Makeup Bag Essentials

There are a few items everyone should have in their makeup bag. With these you can create almost any look from natural daytime to a full on evening makeup.

Here is a list of my recommendations:

Powder foundation: I use one every day, it evens out your skin in a flash and sometimes you don't even need a concealer. My pick is Hello Flawless by http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ which also has an SPF in it so you can top up your sun protection all day!

Black eyeliner pencil: This you can use to give subtle definition or go for an all out smoky eye. Useful to keep in your bag for touch ups too. My favorite is 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero by http://www.urbandecay.com/ it stays on all day and is waterproof, I also like Oil Slick which is black with a tiny silver glitter in it - perfect for night.

Black powder eyeshadow: I always use black powder shadow over eyeliner to set it and you can use this to add drama too by smoking it outwards and lining under the eyes too. My choice is Black 4 by Makeup Forever available at http://www.sephora.com/

A palette of neutral shadows that you can create different looks with, going from extremely natural with light sheeny shades to dramatic evening with the more shimmery shades combined with the previous black pencils and shadows. I love 5 Coleurs in Earth Reflection by http://www.dior.com/

Eyebrow pencil: Your face isn't finished until you have defined your brows. It's amazing what a difference it makes. Choose a pencil in your shade from http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ their Instant Brow Pencil comes with a spooly brush on the other end making it wasy to achieve perfect brows, even on the go.

Black mascara: I know everyone says you should wear brown mascara if you're blonde but I like the added definition and depth that black mascara gives to every coloring. My favorite is Deep Color Mascara in Black 01 by http://www.korres.com/   for US readers go to http://www.korresusa.com/ also available at http://www.sephora.com/ and http://www.studiobeautymix.com/

Powder blusher: This is the easiest to apply, especially for touch ups. I prefer a pinky peachy shade which suits most coloring, if you have very dark skin opt for a plummy shade. The one I use all the time is http://www.cargoscosmetics.com/ powder blush in Catalina.

Powder Bronzer: Great for any skin to add warmth and cheekbones if shaded underneath the apple! It's best to choose a matte formula that isn't too orange so it looks natural during the day and add shimmer with a highlighter at night. The best I've come across is http://www.jouercosmetics.com/ matte bronzer in Suntan.

Lipliner: A neutral shade can be used to define lips and add a base for gloss. I don't like just lining the outside of the lips, I always fill in too so that you don't end up with a ring around the edges when your gloss wears off! A great choice is Lipliner in Natural or Blush (for pinkier lips) by http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

Lipgloss: This is entirely your choice of texture and color. You can go for ultra glossy, plumping or a sheeny balm depending on your preference. Good picks are: Ultra glossy - Extreme Sheen by http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ , Plumping - Instant Plump Volumizing Lip Shine by http://www.get247beauty.com/ (also available at CVS), Balm: Sugar Lip Treatment in original (no color) or Rose by http://www.fresh.com/ which has an SPF 15, great for the summer months to stop lips drying out in the sun.

Eyedrops: After a long day my eyes get red and no matter how great your makeup is, this can definitely spoil a look! I keep a bottle of Naphcon A eyedrops http://www.alcon.com/ (available at all good drugstores)  with me all the time, they not only relieve redness totally but also stop itching and irritation from allergies.

Last but not least I like to keep a makeup finishing spray in my bag to set my makeup but also refresh during the day. I cannot do with 10 Years Younger by http://www.skindinavia.com/ - it has come to my rescue many a time!

Terri Seymour's makeup for Elton John's Oscar party

This is how I did Terri Seymour's makeup this afternoon for Elton John's annual Oscar party for his his Aids Foundation - if you aren't going to the actual Academy Awards ceremony this is the place to be!

Here is the how to:

Base: Smooth Hourglass Cosmetics Fluid Veil  http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ evenly over the whole face blending out from the middle and downwards.
Under eyes: Dot a little Smashbox Cosm.etics Photo-Op Eye Brightener http://www.smashbox.com/  under the eyes to brighten.
Powder: Dust Youngblood Hi Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder http://www.ybskin.com/  lightly all over for an airbrushed look.
Blush: Swirl Cargo Blusher in Catalina  http://www.cargocosmetics.com/ on the apples of the cheeks and highlight at the top of the cheekbones with One Hot Minute by Benefit http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/  to give a fresh faced glow.
Eyes: Start with Mineral Essence Northern Lights eyeshadow in Starlite Express http://www.mineralessence.com/ all over the lid up to the crease, define the crease with Mineral Essence in Mocha. Line the eyes with the black cream liner from the L'Heure de Nuit compact by Guerlain http://www.guerlain/ and then add sparkle by using the shimmery black from the same compact on top of the liner and at the outer edges. Line under the lower lashes with Laura Mercier's eyeliner pencil in Black Gold  http://www.lauramercier.com/ and add a highlight in the inner corner of the eyes with the light gold shadow from the Dior 5 Couleurs Designer palette in Amber Design http://www.dior.com/ . A couple of coats of The Ultimate Mascara by Becca in black http://www.beccacosmetics.com/ completes the eyes.
Lips: Highlight the cupids bow with Guerlain Cupidon lipliner http://www.guerlain.com/ and then line with the nude liner by Hourglass in Bare http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/  and fill in with Youngblood Lipgloss in Devotion http://www.ybskin.com/

Terri's dress is by Marchesa.

(Some of the above products I bought and some were provided to me)

Terri Seymour at the 41st NAACP Image Awards

I did Terri's makeup today for the 41st NAACP Image Awards which she co-hosted with Jesse Williams (Greys Anatomy) at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Although you can't see from this picture (I took it with my iphone of her on the red carpet) I thought I'd tell you what makeup I used on her, you'll be able to see it when it's aired on Fox on Friday 26th February at 8/7c. As she was wearing a cute black and white print dress I thought I'd stay within that color range but keep it simple - here's how to achieve her look:

Base - Hourglass Fluid Veil http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/  smoothed lightly all over the face and blended out from the center.
Under eyes - Smashbox Photo Op concealer http://www.smashbox.com/  to brighten the under eye area.
Powder - Estee Lauder Lucidity Loose Powder http://www.esteelauder.com/ dusted lightly all over.
Blusher - Cargo's Catalina Powder Blush http://www.cargocosmetics.com/ on the apples of her cheeks for a warm glow.
Eyes - Dior's 5 Couleur Designer Palette in Smoky Design http://www.dior.com/ with the whitish silver shade all over the lid, the medium silver on the outer corners and after lining with Urban Decay's 24/7 pencil in Oil Slick http://www.urbandecay.com/ on the upper and lower lashes, trace over with the gunmetal shade for extra smoky defintion. Two coats of Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara http://www.bareescentuals.com/  on the lashes completes the eyes.
Lips - Define the lips Hourlass Cosmetics Lipliner in Bare http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ and fill in with Smashbox Cosmetics http://www.smashbox.com/  lipgloss in Afterglow.

I took all the makeup to the awards in my Face Stockhom Mitte Case http://www.facestockholm.com/ which is the perfect size for travel or to do a celebrity's makeup on the go!

(Some of the above products were provided to me and some I bought, but these are the actual products used for Terri's look)

Day 10....eyelashes

I'm obsessed with my eyelashes and so are most women I know. It is the one thing that I always do - wear mascara. Now there are treatments out there that can grow them thicker, longer and darker, and others to keep them that way. Read on for some products recommendations and tips to keep yours looking good.

Firstly it is important to make sure you remove your mascara throughly but gently every night before you go to sleep. Leaving mascara on all night can cause lashes to become brittle and break. Use a good eyemakeup remover such as Talika's http://www.talika.com/ Lash Conditioning Cleanser. As the name suggests, this not only removes eyemakeup but conditions weak or damaged lashes. I also like Liz Earle's http://www.lizearle.com/ Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion which takes off light eye makeup and is extremely gentle. You can also use it as a compress to soothe tired eyes.

To maintain or enhance your eyelashes without I love B.Kamins http://www.bkamins.com/ Eyelash Fortifier which conditions thinning lashes and brows to help them grow stronger. Revitalash http://www.revitalash.com/ is another good option for sparse lashes, helping them regain their vitality.

If you can go without mascara sometimes to give your eyelashes a break, do so and just wear a lash conditioner instead a couple of days a week. If you are like me and don't want to to leave the house without it, Cargo's http://www.cargocosmetics.com/ Lash Activator is great. It's a black mascara that boosts the appearance of your lashes and helps prevent lash loss with it's marine algae extract.

My kit essentials

As a makeup artist I have a vast selection of products but there are always a few constants in my kit. These are the products I can't do without:

Lancome Eau Fraiche Douceur Cleansing Water http://www.lancome.com/ - this takes off makeup thoroughly without irritation or leaving a greasy film. Ideal for putting makeup straight back on or at the end of a shoot to take off makeup before leaving.

Janson Beckett Alpha Derma CE moisturizer http://www.janson-beckett.com/ - perfect for under makeup, this moisturizer also gets rid of fine lines before your eyes.

Jouer Luminizing Moisturizer http://www.jouercosmetics.com/ - I carry all the shades of this so I can mix and match colors. I love this for a lighter base that gives an amazing glow and an SPF 20.

Hourglass Fluid Veil http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ - I use this on most of my clients to give a flawless almost airbrushed look to their skin.

Alison Raffaele Transparent Finish Loose Powder http://www.alisonraffaele.com/ - I love this powder for it's light and luminous finish. I use this to set foundation and make it last.

Cargo blusher in Catalina http://www.cargo.com/ - this is my favorite blush color, it looks good on everyone and gives that just got back from the beach flush.

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Hotel Heiress http://www.tarte.com/ - to get a bronzey shimmery glow all over for evenings, this is the bronzer to reach for.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ - for more of a daytime look or for the boys (sssh) I use this matte bronzer that is never too orange, just looks like you've been on vacation.

Christian Dior Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Trinidad Black http://www.dior.com/ - this pencil is a true deep black and it lasts! The basis for most evening eye makeup starts with this.

Christian Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Incognito http://www.dior.com/ - the perfect set of neutrals in matte and shimmer shades that can take you from day to night in an instant.

Estee Lauder Sumptous Mascara in Black http://www.esteelauder.com/ - a mascara that gives the sparsest lashes the full and feathery look.

Guerlain Cupidon Lip Pencil http://www.guerlain.com/ - I use this on almost everyone to highlight their cupids bow and make lips look fuller.

Lipstick Queen Medieval Lip Treatment http://www.lipstickqueen.com/ - an amazing red stain with a slight sheen that makes lips look naturally bee stung.

Check out my how to get Reese Witherspoon's look on The Daily Obsession

How To: Get Reese Witherspoon’s Natural Look
Posted by The Daily Obsession
on April 7, 2009
We simply adore Reese Witherspoon and think she’s totally gorgeous. We also think she’s been making more smart, but bold fashion choices lately. We particularly liked her fashion-forward Rodarte dress at a recent premiere and thought her makeup complimented the choice appropriately.
We wondered how to get a similar naturally gorgeous look and asked celebrity makeup artist Melissa Walsh to help us out! “Reese’s look is natural with a modern twist,” says Melissa. “The matte pink lips rather than the usual neutral shade update a classic and give it a new fresh feel.” To get the look, follow Melissa’s instructions behind the cut.
1) Start with a light base of a glowy tinted moisturizer such as Jouer Luminizing Tint and conceal any areas that need extra help. Then brighten under the eyes with a product especially formulated for the job like Smashbox Photo Op. Next, dust a very fine milled translucent powder all over the face to eliminate shine but still keep an ethereal quality to the skin.
3) On the eyes, start with a light camel colored semi matte shadow all over the lid (Urban Decay has a great selection), deepen the crease with a slightly darker brown shade, but be careful not to be heavy handed. Blend well.
4) Define the lash line with a liquid eyeliner pen. (Melissa likes Hourglass Calligraphy in Ebony.) Shade under the lower lash lines with a light brown pencil; Cargo Eye Pencil in Wood is a good shade. Two coats of volumizing mascara finishes the eyes and adds extra depth.
5) Fill in your eyebrows lightly with a color that is as close as possible to your natural shade. Melissa uses Tarte Toolbox, which has a combo of brow gel and wax, to keep them in place!
6) The cheeks are a bronzey shade, which you can do double duty with your usual bronzer by shading under the cheekbones and topping with a slight shimmer on the apples.
7) The lips can be achieved by using some lip balm, followed by a lip pencil in a light pink shade. Josie Maran Lip Liner in Blush is a good choice to keep the look matte and long lasting.

To check out the full piece including pictures go to: http://thedailyobsession.net/2009/04/how-to-get-reese-witherspoons-natural-look/