Basic Stage Makeup Tips: A Must Know for Every Performer!

As a performer, I've had tons of experience with stage makeup. I'm a dancer and an actress, but both areas of performing has similar if not the same general makeup! Stage lights are like high school snobs: harsh and point out your flaws. But stage lights are necessary for a great production. So I put together some tips for basic stage makeup.

1. Remember that basic stage makeup is the makeup that goes on under any makeup needed for your character. Also, if your director tells you not to wear anything that I put below, don't wear it! This is generalized and the usual makeup worn by actresses.

2. FoCoPo
I know, it sounds strange, but I think FoCoPo is a must have/do routine done before your other makeup. It stands for Foundation, Concealer, and Powder. As I said before, stage lights can be your worst enemy when blemishes aren't covered up enough. They bring out redness, discoloration, etc. So a good foundation, concealer and powder is absolutely necessary for looking flawless.

3. Eyeliner & Mascara
Being washed out is another terrible deed done by stage lights. You can look sickly pale if you don't darken up areas like your eyes. A basic rule for eyeliner is to make it black. Black looks the best and darkest on stage. I like liquid eyeliners, but pencil can work just as well as long as you thicken it. And for mascara, make sure it's waterproof, because the lights can make you sweat!

4. Bronzers and Highlighters and Blushes
Bronzers can be very tricky, especially when it comes to contouring. Unless your director tells you to, I like to skip bronzer, or else I could look suntanned or something horrendous like that. Highlighters can be tricky too. If done right, it can really make your cheeks and eyes sparkle. I like to a nice pigmented highlighter on my cheekbones and my brows and in the inner corner of my eye. I done wrong though, it can make you just look washed out. Blush is absolutely necessary for stage makeup. Without it, it can definitely make you look like a zombie. I like creme blushes for the stage, just because it's easier to touch up before going on stage.

5. Lipsticks
These can be really scary. Nudes can make you look washed out, but reds can be totally wrong for your part. Ahhh! Talk to your director, and always bring a variety with you to dress rehearsal.

6. Your Makeup Bag and Touch Ups

Every performer should bring a touch up bag. In it are the necessaries:

• Concealer & Powder
• Creme Blush
• Several different lipsticks in different shades
• Eyeliner
• Hairspray
• Bobby Pins
• Mascara

Yeah, hairspray and bobby pins aren't makeup, but they are still necessary for a good show. And even if you don't need them, someone else in the cast might need to borrow it!

Fun Fact: Hairspray doesn't have to be used for just hair- it's great for keeping your makeup on throughout the show!

I hope this helped!

Question: Can you name the Broadway Shows shown in the pictures?

Anti-Redness Primers: A Review



As some of you may know, I do struggle with a lot of redness on my face: corners of my mouth, my eyes and especially all over my nose. It's so red that usually my foundations, concealer and powders can't fix it all. So I went looking for anti-redness products, and I found L'Oreal Paris' Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer. I bought it even though I was very skeptical about using it. Why? Because I was afraid of putting a green product on my face.

Now, some of you might be like "Green? Are you serious?", especially if you haven't used a anti-redness product before. But here's why it's green: Green is opposite of red on the color wheel, so it counteracts the redness on your face.

I tried it on and immediately I noticed a change in the way my skin looked under foundation, especially after throwing on all my other face products. This primer is definitely worth the $13.

For me, I've never really needed a primer because my moisturizer clings to makeup, which is brilliant. But now that I've got this amazing primer, I'm never going back.

What primers do you use?

Dry Brushing?

The other day I came across one of Michelle Phan's videos about her foundation routine. She talked about how she's been using her blush brush to apply her foundation and I got to thinking. Is it possible to save a few dollars by using your blush brush instead of a foundation or kabuki brush?

Yes, it is. :)



After watching her video, I sat down and took my Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush and apply the foundation. It worked seamlessly. It didn't dry out the brush, it just looked amazing when I was finished!

I've tried many different techniques for foundation. Of course, I've used foundation brushes, and starting in the middle and working my way out, patting it into my skin, etc. I'm now using this technique and I love it!

I suggest you watch this video and subscribe to Michelle, she's awesome! :)

Spring Trends: Colored Denim!

Today during social studies class my teacher gave us an article about a new fashion trend: colored denim jeans! Of course, we had to explain to him what skinny jeans were and that wedges were not the same things as wedgies, but I really got excited about this trend. His question for us was "How are these evolved in the textile industry from the first Levi Strauss pair?", but my main reaction was how cute the colors are!

I'll link the article here but seriously, these are my new obsession. My favorite celebrity who has pulled off the bright colors is Princess Kate in a beautiful coral!

(Picture from InStyle Online)

Colored denim is spring-y and great for welcoming in the cold-yet-warm days! So my question to you is: how many pairs have you got?

I really suggest that you read this article, and I'll link some sites below that carry colored denim.

Forever 21

Urban Outfitters

Ann Taylor

The Gap 

There are plenty of others but I find that these are the cheapest!

-Anna :)



Get The Look: Taylor Swift in "Safe and Sound"

In honor of the new Hunger Games movie coming out Friday, I'm going to do a series of tutorials relating to the series and the movie. The first is for Taylor Swift, in her new music video for "Safe and Sound", a song on the HG soundtrack.  It's natural makeup, easy hair and a very, very pretty white dress.

First- Makeup!

1. Start by using your everyday foundation. I'm using my N.Y.C. Fit Me Foundation in the color "Light". She has very flawless skin, especially in this music video. Now take your concealer and cover up any blemishes you have.

2. Now take a pale powder and a powder brush. I would suggest using a shade on or one shade lighter than your skin tone for a more porcelain look. Blend this all over on your face and neck.

3. Her eyes and makeup in general is just very natural, but very pretty. I'm going to start with eyes and work my way down. To me it looks like she is wearing brownish purple eyeshadow and thick eyelashes. To start creating this, I'm using my Nars Eye Primer, which is an amazing primer, even better than Urban Decay Primer Potion. Next I'm going to use my NYC Individual Eyes Compact in Smokey Browns, and take the second from the top color, which is a grayish-brown. I'm sweeping it on with a lid brush and blending out the edge with a flat topped brush. I have a swatch of the color below.

4. Now I'm going to take an angled eyeliner brush, and taking the black color in my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I'm going to pat this color into a thin line right above my lashes to make them thicker. You can blend it out a little if it looks too perfect. After that I'm going to highlight under my brow and in the inner corner of my eye with the third color in in the same palette.

5. Now I'm curling my eyelashes and coating them with my ULTA Volumptious Mascara. It gives them length and volume without looking too fake. I love fake eyelashes, but I don't think it would look right with such a natural look. Taylor is probably either wearing them or her lashes are just amazing, but to keep it simple, just go with this or your favorite mascara.

6. Next I'm highlighting my cheeks with the same highlighter I used before. Next I'm taking a cream blush. I'm using my Maybelline Dream Mousse in #20 Peach Satin. I love this blush because it is super easy to blend and looks gorgeous with nude eyes and on paler and darker skin tones. I absolutely adore it.

7. Moving on to lip color, I'm using two colors: My Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee and my MAC Lipstick in "Snob". First I'm coating my lips with "Snob". It's a nice, light pick with a matte look and it's very beautiful and fun to wear. Now, to put a little more "nude" into it, I'm going to put a teensy bit of the Creme Brulee Lip Butter on my finger and then just pat it into my lips and rub them together.

We are done with makeup!

Hair Time!

1. After combing out my hair, I'm going to plug in my curling iron. I have a very simple Conair Curling Iron and it works great! While it is heating up, I'm going to split my hair in half horizontally, and spray it with my Aussie Heat Protectant Spray.

2. I'm going to take sections of my hair and curl them in different sections. I'm making it loose curls, so it doesn't look too overdone. If you have bangs, leave them seperate from the rest of the hair. Once the bottom is done, let down your other hair, spray and do the same.

3. I'm plugging in my straightener and going over the curls quickly. If one looks loose enough, don't go over it. Only the tighter curls. You can also straighten your bangs.

Done!

Outfit:

I found a very nice dress from Urban Outfitters. In the video, her dress has puffy sleeves and is very long. So I found a nice, casual summer dress to make it look like Taylor's, but not floor length.

This is the back:

So pretty! Here is the link to the dress and you can check it out yourself:

Dress Link on UrbanOutfitters.com

I can't wait for the movie :) See you later!

-Anna <3



Revlon Lip Butters Review



Yes, I know I'm late. They've been out for months. Oh well. If you haven't already checked them out, maybe this will make you go out to get one!

I actually went into Target and got 2, and then went into ULTA where they were having Buy 2 Get One Free Sale. Go figure. My motivation to find these were through MissGlamorazzi, when she posted her review of the ton of colors. See her video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWk0nwK9B4

Anyway, I'm having a great relationship with the two I already have. There are so many amazing things about them. I bought Peach Parfait (the one Emma Stone is wearing) and Creme Brulee.

Creme Brulee is on Top, and Peach Parfait is on the bottom.

I have so much to say about these awesome products!

1. Consistency and Texture

Oh mi gosh! It's so soft and moisturizing on my lips, something I have a problem finding. Even without a moisturizer underneath, my it makes them look healthy and not cracked, even if I skipped a lip scrub as well.

2. Color Range

I can't even tell you how amazing the color range is. Peach Parfait is a very pinkish-red color with a nice shimmer and coral undertones. It looks a lot more coral on Emma's skintone, and more red on mine. Creme Brulee is a goldish-brown, but the camera makes it look more gold. They are both gorgeous colors, and one of many. In Ingrid's video, she discusses 11 of the 20 colors they have. They go from a hot pink fuschia color (Rasberry Pie) to a dark brown color (Brown Sugar) to a very, very light pink color (Creamsicle) and every color in between! I love almost every shade they offer (the browns don't look fabulous on my skintone). Ingrid goes into great depth discussing a great amount of colors.

3. Shimmery Matte-ness

Lip Butters offer a lipstick look (think MAC lipsticks) with a gorgeous shimmer, but not too overdone. It's very mature and I feel like you can pull it off both in the daytime and night.

4. Packaging

SO CUTE! It really like how the lip butter twists, and the case is just so cute.

(Picture Credit to Amanda from http://myfindsonline.com/2011/10/29/more-revlon-colorburst-lip-butter-colors/)

Where to find these beauties:

Revlon Website: http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Products/Lips/Lipcolor/Revlon-ColorBurst-Lip-Butter.aspx

-Anna <3





Best & Worst: Concealers

Hi everyone! Today I am reviewing my favorite and least favorite concealers. They are both high end and drugstore, so I hope that I get across that not all of the best concealers are high end, you can find a lot of them in drugstores like Target.

Best:
1. My number 1 best concealer is Nars Stick Concealer. I talked about this in my last few posts, but I can't get over how wonderful it is. I love the consistency, how well it blends, etc.
2. I really love the Almay Smart Shade Concealer. It's a great liquid concealer for everyday and blends really nicely into the skin.
3. Next is the Neutrogena 3-in-1 Eye Concealer. It's really nice and light and gives you great coverage.

Worst:
1. ELF Concealer. I don't hate it, but it was difficult to work with, and not at all worth the minimal coverage it gave. I still found myself feeling self-concious about blemishes.
2. Maybelline New York 24-Hour Stay Conceaker is next. It was runny, hard to work with and really didn't give me enough coverage. :(

I hope this was helpful!



              (Picture from http://www.hqhair.com/nars-stick-concealer/10524450.html)

Drugstore Makeup Tutorial: Aqua Fresh Eyes

Hey guys! I'm going to show you a blue eye makeup tutorial using all drugstore makeup (with the exception of my Nars Concealer). I decided to try out a spring-y summery blue shadow look, because I find that I look good in blues, but I don't want anything too old-woman stereotypical- blue eyeshadow and red lipstick. So I came across this gorgeous Revlon Ad with Olivia Wilde:

And decided to try a good watered-down version of this beautiful, polished look. My camera would not pick up the blues, so you'll have to take my word for it.

First I'm going to start by using my N.Y.C. Fit Me Foundation in the color "Light". I'm going to pat it into my skin. Next I'm going to use my NARS Stick Concealer in the shade "Medium 1 Custard". This goes underneath my eyes, on any blemishes and a small amount on each of my scars. Pat these in with your ring finger, because it has the lightest touch.
Now we are going to move on to priming your eyes. I'm using the primer that comes with my N.Y.C. Indvidual Eyes Palette in the color "Union Square". Next I'm taking my Sonia Kashuk Lid Brush and the E.L.F. Brightening Eyes Palette "Teal Dream" and I'm going to mix the shimmery white color on the top left, and the champagne color next to it, then brush it on my lid.
Next I'm using my Sonia Kashuk Crease Brush and my E.L.F. Brightening Eyes Pallete "Silver Lining". The second color over, which is like a dark blue with purple undertones, is the color I'm using for my crease. Don't worry about getting it everywhere, we'll fx it. Now I'm using my Sonia Kashuk Rounded Blending Brush and I'm going to blend the blue so there are no hard edges.
Then I'm taking my Sonia Kashuk Flat Topped Eyeliner Brush and my ULTA Baked Eyeshadow in the color "Deep Blue Something". This eyeshadow is really pretty, and when you mix it together it's a very beautiful Deep Aqua color. So take the flat topped brush and swirl it around on the patterned side a little. The pat the color onto you eyelid right about your lashes, like eyeliner. Do the same on the other side.
Next use the shimmery white color from the ELF Brightening Eye Pallete in "Teal Dream" for a highlight on the brow bone, in the inner corner and a little on the cupid's bow. Next take that same color with the lid brush, and highlight your cheeks.
Now I'm using my E.L.F. Eyelash Curler and curling my lashes. Top it off with ULTA's Lash Icon Mascara.
The eyes are done, so we are moving onto cheeks. Since we've done the highlight, all we have to do is use my ULTA Cheek Color in "Flush", smile to find the apples of your cheeks and dust it on using my Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush.
Finally, for lips, I am going to moisturize them by using my Lush Lip Scrub in the flavor "Mint Julips". Now I'm using my Palmer's Coco Butter Formula Swivel Stick on top. Finally I'm using my Revlon Lip Butter in the color "Creme Brulee".

This is good for March, because it is a good winter to spring transition look. It has cool, chilly eyes and a warm cheek, as well as sheen to your lips.
-Anna

My Foundation Routine

I have a very simple foundation/skincare rountine before doing the more fun makeup. My skintype is rough, dry skin, so I use my dermatoligist recommended lotion.

1. First, I make sure everything is clean and dry. I need more converage on my left side, and it's a lot more rough over there.

2. I take the lotion, which is called AmLactin. It will moisturize my skin nicely without leaving it feeling sticky and uncomfortable, which I found some lotions do. Be warned, I personally don't like it's smell. Hopefully the smell won't bother you to the point where you can't use it, because it's worth it.

3. Now I take my NYC Fit Me Foundation in the shade "Light" and put a little on my hand. I won't put a lot, because a little goes a long way, especially with this foundation. Now I'm just going to take two fingers, dip it in the foundation, and start to cover the redness on my chin. Then I move up to around my eyes, my cheeks, my forehead and my nose. If there is any left on my hand, I will either blend it under my chin/on my neck, or just blend it into my hand. I really love this foundation because it's in expensive, but it gives a really natural, smooth look, especially over the AmLactin.

4. Then I take my Nars Stick Concealer in the color Medium 1 Custard. I use it to cover up my blemishes and around my nose. Then I'll put a little on my fingers and pat it under my eyes for a little brightening. I absolutely adore this concealer. The consistency is amazing and smooth and just makes it look flawless.

That's it! It's really simple and easy and it helps make my skin look very nice.