Tuesday, December 7, 2010

TAG ! YOU'RE IT - MY MAKEUP STORY!!! - ENJOY

Tag! You're It! – My Makeup Story

How old were you when you started wearing makeup?
Believe it or not I was making myself up in one way or another before the age of 9. Remember the little palette that came with the Barbie Head? Yes...that one. I had that, one lipgloss and one lipstick that changed to red on your lips.
Yes hunny, you saw that correctly before the age of 9. By the time I had turned 9 and was bored out of my mind my mom gave a bunch of stuff that she no longer needed or used just to give me something to do and get out of her hair. You know how mom's do when a child is bored - they solve the problem. Thanks mom... I will be forever grateful to you for introducing me to the World of Beauty.

I acquired my knowledge by trial and error and lots of damn error of course. But it paid off because by the time I entered High School I could do to my face what most pros (at the time I didn’t know that there was such a career as a makeup artist – what was that? For a while I thought they did it themselves like I’d heard some actors and actresses did sometimes back in the day – I know silly right?) could do to those glamorous models faces in the High Fashion magazines. Hells bells hunny even my Teachers were impressed. The other thing that impressed them too was that I had manners and tact. Sometimes those things can take you farther than any amount of Maybelline you cake on your face.

How did you get into makeup?
I talked about most of that above but here’s the addendum to that – I was piddling around on YouTube. I don’t even remember what the hell I was looking for. I mean for the most part the only real time that I watched anything on YouTube was when my late husband showed me something or something was sent to him via email – “Charles you gotta see this!” something of that nature. But then we moved and I got my own little room upstairs to do my own things in and I happened across either Eve Pearl or Pursebuzz or EnKore or somebody. I know that Pinkiecharm’s video of her traincase was the first makeup collection that I ever viewed and the rest is history except for the video entitled Random Makeup Looks – tis no longer available and a girl by the name of DollfaceMakeup that closed her account.
I just thought to myself – I can do this – I can teach ppl what I’ve learned personally over the years and even what I learned from the bullshit workshop I took now five years ago…I can do this – all I need is a camera. Hell I remember watching Panacea81 before she blew up and had products in Sephora – before she talked, when she was playing that bomb ass music in her makeup tutorials and everything started out with the damn Sharkskin Shadestick from MAC…and the looks just frackin’ worked man.

What are some of your favorite brands?
Now this list is ridiculously long but here goes – and in no particular order – NYX, Milani, L’Oreal HiP or Studio Professional Secrets whichever you prefer to call it – I like HiP… I digress, moving on – L.A. Colors (love my cheap shit and I always will), WetNWild – always – got me through Junior High and High School – gotta give it its major props. Coastal Scents because I’m palette crazy and Sigma Brushes because Mac tends to be a bit much at times even though I do own some. And at the end of my holy grail day I love love love did I say love yes I did – I LOVE finding dupes for everything MAC down to the brushes.
I know I’ve left a lot out but we’ll be here all day… ok????? Naw mean???? Oh and I can’t forget my Theatrical Giants – Ben Nye, Mehron, and Kryolan (the foundations are to die for – don’t sleep) and Graftobian.


What does makeup mean to you?
This is a loaded question – Its like what doesn’t it mean to me? Who doesn’t want to feel glamorous? Sexy? Confident? Strong? Renewed? Carefree?
Makeup to me can mean everything one minute and nothing the next depending on the mood I’m in. But I will say this – there’s nothing that compels me more to buy. I buy it because I love it. I buy it for all the pretty colors, the pretty textures and the pretty possibilities. I buy it because when I do wear it, I feel at my best. I feel somewhat more put together and powerful and worth that second or third glance or look I get from that certain guy. Its empowering on a level that for most of us – yes, it just surpassith understanding…but its almost intoxicating the hold it has on poor unsuspecting souls. Putting your best face forward exudes a kind of confidence they didn’t talk about in those damn fairy tale books. I mean I know how good I feel when I take the time to put that effort that pride in the colors that I choose to sport to go with my particular outfit…and how I apply them…its my signature across my face as unique as a fingerprint. I know what I can bring to the table moreso than when I’m rocking a plain face. So what if it’s a “mask” for the world to see for a few hours a day – so what? Question is – did you feel good while you were wearing it? Did you feel polished? More poised? Stronger than yesterday? I say yes…a resounding sonorous YES! Yes, that’s what makeup means to me – the ability to Transform, Transmorph, Transmogrify myself into the woman that I know I can be, the woman that I know that I’m supposed to be even it is for just a few hours at a time.

If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be?
Foundation
Eyeliner
Mascara
Lipstick or Gloss

What is your favorite thing about makeup?
See Question number 4!

What do you think about drugstore versus high-end?
At the end of the day its all the same damn thing. Who cares? They are all made in the same damn warehouse or factory and packaged and given different prices. I just want more bang for my buck is all. Its like asking what is the difference between regular unleaded gasoline and premium gasoline – its price fool!


What is the one tip of advice you can give to a beginner?
Don’t believe the hype!!!!!! Makeup comes in many brands, many forms, many price ranges. But don’t let the smooth taste fool you – when you learn the proper techniques you can rock anything from Wet N Wild to Chanel – you just have to know what you are doing and have the proper tools. And believe me hunnybunny, even on my worst days I can rock Wet N Wild as if it were Chanel or MAC or Nars and no one not even the ladies at those damn counters can tell the difference. Its all in the wrist hunny – any good prestidigitator will tell you that!

What is the one makeup trend you never understood?
Oh Lord, where do I stop and where do I start? And how much time do you have and yes I know the question said one but I break rules all the time…so here are my top 5; Sharpie eyebrows is one. Overdrawn lips is another. The wrong nude color lipstick on the wrong skintone...MY nude is not YOUR nude...and YOUR nude is not MY nude - Get it Right! That black eyeliner with bright pink or red un-blended lipstick. Too bright an eye highlight on the wrong complexion… It’s a mystery.

What do you think about the Beauty Community on YouTube?
I honestly used to enjoy it but now, not so much. I will say that in the past I did learn a lot and I’m still learning. I can safely say that I’m a graduate of the YouTube Makeup University and that I’ve studied with some very worthy professors. There are some talented ppl on YT and then there are some that still need a lot of practice and work especially on interpersonal skills.
I just wish it were more like it was say just 3 or 4 years ago.
All and all it’s a wonderful heaping motherload of information – it's how you choose to utilize it that’s key. At the end of the day – take what you need from various ones and keep it moving. Check your egos and drama at the door.


Until Next Beauty Time Lovelies...<3