Makeup & Chat With Celebrity Makeup Artist Carl Ray

Carl created this gorge look for FLOTUS

Last week I had the pleasure of hanging out with celebrity makeup artist, Carl Ray. Carl is DC's most sought after makeup guru and with good reason. He not only works and travels with First Lady Michelle Obama, but he also glams up politicians, celebrities and some extremely lucky brides.

Since moving back to the District in May, I had heard his name countless times on websites and 'Best of DC' lists and had to meet him. Carl's worked with everyone from actresses like Kerry Washington and Mira Sorvino to royals like Queen Noor and Princess Hussein as well as political heavy hitters like Valerie Jarrett and Justice Sonya Sotomayor. A not too shabby client list, right!? I knew I not only wanted to get my mug made over by this talented artist but also wanted to find out more about him and his favorite products and tips.

The self-taught makeup artist has been the exclusive Artistic Talent at George Salon at the Four Seasons in DC for the past fifteen years. Although he has no specific brand loyalty, he does say he's a big NARS fan. He fell in love with the brand when he worked as a makeup artist at Blue Mercury.

Carl Ray at the George Salon

I asked Carl about his five favorite products and it came as no surprise, given his love for playing up the eyes, that most of his faves are eye enhancers. Here's the full list of his product picks:

* Fake Lashes (Strips or Individuals) by M.A.C. or Shu Uemura
* NARS Orgasm (in The Multiple shimmer stick and powder blush formulas)
* YSL Touche Eclat Concealer
* Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
* Make Up For Ever HD Foundation

He's also a big fan of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and M.A.C. brushes and lip glosses.

After getting a glam makeover by him it's clear why he's been voted top makeup artist for ten years in a row by Washingtonian Magazine. Carl has an easy, warm demeanor and understands the undertones and nuances of a woman's face. He made me feel glamorous without making me look overly done up and created the key to a beautiful face: flawless, glowing skin.

For my makeup Carl focused on creating voluminous lashes, paired with a subtle smoky eye and nude lips. Carl gave me an evening look using products that can withstand the humid DC summer nights.

FACE HIGHLIGHTS:

SKIN:

To start, Carl used a primer to even out my skin and create a flawless canvas. He then applied a mineral-based liquid foundation with an SPF that's HD Photo Ready so it looks great on camera yet feels light. He applied a concealer from lid to brow to keep the makeup in place and half way underneath my eyes and in any areas where he saw discoloration. He also added concealer to my lips because he says "it gives you a truer color that will last longer ".

Carl then used a fluffy powder brush to apply powder and then a fan brush to apply bronzer and blush. He recommends investing in a fan brush because it distributes color more evenly and lightly and gives an airbrushed finish. He also added a swipe of highlighter using the fan brush underneath my cheeks to emphasize the cheek bones.

EYES:

Carl used a neutral color palette of shadows on my eyes. He started with a shimmery bronze shadow all over the lid and added gray, brown and taupe in the crease and outer corner of the eyes. He then lined my top lids with a cake liner and used pencil to rim my inner eyelids. He added highlighter in the inner corner of my eyes to brighten the area and darkened my brows with a brown shadow to further frame my face. To really make the eyes pop, Carl added several individual lashes in varying lengths. He placed the lashes on the middle of my eye above the iris and worked his way out to create an exaggerated yet natural look. He recommends investing in a dark colored lash glue like Duo Eyelash Adhesive in Black because it dries darker and makes the lash line look thicker.

LIPS:

To complete the look Carl lined my lips with a nude liner and added a nude gloss over it for an understated look that didn't take away from the dramatic eye look he had already created.

To recreate the look at home invest in a primer, a HD foundation, an under eye concealer, brown, gray and bronze eyeshadows, an eyelash curler, bronzer, blush and highlighter, a powder brush and fan brush, individual fake lashes with a black glue, cake liner, a black eyeliner pencil, waterproof mascara, nude gloss and a nude lip liner.

Thanks to Carl Ray and the George Salon at The Four Seasons for getting this beauty buff all glammed up! Get your face made up by DC's most famous and fabulous makeup guru for your big day or event. Get in touch with Carl at carlraymakeupartist.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter to see his latest beauty transformations.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook too!

Putting Together Your Pre-Wedding Beauty Arsenal

The time between when you get engaged and when you get married can be the most exciting, exhilarating and stressful time of your life. There's so much to plan and so many events and opportunities to celebrate with your loved ones. Between all the engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette weekends and photo shoots, you'll want to look your best. The memories and photos will last forever and you'll definitely want to look back at that time fondly, not stressed over your appearance.  

Unfortunately, it's not always possible to have a professional makeup artist or beauty advisor on hand for each event. Sometimes it's hard to know what you need and what's gonna be essential to your beauty routine. Luckily, you CAN have a celebrity makeup artist dispensing some helpful advice on what products to put together for your pre-wedding beauty arsenal.    

Celebrity makeup artist Julie Harris has worked with some of the most beautiful celebrities around. From Anne Hathaway and Julianne Moore to Eva Mendes and Jessica Alba. I spoke to her about the products and tools every bride should use to get ready for the all events surrounding the big day. There's no better time to revamp your makeup wardrobe than immediately after you get engaged. Restock your favorites and find out here what new gems you're gonna need to look your most glamorous.  

Beauty Tools:

Harris recommends investing in a great set of brushes. She has three favorite brands: M.A.C., Shu Uemura and Sephora brand. 

She recommends the following brushes:

-A large powder brush and blush brush that are soft and full. 

-A fluff brush for blending in the crease.

-A small fluff or shading brush for close to the lashes to give a soft shadow line. 

-An angle brush for applying shadow close to the top lashes or shading the eye brows to give more arch. 

-A lip brush.

-A liquid liner brush, which you want to be thin and pointy.

Skin Products:

"Bridal makeup should be natural and have a healthy glow," says Harris. She recommends using a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer such as Fresh Soy Cleanser, Rose Marigold Floral Water and Soy Face Cream. Harris also loves their Black Tea Eye Cream because it's soothing and moisturizing.  

Makeup-Foundation: 

Harris says to use a foundation that will work well to combat shine and smooth out your pores. 

She recommends: 

-Make Up For Ever Foundation. Celebrities love their HD formulas because they look great on camera and make your skin look flawless.

-Giorgio Armani Foundation. Another celebrity favorite because of its creamy formula and full coverage. 

Makeup-Primer

"I would also recommend using a primer to keep the skin looking flawless all day and to make your foundation last," says Harris.

She recommends: 

-Giorgio Armani Fluid Primer, a luxe liquid solution and makeup artist favorite.

-Lancome LA BASE PRO Perfecting Makeup Primer, a light formula with a velvety texture.

-Tarte Clean Slate Primer, an all-natural and paraben-free option.

-Jouer Mattifier, which works well under makeup or over top of your foundation to combat shine in the T-Zone.  

Makeup-Powder:

"I love Laura Mercier powders," she says.  She prefers their translucent formula because it's finer and lighter on the skin and likes the color tone selections available. Their brightening powder is great for under the eyes to make you look like you've had a good night's sleep.

Other powder recommendation:

-Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder which look great on camera and video (a bridal must). 

Makeup-Blush:

"For blushers I would recommend softer colors for wedding events," says Harris.

She likes:

-Cargo, which has an HD line with a great, subtle blush hue that goes on soft. 

-Bobbi Brown, which has a nice collection of pretty, punchy colors that make you look like you've just come back from a workout. 

Makeup-Concealer:"My favorite concealer is Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage because it has the two tones that are great for mixing to get a perfect skin tone match. The warmer is good for blue undertones and to match the skin's depth of color and the lighter is meant to match your undertone," says Harris. Harris loves the blendable concealer palette so a bride can mix her perfect shade depending on the day and her current skin tone.  You're skin tone might be lighter one month and darker the next depending on your sun exposure and time of year. 

Makeup-Mascara:

Harris recommends using both waterproof and non-waterproof mascaras. She uses a non-waterproof mascara first to get the fullness of the lashes and then seals it with a waterproof mascara for the last coat so the formula won't run if you cry. 

Her favorite: -Lancome Custom Volume Hypnose. 

Makeup-Eyeliner:

Harris swears by Kanebo Sensai Liquid Eyeliner because it has a great felt tip liner that is so exact and fine, you can get really close to the lashes. "I can't live without it and use it all the time," says Harris. 

She also likes Smashbox Waterproof Cream Liner because it doesn't smudge and gives a great line that makes the lashes look fuller. 

Makeup-Lips:

Harris recommends applying a lip balm like Fresh Sugar Balm first to moisturize the lips.

She says to use a soft liner color depending on the lip color you chose and recommends shading the lip first with a pencil, then applying a lip color and finally blotting the lips with a tissue and then applying again. Smashbox The Nude Lipliner is great liner option and YSL lipsticks are luxurious, pigmented and have a great satin finish. "I would stay away from too much gloss, frosted lipsticks or glittery colors. They don't photograph as well. The more matte the lips the better it will stay and the better it will look in photographs," she says. 

Final Touches:

For evening weddings or candlelight settings, Harris recommends applying a little highlighter on the cheek bones or in the inner corner of the eye which will reflect nice in the lighting. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, NARS The Multiple or Benefit High Beam are all great options. She also recommends investing in blotting papers to help keep the shine at bay for pictures and help from keeping the foundation from looking too powdery. 

Video Makeup Tutorial-How To Apply Under Eye Concealer

In a recent post I talked about my product picks for smudge-proof eye makeup and ways to prevent your makeup from smudging and traveling down your face. Here is a video makeup tutorial on the same topic. As mentioned, your skin produces a lot of oils and when the weather is warm and humid, you sweat and produce even more oil which causes your makeup to start fading and smudging. By adding concealer and powder to the area directly below your eyes you can create a barrier between your eye makeup and your under eye area. The concealer and powder prevent your skin from getting too oily, which makes your eye makeup less likely to end up there. By using a other few tips and tools to conceal this area you can keep your makeup from drooping and look fresh, bright and like you've just had a full night's sleep, even if you haven't. Check out the video for more details.

Also, I used a few great products including Arcona "The Eyes Have It" Eye Cream, Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Primer, NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder, Cover FX Conceal FX and Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Makeup. Check them out for yourself. They're awesome and definitely a must have for your beauty arsenal.

Beauty Q & A-Leaky Liners: My Smudge-Proof Product Picks

A reader recently asked me a great beauty question: 


Q: “Do you have any suggestions for keeping eyeliner on the bottom of your eye from smudging? Almost an hour after I've applied it I look like I have dark circles!”

This is an issue that plagues most gals who love to wear eyeliner (i.e. every female who wears makeup). I rarely walk out of the house without at least a swipe of black liner on. In order to look at all pulled-together, it's a must have. Inevitably, my liner travels to the corners of my eye giving me an unintentionally smudged droopy eye effect. It's gorgeous let me tell you.  

A: Your best bet for liners are the gel, liquid or cream options. Often, kohl pencils contain oils that make them smudgy so they glide on easily but just as easily slide off. Your skins natural oils also speed up the raccoon eye process. If it's an especially hot day out, your body is going to produce more oil and sweat that will literally sweat off whatever you have on your eyes. 

Before offering up my product suggestions, here are a few tips to keep your traveling liner at bay for at least a few hours.

Prep your skin

To add a barrier between your skin and your eye makeup, dab a primer followed by a concealer onto your lids and underneath your eyes. A primer will make your makeup last longer and smooth out your pores so makeup doesn't cake or crease. I love Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion or COVERGIRL & OLAY's Simply Ageless Serum Primer. 

Get your canvas ready

Concealer adds another protectant and also covers up any discoloration or unevenness. Apply an under eye concealer and dust a loose/translucent powder over the concealer. This will keep the makeup in place. The primer, concealer and powder will keep the liner from traveling down because liner smudges when there is a lot of oil around the eye area. By concealing and powdering, the area is kept smooth and oil-free. Use a concealer that's a little tacky (as in a little sticky and not too creamy). A more textured concealer like Cover FX Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer ($27.00) will last longer and be more resistant to the heat and your own sweat. 

Product Recommendations

1) CoverGirl's LiquilineBlast liner ($8.99) looks like pencil but has a smooth gel consistency and a smudger on the end, so you can actually wing out a smoky eye if you want. I like the intensity of the color and the formula of the pencil which has the staying power of a liquid. Plus, at $8.99 this drugstore beauty buy is ATM approved.  

2) Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes  ($18.00) was created by MUFE founder Dany Sanz for water ballet performers. It's an award winning liner with a creamy, gel consistency and a huge range of colors to choose from. Make Up For Ever is one of my absolute favorite brand's and a makeup artist's best friend. You can't go wrong with any of their products and their liners are no exception

3) Blinc Liquid Eyeliner ($24.00) was created after the tremendous success of the line's smudge-proof mascara. The famed-product formula "tubes" together and binds to your lashes, creating a polymer-like consistency that comes off with warm water. Like the mascara, Blinc liners forms a water-resistant "layer of color" that binds to the lash line and comes off with warm water using the same "tube technology". Customers complained the brush applicator was a bit tough to use, but the formula is without fail smudge-proof. 

4) Lancome ARTLINER Precision Point Eyeliner ($29.00) This famed liquid liner features a combination of two film-forming polymers that make the formula last all day. The tip is easy to use and the consistency is rich and intense. It's a customer and makeup artist favorite.

5) Make Up For Ever Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Liner ($22.00) This little puppy does not budge. It's my favorite liner right now and what I use every day. While it's not a liner you can apply on the go, when you do line your eyes in the morning you won't need to touch up for the rest of the day. The creamy formula comes in a pot with a protective cover because the less exposure it has to air the better and longer the consistency lasts. By keeping the lid on tight the liner keeps from drying out. It's the ultimate black eyeliner and gives you drama without looking Goth. LOVE IT.

So, here are my smudge-proof liner recommendations. If you have any other favorites I haven't mentioned let me know. What's working for all of you? If you're in the market for a reverse Raccoon Look, test out some of my favorites. A life without liner is no life at all, but let's be honest, a life without leaky liner would be smudge-free perfection!

Brides Let Your Makeup Be Your “Something Blue"

Get Inspired by Princess-to-be Kate Middleton and her penchant for royal blue by getting dolled up like a blue blood for your own wedding.

Whether it’s Middleton’s iconic engagement dress or her gorgeous sapphire engagement ring, royal blue is the color to look like a princess this spring. Brides can emulate the look and feel of Middleton’s royal color of choice by letting their makeup be their “something blue”.

The bride-to-be looks radiant in the rich color, but she's certainly not the only one that can pull off the deep hue. Navy, cerulean and royal blue are extremely flattering shades on a variety of skin tones. Add a little spice to your look by incorporating the on-trend color into your bridal makeup palette with a smudgy, blue smoky eye or deep, inky manicure. Dark blues compliment darker features because they bring out the browns and warmth in the skin and eyes. Alternatively, rimming your baby blues with a dash of navy liner, no matter what your skin tone is, will instantly draw attention to your beautiful peepers. Check out a few products that are sure to make you look royally regal on your big day. 


NARS Single Eyeshadow-China Blue ($23.00, Beauty.com)
This long-wearing, crease resistant shadow looks heavily pigmented in the compact, but actually has a sheer formula that can be layered for a dramatic look or applied lightly for a subtle hint of color. The shadow blends easily and can be used as a lid shade or eyeliner.

YSL Ombres 5 Lumieres-5 Colour Harmony for Eyes in Riviera ($56.00, Sephora)
This multicolored palette has powder shades as well as a creamy liner. Mix the luxe shades together to get a deep wash of color. Line your upper and lower lash line with the navy cream liner. Swirl the rest of the colors together and brush your new hue into your outer lid and crease.

Essie Nail Color in Mesmerize ($7.79, Target) 

You don't need a sapphire engagement ring to draw the eye to your dainty paws. Layer a few coats of Mesmerize to dazzle and draw attention to whichever sparkler you are wearing on your day. Think how shiny your diamond will look against against this dark background. Beyond that, the tint is flattering and Essie polishes dry quickly and last long.   








Sue Devitt Microquatic Hydrating Marine Minerals Eye Palette, Blue Waters ($37.50)

These gorgeous, blendable shades are long lasting and universally flattering. Key ingredients such as Sea Butter and Hylauronic Acid work together to restore your skin's natural elasticity. Minerals, vitamins and botanical substances also help absorb water and bring moisture to the skin. The ingredients works to brighten your skin and bring vitality to your natural skin tone. Also, the shades are highly pigmented so a little goes a long way. 




Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Majorelle Blue 15L ($17.00, Sephora)
Makeup Artists love this smudge-proof, water-proof pencil. No raccoon eyes here! The formula was originally created for water ballet performers! The liner glides on smoothly without melting and lasts all day. My advice? Grab a few different shades. Try the metallic royal blue and mat black for a gorge smoky eye. 






Lancome Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Navy ($29.00, Department Stores)
The uniquely shaped-foam tip point makes for easy-to-handle and precise strokes. The tip works well to create a thick or thin line. The two film-forming polymers make the formula long-lasting and rich. Create an updated cat eye look with the navy shade with a dramatic winged out navy tip.  

Smudge Pots...Yay or Nay?

Like Prince and Dave Navarro, I too can't leave the house with without a nice, thick coat of eyeliner on. I'm partial to cream liners because I like their rich consistency and pigment. Gel/cream liners tend to last longer, smudge less, and provide a more dramatic look.

Beauty Buzz With Bobbie Thomas

The Today Show's Style Editor and frequent red carpet correspondent, Bobbie Thomas may look and act like a style expert but she's not and she doesn’t want to be labeled as one! Instead the totally fabulous, Bobbie T considers herself to be more of a "trusted girlfriend or go-to-gal"-someone who can help you navigate through your inevitable fashion, beauty and life queries. She says she doesn't claim to be an authority on style (although she is), she just wants to lend her perspective and resources to all those in the market for advice and guidance. Despite actually being an "expert" she remains totally relatable and down-to-earth. The fab. Ms. B is passionate about communicating her belief that "style is the way to speak to the world without words," and empowering others "to embrace their style as a positive form of self expression".

I recently chatted with the "resident red carpet voice" about her beauty philosophy and favorite products and loved hearing what she's 'buzzing' about. She dished on her love for mineral makeup, sulfate-free hair products, and clean-smelling perfume scents.

Mineral Makeup: The style editor says she's a big fan of the brand glōminerals and loves their Perfecting Powder. The finishing dust has a blend of vitamins and green tree extract and uses rice starch to create a matte finish. She also likes Physicians Formula Mineral Wear™ Talc-Free Bronzing Veil, which is ideal for sensitive skin and doesn't leave a chalky-finish. Thomas says, "mineral makeup is great because it offers built-in antioxidant protection and SPF coverage".

  

I find that the zinc in mineral powders (which provide the UV protection) tend to make darker skin, like mine, look too white. Bobbie's solution: Add a base with skin correcting properties. MAKE UP FOR EVER's HD Microperfecting Primers come in six color-correcting shades that help counteract natural skin tone issues. For example their shade 4 Caramel combats ashiness in medium to dark skin tones and warms golden skin tones. Another  solution:  Mix mineral makeup with your choice of bronzer so you get the coverage and look but still have a natural-looking warmth to your face.

To set powder in place and hydrate the skin Bobbie likes to use gloMoist hydration mist, a skin spritzer that has a blend of antioxidants and anti-aging benefits.

Hair Products-Bobbie's signature long gorgeous hair always looks healthy and voluminous. Her hair philosophy: "the better your shampoo and conditioner is, the better your hair will look,". Thomas is a big supporter of sulfate-free products because some solutions contain too many harsh chemicals which strip your hair of moisture and color. She does however, have products favorites that run the hair care gamut:

Pureology is a sulfate-free, vegan, and certified organic botanical line. Bobbie loves the Hydrate System collection which restores dehydrated color-treated hair and maximizes color retention.

 Profound Beauty is a hair care system that is personalized to suit your hair needs. After using their specialized online consultation technology, you'll be able to find the right combination to bring out your hair's natural luster.

Kerastase a stylist staple, has products to suit all your needs and truly works wonders on damaged, limp locks. Their MASQUE OLÉO-RELAX,
Daily Treatment Masque for Dry, Rebellious Hair is a lifesaver. The mask feels luxurious and moisturizes every inch of the hair to supple perfection.

Fragrance: Bobbie loves the clean, subtle smell of Perfect Veil, a perfume by Sarah Horowitz inspired by the smell of clean, naked skin! She says, rather than smelling like Beyonce or J.Lo, why not smell like yourself!

Thanks to Bobbie for her great beauty tips! Check out Bobbie's fab. segments on The Today Show as well as all other news and info on Ms. T here! Follow her on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube too! Oh yeah and follow me on Twitter (@beautybuffblog) here!

Fashion Week-Stephen Burrows-Beauty Breakdown

CFDA Lifetime Achievement Winner, Stephen Burrows has been creating lively, colorful prints and patterns for years. He's been an important staple in the fashion industry for several decades and mingled and partied with legend after legend. He was friends with Andy Warhol, dressed Cher and hung out regularly at Studio 54 at the height of it's disco days. This season he created a collection that showed off his traditionally vivid designs and knack for perfectly cut jersey dresses. Burrows said he looked at "Gustav Klimt and Tiffany Lamps" as the inspiration for his latest collection. His dresses had wonderfully abstract prints, rich colors and classic silhouettes. He also showed a variety of other styles like ultra-wide wool trousers, fur vests, black leather jackets and chunky cable sweaters.

Makeup Inspiration: The inspiration for the makeup was based on the look and feel of Biba-the iconic European fashion label and mecca in the 1960-70’s era. Head makeup artist, Quinn Murphy, said he wanted to enhance the style of the clothing and overall youthfulness and individuality of the time. The look was strong but not heavy. Murphy made the look special by balancing a smokey eye with red lips. He did this by creating a layered effect on the shadows. The lips were modern and bright.

FACE: He pared down the skin by making it youthful and fresh. He used minimal concealer and a minimal amount of Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. He used a Beauty Blender Sponge to make the foundation look as sheer as possible. He skipped the blush altogether to not overpower the face with color. After setting the skin with powder he added a dot of moisturizer to the cheekbone, bridge of nose, forehead and chin to add a youthful glow.

EYES: Murphy said the eyes were a “smoldering tornado of black charcoal shadow, more undone and bohemian than a traditional smokey eye.”. He applied a small amount of black cream shadow, Black Flash Color by Make Up For Ever, from the lash line to the brow. He then used a black Armani eye pencil to line the inner rim and top of the lash line and smudged it. He then took a matte black eye shadow with a sponge tip applicator and lightly dotted the colors around the eye. He used black eye shadow on the lower lash line and blended further with an invisible loose powder. Finally he brushed on Armani Maestro Mascara on the lashes. By using small amounts of the shadows he was able to layer and build the look.

LIPS: Murphy chose a moist red lip to complete the look. He used Ruby Woo by M.A.C. to the edge of the natural lip line and the applied a tinted lip balm (Benefit Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15) to give moisture without being glossy. The softer red lip countered the deepness of the dramatic charcoal matte eye.

HAIR: Hairstylist Michael Deunas created a modern, chic donut shape (an alternative to the classic bun) for the hair. "The modern shape added simplicity and beauty to Stephen Burrows collection." he said. He sectioned the hair off at the base of the neck horizontally across. He sprayed each section with OSIS Flatliner and a round brushing smooth and then flat ironed each section smooth. He brushed the hair into a tight ponytail on the right side behind the ear. Denunas took OSIS Wax and smoothed it over each ponytail and wrapped the ends of the hair with a hair doodle and rolled it to the head so the hair was wrapped around it. He then snapped the hair doodle into a donut shape and spread the tightly wrapped hair around it. Deunas then took small hairpins and secured the hair doodle to the head. Finally, he finished with OSIS Elastic Hairspray and OSIS Air Pomade.