Hot Rockin' Maternity Session!

Meet Jennings.  Does she rock this baby bump, or what?  Jennings is a talented photographer in her own right, so I was especially flattered when she asked me to make her up for her maternity session.  This was the day that downtown Charleston flooded. . . have you seen the photos of the kayakers in the middle of the Market?  That day. But look what happened indoors at the glorious Rice Mill.  Jennings' good taste extends beyond the clothes, accessories, and venue: she had the fabulous Juliet Jones behind the camera.  When I first saw these photos, I was awestruck.  True to her form, Juliet always sees the light in and around her subjects.  Well, this maternity session was no different.  Juliet caught Jennings' light; her baby-glow.  Thank you, ladies, for allowing me to be a part of this special day.  Hair shout-out to my friend, Carrie Algeo of Paper Dolls who designed a coiffure to endure a really rainy day.  Accessories courtesy of Colleton's East (thank you Ansley!).   

Photos by Juliet Elizabeth Photography.

Pin Much???

Just getting on a roll with my Pinterest pins.

I thought some of you might find this entertaining. . .

. . .in a "stroll down memory lane" kind of way.

Follow this link to peek into some

"Products from my formative years"

Passing Along Some Great Info: "10 Secrets I Learned at Makeup Artist School"

This article is from a website called Total Beauty.com.  The author, Sharon Yi, was sent to makeup school for this assignment.  She has gleaned 10 important tips from her experience at three L.A.-area makeup schools.  This is so worth passing along. . .  Happy reading!

http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/makeup-school

Dr. Brandt's Flexitone BB Cream

Newest (personal) foundation obsession:  Dr. Brandt's "Flexitone" BB Cream

Why I Love:

Phenomenally light coverage. . . yet covers and evens skin.

Self-adjusts to your skin type:

This leaves me dewy and hydrated, yet I've seen it mattify on oilier skin types.

Contains a 30 SPF

Buildable. . . yet a small dab goes a long way

You can apply with finger tips, BUT. . . this Sephora Foundation Airbrush #55 is the perfect fluffy, synthetic-bristle applicator.  .  . dab brush in the BB cream and swirl over entire face. . . voila!  

 Ready to face the day!

Both available at Sephora

24 Karat Beauty; the Gold Standard

Diamonds?  I've seen a mine-full.  

Pearls?  I've seen plenty.

But it's not every day I see a bride work precious gold into her palette and portraiture.

Meet beautiful Ann; she did this brilliantly.  

Then again, when working with the likes of Richard Ellis Photography, eyes, jewelry, and backdrop are going to sparkle, too.

Ann went for the Gold in every way; I'd say she achieved it.

BRUSHES: Where the Real Creativity Begins

Just a quick shout-out to my trusted BFF's. . .Brush Friends Forever.

This is where the real magic and creativity begins.  I love my brushes and they never let me down.  On occasion, one may have to be retired due to stray bristles or from a general wearing-out.  I lovingly wash them after every job.  They need to be clean, dry, and placed back into shape.  If this routine is stuck to, they provide years of loyal service: precise lines, smoked-out edges, smooth swipes of color, and lots of blendability.

My MAC brushes are my favorites.  Yes, I have a ton and I wouldn't trade them for anything else.  There is a specific need for each and every one.  If you are serious about your makeup, get serious about your brushes!

xo,
P

A Useful Tip: Layer Your Liner

Over the past week, I have encountered several clients who said they skipped eyeliner altogether because they "didn't know how to do it."  To them I said (1) practice makes perfect. . . you just have to do it, fearlessly, then correct it if it's not right (with Q-tip and eye makeup remover). . . but now I want to follow up with this #2:

Use a soft pencil liner to draw that line on carefully.  Then, for extra staying power, go back and trace over your original line with a swipe of liquid liner.  Yes, the one with the paint brush. . . the mod-kind a la 1960s.  One of my favorite MAC artists referred to this technique as being kind of like coloring.  Once you get that initial (pencil) line on, it's easy to follow the line and color in what you have already done.

And speaking of MAC and liquid liner. . . their Super Slick Liquid Eyeliner is my fave (shade "On The Hunt").  Extremely long-wearing, water-resistant, and a beautiful slick/wet finish when it dries ensures your eyes will be poppin'.

Happy lining!