In My Kit

Something I can't live without in my kit, and on my face daily is Boi-ing industrial strength concealer from Benefit Cosmetics.

I have been using this concealer for years, and it has never let me down. 

Boi-ing is toted as an industrial strength concealer, and it is just that, this stuff will cover anything, dark circles, acne, scars, tattoos, you name it, it'll will cover it.

I am a huge fan of the creamy consistency, it's not so creamy that it creases and slides around, but not so dry, that it cakes, and sucks the moisture from your skin, it's as if it were created by Goldie Locks, it's Juuuust Right!

Anyone who knows me, knows I am an advocate for finding your own technique for how to use products, whether you use a brush, sponge, your hand. However I have found that with Boi-ing, as well as with most concealers, it works best to use your fingers to blend. The heat from your skin, helps melt the product, and gives it that perfectly blended out look, and feel.

Another great tip for using Boi-ing, it makes a great highlight, a little on the cheekbones  down the bridge of the nose, center of the forehead and chin, really gives the face a bright look, giving you the look of always having your own spotlight.

Fall Forecast

With fall quickly approaching, (I know, I know, I don't want it to happen either.) I've got my prediction for the hot new fall look.

I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I now a few beauty insiders, and I can say this is a look that is going to be everywhere. This is the kind of Insider Trading you can feel safe about.

As with every season, a flawless complexion is a must, and at Kiss and Makeup, we have all your skincare and foundation must haves, no matter what your skin type.

This Fall, the look is all about impact and perfection.

A softened smokey eye, with a well defined shape, to give your eyes the appearance of the perfect almond shape, and pulling the outer corners of the eye up and out, gives a nice lift, no surgery required!

If the eyes are the window to the soul, than the eyebrows are the frame, and with out a sturdy frame, the whole thing falls apart. A dark, full, well shaped brow is key to framing the eye, and the whole face.

My new favourite product to achieve the best brow, is the Geisha Ink brow liner, it is the newest addition to the Geisha Ink family, and is as amazing as their liners. The brow pen is extremely easy to use, and comes in two shades (light and dark) both with a nice taupe undertone, so your brows won't turn red or black like a lot of other brow products out there.

As well as a well defined eye, a well defined lip is key to a gorgeous fall face.

With Summer still here, we want to hold on to the bright colours we love so much. A rich berry tone is a great way to keep that colour going, without being overwhelmed by a bold lip.

A deep lip is key to this falls hottest trend, it gives the face drama and impact, without over powering the face.

The key to getting a crisp clean lip, is a firm, flat top lip brush and concealer. If this tip confuses you, no worries, it's an insider trick to getting a flawless lip, which I will gladly share with you, just book an appointment with me, and I'll get you all set with a flawless lip, you can easily recreate at home.

Now, you're probably thinking, that's a lot of well defined features going on, isn't it all going to look too harsh??? 

No Silly, the eyes and the lips are everyones best facial features. One or both should always be the focus of your makeup look, plus the rest of the look is soft, so it balances out nicely.

Your perfect complexion is going to soften the look, as well as a soft blush.

Your blush should be light and subtle, but still give the face a hint of colour. A soft peach is going to do just that. Colour on the cheeks makes you look not dead, and an easy way to define the cheek.

With these steps, you'll easily be able to be the most fashionable person this fall, and remember if you need a hand, we can always do it for you.

What products you'll need for this look.

Primitive eyeshadow trio by Vincent Longo

Gioelle Berry Lipstick by Vincent Longo

Sandalwood Powder Blush by Vincent Longo

Black Eyeliner and Mascara by Geisha Ink

Dark Eyebrow Pen by Geisha Ink

Twitter

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My Dark Secret

Those of you who know me, know I take my craft, and art of makeup very seriously, and I strive for perfection on my clients, and those close to me know I strive for perfection on myself as well.

As the title of this post alludes to, I am about to share with you a secret I share with very few people, and try to hide from the world.

I suffer from eczema, on my arms, hands and worst of all, around my eyes. I have had eczema for a very long time, and have used anything you can think of to try and cure it, or at least keep it at bay. I have used everything from doctor prescribed steroid creams, creams on the market from $100 per ml. to drugstore vaseline.
I have learned what triggers my flare ups, and I try to avoid them, but I'm human, and sometimes I like to indulge, and I pay for it. I have found my triggers to be, in no particular order, sugar, stress and alcohol.

I am not a doctor, and I have no better solutions on how to treat eczema, I'm still struggling with that on a daily basis.

What I can help with is how to hide it, now I know that putting a whack of makeup on top of the eczema in no way helps heal it, and I'm sure it actually prevents it from fully healing, but somedays you just can't leave the house without covering it up.

Enough of my ramblings, and let me show you how I cover my eczema around my eyes. I am posting a before photo, so you can see how it really is, this is something only my parents have seen while I was growing up. So here it is world, me, without a stitch of makeup... sorry!

 

                                                                          ^BEFORE^

                                                                            ^AFTER^

What I use to cover is, i start by hydrating the area, that is your personal preferance. currently I use either Eye-C by Quantum Hydrox or Hydreane Rich by La Roche-Posay, sometimes  I layer both.

 
                 
Hydrating the eczema is key. On my days off, all I do is apply eye creams.

The next step is to cover it, conceal it to be more precise, so for that we need a concealer. One that I have been using for years is Boi-ing from Benefit. I find that it has great coverage, is very long lasting, and not drying.
I layer it on, using my fingers, I find that's the best way to apply concealer, eczema or not, the heat from your body helps blend the product nicely, so it looks natural.
Going one shade lighter then your skin tone will help camouflage the redness, and discoloration. It may look like you have reverse racoon eyes at first, but that's why we put foundation on top.

Once all the redness and blotchiness has been covered, and it's blended to look like it's not caked on, I add my foundation. I have oilier skin, so I use a powder foundation, but a liquid foundation is going to do the same trick, When using a liquid foundation, dab it over the concealer, so not to wipe away all the concealer.
I use a powder brush to apply my powder foundation, and the powder helps to set the concealer, so it stays all day.

I have been using Duo Mat from Make Up For Ever, for years, I love it, so of course they have discontinued it. That being said, they have brought in a new product to replace it, Pro Finish Multi Use Powder Foundation. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but once I am out of the Duo Mat I've been hording, I'll try it, and it will give me something to write about, so stay tuned.

Once the foundation is on, I want to make sure it stays put all day, nothing bugs me more than having to touch up throughout the day, an oil blot here and there I can deal with.
In order to keep everything set and hydrated, I mist my face, once it's all done, with Mineral Kalla Energy Tonic by Sjal. It is great to use as a toner after you cleanse, great to set your makeup, and even great as a mid day refresher. (We keep a bottle in the fridge at work during the summer to keep cool and fresh).

So that's my routine. It looks long when you spell it all out, and advertise all the products, but it only takes me about 15 minutes to get my face done, and that includes brushing my teeth. Once you get the hang of a routine, you can bang it out in no time flat.