Thursday, January 28, 2010

From Frumpy to Fabulous in just minutes!



Recently I was interviewed by author, Elizabeth Donovan, M.A. and offered some advice for moms on how to look their very best.
Making up moms is one of my favorite subjects, as I have done many mom makeovers, and as a working wife and mother of two boys, I know all too well, the sleepless nights & stress filled days!
Below is a reprint of the article from Parenting Pink web site...enjoy and thank you, Elizabeth!


As moms, we are warriors of daily chicken nugget battles, dirty diaper duty, running tactical night time nursing missions, soldiering on as we run our 10th carpool of the evening, and manning the position as CEO of everything from drool to teenage drama. It’s no wonder that we often lose ourselves in a fashion abyss of over-sized sweat pants, Adidas sneakers, and forgo any signs that we used to wear make-up.
But just because we are busy moms, doesn’t mean we have to completely let ourselves go, does it? According to Patty Bell, a film and television make-up artist, absolutely not: “Time is crucial to moms, and sometimes adding just a touch of makeup can instantly take you from frumpy to fabulous in an instant.” Bell has transformed many moms on popular “makeover shows” and believes if moms take a few extra minutes for themselves in the morning, you can look and feel your best. Not to mention your new-found self confidence will make you a better parent!

Transforming the way you look whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mom doesn’t have to be costly or time consuming. Minutes and seconds are precious commodities in our lives and so our sense of fashion needs to fit into overly crammed schedules. Changing small parts of ourselves has the added benefit of boosting moms self-esteem. In fact, recent studies have shown that by changing something positively about the way you look can have a profound effect on a woman’s self esteem. Moms feel better, look better, and are better moms when they take a few minutes to take care of themselves.
Try these time-saving tips to boost your self esteem and instantly transform yourself from frumpy to fabulous!

Get your mommy groove back with new underwear:
“One of the best things women can do to improve their look is to start with the right underwear,” says Rachel LeRoy, author and owner of intimateguide.com. “Visible panty lines make any pants seem out of date.” It’s also important for busy moms to take a moment to find a bra that fits correctly and is comfortable. “The right bra can take years off by lifting breasts to where they should be and giving shirts the right shape,” discloses LeRoy. Got a little “muffin top” or unsightly cellulite on your post-baby body? LeRoy suggests moms invest in a pair of “slimming shape wear” that she says can “take off close to 10 pounds in 2 minutes.” Women in general tend to think about what they wear on the outside more than underneath. “When women update what’s “under there”, it makes a huge difference! ”

Accessorize it:
Make your outfit and personality “pop” by adding a few accessories before you run out of the door in the morning. “Accessories are a great way to add instant flair to any outfit without breaking the budget,” says Nichelle N. Pace, founder and editor of stylemom.com. “Big statement necklaces, bangle bracelets, scarves, and a fantastic pair of pumps are perfect wardrobe enhancements,” she says. But what about the stay-at-home mom who feels trapped in her jeans and sweatpants? Pace has the perfect way to accessorize for her too. “If you’re wearing jeans and a fitted white t-shirt, just add a colorful scarf for instant pop,” she advises. And accessories don’t have to cost you a small fortune. “Chico’s has some great accessories for mom’s on a budget,” says Pace. So go ahead, toss on a scarf or a few bangles, you’ll be glad you did!

Take the 3 minute make-up challenge:
“Makeup can make a big difference,” says Crisit Miller, owner of houppette.com. Miller believes that by taking a few extra minutes in the morning, moms can quickly transform from frumpy to fabulous. “A tinted moisturizer with SPF, concealer, cheek cream blush, Mascara and lip gloss can make a huge difference,” believes Miller. “It will brighten the complexion, get rid if tired eyes and give her a polished look in 3 minutes!” Three minutes? Now that’s a little time most moms can afford in between swigs of coffee and changing dirty diapers.
• Pay attention to your skin tone. Even moms who do apply make up can still have a “washed out” tired-mommy look if they apply the wrong type to their skin. Miller suggests for moms that have redness in their complexions use peach tones for cheeks and lips. For sallow or olive skin, choose pinks! And, “sheer textures for a wash of color will look natural and soft, perfect for everyday and super easy to apply!” The idea is that moms shouldn’t feel overwhelmed when applying make up. A little bit goes a long way.
• Don’t forget to glam-up yourself in seconds with lip gloss. Every mom knows that seconds are precious when you are trying to do a thousand things at once, but make-up artist Patty Bell insists that it doesn’t take much effort to look and feel like a million bucks.”Don’t forget the lip gloss to glam up your “mom-ness,” says Bell. “Rosebud’s strawberry lip balm adds a touch of color and is a great all round moisturizer for lips, nails, hair and skin- another great time saver,” she says. “Any lip gloss instantly brightens your face and smile, giving you a younger look.” Another great perk about lip gloss is that you can apply it just about anywhere so it’s the perfect item to spice-up the look of moms-on-the-go.
• Say good-bye to those dark circles. “Nothing says tired mom like circles under the eyes,” confesses Bell. “Concealer is a mom’s best friend, and another product that can take a few years off.” Bell recommends Yves St.Laurent’s Touche Eclat concealer as it not only conceals dark circles, but also highlights and brightens eyes without appearing cakey.

Shop your closet Swap Parties:
In need of a new mommy wardrobe makeover but don’t want to spend the cash? Then swap your wardrobe instead! Nichelle N. Pace, founder and editor of stylemom.com, has discovered the key to keeping her wardrobe updated and fashion savvy, “Get the wine and cheese, a sitter for the kids, and invite your gal pals over for a swap party,” she says. “Most of us have things in our closet, some even with the tags on it that we haven’t worn or may not like the fit anymore.” Simply send out invitations to your gal pals requesting clothing in good
condition and a variety of sizes. Not only is this a great way to update your look, but it provides moms with a wonderful way to laugh and bond. “Swap parties are a super fun way to not only get a new outfit or item for your wardrobe, but also just another good reason to get together with the gals,” advises Pace.

Keep a “Play dress up” mentality.
Pace, also encourages moms to have a playful attitude when picking out an outfit. “When getting ready for a night out or an event, invite a girlfriend over for another perspective to get some new ideas,” says Pace. “Remember, most women don’t run out of clothes, we run out of ideas! Don’t be afraid to get creative and express yourself.”
Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or take hours at a time to make small changes to your wardrobe and personal style. By making a few basic changes, moms can feel and look like a fabulous at any age!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

We've won Wedding Wire's Bride's Choice Award 2010!




What an honor to be chosen one of the top makeup artists and hairstylists for Wedding Wire.com!
Thank you to all of our 2009 brides for the honor to be a part of your very special day...this one's for you!
Press release- for immediate release:

Pittsburgh, Pa. 1/19/2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that On Location Hair and Makeup has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for outstanding makeup and hair services.
The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

On Location Hair and Makeup is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that On Location Hair and Makeup is among the very best makeup artists and hairstylists within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today!

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

So you want to be a makeup artist?!



I get numerous emails from so many girls, and guys, wanting to be makeup artists.
Many want to know where to start, how I got started, can they shadow me, intern with me, teach them, etc., but my 23 year career did not happen overnight. It's been a long, wonderful, very rewarding career and one that I still cherish and enjoy to this day.

But, before you start, you may need to ask yourself a few questions before taking on such an incredible journey as a makeup artist.
Do you love making others look and feel good?
Do you love to travel, make a lot of money and meet interesting people?
Do you love playing with makeup and creating beautiful new looks?
...those are the plus sides of being a makeup artist. Now consider this:
How about working long hours, nights, weekends, sometimes holidays, and having no set schedule?
Do you like not knowing when your next job, or paycheck may be?
Are you good at promoting yourself to get clients?
...then this may be the job for you!


The best advice I could give is to someone wanting to be a makeup artist is to get your cosmetology license for hair and makeup or check out the fabulous makeup schools such as: Joe Blasco, Westmore Academy or MUD.
My esthetician teacher once gave me the best piece of advice, "the more you know, the more you are worth."
Many schools today have teachers that are actually working in the field today, so their first hand knowledge really adds to the curriculum. There you can learn the basic fundamentals of makeup application, prosthetics, special effects, and so much more.
And in todays economy, with most major companies cutting back, his advice is still holds true to this day.
There are very few openings as full time makeup artists with television studios or production companies these days, and the ones who are there value their positions and are the best in the industry, or they wouldn't be there!

The majority of makeup artists work freelance, that means working for several companies, as an independent contractor, throughout the course of your career.
It also means being "on call", 24/7, whenever a production needs you, the call goes out to find a makeup artist, ASAP... and more often than not, whoever answers the call first, gets the job.
As a freelancer, that means, you must be willing & able to accept any job that comes along if you want to get paid, or eat!
There are no benefits, sick days or paid vacations being a freelance makeup artist. You pay your own health insurance, and find your own clients, find a replacement if you are ill...quite simply, if you don't work, you don't get paid.

But when you do work, those jobs can be very exciting.
It's best to have a portfolio, or photos of your work, if you want to get hired or have an agent. They need to see what your makeup skills look like in print in order to hire you.
If you don't have one, find yourself a reputable fashion or commercial photographer in town, and offer your services in exchange for pictures for your portfolio.
You will have to do a lot of volunteering and assisting at first just to build up your resume.
I also suggest working in the department stores, or a hair salon, to develop your skills. There you have unlimited access to make up different faces on a daily basis. You can also begin to build your makeup kit as most companies offer gratis to their employees, as well as training.

Work can also be found by calling the television & local cable stations, newspapers, magazines & local film office, and volunteering your services. But, most companies have their steady artists that they call upon regularly, so getting hired right away can often be very difficult.
There are always job postings on Craigslist looking for makeup artists for independent films. They usually don't pay, but it's a good way to break into the film business and get your name in the credits.

Once you establish your name in the industry, that is just the beginning. You must form good solid and trusting relationships with your clients to keep them returning.
There is no room for mediocrity, and sloppy makeup application- you must strive to be your absolute best, on every job, as only the strong survive in this highly competitive market.
That means not only being the best makeup artist, but: arriving on time, having a clean, organized makeup kit, avoiding gossip, and knowing on set etiquette and being able to deal with talent of all backgrounds, races, religions, sexes, political parties and respecting their individual opinions and privacy.
It also goes without saying, but one MUST have: a cell phone, computer, printer & a car these days as many job details are sent via email and even text. (NYC is one of the few places that you won't need a car to get around town).

Remember, you are hired because of a specialized skill and unique talent that you bring to the production, and one that involves not only makeup, but making the talent feel comfortable and at ease as you are the first one they meet.
Honor this profession, and remember the Max Factor's, and George Westmore's of the world who have paved the way for all of us to continue to strive and excel in one of the best jobs in all of show biz.

written by: Patty Bell
model- Tiffany Fluhme founder and CEO of Fluhme Cosmetics
featuring: Fluhme Cosmetics