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)

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. ;)

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

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  :)

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

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

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