How to Brighten Your Teeth Without Whitening

I am sure that most of us would love to make our teeth look white and bright. I am going to tell you a few tips on how to do that without having to do any teeth whitening.

First, choose the right lipstick shade. Go for a bright red--it'll make your teeth look whiter in contrast--and avoid magenta hues with pinky-blue undertones. They can make pearly whites look a little yellowish.

Second, wet your teeth before smiling. You can do this by either licking them or taking a drink of water. This will give your teeth more sparkle.

Third, apply a little dab of lip gloss to the centerpart of your lower lip to make lips look plump and teeth look shiny!

Now you know 3 easy ways to brighten up your smile. Hopefully the results will put a smile on your face!

Eyelash Curlers

I think that eyelash curlers are something that women either love and use on a daily basis or they never use one. I am guilty of belonging to the second group. However, I recently went and bought one at Target and I was really impressed. I bought the ELF version which was $1 which is probably about as cheap as you will find one. Now should you even bother using one? I would say yes. Curling your eyelashes helps to open up your eyes and makes your lashes look longer and fuller. Anyone who follows my blog or has ever had their makeup done by me knows that I love lashes and this is the next best thing to applying false ones. Having said that I am going to give you some guidelines to using the eyelash curler in the most effective way.

First off never use an eyelash curler with your mascara already on. It should only be used prior to mascara application. Mascara can cause your eyelashes to stick to the curler which could result in your lashes being pulled out.

Second, many people will tell you to warm up the curler before use. This is fine but make sure not too get it too warm which could cause you to burn your eyelids. This could also cause your eyelash curler to leave a crease in your eyelashes. If you are going to warm up your curler make sure to check the temperature before you use it.

Last, do not use waterproof mascara if you are using an eyelash curler. Now when I say do not use it, I don't mean just when you use the curler. I mean don't use it at all! Waterproof mascara is very drying to eyelashes (I personally believe it should only be used on very rare occasions). When you mix dried out lashes and a rubber strip being pressed against them, you have a very dangerous combination. I was attending a makeup class one time and the instructor told us about a girl that he was using an eyelash curler on and everyone of her eyelashes fell out due to dry brittle lashes from using waterproof mascara. I do not think that any of us want to have to go without our eyelashes, so stay away from the waterproof mascara.

Eyelash curlers can be purchased at any drugstore or makeup counter. They range in price from $1 to $20. One particular curler that has a very big following is by Shu Uemura. You can find it at Sephora for around $18. Many women swear that this is the best one that you can buy. I am planning on buying one pretty soon so I will let you guys know what I think.

Tip for Eyeliner

I know for me I seem to constantly go for a black or brown eyeliner as I am sure most women do. However, lately I have been mixing it up and using different colors of eyeshadow as a liner. All you have to do is use a eyeliner brush and get it wet. You can use any eyeshadow color that you want. Sometimes it will take a couple of applications to get the color as dark as you want it. I personally have tried purple, navy blue, and green. Try to use a more neutral color as your base color though because too much color can look overdone. The possibilities are endless though. This is a really fun way to spice up your makeup without having to do anything too dramatic. Plus it will save you money because you are using eyeshadow that you already have. Try it! I know you will love the results!

Honesty is the Best Policy

I have been so blessed to have gotten to be a part of many weddings over the last 6 months. One thing that I have found that a lot of brides are scared to do is tell me what they really think about their makeup. Everyone has a different way that they like their makeup so sometimes what I think looks good you may think needs a little tweak. My goal as a makeup artist is to make sure every woman that uses my services looks and feels absolutely amazing. If there is something that is bothering you about your makeup and you don't tell me you won't feel amazing. Trust me when I tell you that it does not in any way hurt my feelings if you ask me to change something. Some of my brides that have been the happiest with their makeup were not afraid to speak up and tell me what they were thinking. I feel blessed to have had clients that are so sweet they are scared to speak up, but trust me I would rather you speak up then not say anything. I look at doing makeup as a team, no matter what my skill level is, I cannot master your look without your input. This is another reason why if you can find a picture that is the look you want it is awesome. So just remember next time you are getting your makeup done "Honesty is the Best Policy". I promise each one of you right now I will not take any need for changes personally.

My New Favorite Place to Buy Makeup!

My new favorite place to buy makeup is Target!! I know you are all thinking "Really, Target?" But I am telling you Target has many lines of cosmetics. The best thing is unlike my other favorite Sephora, Target will not leave you broke when you leave. They have lines such as Sonia Kashuk, Boots No. 7, Jemma Kidd, Pixi and their newest line E.L.F. (Eyes Lips and Face). First off I love Sonia Kashuk's makeup bags. They are so cute and stylish and not very expensive. I personally bought my Brush Roll and personal makeup bag from this line. Boots No. 7 is a line from the UK that has great skin care products. I am currently using a moisturizer from them that I absolutely love. It is called Advanced Hydration. In case you have never heard of ELF it is a makeup line where almost everything is $1. As someone who is obsessed with makeup I have always wanted to try this line. However as a somewhat skeptical person I keep talking myself out of it. So the other night when I was at Target I saw these products and decided to give it a try. I bought a lip gloss that was $1 and let me say that I was pleasantly suprised. Currently the Target at Tulsa Hills only has a few products from the line, but I have heard that they will eventually carry the full line. The best thing about it is that even if you don't like the product you are only out $1.

So next time you are at Target wander over to the cosmetics aisle and check it out for yourself. You will be glad that you did!

Christina's Wedding

On September 19th I was lucky enough to be a part of Christina's Wedding. The girl's got ready at the Ambassador Hotel, which is absolutely beautiful. Christina is the sweetest girl and looked absolutely beautiful. Her photographer was Chris Humphrey and he was nice enough to send me some pictures of her big day.

Product I Love: NARS Orgasm Blush

I am going to start reviewing products on a regular basis. I am starting with a product that I love. As someone who is pretty much obsessed with makeup I have always heard about NARS Orgasm Blush. Everyone always swears it is the best blush. So last time I was in Sephora I decided to see what all of the hype is about.

Price: When you first see the price you will think much like I did that it is expensive. It runs $25. However, blush is a product that lasts forever. So consider it an investment.

Color: As far as the color, it is perfect. It is a peachy pink with a gold shimmer. As someone who has done makeup for a long time I can tell you that this color combination looks great on almost anyone. The only exception to this is for women with very dark skin colors. It gives you that pretty glow that might follow this products namesake. For me it works for all seasons, even when I was at my darkest this summer it still looked great.

Overall: I would definitely recommend this product if you are looking for a great blush that you can wear everyday. Remember that if it isn't dark enough at first you can always layer on more product. However, if you are not sure about this product, go to Sephora and try it on for yourself.

Hot Trend this Fall

One color that is hot this fall is Purple! Purple is a color that looks good with all eye colors. Now I am not talking about lavender, I am talking about deep purples. (Think eggplant or amethyst)

Now how do you pull it off. Well lets start with a small step, this is for those of you who are not quite sure you are ready to go all out with this. Try using a deep purple liner, this is something small that will give you a different look.

If you are a little braver, try doing a smoky eye with a deep purple. Try light at first and then you can go darker as you feel more comfortable. I would recommend using a silver or champagne color as your base color. If you try to use a light purple base color it can be a bit much.

Another way that you can use purple is on your lips. There are many pretty berry colors of lipstick or lipgloss. However try to stick to just one area of your face to use this color. So if you do lips don't do eyes and vice versa.

I have also seen alot of really pretty purple nailpolishes. I think it is a much more subtle alternative to black nailpolish.

This is definitely a trend that absolutely anyone can try. Have fun with it!

My New Favorite Lashes

Ardell Demi Wispies are my new favorite. They give a very natural but full look. They also do not look like fake lashes. Every girl that I have used them on so far has loved them as well. The best part is that they cost less than $4! I buy mine at Admiral Beauty Supply but have also seen them at Sally Beauty Supply. I have not been able to find these lashes at drugstores. Try them out I am sure you will be happy with them.

Fine Art Boudoir

So what is Boudoir? Well Boudoir Photography are pictures that many women take for their significant other. Many soon to be brides will take these pictures for their future husbands as a wedding gift. The pictures are usually taken in lingerie. I am currently working with Fine Art Boudoir (http://www.fineartboudoir.com/). As a woman I can tell you that if I was going to do a shoot like this, this is the only company I would even consider using. When you book with Fine Art Boudoir you are going to get a luxurious experience and very tasteful and elegant pictures. However, don't take my word for it, check out the website. You will be dying to book one!

We just completed a weekend long session at Price Towers in Bartlesville. We had 9 girls booked. Each girl received hair styling from Christa of Marilyn Ihloff Salon and makeup by me. Then they received an hour long session with Sarah. It is so amazing how many absolutely beautiful pictures she can get in such a short period of time. It was a fun and successful weekend for everyone involved.

If this sounds like something that you would like to do. We will be doing another Rendevous on November 21st at the Ambassador Hotel in Downtown Tulsa. If that date doesn't work for you, you could always book a Soiree. This is when you get a group of four women together and each of you get to do your own boudoir session. Best thing about this is if you are the host you get your session for free.

If this sounds like something you are interested in, check out the website or email me at info@wildmagnoliaartistry.com or Sarah at sarah@fineartboudoir.com.

Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes are something that every woman should own. They make a difference between your makeup just looking OK and looking great. I know many makeup products come with applicators, but I promise you if you try applying with a brush you will get a much better result. So what brushes should you have? I will tell you the ones I cannot live without.

First up a powder brush. I use my powder brush to apply a powder foundation. I personally use MAC Studio Fix foundation and it can tend to look very heavy if you use the sponge applicator. So I take my large powder brush and apply it to my entire face.

Next a blush brush. The difference between a blush and powder brush is that a blush brush has a more fanned appearance. This allows your blush to go on with a more natural look. You don't want to be walking around looking like a clown with big circles of blush. You can also use this brush for bronzer.

A flat eyeshadow brush. This brush can be used to apply your all over color on your eyes.

A rounded blending brush or crease brush. This brush is used for blending your accent color on your eyes. This color is usually applied in the crease of your eye. This brush will give your eyeshadow that professional makeup look that you cannot get from a sponge applicator.

The last brush I recommend is a brow comb. Sometimes eyebrows do not want to do what they are supposed to. Use this comb to get them where they are supposed to be. Most brow combs have two sides. One is more brush like and is used for taming brows. The other is like a small comb, this side can be used for removing clumps from your mascara or also used on your brows as well.

Ok now that you know what brushes you need, where should you buy them. Brushes can vary widely in price. Some high end brushes can run as much as $80-100 a piece. If you have that to spend, then one brand I would recommend is Trish McEvoy. They are great brushes but are definitely an investment. Another brand that I like that are pretty reasonable is Sephora's brand of brushes. I have a few of these that I use my self and I have been very pleased with their quality. If you don't have much to spend you can always go to the drugstore or even Ebay has brush sets for as low as $10. Even if you don't have the very best brushes you will still get a much better result than using the applicators that come with the product.

Quick Tip

I did a Bridal Trial today and the bride had printed me off a picture of the look that she wanted. This made our consultation super easy and she got the exact look that she wanted. As a makeup artist, I hear all the time I want a natural look or a smoky look. But everyone's opinion of each of these is completely different. I do bring a book of different looks to every application for this exact reason. However, I may not have the look you want. This particular girl today had a picture of Kim Kardashian and in my opinion she looked about as close to the picture as she possibly could. So she was happy and so was I. I know that I have done this exact thing when going to get my hair done. As a client you want the person performing your services to know exactly what you want or you could end up very unhappy. I hope this tip will help you guys in getting exactly what you want, whether it be from me or anyone offering beauty services.

How to Apply Lashes

As someone who loves the look of false lashes, I have to admit I struggle applying them on myself. I am however working on perfecting this. I am going to give you a step by step guide on how to apply them, if you struggle at first just keep on trying.

1. First you need to purchase lashes. My personal favorites are Ardell and are available at any drugstore. They come in looks from very full to much more natural. Just choose the ones that appeal the most to you. Lashes can be reused, so if you are planning on reusing yours you could buy lashes from MAC or Sephora.

2. You are also going to need lash glue. I use Duo Adhesive in the Dark tone. I personally like this one the best because it does not show a glue line on your lashes. Once again you can purchase this at Walgreens or at the MAC counter. Walgreens sells a smaller tube but it will last forever.

3. Now that you have lashes and glue you are ready to apply. Take a pair of tweezers and pull off one side of the lashes. You always want the longest lashes on the outside of your eye. Now put the lash up to your eye and check and see how much you need to cut off in order to fit your eye. Very few people can use the full lash. Make sure to cut from the side with the longest lashes.

4. Now I usually squirt some of my adhesive on the lash tray. You will only need a squirt about the size of a pea. If you plan on saving your lashes you could put the glue on a paper plate or something else similar.

5. Put the glue on the lashes. I use a Q-tip that I cut one end off of. Make sure you put a thin even layer of glue on the entire band of lashes. Make sure to be very careful not to get glue on the actual lashes. Give the glue about 30 seconds to set up before applying.

6. Apply the lashes as close to your actual lash line as possible. Firmly press them on your eye to make sure they are secure. Keep your eye closed for about 45 seconds to make sure the glue has time to stick.

7. Repeat the same steps for the opposite side.

* A few tips: I usually apply a light coat of mascara to natural lashes before applying the false ones. This allows your natural lashes to blend better with the false lashes. If you are going to save your lashes gently wash the glue off and store them in the case they came in.

I am going to be working on a video tutorial of this procedure. So keep on the look out!

No More Dry Feet

Ok so feet is not really my area of expertise, but I heard this tip on Oprah and thought I would share it for anyone who didn't see it. During the summer we all wear sandals and flip flops and our heels have a tendency to get dry. Well if you want to get rid of the dryness try this.

First take a Stridex or other acne pad with Salicylic Acid and rub on your heels. This will help to exfoliate the dryness. Next get a thick lotion or Vaselline and rub on your heels. Now put a pair of socks on to keep the moisture in. I would recommend doing this before you go to bed so you don't have to walk around with lotion on your feet. They claimed that within a week of consistently using this regimen your heels would no longer be dry. I am personally going to try it. I will let you know what happens.

Facebook Fan Page Contest

I am currently doing a contest to see who can get the most people to become a fan on my Facebook fan page. Whoever is the winner will receive $35 in MAC products. Best part is you get to choose which products. The contest will end on August 15th. I can't wait to see who will win the products!

Looking for Post Ideas

I am looking for Post ideas! So if you have a question you want answered or want to learn how to do something ask me and I will try to write a post for it. I would love to make this Blog useful to women and I figure the best way to do that is to allow you guys a say in what I post. Looking forward to your ideas!

Eyebrows

Eyebrows are one feature on your face that many women tend to neglect. In reality, your eyebrows are one of the areas of your face that are the most important. Your eyebrows frame your face and nicely shaped eyebrows have the ability to completely change your look. So how do you get perfect brows?
Well first off if you have never had your brows shaped you should find a salon or spa with a good esthetician and have them wax them. They are experts at this and will be able to show you the right shape for your face. A little side note this is probably an area where cheaper is not always better. I can remember when I was younger my sister getting a chunk of her eyebrow ripped off by someone who did not know what they were doing. Needless to say it was not the result she was looking for. If you don't know where to go ask someone who you like their brows where they get their's done.
Ok so now that you have perfect brows how do you make them look even better? Well one trick that I learned is to take a eyeliner in a color similar to your brows and color a small circle on your hand. Now take a old mascara wand or a disposable mascara wand and brush it through the eyeliner. Then just brush on your eyebrows. This is a very subtle way to add a little color to your brows. I have found that most women do not want drawn on brows, so this is a very easy way to accentuate your beautifully shaped eyebrows!

I love lashes!

Every time I do someone's makeup I always ask "Are you okay with wearing lashes?". I personally love them and think that they absolutely complete your look. Every picture on my site the girl is wearing fake lashes. I use very natural looking lashes that just make your natural lashes look fuller. These are nothing to be scared of, they pull right off if you hate them. (I really doubt you will though!) Honestly, you may have to fight me to not put them on you. There are very few lucky girls that have lashes that wouldn't benefit from wearing these. Most women however will see a huge difference in their look just by these alone.

Become a Facebook Fan

Wild Magnolia Artistry now has a Facebook page. Become a fan and you will stay up to date with specials only for Facebook users. You can also keep up with what is new with Wild Magnolia Artistry. Hope to see you on Facebook!

Caitlin's Wedding

I had the privilege of doing makeup for Caitlin's wedding on June 6. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed working with her. She was an absolutely beautiful bride. To see more pictures check out the Wedding Gallery on my website or my Facebook page.

Facials

We all get so busy these days that sometimes we forget to take care of our skin. I know as a mom there are many times I am doing good to wash my face let alone use any products on it. However, as a makeup artist I know that you makeup can only look as good as the skin that is underneath it. So last Friday I made an appointment to go get a facial. Let me tell you it is the best thing I have done for a while. Not only is it extremely relaxing, which who doesn't need that. My skin looked and felt so much better. I am telling you ladies if you have never had a facial go get one. I personally went to this new spa in south Tulsa called Spa Lux. My facialist was named Misha, she was so awesome. But you don't have to go there, there are tons of great places you can go and get an amazing facial for yourself. I know with the economy, times are tight, but if you can afford to splurge a little for yourself do it. You will not be upset that you did. Your face is the first thing people look at when they meet you, why not give them something beautiful to look at. Plus it will make you feel better when you look in the mirror, which is the most important reason to do anything.

Summertime Makeup

I can't believe summer is officially here! Summer is a crazy time for makeup! It is extremely hot so you sweat most of it off, but this is also a really good time to make sure you are using the correct colors for your skin. Most of us get darker in the summer due to spending way more time outside. Colors that looked amazing on you in the winter now might need an update. Summer is also a time when you can get away with wearing a lot brighter colors. So be brave and try something new, whether it is a fun new lip gloss or a bright new blush. You will be glad you did!! Another thing to remember about summertime makeup is less is more. Oklahoma's 100 degree summer will put even the very best makeup products to the test. I would definitely recommend wearing as little makeup as you can and still feel great about the way you look. One easy fix is a tinted moisturizer, they give you a little color but yet are light and will not melt off of your face. Also girls make sure you are wearing a moisturizer with a sunscreen, I know that none of us want to look like a dried up piece of leather. Over exposure to the sun is the best way to look exactly like one. Just take care of your skin it is definitely something that we cannot replace. I wish everyone a great summer and if you need any makeup tips feel free to ask!

My Favorite Mascaras

If there is one item of makeup that I can not live without it is mascara. I have two favorites, one for when I want to splurge at Sephora and one that you can buy at the drugstore for around 7-8 dollars.

My first Splurge mascara is Dior Diorshow mascara.

This mascara is amazing! It really makes your lashes show. I personally love a very volumizing mascara and this does exactly that. Your lashes do not feel hard and I have no problems with it flaking off throughout the day. It runs about $23 at Sephora and I think it is definitely worth the price.

Now for the drugstore mascara, it is Covergirl's Lashblast Mascara.

This mascara is also very volumizing and gives very similar results to Diorshow. The brush is huge and helps each lash to show. I am not the only one who loves this mascara because Walgreens is constantly out of it. They now have colored versions that come in a red tube instead of the orange. I have not tried them but if they are like this it would definitely be worth the money.

Just a note: Please do not use waterproof mascara on a daily basis. This should only be used at times when it is necessary. Waterproof mascara is very drying and can actually cause your lashes to fall out if it is used too frequently. Also if you are one of the many ladies out there that curl their lashes. Please do this before you apply your mascara, curling after can cause lashes to fall out as well.

I hope everyone goes out and tries at least one of these mascaras. I know you will be glad that you did.

Here Comes the Bride

I am so excited that Wedding time is here! I am currently running a $45 special for bridal makeup. I really feel that every woman should feel that they look absolutely stunning on their big day and I figured this would make it easier for anyone to accomplish. I did my first Trial Wedding Consultation yesterday and she looked amazing!!! I am so excited to see what else comes my way. Also wanted to say a quick thank you to Sarah of Yellow Chair Photography. You have helped me out so much in following my dreams. You are just the push I needed to make this happen!

I am so excited!

I am so excited that I am getting the opportunity to get back to my passion. Makeup artistry has been a love of mine since I was a teenager. There is absolutely nothing like the feeling that I get when I help a woman realize how beautiful she truly is (with the exception of anything to do with my daughter). I have already met some very cool people and I know that is only going to get better. I will be posting tips and tricks on here for all of you beautiful ladies. I am looking forward to seeing where this journey will take me.