Mischo Beauty: Sam Fine

Showing posts with label Sam Fine. Show all posts

Are you using hair bonding glue instead of an eyelash adhesive to apply your lashes?

Earlier this week I followed a Twitter conversation between celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine and a few of his followers who swore by using hair bonding glue (yes, I'm talking about hair weaving glue!) over eyelash adhesive to apply lashes. And honestly, it wasn't the first I'd heard of this. I took a makeup class last summer and a few students also swore by hair bonding glue. Now, since when was hair bonding glue approved to use on the eyes??? Oh, and just in care you're wondering, Sam did stand firm on using a proper eyelash adhesive - his favorite being DUO.

So my question for you today is: Are you using hair bonding glue instead of an eyelash adhesive to apply your lashes?

Sam Fine's Top Makeup Tips and Duane Reade's Look Boutique

Picture it with me... Duane Reade as a beauty lovers/product junkie's paradise. Having a hard time? So did I, but then I had a chance to check out the Look Boutique, a specialized section of Duane Reade, and found that such a place really does exist.

The Look Boutique is the store's economical answer to Sephora. It features high and low end beauty products, with everything from $31 Rilastil mascara to $1.99 Sinful nail polishes (both of which lit my fire). With a staff of freelance makeup, eyebrow and nail artists on the ready, this is an extra convenient one-stop shop for women (and men) on the go. Sam Fine, expert makeup artist to celebrities such as Iman, Tyra and Jennifer Hudson, gave a group of us lucky ladies a guided tour. While pointing out some of his favorite products (L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara, Iman Bronzer in Afterglow and Luxury Pressed Powder, Maybelline Brow Pencil, Covergirl Outlast Lipstick and Covergirl Lashblast Fusion Mascara), he also picked up a couple items to take home (Black Opal Patent Lip Liquid Lipstick, I believe in Violine and Maybelline Falsies Mascara for a first run).

Instead of giving product must-haves, Sam preferred to stress that "makeup is a personality," and encouraged us all to get to know our faces more intimately and use that knowledge to find products which best compliment our individual features. Each of us, he is convinced, is only one product away from upping our makeup game and giving better face. So, identify one product that you are not using and experiment with it. And remember that concealer is for highlighting, powder is for setting, bronzer is for adding luminosity and eye shadow is for giving those gorgeous eyes definition.

More sage advice from the master:

Foundation is like an undergarment. Make sure your face is smoothly finished and then build with more detail.
Look for lipsticks that tout being highly-pigmented or long-lasting and then start thinking about your color choice.
Waterproof mascara builds faster than regular mascara.
Felt tip liquid liners are best for beginners and those who want to get close to the lash line with fewer mistakes. Liquid liner with a brush is great for those with a steady hand who love to rock the thicker line of a 60s-inspired eye.
Shop like a makeup artist. Don't get stuck on one brand for all products. Just because you loved a brand's foundation, does not mean that their powder best suits your complexion. Mix and match!
Do not be thrown off by the terminology - a concealer is a dense foundation. Switch between creme and liquid foundations and concealer depending upon the kind of coverage you seek.
Men can also wear makeup without looking made up. A primer can be used as a moisturizing base, followed by powder for an almost bare finish.

If you could ask Sam Fine any question, what would it be? Post your questions in the comments section and we will ask Mr. Fine himself and share the answers in an upcoming post.

All the best, Lovelies! - Zee

Covergirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Concealer and Queen Latifah's U.N.I.T.Y. Reignited Web Series

While awaiting the premiere of the U.N.I.T.Y Reignited web series at the Tribeca Grand Hotel on Wednesday night, celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine worked his magic with a palette of new Natural Hue Concealers from the Covergirl Queen Collection and soon-to-be-released Lip Perfection Lipsticks (showcasing department store formulations and prestige packaging). The Covergirl collection at Walmart is a good place to find beauty products. He provided color matches along the spectrum of the four concealer shades available and shared that, if you use nothing else, a concealer is a must! Hmmmm, perhaps I should add a concealer to my complicated regimen of tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip color? Obviously, I have not perfected my canvas as a bona fide makeup artist would do, but, I am up for the challenge! After trying out the concealer, I found that it does dry to a powdery finish, as promised, and the coverage is quite sheer - just the way I like it. Sam's advice? Layer, layer, layer until you find the coverage that works for you. Two was my magic number.

The joy of the evening was the sneak peak at the U.N.I.T.Y. Reignited web series, in its entirety. The series is an introduction to the five finalists who were hand-picked by Latifah, as well as a short testament to the journey of some of the most important women in hip hop. The featured MCs are Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Yo Yo and Rage (and the crowd roared! Yo Yo? Rage?? Where the hell have you been? So great to see you!). Make sure you visit Covergirl's Facebook fan page and check out the installments as they are released weekly. Also check the site to score a free download of the updated "U.N.I.T.Y." -- can you believe it's been 15 years since the song's release?

After watching the series and meeting four of the five young ladies, I rode home with a refreshed and deepened faith in the commitment of our youngest generation of women to positive change for the whole of humanity. That young women are self-aware and community-minded is not a surprise (spoken like a true Spelman College graduate - LOL). I just love a good public reminder, especially given the negative images of us that abound in the media. These ladies (the youngest is 15) speak and rhyme thoughtfully and with their eyes on the prize. My favorite is Christel - that girl is nasty as she wants to be - in the very best of ways.

All hail the five finalists... and the Queen who brought them all together! -Zee

Mischo Beauty Pick: Black Opal True Color Stick Foundation

So you all probably know by now that Sam Fine is my absolute favorite makeup artist in the whole wide world, right?!!! And so when he says he loves a product, I'm running to check it out. This was definitely the case with Black Opal's True Color Stick Foundations. Luckily for me, I was able to use the entire color range of stick foundations during a makeup class I completed a week ago. And the results were flawless applications!

What I loved most about using the foundations is that the coverage is buildable. So if sheer coverage is your desired look, then use your fingers and apply sparingly. And if you need full coverage, then continue to apply until satisfied.

I learned that in most cases you'll probably need two shades to achieve the most natural look. My models' complexions varied- but most were lighter near the nose/cheek areas, and darker near the hairline/jawline areas. I'm impressed with this collection and feel it's definitely worth a try!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

What's one must-have beauty product you can't live without?

So, I'll start off by telling you mine! Well, I'm actually cheating, because I'm going to name two- Jolen Crème Bleach and Maybelline New York Expert Eyes Twin Brow & Eye Pencils. And this is why!

So my question for you today is: What's one must-have beauty product you can't live without?

Mischo Beauty Superstar of the Week: Sam Fine

Today's "Mischo Beauty Superstar" is celebrity makeup artist, Sam Fine. As most of you already know, I've had the opportunity to see him at a celebrity makeup symposium a few years ago in Washington, DC and was completely blown away! Watching him perform his magic, up close and in person, was priceless! I loved that he was so gracious with sharing his story, answering questions and giving advice.

So in an effort to not overwhelm you (I've already mentioned him here, here, here, here, and here! LOL) check out his website for more information on his blog, book, makeup video and tour dates (he'll be back in DC this month!). Enjoy.

Mischo Beauty Still Loves Sam Fine

I'm sure you all know how much I love Sam Fine (he's been my "Makeup Artist of the Month" for just about every month- *smile* and see left-hand column) by now! Well, he recently released an instructional DVD called FINE: The Basics of Beauty. I can not wait to see the DVD- hopefully, it will be released soon! But, in the meantime, you're invited to check out Essence Magazine's coverage of the launch party which was held at the Warren-Tricomi Salon at The Plaza.

Now, if we could only get him to update his fabulous blog....*sigh*...

Mischo Beauty Pick: CARGO's Water Resistant Bronzer & Lash Activator

When Sam Fine (my favorite makeup artist in the whole wide world!) says he loves a product, I'm usually running out to buy it and try it out for myself. You see, I've seen him work his magicin-person and he knocked me off my feet- so his words are the TRUTH when it comes to makeup!

He recently shared his bronzer beauty tips with Elle.com and talked about how much he loves Cargo bronzers. Well, I've been testing out Cargo's Water Resistant Bronzer, specifically formulated to withstand "rain or shine" and I'm loving it. It comes in one shade, Golden Bronze, and it works with every skin tone. It's a shimmery bronzer, but don't worry because it looks very natural during the day!

I've also been testing Cargo's LashActivator, which can be used as either a primer or mascara. It contains ingredients like marine algae, flavonoids, peptides and biotin which work together to thicken, lengthen and slow the rate of "lash loss". My lashes definitely appear longer after using it over time and I'm anxiously awaiting the fullness!

For those of you interested in checking out Cargo's full selection of bronzers, please keep this beauty tip, from Sam Fine, in mind - "Choose one in a shade darker than your complexion. Cargo bronzers come in light, medium and dark so it's very easy to figure out your shade."

So, I'd love to know if you're using a Cargo bronzer and if so, what you love about it!

Source: Elle.com

Mischo Beauty Announcement

Save the date because Billy B. , Sam Fine and Valente Frazier are coming to DC for the 4th Annual Celebrity Makeup Symposium which will be held May 3-5 at the Bennett Career Institute. I attended last year and it was amazing! For more information please call 202.526.1400, ext. 18. If you attended last year, what did you think?

Mischo Beauty Magic

I can’t believe I haven’t posted about my two most important beauty must-haves!? They’re like magic! I know most people can’t live without their lip gloss or mascara or foundation, but I can’t live without my Jolen Crème Bleach and Maybelline New York Expert Eyes Twin Brow & Eye Pencils. In my opinion, the brows are the most important feature of the face. I know this sounds crazy, but believe me when I tell you that I’ve been on the quest to achieve the perfect brow for years!

It wasn’t until I attended a makeup symposium and witnessed celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine using the Maybelline New York Expert Eyes Twin Brow & Eye Pencils, that I realized these might be the answer! You see, I’m a natural red-head, but for some reason my eyebrows are a lot darker. So lightening them and then lightly filling them in with the brow pencil creates the perfect brow!

Mischo Beauty Loves: Sam Fine

I saw him at last year's Celebrity Makeup Symposium (Washington, DC). He was AMAZING. He INSPIRED me. Please visit his new beauty blog:

Sam Fine

Mischo Beauty News

Top celebrity makeup artists Sam Fine and Billy B will hold workshops in Washington, DC this fall. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see them- please don’t miss out!

Sam Fine

A Night of Knowledge with Celebrity Makeup Artist Sam Fine

Location: Bennett Career Institute

August 6, 2007

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Contact: 202-526-1400, ext. 18

http://www.samfine.com/

Billy B

The American Beauty Tour/ The Powder Group

Location: TBD

October 21, 2007

10:00am-1:30pm or 2:30pm-5:30pm
Contact: 866.876.9337
http://www.billybbeauty.com/