangle with the base under your eye and the point toward you cheek. This triangle shape not only conceals dark circles, but it also instantly highlight your cheek bones. Its like a face lift without the surgery!