Internal Musings: Dynasty: The Empress Strikes Back (Presenting Don Cristobal's Creation)

Ok, saying Don Cristobal is good is an understatement, the man is effin GENIUS!!! When Sir Ojie Ramos from BPP (Beyond Photography Production) approached me if I can do HMUA work for an open shoot showcasing Don’s creation I said yes straightaway without batting my eyelashes.

I do admit that every big project I take gives me the unavoidable panic attack before the big event and this is no exception. However, my nerves were somehow calm during the day itself as I have the most enjoyable people surrounding me. Besides, you couldn’t help but be inspired with Don’s creations.

The Dynasty collection consists of a Korean Empress, a Japanese Geisha and an Indian Princess. The models that day are all PRO so it’s easy for them to channel their character.

I used a mishmash of products to piece together the makeup. My first dilemma was how I am going to able to whiten the face of the Geisha without looking cakey or somehow ill. I was scramming through several makeup stores but the lightest shade I could find wouldn’t be as white as I intended the face to be. So just like any other day when I feel I could use some breather, one of the things that I normally do is to head to our local DAISO shop in Rivervale, and as if the store isn’t fitting with the Geisha theme (Note: Daiso is of Japanese origin), there in the special counter of beauty supplies displayed several white foundations, and powders. I bought a pale blue powder because I heard before that blue makes white even paler and yes it did work. And the best part is it didn’t cost me a fortune, its only S$2.00 just like the rest of the stuffs there. Thank GOD for Daiso...

So, now I have my powder I just need something to apply it with. My main concern in completing the look is to make sure that the makeup won’t come out cakey. Though white foundation isn’t natural looking, I still want it to look even and well applied. I did some shopping online and bought these 2 brushes. An E.L.F. Studio stipple brush and E.L.F. taklon blush brush. I ordered it quite late and I was supposed not to receive them before the event but the girl from the online shop went out of her way to meet me personally so she can give me the brushes. I tell you that is really good customer service. Giving me enough time to give them a good wash and for the brushes to dry. I was amazed with both brushes they didn’t bleed the first time I washed them. The brushes did well enough for their intended purpose, and for the amount I paid they are good brushes compared to the expensive MAC 187 Duo Fibre Stippling brush.

Visit http://www.tara-shop.com/ for your next makeup purchase.

Here are the products I used to put the whole look together:

On Jessica

FACE

▪ Foundation – Max Factor Pan Stik Foundation Stick in Nude Ivory (to act as a base for the pale blue powder) http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_90_102&products_id=417

▪ Concealer – Coastal Scents Concealer Palette (I used a bit for her lips to pale out the lips)

▪ Powder – Ever Bilena Pale Blue powder from DAISO

▪ Blush – NYX eyeshadow in extreme apricot and a bit of pink from the 120 eyeshadow palette to soften and gradient the colour

EYES

▪ Base – NYX jumbo eye pencil in Milk http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_89&products_id=293

▪ Eyeshadow – NYX single eyeshadow in extreme apricot and pink from the 120 eyeshadow palette

▪ Liner – Maybelline Hyper Sharp eyeliner in black

▪ Mascara – Lancome hypnose mascara

▪ Eyelashes – Eyelash Diva courtesy of Don Cristobal

LIPS

▪ Avon Ultra Luxury Lip Liner in Wild Berry

▪ NYX Round lipstick in Electra http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_89&products_id=293

Note: I blanked out Jessica’s eyebrows using a Pritt Stick. Little kids eat them while doing their projects; I reckoned its safe enough to be used on the face.

On Joy

FACE

▪ Foundation – Revlon Photo Ready in Medium Beige (good foundation for photo shoots)

▪ Concealer – Coastal Scents Concealer Palette

▪ Powder – MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NC35

▪ Blush – 10 Professional Blush Palette. I used a combination of peachy and pinkish blush. http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_90_101&products_id=351

EYES

▪ Eye Primer – Too Faced Shadow Insurance http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_88_94&products_id=465

▪ Base – Gold cream shadow from http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_88_97&products_id=416

▪ Eyeshadow – I used gold pigment, it’s generic so it doesn’t have a name and I forgot where I got it from.

▪ Liner – I used two eyeliners. First I used E.L.F. Shimmer Eyeliner in Grassy Green above and low the lash line and blended it. (This product is amazing, the colour is highly pigmented and its creamy) http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_88_97&products_id=401, then I used a black eyeliner for the waterline. I used MAC powerpoint pencil in engraved

▪ Mascara – Lancome Hypnose mascara

▪ Eyelashes – I bought the lashes from a store at Bukit Merah Central, again I don’t remember the name of the store.

LIPS

▪ Avon Ultra Luxury Lip Liner in

▪ Clinique superbalm moisturizing gloss

On Lynn

FACE

▪ Foundation – Bourjois Healthy Mix Shade 53 Beige Clair

▪ Concealer – Coastal Scents Concealer Palette

▪ Powder – Bourjois Compact Powder in Apricot

▪ Blush – 10 Professional Blush Palette. I used a combination of peachy and pinkish blush. http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_90_101&products_id=351

EYES

▪ Eye Primer – Too Faced Shadow Insurance http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_88_94&products_id=465

▪ Eyeshadow – Too Faced Natural Eye Kit. I used a combination of Heaven and Velvet Revolver for the whole lid and Sexpresso to the outer corner http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_88_92&products_id=877

▪ Liner – Maybelline Hyper Sharp eyeliner in black

▪ Mascara – Lancome hypnose mascara

▪ Eyelashes – Eyelash Diva courtesy of Don Cristobal

LIPS

▪ NYX Round lipstick in Fire http://www.tara-shop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=139_89&products_id=293

Note: I got to do Lynn’s makeup in the afternoon. The morning makeup was done by uber-babe Hana.

Here are gorgeous pictures of Jessica, Joy and Lynn from talented photographers who are gracious enough to lend me their photos for this blog.