Tuesday, December 4, 2012

M.A.C. Prep + Prime Skin Primer

Happy December Everyone!
It's been a long time since I've updated this blog, but been busy busy being a preggo and preparing for baby. :) I haven't done an update regarding my favorite products of the moment in awhile and thought I'd share with you one of the latest and greatest items that I've been loving. MAC's Prep and Prime Primer has been around forever and I'm normally not the biggest MAC skin products fan, due to it not vegging well with my skin...I love their color payout with their shadows and pigments though...so I'm not knocking on MAC. Despite my doubts about MAC's skin products, I gave one of their primers a go.

I shopped around for awhile for the perfect primer. My wants and needs in a primer are:
1) Needs to have my foundation stick. Lasting power baby!
2) Fill in imperfections as much as possible i.e. fill in larger pores, smooth over lines and wrinkles, dull redness, etc.
3) Make my oily t-zone less shiny and matte it down without drying my skin out.

There were 2 types of primers that I was shopping for. Silicone based or water based. Everyone has a different preference and recommendation on which is better, but I think it just depends on your routine. They say that water based is better for your skin in the long run, since silicone based may make your imperfections more noticeable in the end, but it does provide a velvety finish. I may use foundation daily, but I don't put on a full face of makeup unless I'm heading out for a fun day/night, ergo, don't have the need to put on primer daily. In my case, I was comfortable using a silicone based primer.

The P+P fits my 3 needs to a T. I love the pump dispenser and how it expels the exact amount I need for one application. It dries to a smooth finish where your face feels like a baby's bottom. This mattifying effect really pleases me since it fills in my larger pores around my nose & cheeks. When applying it on your hand, you might notice that up close, the P+P leaves a sparkly residue, but once on your face and with makeup over it, there is no glittery effect. Its supposed to have an illuminating effect without the sparkle. Works for me! My foundation lasts allllllllllllll day and I mean all. Not to be disgusting, but trying to be honest...I came home exhausted one night and didn't wash my face. (I know shame! shame!) The next morning as I was wiping off my makeup, ALL of my foundation was still intact. I found it surprising that most of it didn't rub off on my pillow during the night. The price point is reasonable as well at $29.

So far, I've been extremely satisfied with this primer. Not sure if I can call it my Holy Grail Primer yet, but its a definite thumbs up in my book. :)


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Priscilla and Daniel

This past Saturday was Priscilla and Daniel aka Dinko's wedding. I've known them since my old CPC days and literally it feels like just yesterday when I heard that they were dating. I can't believe the date approached so quickly and now they are a Mr. and Mrs.! I had so much fun making Priscilla and her whole bridal party up for her e-pics and the big day. It was definitely an unforgettable day and they both looked absolutely stunning at their wedding. I'm so so so happy for them and can't wait to see the professional pictures of their wedding.

Also, I loooooovvvveeeeed their wedding photographer who took their engagement pictures as well. I love how it looks like they're in a fairy tale and it's very ethereal. You can just tell how in love they are. Check out the photographer's blog and her post of Priscilla and Dinko's engagement session.

http://hoooney.com/blog/priscilla-daniels-engagement/





Also, here's a tiny sneak peek before the pro pics of Priscilla's big day getting ready and also some homemade shots of her bridesmaids and the beautiful bride. (p.s. I love these new apps nowadays where you take pictures and add cute borders to frame them. Must DL it asap! :))

 Beautiful Bride and Beautiful Maid of Honor!
 Bride and Groom!
 Priscilla with all of her BM's.
Her after shot sans lipstick. Please excuse the hair. Will post the final "after" pic.

xoxo

Hair for engagement pics and whole wedding party by Kimberly Anderson
Photography for engagement and wedding pics by Honey Honey Photography


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

FAMILY PICTURES

Hello y'all! Hope everyone is staying cool in this scorching SoCal summer heat. Despite the crazy heat waves, families have been spending time outside, going on picnics, going to the beach and also in some cases taking family pictures! I've had the pleasure to help make up two beautiful mamas for their son and daughter's milestones. (A 100 days and a dohl) Their pictures came out beautiful and natural since they are beautiful and amazing mothers. Happy baek-il to little Gavin and happy 1st birthday to Sienna. You two are cutie patooties and the camera loves you guys. :) xoxo









Friday, August 24, 2012

Pictures from Karyn's Wedding

Here's a mini picture update of Karyn's vintage bride style at the Queen Mary. I love how Karen was bold enough to go with a classic red lip. :) Congratulations again to the lovely bride and her handsome husband. :)





                                          Her B&A on the day of her wedding

Monday, August 6, 2012

Lovely Ladies

I must admit that I'm so incredibly relieved that my morning sickness has dissipated by many degrees. I had a busy week with a trial, a wedding and a family photo session scheduled all within 5 days. I'm relieved that I was able to get through the week with no accidents and turning green on the clients. :)

Here's some of my amateur before/after pics of the wedding I did this past Saturday. I think it was probably one of the most relaxing weddings since it was only makeup for the bride and her future sister-in-law. No bridesmaids running around in a panic, no chaos ensuing looking for missing items...it was calm, quiet and soothing. Jackie, the bride is such a breath of fresh air. She's so incredibly beautiful and effervescent every time I see and talk to her. On her wedding day, she was so full of energy and joy, it was palpable. I wish her a beautiful honeymoon and a lifetime of wedded bliss for her and her new husband. :)

Jackie Trial Run B&A

Jackie Wedding Day B&A

Sister-in-Law B&A

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

New heart: YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

Ask all of my friends, but as of late I have been having a hard time putting on makeup on my face. It's really due to morning sickness and at work I'm in my cubbyhole where I don't have to talk to anyone face to face. So, its a big deal when a new make-up item can rouse my interest and compel me to drag my butt to the mall and purchase it.

Awhile back, my sister had eyelash extensions that made her already envy worthy lashes look lusher and feathery. Gotta admit, those extensions are not that lush and beautiful while they're falling out...Either way, she swore them off forever. Recently, while visiting with her, I noticed that her lashes looked beautiful and fake again. AND! To top it off, they were a really nice noticeable rich purple. I thought maybe she got new extensions in, but she said that it was actually the magical workings of the YSL Volume Mascara. I think I was most drawn to the rich hue of purple on her eyes. It wasn't a tacky color, but really velvety looking.

I've been using it for the past week and I gotta say that I'm a believer. Love love love the color and I definitely think it beats out all of the Lancome mascaras I've ever tried. It doesn't clump, it separates nicely, and volumizes to the max. I really like my wands to be thick, full and fluffy looking...kinda like a pipe cleaner, and this one does mama proud. Plus, YSL did a good job of making sure that not too much product comes out with each pump of the brush. I hate it when you have half of the tube on your wand. Blech. I know that there are a lot of inexpensive mascaras out there that get the job done too, but if you have sparse, thin eyelashes like me, you need all of the help you can get. Call me a sucker, but I buy into the hype of what the department brands claim. :)

If you're in the market for your next tube of mascara, try being a little bit adventurous and spring for a classy shade of purple. It gives your eyes a little extra umph and an unexpected surprise for your friends when you look at them. For $30, it's not gonna break the bank. Just think of eating out 2x less during the week and you'll break even. It's available at all major luxury department stores so you have easy access to purchase. Happy Wanding y'all! :) xoxo


color #4 (Fascinating Violet)

Monday, July 9, 2012

Wedding at the Queen Mary

We've been so lucky to have beautiful warm weather in good ol' sunny California unlike the rest of the country and I was particularly lucky to visit a bride getting ready on the Queen Mary in Long Beach with its cool mild breezes. Considering I'm a born and raised SoCal girl, I've never been on the Queen Mary and truth be told, have been a little scared to ever venture on due to all of the ghost stories. Despite my nerves, I was able to help Karyn out with her vintage/modern bride look. She wanted a clean natural face, with minimal eye and the classic red lip. She had her hair styled by Sonya from Salon Pop in LBC's Retro Row and got ready in true vintage style on the Queen Mary. The room was antique, with original pieces from the ship's 1930's beginnings...a lot of history on that boat...and a lot of dark spooky corners too. :) Karyn has been a vibrant beautiful bride starting from her trial and I wholeheartedly would like to congratulate her and her now husband Andy (love that name:)) and wish them a lifetime of happiness and joy. xoxo



 I couldn't help looking over my shoulder constantly as I was walking through the dark scary halls. Lotsa history and space to be explored, but I think I'll stay away from this one. ;)


Monday, June 18, 2012

Jane's Bridal Makeup

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of being a part of Jane and Ben's wedding experience. Jane and her BM's congregated to her house at the crack of dawn and they were such a cheerful and calm bunch. They were such an easy going bridal party and I could tell how much they adored Jane as their friend. Jane's beauty is definitely beyond skin deep and I'm so honored that I was able to contribute to her big day. I wish nothing but happiness and a wonderful marriage for Jane and Ben! Congratulations to the happy couple. :)




 Michelle is Jane's sister and the MOH, I loved how her cheeks have a cute dimple. :)

Bride and Bridesmaids hair by: Kimberly Anderson

Monday, June 4, 2012

Weddings!!

Wedding Season has officially been on a roll for me. My weekends have been packed with trial appointments and weddings and I could not be more grateful...or tired. :)

A couple of weekends ago, I had the honor of being a part of a beautiful wedding at the Huntington Beach Hyatt. The grounds and view were truly breathtaking and I was so happy that Susette and her groom got awesome California weather and sun for their outdoor wedding. Here's a picture of her trial run and after her hair and makeup on the day of her wedding. (Professional pictures to follow shortly.)



This past Saturday, I was able to participate in another wedding for a beautiful bride, named Sabrina. The Bridesmaids, mothers, flower girls and the bride got ready together at the Newport Coast Marriott Villas where yet again, the view was amazing! The bride and every lady who sat in my chair got a pristine view of the ocean as they got enhanced. The entire bridal party was a delight to work with and there was so much excitement in the room, it was contagious. Here's a before and after shot along with an eyes down shot. (Professional pictures to follow shortly.)




I'm so incredibly grateful to all of these women who took a chance with a beginning freelancer and gave me the opportunity to be a part of their important special day. It's so rewarding to work on brides and bridal parties, because you get to connect with them on a different level as opposed to models who you barely get to talk to and they're off... I'm so glad that I can learn from all of these experiences and my hope and prayer is that I continue to grow, learn and enhance my skill as a MUA. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful week!

xoxo

Susette's hair by: Ashley Lee

p.s. Don't forget to check out and like my Facebook Fan Page: Amenda Beck Makeup Artist  :)

Friday, May 11, 2012

Petite Productions Giveaway!!

For all of those moms and moms-to-be out there, haven't you all had crazy hair pulling moments while planning a party for your kids or family?
Seek no more! Petite Productions is the answer to all your prayers and sleepless nights. It's a kid's event designing and coordinating company that alleviates all of the stresses of party planning and it is also founded by my wonderful and one and only big sister, Sophia Park.
I can first hand attest to her awesome talent and creativity that she can bring to the table. Case in point, my wedding...I am forever grateful to her that I did not have the normal crazy bridal experience since she planned everything for me. I could never have executed the big day with the panache that she did even if I tried my best!
 I sincerely believe that she is worth every single penny and I'm not just saying this because she's family. :) She's a big ol' Advil to all of your planning woes, so give her a ring if you have an important event coming up.
Annnndddd...speaking of events, Petite Production is having a feature on yours truly and raffling off a  complimentary makeup session, excluding bridal, for those mothers who want to get pampered for any occasion. Check out the blog and enter for a chance to win! (Contest ends Friday, May 18th)

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!!!

Petite Production
Petite Production Blog

Monday, April 30, 2012

Jane & Ben Engagement Session

I had the honor of doing Jane's makeup for her engagement photos. I met Jane and Ben when I used to attend CPC and remember thinking of them as little sis and bro (even though Ben is only one year younger)...lol. Now they're all grown up and getting married this summer!! Jane is a sweet, smart and pretty gal who works as a news anchor for NBC in Michigan and Ben is a smart one too, attending U of Michigan for dental school this year. They seem so young and happy, it's infectious. I wish them the best and happiest marriage and I can't wait to see them getting hitched! Stay tuned for wedding pictures...






If you want to see the full engagement session, here's the link to go to Sweet Mia's site.

http://www.sweetmiablog.com/2012/04/27/ben-and-jane-engagement/

Makeup by: Amenda Beck Makeup Artist
Photography by: Sweet Mia Photography

Monday, April 23, 2012

The Poor Man's Eyebrow Pencil and the Rich Man's Eyeliner

Hello to all the netizens out there. I apologize for the neglect and lack of upkeep of this blog to the online world. It's definitely been awhile...

Jumping right in... I wanted to talk about my 2 current hearts with makeup. The products were introduced to me by my friend Cats and sister-in-law JH.

The first product I want to talk about is the "Poor Woman's Eyebrow Pencil" that I referenced in my title. I say this since it's so darn cheap for the wonderful product that it is. It's the Sanford Design Ebony Sketch Pencil in 14420 or 14425. This is not an actual makeup product, but is an art product for sketching. Price point is anywhere from $1-$2 for a 2 pack and $5-$6 for 12 pack. You can't beat that! The color is a perfect grayish charcoal and has an excellent smudge factor for filling in and drawing Asian eyebrows. Your eyebrows look natural and doesn't look too gray. These pencils are easily accessible to the general public since you can buy it at Michaels and any neighborhood art supply store. Plus, for those of you who watch "Get It Beauty" with Yoo Jin of SES, most of the makeup artists that are featured on her show use the Ebony Pencils. Just in case anyone is worried about it not being a makeup product, I read up on the components to make sure it's not hazardous to the skin and it seems to be fine. Also, I've been using it for a good 4 months and my eyebrows are intact and not misshapen. :) I mix this pencil into my routine for a quick draw on since I can be messy and just smudge it out to neaten it.

My next item of choice is the Rich Woman's Eyeliner. The Chanel Ecriture de Chanel Automatic Liquid Eyeliner. I don't know how I lived without this product for so long. I've tried all sorts of eyeliners during my 19 years of makeup discovery and this one definitely takes the cake! No smudging, intense color, great brush tip, easy application, longevity in wear, good packaging, the list goes on...The price isn't so pretty though. It's $34 and for something that I use every day, I doubt this will last me 3 months. Still...it's definitely worth the $$ to have your eyeliner last through a cry fest at the movies and look as good as new. :) However, for those of you who are more thrifty and are looking for an economical alternative, my other good friend Hans suggested to me the Loreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner. You can purchase this  for $7-$8 at a drug store. This liner is supposed to be very similar to the Chanel. I personally can't testify to this, but I'll try it out once the Chanel is out.




Enjoy the rest of the week in our not so sunny SoCal! It'll be summer before we know it! xoxo

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Dainty Hooligan Fashion Show

Happy New Year to everyone! 2011 has been definitely eventful and full of blessings for me and I can't wait for 2012 to start off with a BANG! My NY's resolution is to be more consistent...so I thought I'd try to begin with an entry and keep it going for the rest of the year.

Dainty Hooligan's Fashion Show is something I did right before Xmas. It was organized by the same Marketing Group as the fashion show at Sutra, Vanish Media. I had been so focused on learning how to perfect Asian faces that it was refreshing to apply makeup on a 3D face. And may I also say, it's much easier. ;) Vanish put on a Fashion Show for OC clothing boutique Dainty Hooligan's which is located in Newport Beach and also in HB at the Bella Terra mall. I checked out their website and their clothes are reasonably priced and young trendy.

This fashion show's location was held at Ten Nightclub in Newport Beach and all the MUA's, models, Hair Stylists were able to enjoy the location afterwards. Here are some pictures of the show. The makeup concept was smoky eyes for the sparkly outfits that were featured.








Here's also the link of behind the scenes and the actual fashion show. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/gjIZrHGFJtI


Photos by: Vanish Media
Hair by: Team Indulge
Clothes by: Dainty Hooligan Boutique