Aloe Vera...Face Lift.

Aloe Vera is soothing to the skin (especially when you have a sunburn), moisturizes the skin and can prevent hyperpigmentation.  Aloe contains polysaccharides, glyco proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Aloe Vera can be used to temporary "tighten" your skin. So you would want to apply this right before you go out. 

All you would need to do is cut a piece of the aloe vera leaf, slice it open and apply the gel directly to your face, leave it on for about 10-15min and rinse off with cool water. 

BET Awards Makeup Trends

Keri Hilson had brown smokey eye shadow with black winged out liner and white eyeliner in her water line, bronzy cheeks and natural lips. She looked gorgeous. 

Ciara, her make up was very natural, very light shadow with no eyeliner making her lashes stand out, bronzy cheeks, and pale lips. 

Beyonce, I LOVE HER PERFORMANCE. She also had a bronzy look with very little eye makeup, kept it simple.
Alicia Keys, I loved her shadow it also was a smokey eye but her shadow winged out instead of just the eyeliner. 

Gold/Green Eyeshadow Combo

Okay so first off, I've been super busy the last week so I have not been able to post as much as I've wanted. but here are some photos of a color combo I love for the summer!

Base: Rubenisque (MAC)
1/2 Lower lid (inner corner): Goldmine (MAC)
1/2 Lower lid (outter corner): Olive Green Pigment (MAC)
Crease: texture
High Light: Motif

Again you dont have to use eye shadows from MAC you can use other shadows that are similar in color. NYX is more affordable and has great pigmentation. I use MAC colors b/c i love them but I have also worked there for years so I had the discount benefit :)

Is the Shag back?

Happy Monday! Well, this is what happens when I finally can gather myself together on my day off...I'm late on Kristen Stewart's  (Twilight's Bella) new hair cut?

She looked so feminine in her long, subtle layered hair .. This new cut shows her edgy, fun side. But I guess this new cut shows her personality more? I mean we tend to judge artists with how they look and what they wear. It looks cute when she pins it all up, like a pixie cut.

This is also a perfect example of a really shaggy, super layered hair cut slash almost a mullet. 

INSPIRATION

Quick Tip...

Metal Mouth, Train Tracks, Brace Face, Ironman etc... Anyone that has or has had braces know that it could get annoying to be called names. So if you do have braces all you need to do is take the focus away from your mouth and put them on to your eyes. 

   Play with eye shadows, try different colors, smokey eyes etc.. This will take the focus away from your mouth and you can avoid all the name calling. 

R.I.P.

We wanted to give our respects to Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Its such a tragedy :( we are deeply sadden by their loss and want to give our respects to their families.  

Michael Jackson, King Of Pop! every song has a distinct memory of my childhood, Thank You! may you R.I.P.

Behind The Scenes... with M.E.

Melody Ehsani.... such an inspiration to us women . Make-Up by Alana

Hair by Azelle, her creation, isn't she good!

Azelle and I hard at work. 
Thank You Melody, Linus Shentu for photography, Nick and Ajax for filming, and Kev for helping with the interview. 

Stay tuned for final cut photos and video .

Avoid Puffy Eyes

The night before

- Drink a lot of water and cut back on salt.

- Pat a chilled eye gel around the area.

- Use products with anti inflammatory ingredients like, chamomile, green tea, antioxidants, 

- Use and extra pillow to keep your head elevated when you sleep.

Myspace Music Feed with Incubus, Regina Spektor, Green Day

The MySpace Music Feed:Incubus & Regina Spektor



Another Myspace Music Episode I got to work on. with Ms. Beautiful Jordyn Taylor. Check it out, this episode is giving you all the updates to Regina Spektor, Green Day and Incubus.

Enjoy!

Say hello to EVA!

Hi! So pretty Eva came last friday for a color appointment. A red, but something "normal".  And the result... 

Again reds are soo beautiful but be on top of the upkeep. Look back on my post titled 'Redheads'

One of Eva's concern was, "What about my eyebrows?" I recommended to not color it, bc the grow out can look gross especially if it is a bright color. And since she is one of the few who takes time to groom her brows I think it would be better just to try something temporary.

I suggest she try Show Off by MAC. It is a brow setter. ' Adds shine, style, grooming, overall wow! to the brows. A brush-on gel that grooms and slicks brows into shape without flaking or stiffening the brows. Available in several tinted shades or clear, it can be used on its own, or for a nice natural look stroke over Eye Brows. May also be used on lashes, sideburns, and chops - any facial hair.' The color Show Off is a rich brown with a little hint of reddish tone.   

If you prefer shadow, try mixing Brownscript with Espresso (both MAC shadows). AlanaDawnLA recommends this!

$13.50  check it out on MAC

and say hello to EVA on her myspace!

Make-Up Brushes

(from left to right...227,224,217,214)

I got a request from EYECEE, Can you list your must have brushes, especially ones for eye makeup?

    First of all thank you for your request, we love hearing from everyone. I am going to be doing a little more research and ill be making a video of exactly what brushes are good for your eyes and face. 

    For now, my favorite brushes to use are MAC brushes they are such great quality, they are pricey but I think of them as an investment. If you use cheaper applications / sponges etc... you have to replace them often. I have had my brushes from MAC for at least 7 years, (they end up being cheaper in the long run) as long as you take care of them they work perfect. 

STAYED TUNED FOR UPCOMING VIDEO ABOUT BRUSHES

wow!! zuca bags with MAC!

Okay so I have been trying to shop around for a sturdy, large, all-purpose travel bag. Either for a makeup kit or a hair kit. A lot of makeup artist roll in with a case, and hairstylists with their luggage. I wanted something with different compartments, large and small, for easy access and better organization, and also have enough space for your tools: curling irons, flatirons, large sprays etc.

Then, what does our favorite makeup store do? MAC does a collabo with zuca bags!!! Amazing!!!

Perfect for the artist on the go! A rolling traincase.

 If you are interested in picking up the Zuca traincase, either visit your local pro store, call 1.800.387.6707 (you can order pro items from this number even if you do not have a pro membership) or log  MACpro.com (for pro members only).

Nails, Nails, Nails

    Amazingly my son took a 3 hours nap! thats like 3 days to me. He normally just wants to play all day. I finished up all my work for the day and got to do my nails. I didn't know what I was going for I just kept painting... but I think they turned out cute. :) 

Fashion Show

    My boy, Keven  has been working on this the last few weeks, a fashion show on the roof top of a newly constructed building, Moda, located downtown Seattle, owned by our good friend Thach Nguyen. We will be here all weekend. Come join us for the event. RSVP to kevion@l-r-g.com

Volumizing Hair Products

Anonymous asked: 

Hair-

what are the best volumizing products and tools to give straight, thin and asian hair a lasting boost throughout the day?

Well it really starts in the shower. Prepping your hair can help a lot for your style throughout the day. 

1. Use volumizing shampoo/conditioner. It will get soaked up with your hair and each cuticle can plump up a little, nothing too dramatic of a change though.

2. I love Bumble n Bumble Thickening spray! Great for thin and thick hair! Works with heat and also acts as a structurizer to help hold style. Spray as much as you want and it will never feel like you have too much product. Roots to ends application.

3. When blowdrying your hair, comb everything forward from the crown to your face. This will give it a nice little lift. Make sure roots are completely dry! Dont mistake your hair for being dry when its hot, if it is hot, it will dry flat. Then dry ends as well.

4. Another product I love is Big Sexy Hair Dry Volumizing spray. Really gives hair a nice lift and texture. Great for the 2nd day look to absorb oil.

Thank you Anonymous for your question, let us know how this worked for you. 

Upcoming Project

So I wanted to share with you all, some of you may have heard Azelle and I have been working on a series called "Influence" for a while. I mentioned it in the interview with Prmtve Passe last month. We are so excited and we can't wait  to share with you the episodes, photo shoots, and line up we have going for the "Influence" series.  "Its more than an interview, its an exposure" keep checking up for updates its coming to you real soon!!

Foundations for oily/acne prone skin

Someone asked, What Foundation is good for oily/acne prone skin???

     I can say by experience that these brands work great for that, Laura Mercier's Oil Free Liquid Foundation, known for a matte finish and wont clog up your pores, MAC Studio Tech Foundation gives you a lot of coverage and has a matte finish. They are both hypoallergenic foundations as well, so they are good even for sensitive skin. Revlon Color Stay is more affordable and is also know to work very well. 

STUDIO TECH

Laura Mercier's Oil Free Liquid Foundation

Revlon Color Stay Foundation

ALSO... avoid breaking out by washing your face, even tho you wash your face every morning and night you may be breaking out because your not removing your makeup correctly. You can wash your face a couple times and still have make up left in your pores (this is why most people break out). I would suggest that you use a makeup remover, my favorite are MAC wipes, they are gentle, smell great, and break everything down. After you remove your makeup you then would wash your face, use a toner, and then use an oil free moisturizer, oil free moisturizers can help control the oils on your face. 

IMATS 2009 PASADENA, CA

It's about that time again!! Make up convention in Pasadena Convention Center! You must come! 40 % off MAC! (unbelievable) , lots of sales-sales-sales! and a great environment for all you makeup lovers. Come out! Hope to meet you there! 

How To Cover Up Stretch Marks.

I was asked: How do I cover up stretch marks? 

Well, its really hard to cover up a lot of stretch marks especially from a pregnancy because you tend to get them through out your whole stomach. Though they lighten up through time it can make people very insecure about their body. I would suggest to do a couple things. 

For a quick fix, you can try to cover up with heavy cover ups like full coverage from MAC PRO STORES ONLY. But before you apply the coverage you want something that can bond it together. Apply a face primer to smooth out the area and to allow the coverage to stick.

Also something that I found that actually worked was Elastin 3. My entire family got stretch marks so I was sure that I was going to get them with my pregnancy, I actually started to notice that I was getting these tiny red marks. So, I did some research and found Elastin 3. I applied Elastin 3 to my stomach every morning and night, at night I would exfoliate my stomach gently and then apply Elastin 3. It definitely worked! The tiny red marks are gone and I didn't get one stretch mark. :)

  Im not trying to be a spokes woman for them or anything but I know that if I didn't use this lotion I would have gotten them everywhere. 

Bronzy Look

Another video shoot with Jordyn Taylor. I wanted to do a look for the summer so I focused on the color gold. 

EYES

BASE: rubenesque

LOWER LID: Goldmine (any true gold would work)

CREASE: Espresso (true brown)

HIGHLIGHT: Motif (light gold tint)

CHEEKS:

REFINED GOLDEN BRONZER FROM MAC WITH MARGIN (SHIMMERY GOLD) ON APPLES OF CHEEK.

LIPS:

Tango (mac) lipstick with a hint of orange

top it with a peachy gloss.

Redheads

For those who are a natural redhead...jealous! And for those who aren't... we fake the funk.

I've recently got AshleyDimes hooked on being a Redhead.  She frequents at Salon Sessions with me for the works. It takes some effort to keep your color poppin!   She is a Co-owner of DimePiece, recently graduated with her B.A. (congratulations!!!) and part of our new project. We will keep you posted for sure! In the mean time, check them out! DIMEPIECE DESIGNS

Reds fade sooo fast!  Here are some tips to keeping your color vibrant before your next appointment:

1. Please use a color protect shampoo/conditioner! A gentle and safe to use everyday is Redken Color Extend Shampoo and Conditioner.

2. Do a cool to cold rinse after conditioner. This helps give hair a natural shine and seal color.

3. In between your next color appointment, come in for a quick color gloss. This will add a pop of your color and give your hair a nice shine before the full works.

4. Also, please use a heat protectant on your hair before blowdrying, using a flat iron, or curling iron. My favorite is Kerastase Nectar Thermique for dry hair or Kerastase Ciment Thermique for sensitive, overly processed hair. They are both leave in. Can be a little pricey but so worth it!! Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide, works well too and a little more affordable 

It's the little things you do, that really can help 

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SKIN CARE, HAIR DO'S, STYLES, PRODUCTS, MAKEUP TUTORIALS, PRODUCTS ETC... WE'LL DO THE RESEARCH AND POST IT UP. 

Jordyn Taylors makeup EPISODE 4

Final Makeup for Episode 4 Myspace Music Feed

I got to do Anas makeup and the rest of the band of The Airborne Toxic Event check them out on the final cut of episode 4 and of course I did the lovely Jordyn Taylors Makeup!

The MySpace Music Feed:Jonas Brothers & The Airborne Toxic Event

How to Wash Your Hair

There's a right way to washing our hair? But we've been doing it all our lives? I'm sure you get it as clean as possible but here are some tips to keep in mind to avoid breakage and over producing oil

1. Try to wash your hair every other day.

 This keeps a good amount of your natural oils and doesn't over dry your hair. If you have an overly oily scalp, and you know this bc by the next day your heads a grease ball, spray some dry shampoo. I love Big Sexy Hairs Volumizing Dry Shampoo. I would not recommend to wash your hair everyday, this will strip all your natural oils and your scalp is going to assume its too dry and produce more oil!

2. Before stepping in the shower, comb your hair.

This should take 2 seconds to take out the tangles and loosen up some dry skin (aka dandruff)

3. Now soak your hair

Warm water bc we would not want to jump into ice cold water and this can also help loosen up dirt and  product buildup

4. Apply your Shampoo

To your scalp first bc the Shampoos job is to get rid of dirt and most of it is in your scalp. You can create breakage and dry out your hair if you apply to ends first.

You would normally shampoo twice. First is to loosen dirt, second is rinse it out clean and treats the hair with the shampoo purpose

 

Rinse Thoroughly and wring excess water out

5. Then your Conditioner

I would recommend to the mid-shaft and ends first then the scalp. Especially for oily hair. This will help with tangles. Leave on for a good 2-5 minutes for that extra deep conditioning.

Rinse Thoroughly again.

***optional and also highly recommended!** Do a cool to cold rinse. Just like a toner to the face to close pores, this will seal the cuticle, give it a nice shine and help preserve hair color.

Seems a little time consuming but taking care of our hair starts in the shower first!

My son is my biggest fan!

Southern California we love you!

We love it on our skin, not our hair

Spraying fragrance on your hair is actually damaging.

 Many perfumes have a high alcohol content, colognes even higher, and if you're spraying them on your hair on a daily basis then your locks will end up brittle and dry. It can also strip hair color faster.  Doing this occasionally won't hurt too much - after all, having a whiff of fragrance as your hair swings about can be quite sexy. For everyday wear, keep it on your body. Key points are your neck, wrists, and behind the ear.  Several perfume makers are now listing the ingredients of their fragrances, but most still are not, so you really have no idea of how much damaging alcohol is in your favourite fragrance. 

We love to smell good, but your scent will actually last longer on your skin.

I need a Red bull

My Day has already been SO LONG!! started my day to do makeup at 4:30am, episode 4 for Jordyn Taylor. I love working with her, her whole family is so sweet. Thank God Im doing everything I love or else I would be going crazy. 

MYSPACE MUSIC FEED EPISODES

So I have been working with the production company 13 keys on these Myspace Music Episodes. This was the first Episode that I was involved with. I did touch ups for the guys and did The beautiful Jordyn Taylor's make-up. Let me know what you think.

EP003: The MySpace Music Feed w/ Method Man & Redman and Eels

Tip of the day.

JUNE GLOOM.... This weather makes me depressed, anyone else???

But I just read that a whiff of an Orange helps LIFT THE SPIRITS and CALM the nerves!

Lets all Have an Orange today.     

Makeup By LADYART -Micoley

Micole came to me to get her makeup done for her graduation. She is only 16 and is graduating high school! Congrats to her.



NOTE: you don't have to use MAC shadows, find shadows that are similar in color and you can use those. 

FACE

Start with a primer then apply your foundation in a circular motion around your face to even out you skin .

EYES

Base: I used cash flow from MAC but you can use any golden undertone base.

Lower lid- naked pigment

Crease:carbon/sketch mixed both together to give it a softer look

Highlight: Naked pigment (MAC) 

CHEEKS

 Apples of cheek- Peaches (any peachy matte color)

 Cheek bone- a shimmer bronzer

LIPS

 

 Lipstick- Brew ( any nude)

 Gloss- Oyster Girl ( soft nude pink)

"Mannequinesque" shoot!

Salon Sessions photo shoot finally done. Enjoy!