Bobby Pins & Blush Tips & Events

EYEBROW 911

2011-03-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ok so I know I write about eyebrows all the time but it’s because there are girls running around that still haven’t hear my plea! If you have made the mistake once of getting your brows waxed while getting your nails filled don’t keep making the same mistake!!! Invest in a brow powder or soft pencil to fill in the missing hairs until they grow back in (hopefully they will). I totally support the coiffed brow – believe me, but a nice full brow is so in right now and you can achieve that look while still looking maintained.

If you are unsure about how to fill your brows in naturally, make an appointment with me and I will teach you how to do it subtly and flawlessly…

Call me 407.432.0005 or Kara@FabulousFacesStudio.com

Male Brows Before Shaping

Male Brows After Shaping

Brows Before and After (Right side with Shaping & Tinting)

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF A MAKEOVER

2011-03-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, in addition to running my company Fabulous Faces Studios, I also am a Regional Artist for Laura Mercier Cosmetics in which I get the opportunity to travel to department stores all over the state and do makeovers and makeunders on a diverse clientele. I usually have about 30-45 minutes with each face and within that time I need to teach the techniques I’m using, find out what their makeup style is and which products will compliment your lifestyle and most importantly, make my lady look gorgeous!

My advice to you in navigating the department store cosmetic counter is do a little research first to decide which line you would like to go with, then call the counter to find out what the purchase requirements are for the appointment. Then take a look at your brushes and makeup bag and make a list of what items you need, which will keep you from over spending on things you don’t need and from duplicating items that you already have. Oh, on a fun note, it doesn’t hurt to ask if there is a gift with purchase because sometimes there are gifts left over from events and you just might be able to nab a little freebie!

When you meet with the artist, let her know what you’re looking in terms of what prompted you to make the appointment and what your expectations are. Most importantly let your artist know what your budget is because that will cut down on the ‘hard sell’ tactics and let you both focus on your time together.

Most professional makeup lines will offer you a Step-by-Step Face Chart for you to take with you and use as a guide to replicate what you worked on during the appointment. If one is not offered, don't be afraid to ask the artist to demonstrate his/her technique again for the products that you are purchasing.

Follow this tips and you will get the most out of your appointment with your favorite cosmetic brand! Enjoy!

Do-It-Yourself Bridal Makeup

2011-03-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

Professional bridal makeup does not fit into every brides’ wedding budget so if you plan to glamourize yourself for your big day, here are a few tips on how to make sure you are photo ready:

Start with an exfoliating treatment in the night before and again in the morning using a product like Laura Mercier Face Polish which has gentle rounded beads to soften your skin, allowing a flawless application of your foundation.
Research and invest on a great primer that fits your skin’s needs. A primer will ensure your foundation will last all night!

Visit a department store to get matched for the perfect shade of foundation and make sure to mention to the makeup artist that the foundation is for your wedding and she will help you choose the formula that photographs best.

Practice applying a natural looking pair of false lashes (tip: falsies work best when applied before mascara).

Look for a pretty long wear lip color unless you don’t mind reapplying your lipstick or lip gloss frequently so that your lips are touched up for every photo opportunity.

Try out your look in it’s entirety before the wedding so you can do two things: see how long the look will really take you to complete so you can plan ahead and ensure you will not be rushed and take photos, even on a point-and-shoot camera to see how your makeup choices and application photograph.

If you are on the fence about hiring a Professional Makeup Artist it might be helpful to take into account the amount of money you will spend on all of the products necessary that it will take to accomplish your wedding day look and then compare that with the cost of hiring an experienced artist… you might be surprised that the latter maybe the most cost effective option.

Urban Decay Primer - BUY IT NOW!!!

2011-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

As most of you do, I also work really long days and I’m typically only a few inches from my clients’ faces, one after another, after another and as a makeup artist it is super embarrassing when I can feel my face getting greasier and greasier by the moment, especially when you are teaching your client all the tips to a flawless face! I am such an ingredient Nazi that I will usually forfeit products that promise to be long wearing because they generally contain ingredients that clog my pores and over time, cause breakouts (P.S. Breakouts at 31… so uncool this far after puberty!) So I tend to pick the ones with the least offensive ingredients even if it means giving up a little effectiveness. On one of my recent south Florida makeup tours a fellow artist actually said, after several days of working side by side with me, “Kara, I can’t believe how many times you have to touch up in a day!” I had just come to accept being constantly shiny and took solace in the fact that oily skin stays younger longer… blah blah blah.

Since then I have been in search of a solution and I think I have finally found one!!! Urban Decay De-Slick In a Tube Mattifying Gel $28, I did some research and went to my home away from home – also known as Sephora and was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable price of this primer and the short list of ingredients. Today was day one with the new wonder product and let me tell you, I gave it a run for it’s money! We had an 80 degree day with full sunshine and I not only watered my garden, walked my dogs around the neighborhood then to a art festival, then hand washed my car at the heat of the day and cleaned my house (it was my first Sunday off in months!) and I am blown away by how well this primer held up! I DID NOT, I repeat, I DID NOT TOUCH UP ONCE all day! I applied it at 9am and wore my normal foundation over top so the only factor that changed was the Urban Decay product. Now, to be perfectly honest, it is 9pm and if I was going to dinner or something, I would need to blot now and retouch my makeup but nonetheless it lasted 8 hours longer than my usual primers so I’M SOLD! If you have oily, acne prone skin like me, girls it is worth every penny and I strongly recommend it!

PLUS there are No Parabens or Sulfates

Active Ingredients: Water, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin

CREATING YOUR COLOR WARDROBE

2011-02-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

CREATE YOUR COLOR WARDROBE: make your makeup bag easy to navigate. This means pairing colors (eyes, cheeks & lips) that all complement each other.

INVEST IN GOOD SKINCARE: keep it simple but use quality items that are an ideal fit for what your skin needs. All you need is a cleanser, moisturizer and a treatment serum (if your moisturizer doesn’t have SPF then add one in).

KEEP IT PACKAGED SIMPLY AND NEATLY: many cosmetic lines sell palette style compacts ($10) that you can refill yourself OR custom made ones pre-packaged ($50-200) that will make it simple for you to create a polished look in a reasonable amount of time.

Tip: a good time to find amazing deals on prepackaged kits is around the holidays. I suggest cleaning your brushes thoroughly once a month and at the same time, clean out your makeup bag too! You can keep a spray brush cleaner on hand for daily maintenance but remember that doesn’t replace a good shampoo cleaning.

NEW TESTIMONIAL

2011-02-13T13:35:00.000-08:00

Kara is a GODDESS! From the start I was anxious about finding someone to do my make up for my wedding day. Being that our wedding was out of town, it was hard finding someone through referrals. Then there was Kara. She was recommended to me by my hair stylist. When I first met with her, I knew instantly that she was very knowledgeable in her field. Not only did she transform my wimpy eyebrows to super model caliber, she gave me exactly what I wanted for my special day. Not only can I vouch for her talent, but I can also say I am happy to call her a friend now. Anyone who has the pleasure of working with Kara, whether its for a special occasion, or an eyebrow fix, I can assure you that you'll be yet another satisfied customer.
This was the best thing I ever did for myself. I strongly suggest that every girl I know check them out, go onto the website, check on the photos, and BOOK!!! You won’t regret it!!!

Amazing job! They were so patient and willing to work with all our crazy demands (it was a bridal party after all) but beyond their amazing amount of professionalism, they were as sweet as can be. On top of all that, I can honestly say we've never looked better. I highly recommend them, you won’t regret it!

- Melissa Zurz Hyams

(due to complications with settings, please visit fb for photos of this bride)

TOP 5 TIPS FOR PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP ARTISTS

2011-02-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

After 16 years in the field I have had the opportunity to work with countless other makeup artists and in doing so I have compiled a list of tips that will help you take your profession to the next level:

1. Always KEEP YOUR KIT CLEAN! In our business our brushes touch several faces in a day and there is no excuse to not be sanitizing them in between each client and giving them a complete washing when we finish a job. There are too many disorders that can be spread by a dirty brush - acne and pink eye, just to name a few, so in your clients best interest make it a habit of cleaning your brushes, sanitizing your lipsticks & liners, using disposable mascara wands and using alcohol on all of your containers periodically to make sure that your kit looks neat and is germ free at all times. Not to repeat myself but CLEANLINESS is KEY so keep the following items in your kit for your safety and your client’s. ALCOHOL, HAND SANITIZER, BRUSH CLEANER and DISTILLED WATER.

2. Stay on top of your game and USE THE NEWEST & BEST PRODUCTS on the market. If you are charging clients for applying makeup, you should be giving them the best available products. A few ways to stay on top of what’s new: stop by your local Sephora and ask the cast members what’s new and useful for the type of makeup you do, check the M.A.C website monthly to see what is new and exciting – chances are your clients will ask you about the most recent launch and it would be great if you could give them your insight on the latest products and lastly every year InStyle puts out their Best Of issue and it is safe to say that the majority of the products that win the coveted title should probably find their way into your kit.

3. Make it a point to UPDATE YOUR PICTURES in your portfolio every month. Whether you get prints of magazine work or have point-and-shoot snapshots, either way it will only make you look more professional to your clients for them to see a visual resume of your work.

4. USE MAGAZINES AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION and that doesn’t just mean other artist’s makeup work but also what inspires you? Flowers? Urban sky scapes? Asian artwork? Whatever tickles your fancy can be used for inspiration for your upcoming makeup jobs. Mimic color combinations that really got your attention or the strong/soft lines you love in a photo of the horizon… inspiration is everywhere!

5. BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR CAPABILITIES. This means if someone asks you if you do African American makeup and you have never been exposed to that complexion, say so because if you do a bad job and it is immortalized in a photo, you will have a bad referral and you would have single handedly ruined a very important day for your client. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t challenge yourself to broaden your horizons but I am saying that you should practice on friends first so you can confidently do an amazing job!

What’s Your Makeup Style?

2011-02-02T13:53:00.000-08:00

So you have a fashion style right? And the perfect hair style too? So what’s your makeup style? To help you define your style I suggest booking a makeup application at your local department store (usually complimentary with a $40-75 purchase) or a
Makeup Bag Makeover with FABULOUS FACES STUDIOS $85 SPECIAL (regularly $150).

MAKEUP BAG MAKEOVERS

2011-01-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or doesn’t anyone clean out their makeup bags anymore?!?

I have frankly lost count on the Makeup Bag Makeovers I have done for ladies who’s makeup bags are a dirty mess and I spend more than 30 minutes of our scheduled appointment cleaning each item so that we can begin to see what needs to stay and what needs to go. I am really surprised that women don’t periodically clean out the inside of their freakin’ bags! YUCK! So here’s a few tips on keeping your bags a little cleanlier:

If it’s broken = PITCH IT! *the only exception is if the color can be easily removed you can always pop a magnet on the bottom and insert it into a MAC palette (see the blog on DePotting MAC eyeshadows)

If it’s old = PITCH IT! *especially mascara… it gets super dry and flaky and like wearing socks with holes in them… it doesn’t the job but barely.

Don’t take your entire makeup bag with you everyday because it not only puts the contents at risk of getting broken with all the shuffling around but also breeds bacteria if the bag is left in the hot car for more than an hour. Instead, pack a small zipper bag with your lip color, lip liner, touch up powder and possibly a bronzer. These are all the items you may need throughout the day to keep your look in tip-top shape! If you are using the right primers under your foundation and on your eyelids there is no reason that you would need shadow, concealor, etc... for retouching so that stuff should stay at home.

REMEMBER: A messy makeup bag = A messy and unpleasant adventure retrieving what you need!

ARTiST SPOTLiGHT - Darlina Conto

2011-01-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

Fabulous Faces Studios was recently asked to participate in an Artist Spotlight for Jaclyn Fraser at At Last Weddings and I thought it was such an amazing idea, I decided to highlight some of the wonderful artists that work with me.

Our first Artist Spotlight is with Darlina Conto, a talented hair and makeup artist and colleague.

Darlina is one of my Lead Artists and over the years of working together, I am honored to call her my friend. Below is a little interview we did and some spectacular images from her portfolio...

FFS: How did you get started in the hair and makeup industry?
DC: I got started in the business of making people beautiful in Los Angeles, California. I loved applying makeup and found that it could make me money!

FFS: What outlet did you gain your experience?
DC: Most of my experience in makeup and hair is from working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. My career was intense and I rose quickly from assisting to being a key artist in film and commercials.

FFS: In your opinion, what sets you apart from your competition?
DC: I think there are many great artists out there, but what sets anyone apart from the next person is their attitude and personality. I love being around people and I have a great deal of passion and respect for the creative process so I am a ball of light whenever I am part of a project. I think that is what people pick up on and keeps me being hired.

FFS: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far?
DC: My greatest achievement so far is just being able to do what I like to do and support myself doing it.

FFS: As a fellow artist I know I've gotten some interesting requests over throughout my career, what is the craziest request that you have been asked?
DC: The craziest requests are usually requests to look like a certain supermodel when the person hasn't any features remotely close to the model they aspire to look like.

FFS: What do you get asked most frequently?
DC: I get this question every single time: "What makeup do you use?" And my answer is that I use all kinds...whatever product gets the job done well.

FFS: What is the biggest trend in makeup right now?
DC: The biggest trend right now, and it will continue indefinitely, is getting skin to look natural and flawless.

FFS: What advice could you offer to brides and others that are looking for an artist for their special day?
DC: If you are looking for a professional makeup artist, please review samples of their work and if you can, have a trial run with them before hiring them for a job.

FFS: What brand(s) can be found in your kit?
DC: My favorite brand is MAC. MAC has a lot of wonderful products and has never really let me down. I use other brands, of course, but MAC is pretty good across the board.

FFS: There is a lot of hype about airbrush makeup right now, what is your take on it?
DC: I like applying airbrush makeup and I find that it is beautiful on camera because I am aiming for heavier coverage while trying to maintain a natural look. As for brides, I find I can create a beautiful look on the bride with or without airbrush, so it becomes a matter of personal preference.

FFS: What are some of your all time favorite products?
DC: Top 5 Darlina picks: Cinema Secrets foundation/YSL Mascara/YSL Touche Eclat/Kinerase Peptide Lotion/MAC eyeshadows.

How can people contact you?

Darlina Conto
Tampa Beauty Group
813.957.7516
www.tampabeautygroup.com
darlina@tampabeautygroup.com

Put the Powder Down!

2011-01-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

Now I’m not saying that all powders are bad but I meet women and girls everyday that choose a powder foundation because it’s easy. Well… like most things in life, easy isn’t always the best route.

Young girls tend to choose powders because they can carry it with to reapply it obsessively all day long. This is bad for 2 reasons: Most powders contain high amounts of talc and other ingredients that don’t allow skin to breathe which causes acne and clogged pores. The second reason is that your skin will never look better or be more poreLESS than it does while you’re in your teens and early 20’s so please don’t cake it with powder and cover up the beautiful glow your skin has… that glow doesn’t last forever so show it off and be kind to it!!!

SOLUTION: Try a sheer oil control formula such as NARS oil free foundation or for a little drier skins you can try a tinted moisturizer like Laura Mercier Tinted SPF15 formula.

Now, for my ladies just past their 30’s and beyond, I hear you too that you resort to powder as foundation because you don’t have time and I just going to have to call you out on that because liquid foundation DOES NOT take any longer than a powder application! Not to mention a great liquid foundation will last up to 3 times as long as a powder formula so it is also saving you $60 to $100 every 3 months!
Here’s why aging skin should not use a powder formula: first and foremost because always sets in the fine lines and wrinkles and seriously, who wants that?

SOLUTION: Try a moisturizing formula such as Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation applied with an egg shaped anti-microbial sponge OR if you would like a little less coverage, mix a Laura Mercier Illuminating Moisturizer with the Tinted Moisturizer for a sheer, dewy finish.

Professional Makeup Lessons for Professionals!

2011-01-07T10:04:00.000-08:00

½ OFF MAKEUP/HAIR LESSONS FOR PROFESSIONALS

I am blessed to have a wonderful team consisting of 9 artists and I hold high standards for the quality of makeup that Bobby Pins & Blush provides. I do work with my artists one-on-one periodically to teach them new tricks and share tips I have learned throughout my career.

Last year I began doing MAKEUP LESSONS FOR PROFESSIONALS which is something that most Makeup Artists would never consider doing since our industry is so competitive but I believe that if you have a talent treat it like a gift and share it! I think that if my peers turned out perfection each and every time than professional makeup artists wouldn’t get so much bad light.

What can you expect to learn? ANYTHING! You tell me what you want to work on. Some of the requests I’ve had in the past are: Bridal Makeup, Bridal Hair, Editorial Makeup, Smoky Eyes, Airbrush, etc… We will customize your lesson for your needs so just tell me what you want!

Regular Price $400 Special Pricing $200 when you book before 3/1/2011

Included: 2 hours of hands on time with me, exposure to countless high end hair and makeup products, List of products to add to your kit and photos to remember the key points of your lesson.

Beauty Timeline for the Newly Engaged

2011-01-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

Did you recently get engaged? Congratulations! Here is a super simple guide to follow while planning your wedding. Unfortunately the beauty end of the planning gets left until last and then you most likely WON'T get what you want or get the vendor you prefer, so follow these simple steps to make sure that you look and feel your best during every step of the engagement experience.

• Schedule your engagement shoot 10-12 months before the wedding
• Book your hair and makeup vendors 9 months out
• Boudoir Shoot or Bridal Portraits 2 months before
• Bridal Trial 1-2 months before the big day
• Trash –the-dress Shoot 1 month after the wedding

Recommendations taken from various bridal resources (The Knot Magazine, Donnie Brown, Central Florida Bride)

YEAR END SALE on NATUROPATHICA & MORE

2010-12-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

YEAR END SKINCARE INVENTORY BLOWOUT SALE!!!

Naturopathica products 40% OFF

CLEANSERS
4 Camomile Cleansing Cream 4oz $12 (regular price $28)

BODY
2 French Lavender Bath & Body Oil 4oz $13 (regular price $32)
3 Bamboo and Lemongrass Scrub Lg $24 (regular price $60)

MOISTURIZERS
1 Lavender Protective Cream SPF17 2oz $24 (regular price $58)
4 Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream 2oz $24 (regular price $58)
2 Ultra Lite Vitamin C Complex 2oz $24 (regular price $58)

SERUMS
1 Botanical Skin Brightener Serum 2oz $28 (regular price $68)
3 Geranium Regenerating Serum $16 (regular price $40)
4 Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream 2oz $24 (regular price $58)
2 Neroli Serum for Overactive skin .5oz $16 (regular price $40)

MASKS
4 Green Tea Wasabi Mask $16 (regular price $40)
3 Calming Seaweed Mask $16 (regular price $40)

EYES
1 Evening Primrose Eye Cream $20 (regular price $48)
4 Vitamin K Eye Treatment Cream $20 (regular price $48)

LIPS
5 Honey Vanilla Lip Balm .15oz $8 (regular price $13)
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BONUS ITEMS

MAC for PLAYBOY

These items are brand new, unused and in their original packaging. MAC did a Limited Edition Collection for Playboy and it is adorably packaged with the imprint of the famous bunny logo in the actual product and dazzeled all over the packaging.

Bunny Pink Glitter Cream $40
Bunny Pink Lipstick $25

Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing any or all of the items listed above Kara@FabulousFacesStudio.com

When you purchase 8 or more items shipping is FREE!

CALLING ALL COSMETOLOGISTS

2010-11-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

We are looking for 3 Licensed Cosmetologists to join our FABULOUS TEAM of On Location Hair and Makeup Artists!

I am so proud of all of my artists and am excited about expanding in the hair area of our team!

As you know we specialize in Wedding, Photoshoot and Special Event Hair and Makeup and as any member of my team will tell you, I have really high standards but my company is a blast to work for!

REQUIREMENTS
- Must be licensed in the state of FL
- Must have a minimum of 2 years of experience in the field
- Needs to have a polished portfolio of Bridal Hair
- MUST have a great personality and fantastic fashion sense
- Needs reliable transportation and constant access to emails
- MUST, MUST, MUST have a clean and well stocked Hair Kit
- MUST LIVE FOR UPDOs BABY!!!

*If you are experienced in ethnic and/or African American hair and if you also do makeup, those are both helpful but not required.

If you are or know of someone who might be interested please email me directly at Kara@FabulousFacesStudio.com

Bridal Dressing Room Must Haves

2010-10-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have been to weddings all over the spectrum of preparedness and from my experience, the following are some helpful items to have in the room as you are getting ready for your special day!

- Music
- Cold Water & Mimosas
- Breakfast or Lunch
- Snacks
- A Place to Hang & Steam the Dresses
- Activities or Magazines
- Band-Aids, foot petals and a sewing kit

FOR YOUR HAIR and MAKEUP ARTISTS:
Electrical Outlets
Table Space
Good Lighting
... we're pretty simple in our demands :)

Keep the wedding party happy & hydrated and your day will go smoothly.

Plus, having everyone in one place will keep the schedule moving so you’ll be done on time.

To Botox or Not to Botox

2010-10-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

What bride doesn’t want to look fresh & well rested on her big day? Even if you don’t want to keep it up after the wedding than at least try it for your wedding day. I suggest it mainly if you have deep lines between your brows or creeping crows feet around the eyes... those are the two areas that I notice the biggest impact on brides, especially in photos. It's not scary and if you go to the right doctor you will LOVE the results (you might even get hooked on how fresh you look!)

Just remember 2 important things:

1. Go to a great doctor – Dr. David Poole or his PA Stephanie 407.788.8080

2. Schedule your appointment at least 2-3 weeks before the wedding so if there’s any bruising there will be time for it to disappear before the rehearsal.

I have a lot of clients and friends that regularly see Dr. Pool and Stephanie and they RAVE about how gentle they are and sometimes they even run specials around Mother's Day. Check it out and let me know what you think!

My Big Fat Cajun Wedding

2010-09-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Well last week I had the opportunity to work with one of the most colorful families I've ever met. Cara Courtney, one of 3 beautiful daughters was marrying the man of her dreams and she asked me to make her pretty for her big day! When I arrived, the first thing I saw was Cara running around the driveway smiling while scolding her Dad about turning the sprinklers off for the 3rd time that morning. Apparently before I arrived he was so concerned with making sure the lawn was watered that he soaked a majority of the linens that the crew was there to put up so when he turned them on again he sent Cara and her mother Mary into a tizzy! The rest of the house was buzzing with teams of workers getting everything ready and it took me awhile to corral my first group upstairs to get started with hair and makeup.

Blanch Torres of Bella Ella Salon in Winter Park styled all the girls hair while I painted all their pretty faces. It was a big group and they literally kept me laughing the entire day with their mixture of Louisiana humor and a huge dose of southern charm. Blanch and I were working back to back and kept joking about our noses being stuck together from the 5 bottles of aresol hairspray she went through that day.

At many points I felt like I was in a scene from Steel Magnolias because every person in the room, mind you, it was a huge, gorgeous bathroom but we had at least 20 people with big personalities in it, plus food and champagne at any given time!

Cara was getting married at a church in Leesburg and then the reception was being held at her parents home which was stunning with an incredible view of the lake. Even when the sky grew dark and it started to rain, my little optimistic power packed bride didn't bat an eyelash about the possible hurricane brewing outside the window... that takes grace, let me tell you!

So I wanted to share a few snapshots from the day until the photographers photos are ready.

I also got a little note from the Mother of the Bride after the wedding that I'd like to also share with you...

Dear Kara,
Thanks so much for making us beautiful for this special day. We all had one of our prettiest days thanks to you. Your patience with my family was much appreciated. It felt like my big fat cajun wedding. You are just incredible. I'm trying to learn how to use that flat brush on my eye lids. Not too successful yet. What a talent you have. Thanks again for sharing it with us. Mary Courtney

SCRUNCHIES ARE NEVER OK!

2010-09-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I saw 3, yes, that’s right THREE women in various areas of Orlando wearing the unthinkable… A SCRUNCHIE! That prompted me to post it on facebook and was surprised at the responses I got - so for you ladies… I decided to blog about it.

It is 2010 and thankfully almost every hair accessory company has come out with multiple ways to secure your hair in a fashionable and attractive way. Here are a few of my favorites:

http://www.goody.com/#/grid/default/products/simple_styles_spin_pin

http://www.goody.com/#/grid/ouchless/products/gentle_elastics_in_liberty

So SCRUNCHIE wearers, you’re feeling a little defensive at my statement and that’s ok, I will try to give you solutions to all of your objections.

But Kara, won’t rubber bands cause breakage and damage my hair? Actually, it’s not the band that causes the damage it’s the metal piece that holds the band together that causes breakage but luckily companies have done their research and you will rarely find those types of bands in stores anymore.

Well rubber bands put a crease in my hair so that’s why I prefer a SCRUNCHIE? You are correct, it happens to me too so I typically only use a rubber band the day I plan to wash my hair. On other days, if I must pull my hair back I choose the new spiral bobby pin which holds my hair securely without leaving an ugly crease behind (or you can use 3-5 bobby pins and you will have the same affect for about .03 cents).

But I have a drawer full of SCRUNCHIES… what do I do with them? THROW THEM OUT! Definitely don’t add them to your Goodwill donation pile… we don’t need to see homeless women rockin’ the either!

If you are still not convinced that you should move into the new millennium then I will list the criteria or loop holes, if you will, when it is in fact ok to wear

SCRUNCHIES:
A. Do you put your feet on the dash of the car while you are a passenger or remove your shoes at a movie theater and rest them on the back of the seat in front of you? Since that is equally tacky, by all means… put the SCRUNCHIE in!
B. Do you own and wear banana clips for anything other than 80’s parties or Halloween? If you answered yes, wear on!
C. Do you live in North Dakota, Alaska or Upper Peninsula Michigan? Go ahead… no one cares what you look like up there anyway.

DISCLAIMER
This blog was meant in fun, please don’t be offended but at the same time, please stop wearing the SCRUNCHIES in public, at bedtime, to wash your face, on the boat, at the beach… anywhere actually *wink*

TATTOO COVER UP with AIRBRUSH MAKEUP

2010-09-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

I am all for tattoos but I can also respect that fact that you may not want them front and center on your wedding day so that’s exactly why I offer Tattoo Cover Up with airbrush AND manual makeup. It is available for only $25 and looks almost flawless!

BEST DEODORANT EVER!

2010-09-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

So although I usually review beauty and hair products, after seeing so many photos of bridesmaids and models with that awful white ring of deodorant under their arms magnified by the flash I decided to try a few alternative deodorants to see which ones kept me dry and unlike so many drugstore brands that claim they dry clear or are ‘little black dress approved’, actually did dry clear. The WINNER is Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant, aptly named. It is completely unscented, suited for sensitive skins and is NOT tested on animals. The other nice thing is they sell it in 2 sizes so I keep the larger one at home and since I travel a lot I have the smaller, 1.7oz tube in my carry-on bag. You can buy it at Neiman Marcus, Saks and Kiehl’s stores for $12 to $17. It may seem a little expensive for deodorant but I assure you, one container will last you 4 months or more and the cool thing is it does last 24 hours!

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE PRODUCTS

2010-09-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

1. Tarte Lifted Eye Base which keeps my eye makeup on without creasing even on my longest and hottest days in the Florida weather.

2. MAC Brun eye shadow which I use in my brows everyday and have since I was 16 years old with the MAC 266 brush only!

3. Laura Mercier Secret Concealor set with the most incredible Secret Brightening Powder which makes my under eye area flawless until bedtime (and beyond some days).

4. My 2 favorite foundations are Nars Oil Free Matte in Fiji (winter) and St. Tropez (summer) and Laura Mercier Oil Free foundation in Sunny Beige.

5. Smashbox Light Photo Finish Primer… I have yet to find a better primer for my oily skin that does not aggravate breakouts and photographs beautifully.

6. Laura Mercier Black Violet eye liner lining on the inner rim of the lower tear line makes the whites of my eyes super bright and gives an intensity to my eyes that commands attention (that’s for dramatic days) and on my days off I usually reach for either Bountiful Brown or Bordeauxline by MAC which are completely water proof and stay all day with or without an eye primer.

7. MASCARA, MASCARA, MASCARA… this is a very personal choice and it takes a long time to find the perfect one but after many tries I have found my perfect pair. I use Laura Mercier Long Lash on my days off or when I want a very natural mascara look and for more dramatic eyes I use Tarte Lights, Camera, Action BUT I have recently tried the NEW Laura Mercier Full Blown mascara and it may give Tarte a run for it’s money!

8. It’s no secret… I love my lipgloss… I literally have hundreds (don’t judge) so I can only tell you my favorite brands: Chanel, MAC, Dior, Georgio Armani & CO Bigelow Peppermint Balm.

9. For bronzer I have my all time favorite stand by Hoola Bronze which I have used for over 6 years but I recently tried Kat Von D’s shimmer bronzer and although it is not enough color to use on most days alone, I do like to sweep it lightly over my Hoola Bronzer or use it in place of blush.

10. Which brings me to blush, my 2 favorite colors that I use regularly are Mata Hari and Orgasm by NARS… you can’t beat them, I promise you 

11. Eye Shadows, there are too many to have just one favorite or even 5 so I’ll give you the ones that I find I feel sexiest when I use them: Laura Mercier Deep Night (wonderful for smoky eyes and recreating the famous Kardashian eye), MAC Copperplate which is a beautiful soft dove gray and I wear it usually when I’m wearing something really feminine or pearls, Corfu from NARS which is a cream shadow that looks subtly sparkly and looks great for a Boheimian look, MAC Sumptuous Olive with Fig1 in the crease brings out the green in my eyes and doesn’t look like 2 colors that you’d think of putting together but they work great! I also rarely use mineral shadows because I think they are messy and hard to travel with but 3 colors that I like from Bare Essentials are Queen Tiffany, Gold and Sanctuary (which I only bought because the proceeds went to help the rainforest but it turns out I really liked it). Diamond Lil by Stila is a gorgeous diamond like gray that makes a great smoky eye too. I also use Kid by MAC a lot to start a smoky eye or in the crease for a more retro, pin up style eye with bold liner. See… there’s a lot and that is only a small fraction of the ones I use regularly. I try to do a different look with completely different colors every single day because it challenges me and makes me want come up with a different combination that I can use on my clients too. Oh and I also love Atlantic Blue over white chomaliner by MAC (it makes it super bright). Ok, that’s it for this round.

12. Last but not least is my ALL TIME FAVORITE lip liner – Subculture by MAC because it is so close to my natural lip color and I can wear it with a clear lip balm or under any gloss I choose.

BRIDAL HAIR EXTENSIONS

2010-09-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

Have you been flipping through bridal hair magazines searching for the perfect wedding hairstyle? That’s great and I am sure the only trouble you think you will have is narrowing down your choices but the truth is you will probably will fall in love with a style in which the model is wearing a head full of extensions. This means that no matter what stylist you hire they may not be able to give you your dream look without the fullness of extensions.

Human hair extensions are readily available now and used on brides all of the time because they can look unbelievably natural when done properly. Fabulous Faces offers custom hair extensions for $200 and up and what sets us apart from other hair and makeup companies that also offer them is that we not only custom match your color but we cut them into a style that will flatter your current hair cut so that you can use them after the wedding too!

Don’t be afraid of extensions ladies… almost every celebrity on the red carpet uses them and whatever style you choose for your wedding day will only be enhanced by using them!

DON’T BE TARDY TO THE PARTY

2010-08-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

I hate to be the one to be a stickler for time but being punctual on the wedding day is paramount! Based on my experience if you start even 30 minutes behind on your wedding day it is unlikely that you will walk down the aisle on time, not to mention starting off like that will only make you stressed and that is the last thing you need.

Try to have your wedding party all in the same room while hair and makeup is being done to ensure that your artist will never have an empty chair and try your best to stick to the schedule that your artist or wedding planner has provided – they only create one for your best interest!

My #1 Bronzer Pick for Male and Female Clients

2010-08-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Benefit Hoola Bronzer is and has been my ultimate go-to favorite bronzer for both my male and female clients for a few reasons:

A. It has a gorgeous golden color and is not orangey like so many bronzers out there.

B. There is NO SHIMMER! There is a time and place for shimmer and it’s so nice to have an alternate bronzer to use when you don’t want your bronzer or contour to be noticeable, especially in the natural sunlight.

C. It’s highly pigmented so one container lasts up to six months which is fantastic.

I use this a lot on the local news anchors because it is so telegenic, since it doesn’t have shimmer it is perfect for HDTV and high resolution photos. You will love it, I promise!

Up and Coming Models Must Read

2010-08-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

When you are new to the industry and trying to build your portfolio there are a few things that you should keep in mind before you arrive at a photoshoot that will help you maximize the time you have in front of the camera:

1. Make sure you hair is well maintained. If you have highlights, make sure they are fresh, if your hair is colored, don’t allow unsightly roots to show and most importantly make sure that your hair is clean and brushed before you sit in the artist’s chair. If your hair is dirty it will look really separated in the photos and limit what styles are able to be achieved.

2. Get your brows groomed, even if your look is a natural-big brow at least make sure that they are shaped, since you won’t want to have them overly waxed. If your makeup artist has to take the time to groom your brows than that’s less time he/she will get to spend on your makeup, jeopardizing your look and time in front of the camera.

3. Remember, your face is your money maker so your skin should be as clear as possible. As a model it is your job to make sure you present the best canvas possible and that takes effort every day. Get regular facials, at least as often as you get your hair cut and use the right products to keep acne and dry skin at bay.

4. Be open minded. Your hair/makeup artist, clothing stylist and photographer are all there to get you the perfect shot so take their advice and be open to trying new things. Obviously if there is something that makes you uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to speak up and say no but for example if you always wear your hair straight then be adventurous and try other styles to give your portfolio variety. Your versatility is going to make you more marketable to agents.

If you follow these suggestions and arrive at the photoshoot on time and makeup free you will have a great shoot. Good Luck!

Get Out of the Gym & Try Yoga

2010-08-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

There’s more than one reason to take up yoga before you slip into your dress, one reason is to have magnificently toned arms and a stunning back and the other is to find your inner piece amidst all the chaos in planning a wedding.
If you’re in the Orlando area you MUST go to the best yoga studio in town

Check out their website http://www.orlandopoweryoga.com/

And sign up for a class with the best yoga instructor around Kelly Senn

OH and they are also hosting a huge group yoga event this Saturday at Lake Eola sponsored by lululemon.com so if you are a beginner or an advanced yoga master this event will be fun for everyone!

Kardashian Glamour Tan Review

2010-07-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that their new self tanner is AweSommmme! I am a really critical judge of self tanner because I think it’s pretty hard to top my SunFX Body Bronzing System but if you don’t have time to schedule an appointment with me, keep a bottle of Kardashian Glamour Tan on hand.

The thing that sets this tanner apart from many of the others out there is that it is completely clear and lightweight. If it has a smell it’s so subtle it goes undetected by me. It also has a really nice golden color so for $34 it’s definitely worth a try!

If you don’t like it call me and I’ll make a house-call to bronze you up with my spray tanning system!

Our First Bridal Show Vendor Booth

2010-07-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

This Sunday Fabulous Faces Studios had our first bridal show booth at the Your Wedding TV show at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. I only decided a few days before the show that we were going to participate so we really worked hard at throwing it all together and I must say... it looked really amazing! I couldn't have done it without Heide Evans and Jimmy Waldron's help because they created my marketing material, banner, new business cards and updated my website in literally, a blink of an eye.

Going into this adventure I said over and over that if we booked one solid wedding it would be worth it and guess what? WE BOOKED 5!!! Hellooooo! I am so excited and thrilled with my team.

I would definitely recommend the YWTV bridal shows in the future and I will definitely participate again. Also I'd like to take a moment to mention a few of the wonderful vendors that were there with me: Victoria Angela (photographer Elegant Imagery), Vangie de la Concha (planner & decor Blossoms), Annie Nuno (event planner Soiree) Angela Palacio and Jessica (Event Planners at the Hyatt, Jacob (photographer and printer), Helen & Talia from the Orlando Science Center (event planners) and Chad Pilster (photographer Pilster Photography). I was so glad to be in their presence.

Debating About Booking a Bridal Trial?

2010-07-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

If you answer YES to the following questions than you probably DON'T need to go through with a trial:

1. Did you see the artist’s work at another wedding and loved it?

2. Are you easy going and laid back so you’re willing to just trust the artist’s professional judgment?

3. Have you gotten excellent referrals about your artist?

If you answer YES to the following questions than you DO need to book a trial run with your artist to ensure you get what you want on your big day:

1. Do you have a super specific idea in mind of how you want your hair and makeup to look?

2. Are you hiring an artist that you’ve randomly picked?

3. Do you have a scar, pigmentation or acne that you are worried about covering?

Rogue Photoshoot

2010-07-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

After arriving at the shoot location I realize that this is an outdoor shoot with no electricity for my hot tools or airbrush machine, no tables for my supplies and very little shade from the blazing sun. I knew then that this would be a challenging day and I would need to improvise a lot. Oh and did I mention I couldn’t have been more inappropriately dressed in a Betsy Johnson silk dress, black sweater and a pair of BCBG patent leather pumps and it was 100 degrees. I immediately started working on my models after I checked out the clothes from the stylist. I couldn’t seem to find level ground for my director’s chair so each girl had to sit on cement blocks to get their hair and makeup done. Without hot tools I had to try my best to come up with beautiful hair looks that were tousled, adorned with braids and a little disheveled.

We were all so hot and sweaty that it became comical until I realized that wasn’t our only problem… I had been swatting horse flies and wasps for hours and now my feet and ankles were being attacked by red ants! Note to self, pack bug spray and sun screen as I later noticed a sunburn on the back of my neck from trying to shield my models from the sun. I had to pack and unpack my kit several times chasing the few spots of shade that was on a constant move as the sun progressed in the sky.
Just as unbelievable thirst was setting in I noticed that my only bathroom would be a port-a-pottie and then I decided I’d rather be thirty than have to go into that dreaded thing. At that point I think I would have paid $20 for a lemonade if I had the chance. The girls were getting restless but I kept plugging along because the photographer’s energy was contagious and despite all of nature’s hurdles I could tell they were getting amazing shots which made me want to keep going.

After about 8 hours and 4 looks we were informed that there was a second location that we needed to get to before sunset so we started to pack everything up again and head out. We drove another 30 minutes and I was following the caravan of cars filled with photographers, assistants, models, and stylists when I finally saw where the last shot was taking place... a beautiful, desolate, gorgeous piece of beach – there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The downside was if I thought it was challenging at the first location to do hair and makeup, how was I going to accomplish anything with all of the elements AND wind, sand the constant mist from the ocean? Luckily the models were doing bathing suit looks so I just needed a spray bottle and my fingers to create the final looks. As I stood back while the last shots were taken, my toes in the sand, the crashing waves in front of me and an incredible sunset off in the distance I thought not of the struggles of the day but that I love my job and if I get 3 outstanding shots, I would brave the elements all over again.

Recent Outdoor Wedding at Ringling

2010-07-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

So I have been anxious to see the finished photos from Latasha's wedding because while I was watching the photographer (Aaron Lockwood Photography) I could just tell they were going to be amazing!

As you can see the brides gown was a piece of art in itself, the bridesmaids wore a gorgeous shade of purple and the surrounding area at the Ringling Museum proved to be an incredible back drop for the photos.

I can't post them all here on the blog so if you would like to see more, please visit my Fabulous Faces Fan Page on Facebook.

These photos were gracefully provided to me by www.AaronLockwoodPhotography.com

Rainiest Wedding Weekend in History!

2010-07-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had several weddings to do on the Gulf Coast and unfortunately every single one had to battle rain on their big day. The first photo is from Alexandra's wedding. She got married on a farm in her mother's wedding gown. Her hair was really, really long and shiny and actually the examples she showed me were ones that she found on my own website which was nice because it was my work that she loved, not some photo she found in a magazine. She was a sweetheart and very simple bride so it was wonderful for me to get to make her feel special.

The next few photos were from a wedding that took place at the Don CeSAR in St. Pete Beach where I did hair for the bridesmaids. What a sweet group of gals... Most of them were inspired by Jessica Alba hairstyles which is always fun to recreate. The reoccurring request was to have their hair off of their necks because of the heat and off of their faces due to the winds... mission accomplished.

Best EYE PRIMER Ever!

2010-07-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Nothing is finer than this new eye primer by Tarte – try Lifted because it goes on smoothly and will keep your shadow from creasing until the next morning.

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P242809

My Bride May Be In Central Florida Bride Magazine

2010-06-28T13:10:00.001-07:00

I am so excited because I just found out today that my April bride, Angela Baragona, may be featured in an upcoming issue of Central Florida Bride magazine!!! Angela was a gorgeous bride and such a pleasure to work with so she and Matt deserve to get to share their story with others.

I will post a link and more pictures when the magazine is published!

Unforgettable Wedding Album

2010-06-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

So in this industry I am surrounded by amazingly creative people and I love it when I’m really WOWED by a vendor… Let me say this, today I was totally blown away by the most breathtaking wedding album I’ve ever seen and it was done by Damon Tucci Photography.

http://www.damontucci.com/

I was fortunate enough to do the makeup for Ashley Montandon (formally Abide) at her bridal portrait session and for her ultra glamorous wedding at the Ritz Carlton and Damon was there to capture every stunning second. He and his assistant Rosy were so chill and easy to work with that upon meeting they almost seem like they are too laid back to get all the right shots… WRONG! I think it’s their ease while working that must make the bride so comfortable in her own skin that she looks perfect in every pose (it didn’t hurt that her hair and makeup looked AMAZING).

Anyway, back to the matter at hand – the book… It was the most beautiful compilation of photos I’ve ever seen and it was put together in such a way that I felt like I was flipping through Snow White’s book of fairytales. Each page was expensively heavy and brilliantly colored and it was probably 4” thick!

If you are looking for a photographer please, please, please check him out… you won’t be sorry!

Damon Tucci Photography
1221 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 835-7879

Wedding Day Hair Preparation

2010-06-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

It is a misconception that the only thing you need to do in the year leading up to your wedding is ‘let your hair grow out’. In fact, if you love wearing your hair short or in a cute, stylish bob than why do you feel the need to grow your hair long for your wedding day? Shorter locks are adorable and unexpected on modern brides so don’t feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing. If you do have longer hair the following steps will ensure that your tresses will be gorgeous on your big day:

1. Look for a great stylist who is cognoscente of getting your hair in great condition in the months leading up to the wedding day.

2. Consider highlights! Even if you are apprehensive about highlights at least try subtle highlights because that will show up the detail in your bridal style whether you where it up or down.

3. After doing your hair trial take the photos to the stylist and he/she will be able to trim & highlight your hair in the best possible way for the style you’ve chosen to be it’s best.

4. Nothing is more beautiful than healthy shiny hair so condition, condition, condition BUT only up to the week before the wedding because you don’t want to over condition the day of your wedding style.

5. It’s NOT true that dirty hair makes for a better updo. In fact unless your hair is ridiculously dry you should wash it the morning of so that your hairline looks fresh instead of oily and separated.

Looking for a great stylist?

Try Tali at Alchemy in College Park on Edgewater Dr. 407.650.8022

Erin O'Connell's Kissimmee Wedding

2010-06-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup for Miss Erin O'Connell. Though the day started off with a minor catastrophe that was out of both our control, Erin stayed really calm - no freakouts here and I reassured her that no matter what, the wedding would still happen on time and she should enjoy the beauty part of her day as it is usually the most relaxing. She was surrounding by several wonderful bridesmaids which helped her stay worry free. Most of the girls, including the bride, opted for updos to keep their necks cool in our 100 degree Florida heat. Smart choice for any bridal party this time of year. Erin didn't put stipulations on the girls hair or makeup so I suggested a modified 'Lauren Conradesque' braid for the first bridesmaid with the hair romantically gathered in the back... Before I even came close to finishing the first look, each one of the bridesmaids liked it so much that they all decided to deviate from their original idea and go with a version of Kristen's, each modified to suit their individual face shapes, of course.

As we checked each girl off the list, my bride stayed so relaxed that it was apparent that she was really enjoying the whole experience. When it came time for her she told me that she had full confidence in me and that she trusted my judgment which means the world to me on such an important day. I made a few minor adjustments from the original trial look and her hair and makeup turned out even better than either of us thought possible. Needless to say it was another wonderful wedding and I wish all of my brides were as relaxed as Erin because it really makes their experience that much better with any artist they are working with.

Thank you to everyone involved today! I had a great time with all of the girls and have a feeling I made some new friends in the process.

Bridal Purse 'MUST HAVES'

2010-06-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

Since you don’t need a phone or wallet in your beautiful little clutch than you will have plenty of room for the following necessities:

1. Touch up lip color or gloss
2. Blotting powder or pressed powder compact
3. Bobby pins in your hair color
4. Band-Aids
5. Motrin
6. Breath mints – NOT gum!

TIPS FOR YOUR BRIDAL TRIAL

2010-05-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

1. Flip through magazines, not just bridal ones because red carpet styles are
really popular for brides so don’t count non-bridal looks… oh and bring plenty
of examples of what you like and don’t like so your stylist gets a good idea
of what you’re looking for.

2. If you never wear your hair up than don’t on your wedding – no one says you
have to!

3. Be open – let the professional you’ve hired help guide you on what would look
best on your face shape and with the accessories you’ve picked out.

TIPPING ETIQUETTE for Hair and Makeup Services

2010-05-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Wedding Day Hair and Makeup ‘TIPPING ETIQUETTE’

As much as I wrestled with whether or not to touch on this sometimes touchy subject, I concluded that poor or non-existent tipping is rooted lies with a not well informed bride so maybe this could be helpful in dealing with your future vendors.

I am very motivated to educate brides in the planning stages of their wedding since recently I executed another large service wedding (totaling over $1100 in hair and makeup services) and was over-the-moon that the bride and everyone in her party was thrilled at the results however sadly on the 3 hour drive home I excitedly opened my tip envelope to find $30. Grateful at the gesture as I am, I would be lying if I said I was super disappointed after all of my hard work in making her day as perfect and stress free as I could – not to mention all of the discounts I gave them in good faith.

Here’s a way to look at it that might seem more reasonable… You would never get your hair highlighted without tipping the stylist AND she didn’t even travel to you. When you dine out it isn’t a question about how much is appropriate to tip your server and I guarantee that the wedding DJ definitely was thanked monetarily for your appreciation… even your nail technician was rewarded so why would it be ok to skip the 1 person who’s artistry made you feel stunning on the biggest day of your life?

By all means if you were unhappy with your service you should NOT feel obligated to tip but it means the world to us artists that get to work with you on your big day and I’m just asking you to consider us the same as we are only here to serve you.

Excellent Service is 20% of $1100 = $220

Good Service is 15% of $1100 = $165

Satisfactory Service is 10% of $1100 = $110

$30 on $1100 = 2.73%

Please give me your feedback as this is a very important topic but often too difficult to discuss so I would love to know your thoughts.

Sex & the City Premier Makeover Party

2010-05-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is a recently added service created by none other than my stylish clients - If you are excited about seeing the much anticipated sequel but you want to do something other than just dinner before the show, consider inviting your girlfriends over for a little Sex and the City makeup session/lesson (starting at $199 per group).

Sex and the City $199 Package includes:

- We focus on smokey eyes: how to do them, what colors look best to create the look and tips on getting a clean, sexy look with sultry colors.
- Everyone gets a FREE false lash application.
- All the girls can have a 100% organic, Dancing with the Stars spray tan for $30 instead of the regular rate of $50 per person.
PLUS 50% off Brow Shaping for everyone
- This usually takes about 1.5 - 2.5 hours and I can take up to 5 girls and the host will get a gorgeous bottle of champagne to get the night started off just right!

* Other options are available, email me for details Kara@FabulousFacesStudio.com

If interested let me know... I've already booked 4 parties this week!

More weddings should have Ostrich plumes… it’s so glamorous!

2010-04-27T11:54:00.001-07:00

I just attended a wedding at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and it was well fashioned with huge white Ostrich plumes provided by Vangie de la Concha of Blossoms. It was so elegant and probably the most elegant style of weddings I’ve ever seen.

The MOST BEAUTIFUL wedding invitations you’ve ever seen!

2010-04-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

Check out PaperCharm.com to see some of the innovative and stunning designs created by Angela Palacio. You will not be disappointed if hire Paper Charm and your guests will be blown away!

We now offer Brow Tinting!

2010-04-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

Add a custom color tint to any brow service for an introductory price of $10!
We use the highest quality hair color (Igora) and the service takes about 30 minutes and the results last for up to 3 weeks.

Dancing with the Stars Spray Tan Solution – Finally Arrived!

2010-04-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Make your appointment today to try out our NEW tanning solution – it’s organic and safe for all skin types, even acne prone skin! It’s not full of filler ingredients or preservatives and gives a gorgeous caramel to chocolate color with NO ODER.

The best part is we offer this as a mobile service so you can get a golden glow in the comfort of your own home for $45. You can also get an excellent discount if you get some friends together for a little tanning session. 4 or more people and each person tans for $38 and the host tans for FREE.

Perfect Brow Color Combinations to Fill In Your Brows

2010-04-27T11:49:00.001-07:00

BLONDES:
- MAC Omega or Soba with Lingering pencil
RED HEADS:
- MAC Cork or Espresso with Spiked pencil
BRUNETTES:
- MAC Espresso or Brun with Stud pencil
(ALL used with a MAC 266 brush)

Try out our Expert Brow Shaping for $30 and each time you have a touch up shaping within 3 weeks you only pay $22 as part of our Fringe Benefits Program.

How to De-Pot Your MAC Eye Shadow & Blush

2010-04-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

Tools You’ll Need:
1. Toaster Oven with a sheet of Aluminum Foil
2. Butter Knife, Xacto Blade & Scissors
3. Rubbing Alcohol
4. Q-tips or Cotton Swabs
5. Paper Towel & Baby Wipes
6. Magnetic Sheet (found at JoAnn Fabrics or Michael’s)
7. MAC Pro Pallet

Now you’re ready to begin!
1. Slide your blade in between the small slit in your MAC case once you’ve
opened the lid. This will pop out the shadow and small case around it.
2. Place up to 5 shadows on a sheet of aluminum foil in the toaster oven and
bake for 3-5 minutes on 300 degrees.
*If you put more than 5 at a time you will not be able to complete the step before the glue starts to adhere again.
3. Most of the pans will pop out of the plastic cases on their own because of
the heat but if they don’t you just take your knife and carefully lift the
pan out. The plastic won’t be ridiculously hot but the metal pan is so be
CAREFUL not to burn yourself.
4. Once the pans cool, clean the bottoms with the rubbing alcohol to remove the
glue.
5. Cut small squares or circles out of the magnetic sheet and place them on the
bottom of each clean pan of shadow.
6. Carefully remove each label and place it on the bottom of the shadow (on top
of the magnet).
7. Take your butter knife and wedge it in between the center open space of your
Pro Pallet to pop out the spacer (you only have to do this step if you want
to fit more shadows in each one).
8. You’re DONE! Now just place them in whatever order makes you happy and
instead of fitting 15 shadows in the pallet you can now fit 22!

Remember to SAVE all of your plastic MAC containers for the Back to MAC recycle program where you can return 6 for a free lipstick at any MAC counter OR return 6 to any Pro store and chose a lip color, shadow or a few other products of the same price.

Today’s Boudoir Shoot – a success!

2010-04-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today I got to be a part of a boudoir shoot for one of my super hot brides (Angela Baragona). We did the shoot at the Crown Plaza downtown in the Presidential Suite and the photographer who took all of these magnificent photos is Mr. JR Sterling. Angela did the shoot as a wedding present to her handsome groom Matt and he absolutely loved it!
In my opinion ladies, a boudoir shoot is way better than having bridal portraits done.

3 Day Wedding Extravaganza

2010-04-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

So this week we executed the long awaited, much anticipated wedding between Kalani & LeslieAnn. I had the pleasure of doing LeslieAnn's hair and makeup for all of the 4 events leading up to the beautiful wedding on Saturday. LeslieAnn was a unique bride with a great affinity for looking glamourous - hello! a makeup artist's dream! We did a sexy loosely gathered hair style for the first event (a Hawiaan themed welcome party) complete with spectacular faux tropical flowers arranged in her hair and fun, bright makeup. The second look was a throwback to my favorite era of old Hollywood. We chose a very Audrey like ivory & black silk dress so that we could do a big chignon with silver, diamond & pearl hair flowers with none other than blazing red lips, perfect brows and bambi lashes. It was a smash hit! Later that night we transform LeslieAnn into the South Beach Hottie for her rehearsal dinner. We chose big wild beach waves, sexy bronzy skin and eyes with glossy gold lipgloss to finish off her look. The main event... Drum roll please... this bride wanted a 'Kim Kardashian' makeup look paired with an over-the-top take on the recent SJP award show hair style, which I will be honest, the execution made me a little tense but thank goodness we nailed it and it was another home run.

Whew... many thanks to a magnificent couple, a wonderful wedding party, an amazing and creative wedding planner - Vangie de la Concha and the ever pleasent event planner at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - Angela Palacio (who by the way did all of the fantastic invitations - check out papercharm.com).

EYEBROWS, EYEBROWS, EYEBROWS!

2009-08-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

Ladies (and gentleman)... where is the disconnect in the grooming process that allows the most important feature on your entire face to get overlooked? I mean it, you may not agree that brows are that critical but think about it, without a well shaped brow beautiful eyes won't even get noticed if they are swallowed up by a sea of hairs marching south on your faces. Brows also set the tone for your entire face, meaning they determine if you are going to have an open appearance, a closed-scowling look or a strong, powerful face. I won't say much more right now because since brows are "my thing" this will probably be one of many blogs about brows...

Stay tuned and for God's sake (and mine) shape up those caterpillars or call me and I will gladly rescue you from the hairy mess you're in *big smile*

Makeup Bag Makeovers

2009-08-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

Makeup Bag Makeovers is specifically designed to show women that THEY don't necessarily need a makeover but their makeup bags could use some help to let them show their true potential by utilizing what products they already have and in some cases suggesting a product that would make the MAC eyeshadow that you got talked into buying more than just a rad color that sits at the bottom of your bag. Who knows, you might have all the right tools and colors but you just need someone to help you with how to use it OR your makeup bag might truely suck (lol) and you desperately need my help to preform CPR on your routine. Whatever the case may be, before you get suckered in at another cosmetic counter buying gads of new products that you won't use, let me take a look and we might tweak it a skosh but I promise, no I gaurantee that it will be worth it!

Launching Our New Website

2009-08-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

We are terribly excited to be launching our new website which we hope will prove to be an excellent tool for newly engaged brides to navigate and drive our 'word of mouth' clients to check out other services that we office such as Mobile Spray Tanning & Brow Shaping, a new service called Makeup Bag Makeovers, incredible Color & Highlights done by the one and only, Luvi at THC Salon in Winter Park.

Our dear friend Mike, aka the Marketing Master, is dedicating his time to make our new site as fabulous as the company it represents so please, if you love our site - visit his too by clicking on the icon at the bottom of our page.

Another Bridal Fashion Show...

2009-08-03T21:07:00.001-07:00

So Luvi and I participated in another bridal fashion show on July 26th for YourWeddingTV.com and we are happy to report it was a huge success! Some of our models were really a pleasure to work with (Tasha, Jordan, Jen and Annie - you girls rock!) We have some great runway photos thanks to our dedicated and fabulous photographer (Chris). We did have a few hurdles to overcome, an uncooperatetive model, 2 dress shops forgetting to bring any, yes any accessories or veils (we won't name names - not our style) BUT we pulled through and gave the producers an edgy take on bridal makeup and hair, as they requested.

As a side note, let me just say that fashion show hair and makeup is grueling, some either LOVE IT (me) or hate it... doing one or two of these gigs can weed out the later of the two but I think it is something that every makeup artist or hair stylist should do to challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zone.

Thanks to Annie Nuno, Mr. Michael DeArruda and YourWeddingTV.com for asking Bobby Pins & Blush to do the fashion show and we will see you at the fall show hopefully!