Product Review: Hard Candy Stroke of Gorgeous Marker

I am a makeup artist. But before that I was a makeup junkie. I was the kid who played in her mom's makeup drawer and begged for hot pink lipstick in the makeup aisle because it matched my Barbie purse. I believe that Chanel and Covergirl can coexist. Dior and Wet n Wild live quite happily next to each other in my personal makeup drawer. I love a good drugstore find!

Unfortunately, this is not one of those. Hard Candy has some great products! I love their corrector and concealer palette. It works great for us pale girls and our under eye circles. I wanted to love this product, especially because of the color. I picked up Hard Candy's Stroke of Gorgeous felt tip marker in Anchor. It looked to be a pretty grey color for Fall.

And it was...once it got started. It took a while for the color to come all the way out, and it didn't build on itself very well, even when letting it dry between layers. Check it out:

Not the best picture, for sure. However, the shadow from the glasses is adding to the color of the product. It wasn't nearly as pigmented as I'd hoped, and I'm not sure what circumstances would allow you to keep this product on for 12 hours, but it sure as heck isn't sitting at home and then falling asleep on the couch.

Recommendation:
Save your money. Even though it's a cheapie product, it's not worth it. Rimmel is the best drugstore brand marker I've found, and the best one period is Limelight by Alcone. Now if you guys could just start branching out into other colors beyond black!

Pretty Pretty Pin Ups!

A few weeks ago we had a Pin Up Party at my lovely friend Kristene's downtown Fort Worth apartment. Red lips and high heels all over the place!! I can't wait to post. But here's a sneak peek of the hostess with the mostest herself:

Photography by the wonderful Angela Duncan of Angela Duncan Photography. Go look at more of her stuff at http://angeladuncanphotography.zenfolio.com/

2014. The Best Year Ever?

So excited for the New Year! Last year was so crazy and awesome, I can't wait to see what this year has in store. Just a quick wrap up of 2013: Worked on over 50 weddings either solo or assisting the lovely Erin Blair Gobin over at Erin Blair Makeup & Hair Design. Lost count of how many senior portraits and proms, special occasion, and bridal portraits I did. Worked on ten productions in stitching, costume design, and hair and makeup.

Like I said. Crazy!

Okay, 2014. The bar got set pretty high, let's see how you do.

Now, here's a pretty from one of the last weddings I worked with Erin last year. My Rainbow Brite bridesmaid!

Joining the Rest of the World

Oh, hey there, Technology and Progress! How you doin'? I have finally run out of excuses for why I don't accept credit cards and joined the 21st century. It seems everyone these days is putting their wedding on their credit cards (I know my cousin and brothers have!), so it seems a little silly of me not to accept them. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, you're all invited to the party now.

Oh, and here's a pretty picture for you:

Photography by Brian Holm at http://www.photopersuasion.net/

Stuff I'm Diggin...

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner (don't blame me if your significant other doesn't make those reservation because you haven't already been dropping hints), I thought I would pay a little homage to some Valentine's-esque cosmetics that I love.

First up, Physicians Formula.

I am a huge fan of their products, especially their blushes and highlighting pearl powders. The whole multi-colored smart palettes blows my mind. They have line right now called Happy Booster which runs from lipstick to blush to bronzers, and all of the makeup has little hearts in the product. Check it out:

http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/blush/07322.html

How adorable is that!? It also gives the perfect blend of shimmery, dewy blush.


PF also has Sexy Booster products with some boudoir flare in the product.

http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/07861.html

That is some sassy bronzer. It's got some fun pheromone stuff going on, too. And the blush has a pink high heel on it!

Okay, Physicians Formula. You win the marketing battle this time!

Another line I'm loving right now is Too Faced. They have a great new collection out right now with a super cutesy blush and a fantastic eye palette that's about all I've been wearing for the last three weeks. Here's their Sweethearts Blush:

https://www.toofaced.com/p-1328-sweethearts-perfect-flush-blush.aspx

It's kind of so cute I can't stand it. And it blends together perfectly!

The other product I'm in love with is their Boudoir Eyes palette. The colors blend like a dream, look amazing, and have verrrrrry inappropriate names. From a Sheena Easton song to a few alternative bedroom toys, this is definitely at least a PG-13 palette. Lookie:

https://www.toofaced.com/p-1326-boudoir-eyes-shadow-collection.aspx

Yummy. I love me some dramatic eyes, and purple is a great way to do it!

Here's hoping you have a wonderful Valentine's Day, or Singles Awareness Day, or February 14th!

Yevgenya

Sometimes people are so pretty it's not even fair. That would be Yevgenya. She is a gorgeous Russian bride I had the privilege of dolling up in June.

She was my first bride who wanted her hair down and straight for her wedding. However, her hair is naturally very curly!

Yevgenya has perfect skin. Like magazine, post-photoshop perfection. Add that to the light airbrush foundation I used on her, she looks flawless!

I met her back at her reception site to put her hair up into a quick updo which you can see in this adorable shot of their first dance.

Photography: Visions in White

http://www.visionsinwhite.com/blog/?page/37543/home

About That Resolution...

     So every year we all start out to do things better. Lose weight. Get organized. Stay on top of blog postings... And they last about a week before normal life comes back, right?

Well, I have a theory. I started my personal resolution a week early to get a running start at it. Down ten pounds, and the habits seem to be sticking. So I'm going to start on my business resolutions a few weeks late. What can I say? I like to avoid crowds.

Today I met with the two amazing ladies that I work with: Amy Doty and Erin Blair Gobin. We had a great kickoff pep talk, and we are all super excited about this new year! (If you haven't checked out our website, here you go: http://www.erinblair.com/)

I seriously compiled all my makeup into one giant pile this week and had enough to split up into almost four separate, complete kits. And I still threw a ton away!

And speaking of purging, I don't know about the rest of you, but my personal makeup drawer could be its own episode of hoarders. Here is a good guideline from Allure magazine on the shelf life of your cosmetics and when it's time to pitch that mascara. It may hurt, but it's only for a little while.

http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/2010/how_to_know_when_your_beauty_products_expire#slide=1
 

Here's to a new year!

Elizabeth - Engagement Hair/Makeup

So, in my last post I talked about how I had a crack of dawn hair and makeup appointment with a super cool bride-to-be for her engagement pictures. I just received them from the amazing and talented Jamie at View La La Photography,www.viewlala.com. Here are a few pictures of Miss Photogenic McGee, or as some people like to call her, Elizabeth.

My instructions were: Megan Fox.

We based the look off of Megan Fox's smoky brown eye for her Cosmo cover with some big curls.

Seriously. I don't think you can take a bad picture of this couple!

Must Be June!

Wedding season is indeed upon us! I've been booked AT LEAST Saturday and Sunday every weekend the last month! So excited to send beautiful girls down the aisle, but I've also been able to do some fun photoshoots. I had a bride getting her engagement photos done this morning. And by morning I mean we started at 6:00 am. We don't play around! Can't wait to see the pictures from that, but in the mean time here's a little treat from the shoot my friends did last Sunday. The lovely and talented Kristene in front of Brian Holm's camera.

You can check out the entire shoot at http://www.photopersuasion.net/p222934376

It's That Time Again!

Not only is wedding season fully upon us, every high school girl is dreaming about her perfect prom night!

Okay, maybe not every girl, but I'm willing to bet the vast majority have been pouring through magazines and websites for the perfect dress to feel like Cinderella at the ball. And the shoes, and the jewelry, and the hairstyle, and the makeup...wait, what? Hair and makeup? That's my cup of tea!

For those pretty, pretty princesses wanting to get dolled up for the big night, I am offering a few treats. I offer hair and makeup for $95 and either/or for $60. Plus I come to you!

Now, I remember the getting ready process very well. It's a social thing! Nobody wants to get ready alone. And therefore, I am offering a discount for parties of 4 or more girls who want to get ready together.

Now, that being said, I think it's time to revisit She's All That!

Great Things on the Horizon!

I am super excited for the next few weekends! I've got a lovely pin-up bride this Saturday (who didn't even know that was the look she wanted!) named Leah. Her first requirement was that her lips match her knock out red shoes. It was a natural progression to the cat eye from there.

Then I have a lovely St. Patrick's Day bride named Lindsay. We've got a gorgeous natural beauty for this one with a very classy hairdo going on.

Can't wait!

Lovely Ladies Part 1:

I am very excited to be branching out on my own and starting to take on my own weddings this year. I've worked with Erin for coming up on two years now. And we still work together all the time, but she has been wonderful about helping me get my act together to start booking on my own. A few weekends ago she organized a portfolio day with several of her former brides and friends. Here is a sneak peek of how some of these lovely ladies turned out!

Meet Blair. She's rocking a very pretty, messy updo with lots of curl and texture throughout the do!

2012: A Year I'm Determined to Keep Up With!

I realize that I am already into month two of this brave new year, and I'm just now posting. HOWEVER...I am intending to remedy this situation. I am starting to book more weddings on my own, and am taking on intriguing new costuming projects. Lots of exciting new things to post about. I am going to start this off by posting a ton of new images to my wedding hair and makeup page. Photography by the wonderful and talented Brian Holm. And a big thank you to all of the lovely ladies who volunteered to be my guinea pigs and my sister, Erin, for putting the big day together for me!

Mea Culpa!

Okay, so not only am I a lousy pen pal (as any of my friends back home can attest), but it appears I am a complete failure at blogging. Summer was crazy. Got to work on some amazing brides of my own and assist the Sis in Law on some giant wedding parties. Here are a few links to the solo brides I worked on: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150240717088805.339393.9028733804&type=1
Amazing photography by Aves Photographic Design!

My very first solo bride! Brennan was definitely one of the calmest brides I've ever come across. She wanted pretty natural, and had a really fun fascinator to go in her hair. I also did her mom's hair and makeup as well as her sister's makeup. Gorgeous ladies!

Updates

Last month was insane! I worked a wedding every single weekend, assisting my amazing Sister in Law, Erin. We also threw a few trial runs into the mix to make this a busy, busy March! The following pictures are all from the craziness:

A very full bun, thanks to two rows of sewn in extensions.

Lindsay's trial run. She wanted a low loose mass of curls.

Everyone's favorite part of the hairstyle.

Class and Sass is pleased to announce...

That we raised almost $2,000 for Emily Grace Stiegler at our Valentine's Day Fundraiser! And donations are still coming in! Thank you so much to everyone that participated. We are hoping to turn this into an annual event, so if you weren't able to join us this year, mark your calendars for next Valentine's weekend. Here are a few pictures from the day:

Let me introduce Melinda! She had just come from buying a new car and was in super excited mode. Her evening plans were a dinner party at a friend's house. I kept her makeup simple, but pretty.

She didn't want it to look like she'd gone to a salon for the dinner party, so I gave her loose curls and braided it back from her face.

Here is a side view of the braid.

This is Amy! Amy wasn't sure whether she wanted to wear her hair up or down to a gala event. She wound up with a low, messy side bun. She didn't want pictures taken from the front until she had her makeup on...so pictures of that should be forthcoming!

Doin' Good...

Hey Dallas Ladies:

So Valentine's Day is on a Monday this year...lame! Everyone knows Saturday night is prime date time. So to help you get ready for your big Valentine's date (which is actually the Saturday before, but that's when V-day should have been, and we all know it!) the ladies of Haute Facade in Dallas are having a fund raiser. For $100 they will get you decked out with hair AND makeup so you can make your guy (or gal, we don't judge!) swoon. Here's a pretty flier for you:

Now, as if this wasn't a good enough deal already all, yes that's right 100% of your $100 goes to a little girl named Emily Grace Stiegler. Emily's parents were both killed in a tragic Christmas Eve car accident. This is just a small attempt to help out a precious baby girl. So get glammed up and do a little good for a little girl. Email the contact on the flier, or me at skgobin@gmail.com for more info or if you'd like to make a separate donation!

Last night was the Aces and Angels at Fair Park to help kick off festivities for the Super Bowl. Gene Simmons and his lady, Shannon Tweed, hosted the evening that was in support of our boys and girls in the armed services. I was fortunate enough to be in attendance and had the privilege of dolling up the Fantasty Girls from 105.3 the Fan! There were smoky eyes abound!

The FANtasy Girls! From left we have Shaunda, Tanna, Heather, and Lauren.

Moxie spinnin' a little sompin' sompin'. Ok I'm done I swear.

I got to put makeup on all these lovely ladies, but the only one whose hair I styled was Tanna. (The shortest :)

The other pictures were from the radio station, these I took with my iphone. I did these girls' makeup between two and five in the afternoon, and they still look gorgeous at midnight.

Pretty, pretty.

Biblical Meets Badass

Man it's getting gross outside! So while I'm huddled under the covers trying to get my feet warm, I thought I'd post some pictures of a costume I made for my older brother's production company. They were filming for their logo's trailer last Friday. The production company is called Arkangel or Archangel...I'll get back to you on that. Either way, we needed a costume that was going to make it look like this angel means business.

Meet Jason. There was no pattern for this costume, so I made up how to do the waistband and attached strips of brown cotton fabric. I also had to make some gladiator style shoes. I bought a pair of flip flops and built up from there. I think they turned out pretty awesome!

Yeah, he really is that ripped. I feel like I had the easy part.

Busy, Busy Monday!

Crazy weekend! The fam was in town for my nephew's dedication at church. I also spent Saturday morning assisting my sister-in-law doll up the sassiest bunch of lawyers I've ever come across. These ladies were definitely the most laid back group of girls I've come across in a long time. Congratulations to Amber and the man that gets to wake up next to her for the rest of his life! Now, back to work on a costume I'm working on for my brother's production company.