Hibiscus!... this may be a bit of an obsession

A little under a year ago, not long after starting my Mary Kay journey, I ordered a few lipstick samples. I chose the colors that looked as little like something I could just run to walgreens and pick up as possible. At the top of my list was Hibiscus. The color was just so pretty to me. Anyhoo, when I got my samples, this color was just as gorg as I thought it would be... the problem?.. I ordered a bunch of samples and, being the... thrifty lady I am, I just used those bad boys (as well as the other colors) until they were gone. well, ADD set in and I got side tracked by dark lip colors and Target clearance items and totally forgot that I was in love with the beautiful Hibiscus. Well, putting in an order recently, I opted to throw in some items for myself as well as some things for me to have ready to sell. Let me just say that this color is one of those that looks best in person because photos do it no justice! even the sample had little to nothing on what u get from the actual tube! (i don't even know how that's possible)... Hibiscus is a perfect blend of red, pink, and purple, it's just all I need... to get by. lol! The photo below is the best photo that I have of this color. it's slightly brighter than in person, but u really get the demensions of the color so, here.....

So here's the eye makeup I paired with the Hibiscus... Step 1: used a tapered crease brush to sweep MK Mineral Eye Color in Silky Caramel into the crease. Step 2: Use a flat shadow brush to pat MK Mineral Eye Color in Gold Coast onto the lid and lightly blend it with the Silky Caramel. Step 3: Highlight the browbone with a super light layer of Gold Coast, then use a short haired shadow brush to add MK Mineral Eye Color in Coal from the outer corner to the outer edge of the crease. Step 4: Blend the Coal inward at the crease. Step 5: use an angled liner brush to add MK Mineral Eye Color in Azure to the inner corner of the lower lid. Step 6: use and angled liner brush to sweep Coal anong the lower lash line and blend where it meets Azure. Step 7: Liner and Lashes! Here I used MK Limited Edition Gel Liner Pot (no longer available) and Ardell Glamour lashes in Wispies.

Here's the entire look! The foundation I use is MK Time Wise Matte Wear Liquid Foundation in Bronze 3. the blush is MK Mineral Cheek Colors Cherry Blossom mixed with Golden Copper. This isn't a bad look at Hibiscus, it's slightly dark, but I think u get it. lol! ps: please excuse my brows, I have tweezed this terrible situation away. ;-)

 

 

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For Booking, Contact:  RacquelMUA@gmail.com
 Instagram: @RacquelMUA
 Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourMK

Started as a Contest Entry...

Almost every makeup company, hair product company, mua and stylist does a giveaway or contest on Instagram or FB. Every once in a while, i'll actually participate, but only if the prize is a MUST. Well, I reposted a pic for a random drawing giveaway to win an airbrush makeup kit (i swear, if I win, i'm GOING to cry) anyhoo, a young lady namef Ariela (feel free to follow her on IG @arielaartistry) commented on that photo and invited me to participate in her very first giveaway. So, number 1: i'm totally taking that as i'm awesome (don't judge me, and I will not accept any arguments) and number 2:, the giveaway is pretty dope! first prize (which requires a makeup look entry that consists of a look that would compliment the MAC lippie "Candy Yum Yum"... is the "Candy Yum Yum lippie plus $50 in your choice of jewelry from a pretty cool accessory company. (@queenpee). I rarely enter looks for contests, but I figured since she invited me, I should probably give it a go. This is the look I entered. (i don't own cany yumyum, but I tried to get pretty close with this Wet 'n' Wild 511B.)

Step 1: Apply Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Peacock Blue to the entire lid and lower lash line. Step 2: I used a light teal, shimmery shadow from Cover Girl, i(t's so old, I have no idea what it's called) over all of the Peacock Blue and into the crease. Step 3: I swept MK Mineral Eye Color in Spun Silk in the crease and upward to just below the browbone. Step 4: Highlighted the browbone with MK Mineral Eye Color on Gold Coast. Step 5: Used the yellow shadow from my BH Cosmetics Party Girl Palette at the inner corner (top and bottom). Step 6: Rimmel ScandalEyes waterproof black liner and Ardell Glamour Wispies... BOOM!

Full face is Mary Kay Time Wise Matte Wear Liquid Foundation, Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color in Cherry Blossom and the lipstick is, like I mentioned, Wet 'n' Wild in 511B.

For Booking, Contact: RacquelMUA@gmail.com
 Instagram: @RacquelMUA
 Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourMK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask and You Shall Receive! (a break down of the prom look I did)

of course, there's a bit of afilter here, but this and the full-face photos below are taken with no flash.

 Ok, I got a significant amount of love for the look I did on my prom client a few weeks ago. And just yesterday, a friend of mine asked would I do a step-by-step pictorial of that very look. Of course I would!!! So here is that look from top to bottom! (please note that my face and my client's face are different shapes and colors.. slightly.. and this is an example of how the same look will vary depending on who's wearing it) Enjoy....

Starting with the brows! I used my Mary Kay Brow Pencil in Brunette, a Spiral brush and a concealer just a shade lighter than my own skin color.

 After applying Mary Kay Eye Primer, Step 1: Apply a matte brown/maroon-ish color with a flat shadow brush (helpful hint: use a patting motion rather than a sweeping or spreading motion to help build the color. Step 2: apply that same color to the entire lower lash line. Step 3: Use a crease brush and sweep a golden bronze along the crease. Step 4: Take a shadow brush and sweep a matte lavendar color (lightly) over the golden bronze and up toward the brow bone. Then highlight the brown bone with a sheer/shimmery light golden color. Step 5: Use a liner brush to add a shimmery white color to the inner corners of both the upper and lower lid. Step 6: Line the upper lash line (here I used a pencil, on my client, I used a gel liner). Step 7: Apply false Lashes, mascara on the lower lashes and liner to the waterline.

these shadows are numbered by the order they were used, not the step number they were used in... because i'm awesome. lol. but the top left is a Wet 'n' Wild palette u can find at any drugstore, the top right is a sample palette I got with my Coastal Scents order (i do believe the white is called white silver.. but don't hold me to that) and the bottom palette is my trusty old Party Girl Palette from BH Cosmetics. The liner is from Rimmel London's Scandaleyes collection and the lashes are Ardell Glamour Wispies. on my client I used Red Cherry #217.. very similar

And noe for the face! I used a very small amount of my regular foundation to start, then Step 1: I used a small stipling brush to apply my highlighting concealer to my cheekbones, just above my jawline, chin, forehead and down the center of my nose. Step 2: I used a concealer brush to apply my darker contouring concealer under my chrekbones, templrs and alonh the sides of my nose. Step 3: Blended it all with a flat-topped powder brush, then applied a darker powder to the contoured areas and  this time, used my regular shade of powder all over my face. Step 4: Mary Kay Mineral Cheek color in Cherry Blossom, and the lined my lips with a redish brown lip pencil. Step 5: Applied Wet 'n' Wild lipstick in Think Pink all over my lips and blended until thr liner wasn't really visible.

again, no flash...

and no flash. lol! natual light only.

this is my prom client, this photo is taken indoors and with a flash, but u get the gist... she's gorgeous. lol!

So there you have it! The prom look from top to bottom!

 For bookings, contact: RacquelMUA@gmail.com

 For more of me and my work:
 Instagram: @RacquelMUA
 Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourMK

... At Least My Face is Dazzling?...

This is both on and off the subject of having a sufficient amount of Razzle-Dazzle in life...

A few years ago, I was definitely one of those moms who had the thought process of "having kids is no excuse to not get dolled up or a reason to avoid heels...." ..... that was when I was a mother of 1 glorious little boy who couldn't be bothered with my makeup and hair routine, so he'd gladly entertain himself while I got ready... this is also during the time when I was younger and the snap-back was REAL. I was back to my original size in a week and my boobs were like 2 cup sizes larger. WINNING....

Fast foward to now... I had 2 babies within 2 years of each other, my youngest is now 8 months and my whole family commutes an hour 5 days a week. In addition to that, I basically live at the park.... Fun times! So, our hour commute is usually the only time I have to snatch my face, which isn't bad now that i've gotten used to doing makeup in a moving vehicle. Thank goodness I have that time though! Even if it's just liner, lashes and lipstick, I still feel like I look somewhat Dazzled when at the park with the little ones.... Onto wardrobe...

Now, I know I don't look completely rugged and raggedy, but I never quite feel hot, or even cute in my clothes anymore. The snap-back is a lie now that i'm *cough* 25 *cough* and so just as my body was getting back to lookin somewhat normal after baby number 2... here came baby number 3! So it's a journey. I know i'm going to lose the weight, i'm already close to my pre-any kids weight and size, but I feel like all my clothes qualify me to change my name to Frumpy McFrumperson, Officially!

Anyhoo, what i'm getting at is this, Razzle-Dazzle is always a must, and as long you don't look a hot ass mess, and you're working on getting your wardrobe's life, sometimes u gotta just snatch it up and say to them all "At least my face is Dazzling!"


For morr of me:
 Instagram: @RacquelMUA
 Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourMK
 And of course, for bookings: RacquelMUA@gmail.com

I Can Never Get Enough Smokey Eye in My Life!

Of course this is so NOT my first time giving praise to the almighty Smokey Eye! But I've actually not rocked my once "go to" look in a little while. So today,when faced with the dilema of how to paint my face, I couldn't help but gravitate to my trusty smoked out look. I've gotten away from doing all Mary Kay looks, and since I'm attempting to get back into bizz and am convinced that ppl need to be shown how fantastic these colors can be, y not smoke it out with my MK?! I put together a little Step-By-Step pictorial as well, just to show how to achieve this look.......
 lo

Step 1: sweep MK Mineral Eye Color in Silky Caramel into and just above the creasr, not on the lid. Step2: Use Gold Coast to lightly highlight the browbone and blend it downward into the Silky Caramel. Step3: Cover the entire lid up to thecrease and entire lower lash line with Coal. Step 4: Go over all of the Coal with Midnight Star and blend just slightly upward and into the Silky Caramel. Step 5: Take a wipe, or a cotton swab with a bit of MK Eye Makeup Remover on it and clean up the outter line of the shadow (from the outter corner of the eye to the outter edge of the brow. No liner this time, apply your fav lashes (i'm wearing Ardell Glamour lashes "Wispies") and apply MK Ultimate Mascara to the lower lashes.
 And There you have it! All smoked out and lookin all kinds of Dazzling!

 For bookings: RacquelMUA@gmail.com
 Instagram: @RacquelMUA
 Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourMK

Dark Grey with a Pop of Fuschia! (step-by-step)

 I had a friend ask me if I had ever done a look using fuschia and grey, and if so, could she see pics. She's going to be in her brother's wedding and the bridesmaid dresses are fuschia. So of course, if someone asks, i'll definitely try out a look and, if wanted, i'll do a step-by-step to go along with it. Well, I actually hadn't done a look using those colors, so today I made sure I got to it....

 Starting with step 1: I used Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color I Sterling at the inner corner of my lid. Step 2: I applied Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Black Pearl to the rest of my lid, blending it with the Sterling. Step 3: I made a V shape at the outer corner of my lid using Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Coal. Step 4: is just blending the Coal inward. Step 5: I dipped a blender brush in Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Spun Silk, then swept it along the crease where the Sterling, Black Pearl and Coal to soften the line and finally Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Gold Coast on the brow bone. Step 6: Along the lower lashline I swept a fuschia pink from my BH Cosmetics Party Girl Palette. Step 7: I used a Rimmel London eyeliner pencil along my lash line (no wing this time) and my water line. Ardell false lashes in 105 on top, and Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara on the lower lashes. TADAH!!! Lol! There you have it folks!

 

 For Bookings Contact: RacquelMUA@gmail.com

 For more of me and my work:                   Instagram: @RacquelMUA                                Facebook: facebook.com/YourMK                   

On Second.. and Third Thought (the gift of being indecisive)

So I just posted breif thoughts about being asked to start vlogging and offering video tutorials for my makeup applications...in that post, I'm pretty much giving in and stating that i'll be venturing into the world vlogging soon, with my main focus being on showcasing the bold possibilities of Mary Kay makeup. 

Well, I stayed up fairly late last night and I thought about a few things. Clearly, these video tutorials will offer a better explanation of what to do to achieve various looks, but it'll also give ppl a look at who I am, what I sound like, how animated I tend to be when I speak, as well as allowing me to reach a bigger audience. Sounds like a winning situation right?! Right!...

But then I started to think about other things... Like, do I want that? I don't mind letting ppl get to know a bit more about me, I don't mind showing ppl how to beautify themselves... but I really feel like i'm better suited to do that in person. The best part of being an MUA, for me (besides sitting back and enjoying your work post snatch) is the conversation. Being in a position to get to know new ppl, make ppl laugh and feel extra comfortable while I work is the most fun. Showing ppl first-hand who I am as well as what I can do....
 Ok, ok...maybe this is me attempting to make my fears and insecurities into a legit reason to not vlog it up. But damn, it is true tho! I'm way more of a fan of myself in person than via video.
 Confession time: I thought to myself that I should try easing into posting videos and started a KEEK account. I posted 1 video about tbe fact that I was just going to try out getting used to seeing myself on video... then I realized that KEEK only allows you about 35 seconds per video.. BOOO! So then I posted a video about how idk if I liked KEEK at all.. and that's how far I got. hahahahaha! If u wanna check those out, my KEEK name is, of course, RacquelMUA. feedback is more than welcome!

 well, the jury is still out folks. I really think if I do venture into the wotld og vloghing, i'll start with some reviews of products and then eventually get into tutorials. in the meantime, i'll get back into my step-by-step collages.

 Find me on:
 Instagram: @RacquelMUA
 Facebook www.facebook.com/YourMK
 Path: Racquel Guess
 KEEK: RacquelMUA
 email: RacquelMUA@gmail.com

To Vlog or Not To Vlog...

For a while now, i've had ppl ask me y I don't have a youtube and y I don't do video tutorials of my various makeup looks. To be honest, while in photos and in person, I can be fairly outgoing, when it comes to talking to a camera, not saying um, not rambling on about a bunch of nonsense and, above all, watching it and feeling satisfied... i'm not too sure of myself. So, as somewhat of a pacifier, I started making step-by-step photo collages. Even still, I am getting ppl asking me to actually show the steps being performed rather than pictures. Jeez Louise! That's not even asking for much, but I'm just so scared to do it. "scared of what?" u may be asking. And that's a good question!...... Look, as a youngster (yup, I said youngster, and shall not be judged!) I wasn't very confident in my appearance as a pre and early teen. of course, I grew out of my awkwardness and into feeling like I am a reasonably attractive girl, but the fact of the matter is that I still look at myself and see every little flaw... I know, I know, everyone is like that... but I don't care. haha!
    Anyhoo... a friend of mine pointed out to me that Mary Kay tends to showcase their cosmetics through soft, very neutral makeup looks. The blues, purples, bronzes... all super buildable and can be really vibrant, are super subtle in the catalogs and online. When I first got started with Mary Kay, I got a few Mineral Eye Colors and realized how rich the colors really can be. I have posted quite a few looks using all Mary Kay products just to show what these shadows can really do... But have I truly done my part? Today, one of my IG followers asked me to start doing video tutorials because she had just started her Mary Kay business and wanted to learn how to do great looking makeup with the products.... Sigh... I guess it's time for me to man up. maybe the good ol' folks at Mary Kay will see what i'm doing and.. shit, I dunno. lmao! I got some things to figure out... like when i'm going to attempt to create my first video tutorial! And now i'm scared. lol! stay tuned.....