My Baby Sister

Just got married this past Sunday. Doesn't she look like a movie star?

Studio B

On a fairly regular basis I get called in to do makeup at Studio B Portraits. Studio B is a portrait studio in the heart of downtown Issaquah that specializes in family, senior professional photos. Owner Brooke Clarke has a great eye and an incredible ability to make all her clients feel so comfortable that her photos come out winning every time.

Check her out! www.studiobportraits.com

Getting personal: My "Basic Face"

Picture this: I'm with my toddler at the market, park, coffee shop or library. Hair in a pony tail, day old jeans, my favorite ratty clogs that my best friend hates, t-shirt covered in cracker crumbs, dirt, yogurt, whatever else and someone asks, "What do you do?" Gulp.

Without a stitch of makeup on my face I blush and mumble, "I'm a makeup artist". This, my friends, has happened more than once.

So, having learned to either lie by omission or find five minutes in my morning to make myself presentable I pick the latter (on most days).

Here I share with you my five minute"basic face". When I'm done I feel not only bright, pretty and ready to face the day but ready to face the question, "What do you do?" and answer with a glossy smile.

1. Tinted moisturizer. Stila Sheer Color or Laura Mercier Illuminating T.M. On particularly rosy days I'll work in a drop of Stila Perfecting concealer for added coverage.

2. Eyebrows (shhhh, don't tell). I overtweezed as a youngster despite my mother's warnings. She was right. They don't grow back. I love the Youngblood Brow Set. It has it all in a teeny-tiny package.

3. Blush. If I didn't have to draw on my eyebrows every day I would say that my one must-have product is blush. Most days I use Stila Convertible Color. I have them all and I love them all. But Gerbera is my favorite.

4. Eyeshadow. Light, shimmering, peachy, pinky, or coppery nude from lash to brow. Followed by generous amounts of mascara. MAC Prolash or Stila Glamoureyes are my faves.

5. Lips. More often than not I put my lips on in the car or at the front door on my way out. My current obsessions are Stila Longwear Lip Color in "Outrageous", Lip Glaze in "Tangerine" or Smashbox "Pixel" Lipgloss.

Myth: I can't wear red lipstick

Have you ever thought, "I can't wear red lipstick"?

Hold the phone! Contrary to popular belief, red lipstick is the most universally flattering product out there. The problem is that there are five billion shades, textures and weights to choose from.

My personal favorites all lean toward to true red option but I also enjoy an orangey red especially in the summer as well as a berry red for fall.

From top to bottom:

1. (Cream) YSL Le Rouge. So appropriately named. If you want to look like you belong on the set of MadMen (yes please!) this is your red.

2.(Matte)Stila Long Wear Lip Color in "Lover". My personal go-to. A little deeper than true red it has a little vamp and wears for hours without drying out your lips.

3. (Matte) Stila Long Wear Liquid in "Fiery". This product is super matte and super bright making it a little tricky to work with. I suggest you use a lip liner first and apply it with a small lip brush for a precise line. Once it's on there's no fuss. This is easily an 8 hour wear. No joke.

4. (Gloss) Korres cherry full color gloss. If the previous product scares you a little this one is for you. Oh so pretty Kool-aid lips that feel as good as they look. Throw it on for a soft, pretty, sunny splash of color.

5. (Gloss) Stila Lip Glaze in "Cranberry" is actually a little on the brick-red side. The perfect combination of color and shine it is great for someone not quite sure about the red thing yet.

Have you tried any of these? What did you think? What are your faves?

How do you do it?

I have been doing a lot of in-home makeup parties lately and it has been so much fun. Among the questions that come up there is always someone who asks about current trends and how to wear them. So, friends here is my first installment of "How do you do it?"

This look, inspired by Betty Davis era doe-eyed loveliness is a really simple way to make a big impact that's still wearable. Love it!

First apply a light shimmery shade from lash to brow with a large, soft brush. Second take a dark shade (gray, black, or brown depending on how dramatic you want it) on a small brush and make a clean line in the crease all the way across. (Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy and the like used eyeliner- so you're already doing it more "naturally" than they so there's little reason to blend unless you mess up.) Return to the lid (lash to crease) with the first shade on a small damp brush and really "pop" the color to give that nice, bright lid. Finish with eyeliner and loads of mascara top and bottom.

Tada!