Vintage Vixen of the Week #2

Model:  Courtney.  Photo:  Marlene of DMV Photo. Wardrobe, MUAH:  me.  Location:  Plant Zero in Richmond VA.

The Vintage Vixen blog series shows beautiful authentic vintage looks using affordable products.  Perfect for the penny pinching pin-up.  ;)

Face:  Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Toast, Maybelline Dream Matte pressed powder in Honey, Maybelline Mineral Power blush in Plum Radiance.

Lips: Revlon SuperLustrous lip color in Cherries in the Snow.  This lip color was first introduced in the late 1950s by Revlon along with the color Fire and Ice...it has been the same shade since then so it is a true vintage shade for the perfect pinup pout.  ELF tube lip gloss in Red.

Eyes:  Smashbox PhotoFinish Lid Primer, Coastal Scents Smokey Eye Palette in the Blues, Physician's Formula cream liner in Black for Brown Eyes, ModLash lashes, Medusa's Makeup mascara in Black Magic. 

Buyer Beware!

"Check it out!  All NEW in Box Lot of 25 MAC shadows for $25!!!!"  Sound like a great deal?  Sure it does, considering how much a MAC shadow actually goes for in retail.  A MAC individual shadow runs at around $15 retail.  Many times the sellers claim they get these for wholesale, however, MAC does not do wholesale.  They have found they can make more money by selling to the individual consumer and it works.  Very well.  They have an excellent marketing program, high quality products and a loyal customer following; there is no need for the company to do wholesale.  If you see the words "wholesale" or "lot" anywhere in a product description touting the MAC name...be very careful.  Ninety-nine percent of the time those are counterfeit products being sold under the MAC label.  This occurs with other cosmetic brands from Chanel to Smashbox.  Most of the time the products are manufactured in China with ingredients that are questionable at best.  "Well, even though it's a fake the product really works well!"  Think about it.  Do you REALLY want to put a product on your face where you do not even know if the ingredients actually are what the label claims them to be? 

Things to look out for as indicators of a fake:

• Wrong font (size, color or type are wrong)
• A shiny or semi-glossy packaging.  MAC is in a matte package.
• Lots or wholesale
• Descriptions that do not mention MAC (MAC is only in the title and nothing else) or an over mention of MAC
• A lack of a Batch Code stamped somewhere on the product itself NOT on the packaging(usually on the bottom and is actually almost a relief effect stamp).  
• Glitters that are extremely chunky and with an abnormal amount of static cling (usually these glitters are NOT cosmetic glitters but more like a craft glitter)
• Black labels on the bottom of pigment containers
• Cone shaker versus a flat top in pigment jars.
• Look at the placement of the logo
• Any Made in China, Made in Egypt, Made in Korea, etc labels.
• Flip up compartments in shadows
• Sponge tip applicators (MAC does not sell products with sponge tip applicators)
• "Palettes" in 12, 18, 88, 120, etc...MAC does not make palettes like these.  These are made by a wholesale manufacturer that also makes Coastal Scents and BHCosmetics palettes.  
• Beveled bottoms on shadow pans
• Shadows not flush with the edges of the pan
• Overly thick containers
• Cream palettes
• Batch codes printed on the boxes
• Lids that look as though they've been cut.
• Brushes sold in groups or with no label numbers to indicate brush type and size
• Brushes with poorly attached ferrules or bristles (they look oddly like ELF brushes)
• Cheap synthetic or dyed synthetic bristles
• Typos!!!!! Bad grammar!!! 
• Poorly written descriptions, poorly constructed websites.

Just be careful what you buy and make sure you keep a sharp eye out when you see a deal that is just too good to be true. Most of the time the sellers are aware of what they are selling and on a rare occasion they are not but it is a seller's responsibility to make sure they know exactly what it is they are selling.  Employ common sense when you are looking to make a purchase. 

Example of a fake MAC wholesaler...the fakes are obvious:
http://www.wholesale-maccosmetics.com/
They also have a blog claiming that they are a genuine wholesaler of MAC products.  Keep in mind...MAC does NOT do wholesale, there is no need to.

Examples of the fakes on the site:

Example of what I mean by typo is on the wholesale site the above is labeled as an eyeshadow palette.

 

Just watch what you buy.  Make sure what you are purchasing is real and if you are unsure, contact the MAC company directly.  

Meet the Makeup Artist!

Yesterday I had the privilege of working with two wonderful photographers for my very own photo shoot.  I did makeup for two other models as well, Sandra Vivian and Miss Melody.  Photographers were Precious Images of Maidens VA and Red Stockman of Falls Church VA. 

 

From time to time I will model for photo shoots to freshen up my portfolio as a Pinup Angel.  

Products used:  Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Natural Beige, Revlon ColorStay compact powder in Light, shadow from the Coastal Scents 88 Metal Mania palette in red and pale gold, Ardell brow powder in Brunette, Revlon matte lip color in Crimson, Revlon blush in Coral. 
Hair and makeup was done by me. 
I am able to do any retro hair style for that perfect pinup look.  And right now Precious Images is offering a Christmas pinup special of 2 hi res edited images and 2 web ready images for $150 with full access to vintage props, wardrobe and accessories as well as makeup and hair by me.  :) 

Vintage Vixen of the Week #1

Today will mark the first vintage vixen makeup look.  I will be posting a photo of a vintage makeup look that I've done and following up with a list of products that I used from the brand, to the line and including shade names.  :)

 First vintage vixen:

Photo by Melissa of Precious Images, Model is Neicey, Location is Visual Arts Studio in Richmond VA.

Neicey was a beautiful model and portrayed the era wonderfully.  She was one of our first models for The Diversity Pinup Project that I hosted.  Photographers included:  Precious Images, Skyline Photography, Diego Tomas, Krehb Fotografie and makeup artists in tap were myself (Makeup by Ellie) and Brandy Page (Fab Faces by Brandy).  The location was Visual Arts Studio in Richmond.  Our wardrobe maven was Lena Cottom (of the Don't Hate, Celebrate!  Diversity Fashion Show in Richmond).  

*The "undergarments" of the makeup look include primer, moisturizer and foundation as well as any concealers if used. *
"Undergarments":  Dove Facial Moisturizer (fragrance and alcohol free, non-comedogenic), LORAC AquaPrime primer (paraben, silicone, oil and fragrance free...perfect for sensitive skin), Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Toast mixed with Avon Tinted Moisturizer in Dark to sheer it out.

Face:  Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Honey and Maybelline Mineral Power blush in Plum Radiance.

Eyes:  Smokey Eye Palette by Coastal Scents- the blues with highlight from the pinks, Ardell lashes in Wispies, Mascara is Great Lash mascara in Black, and liner is a cream in black from the Hot Smudge palettes by Hard Candy. (My go to lash glue is DUO glue in Dark...dries dark to blend with the lashes.)

Lips:  Nyx pencil in Nude, Revlon Super Lustrous lip color in Cherries in the Snow, ELF Super Glossy tube lip gloss in red.

Keep in mind that the makeup doesn't have to cost a lot to work well.  Many makeup artists swear by brands like Revlon, L'Oreal and Maybelline.  Two of the top performers in the mascara department are by Maybelline.  To get the best for your face experiment with different brands to find the right makeup for you.  Realize too that a good makeup artist isn't about what's in their kit but is about what they do with what's in their kit, regardless of how much the product costs.  :)

Emulating an Era: The 1920s

Ah!  The Era of the Flapper!  The decade that grew out of the Edwardian era and the time of the quintessential Gibson Girl!  Most people associate the fringed dresses, the Charleston dance and finger waves with that particular time period.  It was an age of excess and freedom.  The time image of debauchery and youth!  America was flush with newly returned veterans from World War I, teenagers as well as young ladies in their 20s were feeling a wave of rebellion and Prohibition was in full effect. 

Many people want to emulate that particular "Flapper" style and realize that it is an incredibly difficult style to imitate.  Pencil thin high brows, flawless complexion, smokey eyes (move over Kim Kardashian!), dark or rosy exaggerated Cupid's Bow lips and a high flush characterized this look.  Hair lengths varied from mid-back to high up over the ear bob cuts.  Hair styles featured water waves, finger waves, ringlets or stick straight textures. 
A few examples of fashion from the 1920s:

Examples of 1920s makeup and hair:

Fashion tended towards dresses with drop waists and skirts that rose above the knee in materials that "floated" like chiffon or silk.  Many times the dresses were heavily beaded or feathered and had lower backs or bodices for evening wear.  Day dresses were simpler in muslin or cotton with the same drop waist look and were longer with higher necks.  Shoes were daintier, sporting ankle straps or t-straps and exposing more of the foot and ankle.  Turbans and cloche hats were popular for covering the hair out in the elements. Women would sometimes bind their breasts to achieve the youthful teenage look of a flatter chest and stockings were rolled to the knee or were not worn at all, to the dismay of an older generation.  Youthful embodiment and rebellion was the aim of the 1920s and as hemlines rose so did the stock market...until Black Tuesday in 1929.    

Bullying the Brow

The age old question of women everywhere is "How in the world do I get my eyebrows to look great?"  To the left is a great diagram to use as a guide for shaping the brow.  Using an eyeliner pencil or a shadow brush handle line it up along the inside of your nose, touch your nostril and making sure it is pointing straight up and down (first illustration).  Your brow should end no further in than the nostril and no further out than the inner corner of your eye, so anywhere within that area is a good rule of thumb.  Mark that area with a liner pencil.  Next, line the pencil up at an angle against your nostril (third illustration) to get the tail end of where the brow should end.  Mark it.  Then making sure your pencil is straight up and down line it up along the iris of your eye (the colored part of the eye, as in illustration two).  This is where the arch should fall.  Mark this as well. Next take a moment and decide on what brow shape you'd like to have.  There are several brow shapes to consider:

1. Round.  This is a brow that is naturally more feminine looking and very soft.  There are no angles, a rounded head (end near the bridge of the nose) and has a curved arch with a tapered tail.
2. Angled.  This is a strong brow look.  Not for the faint of heart.  These brow shapes tend to have a squared off head  and are strongly defined with a sharp angled arch and a tapered tail.
3. Soft angled.  This is an angled brow but not as strong or boxy looking.  A feminine brow with soft curves and a high slightly angled arch.
4. Curved.  This is like a soft angled or round brow with a tapered end but with an upturn at the end closest to the bridge of the nose.  If the head is turned up too much this can give the wearer a faintly surprised look at all times.
5. Flat.  This is the most masculine and strongest brow of all the shapes.  Another shape that is not for the faint of heart.  These tend to be thicker and do not have a high arch at all.  There is a short tapered end and a faint arch on the brow.  

Don't go in there all willy nilly and expect to get a perfect brow.  Consider the shape of your face, the brow shape you like best (study celebrity and model photos for an idea of different brow shapes) and draw in possible brow shapes using an eyeliner pencil.  It's best to "try it on" first before you jump in there and end up with a brow shape that is extremely unflattering for your face.
If you are one of those that gets queasy at the thought of waxing or plucking your own brows but you feel as though the ladies at the salon do not listen to what shape you want, make sure you take a photo of the brow shape you like so they know exactly what shape you are going for.
If you are a plucker or waxer, then make sure to outline in white or nude liner pencil the shape you are going for and to pluck or wax anything that falls OUTSIDE of those lines.  Once you've finished shaping the brow take a brow brush/comb and comb straight upwards.  Trim with a pair of small scissors anything that sticks up past the brow line.  This will ensure that you won't have any scragglies cropping up from a night of extensive tossing and turning on your pillow.

For a natural look, take a clear brow gel or clear mascara (my favorite is Maybelline's Great Lash mascara in clear) and comb through to set the brows.  If you want a more polished or glam look then take a powder that closely matches your hair color, a stiff angled brush and either water or the brow gel and fill in the brows with the brush dampened.  Follow the direction the hair grows in to get a more natural look otherwise it can look harsh.
If you follow up with a concealer to sharpen the look of the brows then please BLEND the concealer!  Make sure your concealer is only a shade or two lighter than your natural skin color or it will look like a bad drag accident. I do have to say though, if your brows are groomed correctly, you should not need to use concealer unless you are going for a super dramatic sharply defined brow. 
For an instant brow lift, dab a bit of  light colored concealer, cream highlighter or a shimmery shadow just under the arch of the brow and the inside corner of the eyes and blend well.  It will brighten your eyes AND lift the brows. 

Here, I opted for a rounded shape brow.  I highlighted with a shell pink under the arch and a faint shimmery nude on the corner of the eye against the bridge of the nose.  Brows are filled in using a medium brown brow powder by Ardell (the same company that makes eyelashes). You can also use an eyeshadow that closely matches your hair color for brow powder as well.  Revlon ColorStay has a couple of great shadow quads that closely match natural hair colors. 
Whatever you do, DON'T butcher your face with bad brows.  Don't be afraid to ask your Makeup Artist if they do brows or, if they don't, who they would recommend.  Your makeup artist should also be able to tell you how to fill them in and shape them properly.  Don't get caught with bad brows and speak up if someone messed them up.  They CAN be fixed even if it is temporarily until they grow back in enough to be shaped properly.  Your eyebrows are the frame of your face and if they are poorly done then even the best makeup application will suffer for it.