Why cream blush ROCKS!

Ahhh, blush. Now there's a product you can simply throw on that will INSTANTLY make you look:

1. Healthier: that glow that lets everyone knows you're fit and fab!
2. Younger: want that slight flush that a baby's cheek has? Blush will do it!
3. Brighter: it brightens up your face, giving you that 'alive vibe'.
4. Smarter: OK, maybe I'm pushing it a little here...but you have to admit that using the right shade is pretty brilliant!

As a make up artist here in Hollywood, I always want my actresses to look their absolute best. I achieve this by following these simple principles:

Use cream blush
It gives the skin a dewy, younger look. I like that it's not flat or just sitting on the face. It absorbs into the skin giving it a 'lit from within' look. It's easy to blend so there's a seamlessness that I just love. It tends to look more like a real healthy glow. It closer replicates the look of actually blushing. We forget that that's what we're trying to do with blush, to recreate the first glow of happiness and health.

Avoid cream blush if...
I would say oilier skins have a harder time with cream blushes. The sebum in the face breaks down the subtle formulation of the product. Oilier skin does well with stains. They may be a bit tricky to work with the first time, but like riding a bike, you'll get used to it. I'm a huge fan of stains/tints. Benefit Cosmetics' Benetint is the mother of all stains/tints! It's a universally flattering shade and leaves just the most beautiful finish! Check it out!

Use powder blush
YES! I actually use powder blush, too. Sometimes I use a combination of both. I'll 'stain' the skin with a cream blush then layer a bit of powder on top. I'll do this to insure longer wear. If you're headed down the red carpet or out for a long day of running around, this is a great trick to keep your cheeks looking flawless. Cream blush gives that moist highlight on the apple of the cheek when you smile... that is just so priceless. You can replicate the look with powder blush, but that's and upcoming blog I'll do, so stay tuned!

Choose the right shade
I tend toward juicy, healthy shades. Colors that flatter the skin and colors that most look like the kind of tones that are actually found in the best looking skin. Glowing pinks, apricots, peaches are always great standby's. You really want something to brighten the face. Depending on your skin tones, I will sometimes use a bronzier or more subtle plummy shade. But not often, and usually more for evening. I can't stand mauve or too brown tones. They just 'sit' on the face and tend to actually suck the life out of your skin. This is a HUGE mistake women make. Check your make up bag...is it time to edit. No worries, I'll give you some suggestions of colors in this entry.

So what products do I use?
That is the one question I get all the time. It's never "What does Brett LIKE"?... it's what do I USE. Well, here ya' go, gals:

Stila's Convertible Color in shade 'Petunia'
You're gonna think I'm nuts! Yes, it's bright... but trust me it goes on so sheer and radiant! I've used this on everyone from Kirsten Dunst to Mariah Carey.

NARS' The Multiple in shade 'Orgasm'
A beautiful peachy/pink that looks great on everyone. Added bonus, can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks! I've used this on everyone from Reba McEntire to Vanessa Hudgens.

Almay's Touch-Pad Blush in shade 'Natural'
This may be the easiest to use since it features a spongy pad that holds the pigment... oh, and it's oil free! I've used this on everyone from Catherine Heigel to Sela Ward.

So there you have it in a nutshell, all my favorite cream blushes. If you've never tried them before, why not play with them a bit. I'm confident that after your first try, you'll be getting great feedback!

Enjoy Pretty,

Brett

VANITYMARK Cosmetics

My Love Letter to Revlon's ColorStay Active Light Makeup foundation

Dear ColorStay foundation,

I just adore you. I admire your light coverage: it's just enough to really 'polish up' the skin without looking heavy or phony. I can't rave enough about how buildable you are. If some areas of the face need a bit more of a 'hug', I don't worry about adding just a touch more to those spots because you never get cakey or mask-like.

And with SPF 25... that's above and beyond. Thanks for thinking of all the sunlight that finds its way to me when I think I'm safe like when I'm driving in the car, in the office or just sitting by a window. Oh, and how much do I die for your 10 amazing shades??? Who couldn't find one that blends perfectly to their skin tone?

You're moveable, wearable and so easy to find at any large drugstore... and at a price that is always right!

Thanks, ColorStay... I love you!

XOXO

Brett

VANITYMARK Cosmetics

Let's Talk About Foundation...

As an LA based make up artist I've come across every type of skin known to man. Young, old, tanned, fair, cosmetically enhanced and everything in between. Woman constantly ask 'What foundation is the best for me'? Whew, that's a toughie to just pop out an answer on. Finding 'just the right' anything takes a ton of just plain old trial and error. Foundation, in my humble opinion, is probably the hardest. So many things to take into consideration. I came up with a little checklist to help you narrow down and pinpoint what you should take into account when you venture out to find 'the perfect foundation'!

Skin type:

The biggie! You probably know by now if your skin is oily, dry or a combination of both. There are so many formulations on the market that your head is probably spinning: foundations with moisturizers, acids, vitamins, etc. That's all fine, but just be sure you're not already getting some of these benefits from the moisturizers and eye creams you use. There is no real need to 'layer' products. It's not really overkill to do it, but I tend towards 'less is more' when dealing with the face.

Brett's Tip:

I will generally use an oil-free foundation on 90% of my clients. It's just 'cleaner'. It's the obvious choice for oilier skinned gals, but I believe that woman with dry skin should get moisture from their skin care regime.

Coverage preference:

I'm not a fan of heavy foundation. Who is? Most women who wear foundation over their entire face are doing so to cover hyper-pigmentation or other skin flaws. Sounds like an easy fix, but why make your forehead pay for the sins of your cheeks!

Brett's Tip:

Get a nice, sheer coverage foundation, apply all over, and THEN assess the acne or pigmentation issues you need to cover. You may find the 'veil' of coverage you get from that simple layer substantially cuts down on the amount of dark or red areas. At this point, you would go in with a small, tight brush and apply a fuller coverage concealer to zap away those spots. This way you aren't loading up on coverage in places you don't need it. Also, by doing a light application all over, you get to really see what 'pops'. Try it, you'll be surprised!

Color Choice:

Whew... so daunting! I could just scream if I see one more pale faced woman walking around. I call them 'living ghosts'. Woman who have a medium skin-toned chest and body, but an ivory face. To the woman making this mistake it's never noticeable until they see a photo of themselves. Yikes! Pasty face floating on a warm, human hued body. How does this happen, and how can one avoid it?

Here's my advice:

• SPF on face only - The big culprit. Remember if your really protecting your face from the sun you're gonna need to 'amp up' it's color to match the rest of your body.
• Matching to neck, not breastbone - Your neck is the palest part of your body. If you're matching your base to your neck, baby, you're in trouble! Match it to your breastbone area. This will give a truer match.
• Heavily pigmented finishing powders - If you have a face powder with titanium in it... stop using! It may look fine in person, but in pictures you'll look dreadful. The titanium will reflect the flash from a camera giving everywhere the powder is applied a flat, white look. Best to use a low pigment or sheerer finishing powder. If you're wearing base you won't need more coverage, trust me.
• Woman are afraid of healthy looking shades - I have zero idea why this is true... but it is. I've been working with woman for over 15 years in the make up profession and I will tell you that the colors a lot of woman gravitate towards are head scratchers! Ashy foundations that are too light. Muddy, mauve-y blushes and brownish rusty lip colors. YUCK! So unflattering. I think this is a knee jerk reaction to orange-y foundations, too bright blushes and overtly pink lipsticks of the past. These days there are gorgeous choices in warm, face flattering shades that are truer and more subtle. Don't resist letting your foundation boost your skin and give you a youthful, healthy glow.
• Bad light - A HUGE culprit! Make sure you have good, even light where you apply your make up. If your bathroom has an overhead fixture and that's all, you're gonna have a real problem. Overhead light can make even Charlize Theron look like Herman Munster! Overhead light creates shadows under eyes and give your face an uneven, hollow look. Clear a space for your 'beauty center'. Get a lighted make up mirror and set yourself up to do your face there. You want light coming at you more evenly. This is how you'll be seen by people out in the real world, not with a bulb over your head in the bathroom! I think I feel a whole blog entry on this subject alone!

Shopping Tips:

• Sample, sample, sample! - When shopping, take advantage of any line, drugstore or department store that offers little take home testers. This way you can take things home to try at your leisure.
• Be open to all brands - More $$$ doesn't always mean better, so be open to drug and department store products as well. One of my favorite foundations is Neutrogena's Healthy Skin, and believe me, it's very affordable!
• Ask questions - If you see a gal with a similar skin tone to yours and she's got a nice 'finish' to her skin, ask her what she uses. Who doesn't love to hear that they look great... share your tips and help a sister out! What better way to hone in on something that may work great for you than with a testimonial by a user!
• Do the scan - If I was a woman in a department store looking for a new foundation, I'd scan the ladies at the counter. Who looks most like what you want to aspire to? Who is in your age range or looks like they really know what they are doing? They say you can't judge a book by it's cover, and that may be very true, but it can sure give you a ton of info! If you are a 45 year old woman who's gotten a peel (or two) and you are looking for a new foundation, maybe the 19 year old girl at the Lancome counter isn't your best choice. It's not her fault. She just won't have the 'hands on' with your special needs. That being said, maybe the best salesperson for you is a man. I've worked at department store make up counters and there is (naturally) some help that is way stronger than others.
  

Okay, so there is my two cents on how to make the most of your foundation. It's your face, so take your time. Buying base shouldn't be an impulse buy. Roll up your sleeves and find a product that is perfect... FOR YOU!

Enjoy Pretty,

Brett

VANITYMARK Cosmetics

Got Blog?

Hey there, my name is Brett Freedman. I'm an LA based make up artist and owner/creator of VANITYMARK Cosmetics. I don't often read blogs and I've never 'blogged' before... until today that is. Now that I've dipped my toes in this world... I'm hooked! So, break a bottle of champagne, cut a ribbon or throw on an extra coat of mascara...here we go!

Patricia Heaton

I've worked with Patty Heaton for 10 years now. It was 1997, I had just moved to LA and had been working with the great celebrity photographer Greg Henry. There was this new show that was heading into its second season called 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. He was shooting the female lead on the show and asked me if I was interested in doing her make up for a small magazine (i.e. small budget!) called Aspire.

Though 'Raymond' was not a runaway hit at the time, I knew it was a critic's favorite and that Patty was quite pretty. The shoot went great, and she and I hit it off... I've worked with her ever since. I didn't do her for the tapings of the show, but instead I did her Emmy appearances, magazine covers, book tour, talk shows appearances, commercials, press junkets, PSA's and whew... and the list goes on!

Patty has a new show coming out this fall, 'Back to You' with Kelsey Grammer on FOX. They play news anchors at a small station in Pittsburgh which just happens to be my home town! I've heard the show is great and I know Patty adores Kelsey and is having a ball.

Okay, so by now you're asking: "Where's the beauty info in this 'beauty blog'"?! As I said, it's my first blog. I'm not sure how much set up is too much! So without further ado, here's the skinny:

For Patty's new role, she wanted to change up her look to separate her new character from the gal she played on 'Raymond'. She decided to go blonde. She had her color done in Beverly Hills at Frederick Fekkai. Wow! What a change! It's so great to mix it up a bit, to see yourself in a new light. I know Patty loved the results, and I definitely had fun editing her make up bag and playing with new colors to compliment this new look. She's a blonde now... time to make it her own!

The Look:

We shot this at photographer Kate Romero's studio in West Hollywood. A simple beauty story that, when I saw the finished result, ended up being one of my favorites we've done together.

Foundation: Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Glow Sheers
I mixed 'Medium to Tan' with 'Bronze Glow'. These are great for giving your face a beautiful finish without the feeling of heavy make up...it's very light but gives just enough coverage.

Blush: Stila's Convertible Color in shade 'Petunia'
How fun are these! I carry every shade with me at all times! I know when you look at them they look crazy bright, but fear not, they aren't. They are like water colors. They go on sheer and make the skin look 'lit from within'.

Brows: VANITYMARK's Ultra-Brow Pencil in shade 'Blondie'
Patty used to be a 'Milk Choco' gal, so I had to pop this new, lighter shade in her purse!

Lip Pencil: MAC's Cremestick Liner in shade 'Creamkiss'
What a fun, warm lip shade. I lined and filled in Patty's lips.

Lip Gloss: Benefit's Her Glossiness in shade 'Didn't Hear it From Me'
A sheer, peachy shade that give a beautiful lift of color. I love Benefit's glosses!

So there's a little glimpse into what I do and how I do it. My fingers are crossed that this entry gave you a little insight. Maybe it brought a new product or idea into your world. Thanks for reading and check back soon for more!

Enjoy Pretty,

Brett

VANITYMARK Cosmetics