I knew in my heart that I needed to briefly (and quickly) let Mr. Wells know how much he has inspired me to continue to work on my craft, and make my mark in the makeup world. I introduced myself and told Reggie that after hearing him speak at The Makeup Show-Chicago in 2011, I did some self-reflection and realized that I needed to take a leap of faith, and leave the field of education (Reggie’s previous career), and move forward with plans

Picture taken by Tiffany Payne-Griffin, 2011

to work as an artist full-time. We chatted briefly, and after Reggie inspected my eyebrows (I got the seal of approval), he gave me a big hug, wished me well and I floated back to my table on cloud 9. Does it matter if Reggie ever remembers this conversation? No. What matters is that I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to thank Mr. Wells, a pioneer in the field. He has paved the way for so many other artists, especially African-American artists, and shares life lessons every time he speaks.

For the looks you see here, I interchanged several brands of eye-shadows to get the look that made my client happy. I started with Magnolia Makeup pigment in Green Tea, and applied it to the tear ducts and inner eye areas on both the upper and lower lids. On the center of the lids, I used MAC shadow in Bitter, and Inglot shadow in 384 on the outer corners and crease. MAC shadow in Naked Lunch was swiped under the brow bone area, and I used Make Up For Ever Aqua Black and MAC Smolder for eyeliner. Since my client chose to get eyelash extensions prior to our appointment, I skipped the mascara. The young lady and her parents loved the finished look, and as her artist, I was happy that she looked fresh and fabulous!

I get paid to do makeup. Let me say this again. I get paid to do makeup. I use quality products. I take classes to stay abreast of trends in the industry. I read articles and interview other makeup artists so that I can gather information, and hear different perspectives. This means that I do not want to do (insert your name here) makeup for free. I do not expect my doctor, lawyer, dentist, local supermarket, or favorite department store to give me free services, and I don’t expect to give clients free makeovers. There are exceptions to my rule. I have a charitable heart, and I donate my time AND my hard-earned money to charitable organizations and would gladly donate free makeovers to help a specific cause.

Please know and understand that when you ask a professional makeup artist to do your makeup for free (especially when you can clearly afford the service), you are insulting that artist, especially when you comment on how much you enjoy the artist’s work! You are insulting the craft, talent, and the time it takes to develop the skills to make that artist marketable. Makeup Artists come from all walks of life, and would like to be treated like knowledgeable, talented human beings. This means that your current artist may have formerly been a medical doctor, teacher (in my case), architect, or (insert occupation here). This ALSO means that when artists give you a price, please understand that although fees are negotiable, you should NEVER ask for a free or darn near free makeover. That’s unacceptable and makes you look like you don’t value that artist.

As a consumer, you have a right to ask questions and demand excellence from anyone that you hire to do your makeup. You should ask to see samples of their work, ask what tools they use, and anything else that will make you feel comfortable about getting a professional makeover. What you can’t do is cheapen the experience by being cheap.

Now Beautylish Boutique has added Inglot to the roster of brands they are selling and you really need to head over there to see what the hype is all about! FREE shipping if you spend over $35 is certainly tempting, and if you spend UNDER $35 dollars, you get a flat rate shipping fee of $5. Get your spring colors now!

I’ve been hesitant to wear “bling” lashes but I’m going to give these a try and see how they look.

YIKES!

There are ways to look “hot” and ways to look “not” so if you are even a tad bit unsure about how to groom your brows, please revisit my previous posting “Brow Beating 101″ and share this with everyone you know. My patience is wearing thin! Enjoy your Friday!

YES!

Stephen’s work has been showcased on the covers of Vogue, TIME, and countless other magazines. If you follow fashion and film, you’ve seen even more of Stephen’s phenomenal runway makeup at Dior and Valentino shows, on actress Cate Blanchett, and the Kardashians.

Because I’m a life long learner, I took copious notes while Stephen demonstrated how to capture the light on one’s face. He used the following MAC tools and products to create the looks you see in my photos:

Brushes #109, #190, and #225 (although #224 is what was available for purchase) were used to apply all of the makeup used.

Products included Prep & Prime, which has a brightener that helps keep the complexion even, Face & Body Foundation (not one of my favorites because it’s too “thin” for my taste), Pro Glitter in 3D Silver, Taupe Blush used for sculpting and shading all over the face, Cream Colour Base in Luna, Shell, and Pearl, Hot & Naughty Mascara, Feline Kohl Pencil, Cherry Lip Liner, Ruby Woo Lipstick (MY FAVORITE RED LIPSTICK EVER), and a Concealer Palette. I noticed that Stephen used a combination of the cream colour base and concealer to highlight all the areas he wanted to showcase. He used the taupe blush as a shading color, and used it in places that were unexpected (eyelids, as an eyeliner on the bottom, forehead, chin, etc.)

As Stephen and the audience engaged in shop talk, we were also able to view his portfolio. There were some breathtaking pictures of models, and one in particular really stood out. The face of the model was orange, (seen in the 2nd picture posted), looked like digital art, and had a cartoonish quality, but everything we saw was MAKEUP. For that look, Stephen used MAC Pro Paint Sticks, highly pigmented and pliable products, to create the orange and burgundy look for the pictures.

I definitely felt like I was back in school, as I took notes, and asked questions. Stephen gave us some valuable information: Taking a beauty risk is what makes you an artist. If you don’t like the look when you’re finished, wash off the makeup and start over. In the end, we DO have control over what images we want to show the world.

At the end of the presentation, we were served cocktails and given time to shop and network. I came prepared with my “shopping list” so that I could stay focused. If you love MAC like I do, it’s SO easy to overspend, and I AM a beauty BUDGET girl, so I had to restrain myself! Before I made my way out of the store, I stopped to chat with Stephen and thank him for giving back to other artists. I told him that from now on, every time I open a magazine and see the “light” on a model’s face, I will think of him. He gave me a great, big hug that matched his great, big personality and thanked me for the support. All in all, I had a wonderful time!

MAC Ruby Woo

I’ve decided to wear my favorite red, Ruby Woo by MAC for the remainder of this month. Ruby Woo is truly one of the most beautiful red lipsticks I’ve ever seen, and I’m not alone, as many beauty babes have test driven and testified to how perfectly pretty their pouts are after wearing this timeless red. I’ve used the color on clients of the entire skin color spectrum and Ruby Woo has not failed me yet! The color is a matte texture, but goes on smoothly and doesn’t bleed. Sometimes I pair mine with MAC’s “Beet” or “Vino” lip pencils for a slight twist on the overall look. I’ve even mixed it with a black lipstick to get the perfect burgundy! Check out the picture ————>>

If you are “red pout shy,” it’s time for you to take a chance and try something different. For those of you who wore a trademark red lipstick back in the day but RUN like hell from the color now, I promise, you won’t be disappointed by Ruby Woo. “She” is awesome! Pick her up at your nearest MAC store or purchase online via the MAC website!

XOXO

Tiffany