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Quest for the Perfect Foundation Series: Intro

By on January 17, 2011 in Archive

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Since January is the first month of the year, it’s only fitting that we dedicate the base of our makeup to a series.

For the rest of the month, Scandalous Beauty will dedicate it’s weekdays to Foundation. You’ll learn how to apply it, what it looks like, how to use it, how to keep it on, the best brands, and much more.
To get a head start, check out the existing Quest for the Perfect Foundation series.  It’s a compilation of reviews, tutorials and articles on foundations.

The entire series is based around the video below. It’s called Foundation 101: How to choose, apply and get the look you desire. If you have any questions about foundation, leave them below.  I’ll try to incorporate them into the series.

The entire January foundation series will be documented from this post daily.  Just check here, and a new link will be added. You can always go the old fashioned way and scroll down the blog. : )

Day 1- Things To Know Before You Purchase Your Foundation

Day 2- How Many Foundations Does One Person Need?

Day 3- How to Choose Your Foundation by Skin Type

Day 4- Best Brushes and Beauty Tools to Apply Foundation

You may also want to read a few of these topics:

Help! I look 5 Shades Lighter in My Pictures!

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Bobbi Brown Foundations and Concealers

By on January 9, 2011 in Archive

My latest beauty craze has been Bobbi Brown foundation. I’m not going to lie, this line of makeup used to bore me to tears. I was young and thought that neutrals were for women over 50.  Now that I’m older (and more mature), I can really respect the simplicity of this brand. Here’s a candid overview of my [tiny] Bobbi collection.

Here are the Bobbi Brown face products that I own.  I’ve got a concealer palette, foundation palette and the foundation itself.

Continue Reading →

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Why I Don’t Mix My Foundations

By on October 11, 2010 in Archive

The Backstory

For years, artists at the MAC counter put me in NW45. It always looked unnatural.  It was too red and made me look like I purposely put foundation on for the day. Finally, one of the trainers did my makeup, placed me in NC50 foundation and NW43 powder around the perimeter of the face.  That’s the day I looked like my most natural self with makeup on.

The Situation at Hand

Ever since I created the NC50 vs. NW45 video on Youtube, I’ve received at least 30 comments/emails/messages asking why I don’t just mix the two. Well, the idea of highlight and contour makes up the bulk of this decision. I don’t like just being one color all over. I like to add some “dimension” to the face. It’s seriously something we should all consider (if you really want to purchase multiple products).  My method of choice is wearing a natural colored foundation, and a darker powder.  You could do this by using two foundations, a concealer and foundation, etc.  Remember, there are no rules!

Also, this is the same reason they tell people to use bronzer in the areas that the sun would hit. They don’t tell you to blend it in all over the face. It’s all about the contour.

Remember this image?

erinneedstwofoundations

This is from my article about why we sometimes must wear two foundations. My cheeks, chin, nose and anything below the forehead match well.  The forehead however….no. I will need that darker foundation around the forehead, into my hair line, around the temple, to make me look like my natural self.

In Fact…

I’m not saying anything is wrong with mixing, that’s totally fine. I just don’t want to do it.

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Goodbye MAC Studio Stick Foundation

By on July 26, 2010 in Archive

Dear MAC Studio Stick,

I really loved you.  You were my favorite stick foundation ever. Black Opal and Becca were riding your coat tails, but just weren’t good enough.  You were perfect for every skin type, and it took a few hours for you to get oily. You were creamy enough to blend easily.  You were pigmented enough to be light to full coverage.  Now, I’ll be checking all of my local Cosmetic Company Stores, hoping that I’ll find a magical NC50. I’m going to miss you. If you want to try purchase, you’ll have to go to Gone But Not Forgotten.

If you still own a stick, here’s a step-by-step picture tutorial on how to use it. Also, I couldn’t believe how much product was left after I reached (what I thought was) the bottom of the stick. Here’s how to scrape out a few extra bucks worth of your stick foundation. From what I’ve heard from MAC insiders, there will not be another stick foundation coming out, at least through Fall 2010.

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Why We Sometimes MUST Wear More Than One Foundation

By on June 17, 2010 in Archive

I took this picture with the intention of talking about lashes. On the left side of my face I’m wearing none, and on the right I’m wearing a random brand. But the more important issue is the line of demarcation on my forehead.  One can argue that I didn’t blend up into the hairline.  I clearly didn’t.  Whatever the case, I think I may need to really impliment the darker foundation around the forehead look.  I’m wearing Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in #175.  It’s my fave. My go to.  And now, I’m realizing that I can’t wear her alone…especially while taking pictures with a flash!  I took pictures in this foundation all night long, and it looked perfect.  I love the shade, it’s the perfect match for me.  It’s a well known fact that most Women of Color aren’t one shade all over their entire face…and I’m a perfect example! I’ll keep you all updated on my new, darker shade.  Time to go shopping!

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Beyonce Makeup Tutorial featuring Black Opal Stick Foundations

By on September 11, 2009 in Archive, Celeb Beauty

You may think Beyonce is a stuck up diva. You may think she’s the sweet Southern belle. You might also think she’s a terrible singer. It’s possible that you might believe she’s the greatest singer of our generation. One thing is for sure though…that woman is a entertainer like no other. I’ve seen her in concert twice, and I’ll continue to do so! Seriously, she brings it. Every time.

This tutorial is my rendition of the gold look that she wore throughout the concert. Beyonce does her own makeup on tour (wow!), and she’s pretty freakin’ good at it! For my face, I used two Black Opal Stick Foundations “Khalahari Sand” and “Beautiful Bronze” with Ben Nye Loose Powder in “Banana”. Here’s a tutorial of how I highlighted and contoured my face using the two.

For the eyes, I used two colors of glitter by MAC Pro. I also used #48 Red Cherry lashes. These have been sitting in my lash box forever, and quite frankly I thought they were ugly and akward. I tried them on…and WOW. They are on my list of lashes to purchase in NYC this weekend! Yes! Here’s the eye makeup tutorial on Youtube! Enjoy!

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Foundations for the Deepest Skintones

By on August 25, 2009 in Archive, For the Makeup Artists

New York Fashion Week showed me many things about being a makeup artist. One thing I learned is that you always need a really, really great selection of foundations. In the picture above, celebrity hair and makeup artist Johnny Lavoy created the look on model Kinee Diouf backstage at The Blondes show. I sat in anticipation, wondering what product Johnny would use. He tried one or two products, to no avail. The foundation that melted into her skin like a dream? Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX16. Problem averted.

So many times, people ask me about make for “dark skinned women” or “very, very dark skinned women”. Here are some commercial brands that didn’t forget about any of us.

Becca Cometics carries over 25 shades of foundation, so you’ll always be able to find a shade that you need. The foundation sticks offer the most natural look I’ve ever seen. From what I’ve heard, there isn’t an incredibly high Black population is Austraila, but somehow, the Aussie creator didn’t want to leave us out. Aww. To find your shade easier, enlarge to colour selector and match yourself.

Black Opal-I just started playing with these foundations a few weeks ago, but they come in 7 shades. They can get a little greasy, but if you use a good powder, you’ll do great. Plus, you can find them at your neighborhood convenience store. I have only tried the stick foundations and the Total Coverage Concealing Foundations. Not bad at all!

Cover FX-Created to cover even the most dramatic tattoos, scars and blemishes, there are over 30 shades. These foundations can be thinned out to give even the lightest coverage. This is one of the newer brands in the makeup game, but they are knocking their competitors out! Just tried the new concealer, it really does cover anything! Plus, there is all kinds of talk about them having shockingly great primers. Yes!

So, don’t give up on the quest for the perfect founation. What brand(s) of foundation would you recommend for those of us without many options?

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