Friday 5 March 2010

Welcome to the new-look Beauty Bulletin from A Beautiful Education! You no longer need to double-click to open your smart, colourful monthly makeup-fix.

I'm half way through a wonderfully full wedding season.  I'm enjoying the fact that as a makeup artist based in Tauranga, half my wedding business comes from Auckland!  Many former locals return to marry in the stunning Bay of Plenty or come here specifically to tie the knot in a famous 'mount beach' wedding.

This weekend my makeup fingers and brushes will be in a FLURRY with four wedding bookings (13 'faces' in total), a glamour makeover for a studio photo shoot, a bridal makeup trial and (just for a challenge) a day of face painting FORD logos at the All-Ford Day at Blake Park, Mt Maunganui on March 7th.

If you see me in action, do make an effort to come say 'hello'...just excuse the paint smears. ;-)    For your beautiful education,

- Lillybeth

HOW DID I EVER APPLY MAKEUP WITHOUT IT?!!

That's what you'll wonder when introduced to your very own portable Beauty Profile Smarts-Swatch.  It contains the customised beauty smarts you need to become your own beauty expert.  To be bold with brushes.  Fearless with colour.

In your handbag on your next shopping trip.  Or in front of the mirror before your next night out.  It's a tool that'll help you choose your best colours, use your best techniques and feel beautiful and clever, all in one.

Created by Lillybeth and exclusive to customers of A Beautiful Education, the Beauty Profile Smarts-Swatch is free with all consultations. 

FACE OF THE MONTH

PRODUCTS USED:  A custom blend of two shades of Mary Kay (MK) Full Coverage Liquid Foundation; MK Mineral Powder Foundation, Beige 1; MK Bronzing Powder, Sandstone layered with a deeper brown contouring powder (no brand). CHEEKS:  MK Mineral Cheek Colour, Sparkling Cider.  EYES:  MK Mineral Eye Colour in Honey Spice, Silky Caramel & Chocolate Kiss; MK Eyeliner, Taupe; Maybelline Define-A-Lash Waterproof Mascara, Brownish Black.  Ardell Knot-Free False Lash Flares, Brown.  LIPS:  Stageline Lipliner, Neutral; MK Creme Lipstick, Toffee;  MK Nourishine Lipgloss, Polynesian Petals.  TO FINISH:  Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Makeup Sealer.

WHAT SHE SAID:  "I was so overwhelmed with how beautiful you made me look!  The photos truly proved that you are a true artist!  Thank you so much!  Also the make up still looked incredible the next day! Absolutely loved the lashes!!  Awesome :-) "

! NEW ! REFERRAL REWARDS

Who do you know getting married in the BOP this year or next? Know a bunch of women who would just adore a hands-on makeup workshop? Or someone wanting the perfect present for an image-conscious woman? Refer them to A Beautiful Education and when they book my services you'll enjoy free makeup goodies as a thank you.

HER'S HOW IT WORKS: When you refer someone who books any of my makeup services or buys a gift voucher for a service, you'll get to enjoy my services too. After 3 successful referrals, you'll be thanked with a free Special Occasions Makeup Application (usually $65). Or after 5 successful referrals and you'll get your own 'beautiful education' with a free two hour makeup lesson (usually $140)!

Rave about A.B.E.'s pro makeup services when you hear of a Bride-To-Be, 21st Birthday Girl, 30th/40th/50th+ Birthday Girl, School Reunion, School Ball, Family Photo Sitting, Top Level Job Interview, Business Card or Business Website Rebrand, Locally-made Commercial/Film...

Rave about A.B.E.'s interactive makeup lessons & gift vouchers when you hear of a Hard-To-Buy-For Birthday Girl, Mum Needing Some 'ME-Time', Professional Woman Desiring A More Polished Look, Group Of Young Women Needing Age-Appropriate Makeup Advice, Mature Woman Wanting To Refresh Her Look...

QUICK 'N' DIRTY TIPS: Mascara

We kiwis are ingenious creatures and makeup artists, by nature of their role, must be highly resourceful.   So as both a kiwi and independent makeup artist, I am happy to let NZ's famous 'No. 8 wire' mentality influence my creative technique.

Some of my favourite makeup techniques are 'hacks' or work-arounds...They may not be taught in makeup school but they're born from necessity and a desire for improvement.  They're QUICK, EASY and WORK.  Here are a few of my faves!  This month:  Mascara.

• If not already angled or curved, bend the bristled part of your mascara wand onto an angle, less than 45 degree.  This will make it easier to apply to any hard-to-reach lashes at the outer corner of your eyes.  Plus it'll make it easier to coat the brush with the product when it's getting low in the barrel.
• Think your waterproof mascara has died an early death?  Before applying it, run the barrel of the mascara under the hot tap (or sit it in a cup of hot water) until it heats up - about 15 seconds.  Waterproof mascara has a higher wax content to make it waterproof on your lashes, but this often sets and hardens in the barrel before you can apply it. Heat it up and you'll probably find more product left to apply.  Try this also to remedy mascaras you find too clumpy.
• Old mascaras make great brow tints.  When your mascara has too little product for your lashes, try using it to fill in and define your brows.  This will work best with mascaras that are brown or brown-black, have little visible 'wet' product on the brush and if your brows are medium brown to black.  Black may be too harsh for even those with naturally black eyebrows.  Use short, upward strokes to comb the product through the brows from start to arch, then use longer strokes through the tail.  To finish, blend or soften the colour by combing through a specially designed brow brush or completely clean mascara wand.

Got a Quick 'n' Dirty Tip of your own?  Share your tip with me.  If it's a goodie, I'll publish it next month.  (By the way, those mascara ads that show models with impeccably long, evenly distributed lashes?  They're wearing falsies.)

LIMITED EDITION PRODUCTS

For Spring 2009, Mary Kay Cosmetics released two 'Romantic Notions' sets, each containing a lipstick, beautifully pigmented blush and sumptuous loose powder eye shadow. Those at the Her Business Christmas Fair in Tauranga may have seen the blush (Soft Sable) and mineral eye shadow (Lilac Lace) in action.

As of March 1st, the cheek and eye colours (my favourite items from the sets) are back and available to be purchased individually!  This is great news!  The eye shadows in Lilac Lace and Pink Organza are the easiest way to experiment with colour, impart femininity to your look and add class to your makeup bag.  They apply easily with a built-in sponge smudger and the tip is graced with a gem-style embellishment.

Loose Eye Shadows in Lilac Lace and Pink Organza are $26 each.  The Cheek Palettes in Soft Sable (Dark) or Silk Nectar (Light) are $28 each.  You can browse MK products or request  a recommendation from this page on my website.