Besides being a makeup artist and self proclaimed fashionista, I've also fancied myself a novice movie buff. Films that have made the most lasting impressions on me and earned a spot in my all-time favorites category have been those combining beauty and culture. In my opinion they are an inseparable pair.
Often, the inspiration for my art comes from the visual style of classic foreign films. I love the simplicity of makeup in that time. In that era, beauty for a woman was created with a cat eye, red lips and a porcelain finish to the skin. To this day that style of makeup is recognized as the epitome of timeless glamour.
Watching the cinematic masterpiece 8 1/2 by Federico Felini for the first time, where every actress, young and old, fiercely donned the classic and seductive cat eye inspired me to mimic this as my own signature look. It's so flattering to eyes, I rarely leave home without.
I know, I know... Achieving balanced eyeliner with a perfect winged tip may seem intimidating, but it's easier than you think.
These four little tools will have you addicted to cat eyes like me.
- First, you'll need a fine eyeliner brush. I like Bobbi Brown's Ultra Fine Eyeliner brush. This brush is easy to hold and will guarantees the control needed to create a balanced line on each eye.
- You'll also need a good gel liner. I prefer a gel eyeliner to liquid eyeliner pen because it gives more control over how much product is used to create the eyeliner. My hands down, favorite gel eyeliner is Inglot's Matte Collection AMC Gel Liner. It has incredible pigment and delivers the smoothest application. There's no dragging or skipping across the lashline when using this little gem. Are you ready for this? It's only $12! I know! Unbelievable, right?
- Last, but not least, you'll need a q-tip and eye makeup remover. Now that you have your tools you are ready to start.
1. Dip the eyeliner brush into the gel eyeliner and pick up a small amount of product. Get rid of any excess by stroking the brush back and forth on each side in the cap of the eyeliner. This will allow for more even distribution on the brush which is important to achieve balance.
2. Start eyeliner in the inside corner of the eye, concentrating on making a very thin line that extends to an acute angle and reaches slightly past the outside corner of your eye. (Drawing the line at a greater degree or extending it further on the outside corner of the eye will make a more dramatic look.)
3. Next, draw a line at the outside corner of your eye that connects to the line above it and fill in the space in between. You will more than likely have to go back for more product to do this.
4. Lastly, lightly dampen a q-tip with eye makeup remover. Place the q-tip at the outside corner of the eye and gently drag upward at an angle creating a sharp, fine point. Repeat on the other eye and you're done! Go hit the town with your enviably perfect Cat Eye!
After skimming through the rolodex of beauty tips in my head to find the perfect way to get my blog going, I finally had an epiphany. This may not be the smartest move on my part but in an act of selfless generosity, I've decided to give my very best tip away.
Hold on to your makeup brushes ladies, this one is a game changer. The secret to perfectly blended makeup is wrapped up in that old familiar tune, Happy Birthday. What, pray tell, does this have at all to do with makeup you might ask? Taking the time to blend separates the women from the girls in a big way.
Far too many times in my retail career I've been approached by women seeking my guidance because of their frustration by their lack of skill in the makeup department. I stare back at their splotchy bronzer, streaky blush, uneven foundation or harsh eyeshadow and ask, "How much time do you take to blend your makeup?" Responses varied but it always seemed as though woman knew this was an important step in application but couldn't quite gauge how long it should take. So, no matter how many times I emphasized blending, they always fell short of their desired results. I struggled with how to communicate this with my clients until one day, after a visit from a friend in nursing school, the notion came to me.
We spent the afternoon enjoying the sunshine on the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica. After the sun set we headed to a local sandwich shop on the boardwalk, picked up a bite to eat and headed back to my place. While I served up our meal on plates in the kitchen, from the direction of my bathroom I could hear my friend singing a familiar tune. "Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday dear Gavin...Happy birthday to you!" I was a bit alarmed at the randomness of his song choice. Did I forget his birthday, I thought for a quick second? I knew it wasn't mine. Did I miss something? Then, he started singing it again! Ok, he's having a stroke I decided. I better go in a check on him. "Um, why do you keep singing happy birthday?" I finally asked confused.
He explained he was simply washing his hands and in nursing school he learned that in the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice, germs would be sufficiently washed away. It was a habit he now practiced to ensure that his hands were completely cleaned. I thought that was the neatest trick ever! (Yes, i said neat. Don't judge me.) And then it occurred to me, with a slight alteration, this might be the missing link in my blending lessons.
I tried my experiment the next day with a client scheduled for a makeover. As I applied her foundation, I sang the happy birthday song once all the way through in my head. Just as i thought! In the time it took to sing the song only once, the foundation was perfectly blended on her face and around her jaw and hairline. I tried it again while applying shadows for a night-time look. Once again, by the last happy birthday to you chorus, shadows where flawlessly blended on each eye and ready for the final touches of eyeliner and mascara. It also worked for powder foundation and blush application.
The real test came when I sent my clients home with this little trick in their back pockets. All of them came back to tell me that the trick had been a tremendous help in gauging how long they should take to blend and that their makeup looked so much more polished and professional. I couldn't be happier with that feedback. And now i pass it on to the world. So, the next time you are heading out on the town or just headed to work, pretend it's your birthday! You'll thank me for your flawless face later.
