Makeup Artist Hacks

[Luz Tonks]

heyeveryone! today, we're going to explore a fantastic makeup technique I recently discovered from a true pro, melissa, who happens to be selena gomez's makeup artist. she shares some incredible tips on tiktok, and honestly, when it comes to makeup, we should be tuning in to the experts, especially those working with our favorite celebrities. in this session, i'm going to test out her contouring and blush technique to achieve that beautifully snatched face effect. let's dive in!

before we venture into the snatched cheeks territory, i'll start with some foundation. i've been loving the 2.0 concealer formula lately so haven't used foundation much, but today is all about achieving the complete makeup look. so, i'll quickly apply foundation, ensuring to cover all the necessary areas.

now that my foundation is set, i'll focus on my eyebrows. i've got my trusty mirror right here. my approach is to handle the brow pencil gently, using light strokes to mimic the appearance of natural hair. with my brows done, it's time to apply some lip balm as a base for my lips. i'll quickly create a simple eyeshadow look before we proceed with contouring and blush.

i'm opting for the jelly eyeshadow duo since it's one of my favorites. i'll use the eyeshadow brush from subtl's four-piece brush set. dual-ended brushes like this are incredibly convenient. i'll start by applying the shimmer with the flatter end. i like to tap the eyeshadow gently on the eyelids and then pat it to ensure an even and smooth application. then, i'll add a bit of the matte shade to my crease.

hold on a second, i nearly skipped concealer. my brain seems to be on the fritz today. let's correct that. i'll use concealer in shade 003n and warm it up quickly. then, i'll tap the concealer in place. by the way, my husband mentioned that my current hairstyle resembles the kardashians, so it seems fitting for today's snatched transformation.

enough of the eye makeup; it's time to tackle the snatched face technique. in melissa's video, she used a contour stick, but we're going to use a darker concealer shade instead. she placed it just in the hollows, avoiding the creation of a stripe. for the a contour, it's important to choose a cool-toned shade, so i've selected 015c for this look. melissa utilized a concealer brush, but i'll use the stippling brush from the four-piece brush set. i've applied a bit of the concealer to my finger, and i'll use the stippling brush to apply it. after a bit of experimenting, i'm so happy with the result!

finally, i'll use the cream highlighter in ros. it's a product i absolutely adore. i'll apply it on the highest part of my cheekbones. you can also add a bit of highlighter to your nose for a beautifully snatched effect. i've been aiming for a neutral, shimmery lip look, so i'll use the "stark naked" lip liner by urban decay. i genuinely love this shade; it matches my natural lip color well. i avoid overlining, just emphasizing my natural lip shape. i'll add some more lip balm; it's incredibly hydrating. on top of that, i'll apply the "rose" cream highlight because, as i mentioned earlier, i'm obsessed with it, and it works beautifully on the lips as well.

i feel like i could use a bit more color, so i'll try the powder blush in blossom bound. i'll use the tiniest amount and, following melissa's advice, apply it in an upward motion. to complete the look, i'll add a touch of bronzer in leche, because contouring and bronzing serve different purposes.

When Fathom's Stephanie March isn't traveling the world or filming a television show, she's working at Rouge, the New York City beauty salon she recently launched with makeup artist Rebecca Perkins. It took one quick visit for it to become our absolute favorite place to get pretty. So of course we couldn't finish travel beauty week without asking the Rouge ladies how to primp on a plane.

The other day, on a flight from NYC to Portland, I had to dash from airport to meeting with no time to stop at the hotel to freshen up. I asked her for foolproof tips for in-flight skin care and on-arrival freshening up. Only instead of just following her advice (as I always do) in the airplane bathroom, I add an element of difficulty: I did it in my seat. As my selfies hopefully show, her advice really is foolproof.

1. If you are seriously committed to keeping your look chic, the day before a big trip, definitely make an appointment to have your lashes tinted so that you don't have to worry about mascara smudge if you are headed somewhere tropical/beachy.

4. To prep at home, do a good exfoliation and cleansing. DIY with a mix of pure cane sugar and coconut oil or grapeseed oil. If you have sensitive/oily skin, use sugar and Cetaphil. Then layer on your regular moisturizer and a good lip balm and you are plane-ready. The combo of the glycolic acid in the sugar and the dissolving grain and then the moisturizer does the best double duty chemical and physical exfoliation.

Flawless makeup sets the stage for a successful shoot. Makeup artists hone their crafts, learning how to make their talent look fresh and gorgeous in photo after photo. You can do the same when you adopt their techniques and strategies.

Also, consider going heavy on the eyeliner for outdoor photoshoots. Some makeup pros apply as many as five layers of eyeliner for photoshoots in order to avoid spotty coverage. Layer black on brown, and top it all off with a liquid liner for a crisp, clean look.

Next, use concealer to hide flaws, and then use a powder with a warm undertone that matches the skin tone as closely as possible. With a light hand, carefully brush the powder on, smoothing out all the edges around the hairline and neck. Be aware that HD powders can create white splotches on the face when a flash is used during a photo shoot, so avoid these products.

Before you do anything else, scrub the lips with a toothbrush to remove dead skin cells that result in a dry, cracked look. Use a lipliner that is just darker than the lipstick you plan to use. Whether you choose liquid or cream lipstick, pick a color that works well with the clothes your model will be wearing during the shoot. You may need to coordinate ahead of time with wardrobe.

For a photo shoot, your makeup job needs to last and last, so seal it carefully before sending your model off. A final dusting of translucent powder will seal in the foundation and prevent excess sheen.

As a young aspiring artist, she endeavoured to contact every makeup artist from San Diego to LA in hopes of finding out more about the profession. Through this determination she met a few mentors and organisation gurus and now freelances for TV, commercial, print and live events. Her versatility and attention to kit organisation and sanitation is inspiring to say the least! I was eager to find out more about her career along with some of her favourite #CathiHacks!

Go vertical! While I love a great boxy carrying case, often times we have less than 4 feet of length to set up. I have found by using clear, taller cases, I can see my station, stack easier, and give myself more workspace. The Promakit Six Section Bags have been helpful for this as well. My Hiker Makeup Organizer Caddy holds my disposables, sanitizers, skin prep and Temptu Air, along with stacked palettes. This allows me more work space.

Also, instead of carrying full-size products, I depot into smaller containers and palettes. Qosmedix, Daiso, Muji, and Miniso have been wonderful sources for containers. I do not like to spend a lot of time unpacking and packing. I pack my bags to be completely ready to work out of once unzipped. At most, I need 15-20 minutes.

The majority of us have mastered the essentials when it comes to applying our makeup. But you can never stop learning because life never stops teaching. Every makeup artist has their own styles and methods and it is always fascinating to see how they operate. We have asked professional makeup artists their tips or tricks that you might want to incorporate into your makeup routine.

"My best tip is to prep your skin really well! Bad skin prep can mean make or break for your makeup - especially the base! Prep according to your skin type and concerns you most want to focus on disguising E.g., pore minimising." - Christina Rodio @crodiomua

"To perfect the base, I spend time on skincare by massaging the products deep into the client's skin. This helps me identifying skin type by feeling the skin and then letting the products settle into the skin for 10 minutes or longer before I even apply foundation. Applying a liquid highlighter after skincare, before foundation to the high points of the face and using your fingers to warm up the product so it looks more natural. Choosing 2 different foundation colours for the client to give them more depth & dimensions. When applying foundation use a stippling & patting motion to really work it into the skin. Setting your makeup with a setting spray at the end to increase longevity!" - Sara Morrison @saramorrisonmakeup

"As amazing as ring lights are, and magnified mirrors, they can sometimes take our makeup to a whole other level we might not have been prepared for. So, if you can't do your makeup in natural light, make sure you step out before leaving and check that your jaw line and ears are blended, your face is the same colour as your chest, your highlight & contour is enhancing your beauty rather than hiding it and highlighting your gorgeous natural features enabling others to create a connection with you." - Aleksandra Pinneri @aleksandrapinneri

"Always try to do your makeup in clean, natural lighting environments (next to a window with lots of daylight is always best). Free of any harsh shadows that downlights can cause or overly warm/cool tones that artificial lighting can cast, natural light will help you to best colour match, blend and ensure you don't become overzealous. If it looks good in natural light, you can bet it will look good in virtually all other lighting conditions!" - Rob Povey @robpoveymua

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