Fairy GM to the Rescue!

Received an urgent call for help this morning. My colleague Jasmine was one of the 'sisters' attending the wedding of her cousin. Her cousin was marrying into a Malay family and she was horrified by the makeup done by the Malay makeup artist. She was so appalled by the makeup that she almost cried.

The description gave by Jasmine: " Her eyebrows looked like LaPiXiaoXin (a Japanese cartoon character with thick bushy straight brows. The eyebrows looked as if they were drawn with a ruler with one finger spacing in between. The false eyelashes were pointing downwards like a curtain. She basically look like a ghost."

I had to think fast. I didn't have enough time to go back home to take my makeup box. I went to Sasa to grab a pair of false eyelashes and lash glue, and some sticks for double eyelid illusion. Took a cab down. I had to make do with my minimal set of makeup that I always carry in my bag daily.

What's in my pouch?
- Eyebrow pencil
- Eyelash curler
- Mascara (waterproof)
- Liquid eyeliner (waterproof too)
- Pink lip gloss from Red Earth
- Clear high shine lip gloss
- Glitter lip gloss from Bodyshop (new and still in package, which I got yesterday)
- Blusher
- Blusher brush
- Eyebrow brush
- Brown eyeshadow
- Glitter pencil
- Sponge tip applicator

I actually have enough stuff in my pouch for a "glam" makeover! Ok. I will definitely be prepared at all times from now on. At least have the basic necessity ready for any emergency makeup.

Be ready, anytime. Ok, that'll be my tagline.

PCK - The Musical

By chance, I got involved as makeup artist in PCK -The Musical on one of the days. It was really a pity I couldn't be involved for the whole week as I was really busy at work. But it was indeed a good experience. Stage makeup is very different from bridal makeup. More dramatic. This meant more creativity too. Most of the dancers prefer to do their own makeup though. I manage to get some beautiful poses of them. Take a look!

Backstage Pass

Pretty pose

Dancers in a group

Ballerina

Compliment from Sheela

I would like to thank Sheela for the compliments she wrote. It is indeed a big encouragement for me. Thank you...

Sheela said...

hi! was telling sherry that i loved what you did with the bridal make up on
that last girl with the flowers in her hair, and the nude make up look too....
thought that was the prettiest and un-cakiest make up that i've seen done =0)

i chope you for my wedding!

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 1:35:19 PM

Makeup Artist's Time Plan

For bridegrooms-to-be out there, maybe when you choose the ROM timeslot, I suggest you should take into consideration the time your bride has to wake up to do the makeup and hair. And the time your poor makeup artist has to be ready.

Well, it was a real experience with Christina as her ROM slot was the earliest one at 9.30am.. let's calculate backwards to see what time I have to wake up.

0900 - Latest time the couple has to arrive at ROM
0800 - Everyone ready to leave bride's house
0730 - Bride to put on gown and shoes
0600 - Start makeup
0530 - Breakfast time
0500 - Bride wake up and wash up. Makeup artist to doll up herself
0430 - Makeup artist wake up, wash up and change.

I decided to stay overnight at Christina's place the night before as it was almost impossible for me to wake up at 3am to travel to from Bishan to Jurong. At least I can wake up at 4.30am, so I have one and a half more hours to sleep.

Christina - before

Applying eyeshadow with 2 injured fingers. Yes, if you notice my fingers were plastered. I injured myself when breaking the ampoule with too much force.. i crushed the cap and the glass cut deep into my fingers and there's a lot of blood. ouch!

Hard at work dolling up my bride

The reflection of me styling Christina's hair

My bride - Christina at her ROM

Photoshoot at Clarke Quay

The photoshoot was set at a pub at Clarke Quay. It was suppose to be a clubbing scene. The girls are suppose to be gorgeous and dolled up ready to dance and party the night away.

Well, I enjoy the challenge of doing a photoshoot. You can display your creativity by deciding the look to match the theme of the shoot.

How do I decide what look for which girl?

1. The colour of the outfit.
I will try to match the colours of the makeup with the colours of the outfit. This is very important as you would not want the eye colours to contrast or clash with the colour of their dresses.

2. Their skin colour.
For Becky and Emilie, they have fairer skin with pink undertones, hence, it is ok for them to take the smoky-eye look without looking like a panda or being boxed. This look does not suit most Asians with sallow skin as you will tend to look vampirish and lifeless.

The guys (from left to right) - Lionel, Andy, Darryl and Darren. You must be wondering why this photo is here. Yes, I did all the guys makeup and hair for the shoot.

After the stylist got Shireen to change into this pale green dress, I find the green a bit too dull for her skin tone. I used pearly blue cream shadow on the entire lid and purple on the outer corners of her eyes to bring out the purple paisley designs on her dress. Crimson red lips also help to brighten her smile.

Becky's eye makeup is kept very natural with only black eyeliner smudged to soften the look, white highlight to define her brow bone and lots of mascara. No other colours on her eyes as it will look overdone with pink lip gloss, pink blush and pink dress.

Emilie is wearing a black lacy dress with violet ribbons - a sexy piece. Got the inspiration to give her a sexy makeup with greyish smoky eyes with some purple shimmer lip gloss. Loads of mascara to highlight her beautiful eyes.

The stylist wanted Jaclyn to have the J. Lo look, hence dress her in this outfit. So, I gave her gold shimmer eyeshadow and lovely bronze lips.

Yumin & Jaclyn - Close up shot

Photoshoot Makeover for Yumin

I met my pretty model Yumin at a photoshoot where I was the attached makeup artist. Yumin has very defined features and good complexion. The only thing I had to conceal were her eyebags, that were probably the aftermath of clubbing the night before.

It was suppose to be a clubbing scene. The requirement was to make her look like a Yuppie - classy, rich, fashionable, young. The ones who probably drives a posh car to go clubbing.

Black glitter pencil was used to line her upper lids, with a browny bronzy colour right up to her sockets and white shimmer to highlight her brow bones. Lots of high-shine lip gloss for the added glamour. Her hair was pinned up in an updo and the left over strands were curled with tongs to create a messy bun.

Yumin loved the look. We became good friends after that event.

Yumin - before

Me doing the final touch-up for Yumin with high-shine lipgloss to give the perfect pout

Yumin - side view

My model Yumin with a big smile.

Miss Chinatown 2004

My first experience being involved in a beauty pageant, not as a contestant, but as a makeup artist. The organisers made all the makeup artists wear black top, so that they could differentiate us from the contestants! My instructor looked at all the photos and remarked that the makeup artists are all prettier than the contestants! Haha...

That day's competition was Swimwear, that's why the contestant is in jeans. She is actually wearing a navy blue swimsuit underneath, that's why I gave her a strong blue eyeshadow with fake eyelashes.

Quite sad that I didn't bring my own camera on that day, so I don't have any more pics of the other 2 contestants which I did.

Before

in progess

Miss Chinatown contestant and me

Tony & Guys Academy Part II

My second time invited to be a makeup artist for Tony & Guys Academy.

This time round, the stylist I worked with had specific looks in mind. She wanted the replicate of a black & white panda look she found in one of the fashion magazines. Indeed a new challenge. This fun look is hand-drawn using black and white khol pencil.

"Thank you for making us pretty pandas!" - Denise Gladwyn, model (right)

Creative makeup - Panda look

Tony & Guys Academy Part I

It was Tony & Guys Academy Graduating ceremony.

I was the makeup artist attached to stylist Zen. His works had the theme of "Classic Looks" and his request for the makeup was sophisticated yet stunning to bring out the best of his classic hairstyles.

The biggest challenge was that my models, both Vanessa and Siew Yuan were barely 15 years old and my challenge is to make them look mature, sophisticated and womenly. The other challenge was the time constraint. I did 7 makeup in 2 hours and this blonde lady stressed us out when she arrived 2 hours late! But I did manage to catch a snapshot of her before she sped off to the show! I did not manage to get her name though.

This model was arrived 2 hours late and the buses were already hurrying the models to board the bus. I broke my record and did her makeup in 5 minutes! In fact, I did the makeup while Zen set her hair and at the same time, another girl is helping her to change into her outfit!

Vanessa - before

Vanessa - used smoky grey with silver on her eyes to bring attention to her beautiful big eyes and nude glossy lips to balance the whole look.

Siew Yuan - before

Siew Yuan (left) - Classic look. Gold glitters is used on her eyes both on upper and lower lash line to brighten her eyes to match her blonde highlights in her hair.