How did you become a makeup artist?

A lot of people ask me question, "How did you become a makeup artist?"  When I was 15, my first job was a makeup artist at photography place. At that time, it was  a prestigious job to have and the fact that you can get in spoke highly of you. 

Before I got that job, I always dabbled in makeup. In 7th grade, I remember the first time I ever touched makeup, I tried Revlon liquid liner. It was weird, I practiced and practiced til I got it right. I got compliments on it and that got me in the world of makeup. I dove right in with magazines like Seventeen, Allure, anything that would inspire me. 

At my first job, they trained us and drilled us on how to do "their" makeup for photography. Everyone would leave their loving themselves even more. That's when I realized, I want to do this. I had a great satisfaction seeing women leave and noticing they were more confident. 

In 2011, I went to makeup school and got certified. Thankfully I had awesome teachers and mentors that would ask me to do jobs with them. I did a lot of TF and networking. Then, one of my teachers believed in me so much, I was asked to teach in a prestigious place and curriculum. There was nothing better than sharing my knowledge and to help them take the next step in to their career. 

Since having my condition and the radiations, I have since layed low. I am still doing some freelance. Once I beat this condition, I'm going full swing with my esthetician and makeup. 

Ipsy October Glam Bag

I am so excited to share my thoughts on this month's Ipsy Glam Bag. 

I am in loooove with this bag. It's a turquoise color and an alligator skin look-alike. What's inside is even more exciting for me:

The Figs and Rouge hand cream smells delicious. I loved it for the smell but not necessarily as a hand cream.  My hands deal with clients, my kids, cleaning, and washing dishes. At the end of the day, I'd like to slather my hands in a heavy moisturizer so I wake up with soft hands so I can take on another day. This was too light for my taste. 

If any of you had purchase this at Sephora, you know the price is outrageous for just face wipes. But you also know how good these are. Just buy it, you'll feel the difference. 

These are the makeup that was included in the bag:

The compact looking thing is a cream highlighter. On my skin, it gives off more of a silver sheen to it. Not really my taste on my skin but awesome to have in my skin for other skin tones. 

The lipstick is from City Color Be Matte. The color is beautiful, anyone would be able to pull it off. 

This last one is Volume Eyes by Model 69. The brush is big and look like a mix of a fiber lash and regular mascara. You know this will make your eyes pop. 

People, if you haven't signed up for Ipsy, you are missing out. Deluxe sample sizes  products every month and an easy way to build your makeup kit and try all products. Go to www.ipsy.com and take a look at what they're all about. 

Ipsy September Bag

If you haven't hear of Ispy, you may want to look into signing up as a member. Every month you get sample size - deluxe sample size products (sometimes new). This is great for makeupartists ask they can try it on themselves and add that to their kits. These are good for aspiring makeup artists as there are makeup and skincare products, also could be added to their kits. When I started, I had a mixture of drugstore products, MAC and samples. Starting of small is a perfect way to find the 

best products that are good for your artistry, but most importantly, your clients. All you makeup junkies out there (I'm one too, what makeup artist isn't what), these are perfect for you too. All these samples, and it's all yours for a monthly fee of $10. Think about it, it's worth it. 

On to the products

Every package comes like this. Every month is a different look of makeup bag, a major plus!!! :)

This lipgloss Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss. The consistency and thickness is like MAC's lip glosses. The applicator is a doe foot, the flat doe foot ones that lets you get every curve on your lips. Talk about luscious lips. 

There is another makeup, an eyeliner. It's a Pacifica brand. The color is grayish-greenish metallic color. The pro is the color pay off is awesome, but when I swatched, the tip fell off too fast. Either making the trip from Cali to Hawaii changed the tip very soft. 

One of the highlights of this bag is this face wash, 100% organic. I have yet to try it, but I super excited. 

Last product is this luxury hand cream. The smell is so sweet and I love how it's a perfect consistently. 

 Ispy tipsy,

Cynthia

Crown Brushes

Oh how I love Crown Brushes. I first heard about it from beauty guru veterans Kandee Johnson and Koren. I now know that Koren have teamed up with Crown Brushes to make his own line *sigh* a makeup artist can only dream. 

I've used and still have some crown brushes that I use on myself and clients. What I love about the brushes are number 1. the affordable prices 2. the quality for the buck. They're not cheaply made, you must take care of them as you would your own hair or anything of your brand name brushes. 

I got a plethora of their eye brushes including those small synthetic brushes that I believe Sigma made popular. 

Deluxe crease IB119. This brush is the perfect size for artist to get right into the crease. Perfect for blending out that cut crease. This is also  perfect for Asian eyes, small enough to get right in there instead of using like a MAC 224. 

Similar to MAC 219 but isn't precise at the 219 making it better to smudge that line til your heart's desire. Hello smoky eye's best friend. 

This brush is very interesting. It's soft, it's angle makes it so beautifully effortless with blending a transitional color. 

These are synthetic brushes that Sigma made popular as the mini of the face synthetic brushes. Does exactly the same thing Sigma brushes for a lesser price. 

The top brush is a little weird. I was expecting the brush to be more fluffy. I have to find a purpose for, maybe highlight. The other brush would be good for highlight for contour as a more precise placement. 

Tools of the trade are important, especially when it comes to your brushes. Remember to treat your brushes as if it were your own hair. Take care of them and it will help you with your craft. Just because a brush says it purpose should only be used for one purpose, be creative, almost every brush can be used for other parts of your body. It is you who is the artist, so whatever is comfortable to you, will show in your art. 

Cynthia

Glitter and pop

Eyebrows are soft. 

Smoky eyes with a pop of glitter and soft pink lips.

Belletto Studio Airbrush Makeup

I finally got my hands around the whole color range of the Belletto Airbrush Makeup.  I'm very particular about different airbrush makeup because:

1. It is a good yet expensive investment. Being able to have that as an add on service for bridal, proms, balls etc can really boost your business

2. Airbrush makeup is very versatile, you can use with an airbrush machine or with the right brush (for some reason I don't like using a beauty blender with it, I feel as if the blender sucks up the product more than a brush)

3. A good one will provide sheer to medium, buildable full coverage and great for long wear i.e. Weddings, events, dates etc. 

In the kit I purchased, I got all twelve shades that they offered. I did not get the full 14 or 16 colors because I got these thru Hautelook (PR for marketing them lol). I believe there are 2 more colors which are the darkest colors. 

Their line has the usual undertones, ruddy (or pink) and yellow. All of their colors are labeled as F2-F10 and P for pink (ruddy, pink undertone) and Y for yellow undertone. 

The top photo are the "P" colors. My skin tone is yellow so these colors pop out more on my arm. The bottom photo is the yellow colors. The color matching is pretty simple. I usually have to mix colors for me to get the right match but color F6  in the yellow undertone was a perfect match. 

The coverage is sheer to medium. It is possible to build to full but I would recommend using a brush to build it to full coverage. I have acne scars so I need the full coverage. The coverage wasn't as great that I would get from a cream foundation so I used concealer as well. The foundation sets quickly, almost feels like powder.  I wouldn't recommend using powder all over the face.  It may make your skin look too powdery and dry. For oily skin, maybe just down the center. I think the glowy look (glowly not oily) on the rest of the face.  For someone who has dry/mature skin, I would make sure that they prep their skin with a very good moisturizer as this airbrush makeup, or any other, settles in to lines.  As with oily skin, you also want to use an appropriate primer for your skin condition and skin type.  

I'm impressed by the formula and had it on for about 8 hrs. My skin was oily, as it usually is, but it seemed it was under control, not like an oil slick from frying bacon (YUCK!).  

Remember, you don't need an airbrush system. You can use a kabuki or a regular foundation brush and stipple. 

Feeling Blue

What do I love doing when I'm feeling down?

If you'd like to see a list of products used, here it is:

Eve Pearl HD Dual Foundation

Ben Nye Banana Powder

Nars Foundation Powder 

MAC natural skin finish in dark

Loreal C8 powder

Anastasia Dipbrow in Dark Brow and Auburn

MAC texture, saddle, espresso, shadowy lady, carbon, vanilla, nylon

MAC reflective pigment

Makeupdesignory cake liner in black

Makeupdesignory character palette

Mally Eyeliner

Mally VolumiizingMascara 

 Ardell Glamour Lashes #111

Lip Love

ll LIPS ll   The universal sexy symbol. This color are seen going down the runways and magazines. 

Lip liner - Nyx Ruby

Lipstick - Lady Danger

Shine and gloss

Just a little teaser posted on my IG. If anyone want details on this look, feel free to let me know. I will be doing more looks. 

IG: @cynmarie_tho2 @cynmarie_tho

FB: like my page facebook.com/muacynthiaperalto 

Twitter: @cynthiaMarie0o

Make-up, Milani, Loreal...oh wow!

I've been doing major make-up hauls, both drugstore and high-end brands, to do reviews and most importantly, add to my kit. I've been wanting to try some of the new, or not as new, Eyeshadows from the drugstore. I live within walking distance from our local CVS/Longs. In Hawaii, Longs was our ONLY drugstore we had for many years before Costco and Sam's etc etc. 

I walked right in to that store with a mission and some leisure time (I can spend almost all day anywhere makeup is in sight. It's no wonder make-up is my career). I started from the end of the makeup isle and worked my way up, looking for anything that caught my interest. I stopped at Milani first because their baked shadows were screaming to be looked at. There were 2 colors that caught my eye. One was a copper/red color, the other a bright blue/pink fuschia. One of the main reasons I love baked eyeshadows is the effect you get when  the light hits it; it's a metallic and very multi-dimensional look. Next I walked by Rimmel and found their new Scandeleyes Kohl Eyeliners...put that in my basket. I walked along more towards the Loreal cosmetics. I picked up the Loreal Infalliable eyeshadows which looked like loose pigments. 

Now the best part:

The colors I chose from the baked Milani shadows are (from left to right in the first photo) 602 I Heart You and 616 Must Have Fuschia. I swatched the in the second picture both with and without primer.  The texture is a little gritty but no doubt, a baked shadow. Depending how you use it, wet or dry, you get the best of both worlds with the products. The color pay off is crazy-good and yes I would purchase more colors and use in my kit. Milani - check!

These Loreal Infalliable Eyeshadows are not what expected....it's above and beyond what I expected. Colors I chose are Liquid Diamond on the left and Eternal Sunshine on the right. I have to say the texture seems buttery and finely milled, more than MAC (dare I say).  It's like a cross between Urban Decay, Lorac, and Smashbox. The color payoff is unbelievable. The swatches above does no justice. As you can tell, there isn't much of a difference with or without primer, the pigmentation is THAT good! I can't wait to do wet looks with these. I'll DEFINITELY get more colors and recommend do other MUAs. 

One last brand that I am starting to fall in love with it is Rimmel. Their new Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner and shadowstick are BLAAACK. I noticed the shadowstick lasts longer than the eyeliner. Like any other Kohl Kajal, it's very creamy and easy to smudge out if you want that effect. Definitely a good base for those smoky eyeshadow days. 

Don't forget to follow me on IG: @cynmarie_tho @cynmarie_tho2  and like my FB page: facebook.com/muacynthiaperalto

Buenos Noches mi amores. 

Lights and Shadows

There are 2 important factors when mastering the art of artistry. This applies to all artists. This is mastery of light and shadow.  Everything around us is in 3D. We see perception and depth. As artists, we try to mimic this on paper, canvas, a face, etc. Light and shadow is what gives life to the art you're doing. For makeup, your focal point to base your light and shadow is above and in front you. Placement of the light and shadow (highlight and contour) can go either way, enhance your features in a negative or positive way. For example, if you were to put a contour color under your eye, it may give the illusion of a fatigued eye, maybe even a black eye. Remember, whatever you want to HIGHLIGHT, you want to bring bring forward. Whatever you want to CONTOUR, you want to recede. Here's a face contour example:

There were different products I used and love to use on myself and clients. 

First I start with a clean face, moisturizer, primer and this wonderful Urban Decay B6 toner/spray. Think MAC Fix+ with vitamins and B6. 

Next, I use cream products to highlight and shadow. I prefer cream based products as my base because they adhere to the skin better and the coverage is always flawless and the staying power is great as long as you use minimal product. Yes, again, a little goes a long way. The rule of thumb is - cream to cream, powder to powder, liquid to liquid. In other words, it is not suggested to have a cream foundation on, then start using a powder for contouring without setting the cream first. What happens is the powder contour won't blend well. It'll adhere to certain areas more than others, it'll look blotchy. So if you're using cream or liquid, remember to set with powder before moving on. 

For my contour I used MUD (Make-up Designory) Pro concealer palette, using the darkest colors. 

For my highlight, I used the MAC Pro concealer palette in medium light. I mixed all the colors on the left on to my palette. 

I used my Coverfx Total Cover Cream Foundation in N80 to marry everything together, blending well so as not to see the demarcations. Make sure it's as natural as possible, seeing lines on a face is disastrous. 

Now to seal everything, you must set with powder. I dusted the Ben Nye Camel powder all over to set the whole thing. Then I used the famous Ben Nye Banana Powder to emphasize the highlights. 

And the last step was to emphasize my contour with Kevyn Acouin bronzer mixed with Coastal Scents contour powder

Tips: 

Look at your face in the mirror. Imagine it being the shape of an oval. Now using the technique of light and shadow (highlight is to bring out, contour is to recede or push back) you can carve out the perfect shape you want. Every feature on your face can be enhanced with that same technique. 

Go ahead, try it! See how far you can take it. For fun, you can even reverse highlight for contour, it's pretty fun. Ok artists, sleep tight!

Makeup renewal

I did a little haul to replenish my kit. 

You can never go wrong with some fix+. 

Mac and makeup forever

Cynthia