As a professional makeup artist, I decided to create a beauty blog. I believe there is always something new to learn and discuss when it comes to beauty. I will share behind the scenes photos, my insight on must-have products, season trends, makeup looks, tricks to a better you and much more! If you have any input or questions, please feel free to comment on posts or email me for feedback.
By CarlyJo Speaks | May 15, 2012 at 03:46 PM EDT | No Comments
Summer is arriving quickly... Here are a few of my quick tricks to keeping hair soft and touchable!
1. Do Not "Over Wash" Over washing can cause the hair to dry out! I try limiting my washes to 3-4 times a week, or every other day.
2. Condition I have thick curly hair which can easily dry out, especially during summer! Even if I do not wash my hair that day, I make sure I condition every day! These are my daily steps to conditioning.
Run the conditioner through the hair from root to tip with fingers or a fine-toothed comb.
Pile the hair on top of the head and let the conditioner sit for roughly 1-2 minutes.
Rinse out the conditioner with cool water. *Rinsing with cool water helps the texture of the hair.
NOTE: Leaving your conditioner on for longer may "over hydrate" the hair which ironically can dry out your pretty strands if the product contains too much alcohol. Remember, everything in moderation and try to find products that do not contain alcohols.
3. Treat your hair - Conditioning Mask Once a week, or even bi-weekly, it is good to use a conditioning mask on the hair. These formulas are usually thicker and super hydrating which is why they are used less frequently.
I like to use Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm.
Biolage products can be found cheapest online or at most beauty supply stores.
4. Spritz on Softness I also like to use a spray-on conditioner after I get out of the shower on damp hair. Most products like this suggest to use on damp hair, however I also spray on my styled dry hair if I feel my hair is getting too dry/frizzy during the day.
I like to use Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Spray Conditioner.
This spray leaves my hair feeling soft, untangled and smelling amazing! Found online at Amazon.com (Pack of 3) for only $11.09
By CarlyJo Speaks | May 05, 2012 at 03:43 PM EDT | No Comments
Happy CincoDe Mayo!
Grabbing a drink tonight or meeting up with some friends? Use this quick touch up tip to keep your makeup looking fresh all night!
Use oil control blotting papers to dab away (do not wipe) excess oil that may appear throughout the night. If your skin is like mine, these sheets will come in handy!
I like to use Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets.
You can find these at places like Target or CVS. They can also be found online at Drugstore.com.
Another similar product is Up & Up Oil-Absorbing Sheets from Target.
With these you get a little more for your purchase. (70 sheets instead of 50)
These both work well and can fit in your makeup bag or small clutch for a night out. Remember, blot away! Don't cover up oil with more powder, because you might end up looking cakey. If you must touch up during the night, use a blotting sheet first to remove oil and then apply powder where coverage is needed.
Less is more when it comes to keeping your makeup looking fresh!
By CarlyJo Speaks | May 04, 2012 at 07:37 PM EDT | No Comments
Happy Birthday to the beautiful Audrey!
You are and always will be a beauty icon. ♥ Audrey's beauty inspired me to recreate a modern Hepburn makeup look.
After prepping my skin with eye cream and moisturizer, I applied my usual concealer, foundation and powder. Next I applied a light pink blusher to the apples of my cheeks and filled in my brows with a taupe brow pencil. I didn't go quite as heavy as Audrey's signature brow, however I did keep the square clean shape to mimic hers.
For the eyes, I started off by sweeping a mix of a light golden beige and a medium beige with a hint of pink to create a nice shimmery champagne color. I applied this with a flat eyeshadow brush from lash line to crease and blended some color below the lower lash line as well. I then used a pointed blending brush to apply a warm chocolate brown to the crease and blended well.
Once I had some nice definition on the eyelid, I added Audrey's signature eyeliner "swoop." Any cream/gel/liquid eyeliner would work. I used M.A.C. Fluidline in BlackTrack.
Then comes the LASHES! Audrey is known for having thick top lashes. I layered on some of my favorite mascara and then added some Ardell individual lashes (Medium length) to the outer edges of my eyes. If this was for a night time look, I would probably use some thick strip lashes instead.
I completed my look with a swipe of peachy-pink lipstick and clear lip gloss.
By CarlyJo Speaks | April 26, 2012 at 08:15 PM EDT | No Comments
This week is all about my favorites! Today I'm going to share my favorite makeup brush cleansers.
I clean my makeup brushes in my professional kit after EVERY use and I useM.A.C. Brush Cleanser
◊ This product is one of the line's bestsellers! ◊
This cleanser does not have any harsh scents or chemicals in it, yet still disinfects and cleans my brushes. I have never noticed any drying of my brushes' bristles which is a huge plus! Makeup brushes need love too.
♥
Artist Tip: I fill a spray bottle with cleanser and stick it in my makeup belt for quick cleaning of my brushes on set. I usually spritz the brush cleanser directly onto the bristles and lightly sweep the brushes on an extra clean towel I have in my kit. Paper towel or tissues can work just as well, however I prefer to clean them on towel so that I do not get any of the "paper particles" in my brushes. Plus I can bleach and reuse the towels! No need to keep purchasing more supplies.
Another one of my favorite brush cleaners is Cinema Secrets Professional Brush Cleaner
This cleaner is a little more expensive, but definitely worth it! It comes in 4oz, 8oz, 32oz bottles and they also added the new 2oz spray bottle size which is great for traveling or for professional kits. This formula leaves your brushes soft and smelling AMAZING!
By CarlyJo Speaks | April 25, 2012 at 03:25 PM EDT | No Comments
Hello lovely viewers,
Today I thought I would share my all time favorite mascaras.. And I've tried A LOT of them! Eyelashes are the key to opening up an eye and bringing that amazing pop to any eye shape!
My favorite drugstore brand: L'Oreal Paris Original Voluminous
I like my lashes to be the blackest black, so I used Carbon Blackin this brand.
When I want to SPLURGE on a great mascara, I buy M.A.C. Zoom Lash
This mascara comes in three different shades: High Esteem, Lofty Brown & (my favorite) Zoomblack.
By CarlyJo Speaks | April 07, 2012 at 03:12 PM EDT | No Comments
I love Adele's makeup on this cover of Entertainment Weekly! So much so that I decided to recreate her look on myself.
Read on for steps on how I created this look and products that I used.
Prep
Dab M.A.C. Fast Response Eye Cream under eyes and on top of eyelids Massage Garner Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refeshing Gel-Cream over the entire face to moisturize Spritz M.A.C. Fix+ on the skin for hydration Swipe on Smith's Rosebud Salve on the lips to prep/moisturize while applying the rest of your look
Skin Use Sally Hansen Natural Beauty by Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer (Used: Light) to cover blemishes and under eye darkness <-- I also this this product on the top of cheekbones as a highlighter
Use a foundation brush to blend Lancôme Fresh Wear Foundation (Used: Bisque) over the entire face With a powder brush, sweep on M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Pressed Powder (Used: Medium) over the T-zone
Sweep on a matte peachy blush over the cheekbones. I used Westmore brand blusher for this look. Try: NARS Blush in Sex Appeal
Eyes
Fill in eyebrows with an NYC Brow Pencil (Used: Taupe) Sweep on GloMinerals Eye Shadow (Fawn) over the entire eyelid from lashline to browbone
Use Urban Decay Eye Shadow (Shotgun) from lashline to crease
Add a dark plum eye shadow in the crease of the eyelid. I used a TNT Agency eye shadow for this look. Try: Sephora Collection Eye Shadow in Bewitch Me
Use a fine eyeliner brush to sweep on a "cat eye" with M.A.C. Fluidline Liquid Eyeliner (Blacktrack) Use Wet N Wild Coloricon Eye Pencil (Black)on the inner rim of lower lashline for a less intense definition. Liquid eyeliner on the bottom lashes would be too harsh to imitate this look.
Swipe on two coats of CoverGirl Lashblast Fusion Mascara (Very Black)
Add on Ardell strip eyelashes. I used #21s for this look, which is actually perfect to recreate an Adele look considering her album "21." (:
Lips
Using a lip brush, swipe on a hot pink lip color. I used a Westmore brand lipstick for this look. Try: M.A.C. Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick
Finish with a coat of Smashbox Lip Gloss (Pink Sugar)
By CarlyJo Speaks | April 04, 2012 at 04:19 PM EDT | No Comments
Welcome Spring! Try using a pumice stone and foot scrub in the shower to gently remove dead skin cells that can make feet look dry. After scrubbing, slather on a foot cream or body moisturizer to both feet and cover with thick socks to hold in the moisture. I like to do this before going to bed so that my feet have a generous amount of time to absorb the moisture. I'm all about the home mani/pedi routine however it's good to splurge once before Spring and once before Summer starts to get your tootsies looking their best! Maintain your pedicures in between seasons. Adding a thin layer of top coat or a small dab of Vaseline on top of polish will help shine up a pedicure.
By CarlyJo Speaks | March 28, 2012 at 07:20 PM EDT | No Comments
I just got back from an amazing trip to the US Virgin Islands!! My vacation there has inspired my blog post for today. We all know sunblock is a MUST for all skin tones every day..yes every day! SPF is needed even more so when you plan on spending your day outside in direct sun. Try to find formulas that have both UVA and UVB ray fighting properties. Remember to reapply sunblock every 2 hours, sometimes more often depending on the skin type/sensitivity. If you plan on swimming or doing strenuous activities that cause you to sweat then be sure your sunscreen is waterproof for stronger protection.
View from the beach in Magens Bay on St. Thomas
IF you happen to forget to reapply and end up with a sunburn at the end of the day, there are a few tricks you can do at home. These will ease the pain, help the healing process and minimize the look of your sunburn.
1. Take luke warm/cool showers to avoid further irritation to skin. 2. Hydrate and soothe the the affected area with products that contain aloe vera until your sunburn is completely healed. Aloe vera helps to soothe redness and inflammation. 3. Gently exfoliate any areas that have moderate flaking with a soft wash cloth and warm water. 4. Work the no makeup look for a few days after getting a sunburn to give your skin time to heal. 5. When you do wear makeup, avoid heavy foundations and powders which will make flaky skin look worse. 6. Before applying your makeup, apply a moisturizer with SPF and a small amount of aloe vera to the face to keep skin moisturized. 7. Keep a travel size aloe vera lotion in your makeup bag to dab on any patchy areas that may show through during the day.
By CarlyJo Speaks | March 17, 2012 at 02:25 PM EDT | No Comments
In honor of today's Irish holiday, I thought I would suggest a few colors to enhance GREEN EYES!!
An easy tip to remember is to work with eye shadows that are the opposite color temperature of your eye. For example, colors with more of a reddish tint (such as a warm rust shade) look beautiful on blue (cool) eyes! However, never say never! Sometimes one shade can look amazing on all eye colors.
GREEN EYES are paired well with warm brownswith yellow undertones and pure golds.
By CarlyJo Speaks | March 13, 2012 at 05:31 PM EDT | No Comments
This past Sunday, I attended a M.A.C. Pro Class in Los Angeles. Celeb makeup artist Gregory Arlt shared some techniques, trends and good advice with us while applying a red carpet makeup look to his model.
At the end of the class I was able to redeem $100 worth of product! Here is what I took home. (:
Studio Moisture Cream
I have been using this moisturizer for day and nighttime and so far I'm loving the formula. I have oily skin and this product is not too heavy or oily. Ingredients include; passion fruit, spinach leaf, green tea, algae, wheat germ and coconut. Gregory's Tip: All M.A.C. products are water-based. He suggests to massage this moisturizer into the skin after a spritz of M.A.C. Fix+ spray.
Fast Response Eye Cream
This formula is great for under eyes at any age! It has a soft finish that helps soften fine lines and rid the area of any puffiness or dark circles. Gregory's Trick: This product can also be dabbed on blemishes to reduce inflammation/redness. Prep + Prime Skin This is a great primer! The formula contains anti-redness properties and also minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Gregory's Tip: Suggests to use this product mainly on the T-Zone and as needed on any red areas of the face.
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in "Medium" Okay, so we all know there is an endless line of face powders out there, but one of my favorites is M.A.C. Mineralize! I love that it contains the mineral properties yet still gives me the coverage that I need. I use "Medium" on my skin tone. Gregory's Tip: Apply face powder where needed, such as the T-zone where most women tend to get oily. If too much is applied and you end up with a chalky look then give the skin another spritz of M.A.C. Fix+ spray which will hydrate and soothe the skin while also setting the makeup you have applied.
Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in "One to Watch" I have always loved M.A.C.'s eye shadows for their pigment, many many many shades that are available and the overall way they sit on the skin. To top that off, they have now come out with pro longwear formulas. You also get more product for your buck with the pro longwear shades. Gregory's Tip: He used this shade "One to Watch" on his model which is a great brown/peach color for light-medium skin tones. It's warm color looks great with colored eyes!
Amplified Lipstick in "Vegas Volt" This product was not used in the demo of red carpet makeup.. it was more of a little treat to myself. I picked this lipstick up in "Vegas Volt" for a great new spring lip color! The amplified coral shade holds great pigment for a nice POP of color!
Lustreglass in "Luminary" M.A.C. lip glosses are my top faves. Their formulas always feel great because they are creamy and not sticky. I love Lustreglass for their opalescent reflective shades. Gregory's Tips: Apply M.A.C. Lip Conditioner when prepping the skin before makeup. Before you apply lip color, have your client blot off any excess lip conditioner product since the moisture has already been absorbed during the rest of your makeup application. *There is now a Lip Conditioner within the Viva Glam line so every cent from your purchase of this prepping product goes toward helping people affected by HIV/AIDS.* Gregory lined and filled in the model's lip with a natural tone lip pencil and applied "Luminary" Lustreglass on top for a natural-toned glossy finish. Keeping a lighter shade in the center of the lip and on top of the cupids bow will create a fuller pout.
I hope you enjoyed my overview of some key products Gregory used during his demo. Hopefully it inspired you to try some new techniques when enhancing your naturally beautiful face, muah!
By CarlyJo Speaks | March 08, 2012 at 06:12 PM EST | No Comments
Let me just start off by saying I wish I was in New York on Veteran's Day, because I totally would have participated in this event!!
On November 11th, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Maybelline New York teamed up to collect kisses from celebs and many others who stopped by Times Square, to send to our troops overseas!! Each person received a lip touch up and then got to kiss a postcard and write an inspiring message to the troops. For each kiss collected, Cosmo and Maybelline New York donated $1 to the USO!!!
I thought this was so amazing and heartwarming that I had to dedicate a post in honor of the event. <3
Here's a few celeb kisses I found: Carrie Underwood (love her!) Melissa Joan Hart
By CarlyJo Speaks | March 07, 2012 at 07:14 PM EST | No Comments
Spring will be here in the wink of an eye ..or a kiss of the lips! So I thought I would share my favorite picks of this year's hottest Spring lip colors.
Pucker up!
#1 CORAL Coral is a pink/orange hue that is definitely hot this Spring! My favorite coral shade is MAKE UP FOR EVER's lipstick in Satin Coral. I love their products because they have great intense pigments and long lasting wear. Not ready for such a color? Try this shade with a swipe of clear gloss over the top for a more muted tone.
#2 PINK!
Hot pink.. fuchsia pink.. a wide array of bright pink shades are great this Spring. I love this trend, because it just reminds me of bright pink flowers that bloom in the Spring! My two favorite shades (which I am currently carrying around in my makeup bag) are M.A.C. in Lovelorn and Lustering! Both have a lustre finish and add a great pop of color to any look.
#3 ORANGE
I am not usually a fan of wearing orange shades, however I am into the tangerine/orange kick. My top pick is within the Sephora collection, called It Girl. I will definitely be adding this color to my lip palette this year! The darker the skin tone, the deeper the shade you can go.
By CarlyJo Speaks | March 04, 2012 at 07:14 PM EST | No Comments
Shading and highlighting is the best illusion to achieve a perfectly sculpted face. Here are a few basic tips.
Shading Use a darker powder or cream (roughly 1-2 shades darker than your natural skin tone) to give definition to areas of the face that you wish to define/minimize.
Areas to shade: Around the hair line Temples Crease of the eyelid Sides of the nose
(Tip: Find this area by placing a finger on either side of the nose, generally where eyeglasses would sit and follow downward)
Under the cheekbones
(Where the face has a natural indentation)
Under the jaw and down the neck
My quick reference sketch to map out areas of the face.
Highlighting To help areas of the face to "pop" or stand out, use a lighter powder or cream (roughly 1 shade lighter than your skin tone-- I like to use my favorite cream to powder concealer).
Areas to highlight: Center of the forehead and down the middle of the nose Brow bone Inner corners of the eyes Under eye area, down the base of the nose and connecting back to the outer corner of the eyes (See my sketch for reference) Cupid's bow above the top lip of the mouth Under the bottom lip
Every face shape is different so I recommend practicing a few times on yourself to really get your technique down. Take photos of yourself to see how your shading and highlighting shows up on camera.
Follow these basic tips and remember to always blend, blend, blend for a naturally sculpted look.
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 27, 2012 at 03:55 PM EST | No Comments
The award for best body bronzer goes to..
Neutrogena micro-mist airbrush sunless tan!!
I love this product! I use it anytime I need a little extra color. It's great especially in the winter when your legs have been hiding all season. It's a "no rub" product, super easy to apply and streak-free! Found at Target and most drugstores.
Steps to creating the best coverage:
*Best tan if you lightly exfoliate the skin and shave before applying *Do not apply any products, such as lotions/oils, before the spray tan
Shake can well Hold about 6 inches away from the skin Spray product constantly moving the can in slow circular motions to get an even application
*Medium (2 shades darker) is good for light-medium skin tones
*Dark (3 shades darker) is good for medium-dark skin tone
Let product dry before getting dressed or where loose clothing while you finish getting ready Color starts to show up within a few minutes and continues to darken gradually for the next few hours
*Best if you apply a few hours before any event so you can see the color
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 23, 2012 at 02:58 PM EST | No Comments
I am still following along with one of my favorite makeup artist competition shows, Face Off! In last night's episode, the contestants had to create an alien creature based on four different sketches by Patrick Tatopoulos (another well known artist).
I loved Rayce's red and gray Cyborg creature. The sculpting was amazing and to agree with the judges, it was camera ready! Even though Rayce did great, it was Ian who took home the prize for best creature. Ian's batlike creature definitely turned out well even with the difficulties he had with the prosthetic appliance ripping. He made it work to his advantage! His creature had realistic coloring and great "batlike" anatomy. I am glad that Ian won best creature, because he is so modest but also has the skill to go all the way in this competition!
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 15, 2012 at 08:41 PM EST | No Comments
One thing I love about being a makeup artist is the chaos of being backstage. An event where this happens.. Fashion shows!
Here's some photos from two fashion shows I worked for designer Sheree Carella of Kareenas Trends. Model Joanka wearing Kareenas Trends at Haute Nightclub.
Photo by Nelson Shen, Model Heather Carr backstage at V Lounge.
Photo by Nelson Shen, Model Amanda Hall wearing Kareenas Trends at V Lounge.
Photo by Nelson Shen, Model Minerva Mendez wearing Kareenas Trends on the runway outside V Lounge.
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 13, 2012 at 07:19 PM EST | No Comments
Not only do I admire TLC's What Not to Wear makeup artist Carmindy, but she has now partnered with the Sally Hansen team to launch her own cosmetic line.
I fell in love with this product!!
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer (Only $8.99 at drugstores) This concealer is my lifesaver! It helps with coverage on any blemishes and under eye darkness with the dab of a finger. I also use this product for highlighting the cheekbones, sides of the nose and brow bone to really brighten up the face. It is a lightweight creamy formula that leaves a soft finish. I am always trying new products and this one is definitely a favorite of mine.
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 09, 2012 at 10:42 PM EST | No Comments
This morning I noticed a sale alert on Facebook for NYC New York Color cosmetics! The entire line 40% off at all Rite Aid stores this week. Sales are a great time to try new products and see what you like best. I believe even drugstore brands can be useful for everyday looks. Here are my steals that I found all for less that $30!
NYC Cover Stick 781 Light I love that there is Vitamin E included in the formula! Vitamin E is an effective antioxidant that helps fight free radicals in your body. The product is also easy to blend with your finger, no makeup brushes needed. I would use this product mainly for the under eye area.
NYC Smooch Proof Lip Stain 16H 490 Persistent Pink This lip stain has a slight fruity scent. It does not distribute a lot of color to the lip, but gives a great texture and crisp look when used under lipstick. It also held my lipstick on longer!
NYC Lippin' Large Lip Plumper 471 Very Clear This lip plumper has a minty scent. The formula is thick so a little dab goes a long way. I would use this plumper on top of a lip stain or by itself for a little shine.
NYC High Definition Liquid Eyeliner 889 Extra Black This eyeliner looks like a very fine felt tip pen. Your product and brush all in one! It is great to keep with you in your makeup bag or when your traveling. NYC Show Time Waterproof Volumizing Mascara 844 Extreme Black Waterproof formulas are a must for any tear jerking events such as weddings and it's also great for hot days when you need your makeup to just stay put. This mascara has a bristle brush and a creamy formula that does not leave clumps. NYC Glamour Eyelashes 974 Black BEST BUY These strip eyelashes have a clear band and hairs at different lengths which gives a more natural look. On sale for only $1.79!!
NYC Kohl Eyeliner Pencils 926 White and 921 Jet Black BEST BUY I was already a consumer on NYC's eyeliner pencils. They are great for your buck and they work well. Today they were only .59¢ a piece, so I bought a few for my personal and professional makeup inventory.
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 09, 2012 at 02:05 PM EST | No Comments
I'm a huge fan of SyFy's makeup artist competition show, Face Off! I watched every episode of last season and continuing to follow along with the second season.
Last night's episode started with a 90 minute werewolf trauma challenge, which I thought was amazing! It inspired me to want to add that to my portfolio. My personal favorite was Heather's werewolf wound with huge claw marks across the model's chest and then she added some hair layering within the wounds and to the model's ear to make it seem as though the model was starting to change. Unfortunately, I cannot find any photos on the web yet..
The main challenge was "Danger & Beauty," where the artists had to choose one wild animal and one plant and combine the two into their own creature design. I think RJ and Ian definitely won this by a mile according to the judges and I agree! They twisted a panther chameleon and a lady slipper orchid together and it came out like this:
I am definitely going to keep up with the show and root for my favorite artists!
By CarlyJo Speaks | February 08, 2012 at 09:22 PM EST | No Comments
Welcome to my beauty blog!
Here I will be sharing my experiences as a professional freelance makeup artist, behind the scenes photos of projects I have previously worked or are currently working on, beauty tips/tricks, product reviews and much more!
#2 PINK!
