Double the Fun! "This palette is all about that power of transformation.”—Davis Factor, Smashbox Founder and Photographer

As a product junkie, I have a ton of makeup and cosmetics products and countless shadows in my kit. One eye shadow palette by SmashBox really caught my interest. It is the Double Exposure eye shadow palette $52. It contains 14 beautiful colors full of rich color pigment. What is so special about this? These shadows have a coated pigment technology that creates different effects when water is added (which by the way won't disturb the texture of the shadow after it dries). When wet the shadow transforms color and or finishes; it can go from sheen to metallic or a soft beige to an awesome darker beige! When used with their 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer $20, the color becomes even more vibrant! I am really excited to do some of my clients makeup looks with this! The picture above demonstrates the shadow dry and wet and for what I see that navy will be a popular smokey for me.

Salon Insta-Gel Strips Starter Kit by Sally Hansen

I am part of the mailing list for Allure Beauty Enthusiasts! It is great because you get daily emails about beauty products. They mailed me a Salon Insta-Gel Strips Starter Kit by Sally Hansen. I was super excited when I found out I was going to get it. I waited and waited but it never arrived at my house. When I applied to be a member with Allure I was living in Brooklyn with my parents. So the packaged was sent to their house. I was to suppose to give a quick review on it after 2 weeks (March), but things happen. My little sister ended up trying it out and told me it was horrible. I went over to try it. There were directions with it that scared me. Anyone who knows me knows that I detest reading directions. I ended up logging on and watching a video (http://prod2.sallyhansen.com/beauty-tips/how-videos/salon-insta-gel-strips-application). The video was super informative and the girl made it look easy. I tried and it and was amazed on how easy it was. I had tried things like this before from Sephora where you do not paint your nail, you simply use a sticker and voila your nails are done. The Sally Hansen was way easier and looked better then Sephora, but two days later it was chipping. On the third day I had nothing on my nails. Another disadvantage is that the stickers were either too big or small for my nails. After you place the nail sticker on, a clear gel nail polished is placed and then you would stick your finger under their little UV light contraption for 30 seconds. That was really cool and I felt like a nail technician. Unfortunately, the look did not last long and that was disappointing. Another bad part was the drying time. After nearly a half hour, my nails were not dry and things around the house like lent was sticking on it. I love love Sally Hansen products, but this is not one of them!

SHE USA Hair Extensions

With over 500 exhibitors, SHE USA extensions definitely made an impression to me at the International Beauty Show. Their selection seems to be so extensive-from having one of the longest extensions at 29 inches and 4 different tones of gray hair to choose from (from what I hear is hard to find). SHE also offers a complete line of wild hair color options and hair ornamentation which can consist of strands of crystals and/or feathers. This is very cutting edge and innovative! The latest addition to the line is the Ombre (shatush) hair extensions (lighter at the ends with darker tones closer to the root) with over 10 new shades in clip-ins, ponytails, wefts, or strand-by-strand. SHE is the market leader in the production of natural hair. They maintain that they have the largest selection of hair types and hair color- more than 90 shades of hair color available in three textures straight, wavy, and curly. The extensions are all developed in Italy by a team of experts- chemist, engineers, and hair extensionists. It is 100% European type human hair that is pre-bonded with 100% keratin tips. Nicholas French, the Creative Director for SHE USA believes this product is special because you can add volume, length, hair color/highlights all without adding any chemicals to the hair! SHE USA extensions also fights against Breast Cancer with Pink Hair for Hope. For the consecutive 7th year SHE continues to support The American Cancer Society by donating a pink hair extension when a client donates $10 or more. The client can choose from different shades of pink hair from fuchsia to light pink and whether they would like a clip in or a professionally bonded hair extension. At The International Beauty Show a fuchsia pink hair extension was bonded in my hair as a demo. It was great to see women lined up to get this done and donate for the cause. SHE has been able to raise over $2.5 million dollars for many non-profit organizations. This movement has helped raised money and awareness for breast cancer research and gives back to women who has undergone chemo and are now in remission. “Throughout the past seven years, the campaign has grown significantly and we are thrilled to be able to help fight this disease, while making women feel beautiful,” said Ron Cardillo, Sr., President of SHE USA. Visit www.socapusa.com to learn more! SHE USA extensions are also available in 10,000 salons across the US. For participating salons call 877-855-4247. To also find a participating Pink Hair for Hope salon near you, visit www.PinkHairForHope.org.

What Happens in October Accessory Line

I met JaTawny M. Chatmon at the International Beauty Show and I instantly fell in love-with her accessories that is. Her hand pieces were very creative and unique. I purchased the star fish earrings for my daughter, Brianna’s, little mermaid birthday party. I was looking for something for the occasion, but no one had these earrings I had envisioned until this day. “People love our Knobby Starfish rings,” said Chatmon. This their best seller! The name of the line is What Happens in October. Chatmon will launch her site May 18th (same day as my baby’s bday), www.whathappensinoctober.com. Currently she is on etsy, www.whathappensinoctober.etsy.com. Her target audience she said are Gypsies, Unicorns & Mermaids. Chatmon gets her inspiration from life, Earth, nature, and God. “I have always loved to create things,” said Chatmon. “I am a collector of beautiful, gypsy, vintage things. One day I decided to fuse everything together. The line is pretty awesome,” said Chatmon with a smile on her face.

The International Beauty Show New York & The International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference New York

The International Beauty Show New York (IBS New York) (the longest running beauty show in the nation) & The International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference New York (IECSC) 2013 trade show was held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center April 14th- 16th. The show is for beauty professionals only and is not open to the general public. The IBS show’s main objective is to educate and that was quite evident. Everywhere you turned there was someone mic’d up and demonstrating either a haircut, highlighting, or putting on extensions. This show featured hair, skin, nails, and some makeup. There were rooms for free seminars set up. Yahayra Dejesus, who attends the show every year, liked the show very much! “I go every year to get educated with new hair styles, cuts, color, hair extensions, and hair products. I also learned new ways to make my business grow. I like to keep myself up to date with hair/ nails/ makeup, said Dejesus. However not everyone shared in Dejesus’s enthusiasm. Mary Kay Thomas, owner of Mary Kay Thomas Beauty Salon, felt disappointed with the seminars. “There was so much noise no one can hear the class. All we heard was the class next to us. Although, the main stage seminars were great,” said Thomas. The show was also comprised of the best classes and workshops. Makeup Forever Academy New York offers full time intensive courses for the serious artist, but first there is a competitive application process where they decide if you are a perfect fit for the school. The Makeup Forever Academy is located at 853 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY 10003 Academy@makeupforeverusa.com. If you are interested in learning about Beauty &Fashion makeup, TV & Film Makeup, and Stage makeup this school is perfect for you. Another educational workshop created by Enrique Martinez, founder of Projectedge.me and CreativeEggProject.com, offers beauty workshops. It is a makeup 101 for artists looking to bring their artistry to another level. This “hands on” work shop has a maximum of 12 attendees. It is taught by Adrienne Vasquez, a makeup guru, who perfected all the makeup looks for the IBS Shows. Vasquez has taught students throughout the United States and abroad. These classes are meant to elevate artists and prepare them for a professional career. Martinez’s workshops also help makeup artists develop a presentable portfolio with photographer Bryan Taylor Johnson. Johnson has shot numerous editorials, magazine publications and covers including: Italian Vogue, Fashinisto, Bleu, Bread, Exalta, Obvious, Ammo, and OhLaLa Magazine and etc... Martinez says that his company is one of a kind. “We package makeup artists as professionals.” On April 28th Sunday & April 29th Monday, Project Edge presents Makeup 101, “designed for novices and professionals alike to be equipped with the essential knowledge and proven components of the beauty industry.” These classes are $325, but if you went to the show it is reduced to $75 (please comment below if you want this $75 offer, I have coupons to give to my subscribers). Attending these shows keep us beauty professionals abreast of the latest trends in the industry, it is a great way to network, and it is a great way to stay two steps ahead of the game by taking advantage of the free seminars! So see you guys there next year: New York 2014: March 9-11!

Sephora Times Square Grand Reveal: Beauty Transformed!

After 8 months of renovation, Sephora Times Square has been transformed! The store is all about digital beauty and technology. The newly renovated beauty playground for adults now has the skin care IQ, that tells you your best skin care routine through your skin type and concern, fragrance sensorium often referred to as the flight bar, where clients can discover their signature scent through scent impressions (chic, playful, addictive, or casual scents), the beauty studio has Ipads where you can choose the look you want the artists to recreate, a beautiful nail studio with tutorial screens all around that shows you how to get a nail design, and lots more. All of these are going to be staples in the Sephora realm here in Times Square, the flagship store in North America. This latest transformation affects all aspects of the Sephora retail experience, from updated store designs, mobile registers to make shopping easier, broader product selection, to in-store event space and innovative services.

Today, December 5th 2012 marked the first day (activities will take place until the 8th) of the Grand Reveal of the revamped Sephora Store. Rose Byrne (of Bridesmaids fame) kicked off the festivities by making an appearance and cutting the ribbon. Next, the very energetic Sephora cast performed a choreographed flash mob dance to a “We Will Rock You Remix.” This grand reveal was nothing short of spectacular, from a juggler to the woman on stilts in front of the store, the excitement did not stopped. A professional team of dancers also graced the Times Square sidewalks as the DJ blasted the tunes from inside the store.

As if all this was not exciting enough, the first 100 clients got a mystery gift card ranging from $5-$100! Beauty Junkies lined up from 5am in hopes of getting that 100 dollar card. #81 on the line was one of the many who hit that jack pot with the highest ranging gift card! She said, “I will come in every morning to win more gift cards.” For the remainder of the week, the first 100 clients will continue to win a gift card. How bad do you want that makeup money?

Exciting events took place in every corner of the store. Celebrity photographer, Steven Khan, was in the house giving mini photo shoots to clients who spend $75 in Smashbox products. Bumble and Bumbled gave free hair styles with one product purchase. Philosophy skin care reps took technology to another level with their skin imaging analysis, which can tell you where you have sun damage/age spots under the skin where it is not yet visible. Finally, Atelier Colognes were engraving with a purchased—talk about a beautiful personalized gift! The fun doesn’t end today. I call all beauty gurus, makeup messiahs, makeup junkies—go and get your fix for the remainder of the grand unveiling. Check out this link for the activities for the rest of the week: http://www.sephora.com/manhattan?om_mmc=ret-us%2Bnews1%2B20121204%2Btimesquare%2Bnyc-he-tsreveal&emtc=us%2Bnews1%2B20121204%2Btimesquare%2Bnyc&ematg=93143359&dcid=511786:23145121446:35863838

Correcting two eye shapes

1. Brush your light shade first from the inner corner to middle of upper lid, from lashes to browline.

2. Use darker eyeshadow shade from lashes to browbone. Stroke this deep shade from the outer third of the lid to extend just beyond the eye's edge. BLEND WELL!

3.Brush a little highlighter on the browbone.

4.Line both the top and bottom of your lids with a dark eye liner keeping the thickest portions of the line on the outer corners and creating a thinning line as it gets closer to the center.

5.Stop the liner about a quarter to a third of the way from the inner corner of your eye lid. You do not want to add any darkness towards the center of your face, since this causes the area between your close set eyes to look smaller.

6. Apply more mascara at the outer corner of the eye.

You have to create an illusion that the eyes are look further apart.

Bonus eye Info:

Correcting Protruding or Bulging eyes

The goal here is to recess the eyelid, from seemingly to protrude. Use a dark toned eye shadow and blend this over the eyelid, fading color away near eye socket. Apply eyeliner along top lid, and lightly smudge. On lower lid, draw eyeliner at outer corner only and smudge softly. Apply matte highlighter on brow line. Don’t use light or frosted colors on eyelid, as this will make eyes pop out further. With this eye shape, finish off with some navy or deep gray pencil on inner rims to help make the eyeballs appear smaller.
You can also just use a matte base and a combination of two eyeliners to define the eyes. In the picture above, black and purple are being used define Nicole Richie's eyes.

Enchance Small Eyes

Small Eye Makeup Tips:

*Start by applying white or beige eyeliner on the inner rim of the bottom lid (I love Tarte inner rim brightener $18). This adds to the appearance of the white of your eye so it seems larger and helps make the eye look less tired.

*Apply liner on the top lid starting where your iris begins and stop where your iris ends. When center in the center it opens up the eyes. Don't make this line too thick.

*Apply bottom eyeliner on the lash line from where your iris begins to the outer corner of your eye. Make the line fine with the thickest part being in the middle under your iris.

* Apply light eye shadow, curl lashes, and extend those lashes! Keep dark shadows on the outer part of the eye.

Asian Eyes Makeup

The monolid is to blame and is one of the most common complaints amongst Asian women. They tend to have one major problem when it comes to wearing any eyeshadow; creasing.

1. I like graduating asian eye makeup from your eyelash line to the eyebrow to help to give your eyes more depth. For this to look great, you should use the darkest shade along your eyelash line and merge this into lighter shades of color nearer your eyebrow.

2. Also I like to apply a neutral shimmery shade to the eye lids by using an eye shadow brush and gently tapping onto the lid. The neutral shimmer highlights the eyes to make it stand out. From my experience Urban Decay "Hot Pants" is a light pink shimmery color that clients love. Highlight the brow with concealer. Please do not use a super shimmery eyeshadow under the brows, this look is so dated!

3. Next, apply a dark pencil at the lash line and smudge it. If you combine a matching shadow over the liner it gives it a soft sultry look. Curl lashes and then place a few strokes of mascara. I learned that most people do 70 strokes per lashes! Next time you do mascara, please count it and tell me how many you did.

4. Depending on the eye, you can actually use your liner under the lash line and smudge that out too. Use a medium soft color where the crease is suppose to be if you want more definition.

Wide Set Eyes

Start at outer corner of eye with medium tone shadow . Set shape by angling slightly upward. Apply shadow color on entire eyelid as far as crease, blending outward. Blend medium-light toned shadow to brow bone ,and blend to center of lid. Do not extend shadow outward.

Blend darker color in corner of eye on lid , working softly along side of bridge of nose into fullest area of brow. Blend darker color from inner corner to center of eyelid, blending into medium shade that started from outer corner.

Hooded Eyes

Do you have hooded eyes, also known as "bedroom eyes"? How can you make it stand out?

-Draw an imaginary line from the lower lash line (outer corner) up to your brow. Keep your eyeshadow above this imaginary line. Putting shadow below this line can make your eyes appear more droopy. If it will make it easier use sticky tape and just peel it off when your done.

-Apply a light eye shadow on your lid.


-Apply a light color under your brow, on the brow bone. You can use the same color as you put on your lid. Although I do prefer to use concealer under the brow or an Anastasia highlighting pencil than eyeshadow under brows. Using the shimmery colors under the brow can look dated.

-Apply a medium shade in your crease. if you can't see a crease then draw a fake one where you think it should be. Do this looking straight into the mirror. you want to be able to see this medium color blending up towards your highlight color (under the brow). You want this color to go all the way across the crease. from the outer corner to the inner corner.

-Take a deeper shade and use it only in the outer corner of the eye. Again looking straight in the mirror, so that when you open your eyes you can actually see the color. If applying eye liner use a thin line on top and use eyeshadow underneath your eyes.

*Optional: Use an eyelash curler to make the eyes pop even more and use a combination of mascaras. Concentrate more mascara in the center of the eye to open up the eyes. Right now, I am in love with Clinique High Length Mascara!

Deep Set eyes

Keep it light and shimmery:

1. Use a highlight shade to the eyelid and the crease. This will lighten that area and help bring the eye forward.

2. Use a midtone shade just above the crease and up towards the brow bone. This darker color will help push the prominent brow bone back.

3. Use a contour shade, usually the darkest color, on the outer corner of the upper lash line. Sweep it to the outer corner of the browbone, which helps further to push this area back to help reveal your eyes.

4. If you want extra definition to those deep set eyes, use the contour shade underneath the lower lash line.

5. As you use mascara, use more of it in the outer corners of your eye. If you go heavy on the mascara or the false eyelashes in the central part of your eye, you will cover up what you tried to highlight and bring out. By keeping the mascara to the outer portion of your eye, you help open up and bring out your eyes.Apply an iridescent eyeshadow on your upper eyelid starting from the inner corner towards the outer corner of the eye.

Tips:
*If you just can’t stay away from dark colors, then make sure you keep them on your lid and if you really want to, you can smudge a little bit into the outer corner of your eye. Just make sure to not go into your crease with your deep color. Doing so will only make your crease look bigger and stand out more.

*Apply a thin line of eyeliner from the middle part of the lids to the outer corner of the eye. Extend and thicken the line towards the outer corner and smudge it a little or soften with a similarly toned eyeshadow. Keep the line as close to the base of the lash line as possible. Eyeliner is great, because it helps you to widen and emphasize your deep set eyes. Tip: avoid to apply eyeliner on the inner edge of the lower eyelashes, because your eyes will appear smaller than they really are.

Eye series 1: Round Shape Eyes

STEPS:

To elongate round eyes and make them appear more almond-shaped:

1. Apply medium eyeshadow to the eyelid up to the crease.

2. Extend the shade to the outer eye corner and continue down along the lower eyelid.

3. Use darker liner to line top and bottom eyelids. Extend eyeliner out and up beyond the eyelid in the outer corners. Use darker eyeliner to line the outer two-thirds of both top and bottom eyelids.

4. Apply mascara to the top lashes only, more on outer half.

Is she really 27?

I have come across many women and when they tell me their age I am shocked! Some look way younger, but most look way way older than their age. Us women need to maintain ourselves! why? because we want to age gracefully. However, when men get older they are still considered sexy. Look at George Clooney and his "sexy" crow's feet. How can we stop saying we are 27 and in turn look like we are hitting 40 pretty soon? I was looking at myself in the mirror and I am extremely oily which is suppose to delay the aging process, but not the clogged pores pimply effect. But I do see a fine line on my forehead and little lines fines forming around my eyes. I can be the first to tell you that I stress like nobody's business. So ladies lets make a promise to ourselves that we will try to stay as young as we can without the botox action! My vows to my myself are the following:

1. Not to stress the small stuff
2. Exercise
3. Drink water
4. Get sleep
5. Take makeup off before going to bed
6. Stick to my skincare regimen: Cleanser in the morning, toner, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer for the day and for night I will use my second cleanser, eye cream, and night time treatment(s)
7. I will take my supplements

What are your vows to yourself?

How to Stay Young

Years ago my gym teacher in York College gave us a sheet on how to stay young. This man looked like he was in his early 50's but he was very in his 70's. He was fit, energetic, and very inspirational. That class was the first time I actually wanted to work out and I haven't stopped since then. His method of staying young were not with creams and by drinking water (which are all great), but by the following:

1. Throw away nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. This is why you pay them.

2. Keep only CHEERFUL FRIENDS. The grouches pull you down.

3. Laugh often, long, and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

4. Be Alive while you are alive.

5. Surround yourself with what or who you love.

6. Enjoy the simple things.

New eyeshadow every day!

In the spirit of of experimenting, I tired a new one. Let me share this with you. On April 5 I decided I will do a different shadow and liner with every makeup look. It is now May 9 and I am proud to say that I am so much of a product whore that I did not repeat one color. I tried brights, shimmery, mattes, and creams. I must say that I really hate creams because it does not wear long at all! I fell in love with a shadow from Urban Decay in the process called Diamond Dog, it is a beautiful bronze-charcoal shimmery color. I still have tons of colors I did not get to use during this month, I am a beauty junkie for real! My new adventure is lurking in my mind....stay tune to find out what else I got up my sleeve.

What are your beauty adventures?

Freelance Makeup Artist Pt. 2

SO you wanna be an Artist....

Here are some steps that I have done along the way to Freelance and get gigs:

1. Get Business cards
This is the most essential tool to promote yourself. Include your title, what you do, contact info, and a catchy slogan. I have used Moo.com and it is great quality and affordable!

2. Get a website going
Purchase a domain name and design a website with all your pictures and Bio. I like Wix.com.
http://www.glambox.org/


3. Join social networks to promote yourself
I like social networks like FaceBook, Youtube, Model Mayhem, Twitter, and Blogspot!

4. Give your work self worth
Start charging for your talent (even if you start low). Have your set prices in mind for when people ask you.

5. Practice makes Perfect
Take as many classes to fine tune your skills. I love taking classes at the Makeup Show every year. I also attend free seminars, I look at youtube for latest tips, and I learn from other artists I work with. Don't ever think you know it all.

6. Make a contract
Always make a contract when booking clients, friends, and family. Let them deposit some money before the event and give the remainder the day of. In case of cancellation, you can still earn a fee if it is done less than 2 weeks of the event.

Freelance Makeup Artist

Freelance Makeup Artists can make so much money. Who doesn't need an artist? Look around you people, artists are needed every single day for t.v. shows, magazines, photo shoots, videos, women going to interviews, holiday parties, first dates, weddings, birthdays, graduations, and the list goes on and on.

First thing is first- you must build that loyal clientele. The word of mouth can make you the most money and it is free advertisement. There are a million people who claim they know makeup-why you? what sets you apart?

You are a walking advertisement for your work every day. Show off what you got! Someone asked me at work today-Do you know how to put on lashes? That told me right off the bat that I have not advertised myself as a lash person. Advertise yourself for whatever artistry skill set you have, maybe tomorrow I will apply some falsies. If you work in makeup already, gain the respect of your peers and help them fine tune their skills. Just another way to get noticed.

Discover what type of artist you are. Do you do special effects? Drag shows? natural looks? just men? Find your niche.

If you do free shoots, make sure you are getting retouched images! I don't feel you should do any free makeup work, unless it's a career changer. For instance, I did makeup for Fashion Week 2011 for free, but it is a great thing to add to the resume. Know your worth, if you keep doing makeup for free, you are devaluing your work.

I suggest having a contract set for those of you who are hired for a specific day. This may be the most important thing. Let me share some examples:

1. My makeup artists for my bridesmaids cancelled two days before the wedding over a text. She mentioned she booked something with more money. She left me high and dry on the most important day of my life. If we had a contract, things may been different! She now claims to be a "celebrity" artists and brags about cancelling on them as well. Remember your reputation can make you or break you!

2. Two of my cousins had weddings and cancelled on me days before the wedding. One as a matter of fact, had me on stand by the day of her wedding. This contract rule has to be implemented more than ever for family members. The first cousin who cancelled had me do several days and hours of makeup trials for her wedding. I did research on pictures and videos. All my free time with no cash or tip ever handed. All this work for the next person to use all my ideas. The second cousin, actually wanted to buy my products for someone else to apply it on her (she told me this the day of the wedding).

Doing makeup is exciting because there is always something you can learn. Man, I can sit on youtube and see videos all day. Talking about Youtube, if you make videos of yourself, that actually may work against you if you want to charge your clients for tutorials. Why pay you, when did can look at your work on the internet. Be smart about how you market yourself.

Does anyone have any interesting freelance stories?

B.B. Creams?

"Bb cream originated in Germany and was used by Dermatologists as a healing aid for their patients, who have gone through laser skin surgery and also on patients who has burn; this cream can help to smooth and regenerate the skin" (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140443399667). An Asian client went into Sephora, and she asked for a B.B. cream. I heard B.B. creams are the latest craze from Korea to Japan and now making its way to the U.S.A. In Korea, B.B. is suppose to stand for Blemish Balm. I was told Boscia is coming out with a B.B. cream soon, but just because blemish balm is what it stands for it is not just for pimples. B.B. creams have a category of their own. They help even out the complexion like a tinted moisturizer- but it is not makeup. So let's get things straight, a B.B. cream is a treatment for blemishes, looks like a tinted moisturizer but is not in the makeup category, gives radiance, sun protection, and is anti-wrinkle as well.
Has anyone tried a B.B. cream? What do you think of it?

Real deal with Retail!

NOT BE A DEBBIE DOWNER OR A NEGATIVE NANCY, but Retail is the hardest job in the world! You have to try to relate to hundreds of clients you come in contact with. It is mentally and physically exhausting. Long gone are the free weekends to party and relax at the beach. No more making plans with friends to go out because your schedule is not fixed. It will consume all your energy. You will bend over and do back flips and someone will still leave unhappy from the store.

However to those aspiring makeup artists, I say yes retail can be your friend because you will learn so much about the beauty industry. I came into to Sephora not having any knowledge at all! I was a Mary Kay consultant for 3 weeks and then quit when I was getting all these orders and no cash to back it up. I literally dropped my application to every Sephora I came in contact with. No one gave me a chance....until Jennifer Negron, a Store Director, looked at my application and said "Come in for an interview next week." I was ecstatic! When the interview day came, I was up against ten other people who wanted the job. Now, I have a quiet personality at times and do not like to be the center of attention, but this day I said I have to stand out! I answered every question first and was a star and I got hired. That was my shot into makeup. Now this is not the only retail route you can take. You can freelance with a makeup company and get your feet wet. Freelancing somethings requires more experience and can be intimating due to goals. Starting off with a company and then freelancing is also great. There is also the great option of starting your own makeup brand or freelancing company like we did with Glam Box.

It can be rewarding helping women on a daily basis look their best. In addition, you will get a chance to work with different eye shapes, face shapes, skin types, and skin tones! This can be a career path for some or just a hobby. There is money to be made in this industry. The lowest & highest income in retail for Makeup Artists (sales not management) $10-$25 an hr (keep in mind the commission jobs will pay more of the $25 dollars an hr).

Artist be wary of:
1. If you have worked for a company for a few years and have not gotten any promotion or there is no sign of growth...GET OUT!
2. If they call you a star sales associate, but come raise time you get an insignificant amount like a twenty cents...Get your running shoes!
3. If you always feel down going into your job and never happpy.....ever...Okay you know what I am going to say.
4. If you are not learning or challenging yourself on a daily basis, choose another career choice!

To clients shopping at these places:
1. Please when stepping into a cosmetics place, do not expect the sales associate to know every ingredient and price of 4,000 + products.
2. If you ask an artists at a retail store, "Hey I like the shadows you have on, what are they?" Do not expect a honest answer-if they are promoting Dior that day then Dior is what they will tell you they have on.
3. If a store is swamped with people, do not complaint you cannot get someone to help you. And also if someone is with another client,do not jump in and ask for help.
4. Always ask the sales person why they are showing the brand they are showing you....they can be just promoting that line that day, even if that product is the best fit for your needs.

Let me know you would ever consider this field of work?