Backstage Pass with Cathi Singh!

Recently I had the honor of heading up a team of artists for a fashion show celebrating The Year of the Rabbit and the gorgeous alluring makeup of Geishas.

I had never done a full Geisha makeup before, and so I began researching feverishly. I watched videos of actual Geishas preparing their makeup and was in awe of their application, which is done with such a strategic, graceful and flawless motion, that I realized that the preparation of their appearance is just as important as their overall presence.

I wanted to pay homage to that graceful art, but also bring a modern element to the design. After seeing the wardrobe, I realized that bold and vibrant colors would be necessary to balance out the varied traditional and modern costumes. I also wanted to challenge myself to accomplish a modern Geisha makeup as a grand finale of sorts.


I used many different product lines on this show, but for this post I want to focus on two brands that were the shining stars...TemptuPRO and NYX Cosmetics.

I came into possession of a new TemptuPRO airbrush machine and shipment of extremely bold primary colored eyeshadows and lip colors from NYX Cosmetics and thought, "it’s as if these brands knew exactly what I needed!"

I’ve not mentioned this before, but this Pro has never airbrushed a makeup application. I am fully trained and experienced with spray tanning, but that is a slightly different element. This show was shaping up to be an exciting challenge for me in many areas, so I jumped in with both feet!

In prepping, I purchased a Hi Def color in White silicone (s/b) makeup from TemptuPRO for the Geisha skin, as well as the s/b All Blush color in Peony for a hint of pink on the cheeks.

Wanting to keep the makeup sharp, bold, modern and have striking angles, I also used a variety of textured feather false lashes, on the top and bottom lids, as well as bright pigments up to the brow for a dramatic effect.

With very limited time to completely block out the brows, I instead chose to leave them somewhat visible, but very clean. I applied several heavy layers of NYX Brow Definer Wax pencil on each brow and then smoothed with my finger. I airbrushed color over it, let it dry, powdered, and then applied more foundation. The wax did its job and those brows laid flat all night!

The eyeshadow colors are what took my interpretation of Geisha makeup into modern day, I used; NYX Lake Algae, Matte Turquoise, and Red Head, as well as the NYX Caribbean Collection Palette in I Dream of St. Lucia, which provided phenomenal pigment delivery.  So much so that my team used them all over the skin, over cream blushes, on top of lip gloss and under glitter pigments.

The end result of these powders was incredible and I also greatly appreciated the fact that they didn’t crumble and cause color fallout anywhere and they stayed put without creasing!

While we were blocking out the model’s natural lip tone and focusing on drawing a small triangle or heart on the lips for a delicate yet playful look, I reached for NYX Lipstick shades in #101 Hot Pink and #125 Berry. They gave the face more bright, bold color and left a nice sheen on the lips.

Upon arriving at the show location and walking backstage, I went immediately to check on my Geisha’s skin. It had been about two hours since I finished her makeup and wanted to make sure she was still pristine.


In the complications of wardrobe, she had accidentally smudged a small area on her nose, what looked like a button had grazed the skin. Realizing this was silicone makeup which can be difficult to correct, and I only had a few precious moments to fix the very obvious “boo boo,” I ravaged through my kit to find a quick solution. I found a $2 white pencil I have had in my kit forever and maybe used once.

I was actually joking with fellow MUA Pro Melissa Street not two days before then, that I was going to get rid of it (and others) because it was taking up space! But in that moment I was extremely grateful I was such a makeup hoarder!

I have to give credit to TemptuPRO because the silicone foundation application was quite easy, although time consuming, and it wore beautifully all night, without ever needing a touch up of powder (aside from the pencil dilemma). For body makeup, TemptuPRO is the one! I was highly impressed with the overall result and longevity of their product.


Other Product used on the show: Purely Cosmetics Silk Powder, Smashbox Cream Liner in Caviar, Yaby Color Palette, OCC Lip Tars, OCC loose color pigment in Clove and Elephantine, Ben Nye Sparklers in Gold, NYX loose pigment in Mink, and MAC loose pigment in Blackened Red and Pinked Mauve.

A special thanks to my team; Shelley Morgan, Josef Balandran, Heidi Mehl, Kat Hawley and Amy Rose-Matlock, who worked their buns off and it paid off because the show was a great success and the makeup was a hit!


I challenged myself in several artistic ways, and came out on the other side more knowledgeable, a bit braver, and even more in love with what I get to call a job!


Here are a few more behind-the-scenes photos:

Education + Cosmetics = POWER!

Upon my return from the Los Angeles Makeup Show put on by The Powder Group, I immediately reviewed all of my notes taken during the many educational seminars I was able to attend.  I wanted to organize all the information I learned because this year, The Makeup Show was jammed packed with career building instruction and tons of vendor booths that housed 60 pro-industry makeup companies!

With 3,000 makeup artists and students in attendance, The Makeup Show offered many hands-on workshops and keynote presentations that this Pro took advantage of thoroughly!

Eve Pearl’s “Market Yourself, Get the Job and Make Money in Front of the Camera” seminar was incredibly informative.  This Pro has not been asked to demonstrate a makeup application in front of the camera before, but after attending Eve’s presentation I feel less intimated and more capable of doing so if or when I am asked!

The “Working in Reality Television” forum was another highlight and James Vincent brought together a “cast” of extremely talented artists from the shows Ru Paul’s Drag Race, America’s Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance, who told truthfully what it was like to work behind-the-scenes on a reality television show!

Victoria Stiles, who is an incredible makeup artist, based in Washington, D.C., taught two seminars this year.  “Back to the Future: using innovative products to create classic looks” and “Strengthening Your Online Presence.”  These two workshops were a Pro favorite and taught great tips on how to recreate classic looks using current products, as well as how to use Facebook and Twitter properly to promote a makeup artist’s business.

In the presentation “State of the Union,” Susan Cabral Ebert told the artists exactly what was needed in order to join the I.A.T.S.E. 706 and why it was important to belong to such a prestigious group (especially if you are an artist like this Pro and work in television and film regularly).  Getting first hand information straight from the “horses mouth” is much better than second-hand info coming from people who may not understand all of the logistics.

“Working in LA” was another forum where James Vincent, Lori Taylor (Smashbox), Bryin Smoot, Sarah Lucero (Stila Cosmetics) and Koren Zander were able to answer questions directly from audience members on how to properly approach an agency, set etiquette tips and the importance of being an educated artist.

KJ Bennett, Kathy Aragon, Joanna Schlip, Christina Farrell, Jon Hennessey and Orlando Santiago were also among the “heavy hitters” that held hands-on workshops and demonstrations on everything from Editorial Beauty to Airbrushing, to Bridal and Red Carpet makeup looks!

This year, The Makeup Show’s Diamond Sponsor was Make Up For Ever, along with two Platinum Sponsors, Temptu Pro and Inglot.  Crown Brush and On Makeup Magazine were also among the company’s that sponsored the show.

On the Saturday prior, The Makeup Show allowed unprecedented access to beauty and fashion bloggers.  This Pro, along with many other bloggers, attended an exclusive tour of the vendor booths by Michael DeVellis and James Vincent in order to preview products that were being launched at the show.  During this tour, we were allowed to preview MUFE’s newest HD Microfinish Blush and Aqua Cream collections, as well as the newest additions to the Dermalogica and Naked Cosmetics lines and we also received full-sized samples of SmashBox Cosmetic’s new Hyperlash Mascara, Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer and OCC’s newest Lip Tar colors!

During the two-day event, this Pro also SHOPPED TIL I DROPPED!!! Stopping first at the Alcone booth to stock up on my favorite disposable sponges, Collyre Bleu Laiter Clear Blue Eye Drops and a Viseart 12-color neutral eye shadow palette (the best palette in my industry)!

I then made my way to the BECCA booth to pick up a few of their newest products.  My favorite BECCA Beach Tints now come in shades of Strawberry and Tangerine.  I have raved about these gorgeous, waterproof, crème stains in prior posts and I was thrilled to add these new colors to my personal and professional makeup kit.  I also purchased a Soft Touch Blush in Songbird from BECCA’s new Santa Rosa Collection.

As usual, the MUFE booth was packed especially with the launch of their new products.  This Pro decided that I needed to add the HD Foundations to my professional kit and MUFE was offering an amazing deal where I was able to purchase 6 popular shades for $120 excluding tax, which is half of what I would have paid retail!

Shuffling through the crowd I was able to make my way to the Temptu Pro booth where I watched many demonstrations using Temptu’s airbrush machine.  It’s amazing for applying foundation, contouring, highlighting and tattoo cover.  I purchased several Dura Pro Palettes that I added to my special FX makeup kit!

Embryolisse’s booth was my next visit and I was able to learn all about this product line directly from their Vice President, Michelle Shaffer.  This is a cult favorite of most professional makeup artists, found in most professional kits and makeup trailers, it is now easily available in the United States and it is affordable for all consumers.  Known for it’s ability to restore skin tone and elasticity while protecting your skin, Embryolisse creates a natural balance and minimizes risk of allergy.

Hakuhodo brushes are all hand made in Japan and are available either online or at many upcoming makeup artist shows (including the NYC Makeup Show & IMATS).  Established in 1974 in Kumano, Hakuhodo is one of the leading makeup brush manufacturers in the world!  This Pro could not wait to add a few of these brushes to my stockpile!

iNuovi Cosmetics launched their first United States booth at The Makeup Show this year!  This pigment rich, high intensity makeup line is developed in Italy, France and Japan.  This Pro fell in love with this product line last year and was so excited to view (play) with their top selling products!  I picked up iNuovi’s Probox (professional makeup luggage), which is a lightweight, easy to clean and stain resistant case that all my special effects makeup now calls “home!”

Eve Pearl Beauty's booth was hopping with the launch of 4 new eye shadow palettes, lipstick palette and her new HD Powder Foundations!  Always on hand to demonstrate her product line, Eve showed the crowd how to make the most of a client’s facial features.  This Pro has several of Eve’s products in my professional and personal makeup kit and I literally don’t ever work without using something from her product line.  From her famous Salmon Concealer to her gorgeous color line, Eve’s makeup can bring out the best in all women and it looks amazing on television and film!

Crown Brush's booth is always a crowd pleaser and with James Vincent showing the bloggers his “go to” brushes at the Blogger Preview, this Pro had to make a stop and pick up James’ recommendations!  Foundation brush, eye shadow blender and fan brushes all from the Badger Hair collection are now in my personal makeup bag (they were always in my pro kit)!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is making its mark in the world with its famous Lip Tars and at The Makeup Show they launched new colors, not yet available to the public.  Hoochie, Vapid and Complex are a stunning addition to the current Lip Tar line and will be available for Spring!

Face Atelier was my last stop because I wanted to give my full attention to learning about this innovative product line that is “all the buzz” in my industry.  Victoria Stiles was on hand demonstrating products and this line is the official makeup sponsor for Madonna’s Confessions Tour!  Face Atelier’s secret weapon is Silicone and their foundations are water resistant, while absorbing oil from the skin.  I purchased their Ultra Foundation Pro, Zero Minus and Zero Plus, which lightens or darkens foundation colors when added.  This Pro also purchased their Transforming Gel that magically transforms any loose or pressed powder into a “pool” of easily applied, lasting color that sets quickly!  Hello!!!  I am now able to turn all of my powder blushers and eye shadows into creams!

Whew!!!!  Needless to say, this Pro was t-i-r-e-d after two full-days of The Makeup Show (thank goodness I wore my flats), but some how I found the energy to run home and clean out my makeup kits to make room for all my new purchases!!!

Contributing Writer Pro, Cathi Singh, was also in attendance at The Makeup Show and she will be providing IMPO readers with more information about the seminars and vendor booths she visited, so stay tuned!

Click "here" and become a "fan" on this Pro's Facebook page to see more fun photos from The Makeup Show!!!  Also, make sure to subscribe to my other blog Epic Makeup if you are interested in going behind-the-scenes of television and film sets!  Click "here" and enjoy!

This Pro wants to thank all the hard working staff from The Powder Group for putting on an amazing show and is looking forward to next year! 

Fall Into Beauty!

Professional makeup artists are always on the edge of their seats this time of year! The fall season begins right after New York Fashion Week ends and the beauty manufacturers are bringing out this seasons “must have” products!

The Pros here at IMPO love this time of year and can’t wait to get our hands on all the gorgeous colors the fall season brings. This is the perfect time of year to update our kits and personally rock the latest in lipstick, eye shadow, blush and eyeliner!

Just like a new coat of paint brings an instant lift to the walls of your home, a new season’s makeup collection can renew your spirits and revitalize your confidence. Here is what we love…

Jewel tones are all the rage this fall and holiday season. Think hues of purple, teal, and deep red, not only for your wardrobe, but incorporated into your makeup bag. Achieve that luxurious satin finish using a combination of matte and shimmer eye shadows; best seen in a smoldering smoky eye. Deep chocolates, pewter and soft grays compliment skin tones and are versatile year round.

Bobbi Brown’s Nude Eye Shadow Palette is perfection when it comes to the ideal warm neutral shades. The palette is divided into three matte shades and three corresponding shimmer shades with a satin finish. The darkest matte shade can also double as a liner. Chino is a neutral matte that can be used as contour color for cheeks and forehead.

Combine this palette with Nars lipstick in Fast Ride to complete the sultry "fall" look. The deep mulberry shade is a semi-sheer wash so the color is buildable. Layer it with one of Smashbox’s Nude Lip Pencils (medium or dark) for a darker, more matte lip.

Make sure you snag up that Bobbi Brown Nude Palette and in October, grab Bobbi’s Earth Metal Lip and Eye Palette as well from her Holiday 2009 Collection. Meshing both palettes together by combining the matte shades, shimmer colors and metallic’s will give you hundreds of eye-popping options along with gorgeous creamy lip colors that can be layered and blended together to create a custom look!

Smashbox has unveiled the Reign Collection, featuring two truly decadent eye shadow palettes with three shades, each in a matte and shimmer. These shadows can also be worn wet for a more intense application.

The Majesty Palette from the Reign Collection has a warm vanilla, deep burgundy, and a black shadow. For dual use, apply the burgundy shadow to the high points of cheekbones using a fan brush for a gorgeous blush color. Avoid burgundy eye shadows with too many red or orange undertones, as it will bring out the redness in your eyes. Steer more towards the berry shades.

Pump it up a notch by dabbing gold eye shadow on the center of the eyelid to make the look even more regal. Our favs: Goldmine and Amber Lights by MAC, Ambient by Smashbox, and the Cheyenne Duo eye shadow by Nars, which combines gold and plum in one compact. Add a touch of Lancôme Virtuose Black Carat Gold Mascara, it is a rich inky pigment that coats and curls lashes to spectacular lengths and the formulation contains tiny gold particles!

If you love wearing a dark lip color, try OCC Lip Tar in Plum or Vintage. The stain will stay on all day and you can apply a clear lip gloss for added shine and va-va-voom!

Pair the dark lip with another hot, seasonal trend: gray eye shadow. Mix a matte slate gray like Illamasqua’s Feline with a satin charcoal color like Drama or Incubus, from the same line. Complete the soft look with the new Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara from Yves Saint Laurent, which is gray mascara.

Insider Secret: If suffering from puffy eyes, apply eye shadow in a darker shade under your bottom lashes. Because dark colors recede, it will give the illusion of a well-slept, bright-eyed beauty!

The red lip never goes out of season, but this fall the colors have more of a red/blue undertone. Don’t know where to purchase the best red colors? Try Lipstick Queen! Feeling innocent? A sheer wash across your lips makes for a pretty pout, in colors Rouge, Wine or Red from the Saints lipstick collection.

Feeling a little more adventurous? Pick a matte finish lipstick from the Sinner collection in Rouge and Red and really step out in style by layering the Hard Core gloss to your pucker. It has an intense pigment and huge shine payoff. Red Sinner and Wine Sinner are our picks.

Lipstick Queen’s creator, Poppy King, says you don’t need much else when wearing a red lip. Opt for a sheer wash of foundation to conceal skin issues, powder to a matte finish, a little pink flush on the cheeks, tight-line the upper lash line only, add mascara and that is it!

The Pros love the look of a "teal" eye and can't wait to get our hands on the shades that Amanda Seyfriend is wearing in the September issue of InStyle Magazine. She has a classic smoky eye, but with a fresh mermaid twist; green! Create the look by using Cle de Peau Beaute Satin eye color in Emerald No. 109, which is a deep pine color that would be amazing layered over a teal Bobbi Brown eye shadow like Bash Metallic. Makeup Pro, Mariel Barrera says, "the key to this look is to blend to death! That way the two colors will melt together!"

The latest edition of Allure Magazine says "cobalt" eyeliner is hot for the fall season and the Pros love this look combined with dark brown eye shadows and a nude pink lip. This eye look is sultry and sexy, which means a filled-in, sculpted brow would be essential. Try Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in #3-Blue. It is a silky formula that allows for precise and easy application. Use to fully line both the upper and lower lash line!

Bump up that gorgeous blue eyeliner or a classic black liner by layering Givenchy’s Parad’Eyes Fluid Eye Liner in Elegant Pearl. It is a soft metallic color that will make your eyes bewitching! This is an eye opening liquid with major pigment and it contains a sprinkling of mother-of-pearl particles! Long-lasting intensity that will not run or flake!

Peach cheeks are a must and will work with any of the above mentioned eye looks. This season a bold eye or lip is all the rage, which means a toned-down warm cheek color is necessary to avoid looking overly made up!

We love Julie Hewett’s Cheekie + Shimmy Duo in Peachie/Goldie! This product is so versatile and can be used to highlight your face, eyes, lips and body. Gives a sheer hint of color that will warm your cheeks and freshen up your face. You can apply with your finger; sponge or the Pros recommend using Julie Hewett’s Chubby Cheekie Brush for perfect blending ability!

Don’t forget those nails! The IMPO Pros fell in love with OPI’s deep purple Black Cherry Chutney and shimmery pewter, My Private Jet. Go bold and wear navy blue, purple, gray and even taupe polish.

Whatever products you choose to add to your current collection don't forget that jewel tones add sparkle to any look. They are deep pigments of color not neon or bright! Purchase the right colors and your look will be up-to-date well into the upcoming Holiday Season!

PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:

Our "tip" for this post is to make certain that our readers see The September Issue! A film by R.J. Cutler featuring Anna Wintour and the making of Vogue! "Fashion is a religion, this is the bible!" "Juicy...A great on to watch," Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times, "Immensely enjoyable," Krista Smith, Vanity Fair. Don't miss it!

STAY TUNED:

Up next on IMPO: It's "back to school" time so listen up!!! You are purchasing new clothes and school supplies, but how about new cosmetics and skincare? It is time to clean out and throw out those nasty products that are "so last year!" Get your teen in tip top beauty shape and help boost her confidence at the same time!