Who doesn’t love a little Summer Love? Check out these stunning beauty looks that are perfect for Summer beach party or a hot date. Photographer Giuliano Bekor dreamt up this fun quirky shoot that I so fondly have renamed “Psycho Beach Party”…
We were inspired by all the bright accessories coming out for Spring Summer 2012 and coordinated each look with an equally bright makeup look. Below each image is a list of the product used!
This Ethereal makeup was inspired by a trend that I saw a lot on the Fall/Winter 2011 Runways. Many of the shows had out of this world makeup, the models looked radiant and FLAWLESS! Flawless was my goal with this video, to give an almost angelic look to the skin. I achieved these results by using many of my favorite products that are super shimmery. Check out the gorgeous results below!
Products Used in this video:
Dermalogica Active Moist
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Foundation in 117 & 118.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Microfinish Powder
Benefit Cosmetics Boing Concealer in shade #2
Benefit Cosmetics Cream Eye Shadow in R.S.V.P.
MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Coquette
Chanel Eye Lash Curler
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Lifting Mascara
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde
NARS Blush in Angelika
MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle
Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydraful Gloss in Sugar Pink
MAC Cosmetics Pigment in Vanilla
“ALL THAT GLITTERS” was the theme for this holiday party makeup & hair look! I was inspired by the glittery backdrop I created using two huge containers of silver glitter and some foam core board. I wanted the skin to be gorgeous and sparkle, I achieved this look by using MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation and some reflects glitter from MAC Cosmetics. Once again, Andrew and I wanted to use one of our flea market finds and we adorned the sculpted bun with a pink vintage brooch. To get this sculpted, sparkling look, follow the easy steps below.
MAKEUP: I prepped and primed the skin using Dermalogica Active Moist Moisturizer. I like to use this particular moisturizer cause it is oil free and light weight and doesn’t compromise my makeup and helps it last all day and into the night. With a large flat foundation brush from MAKE UP FOR EVER (35N) I applied MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation in shade 117 starting from the center of the face and blending outward. I then buffed the foundation further with a wet makeup sponge. If you have a Beauty Blender or something like it, that would work great as well. I let the foundation sit on the skin and set on its own before applying any face powder and started on the eye makeup.
LIPS: For the lips, I wanted to go for a fun and easy playful pink glossy lip and applied Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydraful Lipgloss in Sugar Pink for a sexy pout. The Hydraful Gloss from Anastasia is by far my favorite gloss, the silicone applicator is ideal for smoothing this gloss across the lips effortlessly.
CHEEKS: To finish off the look I set the foundation with a translucent face powder from MAKE UP FOR EVER. The powder I used is no longer made, but any translucent powder will do. I then dusted the apple of the cheeks and into the contours with NARS Cosmetics Blush in Orgasm. I then applied MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle to the cheek bones, chin and nose for a healthy radiant glow. To boost the sparkle factor, I applied the same glitter that I applied to the eye with a blush brush on the cheek bones and temples for added drama.
Body: I wanted to add some sparkle to Rebecca’s body. I did this by applying Tarina Tarantino Spraklicity Shimmer Dust all over the décolleté, arms and even a few pouf’s on the face for even more shimmer.
HAIR: For this sleek look, start with dry hair. For those with curly or wavy hair, quickly flat iron hair focusing primarily on hair around your hairline. Next, using a boar bristle brush like a Mason Pearson, brush hair in to a sleek low side ponytail, and secure using a hair bungee. Smooth hair with a strong hold gel like Kiehls Strong-Hold Styling Gel this will control any unruly hairs and ensure a long lasting style. Continue by taking a small section of hair from the ponytail and coat it completely with gel. Follow, by twisting this section of hair and wrap it around the base of the ponytail, secure in place using a bobby pin. Repeat the previous step until all of your hair has been secured around the ponytail. Keep in mind there is no wrong way to create this style, be creative and have fun with the shape. Lastly, finish this look by attaching a beautiful brooch!
For my second installment of my holiday party makeup & hair looks, I wanted to keep the same clean style of makeup and really do something fun with the hair. For this look Andrew and I were inspired by Snow White. I loved the idea of having a flawless complexion with this bright cherry lip. For the hair, we wanted to do a modern loose version of a French Twist that had a lot of texture. Andrew and I were shopping at the Melrose Flee Market on a random Sunday and found this gorgeous costume pearl necklace. It was pretty old and sort of falling apart. Andrew thought it would make a great hair accessory and we decided to cut up the necklace and attach the pearls to hair pins. For this stunning makeup and hair look, check out the step by step below.
MAKEUP: I prepped and primed the skin using Dermalogica Active Moist Moisturizer. I like to use this particular moisturizer cause it is oil free and light weight and doesn’t compromise my makeup and helps it last all day and into the night. With a large flat foundation brush from MAKE UP FOR EVER (35N) I applied MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation in shade 117 starting from the center of the face and blending outward. I then buffed the foundation further with a wet makeup sponge. If you have a Beauty Blender or something like it, that would work great as well. I let the foundation sit on the skin and set on its own before applying any face powder and started on the eye makeup.
LIPS: For the lips, I went for a cherry glossy lip using the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil from NARS Cosmetics in Dragon Girl. This is my FAVORITE red of all time! Line and fill in the lips with the color straight from the pencil to the lips and then blot with a tissue, reapply the color and blot again. Using this technique will deposit the perfect amount of pigment for a long lasting lip. I then applied a small amount of MAC Cosmetics Lip Glass to the center of the lips avoiding the edges and concentrating the gloss in the center of the mouth. I didn’t use any lip liner for the look but if you would like to reshape your lips before applying the lip color, you can use Cherry Lip Pencil from MAC Cosmetics.
CHEEKS: To finish off the look I set the foundation with a translucent face powder from MAKE UP FOR EVER. The powder I used is no longer made, but any translucent powder will do. I then dusted the apple of the cheeks and into the contours with Tom Ford Blush in Frantic Pink available at Neiman Marcus. I then applied Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight Powder to the cheek bones, chin and nose for a healthy radiant glow.
HAIR: Start by washing your hair with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Towel dry hair, apply volumizing spray to damp roots and blow dry hair using a large boar-bristle brush. If your hair is wavy or curly, run a flat iron through your hair but avoid your roots. Tease your hair at the crown into a subtle pompadour and gather it into a low, tight ponytail at the nape of your neck. Grab the ponytail from the bottom, twist it upwards and clockwise and tuck it under, secure with bobby pins that match your hair color. Use a pomade or styling wax to control fly-aways. Adorn with randomly placed pearls in different sizes, to do so simply use a hot glue gun to attach the pearls to bobby pins. If you don’t want to ruin your pearl necklace, you can find pearls in different sizes at any craft store for a few dollars.
With all the holiday parties just around the corner, I thought I would try something a little different with the blog. I tried to schedule some “Holiday” inspired videos but I ended up getting a nasty cold, then I couldn’t get a model on the day I wanted to shoot, then I got booked out on a job when I finally had everything set. So I decided to put together a still photo shoot with my good friend Ron Derhacopian and hair stylist extraordinaire Andrew Zepeda. I had a ton of fun creating the makeup looks and my festive glittery backdrops. I did 3 holiday party makeups and one New Years inspired look. Check back soon as I will update on Monday’s and Thursday’s. To check out the hair & makeup a little bit closer, click on the image for a high res version.
MAKEUP: Rebecca has amazing skin, I prepped and primed the skin using Dermalogica Active Moist Moisturizer. I like to use this particular moisturizer cause it is oil free and light weight and doesn’t compromise my makeup and helps it last all day and into the night. With a large flat foundation brush from MAKE UP FOR EVER (35N) I applied MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation in shade 117 starting from the center of the face and blending outward. I then buffed the foundation further with a wet makeup sponge. If you have a Beauty Blender or something like it, that would work great as well. I let the foundation sit on the skin and set on its own before applying any face powder and started on the eye makeup.
LIPS: The lips are where I played with a different texture than my normal gloss. I applied a deep reddish burgundy lipstick from MAC Cosmetics called DIVA with a lip brush. I didn’t use any lip liner for the look since this lipstick has such a strong color pay off. I blotted the lips with a tissue and applied MAKE UP FOR EVER Star Powder in Iridescent Red to the lips for a velvety finish.
CHEEKS: To finish off the look I set the foundation with a translucent face powder from MAKE UP FOR EVER. The powder I used is no longer made, but any translucent powder will do. I then dusted the apple of the cheeks very lightly with Kevyn Aucoin blush in Myracle and applied Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight Powder to the cheek bones, chin and nose for a healthy radiant glow.
HAIR: To get Andrew’s gorgeous hair look follow these easy steps. Blow dry hair, by first spraying roots with a volumizing spray. When hair is completely dry spray with a texture spray and dry for added texture and body. Backcomb the crown starting about 2 inches from the hairline. Loosely gather hair and secure with a few bobby pins. Finish this look with 2 or 3 of your favorite headbands and a spritzing of strong hold hairspray.
Sticking with the Halloween theme today. I was flipping through some old pics and came across some makeup I did in 2009. Now, Halloween makeup isn’t exactly my thing, but when my grandma asked me to turn her into a witch with makeup, I couldn’t resist. I spent a few days trying to come up with a look that would really transform her with out using prosthetics. I called my grandma the next day and said “Can I paint you green?” I was pretty shocked that she said yes! I asked again just to make sure I wasn’t hearing things. She really said yes! My grandma ended up winning the costume contest that night. This was one of funnest makeups I have done and it was extra special cause it was with my grandma.
Halloween is just around the corner and I thought I would find my favorite “Orange” products in my makeup kit. I was surprised at how many I actually had, here is just a few of my top picks!
MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in shade #10: This amazing ultra pigmented cream color is smudge and waterproof. I like to use this on the lips, eyes and also makes a great blush cause it is very blendable. These cream colors are definitely a staple in my kit. www.Sephora.com
MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Intense in shade #40: This gorgeous lipstick is very similar to the Aqua Cream. If you are looking for a lipstick that last and last and last. Then this product is for you! Rouge Artist Intense comes in 50 shades, so if you can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. It can be worn as an opaque color or sheered down for a beautiful stained effect. www.Sephora.com
Urban Decay Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Punch Drunk: I can not express how much I LOVE these pencils. The colors are bright and shocking and not for the faint of heart. If you are looking for that “high Impact” look, then this is a must have for everyone. Comes in 5 electrifying shades. I featured F-Bomb in my Classic Red Lip video last week! www.Sephora.com
OCC Lip Tar in Beta: OCC Lip tars are incredible. They offer high impact shine and opaque color that is unmatched. Just a tiny tiny amount is all you need for “WOW Factor” lips. Comes in a million shades, but you can mix and match and create your own fun shades. www.occmakeup.com
NARS Blush in Taj Majal: This blush is super bright and super orange. A little off putting at first until you try it. Taj Majal adds a gorgeous tangerine shimmer to the cheeks. Also great for dark complexions and adding warmth to the skin. www.narscosmetics.com
MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Neon Orange: This eye shadow is a bright matte orange. Great for adding an unexpected pop of color to the eyes or adding to the crease for just a hint of color.. I love using this color on dark skin, as it brightens the eye area and adds warmth. www.maccosmetics.com
ESSIE Nail Polish in Bright Tights: I couldn’t post my have orange products with out adding a nail polish. This color was from the Fall 2009 collection and even though it sing on the Essie site, I am sure you can find one on Amazon or Ebay. I have used this shade several times and the color is gorgeous. However, you need to apply at least 3 coats for you to get an opaque finish. It’s also a matte shade, so a top coat is a must! www.essie.com
Check out this gorgeous image from my beauty shoot with Giuliano Bekor last spring. We had a very brave model who let us glue dried butterflies to her face. This shot is definitly one of my favorite images from 2011 so far! All MAC Cosmetics were used in this image. To recreate this look use MAC PRO Pigment in Old Gold, MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder and MAC Lustreglass in Flashmode!
Check back soon for my Fall 2011 Beauty MUST HAVES and looks!
Face: I first prepped and primed Alejandra’s skin with Dermalogica Active Moist Moisturizer and added a few drops of the Skin Hydrating Booster and let it soak into the skin for a few minutes. I applied a few drops of MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Coverage Foundation in shade 155 (Medium Beige) all over face and blended with a Beauty Blender Sponge. The foundation was set in the T Zone with MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder. I lightly contoured and bronzed the face with my “Secret Bronzer” and then highlighted the cheek bones, bridge of nose and chin with the Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight powder.
I just got some tear sheets from Uni Magazine out of Dubai. We shot this in Palmdale CA at the Poppy Fields on a beautiful and VERY cold Spring day in March. My beauty look was based on vibrant lip shades. I used all MAC Cosmetics lipsticks in shades: Candy Yum Yum, Pink Plaid, Saint Germaine and Girl About Town. www.maccosmetics.com
Posted by Anthony Merante 
