Last month I had the opportunity to attend a M.A.C Technique Class at M.A.C Dillard's located in North Olmstead Ohio. It was an incredible experience attending this event as a M.A.C Makeup Artist, a Student and Blogger, to learn from some of the best Artists in the world!
Topic: INFLUENCES
Get up close and personal with top M.A.C Artists as they take you through their top products for achieving the looks you love from magazines, movies and more. Create your own influential look with the trend-setting techniques featured on your favorite celebrities.
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| Gina, Kiana, Me, Patty and Justin |
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| Senior MAC Cosmetics Artist Gina Bettelli |
It is rare to have a M.A.C Senior Artist in our region so this was an event I didn't want to miss. Senior Artist Gina Bettelli was in the house showing us her "must haves" and "how to's"! It was inspiring and unbelievable. I'm still pinching myself right now!
You can see Gina's work adorning the runways during fashion week in Milan, Paris and New York. She creates the looks on celebrities like Sienna Miller, Andie MacDowell, Paula Patton, Fergie, Cyndi Lauper, Matthew Broderick, Lucy Liu and many others. You can also spot her work during events like Cirque du Soleil, Oscar week, the Sundance Film Festival and international film festivals as well. That would explain why I am very excited to share with you a few things I learned while attending M.A.C Technique!
During my interview with Gina the only question I needed answered was, "How do you balance family life and your career? You travel so much?". Her response was simple and comforting, "They come with me!". My next thought wondered if she would consider adopting me :)
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| Kiana rocking Nightmoth Lip Pencil for a bold lip look. |
Kiana is wearing a dark, vampy and bold lip look provided by Gina. I gotta tell ya, with all of the matte, burgundy and red lipstick I got for fall, I was extremely happy to know I didn't have to ditch them anytime soon. Gina explained, "It's more about texture this spring. We are shifting into more frost and less matte.". Great! I'll layer some lip glass on top of my matte lipsticks and I'm good to go!
Also, I can't forget the flawless skin finish and the softer eye to compliment this bold lip. I learned that prepping the skin is key to achieving the perfect finish and a little eye liner can go a long way. Check out some of the products Gina used to create this look.
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| Fix + Use Fix + after cleansing to soothe and calm the skin. |
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| Prep + Prime Natural Radiance
Prep + Prime Natural Radiance hydrates
and primes to improve foundation or powder
application, control oil and promote smooth texture.
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| Pro Longwear Concealer
Gina applied Pro Longwear Concealer with a
#209 brush for a controlled and precise application.
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| Penultimate
Penultimate can give you an "invisible eyeliner"
look if applied between the lashes and less mascara.
This technique is great for mature skin or
people who don't wear a lot of makeup.
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| Studio Sculpt Lash
Studio Sculpt Lash is great for
defining and lengthening.
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| Nightmoth Lip Pencil
Nightmoth is a deep plum
that is perfect for anyone.
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| Pro Longwear Paint Pot
Gina used a #168 soft brush with Pro Longwear
Paint Pot in Groundwork to contour Kiana's face.
You can also use Dipdown Brown for deeper skin tones.
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| MAC Trainer and Artist for Ohio and Up State NY Justin Burch |
Meet Justin Burch! I met Justin this past November during my M.A.C Cosmetics Basic Training. He taught me everything I know about products, application and M.A.C Culture. His energy is infectious, his artistry is impeccable and his passion is inspirational. Let's check out Justin's
techniques below.
Justin's model Patty is wearing a bold, winged eyeliner look with a softer lip and dewy skin. This eye focus can be tricky to create but after watching Justin's technique I felt confident I could do this without fail. Using Fluidline eyeliner, the #209 brush and starting with the wing first, you can achieve this youself at home. Here are a few more products Justin used to create this look.
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| Mineralize Moisture SPF 15 Foundation
Mineralize Moisture Foundation creates an
optical blurring effect that virtually diminishes
imperfections and fine lines, for a more even tone.
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| Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural provides a skin
finish that keeps your glow without being overly matte.
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| Fluidline
Fluidline is a gel formula that provides the
precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish.
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| In Extreme Dimension Lash
In Extreme Dimension Lash adds volume,
extends length and creates curl, while conditioning for
softness and flexibility. This mascara provides a one coat lash look. |
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| Brave Lipstick
Justin completed this look with Brave
Lipstick which adds color plus texture.
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Now onto tools! When ever anyone asks me what my favorite product is, I always say a brush. I personally believe the difference between ok makeup and flawless makeup is the use of brushes during application. If you think about it, Van Gogh, Picasso and Da Vinci didn't create the most beautiful paintings with their fingers! I think you get my point :)
There are many different ways to use each brush so I highly recommend visiting your local M.A.C store or counter. Since M.A.C is a "Show and Teach" brand, a Makeup Artist will be able to help you decide which brushes best suit your needs. Here are some of the brushes Gina and Justin used to create their Influential Looks.
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| 159 Duo Fibre Blush Brush |
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| 168 Large Angled Contour Brush |
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| 109 Small Contour Brush |
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| 217 Blending Brush |
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| 286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush |
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| 209 Eyeliner Brush |
In conclusion, I learned so much while attending M.A.C Technique. If you have the opportunity to attend this class I would seize it. I have been using these tips and tricks on my customers at my counter and everyone has been extremely happy.
A huge shout out goes to Sarah and her team at M.A.C Dillard's located in Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted Ohio for hosting this event. Everyone was so nice and very accommodating. I had such a great time and I look forward to stopping in again soon!
