Say what?!?!?A video?!?!

Ok, so I am late on the You Tube bandwagon..it took A LOT of courage for me to make a video (I hate my voice and make a ton of funny faces, do you blame me for being nervous?) I am excited to show off my work (can I just say that editing is A TON of work??!?!) Please excuse some of my shaky edges as I find my way through Imovie and You Tube. Enjoy and let me know of questions!!

Fall Eyes

Makeup Artist Charlie Green

Not once, but twice Makeup Artist Charlie Green has pranced past me in adorable Vivienne Westwood heels.My reaction to being in her presence? Lets just say I looked like a deer caught in the headlights. I am in awe of her. She is talented, humble, and gracious.

Charlie has done makeup for Jewel, Martha Stewart, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Tyra Banks, Betsey Johnson fashion shows, five years with Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as head makeup artist, and she is responsible for the love 'em or hate 'em Taylor Momsen smoky, black rimmed eyes (I personally love them!!!)

At the 2010 Makeup Show, Charlie was a keynote speaker. She has been in the industry for 20 years and her main influence at the start of her career was Boy George and the Culture Club!! While working in a clothing shop, a stylist came in to borrow clothes for a shoot and Charlie inquired about assisting and thus her career began bartering her makeup services for test shoots and photos to build her portfolio.  Charlie was fortunate to assist makeup artist such as Tom Pecheux, Dick Page (you can find his column in Allure!), the late Kevyn Aucoin, and Linda Cantello. She never worked for a retail counter, but thinks it is a great way to get into the makeup business. When the English Channel was created, she went to France  for work and found an agent. Through her career, she has worked on music videos, world tours, fashion shows, has given numerous interviews, been a mentor for contestants on Lifetime televisions reality show "Blush"and beauty tips for magazines. I can not tell you what an honor it was to hear about her amazing career!!

                                            Tips Learned From Charlie Green
#1 Charlie is a multi-tasker! Throughout her lesson on a smoky eye, she had at least  four brushes and three different makeup products in one hand!!This comes from years of models being shuffled off for interviews and needing to finish her work on the go before the show or shoot begins.


#2 Challenge yourself.  Work with all types of people to perfect your craft. You learn from the real people you encounter.


#3 Remember that you are part of a team!!


#4 When packing your eyeshadows for travel, put triangle shaped sponges around the products to pack it.  Use velcro tabs to prevent product shifting (head to Michaels, AC Moore, the Hobby Lobby, or JoAnnes Fabrics for velcro.) She also also used kitchen cupboard liner in her palletes to prevent product from breaking.


#5 Know your references. Study old photography books and magazines. If someone tells you they want a look from the 1960's, be sure you know the difference between Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton and ask what look they are aiming for.


#6 Know your lighting!!For terrible lighting, carry a clip on light.


#7 For clients that are picky,  work with their kit versus your own.


#8 If your clients eyes water while their makeup is being done, ask them to sniff very hard and that action will remove the tears (I recently saw this trick used by Alexandra on Americas Next Top Model.)


#9 Send your information to Public Relations groups to get your name out there and possibly to receive new products to incorporate into your kit.


#10 Dont take criticism personally, everyone has their own opinion.


                                                        FUN FACTORINOS
#1  The one photographer Chalie wished she had been able to work with was the late Helmut Newton.


#2 She wants to work with Lady Gaga.


#3 Some of her favorite products to keep in her kit are Maybelline Age Rewind foundation, Clinique mascaras (she likes alot of black mascara,) and Lancome "Raisin Noir" eye pencil. She is also a huge fan of Mehron's lip brush.


#4 Charlie has not mastered the use of airbrush makeup, she is accustomed to working with her hands and prefers it!!


#5 She has not changed her makeup techniques to accomodate High Definition television. She believes that paying close attention to detail and doing a good job will reflect through HD.

The NYC Makeup Show 2010

    May 16th kicked off the 5th year of the NYC Makeup Show and what a show it was. This year marks my second in attendance and I always leave feeling enlightened, encouraged and educated by the Makeup Artist, Hairstylist, Photographers, and Bloggers in attendance.
   Although I was only able to attend one day of the Makeup Show, I made the most of the day by shopping liking a maniac ( Stila, Smashbox, Inglot, Makeup Forever, Dinair, Mehron, oh my!!) attending as many of the free seminars as I could (the hands down highlight was the hillariously talented Kevin James Bennett's Everyday HD seminar for Makeup Forever,) to listening to keynote speaker Charlie Green's 20 years experience in the Makeup industry.
   The Makeup Show is an event not to be missed in 2011!! My first few blogs will focus on the seminars, keynote speakers, and products reviewed at the Makeup Show. Please be sure to come back!!