Fashion Design and Makeup Artistry

I've had lots of really fun times playing with makeup around fashion and design. Lucky to live in San Francisco!

 

Lots of these were taken place downtown and around Civic Center venues. A few of them were at Ruby Skye, which if you haven't heard of it is a popular night club that has grown into infamy. 

Yes there's me on the bottom right, photo by April Wise Photography. :)  

Here's Josie, one of my favorite models I've worked with...

.... And doing practice sessions at a photographer's studio below.

 Beach fashion shoot for Mia Swimwear....

 

Various test shoots for photographers, designers, models and stylists around the Bay Area...

It all started from playing around with makeup for shows in my living room, inspired by all the years performing dance and the countless hours I spent putting makeup on since I was a kid.

Designer vs. Drugstore: YSL and Rimmel Face Off

Another Makeup Monday:
"The most coveted VoxBox yet!" is what it declared when I was chosen as an Influenster to receive the new YSL Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils for testing purposes.

I love mascara. It's probably my 2nd most must-have product to wear daily right after lip gloss. Of course I was stoked to try one from a fabulous YSL line.

"Volume" and "False Lash Effect" are plastered everywhere I try to look up the product online.
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Well... There's some definition, I'll give it that. But volume? Recently this past year I've been wearing Makeup Forever's Smoky Extravagant Mascara which is pretty fabulous. Definitely didn't have near the volume as MUFE. I had tried a Rimmel Mascara for testing sometime last year too, which I had compliments on. I decided to purchase this drugstore brand again which retails around $8 to put head-to-head in a face-off with a brand that I'm sure is going to charge 4 times as much. Here are the results.

Rimmel Accelerator Lash Endless & YSL Volume Effect Mascara vs. My Bare Eye

I took these photos without any other makeup on & used no filters or touch-ups of any kind.

YSL Mascara

Rimmel Mascara

YSL on the right side, Rimmel on the left side

If Rimmel doubled its price to $16 and YSL went on clearance for $8, I'd still buy the Rimmel.

This just goes to show that designer names and a high price point really don't mean anything when it comes to getting what you want out of a product.

Makeup Monday - Mary Kay VoxBox Review

About a month ago I received my first VoxBox from Influenster, which was the Mary Kay VoxBox. For those of you who don't know what Influenster is, it's kind of like Klout. If you don't know what that is either, they are basically sites which measure your social media influence, usually pertaining to topics that you are knowledgeable or active in. I score very highly in things like beauty, health, fitness and makeup. Once in awhile these things come with perks, and for Influenster you can qualify for a VoxBox - which is a little box of (usually, mostly) awesomeness. Companies for the most part would like you to use and review their products online using your own social media channels.
Come check me out! >>> Samantha Marie's Influenster 

And with that explanation, here is my Mary Kay VoxBox review:

This was my first experience using Mary Kay products. I have obviously heard of their name & knew of their great reputation, but I didn't really have an opinion on their products.

Primed face with Vapour Instant Skin Perfecter.
Mary Kay's large powder brush wasn't as soft to the skin as I normally like my brushes to be, but used it to apply Mineral Cheek Blush, Bronzing Powder & Translucent Powder. All 3 products went on smooth & held well, though I felt the blush was a bit on the orange-y side.
Decided to try Mango Tango lip gloss sans liner to see both how well it stayed & if it bled at all (stayed perfect.) The gloss & blush were a great match (again, if you're cool with the orange-y thing.)

I didn't get the cream eyeshadow in my VoxBox, so I used MAC Cosmetics Old Gold pigment on my lids. The Jet Black Gel Eyeliner came with its own brush, and while the gel itself went on smooth, the brush didn't really help its effort. If you're a novice with gel liners, you might find this brush difficult.
Finished up with Lash Love mascara - which I think would be great as a day-wear / to work mascara. Isn't too thick or clumpy, and defines well.

Likes: smooth gel liner & face powders
Passes: Brushes, except for the concealer brush which I used to apply the MAC pigment.

Makeup Monday! 5 Makeup Must-Haves

5 Great Awesome Amazing things that I must have at all times:


Too Faced Shadow Insurance: The best shadow primer

e.l.f. Black liquid eyeliner: It's only a freakin dollar but OMG use it every day for the perfect line

NARS Orgasm Lipgloss: A bit on the pricey side but SO worth it: A plumpy shine that lasts all night

Makeup Forever HD Powder Foundation: When it came out last year it replaced the 1 compact I must ALWAYS have in my purse

NYX Retractable Lipliners: So cheap, so smooth: Buy a bunch & stick them in places where you always can get a quick touch-up in