Beauty tips for the sleep deprived!

I am always amazed at the female news anchors and reporters who always look so fresh, happy and awake at 5:00 in the morning...how do they do it?!
I asked a few friends of mine from the local news stations to give me some of their early morning beauty tips.
Michelle Wright of WTAE TV, says, "I get enough sleep & water and love Joe Blasco foundation and cover up and Mac blush and eye shadows".
WPXI's reporter, Cara Sapaida, begins her day very, very early.
"Getting extra sleep, even a few minutes, a few days a week is key. For that I invest in a good dry shampoo. That way I don't have to wash my hair every morning. Some people swear by it and use it on day three as well! I'm not one of those gals. There's a new shampoo by TIGI called Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo. I also like good eye cream though for sure. And lately i've been using Hope in a Tube by Philosophy. My favorite tip is a nice, hot cup of coffee. When all else fails, I can count on THAT!"

As a film and television makeup artist, my job is to make actors look their very best first thing in the morning, often with crew calls starting at 4:30 am, so I, too, have created a list of beauty products to help you look & achieve your very best, too!

The key to looking fresh in the early morning is to wear bright colors!
Add colors like pink, corals, reds & blue...they instantly perk up your skin. You want to avoid, greys, black, khakis, beiges and browns, those colors will make your skin appear lack luster & dull.

Your skin also needs perked up in the morning, so get your circulation going by gently exfoliating your skin.
I love Queen Helene mint julep scrub, to wake up your skin.
You can also try good 'ole baking soda, it's pure natural & very cheap. Just keep a box in your shower & mix a tablespoon in your hand with a few drops of water, and any excess can be worked through your hair to remove excess hairspray build up.

While your at it in the shower, try some Caffeinated soap from ThinkGeek.com and follow with a final blast of ice cold water to add shine to your hair and really wake you up!

The next step is to work on the eyes, first thing we do is add eye drops!
Many actors I work with swear by Collyre Blue eye drop to make the whites appear their absolute whitest.

Your other best friend is to invest in a good eye cream, find something cooling, firming and smoothing.
I like YSL's contour eye cream.
Many eye creams now have caffeine in them which is said to perk up the eye area.
Another less expensive, but effective eye cream is, from 100 percent Pure, check out their 100 percent organic caffeine eye cream!


Curling the eyelashes instantly opens the eyes up & makes them appear larger.
The best eyelash curler on the market is: Shu Uemera. It's a little more expensive than drugstore eyelash curlers, but so worth every penny! The wider curler fits the eye shape better and gently curves the lashes and doesn't bend them in half.

Mascara is another way to appear more awake.
After curling your lashes, apply two coats of navy mascara to make the whites appear brighter and more awake.
Concentrate on adding more mascara to the outer lashes to make the eyes appear more open, and cat like!
I like Lumene blue mascara:
...or if you're really looking for some eye popping fun, try Dior's Azure blue mascara- the brightest blue around!

Eyeliners should also be deep navy or blue to make the whites look their whitest. You want to avoid any purples, khaki's or brown eyeliners on a sleepless night. Those colors will only accentuate under eye circles.
I like MAC's Navy stain Powerpoint liner, it's one of the best! The color is not too bright but also has a hint of metallic that will also make your eyes sparkle in the early morning.
The formula is long lasting, and waterproof but glides on effortlessly.

Avoid any eyeshadows with pink or purple that day, especially on the lid.
Any colors with red undertones applied on the lid or close to the lash line will make your eyes appear red, tired and puffy looking like you've been crying all night.
Add a touch of sparkle to the lid by applying a waterproof, creaseproof creme shadow such as Laura Mercier's Platinum Metallic eye color:

And finally, the most important, and our BFF, is... under eye concealer!
I cannot live without YSL's Touche Eclat for an instant pick me up, anytime; it is the best beauty product on the market today! It highlights under the eye without ever looking cakey.
If you need a little more coverage that day, look for products that have yellow undertones to help counteract the purpleness under your eyes.
I also use a lot of MAC's studio finish concealer for television- works great!


Blush is another way to appear more awake!
Sometimes, sleepless nights require a little more blush to make you look refreshed & alive!
My all time favorite is:
NARS orgasm blush- it's a very flattering pinky coral blush with soft golden highlkights that look great on just about everyone!


Lip color is a must!
This will always make you look your very best in the early morning,
Avoid beige, matte tones that will blend into your skin.
Clear reds and soft pinky coral tones will brighten your tired skin, as does a little lip gloss!
I like Benefit's tinted lip balm, a great shade that works for all skin tones.
...And if you really need that extra pick me up, try:
Smashbox's caffeine laced lip pencil!
or how about a caffeinated lip balm to keep you awake?!

And, finish your look with a dust of a pink powder, which helps brighten the skin.
T LeClerc makes the finest powder out there, it's used by many models and makeup artists.
Their Orchidee pink veil powder perks up all skin!


These tips only mask a sleep deprived face, naturally, your best bet is to get 8 hours of sleep, exercise 30 minutes a day, and drink 8 glasses of water to hydrate & plump your skin, but with a lot of us creative night owls, who has time to sleep?!
...sometimes life gets in the way of beauty, bring on daylight savings time!

Fall Beauty Tips for 2009

With fall now upon us it's time to re-think our makeup & beauty routine.

Lips:


Lips tend to be a bit dryer now, so time to get out the lip balm & lose the bright pinks & corals from summer and switch to the cooler shades of plums, berries and deep reds for this fall.
For lip balms, I have a ton of them but I always turn to cherry Chapstick when my lips are their driest...it's economical, leaves just a touch of color on the lips, and it tastes great, too!

Purples, blood reds and almost black are huge shades for fall lip colors.
With vampires making their comeback in the media, makeup has reflected those changes. Think, pale skin, dark glossy cherry stained lips & plum shadows....that's your fall face, though they might not look best on everyone.
If you don't want to appear too ghoulish, try a sheer deep lip gloss, and keep your eye makeup neutral.
And... I must not forget one of my all time favorite lipliners, Chanel's Nude for autumn, but if you're looking to save some money, I suggest #666 (how appropriate for fall) lip liner from Wet 'N Wild which is almost identical & .99 cents!


Eyes

The smoky eye is back with a vengeance!
Black, greys, silvers & purple shadows are all the rage, as are false eyelashes!
It's time to make the switch to deep plums, liners, shadows & mascara.
Luckily, these shades look best on everyone, and they can be found everywhere right now.
Ditch the spring peachey colors and reach for the deep rust shades, and put aside your lime greens of summer and replace them with emerald greens & khaki's and the yellows with gold.
Think fall leaves, golds, reds, deep browns, greens...those colors work best in your makeup palette now.

Foundation

With fall, the skin needs a little more protection from the elements & also a little more moisture.
I do believe that the one beauty investment women should make, should be a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly. This may take some trial and error until you find the right one. My own personal favorites for flawless skin include: Chanel, Laura Mercier & Armani.
But...If you are looking to save money, and like a little more coverage, I also love Revlon's Colorstay foundation. We've used it a lot in film and television, and the formula is very long lasting.

Skin also gets a little drier with the change of seasons, so sometimes it's necessary to switch foundations and add something with a little more moisture for this time of year.
I tend to like products that save time, especially in the morning, and tinted moisturizers do that for me. If you prefer a sheerer coverage in your foundation, you can either mix your current foundation with a few drops of moisturizer or just try one of my personal favorites, Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer- it's a moisturizer, foundation & sunscreen all in one.
Another trick to get the most mileage out of your foundation is to add a primer under your foundation to help your makeup stay on longer, glide on easier, & minimize pores and oil.
A good one is:
Cargo HD primer- which adds a touch of color to the skin as well.
And, remember, just because it's fall...you still need to use a SPF. Those rays may be a little further away, but they can still cause sun damage.


Nails

An instant wardrobe update for everyone of all ages this fall is to deepen your nail color....for less than 10.00 you can be instantly in style this fall!
Look for navy, purple, mahogany, wines & blacks.
My favorites are from OPI...I love the staying power & shine of these colors, not to mention their great names, but any great drugstore shade will do the trick!

Skin

Drier skin means one word...exfoliation!
You do not have to spend a lot of money on exfoliators when all you have to do is open your kitchen cupboard!
Reach for that box of Arm & Hammer baking soda & make a paste out of it using either water or witch hazel & gently scrub your skin.
It is one of the most economical products on the market & also the purest for skin.
Besides cleaning your skin, it can also be used to brush your teeth, remove hairspray build up and freshen your laundry!
Keep a box in your shower, and when your done beautifying yourself...scrub down your shower walls & floors, as baking soda is one of the greenest cleansers around!

...In summary, fall makeup is rich, deep, vibrant colors which may or may not work for everyone, but the key is to play up your best feature and add one or two new products to bring your current makeup routine up to fashion.
Your little black dress for fall may only need a fun nail polish, deep plum liner and lip gloss to bring your look up to date.
Makeup is fall's best kept secret accessory!

Congratulations Bridget & Max!

It's October... one of my busiest bridal months!
Yesterday, I spent the day with another gorgeous bride, Bridget & her lovely family.
The morning was spent getting ready at her beautiful home in Allison Park, and then proceeded to St. Paul Cathedral for her ceremony and finally on to the Carnegie Museum for her reception.

Bridget is a natural beauty already, and only needed a small amount of makeup to enhance her natural good looks...I just gave her complexion a little boost with a touch of foundation from Makeup Forever, some blush from Chanel, and set it all with one of the best face powders on the market, Visiora. I played up her eyes with Dior's Incognito collection, Pink Bliss shadow, Diorshow black waterproof mascara, MAC's navy stain powerpoint eyeliner, and topped it all off, was NARS Mitzi lipcolor, and Chanel's Brilliance gloss.

Thank you Bridget for allowing me to share in your very special day complete with bagpipes, museums and 2 Irish bands!
I loved making you even more beautiful, if that was even possible...it truly was an honor to be a part of your ceremony.

Makeup by Patty Bell
colors:
Makeup Forever foundation #20
Visiora powder 002
Chanel pink blush
Dior Incognito shadows
MAC Navystain eyeliner
Nars Mitzi lipstick
Chanel brilliance lipgloss
Diorshow black waterproof mascara

Makeover Pittsburgh!

Watch for a new show this fall, called Makeover Pittsburgh!
It will premiere on Comcast in the On Demand section.
I was honored to be a part of a fabulous makeover crew, featuring hair by Tom Beckes from The Salon at Saxonburg, and clothing by Carabella in Oakmont.
When I say this was my dream job, I truly mean it!
Our makeover winners, Bonnie and Marcia, truly touched all of our hearts in a very special way...we laughed, we cried and most of all, we changed lives!
Thanks Kym, thanks Comcast...can't wait until the next episodes!

WPXI Interview with makeup artist Patty Bell

Local Makeup Artist Brings Experience To G-20
By: Jessica Woiner, WPXI.com

PITTSBURGH -- This month’s G-20 Summit promises to provide politics, protests and plenty of paparazzi.
But, who will keep global dignitaries and international reporters looking their best?
Pittsburgh freelance makeup artist, Patty Bell.
Bell, a 20 year TV and film makeup veteran, was contacted by German News Network ARD to provide make up for its news anchors.

“My other concern was that I am working for a German TV station, so would there be a language barrier?” pondered Bell. “But all of the anchors speak English and German.”
Bell said she has worked in tight security situations before, having many of her makeup kits searched, but she found getting credentials for working the G-20 an arduous task.
“I basically had to give my life away to work on this G-20,” she said.
But security and communication are not Bell’s biggest issues with the freelance gig.
“My biggest concern is getting there,” Bell said. “I am thinking I will allow myself an hour to get there, and I only live seven minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh.”
Although Bell’s transportation concerns are uncertain, her job once she enters the convention is clear.
The German news station sill set up two rooms to occupy their anchor desk.
Copyright 2009 by WPXI.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

www.wpxi.com/news/20859038/detail.html

...what if film crews ran the world?

This has definitely been one of my favorite commercials this year, but my only complaint, because I have worked on thousands of commercials over the past 20 years is....they forgot to call "last looks" on the bride before she walked down the aisle!

On every film set around the world, makeup, hair and wardrobe are called upon at the very last minute to do a final check before the actor appears on camera.
It is the trained eye of that artist to perfect and correct any imperfection they see, such as: shine, a mascara fleck, a hair out of place, and the dreaded...lipstick on the teeth! No one is perfect...not even actors, but it is the job of the makeup artist to achieve that goal.

Many actors become friends with their makeup artists as they trust their keen eye to assure them that they look their absolute best, at all times, whether it's on the big screen, red carpet or a magazine cover. You can guarantee that behind every big celebrity is a well paid makeup artist who worked an hour or so on her face!

We are trained to fix, correct, repair and beautify, sometimes all in a matter of seconds, and it all gets magnified on the big screen for the world to see!

I salute the makeup artists of the film world, who work, round the clock, day or night, in sickness and in health, in strange locations, and weather conditions, tirelessly making their actors beautiful, (or grotesque), day after day...only for the world to see their name go flying by for a split second, in a tiny credit on the big screen!

...If the world were ruled by makeup artists...it would be such a beautiful place to live:)

Makeup advice for the over 40 crowd!

I was recently interviewed by Leann Sabato, of Cosmetiholic.com, regarding makeup for the mature woman.
It was an honor to be a part of her makeup artist Monday blog!

"Aging isn't easy and makeup can either make you look older, or turn back the years. Award-winning, celebrity makeup artist Patty Bell gives us the low down on how makeup can help or hurt, and how to take 10 years off in an instant.

What are the makeup rules for aging skin?
As women mature, the "less is more" rule, really applies here! All those years of sun worshipping really does catch up to you eventually, so this is the time to: add a night cream to your skin care routine; stop smoking; stay out of the sun; eat healthy; exercise drink lots of water; and ease up on the foundation,powder and heavy eyeshadows!

How can women avoid crepy skin, caused by foundation and powder?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Some foundations and powders can actually make the skin look older by settling in the fine lines. You want to look for a light, moisturizing foundation with sunscreen, and skip the powder altogether.
For daytime, I would suggest a tinted moisturizer. I have found that some of the mineral foundations look chalky and shiny on mature skin, so I never recommend them to my older clients, and avoid heavily frosted eyeshadows and bronzers as they will only draw attention to the crepiness. And never, ever use pancake makeup - save that for the morticians!

What makeup changes should a woman make when she begins to notice fine lines?
When you first start to notice fine lines, I would suggest using a Retin A cream at night, drink lots of H2O, exfoliate your skin and look for any moisturizers with Hyaluronic acid in it, which plumps up the skin by attracting water And most importantly, wear sunscreen!
Be conscientious as to where your lines are occuring: Sometimes women get lines on their upper forehead from applying mascara, sometimes they are from smiling (which is okay & completely natural) and sometimes the lines are from sleeping on your side. Many times the lines around the mouth & lips, may be from smoking. But remember that aging is a natural process and It's best to just own those lines...you earned them!

What makeup tips/trends make women look older?
Too much makeup instantly makes a woman look older. Very dark lips, tons of mascara, pancake makeup, black eyeliner, blue eyeshadow, and frosty pink lipstick can instantly age and date you. Today's makeup should be fresh & clean...regardless of your age! One should never hide behind their makeup, like a mask.

What makeup tips/trends make women look younger?
Sometimes the subtlest changes can make all the difference in a woman's face, and take off 5-10 years without surgery. As we age, our eyes tend to droop, our lashes and lips become thinner, our skin loses elasticity, our eyes lose their vibrancy & our teeth fade...but have no fear, makeup can cure everything!
A little concealer such as YSL Touche Eclat ($40, ysl.com can instantly brighten and lift the under eye circles.
An eyelash curler such as Shu Uemura's can instantly open up the eyes.
A touch of Visine, and some navy mascara will brighten your eyes and instantly refresh you.
Cream blush like Stila's convertible colors are a great way to add a pop of color to your face, without looking heavy.
Individual eyelashes such as Ardell's can add a touch of glamour to your look and are very inexpensive way to take off 10 years!
Finally...look into teeth whitening. Who wants to look at yellow, stained teeth?
These tips can work for all ages, and they are a lot cheaper than a face lift!

What is your favorite foundation for mature skin?
Airbrushing really looks beautiful on mature skin, but that's not always an option for the every day woman.My all time favorite foundation for mature skin is Visiora. This foundation seems to melt right into the skin & blend perfectly. It is used on a lot of films by every top makeup artist in Hollywood & is virtually undetectable on those big close ups, and it just leaves flawless looking skin. I am also a big fan of Laura Mercier and Chanel foundations."

...thank you Leann!