SOME OF MY WORK:
Makeup Artists – Stay In Your Lane!
Ok, rant time!
MUAS, I’M OVER IT! First of all, STOP accepting gigs that you are not at all ready for. Secondly, STOP coming into Facebook groups/online forums with “oh woe is me”, because that gig turned out to be a complete disaster! Don’t try to blame the Stylist, Mother of the Bride, the Photographer, Director, President Obama, or anyone else for YOUR mistake! Whether skill set, managing logistics, contract details, kit supplies/preparedness etc., YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE when things don’t go well.
Many of the online communities that I mentioned above are replete with ANY/ALL of the information you need. In fact, I charge you with FELONY NEGLECT! Neglect of information and resources. Indeed, it would behoove you to strengthen your network of colleagues (ask questions/get help/hire knowledgeable assistants) so that you won’t subject yourself, OR A CLIENT to such unnecessary chaos!
If you get an offer that YOU KNOW you aren’t prepared to execute properly, be a true professional, decline the offer, pass it on OR bring in a colleague.
Reasons hiring an experienced colleague makes sense:
• Your professionalism is solidified
• They can offer you hands on expertise
• You learn and get experience at the same time
• Client is happy because the event/shoot was a success
• More business comes your way because you exemplified “team player”
We all know that even with the most careful planning and forethought, things can go wrong. Still, we should equip ourselves as acutely as possible. MUAs, don’t be the inexperienced “driver speeding into traffic”! Be a smart student of our industry by doing your homework. Honor the legacy within our ranks by respecting those who have gone before us. They paid dues – WE MUST ALSO.
Related blogs:
New Makeup Artist Photo Shoot Checklist
The MUA Q and A
July 30, 2014 · 4:26 pm
Jennifer James Beauty’s OPEN NOTE TO MUAs & ASPIRING MAKEUP ARTISTS
…work hard & long | PAY YOUR DUES | seek experience | IMPROVE YOUR SKILL LEVEL | study the masters | LEARN THE HISTORY | get to know the industry & its standards | EQUIP YOURSELF | familiarize yourself with the terminology | BE REALISTIC | know your place in the chain | KNOW THE AREAS IN WHICH YOU LACK | ask advice of those whose work you admire | OUT-DO YOURSELF DAILY | be certain you are doing your best | ASK EDUCATED QUESTIONS | exude extreme professionalism | BE WISELY CONFIDENT | strive for the global aesthetic | BE CREATIVE | handle the business of your business | BRAND YOURSELF & YOUR INDIVIDUALITY ~ KNOW THAT YOU N*E*V*E*R STOP LEARNING!!!
http://www.JenniferJames-Beauty.com
http://www.Facebook.com/JenniferJamesBeautyBiz
Wealth of info HERE!
Filed under Beauty, Cosmetics, Make-Up, Make-Up Artist
e.l.f. STUDIO LINE w/ swatches & reviews
e.l.f. STUDIO LINE
I ordered a small amount of STUDIO e.l.f. products by mail & wanted to share what I bought. These are new e.l.f. products for me as I had never ordered any of the STUDIO line. Order total including shipping was $39.85 US.
Order as they appear on *swatch*:
1) Mineral Infused Face Primer $6
2) Eye Brow Kit in Medium $3 *brow wax, brow powder*
3) Eyeliner & Shadow Stick in Black/Smoke $3 *Smoke E/S, Black eye liner*
4) Cream Eyeliner $3 *Black*
5) Creme Eyeliner $3 *Ivory*
6) Waterproof Eyeliner Pen $1 *Black* (not from STUDIO line)
7) 2 in 1 Conditioning Gloss *Supermodel*
8) Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths $3 (see photo)
9) Small Angle Brush (see photo)
Reviews & ratings: 0 = Skip it! 5=Take it or leave it! 10=GET IT NOW!
1) Nice dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish. Goes on smooth, performed well under my Studio Fix powder. Rating > 10
2) Very nice powder & wax set. Wax holds brows in place nicely. Powder is smooth & nicely pigmented. Rating > 10
3) Color pay-off on both is VERY nice. Black liner is really intense, but tends to smear. Shadow side goes on smooth, beautiful charcoal grey (like M A C Knight Divine) but tends to crease though well primed. Rating > 5
4) Now these I LOVE! The Black is very intense & glides on smoothly. After it set, it would not budge even when I rubbed firmly. Had a time removing it (see Remover cloths review) This liner is amazing! Rating > 10
5) Same as liner above. The Ivory is very creamy and goes on nicely. Nice pay-off and dried to a very long-lasting eyeliner. Rating > 10
6) I usually don’t like the pen-type liners but this one is a winner, especially for the price. Very intense black with a nice consistency & dries to a long-lasting eyeliner. Love this thing! Rating > 10
7) Very impressed by this gloss. Nice shimmer, (not glittery) wet-look high gloss shine- yet not sticky. Feels very nice on the lips. I will get more colors of these. Rating > 10
8) The softest makeup remover cloth I have EVER used. Pleasant, mild scent, nice & moist. Removed face, cheek & lip products very well. Removes most eye products very well, except for the STUDIO e.l.f. Cream Liner! Also, did not irritate but left my contact lenses cloudy for a bit.
9) Well, based on this one I WILL BE ORDERING ALL OF THE STUDIO e.l.f. BRUSHES! It is very well made, feels nice & sturdy. Very precisely formed & cut Taklon fibers lends to a clean, crisp eye line. LOVE! Rating > 10
To conclude, I am extremely happy with Eyes, Lips, Face’s products. This STUDIO Line seems to be a real winner!!!
Filed under Uncategorized
B~E~A~U~T~Y
§ Lines, shape, texture… pigments, shades, hues… light, shadow, glow. Makeup as Art. The expression of pulchritude in colour – the human form as muse. We seek to make magic; we lend our hands to the works of internal joy. Then submissively invite the world to see what we hope is………… B~E~A~U~T~Y.
Filed under Beauty, Fashion, Make-Up, Make-Up Artist
Brush Cleansing – Make Them Last Forever…
I use Japonesque, Vincent Longo or MAC brush cleanser while on location to keep brushes clean/sanitized between faces/colors. I tend to shampoo my brushes a couple times a week, depending on how much work I have been doing.
For the deep clean:
>In a large stainless steel mixing bowl (2qt), I put warm (not hot) water, 1/4 cup 99% Alcohol and Aveda Sap Moss shampoo (about a tablespoon)
>In a stainless steel pinch bowl, I put a dollop of same shampoo
Helpers: 1 large empty stainless steel cup (lay on its side), 4-8 solid white sheets of paper towel, 1 clean cotton hand towel
1. I take the clean cotton towel and do a dry wash to remove much of the make-up residue that is there (wipe back and forth)
2. Then I take each brush (one at a time) and swirl in the large bowl, gently pressing it against the side of the bowl to really get it saturated
3. Dip my finger in the pinch bowl to put a little shampoo in my palm to gently swirl the brush in (dip in large bowl and repeat until suds is white)
4. Brush gets one final swirl in the large bowl mixture, then a gentle squeeze to remove excess water. Clean brush is then inserted into the stainless steel cup (remember, lying on its side so the water doesn’t invade the ferrule)
5. Repeat steps 1-4 until every brush is done.
6. Empty large bowl and rinse well. Then refill half way with warm water, 1 tablespoon alcohol and a small amount of Pantene Relaxed & Natural Conditioner. Whisk with a fork to blend. (mixture will be slightly cloudy)
7. Take each brush and rinse under running water for about 10 seconds – a little longer for larger brushes. Squeeze out excess water
8. Swirl brush in water/conditioner mixture for a few seconds, then again squeeze out excess water
Lastly, use the paper towel to gently squeeze out excess water and lay brushes flat to dry overnight. I use solid white paper towel. As you squeeze out water, it is easy to see that you have cleaned the brush thoroughly if no make-up residue stains the paper towel
It takes me about an hour and 20 minutes to do my entire collection (180+ brushes)
Of course you can use whatever shampoo/conditioner you want. This method has worked for me over the years. I have many brushes that are in their teens and still in superb condition.
Obsessed or Possessed?
Let’s start with me, that would only be fair. When I get home from a long day, I have several things on my mind. Dinner – will I cook? Yeah, done. What is on the agenda for tomorrow? Oh, OK. Let me get out of these clothes, darned hose have tortured me all day. I should have worn more comfortable shoes, my feet are killing me. Oh, and this wool turtle-neck, wool always itches.
WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR TOMORROW!!!! I better have a peek into my closet to see what I can conjure up. Oh no, I forgot to put this stuff in the cleaners. What to do? What to do? I can’t wear that again, I wore that about 6 weeks ago. I’m tired of these boots, twice in one month? Too much rotation for these. What in the world happened to all of my sweaters? I used to have waaaaay more than this. Oh well, use what you’ve got. This might look good, this skirt with that blouse with these shoes – but maybe I should NOT carry that purse with those shoes. Wait, if I wear brown fish-nets instead of black. No, no black – black it is. That might be too over-the-top, I might get stares. Well, better than turning no heads at all. Is it really this complicated?? Why do I put myself through this?? I have got to take it easy – IT IS NOT THAT SERIOUS!!!!!!
Ok, start over. Oh look! I haven’t seen this in a while. I killed last time I wore this. Where is my uh… oh here it is. OOOOOh, that will look great great with that. Then add the pearl jewelry. What the heck, I just wear every pearl I own. I am feeling a bit timeless right about now. Yikes, almost forgot to change handbags. That would have been a disaster! I must carry the brown satchel, after all. It’s my best option with those shoes. Plus it’s roomy enough for extra hose and my laptop. OK, got it together. Quick shower, then I can get some sleep. Sleep deprevation is not good in your thirties. I wouldn’t want to start looking my age, now would I?
That was soothing, now I’ll throw on Anthony Hamilton so he can sing me into my sweet-dreams state. I forgot to look at my new Essence, Elle, Women’s Wear Daily and Vogue. I’ll just put them in my bag and take them with me. Goodnight.
6:15 in the morning, the alarm is blaring. I crawl out of bed after hitting snooze for the second time. Yuk, I didn’t get enough sleep, I feel horrible. I should just stay home. Well, let me get over here and brew my coffee. Strong and potent like my future husband.
Cool shower, yes – I need to wake up. That coffee smells sooooooo good. I’m so glad I picked out my clothes last night. The last thing I want to have to fight with is choosing something to wear today.
This coffee is perfect, I am on the right track. Showered & exfoliated, checked email, synced my phone, read the paper – enough me time. I’ve got to get going.
OH NO, I forgot about that meeting. I can’t wear fishnets to a business meeting! Layers of pearls, they will think I have lost my mind. Those shoes, am I nuts? What am I going to do now? Ok, ok, calm down. I could just put on the black pant-suit with that blouse, these black pumps, this jewelry and I will look just right. Where are those black pumps? I usually keep them with the rest of my pumps. What did I do with them?… oh yeah – still in my suitcase. Here they are, uh-oh they need to be shined. Thank goodness for whoever invented these shoe-mitt things. Whew!
Ok what coat? It’s a bit nippy out there, I may need an extra layer. No, not this coat – too casual. This one is much better… oh no, I forgot to sew this button back on. Next! The black one with the belt. Perfect. Not this scarf though, it’s too linty. That would look crack-ish. I’d better just throw this thing in the trash where it belongs.
One last peek in the mirror. Yes, this is do-able, but no awards for this ensemble. As long as I’m not a fashion don’t. Wait, the navy coat will look better – Quick change and I’m out the door. Let’s get this day started.
Arguably, this could be someone obsessed with clothes. Of course I’m not. Of Course I’m Not! OF COURSE I’M NOT!!! Am I?
Are you?
The Perfect Brow
The one thing that EVERY woman should have is a good brow arch. We are all born with a brow that is fitting for our facial shape and bone structure. I only wish to suggest that we can only improve upon nature. These brow basics will help you to show the world YOUR BEST BROW. Brow grooming at home is an option, but some things are best left to professionals. Whether handling your own arch or seeking the services of a QUALIFIED BEAUTY PROFESSIONAL, these rules apply.
1) Never alter your brow too much. An over-groomed brow can actually change your facial expression in several ways. Poorly shaped brows can make you appear to frown or give you a surprised look. Neither is appropriate. Also, over-enhancing could give you the ‘Whatever happened to Baby Jane’ effect. If you need assistance in determining your best look, see the guidelines below. If you decide to see a professional (Make-Up Artist, Esthetician), seek references from people you know who have nicely groomed brows. Many estheticians and make-up artists will be able to assist you in correcting brow disasters – whether by your own hand or some wayward makeover maniac.
2) Be knowledegable about the services that you seek. Getting a good arch will offer you several options. There is the standard hot wax method, tweezing and threading. Any of these is a good choice when receiving the service from a qualified beauty professional. All of these methods remove stray hairs from the root, resulting in a long-lasting clean arch. NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO USE ANY FORM OF RAZOR to arch your brows. This can lead to cuts and scrapes, visible stubble after just days, and likely irritation – albeit a very unsatisfactory, short-lived result. Remember, you get what you pay for. The industry standard for a good brow arch will cost from $12 – $30 in most markets. If the service is too inexpensive, that should raise a red flag. Fees tend to be higher in cities with thriving entertainment and fashion industries. (Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles) Look through the latest fashion & beauty magazines and check out the brows in cosmetic ads for Cover Girl, Lancome, Maybelline and Estee` Lauder – they get it right every time. Celebrities with perfect brows include Tyra Banks, Lara Flynn-Boyle, Ziyi Zhang, Thandie Newton, Heidi Klum and Mary J. Blige – just to name a few, IMHO
3) Know your own face. There are three basic guidelines to YOUR best brow shape. Get in the mirror with a narrow straight object (ruler, pencil, orange-wood stick) to assist you in viewing these guidelines AS DETAILED IN THE DIAGRAM BELOW:
A _ The beginning of your brow should be somewhat parallel to the outer part of your nostril
B _ The highest point of your arch should line up with the outer part of your nostril and the outer of the pupil of your eye
C _ Your brow should then end at the point where you outer nostril lines up with the outer corner of your eye
※ Do your homework. IT’S YOUR FACE AND YOU WANT TO PUT THE BEST ONE FORWARD!!!
From FUZION Magazine, VOL III – Issue 6
http://www.jenniferjames-beauty.com
Filed under Beauty, Cosmetics, Make-Up, Make-Up Artist, Uncategorized
How it all began. . .
I credit having two older sisters with my falling in love with EVERYTHING BEAUTY. Watching two fashionistas while growing up turned out to be a seduction of my interests. I was quite the tomboy until 8th grade then it began. As a teen, I began to devour every beauty editorial in all of the top fashion magazines: Vogue©, Elle©, Essence©, Cosmopolitan©, Harpers Bazaar© and Seventeen. I couldnt get enough. I was ever-willing to spend my last $10 on an eyebrow pencil and two fashion rags. I would spend hours at the nearest store to browse the make-up lines and become familiar with every tool there was. I learned to sew at a very young age (Mommy made sure), so this was the time I started designing and sewing my own outfits to wear to school. So of course I had to have nails and eye shadow to match. If my blouse had black and white stripes or a checkered pattern, then so did my nails and eyes. Eventually becoming a NAIL TECHNICIAN and MAKE-UP ARTIST was a natural progression.
Filed under Make-Up Artist
![Grand Teton [Explored 4-28-24]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53683680357_50bfb8a6e8_s.jpg "Grand Teton [Explored 4-28-24]")
JENNIFER JAMES BEAUTY 