Well the warm weather is kicking in!!! A new year is a quarter in and things are a changin! The new trends for spring are "Barely there" and what I like to call "Fresh Color"... Barely there is all about texture with subtle high lights and contours! No real color to the face...just simple tones to enhance the right points on the face and the perfect textures to make skin look touchable and Flawless! Let go of Studio Fix and try Studio Stick or the Mineralize Cream Foundation!
Well groomed brows, natural blush and unlined nude lips that are matte or have subtle shine will get you the look! Cremesheen Glass and Lip Pencils are awesome for this look!


Color has evolved! Gone are the days of blending 3 or 4 colors so each one is distinctively seen in one eye make up application! Now if you do see color on the eyes...its a sheer wash of one color with browns to blend it out. Bold mattes are hot too! Everything is not glittery is glistening on the eyes anymore. The color in the 80's is back but in a much more subtle way! Bold lips are also a great way to wear color with drama! (Like Miss Meagan Goode here and Nicki Minaj) Matte textures are coming back with a bange although shimmer is still standing strong. So get rid of Oh Baby and try out a Ruby Woo or So Chaud Lipstick or Up the Amp or even Vegas Volt!


A few artist tips for these looks!
* Use a kabuki brush for super blended foundation! Small circles all over the face for sheer and even coverage!
* For pastel and nude lips...lip liners are fab! Fill in the whole lip with a natural shade close to the skin tone for that Barely there look. Or use the pastel liners in the middle of the lip as a high light
*Cheek Stains are great for these looks! They add a hint of color to the cheeks with a dewyy look! A little goes a long way!

The Dark Side of the Biz...the One you don't hear about

I've been debating whether to share this with the world...and my sense of "keeping it real" just won't let it go! I get so many request from other MUA's or those wanting to break into the industry...and I often wonder if they can deal with this point of the business cycle. Working for yourself isn't always fun, and in this business in particular...it isn't always "pretty". Especially if you value it as an art form. Of course I always look like I have it together, and all things are Grand! But there is a dark side to entreprenuership...a lonely place that even those closest to you can't understand( but will hopefully respect). I am craving something to inspire me...evolution into the next phase of my artistry. I feel stifled, bonded, restricted. Something like an extreme asmha attack...like I jumped up in the air and was going at light speed and hit an air bubble that I am now suspended in. Im waiting for this bubble to break! So I can proceed at light speed again...

There are so many peaks and valleys to entreprenuership...adding the hi's and lows of being an artist to that are like little heavens and hells! Yeah! That's a good way to describe it...little heavens and hells! When creativity is flowing and your imagination is coming to life, that is heaven for the artist! You see the beauty in everything, and you want to share it with the world! You have something to offer the world, and you can't wait to bless them with it!
The flip side to that (this moment I'm experiencing) is when you don't feel challenged. When you can see the beauty in everyone else's stuff but your own. When you simply don't want to talk to people you know have absolutely no idea how you feel, and introversion settles in. When you are looking for any medium of inspiration, buying random magazines that catch your eye, listening to the same cd's and songs over and over again trying to get the answer, browsing the internet for that person who's story will give you life again. When every suggestion from those not like you sound stupid and redundant. This is the darker side...and when art is how you make your money, this is not good. But it simply...is.

I've learned to get comfortable with this phase of business and artistry. It's not the first time I've been here, and it definitely won't be the last. Its part of growth, as a person, an artist and business woman. I used to get depressed, but I now know it is only a moment...one that I can use as fuel to my fire. Its my inner self's way of saying "It's time for what's next". No one can tell me what I need to do...only I have the answers to the questions I have. Its all about learning what my soul is trying to teach me...and I am forever learning to listen intently. I don't know what's next...I just want to be ready!

A few things are inspiring me right now
* Long walks with my dog
* Hot Ginger Tea
* Laughing with friends...(about the most random things)
Erykah came out with the album just in time...I soooo needed this!

This ladies show and book are giving me astronomical insight into the future!


Oh yeah! And sushi makes me happy too! lol ;)

The basics of selecting a "Flawless" Foundation!!!

Essence Magazine had a huge spread of all types of foundations to acheive that "Flawless" skin look! They are right there are so many options out now for women of color! We have come a long way from the days of just Fashion Fair(Shouts out to the homies)...but yet and still I receive so many calls, emails and tweets about how to match the right color for your skin tone. So I've decided to break it all down into a few simple steps into finding the perfect one for you!

1. Know Your Skin Type...The first 2 questions I always ask a new client is what their skin type is?, and what is their skin care regime? This is the basis of knowing what will look natural on YOU...Most fall in the category of oily, normal (which includes slight oiliness in the "t" zone) or dry.

2.Find your undertone...the best way to identify this is to look at your chest! This is normally a truer tone. Warm undertones fall under red, pink, and orange...Cool is yellow, gold, beige...Then there is Olive and Blue which are your very dark skin and extremely pale skin tones. Race is not biased here...across the board everyone has their own individual undertones.

3. Find the right formulation...powder, cream, liquid, and stick foundations even mousse can all look "natural"! It's all about application and choosing the right shade! Oily skin types tend to lean towards powders to counteract the oiliness that's already there. Normal can any formulation, and dryer skin types should lean more towards liquids and creams also to counteract. Oilies should stay away from foundations with shimmer or bronzer added to them, it will enhance the oily look and will break down much quicker. The same for dry skin and powder...powder foundations will settle into dry spots and enhance flakes and texture in the skin.

4 What look do you want?...matte, dewy, naturally powdered, a nice glow,or even just like skin! Are all looks that are achieved by different textures of foundations. The best way to tell is to look in a magazine or on TV, find out what you like about the persons make up? Does it look powdered with no shine? Does it look moist and dewy? This will help you to choose this ideal finish for your foundation.

5. Test the color...test the foundation color right at the jawline, where the neck and face meet. The right color will blend in like buttah! ;) You should not be able to see a distinct difference between the product and your skin. Also step back and look at it compared to your face, chest, and arms...it should work well with your whole self, and not just your face! It is normal for the face to be just a little darker than the neck and chest, so just be sure it all blends well

Last is finding a sheer or pressed powder to set your foundation with. The two go hand and hand! Setting your make up will help to keep it fresher, longer throughout the day...and it will also help with make up transferring onto clothes and what not. Not setting it makes a huge difference in all day wear! Plus you will need the powder to touch up oiliness in the t-zone...no need to put on foundation over and over again.

Feel free to ask questions at flawlessmakeupart@gmail.com...*kisses* ;-*

Break Ups to Make Ups...Or Just bad habits?

Break Ups Suck! Period! Most of us have experienced this in some shape, form or fashion. And I'm sure that men and women across the board would agree that they suck! Its already difficult enough to get to a place where love don't live here anymore! But its that grace period...that breezeway of time that makes you feel like you're "still in love with them", that I wanted to shed a lil light on! The late night phone calls (sometimes drunk ones), the passionate break up sex, the browsing through of old pictures and sentimental what nots...the "I want you back" phase. The topic of this blog is...Is it genuine? Or Just a bad habit? Because you do realize bad habits are hard to break?

There's nothing easy about sleeping alone when you're not used to it. There's no easy way to get used to not talking to the same person you talked to everyday. There won't be a replacement for the person that they were for you. These things will take time, and that amount of time will be different for each individual. When someone you love hurts you, it can sting to the core. Especially when it hurts enough to cause you to remove them from your life. It's only natural to want the comfort of that love back...to feel as if you can't live without it! Even if the love itself was abusive...physically, emotionally, or mentally. After all, the "love" became a part of your everyday routine. The first phone call when you get off work, dinner plans, friday nights and sunday dinners..who are you gona do those things with now?

When you have made a decision with YOUR best interest in mind...its often not an easy one to make. Most life altering decisions aren't. They're uncomfortable, they can be lonely and isolating, and simply hard as hell at times. But that inner voice will tell you what is real. As strong women we have to put our foot down from time to time! Women are nurturing, forgiving and loving creatures by nature. So when a woman is in love or should I say has love for someone its easy to forgive them when you want to see the best in them. Its Ok to forgive...as long as it is really deserved. All I'm saying is to make sure to ask yourself about what's real...you can't control other people, but you can definitely control yourself. Recognize the cycles in your life, and if something is not all the way for you, remove it! Life should be about progression and growth...not running around the same circles over and over again.



People will do what you let them do...just food for thought. Love Y'all! *Kisses* ;-*

Spring Pastels!!! Get you some!!! ;)

Spring is here!!!! Which means that its time for something new! ;) Out with the dark and sultry and in with the fresh and sexy!!! Yeah-ya!!! This Spring is all about pastels! And barely there make up!!! MAC has 2 new lines that reflect this trend! Too Fabulous, which I loooove! Full of wonderful new lip liners and the super moisturizing Creme Sheen Glosses! Plus new mineral blushes...Liberty Of London has great packaging...dat about it! *side eye* few new shadows and lipsticks...some beauty powders too. *shrug*

Pastels can look great on everyone! But it takes a little more work to make them pop on darker skin tones! But never fear! The "Brown Girl Specialist" is here!!!!

The main concept is to find warm, neutral browns to blend out the pastels so they blend for your skin tone! In each area of the face you can find this color that works just for you so that you don't have to be left out of this Spring's hottest trend!
For the eyes you want to find a brown shadow with a red base, more than likely a matte texture...one of my faves is Brown Script by MAC!!! Use this in the crease between you highlight and lid color with a blending brush...
For the cheeks I still love my Tarte Cheeck Stain in Sunkissed...or you can try a dab of cream blush in a deep red like NARS Turkish Red...start with these as a base and put your pastel powder blush over top. Other wise those light colors will just look ashy on darker skin tones
On the lips, liner is the key!!! But not like it used to be...Filling in the lips with a warm brown like Cushy Cremestick pencil by MAC...or go for it with the gloss of your choice, then blend it out with the Cushy or Classic Chestnut pencil for a natural look without the harsh lines! ;)

Every brown girls "neutral brown" will be a little different since we come in so many shades and tones...but as soon as you find it! You have they key to not only pastels but any color you never thought you could wear! Have fun! Practice! Kisses! ;-*

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A Romantic Look For Valentine's...

A Client just inspired me to give a few tips for a "Romantic" Valentine's Day look!! Here are a few suggestions...
Men tend to like a natural look...so for V Day, the key is to look effortlessly beautiful!
Skin: Cover mini imperfections with a sheer concealer...then blend it out with a mineral powder. Take a soft brush in small circles all over the face... I like MAC Cosmetics Moisture Cover and Mineralize Skin Finish
Eyes: Keep it supernatural...or dark and sultry! You can go sans eye make up, with perfectly groomed brows, and a little eye liner. Fill in the brows and pop them out by placing a dab of concealer(one shade lighter than your normal color) right under the brow to highlight. Use a liquid or cream liner on top and bottom to complete the look...you can even go for a cat eye for extra flare! ;) Or go completely opposite with a hot smokey eye! Dark browns are a little less intense with just as much sex appeal!!! Line with black liner on top and bottom, and you've got bedroom eyes! Try Galapagos By NARS..dark brown with gold sparkles! I die!
Check out this romantic look from one of our Joy:27 Boudoir Shoots Photography by www.eye27.com !!!!

Cheeks: A nice subtle cheeks is a must for the evening...something to bring that natural flush to the face. Stains and creams are great for this! Mineral Blushes give a great glow as well! Darker skin tones should start with a red tone cream and then balance it out with soft pinks or coral powder blush over top. Of course my fave is Tarte Cheek Stain in Sunkissed...MAC Lovething Mineral blush is awesome or go for NARS Orgasm blush for that after sex glow!!! ;)
Lips: Gloss those lips up!!! Men love that "wet" look...makes em' just wana kiss ya ;-*!!! MAC has some great new colors that I really love! Light that Fire LipGlass...and any MAC Dazzleglass overtop will give you the perfect kissable pout! I have also fallen in love with Tarte's lip glosses too! All natural! Feel and even taste great!!! ;)

Wishing everybody love on Valentine's Day...and even if ya don't have one, take these tips and get Flawless anyway! Just cuz ya love ya self!Kisses! ;-*