such is life i guess

Feeling a little depressed at the moment.. I had a car accident yesterday. I am ok, my poor little car isn't. This has had me feeling really upset. I have been thinking about what to blog about today, but my mind just isn't into it right now..

Oh, although i did manage to start number 9 from my list. I borrowed the book 'Shantaram' from a colleague at work. Have any of you read it?

Much love,
xo

It's been listed

Do you ever make lists? I used to make lists years ago, realised they didn’t really work for me so i gave up. I didn’t really think much of it until today, that is, until i realised maybe i do need a list... A list of things that i would like to do/achieve/change/figure out.. I don’t want to limit it to any specific genre or specific time frame. Just a simple list with things, and here it is-

1. I would like to figure out a way to stop my nails from peeling and to actually grow to a nice length. I think it’s from cleaning that they peel (is this my cue to stop cleaning? hehe) 
2. I would like to buy an artwork for our apartment. Something that would set a nice mood in our house.  
3. I want to throw out the ugly orange lamp that my hubby brought home one day, which would then mean i could also replace the orange pillows my mum bought to match the lamp.  
4. I want to re decorate our bedroom as it’s so... blah! A black leather bed with nothing else but a white wall just doesn’t cut it for me.
5. I want to learn how to make a bed properly.. I know how to make a bed, but i want my bed to look like the display beds that you find in stores.
6. Update my wardrobe! I have pieces that have just gone from season to season since i was 17 and i think it’s time I bought some clothes that fit my curvy 25 year old body rather my stick 17 year old body.
7. Figure out a way to make my whole home smell nice. My apartment is very open plan. As it’s so open, it’s hard to find something that fragrances such a large space. 
8. Teach hubby how to use the laundry basket! i.e. you put the clothes in it, not around it!
9. I want to start reading books again
10. Find some sort of a storage solution for my hubby's shoes. They are currently all over the spare bedroom floor.
11. Start going for runs or walks. I am feeling so out of shape lately it’s just not funny
12. Buying the healthy alternative when in the supermarket. I always thought that when i moved out of home i would finally be able to eat healthier. Oh how wrong i was. It has gotten worse. My husband hates the healthy alternative to foods. So no brown rice, brown bread, low fat milk.. He loves his chips, chocolates, fluffy white bread. Sigh...
13. Buy a new computer
14. Purchase the lens that I want for my camera so that I can start taking some beautiful pictures
15. Figure out how im spending my money so that I can improve my finance skills
16. Re stock my makeup kit
17. Market my makeup business so that I can grow my business

Now that I have put this list out there maybe I will actually stop procrastinating and get to it!

P.S. Ill actually try to get some shots of my home this weekend after I have cleaned it up so that I can post them on here..

Much love,
xo

Tuesdays that feel like Mondays

Ahhh don’t you love long weekends? It wasn’t anything special in Sydney, I just thought I would reward myself with a Monday off from work to just stay home and relax!
Saturday I was commissioned to do make up for a photoshoot which the photos would be submitted to magazines for publishing. The photoshoot was with a gorgeous model called Ally. The amazing photographer Edward Hor managed to already get me an edited shot. What do you think of the makeup?

Model - Ally, Photographer - Edward Hor

Even though I am always happy with my work, I think that I can always improve. I believe this is what makes me a great makeup artist, wanting to always give more than what I can. It was hard at the beginning to believe that in such a competitive industry that I could succeed. It is taking time, and I am slowly acquiring new clients. Now I give myself pep talks before each client. I tell myself that I am just as good as anyone else as that as long as I am positive, I can do anything.

Always believe in yourself!

Much love,

xo

Makeup brands.. Which brand should you choose?

All women will agree that there are so many makeup brands out there that its confusing and difficult to find the 'perfect' brand. That’s because there is no perfect brand for any one person.

Each person has a different lifestyle which contributes to their skin type. This includes your place of work, how often you exercise, and what you eat and drink. You will find that if you change your lifestyle around, your skin also changes with it. For example, you move house from beachside to country, or you change your exercise regime, from stuck in an office and no exercise to joining a gym and exercising 3 times a week.

Whether your skin is oily, dry, normal or combination, it is important to remember that a healthy skin routine, with added exercise will improve the look of any makeup that you may use. Simply increasing the amount of water you drink each day will make a significant difference in your skins appearance and in turn affecting what makeup may suit you. You also shouldn’t be discouraged from trying different brands, this will only educate you in what works for you.

A makeup artist uses so many different brands for this reason. We have so many different clients that we cannot possibly use only one brand of makeup.

P.S. Don’t forget that you can also ask for samples of products from the makeup counter!


Please remember that through my experience this is only my opinion.

Much love,
xo

Networking.. on facebook!

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to let you all know that i have also created a facebook page where you can see more of my makeup work! Like it, and suggest it to your friends :-)

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Makeup-by-Miss-M/169927573031154

Much love (and many thanks),
xo

Skin routine for flawless makeup

A lot of my clients ask me what they should do to prepare their skin before having their makeup done.

Here is what I tell them. Not only will a good skin care routine enhance the quality of the makeup, but it will also make your skin have a healthy glow. Remember that any routine you follow for your face should also be continued to the neck.  

1)      Before you do anything make sure you wash your hands with a sanitising hand wash. A good one is the Dettol Antibacterial Liquid Hand Wash. This is such an important step that most people forget.  Throughout the day we use our hands for everything we do, so all the germs and bacteria are there when you wash your face. Using an antibacterial hand wash will stop the spread of germs and bacteria to your face.

2)      Make sure to cleanse your face – this will make sure that all dirt/makeup/and bacteria is removed.  If you don’t have a brand that you prefer, I would recommend using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Cetaphil is amazing for your skin. It cleans while keeping the skin smooth so that it doesn’t remove any of your natural oils.

3)      Exfoliate – Exfoliating your skin is what will give your makeup a smooth finish. Exfoliating removes any dead skin cells on your face, creating an even surface which your makeup artist can work on. The best exfoliant for your face is simply a towel and some warm water.  Rub the towel in gentle circles over your face and neck. If your skin is red or burning during the exfoliating process this means that you are applying to much pressure and you are in fact irritating your skin. Focus on your T zone when exfoliating as this is the area that is usually prone to breakouts as it is the oiliest part of the skin.

4)      Toner – Toning is usually a step that most people miss out on. Using a toner will remove any impurities, left over makeup and cleanser. Avoid using an alcohol based toner as it will strip your skin of its essential oils. I recommend trying Gaia Skin Care Refreshing Toner.

5)      If you complete this routine about 10-15mins before your makeup artist arrives, don’t use a moisturiser or primer. Your makeup artist will be able to access your skin and see which product you will need and will apply this for you.

Please remember that through my experience this is only my opinion with skin care. All people have different skin types and therefore have different needs. If you think would like to talk to someone about your specific needs then its best to see your doctor or see a dermatologist.

Much love,
xo

Just a little something

So, this weekend i had the photoshoot that i mentioned in my blog earlier, the one regarding the underground carpark.. It was amazing! The model that we had was great, she knew just how to move to get the right shots. The photographer mentioned that i should get the edited images in 2-3 weeks (cant wait!). Here is a behind the scenes shot of the photographer directing the model.. Cant wait to be able to share the edited shots with you!

Gorgeous model - Rachel Chami and the very talented Photograper- Matt Pho

Much love,
xo