Trying to keep a model’s foundation semi matte in a climate like Miami’s is almost impossible! How would have guessed that you a simple gel anti-perspirant could be a great medium for foundation? Well, Mitchum is a must have in my makeup kit these days.

Simply squeeze a little gel anti-perspirant on the back of your hand and mix it with the foundation that you plan on using for your model.  This will not only keep the foundation in place, but it will require less touch ups!

As a Makeup Artist, if you have ever tried a keep a models skin looking natural to matte, then you know what a struggle it can be in humidity!

MItchum anti-perspirant is $3.99 at drugstore.com

Thank you for reading! I know the struggles of beginning as a Makeup Artist, so enjoy my tips and feel free to email me with any questions  danica@askamakeupguru.com .

Television is not the only one going HD! Cargo Cosmetics has come out with a makeup line exclusively for High Definition Television. As you know when you saw your favorite news journalist for the first time in High Def, you never realized that her skin was not so flawless and that her foundation was so cakey! With High Definition unfortunately TV viewers can see all! Cargo Cosmetics has taken this into consideration and has created makeup to help even the roughest of skin textures look more refined and flawless for TV. The Blu-Ray line was created for Makeup Artists who were doing makeup that would be filmed in hig def and even for the everyday women who would like to acheive flawless looking skin. This line is also great for Makeup Artists who do makeup for weddings, film and anything that involves photography!

Go to http://www.cargocosmetics.com

Seductive length… Shiny patent finish…

New! Maybelline Lash Stiletto.

How hot is that visual? So, anyone that reads my blog knows that I am huge fan of stilettos! My fix for a bad day… put on my stilettos and instantly I feel great! I wore this mascara for the first time alone and without an eyeliner and felt that my lashes looked long enough to where I didn’t have to over compendate with more eye makeup.

Well, the name Lash Stiletto definetly lives up to it’s name. Maybelline’s moto… “You know what stilettos can do for your legs? But do you know what they can do for your lashes?”

I have seen this mascara on the shelves and wanted to try it just for it’s name, but haven’t until now and boy am I glad that I did. I love a mascara that is non-clumpy, separating, and more thick at the root of the lash and thins out towards the tip. Lash Stiletto did all of this for me! The mascara tube is even shaped like a spikey stiletto heel and retails for around $6.99.

Tips for applying Lash Stiletto:

-Start at the root of the lash and curl your wand as you move towards the tips.

-You don’t need a lot to help extend your lashes to give a great length.

-I used an eye lash curler first and then applied the mascara and my lashes stayed curled throughout the day.

-Washing off the mascara at the end of the night was so easy, no eye makeup remover required.

So, who is this mascara for? For anyone that loves a clean, long and sexy lash! If you prefer a more voluminous lash, then you may try my favorite technique by using a clean mascara (lash stiletto) followed by a more volumizing formula. Using two mascaras is great for the woman who is “really into her lashes”!

So all of my readers know that I am a huge MAC fan, but am not so quick to always recommend their foundations. Most women don’t want to feel their foundation or see it for that matter! In my makeup kit I prefer to use a moisturizing concealer because I have not found a foundation formula that covers and looks natural… until now! I recently tried MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation, $28.00, www.maccosmetics.com.

A creamy, hydrating and smooth foundation that provides a medium coverage (great for the everyday women), but is buildable for you gals who prefer a more full coverage. The finish is very natural and best with a loose powder so you don’t loose the gorgeous texture. I have found that a pearl size is all that you need for the entire face.

This product works great for the everyday woman to Makeup Artists who want a variety of foundation shades, but have limited space in their kit.

Apply this foundation with a foundation brush, such as the MAC #191 or #187 brushes. I prefer the #187 because I am enjoying the look of this product buffed into the skin and I think it looks more natural. In a dry climate, like here in Colorado, a more moisturizing foundation is a must!

So normally when we think of Spring we think of fresh, light and less makeup of course. Not true for Spring 2009! The strongest inspiration for Spring Fashion 2009 is icon, Brigitte Bardot. Known as a French actress, former model and singer, also an animal rights/welfare activist, she was just named Empire’s 100 sexiest film stars. So, the look? A very sultry black rimmed eye, glossy nude lips and full straight hair.

This is the classic Ms. Bardot

Now for a more modern take on Brigitte! Fashion Designer Roberto Cavalli has used Brigitte as his inspiration for his Spring 2009 collection. Pat McGraph who is a true Makeup Artist’s inspiration, was the lead Makeup Artist on set for the Roberto Cavalli Fashion Show. She used Max Factor Color Genius Minerals Foundation and Max Factor erase cover-up to acheive a natural finish on the skin. For the intense black eyes she used Max Factor eye liner in night club, Nars eye shadow in inky black and then Max Factor Duo Eye Shadow in Domino Effect to finish off the eyes. To complete the natural looking skin, McGraph used Nars the multiple in Copacabana (one of my favorite products!). The lips were muted with a concealer then Cover Girl No Care Bare lip gloss was applied to add shine.

The entire look is gorgeous and has some what of a 1960’s/ 70’s feel to it, completed with pant suits and gold jewelry. When there is such a strong focus on the eyes, like this Spring’s smokey eye, you want to create a softer look for the rest of the face. This is why a nude lip and soft cheeks are a match made in heaven for a smokey eye!

This look may be a little strong for most on a daily basis, so previously I made a smokey eye makeup video tutorial which is much softer and uses minimal products. Here is the video featuring a very soft and simple smokey eye!

I am sure that you have all seen the lip trend for fall… Dark Lips!? I know that it can be a bit hard to grasp at first, with the nude lip being so popular and all! I have never really been to big into dark lips, but I have to admit that with the right eye makeup and my hair pulled back, I can rock out a dark lip these days. I found an amazing lip gloss that can take your favorite lipstick and turn into the trendy fall dark lip in just a dab or two.  At first I didn’t know if I was going to shine my black stilettos with it, or exactly what I was looking at, but after trying it on I had to have it! I am talking about the new lip gloss by Yves Saint Laurent, Pur Black Gloss $28.00. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, this new gloss will not turn your lips black if you place it over your existing lipstick to deepen it. Choosing a new lipgloss is so much easier than trying to find that perfect shade of lipstick!

Not only are dark lips in vogue for Fall, but so are dark nails and I could not be more excited about that! We’ll Always Have Paris, by OPI is a gorgeous nail lacquer to compliment your dark lips and muted tones for the Fall.

A little tip that I have learned with maintaining dark nail lacquer on my nails, is to apply a great nail strengthener first. I have great success with Nailtiques! Apply two coats of Nailtiques and wait to dry, then apply two to three coats of your favorite shade and again allow to dry. Now finish your nails with a final coat of nailtiques. For 7 days apply one coat of nailtiques to a clean nail and allow to dry. This will really help to keep those nails looking flawless!

Clumpy eye lashes filled with way too mascara is not a good look for anyone! This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to makeup. Mascara is meant to take your natural lashes and enhance them to look soft and lush, not tarantula like! To really get more out of a mascara you must try a mascara that will separate and define each lash rather than coat it like crazy. I recently tried the new Christian Dior mascara, Iconic, $27.00. I am in love! The rubber wand that so many cosmetic companies are naming as their own, is really amazing for natural looking lashes that will help to achieve a natural, more separated look. Chanel mascara in Inimitable, $28.00,  is another one of my all time favorite mascaras. For a more affordable mascara with a similar technique, try L’oreal Clean Telescopic, $8.99,  mascara which is really affordable and in my opinion works just as great as the other high end mascaras mentioned.

To add a little more volume to your newly lush lashes, try a volumizing mascara over your defining mascara for the ultimate set of lashes! I created a video below which shows this same technique. In the video I used L’oreal Voluminous mascara, $8.99, which is great for the woman who loves to plump up her lashes!

One last thing, a mascara when used 5-7 days a week, will only last about 4-6 weeks due to bacteria build up and the amount of oxygen that is released into the tube each time it is opened. This tip will help your mascara to look more natural and to not flake off onto your skin! Do not ever add water or any other ingredients to your mascara, this will also help bacteria to mulitiply.

“Create Your Signature Makeup Style” Seminar

Sunday December 14, 2008 11-2pm

Magnolia Hotel, Denver, CO

Hosted by Danica Jardien

Owner of Make-up Envy.com and

Ask A Makeup Guru.com

Cost for Seminar: $50 (Includes Seminar and Refreshments)

10% of all proceeds will be donated to Project Angel Heart

www.projectangelheart.org

Learn basic makeup techniques and how to apply them to
your daily look to “Create Your Signature Makeup Style!” I will go over
the best techniques, colors and products to use for all women to help
you look your best on a daily basis, without hassle! Please come
prepared with a “makeup problem” and a picture of your ideal makeup
look.

To sign up contact Danica at (720)939-3650

I look forward to meeting you and helping you to achieve your Signature Makeup Look!

Here is a fun makeup tutorial that I did on October 27th for Diwali which was on October 28th this year! Happy Diwali to all of you who celebrate, and for those of us who do not… This is really fun and festive look when you want to stick out in the crowd! Enjoy and Stay tuned for more!

I created this Cat Halloween Makeup for my YouTube Channel for all of my subscribers who celebrate Halloween. I really wasn’t intending on putting this video on my blog, but I thought that it is a really fun look to see even if Halloween isn’t for you. This Cat Halloween Makeup is great for any women who wants a unique look for her Halloween Party! Enjoy!