Q: I took a look at the MAC Zuca case the other day in store and it seemed to look smaller then I thought, can it really hold a lot? I have a ton of stuff and really need to update my kit to something thats plane friendly, organizes and holds alot. Does the ZUCA pro seem like a better case? I'm debating whether or not to buy the MAC sport zuca at the store or the online ZUCA Pro.

A: For the ZUCA bag, the dimensions are the same. It's the same bag re-branded for MAC, and comes with clear-topped containers that really help with organization and accessibility to your make-up items. I do carry an extra set bag when I use the ZUCA bag, but it pretty much fits all the make-up I need. The containers can be filled to the brim and then zipped shut, which you can't always do with the trays of some other kits. To be plane friendly, a bag also has to fit certain dimensions, and the internal organization of the ZUCA bag is a great way to maximize its space.

If you decide to go with the ZUCA Pro off the site, it does come with plush containers as well, but from what I understand the tops aren’t transparent. It's totally up to you which one you go with but I believe the ZUCA Pro is on back-order right now, and the one through MAC immediately sold out on the MAC Pro site from what I hear from other bloggers. Keep in mind the duty taxes you'll have to pay if you're ordering online from zuca.com since we're in Canada. That played a huge factor in the ZUCA case I got as I've been researching since November. I'm glad I held out - the ZUCA MAC bag totally fits my needs!

For all the lovely brides-to-be out there, you can now also find artistrhi Wedding Make-up Tips on Toronto photographer Cliff Spicer's site (see below for a screen cap)! I actually have yet to work with Cliff, so it's really quite an honour that he is featuring some of my stuff on his own site/blog. Cliff is a talent behind the lens AND he also goes that extra step of acting as a source of knowledge for inquiring couples that are prepping for the Big Day. Awesome.

Thanks Cliff for letting me share the tips with your readers! Hope we catch each other this wedding season :)

screen cap courtesy of www.cliffspicer.com

You can never go wrong doing pretty make-up on gorgeous models, but with "creatives", it's always fun to push your own boundaries and step outside conventional beauty looks. I had a great opportunity to do just that during a creative this past weekend with the talented Jennifer Mong behind the lens and our gorgeous model Fizza as the subject. Yes, it's difficult to make Fizza look bad, but I absolutely loved how she worked the make-up, even though a couple of the looks were outside her own comfort zone. We did a set of three looks each with a darker theme. My fave by far is the second photo where I covered up the tips of the brows; I can't wait to play around more with this technique in upcoming creatives (it must be the indirect influence of RuPaul's Drag Race!). This covered brow look was actually the final look of the day and Fizza-- ever the good sport--wore it home! I wonder what her husband said... ;)

Welcome to the Dark Side...enjoy!

Check out the gorgeous results from a recent creative done with the talented Miss Cheema and her beautiful friend, Jess. Good laughs and great photos with these ladies! Thankfully no one had a camera to catch me behind the scenes with my delayed reaction, as I dropped the fan (that we were using for a wind-blown hair look) and then watched in horror as it danced across the floor. Yeah, you had to be there, but my sides were aching so much from all the laughing that was going on that day! Thanks ladies for letting me take part!

See the original post on Toronto Wedding Professionals - your e-source for all things wedding!

Aside from applying foundation on your Wedding Day, an important part of putting your best face forward actually involves a little concealing. Using a quality concealer can help to eliminate the appearance of those little “problem” areas (like blemishes and undereye circles) that tend to stand out on camera. Foundation helps to balance out the skin overall, but if you’re like me, you need something a little more heavy duty to address the areas of concern! Enter concealer.

Just to make it easy on us, concealer (just like foundation) comes in different forms. The most common are a liquid concealer and a thicker concealer with a putty-like consistency. The best concealer texture for you will depend on the area you’re trying to cover up.

Covering up Under the Eyes
For underye circles, a creamy liquid concealer works best; it covers up the area without producing a cakey finish. Use concealer sparingly underneath the eye - too much concealer on this area of the face can draw negative attention to the undereye area, which completely defeats the purpose of the product you’re applying! If you have darker undereye circles, I would recommend first applying a pink or peach toned concealer to initially brighten the undereye area. Follow with your skin tone matching concealer for a flawless even-toned finish.

Camouflaging Blemishes
A liquid-based concealer will have too much “slip” to adhere to the oily surface of a blemish; a thicker cream-based concealer will have the right amount of stick to build up coverage that lasts. To conceal blemishes, choose a colour that matches your skin tone exactlly or one that is just a shade darker than your own tone. A darker shaded concealer helps create the illusion that the raised area of a blemish is receding – just be sure to blend into your foundation well so that the effect is seamless!

Powder And Go
Set your concealer application with powder. Under the eyes, use only a light veil of powder to avoid a cakey build-up. On concealed blemishes, you can apply powder more liberally, but blend edges well so that it diffuses into the skin. Once the skin is perfected, remember the rest of the make-up is like icing on the cake - great make-up always starts with this clean canvas!

To see more on concealer:
BEAUTY 101 | Basics of Concealer
PRODUCT REVIEW | Concealer is a Girl's Best Friend

More make-up tips to come!

Rhia Amio, Toronto Make-up Artist
web: http://www.artistrhi.com
blog: http://artistrhi.blogspot.com
email: rhia@artistrhi.com