Monroe Misfit Makeup | Beauty Blog: The Makeup FAQ

May 20, 2010

The Makeup FAQ


I wanted to compile a quick list of some of the makeup related questions I frequently get & of the products I personally use daily. These are just my "staples". I'm always experimenting with new products, but I will try to keep this updated  & current. :)


How did you learn to do makeup? I'm self taught through practice and experimentation. I credit my stint in the club/rave/dj scene as my "school". When you hang out with club kids and drag queens every weekend you're bound to pick up a few tips :) I never took any classes or watched tutorials or anything. I just get an idea in my head or draw inspiration from music, a photo, theme, person, etc. and create what I envision in my head on to a face.
 
Did you go to school for Makeup/Cosmetology? I went to Fashion/Design school and took a few color theory classes in the process, but no formal makeup schooling/training.

How long have you been doing makeup? Only 3-4 years or so, I'm new :) I started wearing makeup when I was a teen, but I only had sponge applicators and drugstore makeup until I was 20 something! So don't be discouraged when you see girls with a shit ton of MAC, it's not what you HAVE but how you USE it. I didn't really start experimenting with makeup technically/artistically until a few years a go.

How would you describe your makeup style?  Who would wear that? :) I'd say bold & bright meets dark & edgey meets pin up girl. I love bright slashes of color, dark intense rock styles, and classic iconic looks. I don't like to mix a lot of colors together, but choose to pick a color or two and make it vivid. I also love black & white. Hell, I like Black with EVERYTHING. My passion is Runway makeup, the over the top haute couture avant garde styles. I also like an unexpected graphic print/pattern, dramatic lashes, & clean lines.

Do you wear this crazy makeup everyday? My everyday makeup is basic "pin up" neutral eyes w/ black winged liner, lashes, and a bold lip. I do still enjoy having fun with my makeup when I'm working or going out, but now that I'm in my late 20's I'm starting to hang up the bright colors for myself.

  What inspires you to create these looks? Music & Fashion is a huge inspiration to me. I love doing looks inspired by musician's & genre's of music as it's been an influential part of my life. My other love affair is Fashion, whether it be a Runway look or just something to accompany what I'm wearing that day. I'm also a fan of  Old Hollywood Glamour a la Miss Monroe and graphic 1960's Pop Art. I really just love makeup's ability to temporarily transform you in to any thing or any one you want to be. Other influence's I draw from are alternative subcultures, my friends,  the past, the future, trends, japanese street styles, gothic/dark/horror, pop culture icons, strong themes, nature, a fierce pair of falsies, a model's natural features, color. Anything I get in my head that inspires me artistically.

What Camera do you use? I have a majorly old discontinued Kodak z760 digital camera that's seriously ancient, but it just won't die. I set my cam to macro mode, and I take my photos in my "dressing room" at my makeup vanity which has like 600 watts of light bulbs. Way to save energy right?

What concealer do you use?  Benefit Erase Paste , Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer, Bobbi Brown correctors, & Senna Cameo Concealer are my favorites to color correct under eye darkness. For under eye concealer: YSL Touche eclat, MUFE Lift, & Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer. For blemishes: Make Up Forever Full Cover, Laura Mercier secret camouflage, & TEMPTU wheel.

For foundation, my personal favorite is: Face Atelier Porcelain #1 (with Zero- to lighten) & Make up For Ever Face & Body #38 (winter) or #20 (summer) applied with the Beauty Blender. I also use PRO artist brands Cinema Secrets (501-11), RCMA, & Graftobian HD if doing more theatrical/full coverage looks which you can purchase at Camera Ready Cosmetics Dinair Airbrush Makeup System for Airbrushing. For shade reference I'm a MAC NW15.

 Other Foundations I Recommend/Use:  Make Up Forever HD & Mat Velvet, NARS Sheer Glow, Diorskin Nude,  Chanel Lumiere's, Laura Mercier Silk Creme & tinted moisturizer, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, MAC Face & Body, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, Clinique Even Better, Estee Lauder Double Wear, Lancome Teint Idole, Revlon Colorstay.

What Blushes/Contour/highlighter do you use?  NARS, Illamasqua, Giorgio Armani, MAC, Rock & Republic, Bobbi Brown & Benefit are my favorites. Also, Yaby, Chanel, Paula Dorf, La Femme, theBalm, Ben Nye, Make Up Forever. I contour with NYX Taupe blush, MAC Strada, or It! Cosmetics "My Sculpted Face" Countour Palette. For highlighters TEMPTU Champagne, Becca, Lorac Luminzer, Smashbox, Armani Fluid Sheer, MAC MSF's, Benefit high beam, & NARS Albatross.

What Red Lipstick do you wear? MAC Ruby Woo & Russian Red almost always. Occasionally Lady Danger, Viva Glam I, Dubbonet, Port Red, Powerhouse. Sometimes I cheat with others like : Illamasqua Encounter, Besame Red, Chanel Rouge's, Chanel Dragon Laque, MUD Lady Bug, MUFE Rouge Artist Intense, Guerlain Gala Rouge G, NYC Retro Red, Revlon Red's, Vasanti USA Red, NARS Jungle Red, Fire down below, & Cruella Velvet Matte Lip pencil, Lipstick Queen Rouge Sinner, KvD Underage, D&G devil, Clinique Angel Red,  NARS Diablo, NARS Bloodwork lipgloss. I've rarely met a Red Lipstick I didn't like :)

What Mascara do you use? Currently Senna Lash TLC. Also, Graftobian Glamour Eyes, L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black, Lancome Hypnose Doll, Maybelline Great Lash & The Falsies, &  Diorshow Mascara . It changes every 3 months!

What Eyeliner do you use? For pencil Make Up Forever Aqua Liners, Shu Uemura drawing pencils,  Urban Decay 24/7 liners & Stila Kajal's. For gel I like  Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner & MAC Fluidlines. For liquid, Lancome Art Liner, Urban Decay, L'oreal lineur intense & Prestige.

What Eyeshadow Base do you use? I'm currently loving LORAC Behind the Scenes Eyeshadow Primer. Otherwise MAC Painterly Paint Pot & Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I also use MAC Paints & shadesticks, MUFE, Urban Decay, Benefit, Laura Mericer, & Bobbi Brown cream shadows. For intense color bases I like Mehron/Kryolan, MAC Chromaline, & the MUFE Flash Palette.

What Eyeshadows do you use? Any and everything. MAC, Make up Forever, Yaby, Urban Decay, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Inglot, Nars,  Stila, Josie Maran, Estee Lauder, Tarte, Kat Von D, Ben Nye, Benefit, Kryolan, Graftobian, L'oreal Hip, Dior, Cargo, Lancome, Too Faced, Chanel, Revlon, wet n wild, milani, NYX, generic eyeshadow palettes etc. The list goes on....

What do you use for your Eyebrows? The Anastasia 5-Piece Blonde Eyebrow Kit. I also like Tarte EmphasEYES HD Pencil in Taupe, Laura Mercier Brow Kit  Soft Blonde & Pencil in Blonde, Smashbox Blonde Brow Tech, & MAC Omega Eyeshadow.

What false eyelashes do you use? Ardell, Elise, Red Cherry, Shu, Make Up Forever, Illamasqua, MAC, or no name generic brands. I purchase most of my lashes from Madame Madeline

How Long does it take you to do Makeup? 10-15 minutes for a daily look, up to 30 minutes for something more avant garde. I don't think I've ever spent more than 45 minutes on a look on myself. I'd probably be better if I did! I don't take my face too seriously =p

You can purchase many of these product's & my favorites in my Monroe Misfit Makeup Astore.