Stylist's Lounge Is Now Open: Style Rules!

Our Stylists' Lounge is finally open and we proudly feature our first guest: a talented makeup artist Shon Sanks.

Olena: Makeup is truly a fascinating art. I am saying it not as a model but first of all as a woman. How would you explain the magic of makeup?

SS: The magic of makeup is a phenomenal thing. It can transform you from a natural beauty to a glamor goddess and beyond. I also find makeup to be the power to change your emotions and moods. While you feel pretty in natural colors, soft or dramatic smoky eyes with false lashes may make you feel seductive. Makeup is a true form of art because it involves creativity, edge, and simplicity. It's the art that is designed to make you feel good and have fun while trying new things. I encourage everyone to try and enjoy its magic.

Olena: What is your favorite thing about your profession? What motivates you every day?

SS: My favorite thing about the profession is meeting new people. I love being surrounded by new faces; it gives me a chance to create and explore art all over again! I also love to be inspired by other people. Passion, love, drive and determination for make-up artistry motivate me every day. This is what I was born to do. It's something that has consumed me entirely. I love it because it comes from my heart, soul and mind. I put me all into makeup and look forward to each and everyday opening a new chapter and beginning a new journey. Just can't get enough of makeup!:)

Olena: What makeup brands are your favorites (if any) when working on a photo shoot or any special occasion makeup?

SS:It's hard to stick to brands. I use a little to a lot of everything like a makeup addict. There's always something better out there, and if it's better, that's what I want. Allowing myself to get stuck on a brand will cause missing out on great products, so I try them all and keep what works best. That's the beauty of having variety.

Olena: If you could share 3 best pieces of professional makeup advice that would work for any woman, what would that be?

SS: 1. Take good care of your skin;
2. Keep your brows shaped, arched, etc.(that is so important!);
3. Don't be afraid to try new beauty enhancement ideas, such as eye shadow colors or false lashes. Also, add a little mascara to your bottom lashes.

Olena: What are the biggest mistakes that women make when applying makeup (to your opinion)?

SS: Makeup is such a free spirited art with no rules, therefore, it is complicated to say what's right, what's wrong or even call a mistake. Personally I would love to see more women take a risk and step out of their comfort zones. Natural colors and tones, such as bronze, copper and gold, are very beautiful but don't forget: we live in the world of color, so don't be afraid of trying yellow, blue, green or even purple eye shadow once in a while. Just a suggestion… I encourage trying new things and if you find that it's not for you, you will still get applause from me because you tried something new!

Visit the Stylists' Lounge for more materials and more pictures of Shon Sanks' creative work.

What is a Stylists' Lounge?

It is a place to meet our featured guests who diligently contribute to the creation of style every day: makeup artists, hair stylists, stylist consultants, etc. It is also a page that is dedicated solely to the best style materials, published and upcoming. E-mail us your questions to professional style gurus as well as your topic suggestions and we will make sure they are included into future issues!

Photography: Kelvin Bushan
Model: Kemmie

Professional Makeup: Popular Choices 2008

The 2008 is featuring colder colors and shades, such as blue, purple and pink. A careful review of the spring makeup collections from major world designers proved that these colors are present almost in everyone’s spring choice: Chanel, Givenchy, MAC, Anna Sui (more popular in Europe) and other makeup professionals agreed that blue and purple eye shadows and eye liners are the kings of the season. So, what should we do with such a selection? The answer is simple: go for it and create a bold and unique look similar to the one that Elizabeth Taylor immortalized in her famous character Cleopatra, the Queen of the Nile. In other words, use eye liners and blue eye shadows all you want. And if you are not a big fan of a brave makeup, use these colors for the so called ‘nude’ look, a natural look with a little bit of blue and pink carefully mixed together. It will give you some unbelievable freshness independent on your age. The most important thing to remember though is the fact that natural makeup looks best on well prepared skin, so do not abandon regular facials, creams and other skin care procedures. As a matter of fact, caffeine is one of the most popular skin care products’ ingredients in 2008. It helps refresh skin under eyes and eliminates lines, so you will probably find it in many skin care products this year.

Smart makeup tips:

If you are using blue, purple or pink colors for your eyes, stick with a neutral choice of lipstick, such as nude or pink with a little lip gloss on top.

To add a sparkle to your eye makeup use white pencil in the inner corners of your eyes. It will most likely become one of your favorite makeup tricks for a long time.

And finally, add some fantasy!

Visage Fashion V: Foundation and Common Misconceptions

Foundation is only necessary when one has acne problems.

Not true. I would say, if you have acne problems, you are better off with a concealer. Foundations help cover many other problems, such as uneven skin tone, visible pores, irritation, shine, etc. In addition, foundations help protect our skin from the every day sun damage, contain vitamins and sometimes light reflecting particles that (among other things) visibly reduce lines and make you look younger.

Foundations harm skin.

Well, maybe it could be true 30 years ago but modern cosmetic items actually contain ingredients that benefit skin. It is just important to use a foundation correctly and not to forget to remove it at night.

Foundations clog pores.

Actually, many modern foundations let your skin breathe freely at the same time protecting it from oxidants and other harmful factors.

Frequent use of foundation speeds up aging.

Again, not true. Lots of foundations can be beneficial to skin thanks to vitamins, oils and other ingredients. It is very important to use them correctly though and cleanse your skin regularly.

All foundations are visible at some point

If this is the case, it simply means that you did not choose the right foundation. Keep searching and try various ways of application (wet or dry sponge, brushes, etc.).

Visage Fashion IV: Foundation FAQs

Should I use any foundation if I have difficult skin and how?

Yes. I believe that foundation is the most beneficial to women with difficult skin because it’s an excellent opportunity to hide the problem areas and look fantastic. But one has to very selective about the products to use and take into account the type of skin, age, cosmetic ingredients, etc. To be short, here is what you use when you have:

Dry skin: moisturizing foundations with creamy textures (usually contains vitamins and other good stuff). Apply a foundation with a wet sponge to assure natural look and flawless coverage.

Mixed skin: the best practice is to use a liquid foundation and some loose powder on problem spots to avoid shine.

Oily skin: preferably liquid foundations without any oils and long lasting foundations. If necessary, apply some loose powder on top to prevent shine.

So, what is the best way to apply a foundation?

If you are using a liquid foundation, it is perfectly ok to apply it with fingers (just make sure that you wash your hands beforehand). Otherwise, use a sponge (wet or dry depending on the result you are trying to achieve). For loose powders use brushes. Here you can find everything about makeup brushes including advice on how to take care of them.

What if my skin is inflamed?

Today there are special antiseptic foundations and concealers for inflamed skin that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients and provide great coverage. When applying such a foundation, forget about sponges or brushes, simply use a cotton ball and throw it away after each application (I know it sounds obvious but amazingly not everyone does).

Is it necessary to use a moisturizer before applying a foundation?

Well, it is obviously not obligatory but if you want to protect your skin and take good care of it, it is strongly recommended by all skin care and makeup specialists to cleanse your skin before every makeup application and use some moisturizer. It is also strongly recommended to thoroughly remove makeup at the end of the day. Modern cosmetic items are far from the ones that our moms used in 50-s and 60-s; they do not only look much better but also often protect our skin from various damaging effects of the environment, such as oxidants, sun damage, etc. But it does not mean that we as consumers are not responsible for the effect of these or any other products on our skin health. If we do not apply them correctly and do not take good care of our skin, no cosmetics will help.

Does a foundation have a shelf life?

Yes! Every cosmetic item has a shelf life. And to my opinion, this is on of the factors that is frequently overlooked by consumers. Most of the times we do not see expiration date of cosmetic products on their boxes, so it is important to know how long these items last. For liquid foundations it is usually 1 year, for the creamy ones it might be up to 2 years but I would certainly not purchase anything that is over 2 years old.

To be continued…
Visage Fashion V: Foundation and Common Misconceptions

Subscribe now:

Visage Fashion: Part II - Lipstick Secrets Exposed

Let’s skip the talk about how important lipstick is for any makeup because it is important to first of all select the lipstick that is best for you before it becomes an essential part of anything. And it is not a simple task today as there are hundreds of brands, colors, textures and types of lipstick in any store. For that reason we will share some professional secrets that will make this task much easier.
First of all, select a color you desire. Light lipsticks will make any lips look fuller and bigger, lipsticks with some glitter and shine will produce a similar effect. If light colors are not for you, you can still make your lips look sexy and full by using some gloss on top. However, it is easy to make a mistake choosing a color even if you are absolutely sure about your preferences. The matter is that some lipsticks have a base color and a “background color” so to say that adds a different shade. You can always use a tester on your hand (that will also show you what texture this lipstick has) but to be absolutely sure use a tester on a sheet of white paper and see if any different shades come up. It is a good trick to use when looking for a red lipstick, for example, because red has many different variations and it is important to select the one that looks good on you.

Now smell your lipstick and look at it carefully. A lot of cosmetic items have a nice smell but my personal choice is always the one with no scent at all. It helps prevent concerns about scent allergy and should absolutely be a rule for makeup artists using it on different people. In addition, the lipstick should not have any water drops, darker or lighter spots on its surface, or anything else unusual. It is a common opinion that lipsticks are perfectly good to be used for about 3 years from the manufacturing date. Spots and drops often appear when it is about to expire and long lasting lipsticks become dry and unusable very soon after the expiration date. So, be sure to check it on the box.

However, this is not the end. Next time we will share some secrets about lipstick application and will tell you what to do if you accidentally purchased a wrong color. Subscribe now:

Visage Fashion: Part I - Professional Makeup Brushes

A modern woman receives an overwhelming amount of information about various beauty products including skin care, makeup and beauty tools. A lot of this information comes through advertising and promotional materials: free makeup brushes of all shapes and sizes are included into every gift bag and every bonus and each manufacturer claims that their tools will help you achieve the flawless look. This article will help you master the basics of makeup tools and learn the truth about professional makeup brushes.

The truth is simple: the more makeup brushes you have, the easier it is to work at your makeup but it is not necessary to sacrifice quality for quantity. In fact, it is the worst thing to do. The quality of your tools means not only variety of looks but also healthy skin. Quality brushes (like any other quality items) are pricier but last longer. It is always best to purchase brushes made of natural hair and other natural materials. Any professional makeup and any look can be achieved with minimum 5 types of brushes:

1. a makeup brush for loose powder (a round big one);
2. a makeup brush for blush (oval smaller brush);
3. a makeup brush for base eye-shadow (pretty much any shape or size will work as base tones and colors are light and do not require precise coverage and techniques);
4. a makeup brush for darker eye-shadows (brushes with shapes that allow more precise application of darker tones);
5. a makeup brush for lipstick (a very thin tiny one that can be used both, for lipstick and eye liner).

You will also require the following items: a sponge, a pair of tweezers, a small brush for brows and eye lashes, cotton balls, cotton swabs and a cosmetic pencil sharpener. And your fantasy!

How to take care of makeup brushes

Taking care of your makeup brushes and tweezers, washing them regularly is extremely important for a flawless makeup look and healthy skin. Washing is easy: just use a shampoo or liquid soap and warm water. You can also use a little bit of conditioner, if your brushes are made of natural hair. It is recommended to was brushes after each makeup application or as often as possible and sanitize them occasionally (especially if someone else uses them) by holding over boiling water (steaming them, so to say).

But wait... This is not the end. The series "Visage Fashion" will soon share more professional makeup tips:
Visage Fashion: Part II - Lipstick Secrets Exposed
Visage Fashion: Part III - All You Can Learn about Foundation

Subscribe now: