Fashion Week NYC: Jad Ghandour Backstage

Talk about little ol' LA girl getting schooled in NY!!! (well, kind of. ;) ....I filled in last minute for another makeup artist yesterday for the Jad Ghandour (protege to Elie Saab... according to stylebistro.com) show at Exit Art --I was told an hour before call time. O.O! ...I flew home from across town and packed the essentials out of fear of being late b/c of having to drag an entire case of stuff. Off I went, me and my lil ol' bag of basics. (Plus they usually provide the basic products to complete the look.)


So i show up and there are 3 other makeup artists, then another one shows up. It's a tight clique... ok, no problem, I greet them and I wait and shuffle around on my phone, wait for my cue to start unpacking.:::::... They start unpacking--their industrial-sized suitcases filled to the brim with chanel, face stockholm, everything you can dream of--i mean, ridiculous!!!! Hundreds of lipsticks and every shade possible... these girls didn't hesitate to bring the entire counter with them. I think my jaw dropped a little. And then there was me... I take out my bag of goodies and humbly spread them out on the counter. wah* wah* >.<~! Humbling experience? Yes..sireeeeee... but the girls were super friendly and professional and they were all amazing at what they did.


Then Victor Henao, the key MUA shows up with his entourage who without hesitation start setting up his tools like a well-oiled machine. Then I realize that the girl in the corner who had quietly been prepping a model's face was one of his assistants and, with impeccable timing, she hands the model over to Victor, who does the demo for us. 


It's a straight-forward look, clean skin with a brown liner base by jouer (all the MUA's in NY seem to be in love with this brand right now, and jouer sponsored the look for this show), blended out into a soft, ethereal smokey cat-eye, then blended to perfection with a mix of matte brown e/s and soft, shimmery nude e/s over the top of the lid. A crisp, thin black liner was laid down for clean definition, then curled lashes and natural-ish false lashes were laid on top, topped off with black mascara. Black kohl liner on the bottom water line, smudged out with the same brown e/s used on top lid... Brows weren't too bold but filled in if sparse, defined and elegant, and bronzer was used with a not-too-shy application, and shimmery loose powder was blended out onto the cheekbone for that delicious runway glow. A matte, red lip was topped off with an accent of obsessive compulsive lip gel in the center, last minute--right before the models hit the runway. Voila! Kudos to Victor for such a seamless look. I thought it went beautifully with the line, which... i DIE for!!! the girls looked exquisite in the gowns. 


Here are a couple of my girls:

fashionising.com

So, although this wasn't my first NY fashion week show, and although everything ended up going swimmingly... it sure gave me a test on the nerves! But I think being confident in my skills was sufficient. Hey!--you can only do your best, right? >.<~! The models loved their makeup (yay!)!! I mean, considering their faces are touched by the best mua's, that's always validating. And the Designer's bestie... I'll find her on google one of these days! A life-like doll, said she loved my makeup on the girls! Yippeeeee..! Even after gaining confidence in this industry, it's always so rewarding to feel like your work is validated. >.<~! <3 And until I can build my kit up to be 10 feet high, mine will have to do..! :) Plus--!!!! I felt much relieved after vocalizing my awe of the other MUA's impressive kits, one said "15 years in the making, baby!" Whew! I have 7, 8 more years to go... ;)


ps--i'm obsessed with my new discovery gay boy band KAZAKY that my roomie told me about!!! ahhhh~!!!! <3

time for some inspiration :D

my picture hoarding for the day consists of...

deliciously kissable berry lips <3

untouchable sexy pinks xoxo~

clean lines are so delicious...!

monotone eyes... love.

exquisite profile #1

exquisite profile #2

O.O wide eyes <3 and candied lips 

new face: model i-forget-her-name. gorgeous.

living doll <3

one of my favorite vogue covers of all time. the water-color wash is heavenly (bravo meisel!)

cheers to ridiculously flawless skin and wearing makeup oh so effortlessly...

Lady G gives me hope that everyone can wear makeup beautifully!! is that mean? :x

Life in NYC

I know it's going to take time for this blog to pick up momentum, but here goes writing to no one! ^-^ hehe... it's just a matter of getting addicted to blogging again. I just need to start blogging more frequently. Going to aim for at least a couple times a week. :) We shall see...!!

Aw crap I just realized no one knows me. Ok well let me give the most succinct blurb about myself that I think will be relevant to this here bloggy blog:

I'm (unfortunately) 28 years old ;( (I feel so old~!!!), lived in LA for 6~7 years and was a Makeup Artist during my time there (amongst other things) and recently moved to NY. My dream is to somehow do something awesome within the world of makeup and beauty, which is my passion, and I specialize in Asian Makeup. If you go on my website, you can read further on my background in makeup... don't want to be redundant! I am in absolutely in love with beauty, and I am genuinely interested and passionate about sharing my knowledge of Asian Makeup (and just... general makeup, for that matter) with the world. I would eventually like to perhaps start my own Makeup Line one day, but my primary passion is to educate everyone so they can look like the best version of themselves when they choose to!

With that little intro squared away, now onto the blabbing...! It's nearing 2 months since I arrived in NY, and I've gotta say I have no concept of time since I've gotten here. It feels like it's been longer than that but it also feels like time's flown by. I started working immediately since I got here at a Jewelry Designer's Company, Doris Panos Designs, and am still doing makeup on the side. I had a wedding waiting for me when I arrived here, which was nice! I had the pleasure of having an amazing client as my first here in NY so that was awesome. I'm in love with doing makeup because I feel tremendously blessed whenever I do someone's makeup. It's a gift to be able to show someone the beauty they always possessed. Here is an email I got yesterday from my first NY client! (And I share with a child-like heart, with disbelief and enthusiasm, not with pride...)

"Hi Renee:

Hope all is well. I don't even know where to begin to express how happy and beautiful you have made me on my day. Being an anal freak, I was being paranoid that I wouldn't look as beautiful as I wanted to on that special day, but you have far exceeded any hopes and expectations I had dreamed of. You are THE goddess of beauty. I not only looked like a superstar, I felt like one... and I know this could not have been a reality had it not been for your talent and skills (and girl, you got A LOT).

That being said, I am VERY interested in taking the make-up lessons you offer. Please send me the price list again. I also would like to know what it consists of... mainly, would I be able to duplicate (not exactly, as I lack the superior skills you obviously have) the look you have created for me on my wedding day.

Also, please know if anyone ever asks for a make-up artist, you will surely be recommended. And if you ever need me to write or give a review, please do NOT hesitate to ask. I owe you my firstborn for making me feel and look the bazillion bucks I did. You need to stay your pretty self in NY!

With love,

--------"

Ope! Oh no gotta go! At Bryant Park Library (soooo beautiful..) but they're closing. Here are some before and afters to close with:

 

 btw I never photoshop anything unless I say so! (I'm too lazy...) ;)

Hello, and Happy New Year!

EDIT~! TODAY's DATE: April 17th, 2010

Hello ya'll...!!! ....again.... -_-"

Here's to giving it another go! I tried starting up this blog a couple years back and it didn't happen, sooooo here I am! Hopefully this time I won't flake out. Cough*

For those who care, I want to do this blog right now for a couple of different reasons: I miss blogging (I used to be a xanga whore back in the day, and I MISS IT!), I've also been meaning to do some sort of a makeup tutorial kind-of a thing, and while I've been wanting to do it more professionally--fug it. Here goes nothing... if I don't do it now it's never gonna happen!! And lastly, I feel like this way people can get to know me more. I can be crazy lil ol' me. This will be my little space online that will be my lil' bubble and the gnarlies can't hate on me because they're... well, gnarly! And if they do, I'll smoosh 'em to submission with my verbal wizardry. HEh heh heHhh... O_- ...givin' em the stink eye*

Anypoo, thanks for swinging by. I promise this will have more flavor soon. And while I hope not to divulge tmi like I did in the days of my xanga-ness, I'll probably somehow manage to... do it again, somehow. Lol. I make no promises except that this blog will serve to make me happy and hopefully help you occasionally if you ask me makeup questions. ^-^*