Tag: Beauty

Beauty Rocks at the Makeup Show 2016

k150_28Stiletto_City_heel_iconSZDWhether you are a pro makeup artist or just someone who loves experimenting with makeup, The Makeup Show is an annual event not to be missed. With dozens of beauty product vendors, classes by makeup professionals, demos, seminars and a career fair for those wanting to break into the industry as a hair or makeup stylist, The Makeup Show has been going for 10 years. Every year it seems to get more packed. This year was no exception as the California Mart filled with beauty enthusiasts eager to check out new products from top brands and learn tips from experts in the business. I went and I was ready to shop and be inspired!

Demos at The Makeup Show 2016

 

Highlights of The Makeup Show 2016

What I Wore

I like to keep it casual for shopping, especially at conventions when there will be a lot of crowds and walking. But that doesn’t mean forgoing making a statement. A hat always does the trick and my vintage, faux leopard, pillbox hat is a go-to for daytime wear. I paired it with a vintage reproduction hot rod club t-shirt, statement necklace, capri pants and light canvas moto jacket. And of course shopping bags full of goodies make the best accessories!

OOTD The Makeup Show 2016

 

OOTD The Makeup Show 2016

My Haul

I can’t go to a Makeup Show and not do some shopping. While it’s a great opportunity for makeup artists to load up their kits and buy in bulk for a discount, it’s also good for bloggers like me to check out new products and to purchase products at a reduced price to try out. So my shopping bags were filled with:

New brushes from Crown Brushes

Hair padding from Straight Pin Studio

Ultralucent Setting Powder from Cinema Secrets

Makeup Setting Spray from Model in a Bottle

 

What to Wear

There are lots of Makeup Shows happening year-round in different cities – check out one near you. Be sure to dress with a sense of fashion and comfort to move through the crowds with ease. A vintage-style T-shirt will keep you cool and comfortable. Pair it with a statement necklace to upgrade a casual look to chic sensibility. Retro-style culotte pants are on trend for spring and come in playful patterns. Bring a light jacket in case it gets chilly and you’re good to go! Click the links to shop* this look!

Shopping Style

Don’t forget to check out some of the great beauty brands featured at the Makeup Show. Some products I recommend include Sephora’s new matte lipstick, Besame’s brightening powders and Make up For Ever’s HD collection.

Makeup Show Recommendations

 

The Makeup Show takes places at cities across the country. Check the website for locations and dates.

Stay beautiful,
Kastle

Photos edited with PicMonkey*. Get it!

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Tag: Beauty

The Makeup Show LA 2015

k150_26heel iconThe Makeup Show returned to Los Angeles for a full weekend of makeup artistry, brands showcasing their best products, demonstrations, makeup tips and business advice for those working to make a career in the industry.

Taking place at California Mart downtown, the show drew cosmetics enthusiasts as well as professionals to take it all in, many of whom come as walking advertisements for their style and best makeup looks. Of course, I had to put a cute outfit together for the occasion, with my new Unique Vintage dress featuring faces all over it. I always enjoy the makeup demos and a chance to check out the best of the brands that are hoping makeup artists will take advantage of the show discounts to load up their kits and bloggers like me with try something new to write about.

The Makeup Show LA

The show was packed for both days and it seemed everywhere you turned there was another exciting makeup demo taking place from classic looks to airbrush art to over-the-top editorial looks.

The Makeup Show LA

I caught a few demos including one from Shanna Cistulli for Cinema Secrets working her magic on my pal Doris Mayday (also known as model manager for Pinup Girl Clothing.) The demo also included some words of wisdom from Makeup Artist Legend/Cinema Secrets Founder Maurice Stein who stressed the importance of cleaning makeup brushes after every use! I caught up with Maurice after the demo and asked if makeup artists really don’t clean their brushes – he said some reuse brushes on SEVERAL clients before cleaning them. YUCK – can you say breakouts and illness!

The Makeup Show LA Cinema Secrets Demo

On Sunday, I caught a great demo by Helen Philips for Sephora using Sephora’s impressive collection of colorful eyeshadows that come in different finishes from matte to shimmer to mirror to glitter. She also gave a pro tip for makeup goofs – if you use makeup remover to fix a mistake and have a hole left in your foundation – use primer to fill it. I tried this a few days later and it works like a charm!

The Makeup Show Sephora Demo

Out in the booths I checked out Sephora’s eyeshadow and blushes that can be easily take out of their packaging and put in a customized palette. I also liked the T3 Micro’s line of curling irons and hot rollers that promise to leave hair shiny and smooth with bouncy curls. And I caught up with the Besame booth to find out what lipstick is seen on my new favorite show “Agent Carter.” Her secret weapon? Besame’s Red Velvet!

Besame's Red Velvet Lipstick

Check out more pix from the scene:

The Makeup Show LA

The Makeup Show LA

The Makeup Show LA

And now for my Makeup Show haul! I came home with lots of exciting new products to try including:

MakeupShow16

The Makeup Show takes place in cities including LA, New York, Orlando, Dallas and Chicago as well as pop up shops, throughout the year. Check the website for the next one near you!

For the love of makeup,
Kastle

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Tag: Beauty

Depotting Sample Size Eyeshadows

k150_25heel iconLadies, how many times have you received gifts with purchase of mini eyeshadow palattes only to have them pile up in your makeup drawer unused?

I had loads of little black compacts, mainly from Lancome because I’m a regular buyer of their fabulous eye cream that’s so expensive I only feel justified in splurging on it when they offer a gift with purchase. As a result, I have a rainbow of eyeshadow colors I rarely use because I never have time when I’m getting ready to break open all those little black compacts to see what’s inside.

blackCompacts

So while at the beauty supply, I picked up a couple of Z-Palettes and magnets and decided I’m going to depot those babies so I’ll use them!

I’m a newbie to depotting so for other newbies like me, I thought I’d share how my experience went. Depotting is basically pulling out the makeup pan from the packaging, putting a magnet sticker on the back of it, and then putting it into a Z Palette compact which has a magnetized back panel and clear top so you can see what you have. This cuts down on amount of space loads of tiny compacts take up in your makeup drawer, lets you see all of the makeup you have so you can use it all, rearrange the colors however you like them (grouping mattes and shimmers or by color shade etc.) and put the ones you want to take in your purse or traveling into a small Z Palette compact.

Here’s what you need, click the image to *shop:

Z Palette Large
Z Palette Large
Z Palette Compact Size
Z Palette Compact Size
Z Palette Small Square Magnets
Z Palette Small Square Magnets
Z Palette Large Circle Magnets
Z Palette Large Circle Magnets
Z Palette Depotting Tool
Z Palette Depotting Tool

 

I went to YouTube, my go-to source for learning everything, and viewed a couple of videos on depotting. Most recommended putting the compact on a piece of wax paper and setting on a heated flat iron for a few minutes to soften the glue that holds the pans into the packaging. I’ll admit I was a little impatient and skipped this step. I found most of mine lifted out of the packaging pretty easily and the glue residue just helped the magnet stickers stay on better. Also note, I bought the small square magnets that worked perfect for these sample-size makeup pans. The magnets are also available in larger circles for full-sized shadow products such as the kind purchased from MAC, which incidentally are cheaper in the refill pan than buying MAC shadows with the full packaging!

 

Z Palette sells a tool that helps with depotting that can get into the tiny space between the pan and packaging. I had a thin, pointed nail file that worked pretty well. A small Swiss Army knife would work too. I found the biggest challenge was being careful not to accidentally stab the cake of makeup while trying to get into the tiny space or stick my finger in the makeup cake and break or crack it. The whole process of depotting about 15 little compacts took roughly an hour.

There were a couple of compacts I had trouble getting onto so I decided to save them for later or just keep them in the packaging. But I was really happy with my new big palette of eyeshadows. I decided to group my colors by the palette they came with in the packaging since it prompts me to try the color combination intended by the makeup designer.

Depotted Palette

To celebrate I came up with this new shadow look using Lancome shadows of light and medium shades of blue shimmer on the lid, a matte rust color shadow blended in the crease and pearl shimmer on the crease to brow area.

Lancome Eyeshadow Look

And I’m really excited to use what feels like a brand new eyeshadow palette to try new looks in the coming days and weeks!

It’s hot to depot!
Kastle

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Tag: Beauty

Fifty Shades of Grey: Get Ana’s Look

k150_25heel iconIf you’re one of thousands who went to go see “Fifty Shades of Grey” opening weekend, like I did (read my review), and you want to get Anastasia’s look, Makeup For Ever has the collection for you. From the barely-there makeup look of a college girl to a more sultry, bold look of the woman Anna begins to transform into, this collection was created specifically from the looks used in the film.

See the behind the scenes video about the collection from “Fifty Shades of Grey” makeup department head, Victoria Down. Click the images to shop* the collection:

Give In To Me Kit

Fifty Shades of Grey Makeup Forever Collection

Desire Me Cheek Set

Fifty Shades of Grey Makeup Forever Collection Tease Me Lip Set in Nude

Fifty Shades of Grey Makeup Forever

 

Tease Me Lip Set in Berry

Fifty Shades of Grey Makeup Forever

Oh my!
Kastle

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Tag: Beauty

Makeup For When You’re Sick

k150_25Stiletto_City_heel_iconSZDThere’s no getting around it, I’ve been down with a cold. And not just a cold, a sinus infection on top of it. And I’m not the only one. The cold and flu season has been particularly bad this year – my family, friends and coworkers have been dropping like dominos with an insistent cold that has lingered for two weeks or longer.

But life must go on and at some point you have to get out of bed and back into the world, even if you’re not back to feeling – or looking – your best. So I thought I would put together some tips on how to fake it, until you feel it. Click the links to shop* the products.

SickK

Moisturizer

Being sick can dehydrate you, drink lots of water and use a good moisturizer, one with an illuminator, such as Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, can help you look radiant when your skin is drab from the illness. You may also want to reach for an eye cream to help with puffiness. Benefit’s Puff Off cream even has a little “iron” applicator to smooth out delicate skin around the eyes. Bonus tip – put your moisturizer in the refrigerator so it’s cool when you apply it, it will feel invigorating when you put it on and help with any puffiness.

Stila Illuminating Moisturizer Benefit Puff Off

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

Benefit Puff Off

 

Foundation

You’re going to be blowing your nose – a lot. So keep foundation light so it doesn’t show when you wipe off most of it from around your nose and mouth with the hundreds of tissues you’ll be going through. If you’re like me and have to go on antibiotics, at least there is one perk – it clears up blemishes so you won’t need much cover up! NARS Sheer Foundation provides just enough of a base and a bit of a glow to freshen up your complexion. But you may want to add a peach-tinted concealer under eyes to deal with dark circles such as Bobbi Brown’s Color Corrector.

NARS foundation Bobbi Brown Color Corrector

NARS Sheer Foundation

Bobbi Brown Color Corrector in Peach

 

Lipstick

Now is not the time to be workin’ a heavy lipstick that’s going to smear every time you raise a tissue to your mouth and nose. Your lips are likely chapped from the “fun” of sleeping with your mouth open because your nose is stuffed up. So go for a moisturizing tinted lip balm. My faves are Sugar’s Lip Treatment and Clinque’s Chubby Sticks.

Sugar Lip Treatment Clinque Chubby Stick

Sugar Lip Treatment

Clinque Chubby Stick

 

Blush

When you’re sick, you’re pale. Fake a healthy glow with a cream blush such as Stila’s Convertible Color, which can also be used on lips. A few sweeps of bronzer such as Benefit’s Hoola will also combat the pastiness a cold can bring.

Stila Cream Blush Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Stila Convertible Color

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

 

Eyes

Your eyes may be runny and puffy so keep makeup light and natural. A dark brown eyeshadow in the crease can help counter the puffiness and a dab of a light shimmery color in the inner lids and corner can brighten them up. Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes palette has everything you need. A brightening eye-lid primer such as Benefit’s Lemon-Aid will also help. Top with a waterproof mascara that won’t run when your eyes do.

Benefit Lemon Aid big beautiful eyes benefit

Benefit Lemon Aid

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes

Get well soon!
Kastle

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Tag: Beauty

Beauty Tools to Get to the Bottom of It

k150_24Stiletto_City_heel_iconSZDBeauty Lovers – don’t you hate it when you run out of your favorite product, look inside the container and see there’s more in there but you just can’t get to it? I swear packaging is designed to make you waste product to get you to buy more – and that can get expensive! But for us gals on a budget and those who just hate to be wasteful, we can’t afford to leave product on the table! Thankfully, a couple of innovative beauty problem-solvers came up with tools to help us out.

makeupmiserproduct

 

Makeup Miser

When you have bottles of makeup foundation or face/body moisturizers, very often the pumps don’t reach the bottom of the bottle. The Makeup Miser* is a long handled, tiny, flexible rubber spatula that will reach down in there and get it out for you! The great thing about this product is it comes in three different sizes and it will get in super small bottle openings. Plus, the tools are easy to clean with a makeup wipe and/or some soap and water when you’re done.

feature1Swoon

If you’ve ever run out of your favorite lip gloss, you can usually see more at the bottom of the container but alas, the sponge tip applicator never seems to reach that far. Enter Swoon*, a long handled tool with a pointed rubber tip that will go in there and get that gloss for you! This is especially handy since lip glosses seem to get discontinued by the time you finish them and when you fall in love with a color, you hate to let it go! Swoon is easily cleaned with a makeup wipe and has a handy container to keep it clean so you can drop it in your makeup bag or purse.

Swoon Lip Gloss Grabber

Just a quick thanks to these product makers for helping us beauty lovers out!

Keep it beautiful,
Kastle

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Tag: Beauty

PHAMExpo Beauty HAUL!

k150_14Stiletto_City_heel_iconSZDWhen the PHAMExpo Beauty Conference comes in town, I know I have to brace my credit card for some serious purchasing. That’s because PHAMExpo brings the best products and experts in the beauty industry to offer makeup tips and products available at deep discounts so makeup enthusiests like me can fill up our makeup drawers with new products to try and rave about, and professional makeup artists can load up their kit with the latest in beauty.

Check out what I brought home from the PHAMExpo this year and click the links below to shop each item.

Shop* the items mentioned in this video:

Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream

Cinema Secrets Moisture Spray

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows

Stiletto Pinup Cosmetics

Bdellium Studio 365 Square Mask Brush

Brett Brow Duo Eyebrow Shadow

Brett Brow Duel Sided Eyebrow Spool/Brush

Rock Your Hair Bombshell Volumizing Powder

Rock Your Hair Spray It Hard Big Volume Hairspray

Rock Your Hair Moringa Dry Oil Mist

Rock Your Hair Hot Curls Thermal Spray

See photos and a full report of PHAMExpo LA 2014 in this previous blog post.

Haul it home!
Kastle

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Eyebrow Makeup Tutorial with Micheline Pitt

k150_23SZDheel iconAny good makeup artist will tell you – eyebrows are the frame for your face. Having a good shape can flatter your bone structure and make the rest of your makeup look balanced and polished. Defined eyebrows are also what makes a classic pinup look. Not everyone can get their eyebrows  in perfect shape – let’s face it ladies, it’s hard to get those babies even! That’s when it’s time to seek professional help.

Makeup artist Micheline Pitt from Pinup Girl Boutique in Burbank, CA  is known as the “Eyebrow Queen” (just look at her own gorgeous brows!) She shows us how to create the perfect eyebrow in this makeup tutorial.

Be sure check out:

Part One of this video series on the Pinup Girl Boutique featuring manager/pinup model Doris Mayday

Part Two featuring an interview with Micheline on how she got started as a makeup artist and the secret to having the perfect brows.

Pinup Girl Boutique video series filmed and edited by Secret Agent Mojo Würkin

Here’s to beauty,
Kastle

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Pinup Girl Boutique: Video Interview with Micheline Pitt

k150_23SZDheel iconThe classic pinup look is defined by the bold statement it makes with makeup. With roots deep in the era of 1950s glamour, modern pinup makeup features porcelain matte skin, bold, highly-arched brows, and topped with a cherry of red lipstick. Nobody knows pinup makeup better than makeup artist Micheline Pitt who works for Pinup Girl Clothing. There, she transforms their catalog models and Beauty Bar clients into perfect pinups. As a model herself, she often shows off her makeup artist talent on her own beautiful face.  She is known as the “Queen of Eyebrows,” sporting her own incredibly-shaped brows and giving her makeup clients, “The Micheline Treatment.”

We caught up with her at the Pinup Girl Boutique to talk about how she became a makeup artist and what goes into creating the pinup makeup look, including those fab brows! Check out Part One of our video interview:

Tune in next week for Part Two with Micheline Pitt featuring an eyebrow makeup demo!

Pinup Girl Boutique video series filmed and edited by Secret Agent Mojo Würkin

Stay beautiful,
Kastle

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Tag: Beauty

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

k150_23SZDheel iconMoms, we gotta love ‘em. They might make us crazy once in a while but they gave us so much, like that little gesture of bringing us into this world. This Mother’s Day, treat your mom to a gift to make her feel like the beautiful creature that she is. I know my mom always loves skin care and makeup products and is always asking about the latest things I’m using. So I thought I would put together a few gift ideas to get that special lady in your life – or add it to your own wish list for Mother’s Day!

All items are available at your local Sephora or click the image to shop online* (great for when you need to express ship to moms who live elsewhere!)

FRAGRANCE

What mom doesn’t like to smell pretty? These fragrances will look lovely sitting on her dresser and she’ll think of you every time she glances at them and puts ‘em on.

momDay_frag2 Screen Shot 2014-05-05 at 7.26.24 PM

MAKEUP

Every lady loves to play with makeup. This gift palatte from Sephora guarentees she’ll never run out of options to try. And if you mom is anything like my mom, she can’t get enough lipstick! She may not have heard of the long-wearing Lip Tars from OCC that have recently gone from a pro makeup artist’s secret to the mainstream, so get her this perfect sampler set.

momDay_makeup1 momDay_makeup2

SKIN CARE

OK, admit it, you may have helped put a few lines on your mother’s face. Time for payback for all the worrying and squabbling. Get her these skin care sets to care for her skin and fight the aging process.

momDay_skinCare momDay_antiaging

Now go tell you mother how beautiful she is!

Happy mother’s day!
Kastle

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