The no makeup, makeup look

It seems that every commercial and film I am on these days, the directors are always wanting the "no makeup" look.

What they fail to understand sometimes, is that the "no makeup" look,  can take as much time as a normal makeup application.

Here are some tips to achieve that look, especially when you don't have a lot of time.

Start with a clean, clear complexion and prep the skin with a good primer that will smooth out the fine lines, moisturize and create a flawless looking complexion.

I love Heir Atelier created by Los Angeles celebrity makeup artist, Kendra Richards, it creates a beautiful glow to the skin and it never leaves it feeling oily.

Even "no makeup looks" need a little help evening out the skin tones and my new obsession are BB creams. Skip the heavy foundations and brighten your skin with a healthy dose of sheer color. These are especially nice in the winter months as they add extra moisture to the skin.
Bobbi Brown is my new favorite which has a bonus SPF 35.

Curling your eyelashes is one way to really open up your eyes, if you don't want to wear eye makeup. I love the iconic Shu Uemura eyelash curler as it gently curls the lashes instead of crimping them…and who doesn't need a 24 kt gold eyelash curler?!

If you're not a fan of mascara, you can have your eyelashes professionally tinted in the beauty salon. It's an all natural vegetable dye and is safe for the eyes. The results are so natural and it lasts about a month. A lot of brides do this before their honeymoon and I've even known many men who have done this and it looks great!

The natural look requires a nice, healthy flush to the cheeks and lips. I love time saving dual products like Benetint's rose cheek and lip tint. It's a sheer berry fluid that tints the lips and cheeks.

It works great alone or under lip sticks. I tend to use it a lot on television shows, especially those kissing scenes where the lip color needs to last and last, take after take:)

xoxo

Winterizing your makeup and skin

With the bitter cold, winter weather upon us, now is the time to pamper your skin and winterize your makeup.

Start by increasing your water intake to nourish and hydrate your skin from the inside out. I love pure, natural, fluoride-free spring water and purchase Fiji water for the added silica and minerals which are so beneficial for the skin and hair.

All good makeup, starts with beautiful, clean skin and a fresh palette.

Exfoliation is the key to a smoother, softer complexion and a must this time of year. I like to use more organic products on my skin and have found the best, most gentle, skin scrub is baking soda. I keep it in the shower and mix a small paste with water and gently massage it into my skin to remove the dead skin cells. Your skin will glow afterward! And while your at it, you can brush your teeth with it, and rub it through your hair to remove excess hairspray buildup.

Another naturally, "green" moisturizing product is Barlean's organic coconut oil.

I use it as a cleanser, eye makeup remover, night cream and even as a hair moisturizer at night. It's the best multi-purpose organic product on the market today, and the one product I can't live without! It's the best tasting coconut oil out there and my dogs love it, too!

For daytime moisturizing, I love Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre. It's one of the best day creams I have ever used and a big celebrity favorite.
It has natural ingredients such as: shea butter, aloe vera, beeswax and soy to nourish the skin, and acts as a makeup primer as well. I mix a drop of this with my foundation for a lighter base to create my own tinted moisturizer during the winter months. (Skip the heavy foundation, as they tend to clog the pores). This product does not contain a SPF, so don't forget your sunscreen...even during the winter.

Most face powders will only make the skin look a little drier, and the same holds true for powder blushes.
Cream blushes are a great alternative for the most natural looking glowing cheeks. I love Stila's convertible color that can also double as a lip color, too...just a dab on the apples of the cheeks, brightens the whole face.

Lips tend to be the driest this time of year, so start by gently exfoliating them with a soft tooth brush and some organic coconut oil to remove dead skin. Skip the matte lipsticks as they will only dry the lips even more.
Stick with sheer lip balms such as Fresh sugars Rose lip color or Nivea's cherry lip balm that really help soothe those dry,chapped lips.

Waterproof mascara and eyeliners are a must during the cold weather as eyes tend to be a little drier and water more with the winter winds. I am a huge fan of Make Up For Ever's gel liners and waterproof mascara. It takes a little more effort to remove it, but in the end, it's worth it.

Here's to a warm and beautiful winter ahead!

Metallic makeup

With thanks to The Stir for the interview about the best way to wear metallic makeup this season! 

Metallic makeup can be so much fun when worn correctly! It looks best at night, weddings, proms or any event where you need to shine. The key is to not overdue it. Choose one feature to highlight with metallic makeup, whether it's your eyes or lips. I love the glittery eyeliners from Urban Decay and the sparkly lip glosses from MAC and Chanel.


Read on for my favorite picks from Chanel and NARS…makeup artist must haves!

Chanel Glossimer

NARS Orgasm

web site update

My web site just got a mini face lift and went mobile!

pattybellmakeup.com

Tips of My Fingers- a short film

This was a really cool project to be a part of for Canon Cameras.
Starring the beautiful Lexi Thompkins, our film crew shot all over the city of Pittsburgh with a Canon film crew documenting how their new cameras worked on set.

Tips of Our Fingers from HUMBLE TV on Vimeo.

Pretty Living Magazine interview

I was very honored to be featured in this week's issue of Pretty Living Magazine's Wedding Wednesday.

I am always in awe of female entrepreneurs, and these girls are taking the Pittsburgh PR market by storm with their young, and fresh approach to the advertising and PR world. They have a blog, on line magazine, print magazine, and a very successful PR business…I guess the sky's the limit for these 20 something girls, and I just love their name!

I take great pride in working with my bridal clients and being a part of their very special day.
I've shared many laughs and tears of joy with my brides over the years and every one of the weddings that I have worked, on has left me with many wonderful memories, and even some repeat business from family members, and for that, I am very thankful.

Here is a link to the article that Alex Duffy from Pretty Living Magazine did with me…with thanks and  appreciation:)

Lilac Makeup Love

Could it finally be that spring has officially arrived here on the east coast?!

It's been a long, cold winter and it's so good to see the sun again!

With the arrival of spring, it is the perfect time to lighten up your makeup and ditch those dark and dreary colors from the fall and winter.

Everywhere I look, I see lilac…and nothing says spring better than the beautiful, fragrant lilac bush. The smell is intoxicating and so is the color, and its everywhere this season. It's on the runway, the nails, face and even the hair.

Lilac nails are a fun way to break into trying a little color. I happen to love this shade from Essie to liven up your hands.

play date

Purple shadows work well on most women. I recommend using it in the crease to brighten up the eyes.

I'm a huge fan of Urban Decay eyeshadows and love Asphyxia. It's great either wet or dry and it's creamy texture stays put all day.

To complement the purple shadow, try a purple liner. It's a nice change from the standard brown liner and really makes the white of the eyes pop! I love Urban Decay's 24/7 pencils for their excellent staying power.

Feeling brave?!

Why not try your hand at purple mascara from YSL- it's a nice daytime alternative to black mascara, and it's just fun!

One of my best finds for spring is MAC's Full of Joy blush. It's so light and fresh and works well with the purple palettes of spring. Apply it just on the apples of the cheeks for the most modern look in makeup.

And finally, you must pick up a sheer violet lip gloss for spring to finish your look!

…and wouldn't it be fun to have purple hair for a day?!

WELCOME SPRING!