BEAUTIFUL SPOT

Last year I worked on a 'lil' lotto campaign for the West Virginia Lottery called 'You In?'. On this particular project I wasn't in the makeup department, instead I keyed wardrobe for the commercials. Yowza! It was a huge undertaking and a Lott-O-fun. ...I know...I'm cheesy.

Anyway, I adored all the preparation, organization and creativity it takes to make all culminate in the land of wardrobe, almost as much as I adore the spots that came from the hard work of the whole fantastic, hillarious crew.

Here's a spot... You In?

 

It was a decision that I made fairly quickly. My lifestyle was already leading in that direction, so I transitioned easily. Honestly, there are a myriad of reasons why I decided to go raw and why I’ve stuck to it.

So far the only drawbacks are not being able to cook food (I prepare food now) and eat the same things as my friends and family. But that doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying the time that we spend together.

The positives outweigh the negatives hand over fist.

I could go into the science of a raw diet here, but my intention isn’t to justify my decision. Simply, I will tell you… I feel amazing from the inside out. I feel strong, energized, focused, light and HAPPY! Need I say more?

So, I wanted to share with you a GEM of a raw organic snack I gleefully found at the local Whole Foods. These little snack-y miracles of pure pleasure are named 'Hail Merry'.

They are - raw, vegan, gluten-free, full of living enzymes, rich in omegas and raw oils with no refined sugar - little wonders that melt so sweetly and lusciously in one’s mouth there is a good chance one may shed tears of joy. They are a tiny bit high in fat but, if you contain yourself to enjoying one or two a day, it’s no problem.

My favorites (all the ones I’ve sampled thus far) are the Macaroons choco, Macaroons blonde and Pecans with orange and rosemary. These flavor-y explosions of goodness are on sale at Whole Foods now. Go. Get some. Indulge. 
…You’re welcome.

“'Hail Merry' was created by Dallas raw food chef Susan O’Brien. Ms. O’Brien’s products are dehydrated at very low temperatures in order to protect the essential oils and living enzymes found in her organic raw ingredients.”

Several weeks back the multi-talented, Canadian, celebrated and celebrity pro-makeup artist Cheryl Gushue contacted me to tell me about a new Canadian makeup line that she loves called, Pari Beauty. Pari graciously sent me a few products to review, so I immediately put them in my kit and put them to work.

The first product that I'll review, I fell in love with...Pari’s 'No More Circles Eye Gel'

A little excerpt from Pari's site:

This protective and repairing gel alleviates dark circles and puffiness while also reducing fine lines around the eyes. It contains natural arnica extract and a soothing mixture of herbal extracts which work together to improve blood flow, cell turnover and hydration while breaking down the tiny blood clots, which cause dark areas around the eye. They work together with Pentacare HP, which tightens, and firms the delicate tissues of the eye area and a vitamin C derivative, which acts as a skin-firming agent that builds collagen and improves skin elasticity to brighten the skin.

My experience with No More Circles Eye Gel:

I’ve been using No More Circles Eye Gel on my clients for over two weeks. I’m excited to report that the claims for this product are true!
 Every makeup application in which I apply No More Circles Eye Gel to the under-eyes, my clients' skin glows brighter and its texture is smoother. This gives me consistent beautiful results.

Upon contact the gel cools the skin and my clients report that their skin feels more awake and refreshed immediately. The cooling sensation is slowly replaced with a slight tightening of the skin, which you can see and feel. This product makes the makeup application glide on with ease.

If Pari’s No More Circles Eye Gel can achieve glowing results in one application, can you imagine what it will do as a part of your daily skin care regimen?

I’m a BIG fan of any product that improves the skin and, in turn, my work. SOLD.

Today kicks off the first day of THE MAKEUP SHOW, LA.!

The magic of trade shows lay in ALL the opportunity they present; School peers and teachers reunite... Pros are able to rub elbows with the biggest names in the industry... It's not uncommon to run right into smiling, gracious and WILD-TALENTS like Ve Neill or Billy B. You're able to educate yourself on business expansion, have a professional portfolio consultation and/or fine tune any areas of expertise that you've been working on. Take classes, sit in on free lectures, watch demo applications from prosthetic to beauty, have a one on one pow-wow with YOUR favorite industry Icons. And, of course, seek out all the new highly discounted products on the market. There is so much to accomplish at these trade shows, it's a professional crime not to attend.

So, If you are an aspiring makeup artist, or a working makeup artist who is looking to expand your business, I strongly urge you to go to a trade show. Or, if you would like to take it a step further, call up The Powder Group or the Make-up Artist Magazine and ask if you can volunteer. You'll earn free admission and may have the opportunity to assist an amazing artist. The possibilities are endless.

Perhaps this year IMATS, London, Vancouver or Sydney will be my Makeup Trade Show destination.

Buon Voyage. Go forth and NETWORK. And don't forget your business cards.

**IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) is presented by Make-up Artist Magazine,  and The Makeup Show is presented by The Powder Group.

 

I'd say the past year or so my skin seemed to have lost a little youthful luster. Be it from age, stress, pollution, it was simply starting to bring me down. Thus begun the search for the perfect 30-something face cream.

Then, one blessed day, a little miracle fell into my lap as my Sephora checkout gal offered that I choose a VIP Rewards gift, (great program, by-the-by), where I choose the adorable miniature replica jar of Shiseido's Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizer Cream. Not thinking too much about it, I dabbed it on, morning and night, for a week or so… low and behold my skin started to plump back up aka. rehydrate, it felt energized, silky-smooth and soft and it began to give off that old youthful glow that I once took for granted. So, I bought a jar and began using it regularly.

I was finally sold when I was on set one day and a adorably sweet 20-something girl looked at me, stopped me mid apple break and asked "What have you been doing with your skin? It looks Am-A-Zing!" Vuala! It was all I needed to hear.

From that moment I decided that Shiseido's Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizer Cream and I shall live happily 30-something ever after.

What moisturizer works best for you? I'd love to hear about it.

 

A few fun facts (borrowed from the ever accountable Wikipidia) about Shiseido:

• Shiseido Pharmacy was established in 1872 by Arinobu Fukuhara, former head pharmacist to the Japanese Imperial Navy.
• The name "Shiseido" can be translated as "praise the virtues of the earth which nurtures new life and brings forth significant values"
• Shiseido was the first to develop the softening lotion, a lightweight liquid of toner-like consistency.
• The softening lotion was developed in response to lead poisoning, as the Japanese women used makeup based on white lead.
• In 1917, Rainbow Face Powder was introduced. The idea of a face powder with seven colors was very novel in a period when white face powders were the norm in Japan.

 

We need your help to get this Super-Terrific SciFi Film into a theaters near you. I already had the great fortune to work as Key Makeup on this film and I'm really excited that it's almost ready to launch. A Clear Conscious Production is almost half way to their goal. Every dollar counts! Thanks a Million for your help!

Today I was fortunate to have the opportunity to volunteer for Flashes of Hope, Pittsburgh Chapter at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Flashes of Hope is a national nonprofit organization that gives children with cancer, and their families, the chance to see themselves in a different light through the gift of photography.

The smiles and love that I witnessed today cast enough power to illuminate a city block. The children, their immediate families and their ‘Children’s’ family, (the remarkable doctors and staff that support them), are unwavering heroes each and every day.

I was there to add a little glitter, a little gloss - in hopes that I might match the sparkle in their captivating eyes - and to give hugs and support to the children who were photographed. It’s days like this that mean more to me than the highest accomplishments that I’ve experienced as a makeup artist. To me, these children are bigger stars than any A-list celebrity I could work with...they are as brilliant as tonight's harvest moon in the sky and they give me hope for a brighter future.

The magnificent spirit of these beautiful children move me beyond what I can capture with words. They are survivors who never stop reaching forward and who do so with happiness, gratitude and patience.

Whichever field of expertise that you may possess, I encourage you to volunteer your skills to who or what cause might benefit from them. Through volunteering the difference you can make and the fulfillment you'll receive in return are immeasurable.

What else are we here for if we can’t be here for each other?

This spring I took a break from my regular freelancing routine to visit Scandinavia. “Scandinavia?” you might ask. Yes. Scandinavia.

My destination was Stockholm, Sweden. The initial reason to travel was that my sweetie was attending a conference there and invited me to join him. Being that I had never been there, I gathered that it would be wonderful place to visit, but after the plans started taking shape I realized that I could really gain some visual and tactile inspiration for my work on this trip. What an opportunity for me to experience Northern Europe’s architecture, cuisine, art, fashion and MAKEUP customs first hand. Not Bad.

So, I did a little brushing up on Sweden’s capital, (I must admit while I was hopping the pond) via the best travel guide out there; the tried and true, don’t leave your country without it TimeOut Guide.

After reading about all of the foretold beauty that I was to experience, Stockholm easily lived up to the expectations. The city is colored in many beautiful shades of grays, browns, greens, rusts and creams. It’s clean and well-esteemed and cold. A city built around the company of water, (which made me feel at home as I’m from a city built up around 3 converging rivers) from old town to new, its architecture spans between 13th century and modern design.

I’m going to be a little aggressive and say that 95% of Stockholm’s citizens are inherently fashion conscious. Not in a forced way but in a very natural, casual and easy way; a downright hot and sexy and sleek sort of way. Most people are in great shape, not to mention tall and blond. Being a 5’2.75” (sans heals) Brazilian/Irish girl, I was just a wee bit out of my element, but that ne’er stopped me from diving in to the unknown…Be that as it may, I like to look the part. I wished badly that I could have rocked a pair of killer 6” platform boots and a Moncler Woman’s Badia Down Jacket in Shiny Black, (*ahem, Christmas-present-hint*).

Back to the fervent style of Stockholm…I swear that even the homeless have an acute fashion sense, along with pre-teen boys... I know!!! Men can be spotted all over town in their layers, scarves and sleek footwear pushing very fashionable strollers; Stockholm is also a progressive city where forward thinking makes six month paternity leave (alongside maternity leave) the social norm. P.S. it’s mandatory. (Okay, where do I sign? Seriously.)

This is my picture of Stockholm and it is colorful and peaceful, classic and trendy (and still very, very cold). But let’s get onto the makeup, shall we?

The women on the street wore natural makeup and were rarely overdone. They had radiant complexions and knew how to utilize their makeup to remain fresh and gorgeous while they were walking, working, dining or celebrating while huddled under a heat lamp, wrapped in a blanket at their local bar.

Each day while walking or jogging down BirgerJarlsgatan (‘gatan’ is the word for road or street) my eye would magnetically wander through one particular window of a boutique named Mist Stockholm. Mist is a makeup academy that has freestanding stores saving face throughout the city.

…So one day I went in. The pretty blond girl behind the counter (everyone in Stockholm speaks English) greeted me curiously and kindly. As she studied a fashion magazine on the counter, I stood in awe…I was completely captivated—no, engulfed—by the colors around me.

The waves of loose shadows drew me over to them, and I surfed. The currents of lipsticks pulled me beneath their surface, so I swam. The steep peaks of rich, slick shiney opaque glosses, luxurious as silk, tempted me down their slopes, so I skied. After all of the painting pleasure, I walked out of Mist with a smoked American Express card, smiling much as I would have had I just smoked a Marlboro Light after mind-blowing…well, you get the picture.

Here is my feedback on my Mist products. Like most mind-altering adrenaline rushes, I am sorry to report that the euphoria was only temporary. Let me explain…. You’ve heard the expression, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Well the storefront was a indeed a great cover, but the content of the book—in this case the product itself—simply didn’t deliver on its promise. All I left with was a frustratingly misleading purchase and a little damage to the American Express card. Final verdict, great makeup itself but, in my humble yet expert opinion, the packaging and industrial design of Mist Stockholm products look great, but are substandard.

The tweezers I bought don’t tweeze. I bought 6 glosses, of which two tubes broke open (resulting in a sticky gloss leak all over my kit) before I ever was able to use them and one of which was a tester. Yes, they sent me home with a tester. Huge-let-down. Thank the makeup gods that you really can’t mispackage loose powders & cream pots. I still have some shimmering tangerine and watermelon pigments and metallic creams to experiment with. All and all, step up your packaging, Mist Stockholm. Put your money where your sexy is!

Now, my makeup adventures weren’t all for naught. I was able to interview a successful editorial makeup artist, with whom I held court with one afternoon at the Moderna Museet or the Modern Museum of Art. Interview to come this fall.

Stockholm is beautiful; its people are kind and generous, the fashion inspiration is endless. If you ever have the chance to visit Stockholm, I highly recommend making the trip. You won’t regret it.

For now, enjoy some more pics and I’ll be seeing you soon down the gatan.

Check out the newly released and awesome video "Shhhh" by Donora. This is the second video I keyed for the Pittsburgh native indi rock band, Donora. I love their music, even when it's being played on repeat for 12 hours straight, AND they are so much fun to work with!!!

Directed by Casey Hanner
DP: Christian Lockerman
From the self-titled album DONORA
www.myspace.com/donora
www.twitter.com/donora 
© ℗ Rostrum Records/Donora

"YOUR CHANCE TO GIVE SOMEONE A CHANCE"

I teamed up with Jump Start Films and Yellow Submarine to shoot "Who Helps?" an important and beautiful message for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh - a fantastic non-profit mentoring program.

Making a difference in a child's life... Volunteer or donate TODAY!!

Longer cut of "Big Brothers, Big Sisters 'Tracks'" PSA.

Shot in two days, on location in Sewickley, PA, and Hazelwood, Pittsburgh, PA. We used the Sony EX-3 with a Letus Extreme 35 and Nikon Primes.

The production was very fortunate to have great weather for both days, as you can see from the shots of the grasses in the beginning - the lighting was just beautiful which made my job a lot easier.

We also had fantastic people to help with the train, and the traffic in Sewickley (we shot right on the main downtown street).

Produced by JumpStart Films. www.jumpstartfilms.com

Today I partnered with the Framesi Hair Team lead by one of Pittsburgh’s Top Hair Stylists, Sandie Scott, to present Framesi’s new ‘I Love History’ and ‘I Love Future’ Collections.

The hair show was held at the beautiful and welcoming Bella Capelli Academy - A Paul Mitchell Partner School and state of the art facility. It did not matter to me in the slightest that I had an early call time only to drive through the gloomiest Pittsburgh morning of the year; I was gearing up to play with COLOR, lovely models and the talented Framesi Team. Sandie and her partner Tom are hair-styling geniuses and our models were glowing, gracious and FUN!

Framesi’s ‘I Love Future’ collection composes a fresh and edgy face where the skin is kept pale (very popular right now), soft pink lip, lightly sun kissed cheeks and a strong smoky eye. While the ‘I Love History’ collection embodies a Roman feel, which is, heavy in monochromatic gold’s, coppers, bronzes and browns, caressed with a faintly apricot tinted, glossy lip and a brilliantly smoked UNDER-eye. I could play around with these looks for days… and oh, how I wish I could.

Enjoy some of the snapshots that I took today and if you have a chance visit the Framesi.it website.

Thanks for having me as your makeup artist once again, Sandie and the Framesi Team!!!