Here, I started with a black eyeliner pencil by Smashbox and gave it a very sharp tip with a sharpener. I then went freestyle and created a simple design that I felt fit her eye shape and bone structure. The best thing to do is experiment and not be worried if you mess up. You can always clean up with a Q-tip. After, I filled in a few shapes with some fun colors. You can use your colored eyeliners for this. I left the rest of the face clean to keep the main focus on her eye makeup.

Thank you Teen Vogue  for featuring a few very fun eye looks that you can try on yourself!  Model Ariel Beesly was shot by Maggie Davis , and makeup / art direction / and hair was done by me!   

Lately I’ve come to an interesting crossroads in my life.  And at this crossroad are a lot of ideas, new desires, questions on old desires, and self reflection of the last few years and months.  This is a welcoming moment but it can also be incredibly emotionally exhausting.  I’ve been journaling for years but not like this.  I heard about The Five Minute Journal on one of my favorite podcasts by Tim Ferriss and got the book immediately. 

I do believe in the laws of attraction, and the types of thoughts that we put in our heads as being a clear indication on our perspective and life experience.   Lately I’ve been working hard to not let negative thoughts rule my world.  One form of work for a positive outlook and ability to gain what I want from my life is by writing it down.  The more you write something down, the more you believe it.  It’s just like anything good or bad learned...repetition creates habit.  Undoing bad habits can take a while but the pay off has been a life saver for me.  

It’s an amazing way to start and end your day.  It’s put things in order for me to understand what I want to do with my day and ends my day reflecting on being one step closer to whatever it is I want to achieve.  If you feel stuck in any way I strongly suggest this book or anything that helps you clear and free your mind. 

I got mine HERE!

Welcome to my cozy kitchen in Silverlake.  I often try to look for new ways to use items in my own home rather than always resorting to buying more things.  Chances are - you already have everything you need, especially when it comes to skin and your kitchen.  Here, I show you how to create a beautiful and delicious lip gloss from you local farmers market and your kitchen cabinets.  To help, I have included affordable links where you can get all of the supplies you may not already have <3

Pastel Purple // Easter Egg Hunt

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As April approaches, we will begin to see colors turn to pastel and eggs decorated with dyes and designs.  Why not mimic this colorful springtime tradition with an oval pastel wash of color on your eyelids.

Start out by using a small fluffy rounded tipped eyeshadow brush and dip it into your favorite pastel hue.  Here we used Diorshow Mono eyeshadow in It Purple and followed the shape of the natural eye socket.  That is a great way to start off your shape, and then experimenting with longer or more rounded desired eye shapes.  You can give yourself a more cat eye effect by pointing out the edges or more of a circle shape by keeping the outer edge rounded and making the center of the eyelid more circular.  Add color on the bottom lashes to give your eye a completely rimmed wash of pastel.

Finish this look off with a nourishing coat of Uma Oils ( my new favorite night and day way to stay young! And smells incredible and is completely FARM TO BOTTLE ORGANIC!! ).  Then add very soft contour using Casino bronzer from Nars along the outer temples with a big fluffy blush brush.  Add a dash of your favorite lip conditioner, here we used coconut oil.  Layer on the Mascara, comb your brows into place, and get on your egg hunt’s finest.  

Model : Chaun

ZODIAC BEAUTY // FROM ME & REFINERY 29 TO YOU

I was asked to create a look for each sign of the Zodiac for R29 and had such a fun time conceptualizing each look tailored to each sign!

For the full story go to Refinery29

WHO WORE IT BEST // BOY GEORGE VS. HANNAH  CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL STORY ( and can also be found on refinery29 ) 

We all love the pastel color trend, but just because the colder season has arrived, it doesn't mean you can't still accent your hair with fun colors.  Boy George perfected the colored brow in the 80's and we are bringing it back on model Hannah Vandermolen shot by Samantha West.

 I love doing a colored brow with makeup for two reasons:  it washes away so you can go right back to your natural color or into another fun color at any given moment.  Also, doing your brow versus your whole head is a nice way to add fun color without having to commit to a more dramatic look.  A splash of color on the brows is the perfect accessory.

Here I chose to use red to bring out hannah's eyes as it is complimentary to green, but feel free to try other fun jewel tones like emerald green, gold, amethyst, or a deep indigo blue.  I used the red in the Makeup Forever grease paint palette with an angled synthetic brush.  I chose a synthetic bristled brush because that is the best type for creams or liquids as the bristles do not have any absorption because they are not real hair, this allows maximum product pay off on your skin, and not eaten up in the brush.  

With the brush you create the brow shape of your choice.  Here I went right over Hannah's natural shape and a slight bit on the outside so the color would stand out a bit more.  With an eyebrow brush ( shaped like a mascara wand ) I then gently combed her eyebrows in the perfect place, pushing the brows upward and then perfectly tapered at the outer ends. 

I then used Votre Vu black mascara on the bottom and top lashes, and kept the rest of her eye clean as to keep the focus on the brows.  I then added a tiny bit of Covergirl Outlast lip stain pen in Flirty Nude to the inner center of her lips to give them a gentle stain and then placed Chanel Lip Baum over the top for added moisture.  I left her skin natural with a sheer amount of Clairns beauty balm for hydration. 

And there you have it!  Color accented brows !! Don't forget, makeup should be fun, and makeup can be a fun statement to play with.  now you try !

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Hat season is here in full force.  I get often get asked on set by stylists and by my friends how to pair interesting beauty looks with winter accessories without overdoing their makeup look.  Here on SET D A Z E I give you two options you can play with.  A bottom lash only stained lip look and another a late 60's winged cat eye look that plays up your eye shape by elongating them and making them appear larger.

These looks are great to pair with a brimmed hat because often a hat can create a shadow on the face, which can hide your beautiful features.  Doing a bold color on the eyes will enable them to be defined and stand out, combating the shadow the hat can give, and keeping the eyes clean and focusing on the mouth will accomplish a similar effect.  It's really all about what feature you love to stand out.

On Ariel for the First Look! I added layers of Givenchy Phenomen'eyes mascara to only the bottom lashes, without adding any eyeliner or shadow.  I wanted to go for a super dramatic and a bit uneven feel. Next I added  Nars Lip Pencil in Mysterious Red, which is a matte wine color.  I had her blot her lips and then I reapplied and then did that again to get the color nice and stained on the skin, and I applied it around the edges of the mouth with my finger tip to give a smudged and not so perfect finish.

I had the beautiful and lovely Kelly Ash, and equally beautiful photographer Samantha West in at the SET D A Z E studio to play with some different looks for fall.  I love choosing a category or feature and extending it with different options but staying within the family.  On our last Play Daze shoot, I used a green eyeliner and did 3 different shapes.  Today I used lipstick as our main focus and used 3 different berry colors done in three ways.

It's interesting how color can make you feel like a different person, a sexy goddess, a sweet innocent, a powerhouse.  Whatever you want really...or just yourself!  

The first color is by Chanel.  It s a true RED and appropriately named Pirate.  It has a shiny finish and gives off a full sexy and bright red lip.  I layered on  the color a few times straight from the tube to get the maximum coverage. 

Secondly I used Pouty by Tarte.  It is a true stain and can be layered and blotted with a tissue and then layered on again, until you get the desired depth of tone. 

Lastly, I used a flat angled brush with a black eyeliner to create the deep base and sharp lines for this eggplant sexy lip look.  If you want that almost black lip with a purple tone, try the eyeliner as a trick and then layer on Palais Royal from Nars.  

ONE GIRL // ONE LINER // THREE LOOKS Click Image for full story and products used.

With fall coming, it's always nice to play up a bit of nature"s colors in our makeup.  I love a gel liner because you can use it in so many ways!  As a base for shadow, as a cat eye, as an accent color, and then some.  I love a green liner for fall and I love trying new ways of using a liner.  Here we have one color statement used three ways for all of your different personalities.

The liner used for this look was based around Jane Iredale's Jelly Jar in the new Green shade.  I love this because of it's natural ingredient qualities and also because it is easy to use yet dries in place. 

Chaun ( shot by Maggie Davis ) became my Bauhaus Beauty, Gentle Sultress, and Party time Vixen .

I used:

look one - The Bauhaus Beauty //  I started with the liner and a flat angeled synthetic brush to create the clean lines.  I created a cat eye shape but capped it off with more of a solid triangle.  Then lined the top lid very lightly.  I added a bit of a fun shape inner eyelid to make it more editorial and interesting and then applied Mascara lightly to the lashes.  Brushed the brows into place and then added a bit of Tarte Amazonian Clay powder bronzer to her cheekbones, and a bit of chanel lip conditioner and that was it!

Look two  The Gentle Sultress // I used a short rounded brush and buffed the liner along the bottom lash line, following it out a bit on the outer edge to give a bit of a longer line.  I added the same mascara to the bottom lashes and a little bit to the top.  I wanted to keep this look heavy on the bottom and very clean on the top lid.  This is a great technique for people who feel they don't have much eyelid space to play but still want visible color.  A bit of Chanel creme blush was put along the apples of the cheek with a Duo Fiber brush.  I kept the lips bare as to make this statement all about eyes and cheeks.   

  Look three-  The Party Vixen // I wanted to give a bold statement here but I left the hair natural and loose to keep it cool and not too done up.  I used a rounded tipped brush that was narrow enough to give precision but a soft edge.  I first created the shape I wanted, which was a rounded lid that basically mimicked the shape of the natural lid, and then filled it in with the liner.  Then I added layers of mascara and got as close to the lash base as possible, as we did not use any black or dark eyeliner, so this helps define without using liner.  I wanted to keep the shape simple and clean and not too "smokey" , so that is why I chose not to add a dark eyeliner on top.  I kept the rest of the face clean and added MAC Auburn lipliner.  I first created the shaped I wanted, which was a bit more pointed at the bow of the lip, for fun.  Sometimes I like to add a bit of a point or round out the lip a bit more.  It' can be fun to create a new identity by slightly changing your lip shape sometime!  After making the desired shape, I then filled the rest of the lip in.  I used a liner for the whole lip because I wanted the lip to be super matte and liners are generally pretty dry.  Brushed the eyebrow and boom, you"re ready for your party.  

ANALOGOUS COLORS // EXCUSE ME?

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Analogous colors are groups of colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel...in this case Red, undertones of Yellow, and Orange.  It's always fun to look at a color wheel to see random color schemes that you may not think would go well together, and play with them! 

On Alex I used : 

1 Soleil Tan De Chanel all over her face for a sheer wash of shimmer instead of a foundation

2 Then applied an orange shimmer eyeshadow from Makeup Forever all over her eye lid in a oval shape including the bottom lash line, using a rounded brush helps give the edges of the shape a softness 

3 A thick coat of Nars Semi Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave ( the perfect matte orange lipstick !!) was applied with a sharp flat tipped brush to give the shape precision, and then another coat was added for even more opacity

4 Three layers of Votre Vu Mascara was applied to give a the lashes solid definition without using an eyeliner 

This look was shot by Samantha West in my home studio located in SIlverlake on a lovely Saturday afternoon!  

Try out three colors on the color wheel and send me the final photos! I want to see what you come up with !

THE LOOK EVERY GIRL WANTS // IN STEPS 

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I like to call this look the "Modern 60's Cool Girl"...She is edgy but still sweet with her cat eye tipped bronze lids, subtle peach lip, and strong brow.  Her skin is dewy and flawless and her confidence is alluring and playful.  

This is the look I get asked the most often to recreate weather it be from friends wanting to try something new on themselves, an magazine editor wanting the model to look sexy but not overly done up, or a celebrity who wants their eyes to stand out but still look like themselves...We all want to look effortlessly awesome, and this is a look that can help you achieve it.  Alex Noiret, one of my most favorite muses and Samantha West, one of my most favorite photographers, helped me create this look.

On Alex I used :

Weleda Rose lotion for a gentle and nourishing softness 

Chanel liquid bronzer Soleil Tan was then applied for sheer highlight to the entire face, instead of foundation

Chanel eyebrow pencil to taylor the edges of the brow to give a full appearance, then I combed them into the desired shape

( I love to give a heavy brow with a cat eye sometimes, as I feel the tapered brow shape mimics the tapered edge of the cat eye, playing nicely together for a bold yet natural look ) 

Votre Vu eyeliner in Chocolate was then used over the entire lid, creating a red brown creamy base for the eyeshadow, as well as allowing you to get precision in the shape you want to create

(With a round edged brush you then can buff out the edges slightly as to make it a more defused and softer shape )

I then applied Pixie bronze shadow over the entire shape that we just created with the pencil and in the center of the lid I added a lighter golden hue to give a more ombre gradation to the colors

A thick layer of Mascara was applied to the top lash and a lighter amount was applied to the bottom lashes, allowing the bottom lash line to be a bit less heavy and more open

Dior Addict lipstick was applied to the lips as the final step

Samantha then took Alex outside for some final shots in the beautiful California Sun!

NAKED // NATURAL ONE

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It's summer and you want to look good naked as much as possible.  This goes the same for your face.  I gave Devon a perfect nude look using some very clean products.  It's really all about smoothing out the tones in your skin without over doing it.  Let your freckles show through but look flawless in the mix of it all.

On Devon I used: 

1 Living Libations Organic Rose oil to nourish and give a rosy glow.  You can use this at night as well for a age defying mask while you sleep.

2 Chanel Eye Brow Pencil was used to fill in any missing gaps between hairs and then the brush end brushed all of the brows upward for a youthful bushy finish. 

3 Clairns Radiance Boosting Complexion base was used all over the face.  I love this product so much!! It really does leave your skin looking like skin but still giving you some coverage.

4 Tarte's newest LipSurgence color in Energy is the perfect almost clear pink and was used in the center of Devon's lip for a subtle flush of color.

Devon was photographed by Eddie Chacon.  Hair was done by Adrian Arredondo and Alan Diaz. 

Instagram: setdaze 

BABY BLUES //  GENTLE HUES

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Blue eyeshadow has always held a very special yet small place in my heart.   I remember when I just started out as a makeup artists, I wanted to use every color of the rainbow, including electric blue.  As I developed more, I started to strip back to bare bones natural looks but then I realized I forgot about color.  I love blue, but I have evolved into using it into a bit more of an accent rather than only a statement.  Don't get me wrong, there IS a time for a neon blue eyeliner!

On Corrie I used: 

1- Rose Hip oil is one of my tops for natural skin care.  It gives you a healthy glow while actually aiding in the health of your skin.  And it is packed with skin healing Vitamin A.

2- Clairns liquid foundation was applied lightly to the entire face.  This sheer quality and natural finish seriously leaves skin looking like it's self rather than makeup heavy. 

3- With the Dior 5 color pallete, I used the lightest blue and layered it heavy in the center of the lid and then using the lightest silver, I brushed the outer corers outward, giving a subtle point.

4- To get a groomed brow that would stay in place and leave a bit of color, I used Anastasia Brow Tint brushing upward and then shaping the tail of the brown downward. 

5- For a natural tint on the lips that is not only natural in color but in ingredients, I used ILIA lipstick.  They have a collection of very fun bold colors to the tone used here and everything in between with all natural dye used for the colors. 

MINIMAL PUNK // METAL AND PEACHES 

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Making a bold statement doesn't always have to mean using bold colors or dark lines.  Sometimes all it takes is putting a block of color all the way up to your eyebrows, some gold hair palmade, and your favorite vintage Buzzcocks tee.  

I gave Devons eyes, lips, and cheeks a wash of soft peach using the same product but addling more layers on the eyes to give a more opaque and intense color.  To me, that's punk, being so minimal all you need is one product.  Rock on!

 On Devon I used: 

1- Clarins Skin Illusion foundation for an incredibly natural dewy finish all over her face to give the perfect glow 

2- Nars Multiple stick was used with a fluffy small blush brush and layers were added on the eyelid crease and above up into the eyebrow, avoiding the actual eye lid.  Then added along the cheek bones and pressed into the mouth, creating a stain effect.

3- Pacifica all natural mascara was added to the top and bottom lashes for depth

4- Adrian added Oribe 24k gold pomade from the part of the hair and down slightly, giving her roots a real gold shimmer

Devon was photographed by Eddie Chacon.  Hair was done by Adrian Arredondo and Alan Diaz. 

Instagram: setdaze