Faith and Foundations

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

"Better late than never, but never late is better"

Hello All,

IMMMM BBAACCCKKK!!!

First off, I have to apologize for such a long break. I have neglected my readers and left you wondering WTH!?! I have to admit, I suddenly became jaded with my blog. Mostly due to my lack of confidence in my ability to maintain your attention. In these last couple of months I have been able to really look into myself to see what my insecurities are, and face them head on. In my hiatus, I have found a new sense of what I have to offer the beauty world and you, my reader.

This post is simply a return to work notification. I will be posting at least one blog EVERY week. I need for you to hold me accountable; email, Instagram, Facebook, HOWEVER you need to reach me, reach me.

Like everything else in my life, I had to find out that this blog will not become successful with half of my attention. Idea's will not just come come to me, I have to search for them. Here are a couple things I have thought up so far:

1. Well Known MUA interviews
2. Product reviews
3. Face for the occasion
4. My favorite faces of the week
5. Q & A from my readers

And much, much more. I have to thank you for coming and reading my little ol' blog, one day you will get to say "I was there when she first come back" lol.

Here's to US!!

**Smooches**

IG: mandapanda_23
Facebook: Manda B.
Email: abrooks106@gmail.com

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Barely There

Hello All!

I had a request to show how I do a "natural" look. This look is perfect for work, quick trips to the mall, lunch date and more! The best thing about it, it only takes about 10min! Here goes nothin'!

1. Cleanse face with facial wash or makeup wipe.

2. Prime Face (I use Milk of Magnesia, but any primer will work)

3. Use MAC Spiked Brow Pencil to fill brows very lightly. Then use a concealer (I used Cover Girl) underneath brow that matches your complexion to clean up the shape of the brow.

3. Use concealer that is half a shade lighter than your complexion underneath eyes and on any dark spots on the skin.

Almost done....

4. Next, take your powder foundation in your natural color, and buff onto skin to blend out concealer.

5. For blush, I used MAC blunt. Place on the apples of the cheek and sweep towards temples.

6. (Optional) Place baked bronzer on top of MAC blunt for extra highlight effect.

7. For the eyes, I place a small amount of my power foundation on my lids.

8. Line bottom waterline with black/brown eye liner. I used a black Sephora band liner.

9. Apply Mascara to top and bottom lashes. You can go as light or as heavy as you desire.

10. Lady but not least, lips. I applied my new FAVORITE lip balm, EOS, along with a tinted lip gloss. I decided on MAC Lip Glass in Viva Glam Nicki 2.

ALL DONE!!!! See, only ten quick easy steps. Of course, you can add or subtract to your style but this is a great start.

Keep the ideas coming! Thank you so much for reading.

Until next time..

**smooches**

Friday, October 11, 2013

Product Review

Hello There!

I have recently purchased a few new products for my kit! I wanted to share with you my experience. I hope you find this helpful!

1. Milani Eyshadows: Blue Ice- LOVE this blue. It is more of a Royal blue color that works so well for a blue smokey eye. The pigment is pretty good, works 100x better if the brush is wet. Melange- Black and gold baked eyeshadow that is nothing short of BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait to use it by itself (this time I used it to smoke out the blue). Price: I would say it WELL worth the $1 I spent! That's right, I got these colors at the DOLLAR SORE for $1 a piece! Milani also sells products in Target as well.

2. Black Opal Foundations: Finishing Powder- This is a GREAT product to help build your kit. Foundation is one of the most expensive things to buy for your kit, seeing as how you need every shade. I loved how this powder evened out my face and have me a nice matte look. They also give you a hefty amount in the package, which is always a plus. Cream Foundation Stick- This product gave me great coverage, without being heavy. I saw a couple other MUA's using these two products so I knew I wanted to give them a shot, I just didn't know I would love them this much! Pricing: The finishing powder- $8.97. The cream foundation stick- $9.97. Like I said, AMAZING!! To be found at your local drug store (i.e CVS).

All in all, I love my new additions! Hope you find them to be as useful as I have. Once you try them, come back and let me know how it went!

Here is the face I created on a rainy Friday while coped up in the house (I'm an old lady)!

Until next time....

Smooches****

Friday, October 4, 2013

Beauty Beyond Makeup

Hello All!

Have you ever encountered a physically beautiful person, with a less than appealing attitude or demeanor? Don't worry, we all have!

As a Makeup Artist we have to provide the total package. We are our own business mascot. Yes, the skills you possess will get you in the door, but your positive attitude and pleasant disposition will make them want to call you back for additional services.

Repeat customers are the driving force behind your career. Those customers will not only call you for their makeup needs, but also refer you to others that my be interested in hiring a MUA. Those relationships are built on more than just the art is applying makeup. They want to know you can be trusted, you are professional, polite and personable. These are skills no YouTube video can teach, but are dire to the success of your business.

As an up and coming MUA, there are things that I make sure I do when working with my clients:

· Always follow up with clients before event to solidify details to include, pricing, time, parking, length of service, etc.

· If any changes occur, keep the client up to date

· Arrive 20-30min prior to start time to set up

· Come with a positive attitude

· Keep work area clean and neat

· Use proper sanitation methods for hand washing and bush cleaning

· Never let the client see you sweat!!!

These things and more help me to be more marketable to future clients. I have already been referred to others by previous clients, so the method works! Yet, I have still so much to learn.

My goal is to make my MUA career, a full time career. I want clients to seek me out not only because I make them beautiful on the outside, but also because I am a great business woman.

Share your thoughts!

Until next time….

**Smooches**

Monday, September 16, 2013

What kinda "Artist" are you?

Hello again!

Being a Make-Up artist is my passion! I have finally found the career I want to wake up to everyday. Not many people get to realize their dreams and actually live them. So now, on to the more complex issue, what kind of Make-Up Artist do I want to be?

Do I want to be a "Beat Face" Artist? This is the most popular type of MUA in the public now. It is the very creative, bold, outgoing artists who aren’t afraid to take risk. I worry though; will this type of artistry transcend time? Will this type of artistry be relevant in 10 years?

(@beatfacehoney on IG. I absolutely love her work)

Maybe I want to be a "Bridal" Artist. This type of artistry is very soft, pretty, classic makeup that will look beautiful for years to come. But is it too safe? Will it test my creative abilities?

I have always loved the "Editorial" Artist. Now this is the HIGH fashion, totally out the box, inventive artist. I could start trends, be featured in fashion magazines or runway shows. But am I THAT creative? Could I step outside of what I know to explore the unexplored?

I DO NOT KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And that's ok. We as beginning MUA's can explore our many options and chose which lane we want to be in, or chose not to be in a lane at all. I am so excited to try different artistry avenues and figure out what my niche will be.

One thing I know for sure, I will not be a one lane artist. I want to dibble and dab in many different things and be amazing at them all. So for now, I will PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

Where do you want to fit in with the MUA world? Do you want to fit in?

Talk to me!

Till next time.... *SMOOCHES*

(None of these pictures are my work, you probably knew that, but just for the record.)

Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Do's and Don'ts: Eyebrow Edition

Hello there!

Today I want to talk a bit about your eyebrows! More specifically, what the correct and incorrect strategies there are to sculpting your brows.

Shaping the brows has been the hardest thing for me to grasp, but I have learned a lot, and wanted to share some of that knowledge with you!

Lets start with my top 2 DON'Ts!

1. NEVER USE BLACK!!!!!!!!!! This is a common misconception when filling brows. Black is WAY too harsh, and never compliments any brow. Always use a shade of brown, depending on your natural hair color.

2. EASE UP ON THE CONCEALER! Yes, concealer does help to shape brows when you are in between waxing/tweezing but you have to BLEND! Use a concealer one shade lighter than your complexion, then use a concealer that is your natural shade to blend into your eyelid.

Now onto the DO's!

1. Always follow the natural shape of your eyebrows. Your eyebrows were created to fit your face, changing that change the whole shape of your face.

2. Use a wax pencil, this helps keep the brow in place all day and also helps you keep the true shape of your brow.

Your brows can make or break your face. Make sure you take good care of them!!

Hope this helps!! Any questions? Leave a comment!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Photo Shoot Ready

Hello Good People!

I just couldn't go on with life without giving you all the sneaky details of my WONDERFUL photo shoot!

First off, I have to thank the photographer, LaVan Anderson, for thinking me and allowing me to shoot with him. He is an AWESOME person and amazing talent. THANKS LAVAN!!!!!!(@everydaylavan on IG).

On another note, MODELING IS SO HARD! Besides my iPhone selfie shots and middle school girl pose, I am not very creative coming up with poses. I have to tip my hat to all the models out there, you don't have to worry about this girl taking any of your jobs :)

Now on to the juicy stuff....MAKEUP!

Here is the look I created close up.