REVIEW & DEMO: KEVYN AUCOIN_Making Faces Kit

Kevyn Aucoin was a celebrity Makeup Artist who created his magic on some of the most legendary faces from the worlds of fashion, music, television and film. He was also a best selling author and beauty entrepreneur.  His self titled cosmetic line, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, is a direct result of his years making "the beautiful people" even more beautiful.  I purchased this incredible beauty find, "The Making Faces Kit", on the discount designer website, HauteLook.

Please click the video enclosed below for my review and makeup demo using Kevyn Aucoin's "The Making Faces Kit - Vol. 1":

The Making Faces Collection Vol. 1 includes:
• A full set of eye, cheek and lip products in a book-style flip pallete
• Step-by-step instructions for learning Kevyn Aucoin’s makeup artistry techniques
• Large mirror

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Top Row (eyeshadow):"Whisper", "Goddesss" and "Aubergine"

Middle Row: "Neolita" powder blush and "Nuelle" cream moist glow

Bottom Row (lipstick): "Guilty", "Gently" and "Control"

And for all you beautiful fashionistas, here's my personal invitation to join HauteLook: (http://www.hautelook.com/invite/697606)
HauteLook brings the thrill back to shopping with their 48-hour daily sales with discounts of 50 to 75 percent off the world's top fashion, accessories, beauty, kids and home brands!

CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT TUTORIAL

CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT (Part I):
In this tutorial I will demo how to contour and highlight your face in a way that's subtle and natural for everyday wear. Usually I prefer to use foundation (either liquid or cream) instead of powder to contour and highlight but I will also demo using powder in Part II video below.

PRODUCT USED:
Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation Pallete - Kit #8 & #11  ($21)
Provides a soft natural matte finish and spreads further than most other foundations. It covers like a thin second skin and won't cake or crease. It's water and sweat resistant and won't stain clothes.

CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT (Part II):

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION:
It Cosmetics - My Sculpted Face Combo Palette & Mini Buffer Brush ($45)
The palette comes with 4 contouring shades designed to match all skin tones and 2 highlighting shades in both shimmer and matte. My Sculpted Face comes with a full color chart so you always have a personal reference chart that teaches you where to apply the highlighting and contour shades to bring out the features you want more prominent, and minimize the features you want to draw attention away from!

Contour & Highlight Tips:

•    Always use a matte shade for contouring!  If you try to hide a double chin by using a contour shade that has a shimmer in it (like a shimmer bronzer for example), it will attract light and can actually make that area look bigger!
•    Use a buffer brush or firm blush brush for applying dark contour shades.  Use a powder or fan brush for applying your highlighting shades.

•    Use technique of Contour and Highlight to:
    o    Slim or Straighten your nose
    o    Enhance your cheekbones
    o    Camouflage double chin
    o    Minimize big forehead


Hope this answers any questions you might have had about contour and highlighting. If not, please feel free to send me an email or leave your question as a Comment. Thanks!!!


Model: Shauna Blaize
Videographer: Amanda Taylor Duncan

COLORFUL SMOKY EYE TUTORIAL

 

I created this instructional video to show women that they are not restricted to shades of gray or black when creating a smoky eye look. There is a vast rainbow of eye color shades on the market so why limit yourself? A great example of high quality but low priced eyeshadow palettes are those created by UK-based, mass market cosmetic brand Sleek MakeUP. I was lucky enough to meet Malika Joaille and Taniqua Bennett from the line earlier this year and received several products to Review. They are incredible! 

Today's Eye Makeup Tutorial features Sleek MakeUp's I-Divine eyeshadow palette in  "The Original" (see picture above). You'll definitely be seeing and hearing more about Sleek MakeUP and their products in the future. I can't wait for their website to be up and running again so all us gals in the U.S. can get our hands on their fabulous products!!!

PRODUCTS USED:
Face:
Cinema Secrets Foundation - Kit #8

Cheek:
Nixie Bronze Beauty in "Key Largo Beach" - sheer gold shimmer

Eye:
Sleek MakeUP -  I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in "The Original's"   *(I used the green colored shadows in the Far Right column).
MAC - Eye Kohl Pencil in "Minted" - vibrant mint green with pearl
MAC - Eye Kohl Pencil in "Smolder" - intense black
Lancome - Définicils High Definition Mascara in "Deep Black"

Lip:
C.O. Bigelow® Rose Salve


BRUSHES:
MAC #219 Pencil Brush
MAC #244 Tapered Blending Brush



Model: Shauna Blaize
Videographer: Amanda Taylor Duncan

NIGHT/NEUTRAL EYE LOOK TUTORIAL

This is Part II of the Neutral Eye Look Tutorial  where I show you how to transition your basic eye makeup look into an evening look.  In a few quick steps you can take your makeup look from polished and professional to sultry and sexy!

PRODUCTS USED:
* To see list of makeup shades used to create the basic "Day" face, please see previous blog post "Day/Neutral Eye Look Tutorial".

Eyes:
MAC Eye Shadow in "Bronze" - Gold brown with gold-bronze shimmer (Frost)
MAC Eye Kohl pencil in "Smolder" - intense black
Lancome - Définicils High Definition Mascara in "Deep Black"

Lips:
NARS Lip Liner  - I used "Equador" but it's no longer available but you can substitute "African Queen" - warm brick red

BRUSH:
MAC #244 - Tapered Blending Brush



Model: Shauna Blaize
Videographer: Amanda Taylor Duncan

DAY/NEUTRAL EYE LOOK TUTORIAL

Lots of women have questions about how to use eyeshadow, especially when it comes in those kits with 3 or 4 colors so I created this tutorial to show you the basics. In this makeup tutorial I demonstrate how to use 3 coordinating eyeshadow colors to create a natural eye look for daytime. I hope this clears up the mystery about how to use multi-color eyeshadow palettes.



PRODUCTS USED:
Face:
Cinema Secrets - Ultimate Foundation Palette in "Kit #8"

Cheek:
M.A.C. -  Powder Blush in "Style" - Coral-peach with gold pearl (Frost)
M.A.C. -  Powder Blush in "Trace Gold" - Gold with shimmer (Sheertone Shimmer) used as Highlighter

Eyes:
M.A.C. - Eye Shadow in "Orb" - soft peachy-beige (Satin), "Samoa Silk" - Polynesian peach (Velux), and "Saddle" - Golden orange brown (Matte)
M.A.C. - Eye Pencil in "Coffee" - muted brown

Lancome - Définicils High Definition Mascara in "Deep Black"

Lip:
Sleek MakeUp - Pout Polish in "Electro Peach"

BRUSHES:
aDesign Brushes: Eye 1 - unique shaped brush with pointed tip that can be used as crease brush or as blender brush, Eye 3 - flat liner brush, Eye 4 - small detailed brush to line, define & smudge, and Lip - small, compact & firm lip brush
M.A.C. - #244 Tapered Blending Brush


* For all you beautiful Recessionista's here's some bargain-priced brushes:
Essence of Beauty - Dome Eye Shadow Brush
Essence Of Beauty - Crease Brush Duo Eyes
Sonia Kashuk - Essential Eye 6-pc. Kit with Case


Model: Shauna Blaize
Videographer: Amanda Taylor Duncan

"BRONZER" MAKEUP TUTORIAL

Want to look healthy and tanned without subjecting your skin to the damaging rays of the sun or tanning booth? Then think bronzer my friend!  Some people think bronzer is just for the summer but as the weather cools its nice to give your skin alittle warmth.  Not sure how to use bronzer to get a natural looking glow, then check out the video below.

Bronzer should be applied to the parts of the face that normally get the most sun (top of cheekbones, down center of nose, tip of chin and center of the forehead). It looks most natural if you use a natural matte product or one with subtle shimmer and apply with a light hand. You can always add more product if necessary but apply too much and it can make your face look dirty or muddy. 

PRODUCTS USED: 
Face: Cinema Secrets Foundation Kit #8  ($21)

Bronzer: MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in "Dark" - deep caramel. ($25) and Nixie Bronze Beauty in "Key Largo Beach" - sheer gold shimmer ($24)

Lip: Lancome Le Rouge Absolu - Reshaping & Replenishing LipColour SPF 15 in "Amande Sucrée" ($26)

MAC #188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush ($34)


Model: Shauna Blaize
Videographer: Amanda Taylor Duncan

"BRIGHT LIP" MAKEUP TUTORIAL

This makeup look features a Fall beauty trend from the "Moschino Cheap and Chic" runway. Lead Makeup Artist Charlotte Tilbury used MAC products to create fluorescent pink and orange lips on the models.  The idea was to "portray a young girl who knows how to have a bit of fun.  Bold hues are innocent but make a strong statement." Tilbury kept the rest of the face clean except for soft gold color on the cheek. 

This beauty look can definitely be done in "real life" but note it is a bit intense. Personally I find it to be absolutely gorgeous! What do you think?


PRODUCTS USED:  
Lips:  MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in "Impassioned" - Amped-up fuchsia ($14)

MAC Pigment in "Fuchsia" - Bright fuchsia-pink [Frost] ($19.50)
This product was used on top of the lipstick to matte and intensify the color. The bright pigment creates a super bright lip color that pops off the face.

Cheeks: MAC Mineralize SkinFinish in "Gold Deposit" - Soft reflective golden-bronze. ($27)

aDESIGN Lip brush ($16)


Model: Shauna Blaize
Videographer: Amanda Taylor Duncan