As most everyone knows, the D.N.C. (Democratic National Convention) was held in Denver, Colorado this week. I was fortunate enough to have done makeup for Sony BMG Records who had two of their major stars, Big Boi from Outkast and Tatyana Ali talking passionately about their support for Barack Obama. The online tv show featured Big Boi who interviewed many celebrities who also support Barack, such as Johnny Legend, Ed Gordan and Wendell Pierce. I can’t say enough good things about Big and Tatyana, they were really nice and down to earth people! Word is that Big was going back home the very next day to literally finish one more verse to complete his album!

So true! It is never too soon to pamper your eyes! I believe that at the age of 15, girls should be given an eye cream to begin to moisturize the delicate eye area. “Sweetie, here I want you to apply this Shiseido eye cream on your eyes day and night.” This is a conversation that I wish my mom would have had with me at an earlier age!

Many women that I talk to don’t even use an eye cream! Living in Colorado, women have extremely dry skin here, especially in the winter time. It is more than crucial for women in high altitudes to take extra precautions with their skin, such as moisturizing and protecting their faces from the sun. As a makeup artist I have to spend some time before I begin doing makeup just to try and slough off dead skin and moisturize the skin again. When applying makeup over dry or flaky skin, the makeup is not going to look so hot! No matter who your makeup artist is.  I can always tell a women’s age by two things…. her hands and her eyes! Your eyes truly are the window to your soul. Ever wonder how everyone in the office can tell when you haven’t slept a wink the night before? Plenty of sleep, water, a healthy diet and great skincare can take you far!

Let’s face it! We are all going to age and there is nothing wrong with that, but hey let’s at least age gracefully. Here are a couple of things to do and not do to keep that eye area looking soft and supple:

- Always wear your eye cream, day and night! No matter what! My best friend once told me “If we loved together I would be waking you up and make you putting on your eye cream!”

- The bigger your sunglasses are, the better! Protect that sensitive eye area and never expose it to the sun. Dad, I know you that you have always made fun of my “Jackie O” glasses, but hey my eye area is looking good!

- Avoid using hot water when washing your face, instead use lukewarm.

- Try using almond oil or jojoba oil from your local health grocer to remove your eye makeup from the day. This will not strip away your natural oils and actually add moisture to the eye area.

- Don’t tug and pull at the delicate skin around the eye! Treat it like a gem.

- Use a moisturizing concealer. I know that I preach this from time to time again, but it really does look more natural and in the long run will benefit the eye area.

- Carry re-wetting eye drops in your cosmetic bag, rather than the “get the red out” type. It is always good to have a refresher!

- Use a light-weight silicone based eye cream for the daytime and a heavy eye cream for the night. This will insure that your eye shadow will not be running down your face by 1 o’clock!

- Apply your eye cream  on the orbital bone of the eye rather than all over the skin, which believe me can get into your eyes and cause irritation. Product warms up and travels, so there is no need to apply the cream all over.

- Do apply your eye cream on the top of the eye as well as on the bottom.

Enjoy this info and remember, Don’t forget to wear your eye cream!

Hey everyone! I have been nominated for Colorado’s Channel 7 A-List for Make-up Envy (www.make-upenvy.com) my makeup business. I want to thank all of my clients, friends and family for their love and support!

I would like to ask all of my subscribers to take just a minute and click on the link below to vote for my business! I would greatly appreciate your time:)

Thanks everyone!

http://kmgh.cityvoter.com/make-up-envy/biz/109028

 I Love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input.  I’m listening. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

So I am a busy bee normally runnning from one place to the next, enjoying my day and going from one makeup lesson to having a bride to my home for their Bridal Consultation. I am normally too absorbed in what I am doing to take a quick peak in the mirror and always find the same mess! Oily skin. I know I am always speaking of my oily skin, but it is truly out of control! Normally before I begin an appointment with a client I will blot and powder and try to degrease in any way that I can, but it is during the middle to end of the consultation when I have turned into a complete oil spill! I will be speaking to a client with such confidence and I am sure they are thinking "I hope she doesn’t make my skin look like hers!", or "I wonder if she knows her skin is so shiny?". I don’t know? I have decided to really try to combat this oily skin and try a couple different products. It is one thing to try a product on one of my clients, but I do like to be a guinea pig so I know what I recommending.

 I recently did a photo shoot because I need more pictures of myself for my websites (www.make-upenvy.com and www.askamakeupguru.com). The weather in Denver, CO USA was almost 100 degrees and I am pregnant so it felt more like 120 degrees!  We choose an alley believe it or not behind some houses and found so many unique backgrounds. I was changing from one long sleeved tunic to the next and sometimes wearing a hijab (scarf). I tried a new product before I left the house to see how it would work in such heat, Chanel T-Mat Shine Control. I used it after an oil free moisturzer and hoped for the best! I ended up loving this product! My skin was not excessively oily even hours into the shoot and I didn’t even use my MAC Blot Powder.

So here are a couple tips to keep your skin shine free!

1. Try a cleanser with either Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid to really combat the oil. Use day and night.

2. Do use a toner, but not one that will strip your skin using a lot of alcohol.

3. Eventhough your skin is oily you still need to moisturize, so use a lightweight oil free moisturizer during the day and something a little more moisturizing at night. Sometimes your skin will over compensate for lack of oil by producing more oil!

4. Use an oil free foundation. I use a powder foundation, but there are plently of great matte liquid formulas out there.

5. During the day before you powder make sure to use a blotting sheet to remove the excess oil from the skin and not add a "cakey" look by placing powder over the oil on the skin. I love Palladio Rice Paper Blotting Sheets!

6. Use an ultra sheer powder that is meant for touching up throughout the day. A foundation powder is much too heavy, so I like MAC Blot Powder, Chanel Shine Control Powder SPF 15 and Cargo Liquid Powder.

Now every woman may not need all of this maintenance throughout the day, but for those who have extremely oily skin or live in humid climates then oily or shiny skin can be a big concern! For a woman who experiences oiliness just in her t-zone area then a simple blotting paper or a sheer powder might work for you. Stay cool this summer and shine free!

 I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input. I’m listening. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

Many women don’t even bother putting on eye shadow in the morning because they know that in just a few short hours their shadow, time and effort will all be bunched in the middle of the eyelid. This is not a good look for anyone! I can’t tell you how many women I know apply their eye shadow straight to a bare eyelid or me on top of a sheer coat of foundation. This is crazy to me, why even bother!

Think of your eyelid as a bare canvas that needs to be prepared with gesso before you begin your masterpiece with paint, or in your case…..eye shadow! So, what is a girl to do? I really do have the oiliest eyelids in town and have to work to keep my shadow on, so I have used many many products out there so you don’t have to!

Here are some steps on how to prepare for eye shadow:

1. Don’t use a heavy eye cream! Use a light-weight silicone based eye cream during the day to absorb excess oil on the eyelid.

2. Don’t put foundation or concealer on your eye lid so you can really get the full effect out of your eye shadow base.

3. Do use an eye shadow base, such as Urban Decay Primer Potion (normal to oily skin), MAC Paints (normal to oily skin) or Laura Mercier Eye Basics (normal to dry skin).

4. Do apply your eye shadow base using a brush if you have a really have a hard time keeping your eye shadow on so the oils in your finger tips do not "breakdown" your eye shadow base. A synthetic fiber brush flat brush will work the best!

5. Do use your fingers to apply your eye shadow base if your eyelids are not excessively oily.

6. Do warm up the eye shadow base on the back of your hand or on a spatula to warm the product so it moves better on the skin.

7. Do apply a thin layer of any eye shadow base.

8. Do know that your eye shadow is only as good as your eye shadow base! Blend that base and blend it some more! If your base is clumpy then your shadow will be too.

9. Do not use a sponge tip applicator to apply your eye shadow, use natural hair brushes when using a powder eye shadow. This will apply less pressure and blend the eye shadow with more precision and in return will look much better!

These are a couple of tips tht really do help your eye shadow to stay in place for the day! Enjoy your crease-less eye shadow!

 I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input.  I’m listening. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

I thought some of my blog subscribers might like to hear some makeup tips from another makeup artist other than myself, so I found this article in Vogue India and Ruhi gives some great makeup tips for the everyday women! Enjoy!

Make-up artist Ruhi Bindra is the woman behind the ‘Chak De India’ girls.  Her portfolio includes television campaigns like BPL Mots, Nestle, Polo, Samsung, Mother Dairy, Hutch and Santro. Here, she speaks to Vogue.in on make-up for the workplace, working the red carpet and braving the monsoons!

On waterproof make-up

To ensure that your make-up lasts during the rainy season, use waterproof make-up. After applying the base evenly, spray your face with MAC make-up fixer.

On make-up for the workplace

For a corporate workplace, one should ideally use a water-based matte foundation and powder; matte peach, pink or nude brown shadow; waterproof eye liner or smudge-proof kaajal topped with waterproof mascara; matte rose pink or peach blush; and a peach, light chocolate or soft pink long-lasting lip colour.

On make-up for day

Use a light fluid base under loose powder; pink cream shadow teamed with aqua eyeliner; one coat of voluminous mascara; desert rose blush on the apple of your cheeks; and MAC’s pink lipglass to complete the understated look.

On make-up for the red carpet

Use a shimmery liquid base topped with shimmery loose powder; a grey and silver shimmery cream- shadow for a smoky look; nude cream highlighter; grey liquid liner, voluminous mascara; bronze cream blush; and a red shimmer lip stain topped with red gloss.

 I Love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you are here!  I would love to hear your feedback,  and input.  I’m listening. Have a makeup  or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

Kim Kardashian False Eye Tutorial.

Kim Kardashian is known for her amazing eye makeup and even more amazing lashes, but are they truly real? As a makeup artist I love to study the big screen and magazines to investigate the tricks of the trade of this industry. . . and those lashes are not real! They look great though! What women would not a pair just like hers? Here is a quick false eyelash tutorial that will give understanding to all of the women out there who have been wanting to talk a walk on the wild side and learn how to apply false lashes. They are perfect for any special occasion and especially weddings, for anytime that you really want to have that special something about you! Enjoy the new video!

 I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here. I would love to hear your feedback and input. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

 I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here. I would love to hear your feedback and input.  Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

I have been a Hashmi Kajal addict for years now just like so many other women and was mortified to find out that my all time favorite and most inexpensive cosmetic contains lead! I literally had every one of my friends and clients hooked on this stuff! Needless to say I am still devistated and have been forced to try so many different “khols” out on the market and am not 100% sold yet. If you have been using any Hashmi products by Surma, please stop! I have tried Guerlain’s loose powder eye khol which is available in different colors and retails for $33.00 and seems to be my favorite so far. I have also used MAC powperpoint eye pencil is Feline which was a limited color, but the pigment was so intense (much more than smolder!) which gave a very dramatic look to the eye, but doesn’t stay so well. Anyway, here is some information that I found online just to back up this horrible news: (Found out http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/lead/lead-import-eyecos.shtml)

 Go ahead ChatBack (Click on comments below) to me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback,  and input.  I’m listening. Have a makeup  or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

Here are a couple of tips for the Indian bride when considering makeup for her wedding day:

The Solah Shringar of the bride (Bridal Makeup)
Bindi – Tika - Rakhri: Bindi is the symbol of the bride’s suhaag and Tika / Rakhri is worn in the center of the forehead dropping down to the center of the brow.Nath: Nose ring adds to bridal beauty by giving her traditional look.Jhumka: Earings are another very important ornaments, which add to bridal beauty.

Kajal: The application of kajal on the edges of the eyes makes the bride’s eyes beautiful and attractive.

Mangalsutra: This beautiful necklace of gold and black beads is the symbol of married woman.

Payal – Bichua: Payal is the chain with small bells worn around the ankles and   bichua is sort of ring for the second toe and these ornaments add to the beauty of Ankles 

Choodi: The bangles are considered the most visible signs of marriage and make the bride’s wrists beautiful. 

Flowers: Flowers are very important in the every aspect of Indian marriage. They are considered to be symbolic of life and happiness.

Mehendi: The hands and feet of the bride are covered with Mehendi designs and is the symbol of prosperity and is very significant shringar of the bride.

Kamarband: Waistband holds the sari in place and is a very important waist ornament.

Sari or Lehenga: This is the colorful bridal dress.

Pocha’s: This is the hand ornament of the bride which adds to the beauty of the bride.

Angouti: The ring makes the bride finger beautiful and is the symbol of love and commitment.

Bazubandh: This one of the most beautiful ornament worn by the bride on the upper arm.

I hope you could find this helpful!

  I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input.  Have a makeup  or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .