The Makeup Show LA / Photo Recap

March 07, 2014 by Robin Park

Last weekend, I took an overnight trip to LA to attend The Makeup Show Los Angeles. I love these trade shows to meet other makeup enthusiasts, attend the seminars, talk to industry experts, discover new lines and also browse through some favorite and to-be favorite makeup lines. With over 75 brands, there was a lot of ground to cover. Here are some photo highlights from my trip.

I'll post some photos of my haul and also some pictures from The Kevyn Aucoin exhibition.

Happy Friday!

Inglot

Harkudo Brushes

OCC pigments and glitters

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Plastic Passion display

Make Up For Ever

Scene from one of the many seminars

Love the glitter beard. Genius.

Natalie Portman Best Actress Makeup Tutorial - Makeup Look Inspired by Natalie Portman At The 83rd Annual Academy Awards Oscars

March 01, 2011 by Robin Park

Recreate Natalie's Oscar night look!

Hello lovelies! Yes, Oscar night is behind us now, but that doesn't mean we can't relive some of those fabulous red carpet moments with makeup looks inspired by some of our favorite stars. It was great to see Natalie Portman go home with the Oscar. Having followed her career for a long time and now to see her as a mom to be, I am thrilled that she went home with the Best Actress award.

Natalie's look from the red carpet. Bronzey eye with soft lips and cherub cheeks. Very elegant and composed without too much focus on one feature. Just letting her radiant face shine through.

I wish I had earrings like hers!

Here is my step-by-step tutorial on how to get this look inspired by Natalie Portman. I prepped my face with MAC Strobe Cream to get a lit from within glow. I primed my face with Make Up For Ever HD Primer in #6 and used Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in #125. I dusted my face with MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Power. For blush I used Make Up For Ever HD Blush in #6. On lips I used MAC Dazzleglass Creme in Soft Dazzle.

1. Prep eye with primer. I used Nars Smudge Proof Eye Primer. Then MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study on the lid and browbone.

2. Line lower lash line from the inner corners to the center with a light champagne liner.

3. Line the top lashline and lower outer 1/3 with a bronze pencil. Line the upper waterline from the center to the outer corner only with a black waterproof pencil.

4. Apply base soft brown shade. I'm using MAC Rich Flesh Eye Shadow (Matte).

5. Apply soft gold shade to the upper part of the lid. I'm using RMK eye shadow in Shiny Brown Gold.

6. Use a darker shade to cut a crease and work your way through the outer third of the eye. I'm using Lancome Colour Design eyeshadow in 4Style.

7. Blend, blend, blend.

8. Apply a metallic shade to capture light and draw attention to the eye. I'm using MAC Tan pigment. Pack on the center of the eye.

9. Add the same color to the outer third of the lower lashline, on top of where you put your bronze liner. Smudge it out. To create a more dramatic effect you can bring this portion to the tear duct and/or try using a darker eyeliner and then smudging it out.

10. Curl lashes, apply mascara and lashes. Draw your brows and you are done!

Swatches of the products used. Click to enlarge any photo!

Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in 14K
Clarins Waterproof Eye Pencil in Bronze
MAC eye shadow in Rich Flesh (matte)
RMK Eyeshadow in Shiny Brown Gold
MAC Tan pigment

I apologize because I know some of these products are LE or not available anymore, but it doesn't mean you can't get the same look with similar products. Remember this is "inspired by!" Just go with what you got! Why try to be Natalie when you can be you!

Get ready for your close-up because you are done!

Natalie Portman Image Source

Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case - Swatches, Photos and Review - Do You Have An Inner Artist?

January 31, 2011 by Robin Park

Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case

This is a carte blanche on makeup artistry imagination.

Whether you are a serious makeup artist or just a makeup lover who likes to play, you need this. Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case is a kit of 12 cream color bases that virtually leaves you with an open invitation into explore your makeup imagination. Even if it's something simple like darkening a lipgloss or creating an eyeshadow base, this kit empowers me to feel creative and inspires me to dig deep into my artist side.

This isn't a kit that you use for a five minute face. While the posibilities for what can be done with these 12 little colors is almost limitless, you will need to allow yourself time to play with this. The products here require mixing, blending, thinning, sheering, sealing, etc. If you feel stumped as to how to use this, here are some simple examples: eyeliner, eye shadow base, cream blush, lipstick, foundation corrector, face painting, lipgloss corrector, highlighter, etc. Please leave a comment below if you would like to see posts on different ways to use this kit. I would definitely be up for the challenge!

Some may not use the value in something that you can't just grab to put a look together. Yes, this is a pricey product, but I see the value of this kit in two places. First, the cream color bases themselves are superb. Thick, extremely pigmented, soft and creamy in texture. These creams are extremely smooth upon application and rich in color. I would be surprised if someone, other than a very active pro, could use this whole thing. A little goes a super long way. This is high quality stuff here! Everything is blendable, layerable, mixable. The second reason for value is the infinite number of uses for these colors. Lips, eyes, face, cheeks, body. Dream it and with time, tools and maybe a little water or mixing mediums, it can happen.

There is a reason that this falls out of stock so often at Sephora. MUFE 12 Flash Color Case is an amazing and inspiring product for any makeup lover.

These metallic shades are intense!

Need to color correct a lipstick? Try adding some of these.

The black is insanely dark.

Notice that some colors are not meant to be used on lips or eyes. Patch test!

Swatched on NC35. Utterly pigmented.

Two looks I created with MUFE's 12 Flash Color Case based on Black Swan. For full detail on the looks, click here.

To Review:

Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case is $95 for 70g, 2.46oz at Sephora.com and the MUFE studio in NYC, (212) 925-9548.

Pro: The possibilities are limitless. High quality products that have unlimited uses. Can offer quick fixes for everyday makeup needs.

Con: Pricey. Often OOS at Sephora and a wait to get it. More of an artist tool. May be a little intimidating (but seriously get over and get this product. You will have so much fun playing with it.)

Overall Beautyburg Rating: A

What would you do with the 12 Flash Color Case? Would you like to see some posts on how to use this product?