Face Painting at the Tauranga RDA Gala & Ribbon Day 2010

Thanks to Karen Clarke, Tga RDA Marketing volunteer, for offering me the opportunity to help raise funds for the club as part of the annual gala.  More cool ways to help the Tauranga Equestrian Therapy Centre (Tga RDA), like sponsoring a horse or getting naming rights to a field (!) can be found on their website. 

Yellow crystal embellishments on multi-coloured tropical flowers - one of my favourites. 

Artist-gone-crazy!  This was a popularly requested design with splotches and splashes flung onto the child's face (clothes were protected by a paper towel) and texture added with a course sponge.  
We even made the paper!  On SunLive.  And watch for photos from the event this week in the Bay of Plenty Times.

How To Avoid Embarrassment With False Eyelashes

With most models, celebrities, Michelle Obama (and even mascara ad models) wearing them on a regular basis, I bet you've been tempted (or have already tried) to apply your own false eyelashes.

I'd love to say: "Just don't do it.  Please don't 'DIY' your false lashes."  But in the true spirit of Kiwi independence, here are my top tips for avoiding the pitfalls of self-applied false eyelashes.  Seriously, get it wrong and you can ruin your whole look.  Badly applied false lashes can embarrass, distract and get you remembered for the wrong reasons.

Here are two tricks most makeup artists know but everyday women don't, about applying false eyelashes:

Tip #1: Trim the lashes.  Most bought lashes are too long for anyone's eyes.  Hold the strip lashes up to your eye.  Try to sit them on top of your natural lashes and check how far they extend past the outer corners.  It may just be a millimetre or two (often 5), but cut the excess length off from the OUTER corner (The inner lashes are usually shorter and you want to keep these).  If you find you've trimmed them too much, just make sure you place them toward the outer edge of your eyes - it's not so important to have longer/fuller lashes toward the inner corners.

Tip #2:  Secure the corners with a little extra glue.  Apply only a thin line of glue along the lashes, but add a little more at each end. It makes me cringe when I see photos of women at up-scale parties who look amazing apart from the fact their lashes have peeled from the inner corners.  This happens easily because the eye is curved and the lashes haven't been glued enough to make them curve with the eye.

Other problems you might encounter include:

• The glue that came with the bought lashes being too runny to be useful
• The glue taking a loooong time to become tacky (which is when you want to apply the lashes)
• Discovering the new glue tube is empty/dried up - happens more than you'd think!
• Using too much glue or sticking your upper and lower lashes together, i.e. gluing an eye shut
• Using the wrong type of glue (Latex glue is best here but there are other types of lash glue available. The wrong kind can sting while drying and be difficult to remove)
• The glue not drying clear or being visible on your lashes once dried
• The band of the lashes being too thick to shape to your eye, and pulling away once glued. 

Don't use your next night out as an opportunity to try applying your own false lashes.  Practice before the occasion, preferably on a bare face so if something goes wrong you don't ruin your makeup.  You can re-use the same strip lashes if you clean off the glue with makeup remover after your practice. 

If that fails, call in a professional.  I simply charge $15 to apply false lashes of any style with a makeup booking - and that includes the lashes too, whether they're bold, subtle, spiky, glittered, or even with foil inserts.  See if you can spot where I've used false eyelashes in my makeup portfolio.

Did I 'Slag Off' the NATIO cosmetics brand?

Did I 'slag off' the NATIO cosmetics brand in a previous article on this blog? One person seems to think so.

Here's the transcript of a conversation carried out online between myself and a NATIO employee who took issue with an article I wrote last year, entitled: "NATIO's Paraben Hypocrisy."

Read the original article here.

Did I go too far? Am I, in my self-given mission of education women about the beauty industry, 'slagging off' cosmetic companies? I won't say any more for now, but will let you in on our conversation, so you can join it. Please comment at the end.  Note: Name of correspondent removed. Text otherwise unedited.

START

21 August at 09:48

Hello

Just a quick email to you re a web site you have written about the australian natio products.

http://abeautifuleducation.blogspot.com/2009/03/natios-paraben-hypocrisy.html

After reading your blog I checked to what you had written and I think you've made a mistake. There are disclaimers stating that 'no parabens' are used in conjuction with... MINERAL MAKEUP.... NOT SKINCARE! Your web site details I believe need ammending.

False accusations can cause problems... its not worth it :)

Just thought I'd mention before the company find your site... your easily traced back to here with your link :)

Lillybeth Melmoth 21 August at 11:12

That's correct [name].

I was stating it is misleading to market one product on the merits of it not containing parabens, when other products they make do contain parabens. By claiming their mineral makeup is paraben-free they are misleading consumers into:

1) believing there is something wrong/unsafe about parabens (of which there is no conclusive evidence, they are playing on a fear largely provoked by media hype perpetuated by the cosmetic industry)

and

2) the consumers may assume that if the company is declaring parabens unsafe or undesirable, their other items would also be paraben free, which they are not.

So it's not a false accusation - it's my opinion that their marketing in this way leads the customer to assume two untruths.

Does that change your response to the article now?

Warmest regards,

Lillybeth

Lillybeth Melmoth 21 August at 11:13

And if you wish you can add comments to the blog or to the posts here on facebook and I'll respond in public. :-)

22 August at 06:36

i dont mind and dont need to publicise my notes to you. you do however need to re jog your working. You show me one piece of information WRITTEN on th products or the natio website styating ALL products are baraben free... your wording is in accurate, i do understand now what you were trying to say.. but its not come across correctly :)

22 August at 06:37

iv looked again and no where on their site state that they say parabens are unsafe.

Lillybeth Melmoth 22 August at 09:12

I never state they explicitly STATE parabens are not safe. I've already explained it is IMPLIED. It's not against any laws to advertise like this, I'm just saying it's a little hypocritical.

However, some people do have a reaction to parabens and would seek out paraben-free products, but to the average consumer the claim of being paraben-free is a subtle scare tactic. A real paraben-free seeker would check the label.

It's my blog. I can write anything I like without false accusing, which I do not do. If you choose to interpret incorrectly that is not my error. I'm confident there's nothing illegal or worthy of prosecution on my blog. Take it to your bosses in Australia. Maybe then they'd changed the wording.

All the best,

Lillybeth.

22 August at 09:19

You are very arrogant, even though you know your wrong howeve not admiting the fact ..i wont be messaging you again, but will be keeping a little eye on you, informing ALL compnaies you' slag off' from now on.

END

**Jedi Mind Trick** Vote for Lillybeth Melmoth & 'Iceland' in the Jane Iredale Makeup Competition!

I've submitted my first entry for a national makeup competition!  The theme of the 2010 Jane Iredale Makeup Competition is 'International Inspirations'.  My entry, 'ICELAND' was created in the studio using only Jane Iredale products.  No retouching of photos was allowed.

The judges will choose the official winners but voting is underway NOW for the People's Choice award.  Voting closes Aug. 22nd.  I don't think mine is the best - and of course you can vote for whoever you want - but I'd love to have your support.  

See all the fascinating entries and cast your vote here.

My entry is 10th row down and on the right.  The short voting form is at the bottom of the page.  Should you choose to vote it'll take about 15 seconds to fill out and you'll also go in the draw for a Spring/Summer 'Perfectly Nude' makeup collection worth over $360!

I'm proud of my entry and appreciate your interest.   If you'd like to go one step further for me, consider spreading the word (and website link) to vote for me through your blog, on facebook and your social networks.  Thanks!

5 Essentials For Special Occasions Makeup!

With the chill of WInter here (in New Zealand) and the Summer party & wedding season still months away, you'll probably find yourself with fewer special occasions to 'dress-up'. But don't despair, ball season is here! Whether it's a school ball, business awards night or Winter wedding on your calendar, use your next big social event as an excuse to shake off the cold and look your hottest ever.

I created this high fashion look for model Briar's portfolio photo shoot last month. It was created in the studio of Mount Maunganui photographer Logan Davey.  The makeup look shown here could be customised to rock the dance floor at any ball or party (perhaps minus the crystals on the lips) and has all the elements of a special occasions look:

1.  Dramatic eyes that demand attention
2.  Bold lashes that steal the show
3.  A flattering lip colour
4.  Clever contouring with bronzer
5.  And a decorative touch (in this case, the rhinestones) to add interest and intrigue

It all adds up to an unforgettable look that inspires confidence in the wearer. Can you imagine how fearless you'd feel in this makeup?!  You can enjoy professional makeup in your home when you book the services of a mobile makeup artist.   For more info on mobile, professional makeup in the BOP, visit my website.  For the daring people who wish to recreate this look themselves, I've added a list of the products used below.

PRODUCTS USED
SKIN: Mary Kay (MK) Full Coverage Liquid Foundation in Beige 400. MK Mineral Loose Powder, Beige 1. MK Bronzing Powder, Sandstone. CHEEKS: MK Mineral Cheek Colour Pink Petals & Cheek Palette in Soft Sable. EYES: MK Mineral Eye Colour in Spun Silk, Granite, Iris & Sweet Plum. MK Eyeliner, Black. Maybelline Define-A-Lash Waterproof Mascara, Brownish Black. MK Eye Colour as a brow shadow, Hazelnut. Fairy-style False Eyelashes, Black. Purple rhinestones. LIPS: MK Creme Lipstick, Frosted Rose. Pink rhinestones.