YB Skin's Moulin Rouge Debuts August 1st

Hi beauty lovers! Today I bring you a brand-new, not-yet-released product by Youngblood Cosmetics. Debuting August 1st, Youngblood presents the Parisian-inspired Moulin Rouge eye shadow quad. Moulin Rouge features three nudes and a gorgeous burnt orange. Can-Can is a caramel peach and a great "in-between" shade that works well in the crease and for blending the other colors together. Revue is a brightening shell shade, great for the brow bone, inner corners and lid. Cabarets is a dark chocolate with a hint of red shimmer (heart stopper!). Red Light is that show-stopping, matte orange-red.

These eye shadows are made with finely milled, pressed minerals that sweep on like silk and last for hours. I love using them with my Urban Decay Eye Primer. Don't be intimidated by this palette, this is  actually a pretty tame quad. I amped up the look with the Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo in Fierce underneath (to give it that pop of orange). 

WATCH THE TUTORIAL BELOW

Moulin Rouge will go on sale August 1st on www.YBskin.com

Perfect Moment Photography- New Venture Featuring Baby Nordquist

Hi everyone! I'm pleased to announce that I have teamed up with my good friend and photographer Demecio Sandoval to bring to you Perfect Moment Photography. PMP consists of myself and Demecio, and our specialty is family portraits and maternity paintings. I get you primped and pretty, and Demecio snaps the shots!

Our first client, is the lovely Tessa, my yoga instructor. I had missed yoga for a few months and when I went back to class in May, I noticed her cute little bump and was delighted. She has got to be the tiniest preggo I've ever met. You gotta see her in class too- she can balance on one leg and even still do the downward dog with baby Nordquist! It's really inspiring to watch her do the poses that my non-pregnant self still has trouble with.

Here she is at seven months with their baby girl :)

Photo courtesy of DS Photography

It took about an hour to complete the design on Tessa's belly. Tessa requested a "yogic" theme, so we chose a pink lotus, with the celestial moon and sun double-face in the center. 

I always start my designs by looking up inspirational photos on the internet, then I make a sketch. After the client approves, I follow my sketch and inspirational photos to create the design.

Photo courtesy of DS Photography

Here's Tessa and her awesome husband and baby daddy, Adam. 

Photo courtesy of DS Photography

How cute is this shot?!

Photo courtesy of DS Photography

 I love their rings

Photo courtesy of DS Photography

Doing what she does best

Photo courtesy of DS Photography

If you or someone you know is interested in taking maternity shots, please contact me at Christine.Guederian@gmail.com. I work with a fabulous photographer, Demecio Sandoval, and we can always work within your budget. Capture this special time in you and your baby's life with Perfect Moment Photography!

Pet Peeve: Empty Eyebrows

It has recently come to my attention that the every day person isn't always educated in filling in their eyebrows. One of my pet peeves as a makeup artist is seeing someone rocking beautiful eye makeup with empty eyebrows. It's like curling your hair and then putting it in a bun: what's the point? I can't tell you how often I see this happen, to innocent bystanders everywhere. If I'm out at a bar, I'll spot a sexy smoky eye on the bartender, followed by her sparse, half-plucked-off eyebrows. It's just such a disappointment. I'll be at the grocery store and take note of the stay-at-home mom with awesome winged eyeliner....and her misshapen eyebrows.

Hello! Where are your brows?!

Lesson 1: Complete the Look. 

Eyebrows frame the face and set the tone for your makeup. My advice is to start with your eye makeup first, then fill in your eyebrows accordingly. Are you wearing a smoky eye? Better make those eyebrows a little stronger than you would normally do. Going with a basic vanilla shade? Lightly dust your angle brush through your brows with a shadow one shade lighter than your natural hair color. 

Lesson 2: Full Eyebrows Need Love Too

Just because you have full eyebrows doesn't mean you shouldn't fill them in. I have the thickest, hairiest eyebrows on the planet and I still fill them in with some eyeshadow and Makeup For Ever's corrector. Why? Because even the fullest brows can be thinning at the ends or missing hairs in the front. Also, filling in your eyebrows will help them stand out in photos. Have you ever noticed that your brows disappear in your Facebook photos? That's because the flash is reflecting off of your skin underneath. Filling in your eyebrows will help the flash bounce off the darker color and will show up on film. 

Don't even ask me where I got this photo....poor thing.

Sunscreen and You

Hi beauty lovers! Since we are smack-dab in the middle of summer, I thought it might be a good idea to post a sunscreen education refresher. Here is a list of things you may not know about sunscreen that I've compiled.

FACTS

1. Makeup with SPF isn't enough to protect your skin. 

While it's great that you chose a foundation with SPF 15, that's no where near enough to protect your skin. Consider it a supplement; you still need the real deal underneath. You would need at least a teaspoon of your foundation on your face (way too much) for the SPF to actually work. Pick an oil-free SPF formulated for the face at around SPF 35 or higher. Slather this on, apply a face primer to keep it from sliding, then end with your foundation or powder. 

2. Reapply every two hours

While it's difficult to do this on the face after you have applied makeup, this rule of thumb still applies to your body. How many times have you gone to Vegas, applied sunblock once at noon and sat at the pool til 6:00pm? Think your SPF was working that whole time? Think again. Oh, and please stick to high SPF. Trust me, you will still get a tan.

3. Sunscreen is a must even if you don't work outside.

If you notice more freckles on the left side of your face, it's because UV rays are penetrating your driver's side window. Just because it's cloudy (UV rays are still out and about), or you are technically "indoors" doesn't mean you are protected. Sunscreen please! 

4. The difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens.

Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s UV rays; mineral sunscreens block those rays. Both are FDA-approved. I prefer chemical because it stays on better under makeup, but it's really up to each and every one of you.

5. Sunscreens do expire.

According to many dermatologists, sunscreens should be tossed after one year. If you have left your sunscreen out in your hot car, drawer etc, it can lose its effectiveness, and even worse, grow bacteria and fungus (sick!) A skin expert also informed me that the FDA now requires the expiration date to be on every container of sunscreen, so check your bottle for the date!

6. Even the darkest skin needs to wear sunscreen daily.

Dark skin contains more melanin which acts as a natural sunscreen, but it only provides the same protection as an SPF 15, which is basically useless. Skin cancer doesn't discriminate, so make sure you protect yourself with an SPF 35 or higher.

Lady C's Picks

Face

Water resistant, paraben free with both UVA & UVB protection, this Alba sunblock is my daily go-to.

This dry-touch sheer sunblock gives you heavy duty protection at SPF 70, great for outdoor activities and poolside.

Body

Hawaiian Tropic is well-known and fantastic. They even have a line for sensitive skin!  Trust me, even with an SPF 50, you will still tan.

DO NOT USE

Spray SPF cans are TERRIBLE for the environment! Half the bottle gets wasted spraying into the air and ruining our  ozone. The other half gets ingested into your lungs as you try to spray yourself or your kids. Just don't do it people.

Katy Perry's Summer Vamp look with YB Skin

Hi peeps! Sorry it took me so long to post, I just got back from my bachelorette weekend in Vegas and I'm less than two weeks away from being married. Needless to say, my mind is on complete overload and I'm scatter-brained for life. 

Anyways, has anyone seen the post-divorce look Katy Perry has been rocking? I'm in love with the purple hair and vampy makeup. She doesn't quite look goth, it's more teetering on the edge of "dark pinup." It's like the goth from high school grew up and got a job. Katy's face is a makeup artist's dream: big, round, blue eyes, long lashes, strong brows and smooth complexion. So anytime she does a new look, I basically die. 

What's special about this tutorial is that all the products I will be using are from Youngblood Cosmetics. I really love that this company was created by a dermatologist who cares enough to make all of her products cruelty-free and paraben-free. Why not highlight a brand whose products are harmless to animals and whose products are actually good for your skin, right?

Here's my take below:

This look was a very clean, simple eye with strong eye brows and a deep dark lip. 

Click the video below to watch the tutorial

YOUNGBLOOD PRODUCTS USED: 

Ultimate Concealer (medium)

Pressed Mineral Foundation (warm beige)

Crushed Mineral Blush (Rouge)

Eye Illuminating Duo

Crushed Mineral Eye Shadow (Alabaster)

Pressed Eyeshadow (Merlot)

Incredible Wear Gel Liner (Eclipse)

Brow Artiste (Dark)

Mineral Lengthening Mascara

Bistro Lipstick

You can find all these awesome products on www.YBSkin.com

Vivid MD Skincare- Satin Cleanser

Hi pretty girls, 

I'm back with another product review, and this time it's up-and-comer Vivid MD Skincare's Satin Cleanser. I came across Vivid MD Skincare while at a mixer for the Hair & Makeup Artists Network. Vivid was created by Hollywood makeup artist Kim Greene. According to the site, "Vivid MD Skincare are natural products that were developed under the direction of dermatologists, plastic surgeons, clinical estheticians, and make-up artists. It is a unique and effective line that repairs and renews damaged skin. All our products are paraben free and come in 100% recyclable packaging. It is enjoyed by both the medical industry and top celebrities." 

I have to say that the satin cleanser is very gentle and removes makeup and dirt from the skin with ease. Being of oily skin, I'm always wary of creamy textures in my cleansers, but this one left my skin feeling soft, not greasy. With ingredients like Rosemary, Chamomile and Seaweed extracts, this is great for sensitive skin. One thing to keep in mind is that because Vivid MD Skincare's products are all-natural, they do have a shelf life, and will go expire if you don't use them up right away. 

Satin Cleanser $25

I would absolutely buy the Satin Cleanser again. I'm also interested in their Purifying Whipped Cleanser, which doubles up as shaving cream for me and women, while also cleaning your skin. I did have a chance to try a sample of  the Perfection C Serum, but to be honest with you, the smell was too much for me. It's a super strong orange-y scent, and unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of citrus or even perfume for that matter. I guess I can blame it on my allergies.