Here's a sneak peek of some of the photos from a recent shoot with Nadia. The theme of the shoot was "In Bloom" - just in time for spring! Be sure to enjoy the nice weather we'll be having this weekend in Toronto, and I'll have more pics of the shoot on www.artistrhi.com shortly!!

The frequent posts have dwindled as of late, as my schedule has been amazingly stacked! Weddings, photoshoots, new products - tons of things to update here on the blog (just have to find the time to do it all!) I'm also taking a class in airbrushing and I can't wait to officially add it to the repertoire of services. The effects are amazing, and I know many of my clients have been inquiring about it.

For those of you inquiring (particularly my make-up artist readers), I'll post pics of the ZUCA MAC bag with all my stuff in it by early next week. The case is so handy and definitely worth the investment! But, of course, you can decide for yourself once you read the review :)

Lastly, I recently uploaded a new album to the artisthi Facebook group that gives a glimpse of the amazing people and all the fun stuff that goes on behind the scenes (along with further proof why I should remain behind the camera at all times ;) ) Enjoy!

Photo at right courtesy of Issha Marie

Here are the before and after pics of a bridal trial with the lovely Amanda. Amanda wanted to play up more of a glam bride look, so we focused on a bold eye look paired with neutral lips to balance out the stronger eye make-up. The results were gorgeous - just like Amanda!

Q: Hi Rhia, I know this may sound silly that I don’t know this, but how often should I be washing my brushes?

A: Hardly a silly question (and the topic is totally in tune with yesterday’s post about spring cleaning!)! I actually get asked this question pretty frequently by clients. Quality brushes are quite the investment, and the problem is that many women aren’t taught how to maintain them properly…and not taking care of them properly can translate into the brushes not lasting as long as they should!

To clean your brushes, use a gentle brush shampoo* and massage it into the bristles to cleanse it throughly. Rinse well to clear the bristles of all shampoo suds. Blot the brush a couple of times on a papertowel to get rid of excess water and sculpt the brush back into shape. Hang over a counter and let air dry overnight.

*Instead of a brush shampoo, you can swap hair shampoo and even dish detergent (international celebrity make-up artist Laura Mercier does this!) to cleanse your brushes.

In terms of frequency for washing brushes, you’ll notice how brushes work and apply better the more you clean them. But let’s be realistic - in the life of the everyday woman, amongst your tall list of things to do daily, brush washing likely isn’t one of your top 10. As a general rule of thumb, you can wash the brushes you use for powders and eyeshadows after multiple uses (I would say at most after every 3 uses, but even that's pushing it!). For cream and liquid make-up products (such as concealers and foudations), you should ideally clean these everyday (or after each use). Again, the more often you clean your brushes, the better the results will be for your make-up application.

Keep these tips in mind to help ensure your quality brushes make you and your make-up look good – for a long time!

Each time a new season rolls around, it’s a great time to filter through your make-up kit to see which items need tossing and replacement. Many of us are guilty for holding onto make-up products past their prime. But for the sake of being sanitary and good to your skin, a little due diligence when it comes to cleaning out your kit is essential. Besides, any excuse to go make-up shopping always works for me!

Here are some telltale signs that your make-up kit is in need of a spring make-over:

1. products start smelling funky
i.e. mascara – Once opened, mascara has a life span of approximately 3 to 4 months. You’ll notice a funky smell once it starts going bad and the formula will be more prone to clumping. Toss.

2. products don’t glide on in the same manner they use to
i.e. powder eyeshadows – If you’re digging away at that eyeshadow and find the pigment just isn’t as potent as it used to be, it’s likely time to replace! Your eyelids will thank you once you start applying that new, creamy eyeshadow that just glides without having to pull at the delicate eye area !

3. liquid products have separated
i.e. foundations – No amount of shaking can get rid of that orange tinge that happens when your foundation has been kicking around for too long. Be good to your skin, and replace your foundation every 18-24 months (or sooner if it looks like it’s separating!).

4. you haven’t bought anything new in a couple of years
No-brainer. Go treat yourself to a fresh new look and properly ring in spring!

For more info on when it’s time to toss, see this post here. Happy Spring Cleaning!

ARTIST TIP: Waaait - don’t throw out everything just yet! Hold on to any MAC containers for the Back to MAC recycling program, where you can get a free lipstick (or equivalent) for recycling your old purchases!