Paul Mitchell Advertisement + How to get the look!

(Click image to enlarge)

Check out this cool ad that is running in Italy right now. I shot this image sometime last summer with photographer Bonnie Holland. I am not certain what they are advertising but think it has something to do with a towel for the hair, but I could be wrong.

To get the look, prep and prime the skin with Dermalogica Active Moist. I lightly airbrushed the face with Temptu Pro S/B Foundation in shade 4 & 5. I contoured the cheek with S/B Foundation in shade 5 with a drop of dark brown. I then highlighted the cheekbones, bridge of nose and forehead with Champagne Shimmer. The brows were brushed with some hair spray and then filled in with a dark brow powder. Eyes were glossed with MAC Gloss in Violet and the lips were kept nude with the same gloss. Apply two coats of black mascara to curled lashes. The body was highlighted with a light spray of the Temptu S/B Champagne Shimmer.

• Photographer: Bonnie Holland
• Makeup: Anthony Merante
• Hair: Lucie Doughty
• Styling: Adria Heath

Cleveland Magazine July 2010

I did the hair and makeup for the July 2010 cover and inside spread for Cleveland Magazine. This was shot by photographer Bonnie Holland. Since the model was supposed to be gardening i decided to tone down the makeup and just give her a natural glow. I prepped and primed the skin with Dermalogica Active Moist and Skin Hydrating Booster. I then applied a light to medium coverage of Temptu S/B foundation with an  airbrush gun. The cheeks were blushed with Temptu’s new blush color Guava and then highlighted with Temptu’s Pink Pearl Highlighter. I lightly filled in the brows with a dark brow powder and then defined the eye line with a dark brown powdered eye shadow. The lips were lightly filled in MAC Subculture Lip Liner and then glossed with MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar.

• www.dermalogica.com
• www.temptu.com
• www.maccosmetics.com

62nd Primetime Emmys Red Carpet Review

The 62nd Primetime Emmy’s were last night and even though I didn’t watch the awards show, I will say some beautiful ladies won big in the wardrobe department.

After watching the Live from the Red Carpet show, I found that a lot of people played it safe with the hair and makeup. My favorites from the red carpet were January Jones, Anna Paquin, Kim Kardashian and Lea Michele.

January Jones is my top pick for Best Dressed! I thought her Electric Blue Versace gown was perfect for her skin tone and I loved the shape and quirkiness to it as well. Her make up was kept very simple & pretty with glowing skin and the hair sort of had a messy beachy texture.

Anna Paquin comes in second place in her Alexander McQueen gladiator inspired gown. I thought the dress was a little heavy looking but the detail was exquisite and she pulled it off very well. Anna’s makeup was kept in a neutral palette with a nude pink lip. The hair style was very runway inspired and it was executed to perfection. I still can not stop looking at this hair.

Kim Kardashian always looks stunning on the red carpet and last night was no exception. Her Marchesa Grecian style gown fit her like a glove and hair and makeup were prefect. Her makeup was a bit toned down from her usual smokey eye look and I think it makes her look very fresh. I love the texture in her pull backed hair. Kim looked like a goddess!

Last but not least on the list is Lea Michele from Glee. This jewel toned strapless mermaid gown from Oscar De la Renta is perfect for her gorgeous figure. I think she could have ditched the chunky necklace and bracelet though. I thought the makeup was very pretty, the eyes could have done with out the blue eye liner though and the hair should have been pulled back off her pretty face.

Dior “One Color Extreme” Eyeshadow: Golden Spotlight

I was browsing the makeup counters at Macy’s a few weeks ago and saw this beautiful eyeshadow from Dior. In my opinion Dior makes some of the best eyeshadow’s on the market. The silky pigments blend easily and have staying power. I am especially fond of the 5 colour eye shadow palettes but that day I was drawn to this particular single shade called Golden Spotlight. I was shooting a beauty story with photographer Melissa Rodwell and was looking for a shimmery beige eye shadow and this shade was PERFECT! The Dior “One Color Extreme” shadows can be worn alone or blended with other shades. For this shot I chose to use it by its self, I even used it as a highlight on the lip.

To get this look. I prepped and primed the skin with Josie Maran Argan Oil. I then applied the Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation in RF 105 which is a white foundation with pink undertones. I applied this ultra pigmented foundation very lightly with a damp beauty blender and set with a translucent powder. I brushed the brows with a clear brow gel and did not fill them in. The lips were covered lightly in the foundation and then I applied Giorgio Armani Lip Wax in 04 Raspberry just to the center of the mouth and to the apple of the cheeks. Eyes were shadowed with the Dior “One Color Extreme” eyeshadow in Golden Spotlight and was also used as a highlight on the lip. No mascara or liner was used in this look.

MAC Chromagraphic Pencils

MAC Cosmetics has always been a very big inspiration to me and my career. I used to go to the MAC store on Robertson in West Hollywood weekly to try all the latest colors and textures. Even before I ever became a makeup artist, I was always interested in cosmetics. I was so intrigued by these huge displays of creamy lip sticks, eye shadows and eye/lip pencils in every shade and texture. I studied these lipsticks and blushes so much that I started to see the subtle differences between MAC’s Russian Red & Ruby Woo lip sticks and why I needed to have BOTH of them. I am sure my obsession to cosmetics started at this very store.

Earlier this summer, MAC PRO launched the Chromagraphic pencils and at first I didn’t really think it was a product I needed in my kit till I tried the shade NC15/NW20. I fell in love with this pencil the first time I used it on set. This pencil is so much more than just another pencil. This multi-use pencil can be used as an eye liner, lip liner, eye brightener, spot concealer or you can draw free hand designs with it. The NC15/NW20 and Nw25/NC30 pencil shades, I like to use in the water line of the eye to minimize redness and make the eyes appear larger. I have used the Primary Yellow and Basic Red liner to line lips for a beauty shoots and plan on using all the other shades in the very near future.

Next time you are in a MAC PRO store, make sure to check out this great new pencils.

Anthony Merante

http://www.anthonymerantebeauty.com

Los Angeles Magazine Best of LA 2010

Check out the August issue of Los Angeles Magazine for the Best Of LA 2010 issue with an editorial shot by Bonnie Holland. The annual Best of LA issue finds all the greatest spots in LA for Food & Drink, Shop & Primp, Parks & Play, Tots & Teens, Night Life and Fix & Renew.

• Photos: Bonnie Holland
• Makeup: Anthony Merante
• Hair: Maya Murakami
• Styling: Tosh Yanez

Get the look: Green Smokey Eyes!

I did this smokey look for the Skova Designs Fall 2010 Look book and thought it would be a perfect fall makeup tutorial.

Step 1: Prep skin with Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner and Dermalogica Active Moist.

Step 2: Apply Girogio Armani Luminous Silk foundation in your shade all over face with a large foundation brush and then blended it out with a beauty blender sponge. Set the base with Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Powder or any translucent powder you have. The face was contoured with my favorite discontinued bronzer but MAC Matt Bronze will do. Apply this to the hollow of the cheeks, hair line and jaw line.

Step 3: For the eyes, use the Urban Decay Primer Potion all over lid and set with powder. Then apply a dark brown powder shadow all over lid into crease and slightly toward the outer corners, then blend with a larger buffing brush. Next lightly apply  Stila Eye Shadow in Jade to the ball of the eye and blend into crease. Then bring the dark brown color to the lower lid just to the tear duct and blend so it looks soft. Line the inner rim of the eye with MAC Smolder Eye Pencil and squeeze eyes shut to smudge the liner and then apply again. To pop the inner corners of the eyes apply a white shimmer shadow like MAC Rice Paper Eye shadow to the inside corners and blend well. Apply two coats of YSL Volume Effet Mascara to top lashes and one coat to the bottom lashes.

Step 4: I kept the lips nude for this look by using a pinky nude lip liner and then applied a nude glossy lipstick. The color I used is an Estee Lauder discontinued shade but MAC Honeylove will work perfectly.

Genlux Summer Issue Editorial

A few months ago I had an idea to shoot on a stark white set with vibrant pops of color. I approached Bonnie with this idea and she loved it immediately. The editorial was featured in the Summer Issue of Genlux Magazine and the images are below.

To get the look: I prepped and primed the skin with Dermalogica Skin Care and then airbrushed the face with Temptu Pro S/B Foundation in shade #4. I then highlighted the face with Temptu Pro Champagne Shimmer and blushed the cheeks with Temptu Pro Guava S/B Blush. Several different eye shadows were used for this shoot like Orange and Yellow Pigment from MAC Cosmetics and NARS Rated R Eye Shadow. Lips were kept nude or had a vibrant pink hue. For the body I used Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream mixed in with tons of sunscreen so the model did not burn in the hot sun.

• Photos: Bonnie Holland
• Makeup: Anthony Merante
• Styling: Leilani Lacson

Junior Vasquez Nervous Breakdown Vol.2 Demented Review

Happy Birthday Junior Vasquez!

I have been a Junior Vasquez fan since I was 15 yo. I even cried my self to sleep one night cause I wasn’t old enough to get into the Arena in Hollywood to hear him play. Needless to say, I LOVE Junior Vasquez. Junior is celebrating his 61st birthday today and having a huge celebration at club LOVE in NYC on August 29th.

Junior dropped his much anticipated follow up to 2001’s Nervous Breakdown with Nervous Breakdown Vol. 2 Demented last week and has been playing on repeat ever since. I never really know what to expect with these compilations as they all are a little different and not exactly what you hear in the clubs. But I am really liking this compilation and think it is one of Juniors best works.

The mix really finds its groove at track 4 through 16 and finishes with some soulful classics and Kim English’s latest hit Super Natural.  All in all, I definitely recommend this album for any house junkie like me.

Check out Junior’s Nervous Breakdown, Vol. 2: Demented @ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/juniors-nervous-breakdown/id385632421 #iTunes

Dermalogica UltraCalming Skin Care Collection Review!

Hey guys, been taking a break from the blog for the summer but wanted to share some great NEW product I am loving right now. I just picked up the Dermalogica UltraCalming Collection and really love it. I sometimes have sensitive skin, especially due to my excessive tanning habits. One of the products in the collection I have been using for years, its called Barrier Repair. They recently reformulated this product with the UltraCalming Complex and it is better than ever. Barrier Repair creates a shield against the skin from further environmental damage and is also a great base when applied under makeup.

UltraCalming Cleanser: The cleanser glides onto the skin and is applied with gentle circular motions and can be rinsed off with water or a tissue. This product cleanses with out stripping the skin of its barrier.

UltraCalming Relief Masque: I am loving this masque, you can feel it soothing as soon as it touches the skin. I apply the masque after I have cleansed and leave on for 10 minutes. After I rinsed off the masque my skin felt smooth and didn’t show any signs of redness or irritation.

UltraCalming Mist: Spray Toners are one of my most favorite beauty products. I use so many I can not even keep track of them. The UltraCalming Mist is nice and fresh and perfect after cleansing or using the UltraCalming Relief Masque. Just spray on face and chest for soothing relief.

UltraCalming Serum Concentrate: This super concentrated serum helps calm and restore sensitized skin. Apply over neck and face in light upward strokes morning and night. I felt instant relief after I applied the serum and my skin looked healthy and was glowing.

The UltraCalming collection is for those with sensitive skin, especially to artificial fragrance and color. For more info check out http://www.dermalogica.com