Posts tagged beauty tips
MinMinMa
The trail of a makeup artist
Do you do this at home?
Makeup DON’TS!!!
LIP CARE WORTH MEMORIZING
Rosehip Seed Lip Cream from Australian brand Aesop is quite impressive. Different from other lip conditioning products I’ve tried before, this one is moisturizing yet leaves your lips completely mat which is essentially perfect to go under your mat lipstick or to share with your hubby.
ALL OILED UP
One of my favorite skincare products has to be beauty oils because they are versatile, have long shelf life and come in all kinds of formula, scent and blend. Here are my 3 top recommendations.
Dyptique Precious Oils for Body and Bath is pretty self explanatory. You can use it on dry skin as a moisturizer or during bath time.
Duchess Marden Body Serum is essentially a fast drying oil which leaves your skin hydrated and delicately fragranced. I also use it on the end of my hair during winter days.
Nuxe Multi-Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer is simply a classic. J-Lo look anyone? The blend of oil and shimmers is just right. I use it quite often on location shoots.
THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION(S)
Here’s a common question I get when somebody sits in my makeup chair: “Ugh! Look at those bags under my eyes. How do I get rid of them?”
So I ask them back:
How do you sleep at night? Because we all know by now that a healthy sleep pattern does wonders.
Can you squeeze in a power nap during the day? Because even a 5 minute zzz adds up over time.
Do you drink too much water before going to bed? Because puffiness is often caused by the accumulation of fluids around the eye.
Are you tracking the amount of salt consumed in your diet? Because water retention affects the whole body not just the hips.
Have you tested for allergies? Because discoloration under the eyes can be a sign of allergies or an illness.
Is it heredity? Because if it is, it’s not the end of the world and there’s plenty of good makeup products and tricks to solve the problem.
So stay tuned for tomorrow’s post!
(Photo courtesy of Angelo Vazeos)
TRADE SECRET
I consider myself as a loyal person. I’m faithful to the people and things that I like and feel connected to. I find comfort in knowing that these people and things are familiar, rooted and always trustworthy. But there’s also another side of me that is curious, willing to try anything new and ever so restless. I can’t be blamed for - it comes with my job.
The content of a professional makeup artist’s case is as varied as the life in the deep ocean. It’s filled with must-have products, latest finds, tricks & tips, an extra ounce of personal touch, and always different from one artist to the next. So without further due, I’d like to brag a little about my 5 latest beauty musts. (!!!)
Duchess Marden Face Crème: I can’t explain it - you just have to try it for yourself. The texture and consistency are just right. Recommended for all skin types.
Indu body lotion: thanks to my friend Alex who introduced me to this granola-lovey-dovey lotion which is made with all natural ingredients and essential oils like Geranium, Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon, Mandarin, Ylang Ylang and Rose. You can find it in selected yoga rooms nationwide or online.
Really Raw Honey: I don’t carry this in my makeup kit because realistically speaking, most photo shoots are limited with time so no time for mask. Yes that’s right! I use honey as a facial mask. Honey is a natural antiseptic which helps with healing burns and small cuts and can be used to help soothe and heal the skin. It’s also a humectant, which means it helps keep your skin moisturized.
Tribeca Acupuncture: this is another great recommendation from a friend. Dr Yusuf Ibrahim explained to me that no one dies from not getting acupuncture treatment but it certainly helps with one’s overall quality of life. Think of it as yoga for the internals. Did I forget to mention that he is also caring, informative and a big foodie?
Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment: I dab few drops of this oil blend on my wrists before any makeup applications because it’s soothing and relaxing for myself and the subject. I also use it as an on-the-go fragrance with its easy roll-on applicator.
2012 CHAT
I was featured in ElleCanada.com’s 6 New Year’s beauty resolutions.
1. Wear more red lipstick
“Generally, blondes should look for a warmer red and brunettes a red with a cooler blue undertone. But it’s really about differentiating between personal preference and style. Orange is a little trendier, while blue-red is more classic.” – New York-based makeup artist Min Min Ma. Vanessa Craft
…
5. Choose the right makeup brushes
Makeup artist Min Min Ma suggests these brushes:
Powder: Get the fluffiest brush possible for full coverage. Blush and bronzer: Opt for a medium-sized natural-hair brush for powder and a synthetic brush for cream. Eyeshadow: Try an all-around fluff brush and tap off any extra product. Brows: An angled brush helps define brows, and it can also be dipped in water to create a cat-eye look. Amanda Chen
SUMMER SKIN
My instructor from Complections International Academy once said to me that to be a good makeup artist is to be a smart chemist, i.e. mix and match your products until you find your perfect color, texture or consistency. The general rule of thumb when mixing makeup is to stick with the same family of products. For example, powders with powders, creams with oil-based products, and etc.
Here are my 2 simple summer skin concoctions you can try, or perhaps customize to your needs.
On Lucky magazine shoot, we wanted Heidi, our model, to look tanned and glowy. I mixed Sally Hansen Airbrush Sun Self-Tanner for legs with a bit of Rock & Republic Tinted Illuminizer (for that natural bronzing shimmery look). I then sprayed Duane Reade Continuous Kids Sunscreen in SPF 50 since we were shooting outdoors in the full sun.
For Organic by John Patrick Resort 2010 presentation, we wanted the models to look healthy, radiant, and natural. For body treatment, I mixed Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, a dab of M.A.C. Strobe Cream, and another dab of Lothantique Bath Oil in Vanilla.
