Pinup Desires

This Makeup Monday post is a shoutout and thank you to The SOPHA Community, Dastardly Dave Photography, Kelly Killbilly, Karyna Woods, Pinup Desires, Hillary Wonderland, & Strange Beauty Bombshell!!! I had a wonderful day yesterday.

This launch is so exciting and I am thrilled for Pinup Desires new endeavor!! The clothing line is gorgeous and the accessories are fabulous as always! If you haven't heard of Pinup Desires, well you have now!!!

The photographer, Dastardly Dave, was amazing, the models were gorgeous, the hair and wardrobe styling was on point! I am thrilled to be part of this shoot and so excited to see all the pictures!

Boudoir to Pinup

Sassy to Sweet

Last weekend I teamed up with Model: Samantha B. Hair Stylist: Tiffany Blair and Photographer: Kreativ Studios for a Boudoir to Pinup photoshoot. Shauna, owner of Kreativ Studios did a phenomenal job with the photos. The glam squad, Tiffany and I, didn't do so bad either. What about Sam? Well! She's simply a pro!

So how did we go from this ^ to this:

Quite simply actually: It is just as easy to build up as it is to tame down. We swapped 3 things: Eye, Lip, Cheek. We took off the brown eye shadow both top and bottom and traded it with a liquid black wing (only on top!). We took off the "Boy Bait" By MAC Cosmetics lip gloss and traded it with Lancôme Rouge In love Red lipstick, and instead of the mauve blush we switched for a rosy cheek.

To see the rest of the photos from this shoot please visit Kreativ Studios website and be sure to 'Like' her facebook page! We had a wonderful afternoon and I hope to work with them again in the near future!

5 things I'm Loving

In no particular order:

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil: I want one in every color. I have Liar which is a nude/mauve color and I love it!!!! It lasts all day and goes with so many different lipsticks that I have. I also have Venom, which is a deep plum color that I am holding off on until fall when I bust out the deep dark witchy lipsticks I bought! This blog has the colors swatched for you. Bought at Sephora or Ulta
2.  Headwraps!!! I have 4: a braided hair one that matches my hair color,  a beaded skull one (as pictured) which I love love love, I have a leopard one, and a mint studded one. This is one of my favorite hair trends right now and you can get them pretty much anywhere and they are under $10.
3. Watt's Up! Face Highlighter from Benefit. This cream to powder highlighter gives champagne glow that's gorgeous. It's a switch on "wow" for all complexions. I've tried a lot of different highlighters and I'm thinking this is my new favorite as opposed to Nar's-Albatross. You can buy it at Sephora or Ulta.
4. Deep Berry lips for fall. 90's is making a comeback people! Bring on the dark lips! If possible just wait for fall. When I see it right now it just reminds me summers almost over-bummer. Pictured is Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick in Shame. These lipsticks have super creamy texture, intense pigmentation, superior color dispersion, and are long lasting. There's also something called Maxi-Lip™ in it that defines and hydrates lips while making them look plumper and fuller. Berry babely! Again you can buy it at Sephora or Ulta!
5. My Bobbi Brown Beach body oil from Mum.  Beach captures the atmosphere and attitude of summer. I've been putting a few drops in my bath which makes my body feel super smooth, or after a shower rubbing a little onto my legs and arms. It gives your body a sultry sheen and makes tattoos pop (little secret). I will definitely still be wearing it this winter when I start getting sad/grumpy with the cold weather, because the smell takes you to a warmer place :)

Freakin' Weekend

HAPPY MONDAY

Busy busy weekend, woof! Fun for sure! It seems like Mondays are my update days for Makeup Mermaid, So here is what I did this weekend!!!

Saturday I worked with Jill from The Beauty Lounge! We had a wedding up near Tilton, NH. I did the Brides makeup, two bridesmaids, and the mother of the groom.
We had a blast with our hair and makeup marathon and everyone looked beautiful!! Here is the beautiful bride:

Saturday night was our housemates band's very first show!! They played very well, every song was extremely familiar to Dave and I because we hear them practice almost daily. There was a good turnout with the crowd too! Their bands name is BLACKOUT you can listen to them HERE<---

I hadn't been to a show in years & I haven't gone out past 9:00pm in months haha. Definitely a selfie worthy night on account of me being so wild, crazy, and rebellious out past my bedtime.

 

On Sunday, I started my day in Nashua for a bridal trial. Its so weird driving past my highschool & old stomping grounds in general. I was excited for this trial mostly because I was pumped to play up the Brides big big blue eyes! She looked gorgeous, I am so happy for her and excited for her big day. This is the second bride this summer that I've met with one of those looooong term relationships and are finally tying the knot! So cool to me.

After my final makeup appointment Sunday afternoon, it was finally weekend time for me! I got to enjoy some time with my dog, Lady. We made puppy treats and went shopping. I love spoiling my pup. She's too cute not to. I later made a yummy dinner for boyfriend and I. (with Lady's help of course)

All in all a super busy yet fun weekend! I am looking forward to this upcoming Saturday for some family time. I've been so busy we haven't had much of that this summer.

Mermaid Eyes

 

If you haven't tried this fun new trend yet this summer: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Today I was pinspired to try something new. I have seen it in the summer beauty trends in magazines such as Glamour and Cosmo. I decided to whip out my bright teal almost minty eye liner and give it a go! I love love it! What I did was used a very pale matte nude (almost white) on my lid, used a taupe for my crease (not as dark as this picture) used my trooper felt tip liquid liner -WINGED IT (as always) applied a thick coat of mascara on my upper lashes only (unlike picture) and applied my bright eyeliner on my water line only. These steps created a dramatic effect. My hazel eyes really POP today and I love it. Try it! You'll be thankful you did :)

Rockabilly Vibes

This weekend I got to spend time with a dear old friend. We have a feeling she was born in the wrong era(era error). Chrissy's wardrobe and hair is very 50's inspired! She is known on the Internet as the hair queen and just recently started a hair flower clip business called Dolled Up Hair Flowers! You can see some of her collection here!

Originally we had a pinup photo shoot planned however the weather did not permit. We dolled her up anyways, headed out to see our friend Carole at her fabulous salon called The Beauty Lounge, and had some nice girlie time/chatty hour. All in all it was a successful Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Smokin'

 

It’s been forever since I have done a smokey eye on myself. Using browns I took more of a babystep approach. Normally when someone asks me how to do a smokey eye this is the look I start with, unless they ask for a dramatic smokey eye, only then will I whip out the black shadows!

For this complete look I used:

Kat Von D Lock It foundation

Kat Von D Everlasting Blush in Bellisima – which is a peachy pink

Nars-Albatross as a highlighter

Sonia Kashuk Illuminating bronzer in Godess (Very similar to MAC’s Gold Deposit Mineral Bronzer)

Makeup Forever- Aqua Brow on my eyebrows

On my eyes I used my Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Saint:

Lid-Sunny (pearlized gold)

Inner and outer corner of lid- Bookworm (pearlized brown)

Brow Bone- Heavens (pearlized vanilla)

I also dusted my upper and lower lash line with Caravaggio (dark matte brown)



Using these colors (exact or similar) will create a smokey eye. This take on the smokey eye is dramatic enough to make eyes pop-but it isn’t too over the top for an office setting-or-bridal look. This works great for brides that want more of a glamorous look than natural and it also photographs really well, which is a bridal bonus!

Eyelash Mystery

I get a ton of questions about false eyelashes. There seems to be 2 common problems, "I can't get them to stick on," and "The corners always lift!" Well, ladies I am here to save your day!

False eyelashes are the finishing touch to any look whether its sweet and flirty or bold and dramatic. It even adds that extra "oomph" to the natural look.

Eyelashes come in all shapes & sizes for your personal preference. My favorites are demi wispies, sometimes I will even layer them for double the drama.

There are 3 things that I feel are important when applying lashes:

1) The adhesive: I never use the adhesive the lashes often come with. I swear by DUO Eyelash adhesive. My favorite is the "Dark Tone" one. The label is red/magenta. I normally use liquid liner on my upper lash line and I just feel this one works better for me. I dries almost black. For most of my clients I will use the traditional blue tube. It dries clear & it is waterproof.

2) Measurement: Did you measure the lash up to your normal lash line? I personally have small eyes. Most eyelash strips are too long for me. If I glued the lashes straight out of the package to my lid, they would most certainly lift. I clip a little from the corner and there is no lifting at all! It's like magic! Make sure you measure your lashes before you apply the adhesive and get upset that your corners are lifting.

3) Finally and most importantly: Be patient!!! Please apply a thin strip of your DUO lash adhesive and then WAIT. Put the lashes down and please do something else for at least 30 seconds. The adhesive will then be tacky and MUCH easier to apply. Line up your inner corner first and smooth the lashes down to the outer corner and hold the lashes against your lash line for another 10 seconds.

I hope these tips and tricks helped! Good luck! XO

Top 10 Beautifiers

You wouldn't believe how difficult it was to narrow it down to 10 ultimate favorites of all time! Hardest thing ever! So decided to pick what would send me into melt down mode if they ever got discontinued. Shall we begin?

In no particular order:

1) The POREfessional from Benefit- holy guacamole & hello flawless complexion! I use it as my primer.

2) Urban Decay's all All Nighter Setting Spray- They are not kidding with the all nighter phrase. I am ashamed to admit I am a face toucher. I cant keep my hands away from my face. This is no bueno for makeup. My makeup does not last (on my own face) unless I set it!

3) Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation- Best foundation I have EVER used!! Lasts all day and covers perfectly. I like to say the finish is matte but not flat!

4) Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Saint- Seriously best of the best eyeshadow palettes I have ever purchased. Highly pigmented!

5) Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Concealer- Covers & doesn't cake.

6) NARS Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross- AKA Kim Kardashians secret weapon. We see you baby!

7) MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit- My beloved. It gives you a nice tropical tan/glow.

8) Ok there was no way to pick only 1 lip. (from left to right)

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Love (can you tell I love Kat Von D product?) in Backstage Bambi- Intense color that stays!
MAC Lipglass in Double Happiness- Favorite nude gloss
Lancome Rouge Inlove #174- Best red lip...ever.

9) Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara- I prefer waterproof. This mascara gives you va-va-voom volume.

10) Benefit Cosmetics Highbow Glow- Use it under your brow, use it on your cupids bow, use it on your lower lid, use it on your upperlid.... So many uses! It's like a magic wand!

And lastly my beloved numberless demi wispies. I could never go with out my beautiful demi wispies. No one should....

 

Beautiful

I'm fortunate to play makeover for a job. I love it!

With makeup we can take a beautiful girl and kick it up a notch... We make the beauties glamorous! And exquisite! You know what else? Makeup can make us feel beautiful, and THAT is my absolute favorite part: the confidence it brings out!