How My Virtual Makeup Classes Work!

Here I am with my iPhone in hand working the camera and taking shameless selfies at the same time…lol. I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about how my Virtual Classes work. My last BLOG post was all about the best type of lighting options for an at home virtual makeup experience so I thought this would be a great follow up.

We start out with you BOOKING the class which will take place on Zoom on a specified date and time. As you fill out the information for your class, you will also be asked pertinent questions about your makeup routine, makeup products and makeup practices. Any and all concerns you may have or would like to tackle within our time together, we will accomplish. I will always customize each and every class around your needs, keeping in mind what the emphasis is.

I will send you an email confirming your class chosen and prep notes to keep in mind before your class.

I always suggest my pre-requisite class of Makeup Bag Makeover because this really gives me an idea of what you have at your disposal. If your products and/or tools are correct for you AND if your items are not expired. If you should have any gaps or holes that need to be filled or tools like brushes that you may need to get in order to perform the class, this will be our time to figure all of this out. If I then need to do some research and find you products or tools that you may need, then I do so. This class gives us a fantastic baseline that really connects to the rest of my class roster.

You will receive a friendly reminder or two that your class is coming up and to please make the final payment. You will be sent the Zoom link and all you have to do is click the link button, have your prepped station ready for makeup time and have good lighting which is extremely important. If you don’t have good lighting then a virtual makeup class will be challenging. After our time together, I send you a detailed face chart with details about where to place products and our actual recorded Zoom lesson so you can rewatch at your leisure if you so desire. From start to finish, I got your beauty back ;0 !

I hope this sheds some light on how my Virtual Makeup Classes work. It’s easy peasy!! Customized makeup classes at your fingertips! What could be better? BOOK NOW!!

Makeup for MEN!

When I speak to male grooming…I understand that it can be a touchy subject depending on who the audience may be. I would love to debunk any myth that says it’s emasculating for men to even think about wearing a little makeup every now and again, especially for special occasions like getting married or being on camera!

Think of all the times men have gone and treated themselves to a professional shave or a spa day before an event. Men get their nails and toes done, get messages, get facials and sometimes get waxed and get hair cuts. These all fall under the self care rituals that women do, just add a makeup application and men and women are basically the same….haha, NOT!! But, when you look at it from this perspective…makeup can be just another layer of the ‘FEEL GOOD’ process! 

When grooming is done right on men…it’s like a wake up call! Men look fresh and polished. A little touch up even can go a long way. Like I always say, skincare is paramount. Hydrating the skin, applying an eye cream, grooming the brows(a big one in my opinion) and keeping your beard or mustache in check really can make a 7, a 10!! Evening out the skin tone, applying concealer and possibly taking some shine down can really make a difference in photographs or on film. If a man is bald…sometimes it creates a glare or bounce of light when photographed or filmed so taking that sheen down is welcomed. 

Now a days if I talk to a groom before a wedding…we talk about shaving and if they have sensitive skin. There are so many products out now that can really help with any issues. Even if a groom doesn’t wish to see me on the big day…I am always happy to give advice if they get a blemish, cut themselves shaving or get red bumps afterwards. But, it’s also a nice luxury to have a makeup artist take away any of these worries literally and figuratively on a special day. 5 o’clock shadows are a thing as well and some men just don’t wish to have this when being photographed. It would be my job to come in and use color correcting to help cancel this out. When all of these grooming elements come into play, I come in to save the day! 

I try to make the time in the makeup chair, short and sweet and fun of course! It really is amazing what a little male grooming can do. So, yes makeup for men is a thing and a thing that’s here to stay! 

If you are a groom or know someone who you might think could benefit from this post, please share. If you are in need of a male groomer for any on camera professional events like a self taping or interview, please schedule a Discovery Call with me and we can discuss how I may be of service to you! 

Celebrating Black Owned Beauty Businesses!

Happy February! 

February is Black Awareness Month and I would love to highlight a few Black Owned Beauty Businesses for you to follow and show some love to! 

1.  My first brand and business owner that I would like to give a huge shout out to is Danessa Myricks of Danessa Myricks Beauty! I was introduced to her brand at the IMATS (pictured above) or the International Makeup Artists Trade Show in Pasadena several years ago. She is a powerhouse in the beauty industry! She is a Muagrapher(a makeup artist as well as photographer), an innovator and influencer, a teacher and an all around amazing human! Her beauty line is not for the shy at heart. The colors, textures and creativity behind this brand are absolutely brilliant. I implore you to try a Colorfix 24-Hour Cream Color….the shade range is outstanding and you can wear these as eyeshadow, cheek color or lip pigment. Create and inspire with these products! Please let me know if you decide to try this brand!! 

https://www.danessamyricksbeauty.com

2.  Fenty Beauty is another amazing beauty brand that I love working with and have in my kit! Think most everyone knows that Rhianna has really created a stronghold in this market with her beauty brand sold at Sephora and online. The range of inclusion with color and product integration is truly beautiful. Her philosophy is all about being open to try new things and to not feel pressure, makeup should be fun!! Personally, I have tried some lipsticks, her stackable eyeshadow palettes, eyeliners, and a couple bronzers! I am a fan! Across the board I enjoy the functionality of the shadow palettes being able to snap together for travel which is awesome, I love the different texture applications for her lipstick colors(highly pigmented liquids or twist up lipsticks), her eyeliner colors have staying power and the bronzers are great! If you are wanting to give this brand a try, if you are checking out at Sephora online…they usually give you some options as to what mini freebie you would like contingent on what your points are…if you are curious and Fenty products are available…try it for yourself!! Let me know if you too love a good FENTY moment!

https://www.fentybeauty.com/about-fenty

3.  Juvia’s Place is another beauty brand that I have recently started to play with and I have to say that the price point is giving me life and the shadow palettes that I have bought over the last couple of months, I am really impressed with. I purchased from ULTA during the Black Friday deals  so they ended up being like $8 each which is almost too tempting to ever say NO to!! The shadow colors are great, the color payoff is good, the texture is soft but not too soft and there is a shadow palette for every skin tone! They also have other beauty products available for the face, lips and cheeks but I have not personally tried them. I definitely will, given how impressed I have been with what I have now. If you are familiar with this brand, let me know your thoughts! Would love to hear them. 

https://www.juviasplace.com/collections/bundles

4. Pat McGrath , “The Mother of Makeup” is the QUEEN of beauty in Fashion and Runway and is the first makeup artist to be made a British Dame ! Her influence in the makeup world is undeniable. She commands the runway stage and in her editorials with her beautiful creations and is an inspiration to all artists. She came out with her very own makeup line a couple of years ago and yes, it is all that a bag of glitter! I personally have an eyeshadow palette, have tried her mascara and a gloss. Now, here are my thoughts…I love the colors in my palette but the packaging is heavy in my opinion. Her mascara is good and gloss is pretty. I want to try every single beauty item she has but the price point is a bit high, of course the quality is insanely high too! All is all, whatever Pat puts out there, artists like me will gravitate to because her aesthetic is always on the pulse of what is on trend and on point. 

https://www.patmcgrath.com

Hope you enjoyed my personal experiences and introductions to these Black Owned Beauty Brands. Here are a few more to check out! Let me know in the comments which ones you have tried, are going to try or just show some love to!! Thanks!

1. Black Opal

2. Black Girl Sunscreen

3. Mented Cosmetics

4. Mary Lousie Cosmetics

5. IMAN Cosmetics

6. Coloured Rain Cosmetics

7. Uoma Beauty

8. The Lip Bar

9. AJ Crimson Beauty

10. Beauty Bakerie Makeup