Beauty Makeup

 I'm a pretty lucky girl to be surrounded by talented and motivated individuals. My friend Ryan Walsh who is a photographer her in AZ asked me to do makeup for a product shoot. He works closely with a company called Savage Universal Corporations where he shoots photos of their collapsible backdrops. This time its all about color! We thought "what a rad opportunity to have fun with makeup!" and voila. Here you have it friends.

When it comes to makeup, I'm really not into those intense stylized designs. I'm in a phase in life where I really enjoy beautifully enhancing someones natural features. As you can see from the images I play with a strategic pop of color and very intentionally chose specific textures. The color is usually matte where the skin is rich and dewy as if she were living on a humid beach somewhere. I'm loving corals, oranges, white, and pink lately. Oh, and a little blue for good measure.

{see below for some of the products used on this shoot}

MAKEUP PRODUCTS
MAC studio Fix foundation
MAC strobe cream moisturizer
MAC clear lipglass

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
MAC Contrast eyeshadow
MAC Wedge eyeshadow
MAC Gesso eyeshadow
MAC Modelette eyeshadow
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC Dazzlelight eyeshadow
Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Mascara black
MAC Brow gel in brunette

LIPS
MAC lipstick in Crosswires mixed with MAC pigment in Neo-Orange
MAC Candy Yum Yum lipstick with MAC lipliner In Sync
MAC lipstick in High Tea
MAC lipstick in Naturally eccentric

What current beauty trends are you loving?

xo- SN

Classic Beauty/Retro Makeup: Meet Summer Bellessa of 'The Girls with Glasses Show'

If you aren't familiar with 'The Girls with Glasses Show' you're truly missing out. Meet the gorgeous Summer Bellessa! I had the pleasure of doing her makeup for this gorgeous series featured in the March 2013 issue of EMMA Magazine (pgs 22-29) based out of PHX AZ. Summer is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, model, editor, and web show host.  Basically she's not human and I need her energy! 

Makeup: Myself, SN Makeup Artist
Photography: Michelle Herrick
Styling: Alex of AVEStyles
Hair: Amber Tillinghast

MAKEUP

MAC strobe cream moisturizer
Bare Minerals original face prime time
Khett hd foundations
MAC prep+prime powder
MAC 'Oh so Fair' beauty powder (blush)
Graphtobian correcting palette

MAC lingering brow pencil
Bare Minerals flawless definition mascara
MAC blacktrack fluidline
MAC coffee eye pencil
MAC eyeshadow 'Modelette', 'Wedge', 'Shroom'
Ardell wispie lashes

MAC lipliner in 'Redd' and lipstick in 'Ruby Woo'

xo- SN

Pink lips, awesome hair, and how to rock your mans clothes.

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure to work with some of the coolest girls on the planet. These images are from a fashion/feature spread in EMMA Magazine's April issue pages 24-29 where you can learn all about the darling and inspiring graphic designer Promise Tangeman (whom I had the pleasure of doing makeup for on this shoot) and how to style men's fashion pieces.

Photography by the brilliant Gina Meola Photography

Styling by the innovative Alex of AVEStyles (and team)

Makeup by myself, SN Makeup Artist

MAKEUP
MAC lipstick in 'Viva Glam Nikki 2'
MAC lipstick in 'Candy Yum Yum'

MAC paint pot in ' Painterly'
MAC eyeshadow in 'Guesso', 'Wedge', 'Modelette' (limited)
MAC fluidline in 'Blacktrack' applied with the MAC #263 brush
Ardell Wispie lashes
Bare Minerals 'Flawless Definition' Mascara
MAC brow pencil in 'Lingering'

-SN

Time to get away.

{My mans favorite, Swedish Fish for the drive}

 After a few insanely busy months I was more than ready to get away for the weekend with my man for his birthday. Another year has gone by and I fall more and more in love with my handsome man everyday. Here are a few snapshots of our getaway. I was too busy enjoying being disconnected from all technology to take more photos. I suppose I did it right!

 {The "Nothing" sign. Also, my mans favorite.}

 {Almond slices and raisins for this girl}

{The best part of Vegas is the first shower and cup of coffee you enjoy after day one}

MAC Lipstick: Saint Germain.

Yesterday was a long day. I had breakfast plans with a girlfriend of mine and as I opened my car and sat inside, I realized by the display of tampons spread all over my car that something was up. Once I started paying normal amounts of attention I realized my entire dash was torn apart and someone had broken into my car. Its a horrible feeling knowing your personal space and property has been violated. I'm trying to make the best of this situation and really, the jokes on them. My radio hasn't worked since 2008. 

I've been waiting for my trip to Vegas for at least three weeks now. Normally I'm continuously motivated, driven, and totally ok with working non-stop but this month I've reaaaaally needed a getaway. Especially after this little break in and car battery issues last week. Can I please just not have anything crummy happen for a while? 
I did some retail therapy yesterday and while logically it doesn't really help, emotionally I'm feeling a little better. I stopped by the MAC Cosmetics store to make my first MAC Pro membership purchase! Being a makeup artist is fun.

Using all the products you see above I created a natural/dewy skin look with a bright lip for spring. I'm not wearing the lashes.

'Saint Germain' from MAC is my favorite all time lipstick. Until MAC pulls it together and starts selling 'Budding Love' for good, this is my staple. Try it!

Xx-SN

Glimpse at the lady cave.

{my small yet wonderful perfume, magazine, and accessory collection}

Yesterday I stood back and looked at my poorly organized lady cave. My boyfriend and I have been living in our new townhouse for six months now and I've still yet to design, decorate, and furnish my lady cave. I fully plan on purchasing a rug, a large mirror, two small coffee tables, a few vintage chairs, and a bar cart. I want a place that feels serene yet modern and inspiring. When I look at it now its simply a reminder of how lazy I've been. Although I will say, its insane how costly styling a lady cave can be. I'm trying to be smart about my purchases by checking Amazon or local vintage stores. I'm hoping I can snag some killer old pieces that I can spruce up a bit!

{clothing rack for my favorite pieces (above) and a gold skull to add a bit of my love for horror (below)}

My computer desk is a place I like to sit when I REALLY need to get stuff done. Otherwise you'll find me sitting at our dinning room table surrounded by flowers and natural light. Over the hectic last six months I've sadly allowed items to pile up onto my computer desk. Upon seeing it I instantly feel cluttered and claustrophobic. This needs to change asap! I have a stylist friend out here in the desert who has impeccable taste. I'm contemplating paying her to come to my house to help me collaborate on some ideas to decorate this space. I find that it is always worth it to get a professional involved. 

Is it really easy to start decorating? Have I really just been putting this off or far too long?

Xx- SN

Days Off.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't have aesthetically pleasing feet. That being said, I'm still completely obsessed with my new white polish pedicure. It will look pretty killer with a bikini by the pool in Vegas. Being a freelancer and having a busy schedule really helps you understand and realize (mentally and emotionally) just how valuable your time really is. While March hasn't been as busy or lucrative with makeup as March, it has allowed me to learn how to say no to certain jobs in order for me to have a healthy work/life balance. 

No matter what the job, in March I took it. I was booked all day everyday and even joked with a friend one evening that I couldn't "wait for my half day off tomorrow!" I have been unbelievably lucky to connect with some of the most talented, inspiring, and sweet people out here in PHX and I hope to continue working on fun projects with them. In the mean time, I plan on making up for some lost lazy time with my boyfriend. And my apartment will actually be clean!

Its crazy how the smallest things in life mean the most. They define our short existence in this world. My career is one of the most important things in my life but I have a feeling when I look back on my life... I'll think of and remember days like this. 


All photos shot with my Canon Digital Rebel with a 50mm 1.8 lens.