A Day in the Life of a Makeup Artist

Life as a freelance Makeup Artist is consistently inconsistent. 

My schedule is always changing and evolving. I don't have a set weekly routine, the luxury of a steady paycheck is just a memory. I can go a week without working followed by 5 weeks without a single day off. Life as a freelance Makeup Artist is consistently inconsistent... and I love it.

Although I have been working with makeup since I was a child (thanks to Mommy), I first started my professional career as a "full time" freelancer in November of 2010.  Before then, I had worked at Sephora followed by Saks Fifth Avenue... trying to take on as many photo & video shoots and bridal clients as possible on my designated days off.

Some of you might know that this career I have chosen to pursue in my late twenties was not AT ALL what I started out doing.  I went to college to become a Producer.  After graduating, I went on to work at CNBC, a smaller production agency, and then co-founded a creative media agency called Hybrid Interactive (who you should definitely hire to create any customized marketing materials because Heather and Jenn kick some serious ass).

Anyway... Through my experiences as a Producer, I was lucky enough to meet a handful of phenomenally talented Makeup Artists (Maryann Muro, Hector Ferrer, Lisa Bell, & Shannon Lauretta to name a few).  These MUAs hold a dear place in my heart, for they are the ones who inspired me to make what felt like "the change of a lifetime" (my lifetime) from producing to makeup. After that, it was off to makeup school in the big city (thanks Laura and Jeff for letting me crash at your apartment for a shorter commute)!

Nowadays, instead of sitting behind a desk and in front of a laptop doing "producery" things, I have the distinct pleasure of playing with colors and faces (and sometimes celebrities). Whether it be on a film, TV show, or industrial video shoot set... Or a photo shoot or back stage at a fashion show... Or in a bridal suite with 12 lovely ladies drinking their traditional mimosas waiting their turn for makeup (Yes, I'd love a mimosa but I'd rather get this lipstick on your LIPS!!)... OR even working the retail circuit for one of my favorite lines, Laura Mercier... I am a happy camper.

It's true that making definite plans in advance is a thing of the past... It's true that I get anxious if I'm not working a few days in a row... It's true that I'm exhausted after a few weeks of working nonstop... It's also true that I absolutely LOVE what I do. Do I still have massive student loans? Yes. Thanks for that, college. Do I have to pay extra for my health insurance? Sure do. Do I have normal people bills to pay? Obvi.

Guess what... I manage to pay all of my bills every month.  "But Jacqueline, how do you do that without a steady paycheck?" I'm glad you asked... It's because I work my butt off networking and following up with past clients. I also try to be smart with the money I have coming in and save as much of it as I can.

All of the uncertainty and anxiety is worth it. I get to do what I love to do on a daily basis.

Are you thinking of making a career change or taking the leap to freelance-hood? DO IT. But first... Call my girl Ungenita because she knows what's up. She is the genius that helped me find this statement:  I am a Celebrity Makeup Artist specializing in production. A simple yet strong statement that has helped me gain more business in the last few months. Thank you Ungenita!!

The End.

Lovely Laura Mercier

As some of you may already know, I love me some Laura Mercier! Lucky for me, LM is offering some gorgeous products this holiday season. You can find them at www.lauramercier.com or at Sephora.

Ah yes... The Book of Nudes, $48. SO PRETTY!! If you or someone you know loves a sexy neutral eye look, this is definitely the right palette to get. In the palette you'll find 8 beautiful shadows, an eyeliner, and three cream cheek colors (bronzer, blush, highlighter).  What a deal!!

The Baked Eye Colour Palette, $48... Another beaut! These 5 highly pigmented shadows can be used both wet or dry to achieve your desired look.  The set also comes with a double sided brush! Bonus!

My dear... If you haven't had the pleasure of playing with the BRAND NEW Caviar Sticks yet, you must get on it ($24)! These babies are PHENOMENAL and, I believe, essential to any makeup lover's professional or personal kit. The Caviar Sticks were inspired by Laura's cult favorite, Caviar Cake Eye Liner. They come in 8 creamy shades, are extremely pigmented and once they set they aren't moving! The darker shades create the BEST base for a smokey eye!! Hey Laura Mercier... I hope next year we get a holiday set of all of the colors!

My two all time favorite mascaras happen to be Laura's... At $24 a piece Thickening & Building and Full Blown Volume are THE GREATEST!! They're both very black and neither formula clumps! This is the only time I've ever been able to say that honestly... THESE MASCARAS HAVEN'T CLUMPED ON ME YET and I've gone through TUBES of each at this point. These are the first mascaras I've purchased more than twice EVER. Please try them out for yourself and let me know what you think! 

Creme Smooth Foundation, $50. This surprisingly lightweight cream foundation is extremely hydrating and has a multipeptide complex infused with Dermaxyl and advanced optical diffusers that help to visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Do NOT be fooled by how dense the product looks in the jar... It is a true cream foundation so you must use it sparingly! A little bit goes a very long way and looks very natural on the skin. With one of the Laura Mercier Foundation Primers underneath, you just can't go wrong!

The Flawless Skin Repair Eye Serum is one of the best selling products in the LM line ($80). This is a concentrated anti-aging eye serum that helps improve the appearance of fine lines and loss of firmness as well as instantly brightens the eye area on contact (and over time). You can use this serum day and night with or without an eye cream on top. This holiday season, treat yourself to great skincare... Pick up this serum!!!

Have you tried any of these products? Tell me what you think! 

Inglot Review

Ladies & Gents...

When you are a makeup artist (at least this is true for me), you sometimes forget to get new stuff for YOURSELF instead of just concentrating on your professional kit. I definitely fall victim to this... Building my kit on an almost weekly basis while I, myself, use the same exact shadows all year long (and sometimes longer).

WELL GUESS WHAT!

I went to Inglot in Chelsea Market today and finally made a customized eye shadow palette for MYSELF! ME! ME! ME!! This bad boy is not going into my kit, folks. No way, Jose.  :o)

I will list the colors from lightest to darkest (left to right).


First Row: 

MATTE 351

MATTE 353

D.S. 463

MATTE 390

MATTE 376

Second Row:

MATTE 348

PEARL 414

MATTE 340

AMC 61

MATTE 391

The quality of these shadows are fantastic! Hayden, the lovely gentleman who helped me today, informed me that Inglot shadows have a MINIMUM of 75% true pigment. That means you'll get beautiful & vibrant color value and use less product to get your desired look! 

I highly recommend you go to an Inglot store to play with some testers. The quality and prices can not be beat! Before my pro-discount, my 10 shadow custom set was $5 per shadow + $14 for the empty palette. Don't need 10 shadows? They also sell them in singles, as well as, 3 & 5 shadow palettes.  Feeling a bit saucy and want more than 10? No worries... You can make your very own 20 or 40 shadow palette.

SWEET! INGLOT! LOVE IT!

I'd love to hear from YOU! Please comment below & tell me what brand of eye shadow you use and why.  What's your favorite line?

Lovely Joann!

Finally! After nearly two months of scheduling and rescheduling due to Mother Nature raining on our parade, bride-to-be Joann and I were able to meet and create engagement photo shoot magic together!

As I entered the elevator in her apartment building, I ran into her beautiful sister! Shortly after hanging with both girls, we realized our similar obsession with skin care products. Naturally, I introduced them to my fave, Skyn Iceland!

Anyway... Here are some of the photos from the engagement session courtesy of the brilliant photographer, Ellie!

Joann told me that her makeup lasted the whole evening... I wasn't surprised because I used one of the Laura Mercier primers under her foundation! The mineral one to be exact... It's fabulous!

It was so great to finally meet Joann in person... I can't wait to see her again in a couple weeks to do her makeup on her very special wedding day!!!

Mischa Mischa... Mischa Barton

I am currently working on a new reality show for VH1 which recently gave me the distinct pleasure of meeting Miss Mischa Barton.  She was such a sweet heart and super easy to work with... not to mention beautiful!

Here are a few shots I found of her after I had done her hair and makeup... These were all taken by paparazzi in New York City during Fashion Week.

GREAT REVIEWS!!!

I can't wait to work with her again!

New pictures from the latest Paradise Bikini show!

These girls are gorgeous!! We had a great show with Valerie Blanchard of Paradise Bikini!!!

Click on Sylvia's picture above to be directed to her website!!

Paradise Bikini Fashion Show

Hair stylist extraordinaire Michelle Balsamides and I with extremely talented and lovely Paradise Bikini owner & designer, Valerie Blanchard! This photo was taken at the Paradise Bikini show at Club Marquee in New York City.  Michelle and I were in charge of beautifying the already super sexy gorgeous models!

Here are a few other pictures from the evening...

I am working with Valerie on another show for Paradise Bikini that is happening tomorrow evening. The sexy swim suit models will be walking on the roof top of Sky Room in Times Square.  The show will be sponsored by Captain Morgan Rum! This means... Open rum bar from 7-8pm! Free admission! Come support my girl, Valerie!

xoxo

Jacqueline

Beautiful Dana...

I had the opportunity and honor to do one of my closest friend's makeup on her very special wedding day this past weekend.  Dana... You are quite the beautiful bride!! Love you!! Congratulations!!

Fabulous photography by Jason Durnin!!

Stressed skin? LOVE THESE PRODUCTS!!

I believe that there are multiple products in this line for EVERYONE! My clients ask for recommendations on skin care all the time.  This line is ALWAYS a go-to suggestion for me... Skyn Iceland. It used to be more prevalent in Sephora stores, but it seems that it's easier to purchase through their website these days.

Skyn Iceland is all about de-stressing your skin (in a no parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petroleum, phthalates, formaldehyde or paraffin sort of way).  Take a look at the chart they've created, as it should definitely shed some light to whatever skin issues you're having today, this month, year, lifetime, etc.

CHART, FOOL!

A few of the products in this line that I have been known to go ga-ga for are the Glacial Cleansing Cloths (best makeup removing wipes I've ever used btw), the Glacial Face Wash (a little bit goes a long way AND it could also be used as shaving cream), and the Antidote Daily Lotion (makes my face feel as fresh as a tic tac... yes, really).

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend you take a gander at the Skyn Iceland website ASAP.  I'd find it hard to believe that anyone would be disappointed in the products.  I can't wait to restock my supply!

Do you have any skin care questions? Ask away, comment below!

Do you have a favorite skin care line or product? Tell me about it!

FALSE ADVERTISING!!

THESE MASCARA COMMERCIALS KILL ME!!!! 

I just saw one that claims you don't need false eye lashes if you wear it... meanwhile ALL of the models so clearly HAVE FALSE LASHES ON!!!! AMAZING!!

Folks, here is the name of the game.  Don't go by the flashy commercials you see on TV.  If you're really looking for a good mascara, ask real people! My personal favorite is the newest from Laura Mercier, Full Blown Volume ($24). It's nourishing, very black, and doesn't clump!! I layer mine a TON and it makes my lashes look awesome.

What's your favorite mascara and why?

Foundation Frenzy

Hey all... I've been getting some requests to go over different foundations that I prefer to use on my clients and on myself.  Since there are soooooooo many products that I'd love to go over, let's look at this posting as a "part 1" type thing. Cool? Cool.

I love foundation! Done and done.  If you can find the right formula and shade for you, it will make all the difference in your makeup application.  If you have dryer skin or just prefer a dewy finish, you want a cream or liquid makeup that states just that (dewy or natural finish).  You might also want to steer clear of powders.  If you tend to be on the oily side and you'd rather tone that afternoon slickness down, try a powder or a liquid that specifies "mattifying." With the appropriate foundation formula, your skin will appear to be more even-toned, your pores will be hidden, and your overall complexion will be enhanced for a more polished look... and honestly, who wouldn't want that?

Ok here we go... Review time.

As some of you may know, I do freelance work as a Market Artist for Laura Mercier... This is a great line for me to start with.  LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Laura's complexion products.  She has so many fantastic look-like-skin formulas that have a way of blending into face perfectly.  

Let's start with her world renowned Tinted Moisturizers. I LIVE in these during the summer months. The TM's give a sheer coverage, have SPF 20, and come in a wide variety of shades.  You can also choose between her regular and oil free formulas (perfect for every skin type). 

Another favorite of mine is Laura's Loose Mineral Powder.  This is probably the best loose mineral powder makeup I've ever used.  There is no comparison to that other very popular line on the market right now.  Laura's minerals are MUCH better.  Her powders are finely milled and composed completely of natural elements with 15 active amino acids to clear the skin of toxins, promote healthy skin cell growth and fight the aging process... Thanks, Laura!

The newest formula to join the LM team is called Creme Smooth.  This is a true cream foundation, but do not be fooled, ladies and gents! The coverage this baby gives you is natural, as a little goes a very long way.  Laura prefers that you use a sponge to apply her liquid foundations and this cream is no different.  Dab a little bit on your sponge, then start applying from the outside of your face working inward (you want to aim to have less product where you have the most skin texture to achieve the most natural look). You can easily build upon this medium coverage formula... and/or use a concealer where needed. Oh yeah... it's packed with anti-aging skin care benefits, too! Woot woot!

Another line you'll often find me using is Makeup Forever.  I love the Mat Velvet & HD liquid collections. They both give phenomenal coverage and look great on camera (and in real life, of course).  They're also great to mix with... When I'm on a shoot or doing wedding makeup, it would be a little excessive (and very expensive) to have every single shade of every single formula of foundation ever created with me at any given time.  Instead, I choose to have products on hand that mix well with each other so that I can customize shades to my client's skin.  Makeup Forever is great for me in this way.  Where one shade might be a little too yellow or dark, another too pink or light, I can blend them together to create the perfect color match.  The same thing goes for formulas.  I often mix my regular HD liquid foundation with the Mat Velvet to create a more natural finish. This is especially true for when I do bridal parties.

Makeup Forever also has a great mattifying product called All Mat.  You put a little bit of this liquid magic under your makeup where you tend to shine. Poof! Shine is gone... If you have a oil or shine concern, this is a great product to have in your bag. Yes, you still use your primer first!!

I think this is where I'll stop "part 1" tonight.  I'll post "part 2" in the near future.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about or want me to review a specific foundation, please write a post below! 

Thanks!!!

xoxo

jacqueline 

Makeovers for a Cause

These women are inspiring... Makeover Your MS.  

This NY State based nonprofit organization was founded in 2007 by Verena Frydberg, Makeup Artist.  It is run exclusively by women, most who are living with Multiple Sclerosis.  These women are dedicated to improving the lives of other women who have MS through educating them on beauty and building positive self-esteem. The goal here is to empower these women through enhancing their beauty and I LOVE it!

Please visit the website for more information!

Benefits of PRIMER!!

My clients are always asking me if using foundation primer is really necessary.  My answer is always the same... YES YES YES! Here are some of the reasons why...

- A pea-sized amount of foundation primer over your moisturizer helps with skin texture issues and creates a smoother canvas to apply your makeup. Since the skin is smoother, makeup seems to glide on and blend more easily.

- Any makeup applied on top of the primer has a longer wear.  This means that you will have to reapply less often throughout the day, if at all.  I know that when I wear primer (which is every day that I wear makeup) I RARELY have to reapply no matter what time I put it on in the morning. Nothing not to love about that!

- Foundation primer acts as a barrier between your skin/skincare and your makeup.  This means that your makeup sits on top of your primer instead of sinking into your pores. This is also the reason why makeup stays on longer throughout the day.

There are tons of foundation primers on the market right now.  They are not "one size fits all" type products. Some might be better for your specific skin type than others. Here are a few of my favorites...

If you have oily skin, be sure to find a foundation primer that says "oil free" or "matifying." If your skin is on the dryer side, there are primers that are hydrating (Laura Mercier's Hydrating Foundation Primer). If enlarged pores is your main concern, try a primer with a mousse-like texture similar to Perfekt or Tarte's Clean Slate or Smashbox (one of the pump dispenser bottles).

I hope this helps!! Primer primer primer!!

Just Meant to Be...

So yesterday I was lucky enough to do my little sister's makeup for her first album cover photo shoot!  Very exciting! The album will be called "Just Meant to Be" in honor of the song that our grandfather wrote & sang with his orchestra for our parents wedding day over 30 years ago. Papa would have been so proud of Rachel...

A big thanks to our mom, Lisa, and photographer extraordinaire, Steve Meyer, for making the day a complete success. I can't wait to see the pictures!!

Here is just a taste of how Rachel looked... I grabbed this shot while Steve was setting up.

Rachel will be throwing an album release party in NYC in the upcoming months.  I will surely keep you informed on when and where it will be!

Rachel's Website
Steve Meyer Photography

First things first

Hey there! Welcome!

"Flawless is..." is a blog that will be about many things including but not limited to: product reviews, introducing you to other professional makeup artists, and telling you about my personal experiences as a MUA.  I'm sure that I'll be getting into music, food, and travel at some point as well.  I hope you find my postings useful!

Enjoy!

xoxo
Jacqueline