Q: Do I apply eyeliner before or after eyeshadow? Before or after mascara?

A: The answer to this is easy....do both! I apply eyeliner as my first step and as my last step always...and here's my rationale (you can decide if it's actually rational):

1. Applying eyeliner first lets me get as tight to the lashes as possible, without having to worry about smudges that may imprint and ruin other make-up I have applied. If it smudges at the beginning of my routine - then no biggie - I can target the smudge and easily remove with a q-tip.

2. Applying eyeliner at the very end of your eye make-up routine gives the look a fresh and professional polish. When you apply it at the end, you can refine the line and fill in any gaps where the application of your eyeshadow/mascara you applied may have dulled it.

At the end of the day, the answer to this question is a really a matter of personal preference! If you only have so much time and prefer to apply eyeliner a maximum of one-time, apply it at the very end for a stronger look. If you prefer a less-is-more make-up approach, use a pencil liner first and then blend it with your eyeshadow to lightly define the eyes. If you like working with liquid liner, apply it as a last step always to preserve its intensity. (If you apply liquid liner first, make-up that gets applied over top of it tends to dull its intensity or cause breaks in your line! Always apply liquid liner last and spare yourself the grief!)

Whichever method you choose, you want the line to be continuous and smooth for a professional finish! Hope that helps!

...and so it begins!!

WEDDING SEASON!

Many thanks to beautiful bride Mary and her stunning bridal party (some of whom are pictured above) for an absolutely fun-filled morning!! Gracious people like you guys are why I do what I do...and why I love it so much! Thank you, and of course, congratulations Mary!

Looking forward to more Big Days with my brides this year and in 2011! :)

Click the pics above to see more from Mary's Big Day Prep!

Hey folks!! It's been a while! What better way to get back into things than to post some pics of what I've been up to.

This past weekend I worked on a beauty-focused shoot with the lovely Nadia Cheema. Last time we did a shoot together was way back in November, so needless to say I was excited to get back to the studio with her! The snaps below come courtesy of our wonderfully talented hair stylist for the shoot, Carlos, of Spellbound Hair Design at First Markham Place. It was great to finally meet Carlos and he didn't disappoint; he did an amazing job for our shoot this weekend, and of course, made it all look so easy! (Damn him - cue Rhia for hair skill envy!!!)

Allana from ICON (before)

...getting there

va-va-voom! Allanna's after :)

Sarah (ICON) getting primped and pouffed

can you see the Katie Holmes resemblance? Big Hair is awesome by the way!! :)

where I should be...behind the camera!

beauty!!

the uber-talented Carlos of Spellbound Hair Design and I!

I'll be posting the final pics from the day as soon as I can...stay tuned! :)

Attention brides-to-be!

If you're still on the look-out for a make-up artist and/or hairstylist for your Big Day, here are some more tips on how to prep (and make the most!) of your trials to ultimately pick who (or what's) best for you!

1. Trials. Do them.
It's always best to go for a consultation with your prospective artist. After you've deduced your choices from viewing portfolios and/or sorting out referrals from trusted sources, you'll want to meet with the person you'll be entrusting your Big Day look to. You'll be working with them closely on such an important day as your Wedding, so it's essential to make sure you're comfortable with them! The prospective artist should be listening to what your preferences are and should also be making the effort to build rapport with you.

2. Look through magazines and bring pictures with you.
Start thinking of looks. A make-up artist is not a mind reader (I wish!), so having a good sense of what you want will help your artist produce that look for you.

Choose from looks in magazines, on the Web, or what drew you to your Artist's portfolio. Show what you love and even show what you hate to your make-up artist! Pictures (versus words) will better convey what look you're after. I always remind my clients to remember to be realistic about skin tones and eye shapes when choosing pictures and looks! In the end, you'll get better results when you can predict outcomes.

3. Wear white (or off-white, depending on what your wedding dress colour is).
Lighter colours reflect light off the face and make it appear brighter, which in turn can affect how your make-up appears. Wearing a colour that mimics your wedding dress will help you see what amount of make-up you feel best in ...and if that dramatic smoky eye look may feel like too much make-up when paired with your white dress!

4. Take pictures and evaluate the make-up in different lighting.
Flash photography tends to wash out colour. Be sure the make-up still has impact (and that you like how it looks) in both natural and artificial light. See Mary's example below:

Mary's before - natural light:

Mary's after - in natural light:

Mary's after - with camera flash:
5. Invite one to two trusted people to sit in on the trial.
Opinions from others you trust can help with your decision, but too many opinions can also lead to confusion and stress. Limit your audience to a couple of people you trust, but have an idea of what you want too!

6. Schedule your hair trial on the same day. If possible, schedule a dress fitting on the same day.
There's nothing like putting the look all together that can lead to one of those 'a-ha' moments! Pairing the finished make-up and hair with a dress fitting will help you visualize if all the pieces fit well together, or if it's back to the drawing board!

..that is why they're called 'trials' after all!

Good luck and hope this helps!

Check out the wnetwork.com for my latest Q&A on eyeshadow! In the post, you'll find tips on how to work the mono eyeshadow look, which is a huge trend for Spring 2010 make-up (especially in jeweled tones and candy colours)!

Enjoy :)

To see previous Q&A's or to submit your own question, click here.