How to Create Perfect Groomed Brows

Brows to me are everything and something I will spend a lot of time on- Even myself and on my models if I am not grooming them I am either blocking them out or adding gems to them! Well-groomed brows frame everyone’s face and give it a more polished look! It’s amazing how plucking and filling in the brows can lift and open up the eyes and make a huge difference. Here are my top tips and ways I create the perfect brows when working on myself and models…

Get perfect arched brows:

*Using Barbara Carranza tweezers pluck any stray hairs between the brows. The inner corner of the brow should line up with the inner corner of the eye.

*Tweeze hairs growing below the brow. Pull hairs in the direction they are growing, in one quick motion. To enhance the natural arch of the brow, tweeze hairs just below the arch.

How to define brows with make-up:

*Use a BDB Universal Brow eyebrow pencil to fill in sparse areas. For the most natural look, draw in short, hairlike lines with a sharp angled eyebrows brush or your Billion Dollar eyebrow pencil.

*Once you’ve filled in brows, soften the lines by layering Ben Nye Eyeshadow powders in your eyebrow colour (it should be the same colour as the eyebrow pencil and hair) on top.

*Apply the shadow using Illamasqua Angled sharp eyebrow brush.

*Finish with a coat of BDB brow gel to keep individual brow hairs in place.

Karla

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Using Eye Contact Lenses to Enhance Your Make-up Looks

I loved using MesmerEyez White Mesh eye contacts whilst working on a music video in Egypt. It was perfect for finishing of the look and theme we were going with in the music video on Birgit Oigemeel. MesmerEyez have recently grown in cosmetic eye colours the last few years change being well known for comfortably and easy wear without affecting vision. MesmerEyez can be found in Vogue, Grazia, London Fashion Week and Sky1’s hit TV show Project Catwalk. Many International make-up artists regularly use MesmerEyez to change eye colour, like Aymai Nishimura who has worked with Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Vivienne Westwood and Nike.

My Top Tips using False Eye Contacts on your models:

1. Water resistant makeup products don’t smudge on the eyes and also prevents the irritation of the eye lenses.

2. Ideally use on the model only three times and continue to add eye drops to keep them from drying out and making your model feel uncomfortable.

3. Apply the lens before applying eye makeup. Wash the hands before wearing lens. Take out the lens before removing the eye makeup.

4. Use waterproof mascara and eyeliner for eye makeup. Avoid applying eyeliner on the edges or inner surface of the eyelids.

5. If you are applying eye shadow, get the model to close the eyes and avoid spreading it on the edges of the eyes. Remove the excess powder of the eye shadow before opening the eyes to prevent irritation.

MesmerEyez prices can vary from £15.00 each.

Do you like to use eye contacts to enhance and finish of your make-up designs?

Karla

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NEW Video on Eyebrow Blocking as a guest make-up artist…

I was lucky enough to be invited to MAC Cosmetics store in Covent garden as a GUEST make-up artist to teach the MAC Pro staff my skills and techniques in eyebrow blocking and creative brows. This was a fantastic evening to network with other make-up artists and to share my make-up skills and learn from each other. 

To find out more on eyebrow blocking I have a blog post which is really helpful including products to get when eyebrow blocking on this >LINK< 

Karla

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Being a Guest Freelance Make-up Artist for MAC Cosmetics- Product Specialist evening!

I was kindly asked by Angela Gallagher who is a M.A.C Pro artist at the MAC store in Covent garden store to be a guest freelance make-up artist for their staff ‘Product Specialist’ evening on the theme eyebrow blocking/drag artist. The ‘Products Specialist ‘staff regular hold evening’s like this in order to teach the pro artists in store new trends and new collections coming up, it’s also a great way for the team to bond and to have more of an understanding of the collections ready for their releases as well as learn new make-up skills from influential artists in the industry.  

I feel very honoured that the MAC team wanted to learn from me and listen to my tips and techniques within eyebrow blocking. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching eyebrow blocking to the artists and it was lovely to have such great feedback that the team that they enjoyed learning new tips and I inspired them to experiment and get creative with brows!

The above picture was the eyebrow and glitter brow I demonstrated on the evening on the lovely Jamie who works at the Covent Garden store. It’s one of my favourite eyebrow techniques I use when blocking brows. To see how to block brows I have done an old blog post which has a step by step guide >here<

Look out for a new blog post on some of the MAC products I got on the evening as well as post on some exclusive collections that are coming out in September.

Karla

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I am ready for fashion week! So here is a look I got inspired by from last fashion week. Sequin-diamond brows….

Fashion week is soon upon us! And I am so excited to be going to New York fashion week so I thought I would do a blog post on these sequin-diamond eyebrows I did for a ‘Sushi’ inspired make-up look which can be found >here< . I was inspired and learnt so much about brows last fashion week so it inspired me to put my own twist into creating these creative brows!(above picture) And for those that missed the post on how I created them you can find it >here<

Models on the catwalk are presented in their utmost beauty both when it comes to classy as well as more alternative looks which always inspire us make-up artists. Those who are eager to draw some inspiration from the fashion show beauty ideas will have the opportunity to get a detailed insight into the most creative runway eye makeup looks and tricks that are used by professional makeup artist all over the fashion capitals of the world, which is why fashion week is so important to me and other make-up artists. This is why all you make-up artist should keep a close eye on trends each season.

Eyebrows are central details of anyone’s make up look; these besides being able to change your facial features as well as the well-proportioned quality of your face can also contribute to the overwhelming success of anyone’s make up. I am a very big fan of getting my models eyebrows perfect from a natural groomed look to detailed sequin-diamond brows!

I hope this litle post has inspired you to get creative and have fun with your models brows or even your own?

Karla 

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My HD Brows! My Review & Tips to Perfect Brows

I am obsessed with my brows from getting mine perfect and also making my models brows always look perfect! So I wanted to share HD BROWS with you all.HD BROWS is a seven-step eyebrow shaping treatment that focuses on design. It involves a combination of techniques, including tinting, waxing and threading, using specialist HD Brows products done by professionals.

On average this shall last upto 4 weeks, then another treatment shall be required. Its Fabulous especially if you like a polished brow look. It’s a well known fact that spending a little time shaping and defining eyebrows can add real impact to your usual look and this makes it so easy to maintain that ‘fresh out of the salon’ . Above picture is the HD Brow/eye Palette and can be purchased in three options and includes a versatile brush, a nude & carbon shadow and two brown tone powders. I use ‘Vamp’: Which is for dark hair…a nude, a carbon shadow, and two dark brown tone powders. Used as an eye shadow palette, this will create a dramatic smoky look. And the other palettes I can use on my models on a photoshoot.

Benefits Using the palette:

*Mix the colours to get the right shade.

*You can achieve anything from a very subtle, light brow look to a strong, defined brow.

*Its very long wearing, smudge proof but so easy to remove.

*The long-lasting, anti-smudge powders keep your brows looking fab for up to 24 hours!

*You can create so much from this one palette as it is a 3-in-1 product as not only can it be used as a brow powder, it can also be used as an eyeliner and eyeshadow quad! All that in one handy palette.

*The powder is not chalky, you get no fall out when applying and is so highly pigmented that you only need a small amount on the brush.

*A great eyeliner and eyeshadow for semi permanent eyelash extension wearers as oil free and easy to remove.

Karla

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HD Brow beauty products available at http://shop.nouveaubeautygroup.com/brows/hd-brows/ For more information on HD Brows visit there website http://www.hd-brows.co.uk Salons advertising HD Brows should stock the products too.

Look what I got my hands on before it’s out! FashionistA’s NEW Eyebrow Palette!

I am a massive fan of FashionistA and it excites my little make-up world to know they have brought out this perfect little handy eyebrow compact kit- ‘STYLE BROWS’  full of everything you need on the go for perfectly framed eyes as well as a mini all in one kit for you make-up artists on set.  

The compact comes with two brow powders to match light or dark eyebrows-  the powders are lightweight which are buildable to achieve your desired look, A clear wax to lock brows in place to smooth down any stray hairs, pressed powder / highlighter to brighten the skin around the brows complete with mini tweezers & brush which are the cutest ever. It’s just what I have been looking for which is going to fit in my make-up kit just nicely!

FashionistA’s Style Brows kit will be available in selected Superdrug(UK) stores as from next week – 14^th May 2012 for only £7.00! Bargain…

Karla

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Dyebrows! Fashion or just for fun? I loved creating this fun look…

Eyebrow grooming is the focus of attention for the beauty industry. Moving on from last years bleached brows this year is all about dye brows. Is comes in all multitude of colours- with rich shades of blue proving to be amongst the popular choices. So feeling bored of your brows? Experiment with a striking kohl eyeliner or a rich pigment for a touch of brow brightness, first using a layer of foundation as a base to help conceal the natural shade and help the colour stay put. I loved using MUA Cosmetics 3 in 1 extreme contour pens in shade ‘Sea blue’ and ‘Smoked Plum then set with the same colour matte eye shadow.

A look which will look awesome on a fashion photo-shoot J Go on and have some fun with your brows (or your models)

Karla

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Behind the scenes at yesterday’s Food Project shoot inspired by ‘Sushi’…

More sneaky behind the scene pictures I took of the makeup,hair & nails I created at yesterday’s Sushi photo-shoot! This is probably one of my favourite looks from the whole collection I have crested so far and of course this time round I got to do everything like the earliest look from the project- from designing the look, making the nails, and then finally doing the hair and makeup and with help from my amazing assistant Grace Coole Green who is a regular makeup assistant of mine that made this possible, and to the wonderful talented photographer friend of mine Rich Hinton who took some amazing shots of the look !

Can’t wait to show you more images of the shoot as well telling you how I created each element to this look!

Stay tuned…

Karla
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It’s all about Brows!!

So when shaping the eyebrows you need to plan the design of the eyebrows carefully, because it can’t be undone. To achieve the most flattering effect you need to consider both facial and eye types. The shape of the eyebrows affects the appearance of the eyes, as well as the face. Achieving the perfect shape depends mainly on your facial features. Great eyebrows are a essential and key element to a any of my polished looks I like to create. Start with a professional brow consultation to work out the best shape for your face or ask me questions. :)

So have you been a bit tweezer-eager? Fake it with HD Brows- Eye&brow Palette £24.95 which has six different powder shades, so you can create the right one for your or your models eyebrows. An arched shape one shade darker is instantly anti-ageing and makes the eyes appear bigger. Or go Pro and get your self to The Benito Brow Bar which is in House of Fraser worldwide where they sort your eyebrows out with your own packages, it’s not cheap as it’s £110! But you are sure to have beautiful brows :)

Picture above are eyebrows I created for a Candy floss shoot on Model Rebecca Fisher and pictures taken by Rich Hinton… Which from this day is one of my best make-up Looks I created as part of my food collection shoots!!!

Karla

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