My Obsession

I worked for Chanel for years as a Makeup Artist/ Promotional Consultant.
And the reason i did so for so long was the product.
It really is sublime.

Chanel have the money to put into research and technology to make their products the best.
Even now after leaving I still have to pop into the beauty counters to see what they are up too.

Lately they have just renamed two of their groups of skin care.
They now feature Beaute Initiale for first signs of ageing.
Ultra Correction Line Repair, for the reduction of visible wrinkles.
Ultra Correction Lift for loss of firmness and their beautiful Sublimage range, for total regeneration.

The care of your skin in essential, not only will it give you a better canvas to apply your makeup, but it will also have you using a lot less coverage, as you simply wont be needing it.

We all dont have the funds or finances to afford Chanel, and if this is you go for something simple but good.
I also adore Neutrogena, and also a brand called Cetaphil which is a non soap/soap and mosturiser.
I think that as long as you are cleansing and moisturising your skin, you will see benefits and not just today but in the future as well.

Chanel also recently launched their Lift Lumiere Foundation which has a lifting affect, so your skin will appear smoother and you will appear more illuminated.

There were other great things i saw down in Sydney like Shu Uemura's range, I love the eyelash bar.

The Makeup Store's new Makeup Magazine ( I get every copy).

And MAC well what can i say they also come out with something different to others (thats what i love about them) I am loving the Goth black used in the right way anyone can wear it.

Also dont forget to check their latest holiday colours for lips now that the lip is back!

Start wearing colour again, dont forget to play up all your features not just one, and ALWAYS remember less is more.
Kisses Ant xx

I'm back

Well i am finally back from Sydney and from being so busy.
And I'm here as promised to tell you all about the new trends i noticed while i was away.
The first thing ................. THE LIP IS BACK!
Yes colour is back gorgeous pinks, deep reds, the nude lip has taken a back seat.
Chanel, MAC, Shu Uemura and Mecca have got some great colours to try.

You also have to check out the new Chanel Eye Gloss its a compact of four colours for the eyes in pearl, gold, rouge noir and black, these are a great addition to your makeup bag for somethig different and creates a new look all together.

Also lashes are SO big these days, false, extensions, singles they are all huge! There is no excuse anymore for thin or sparse blinkers ............
Take a look at MACs extensive range also the Makeup Store has some fabulous ones to offer.
You should also check out Shu Uemuras new lash bar at David Jones Sydney the first in the country with around 40 designer lashes to choose from you will walk out with everyone noticing the windows to your soul.

Im off to Sydney!

I am in Sydney this week, checking out new products and doing some work, so will let you all know the goss when i get back dont forget to contact me, if you need to know about anything at all.
Till i get back kids
Take Care and Kisses
Ant x

Busy busy busy

Hey Glamourpusses

I have been hectic, moving working, writing its all a bit too much.

I am not only writing this blog, but am also answering questions on a great Makeup/ Beauty blog hosted by the gorgeous Zoe Foster you can find it at http://www.primped.com.au/ go take a look its a great site.
As well as this i am also writing for another site called www.OutThere4U.com, they are also one of the blogs i follow here so you can click on the link to go see what i do there.

So all in all i have been a busy little beaver!

But now down to business!

Well i have been spending a lot of time now in Queensland and have been finding it really interesting, the differences between here and Sydney is vast and quiet noticeable.

I think the biggest difference i have seen here is skin condition and also colours.

Here the sun is harsh and harsh almost daily, where in Sydney we have a bit of a break and also if your in the City itself you may spend the day not even seeing it!

I fine here that with the skin condition the colours are also different.
Because skin is a lot more brown or sunkissed here, i have noticed girls wearing a lot more pastel colours in eyeshadows and lip colours, also application tends to be light and subtle.

The liquid line along the top lash will never go out of style anywhere, so you still see that a lot out in the clubs and places to go here.

And its good to see girls here are not afraid of a strong lip colour, as pinks are in this season and that nude look is ok for some occassions but can we just get over it already!

One thing that will also never go out of style is sunblock an essential for any girl going out in the sun, i would even suggest putting under your makeup daily, as we all need protection from the elements, and the sun is one of the biggest agers of our skin.

So i am going to keep my eye out for trends here as its been a little all over the place i have noticed.
So stay tuned!
Also dont forget to contact me with any questions you may have its not everyday you have an International Makeup Artist at your finger tips!
Makeup, Skin, Beauty, Products anything you would like, no question is silly and im here to help.
Well beautiful ones
catch you soon
Kisses
Ant x

Waterproof Makeup for Summer

I have had a question regarding the best Waterproof Eyeliners for Summer. I know that one of the best ones i have ever used is Chanels Waterproofs (Stylo Yeux Waterproof) they are good eyeliners as well as being long lasting even with water. I think the best way to test an eyeliner in store, is to actually draw a line on your hand , let it set for a few seconds then to actually use a little saliva or water if you have it to see how fast and easy it rubs off. If you find it comes off easy its not going to last you in and out of water in summer.
In summer especially if your beaching it, i would avoid foundation all together and go for a tinted moisturiser, this will not only give you coverage but norish your skin.
Also sunblock is essential daily to avoid burning, ageing and pigmentation.
Also using creme blushes and colours on your eyes will last that little bit longer than any powder one will do.
Just remember noone looks good at the beach piled in makeup, its all about fresh healthy skin and minimal colour, this is the perfect chance to let your skin breath and get some of that fantastic salt water, which will help your skin not hinder it.
Just remember after your day at the beach to moisturise well after showering.
And if there are any other questions dont hesitate to ask, and see you at the beach!
Kisses
Ant x

School Formals

Have just joined a great new site here in QLD, where i will make myself available for school formals.
Its a great little site everyone should check it out.
here it is here:

http://schoolmarketplace.com.au/

check it out!!!
kisses
Ant

on the move

I am currently in the process of moving so please be patient will be back soon
with something to make you wet your pants .
kisses all
Ant xx

Foundations and Primers

So what is all the confusion about Foundations and Primers? i know it seems like there is a galaxy of products out there, especially when it comes to foundations.

The worse crime i see is foundations that do not suit the skin tone or colour and that leave a visible line around peoples faces, or foundations that are wrong for the skin type, making people look greasy or flakey.

The best thing i can tell you is discover your skin type first.

If you find that after you wake and you have a shower midway thru the day if you have a visible shine to your skin or you can feel a film on the top of your skin, you may also be prone to breakouts and pimples/acne or that you just seem shiny a lot of the time, you are more than likely an oily skin. A lot of coloured people and ethnic people tend to be oily.

If you find that you have had products where your skin has reacted or that you tend to shed skin easily get reactions or redness or tend to even get itchy, you are more than likely sensitive/dry skin.

If you tend to have a little shine thru the day and also sometimes some patches of dryness and neither one is overtaking then your probably combination skin.

Then we have the lucky fortunate ones who have a light film on their skin but never to excess who do not react easily who normally have an even skin tone even without makeup these people are the normal skins.

So once you discover where you are in the skin arena, we can move onto Foundations, but firstly just a heads up about the primers, they are basically used to apply to the skin before you foundation, they give longevity to your foundation and they also tend to prepare the skin for application almost putting a layer ontop of your skin so things can be done evenly on a pure surface. Some also have reflectors in them just to give a subtle shine to the skin under your foundation.

Now onto foundation, you will see with most brands that you always have a selection , these days there are Matte, anti age, dewy, full coverage, light coverage, stick, and many many more.

The best way i can describe it is like this Its best to stick to a category for your skin type, so if you classed yourself as oily always tend to go towards matifying ones, these will help to asorb oils and also lessen the sine throughout the day.

If you have normal skin you can tend to go for the more dewy and light coverage foundations as you wont have much to cover anyway, as remember we are only using foundations to give us an even skin tone not to create a mask.

Then if you have the sensitive or dry skin type you will need to go for something that is richer and more dewy these normally have a good amount of moisture in them so they dont dry out you skin, and to add some moisture too it.

There are many ones in between also so if you find something confusing dont forget to drop me a comment and i will do my best to answer it for you.

The new anti ageing and also newer foundations these days also have more silicon bases and other thins like light reflecting pigments these help to reflect and diffuse light from the face, so as to offer no ways of shadowing or shading, therefore making you appear younger.

I feel i will have to go into foundations more in another blog down the way, as there are so many products and options i want to make it clearer. I will also offer som products that i have seen, used and liked so maybe you will get the option to try them yourself.

Just remember my main point for foundation its to be used sparingly sure some women like the really made up look , but if your wearing makeup just for enhancement then less is more, just even your skin tone with it and use the product how it is meant to be used.

Dont forget i am here to answer your questions so if you have any make a comment! I would be happy to help out.

Till my next blog
Kisses
Ant x

Makeup Artists courses

Wow what an overload of questions submitted i hope i can keep up with this. I get a lot of questions from young people wondering about doing a Makeup Course, which one and if they need one.
ONce upon a time i would of said you dont need a course as talent is what will get you through, i still believe this to a degree, but i think with the miriad of products available these days and the new tools and equipment its always wise to have the basics down.
I would suggest that any young person wanting to get into the field, firstly look into courses in their own areas, now they can be very expensive, so maybe you have parents who can pay, or you can work a partime job and save or maybe even be allowed government assistance. Then i would set about trying to accumulate anything you can to start to build a kit, you dont have to have the best products, look for good pigment, longevity and application. Some of the worlds best artists use the cheapest products as they love working with them.
You can also start to look through magazines especially ones like Vogue, Harpers Bazzar, Glamour, etc to gain some ideas and to see the trends emerging each season, because just like clothes Makeup also goes through trends .
There will always be many people who are interested in this profession just remember to believe in yourself dont be afraid to be creative and to set yourself aside from the rest. Always listen to your trainers about the basics as these will be the things that enable you to excel with your own flair and ideas. Any questions remember just ask, and hopefully this has given you all some more ideas about becoming a Professional Makeup Artist

My new blog where hopefully YOU will lead where it goes

I am a Makeup Artist who has worked here in Australia, London, New York, LA and many other places for Celebrities Magazines and people alike, and i have decided that i am going to impart my knowledge to YOU. So what i would like ultimately is questions sent as comments to my log so i can answer all those questions you may have , about Makeup, products, skin care, or skin.
Ask away and dont be embarassed about your questions as i do not mind if you have no idea as we all have to start somewhere.
I am hoping that my blog will help women all over the world present their best face to the world!
So bring on the questions, and my next blog will be about some basics of makeup.
Talk soon everyone
kisses
Ant