A Lotta Escada

Last night I had the pleasure of overseeing a charity benefit Escada trunk show in Costa Mesa. My assistant Katie and I had to get through ten models hair and make-up. Now, to many this might sound confusing but on smaller shows that are geared more towards private clientele, charity or the public (i.e., things that are not Fashion Week) it's pretty normal operate a very small skeleton crew. We managed to get through all of the girls with fifteen minutes to spare. Sadly I don't have any pictures of the models, but I did manage to snag a couple of atmosphere shots (mainly thanks to my assistant's facebook page).

The runway stretched all around the ballroom.

Since I have such an affinity for pictures of my station. Can I just say I love my GHD Styler and T3.

From The Archives: Fox Trap

I feel like whenever I post something from my archives, I describe it as "one of my favorites" but the truth is, most of the stuff that's in my book I really love. I really, really, love what I do and when you love your career, it shows in the fruits of your labor. That's not to say I haven't had a gaggle of less than stellar tests earlier in my career, but the nice thing about being in the game for years is that everything just starts to streamline- you find your style and become a part of a team (or teams) and eventually the ratio of shoots that work out to shoots that just don't mesh become more and more in favor of the positive. To any newer artists that read my blog, just hang in there, develop your style, treat every job like it's a $5000 day rate, do the best you can do and always open yourself up to new learning experiences and always, ALWAYS, make your next test better than the last.

Sorry for the brief side-bar. This episode of From The Archives features a shoot for Eliza Magazine's Winter issue... 2009... I believe? We shot at the beautiful SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Our vibe was a 60's party girl getting ready to go out. It was a beauty story, so it's a shame you cant see a lot of the fantastic pieces the stylist pulled.

Amber Kerns, doin' some hair.

I know Tyler isn't a huge fan of "action shots" but, I just love this one.

One of the set ups. 

 

MAC provided the color product for this shoot and three of my favorite MAC products played center stage:  Strobe Cream, Lipstick and Fluidline.

MAC lipstick in Chatterbox, a beautiful creamy bright pink

A long time personal favorite of mine is MAC lipstick in Lady Danger- a beautiful technicolor red-orange.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack is ultra-smooth and longwearing and I love using gel liners to do the classic cat eye.

Strobe Cream is phenomenal on the face and on the body- it provides the perfect sheen and gives a stellar luminescence.

L.A. Fashion Weekend

L.A. Fashion Weekend Sponsored by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (R to L):  New concealer palette prototypes, my new favorite brushes- love love love!, My collection of airbrush guns, mostly Sparmax and a couple of Iwata Revolutions and a few of the new OCC shades.

One of my models, wearing Flawed Loose Colour and a mixture of Francine and Grandma Lip Tar. Francine hasn't been released yet, but it is SICK. A super bright beautiful neon deep orange pink.

Another one of my models, airbrushed with OCC Skin, high light is OCC Shimmer in Golden and OCC Lose Color in Burning, Lip Tar in NSFW.

If I were to show you some of my weird crew related hoarding habits, I have almost every credential, lanyard and badge from the start of my career in a box in the closet.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in NSFW

OCC Loose Colour Concentrate in Flawed

From The Archives: Great Lengths

 

Stila Convertible Color in Poppy

This shoot was so last minute, but one of my absolute favorites. We had to climb down this awful hill to get the location, which wasn't as bad until the end of the day... when we had to climb UP the hill after shooting. Dallas has this effortless felinesque look to her and along with the bright dresses and her bright hair, I wanted the make-up to me impactful but simple. I opted to use Stila's Convertible Color in Poppy on her lips and a pale gold on her lid.

New Work: Electric Country

Kryloan UV Supracolor in Bright Orange and MAC Lip Pencil in Temperature Rising

Mac Chromaline in Hi-Def Cyan

MAC Pencil in Pinkie and Kryloan UV Supracolor in Bright Pink

Kryloan Supracolor UV-Cream Wheel

Make-up by Rachel Rose DeSimone (me!)

Make-up Assistant: Teddie B.

Hair: Kristen Ess

Stylist: Sunshine & Sarah

Photo: Angela+Ithyle

These are the images from the shoot referenced in this post a couple weeks ago. I am so psyched with how beautiful these pictures are, so perfect and right up my aesthetic alley. I've been carrying the Kryloan Supracolor UV Cream Wheel with me in my kit for a while now, and I use it quite frequently. This, along with my Make Up For Ever Flash Palette are always in my kit. They are my "ready for anything" palettes. The bright neon colors make fantastic shadows, blushes and lip color. Fear not the bright, it's actually pretty fantastic.

From the Archives: Kindlelicious

This is the Amazon Kindle commercial that I worked on with Angela+Ithyle. I did the make-up and hair and also played the part of "monster arms" for about 2 seconds. It was such a fun project to be a part of. For her skin, I used Make Up For Ever Shine On Loose Powder and MAC Strobe Cream.

The model in the commercial, Annie, writes and sings that songs in the commercial with her boyfriend (Little & Ashley). I ended up doing their press kit as well, also shot by Angela+Ithyle, this is my favorite of the bunch.

Here are a few behind the scenes shots from the commercial.

Last looks and brushing out brows, sometimes I forget how tan I am.

Ithyle directing Annie's eyeline.

Glitter, Glitter, Glitter

When it comes to nail polish, I'm like a 7th grade girl. I've got a box filled to the brim with polish. I love nail polish. Lately I've been obsessed with glitter polish- there are three in particular that I love.

"Look Rich, Be Cheap"- Rescue Beauty Lounge

"Only Gold for You" - Sephora by OPI

"Sparkle-icious" - OPI

The Gallery LA/Fashion Week Promo

Today I spent a few hours working with my dear friend David of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics fame. I got a chance to play with some prototypes and new colors, and it's all very exciting. What we shot today will air on Thursday on KTLA. We went with a bit of a retro bronzed look, using OCC Loose Colour in Dope and Loose Pigment in Red Oxide along with some chocolate brown shadow in the crease. Today helped me remember just how much I love to airbrush and what a wonderful tool it is to have in one's kit. Sure I don't always airbrush, but when it's mastered and understood- beauty make-up can be done so beautifully.

We shot outside of the Golden Girls stage at Sunset Gower Studios and considering my ideal paradise exists somewhere between the Golden Girls' house and Cuteoverload.com, I was pretty psyched.

A little bit of downtime during fittings, me wearing my go-to set gear: 14-hole Dr. Marten's, fabric scarf and black boyfriend blazer, it's also fun to find new places to wear security badges.

One of the female models wearing a blend of Interlace & Grandma OCC Lip Tars as a stain and topped with Rosebud Salve.

The most ADORABLE kid model. This little dude could throw a face like no other.

If you want to see more, tune into KTLA on Thursday morning and keep tabs on Los Angeles Fashion Week you can check out the official website:Los Angeles Fashion Week & The Gallery LA
and of course you can check out the official Make-up Sponsor Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

Me and Ms. Prager

UK Observer 2010- Make-up by Me, Hair by Paul Rizzo

I started working with Alex Prager in 2006 after her longtime make-up aritst and friend of mine, Lottie moved to New York. Alex and I have a shared love for subversive vintage and whether it's an image for a magazine or an art show, we always manage to produce some beautiful stuff together- not to mention that Alex is a super cool chick as well. This is an editorial we did for Tank Magazine's Fashoin Supplement in the UK Observer we shot this about a year ago and it's one of my favorite collaborations. The hair & wig work was done by Paul Rizzo, who is just a genius when it comes to hair and wigs.

  

We shot this editorial at the legendary Spaceland in Silverlake, if you think you haven't seen Spaceland, you are probably wrong. This bar is in so many movies, most memorably for me in "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. The styling was brilliant, we had some fantastic McQueen and Prada pieces.

Behind the scenes, with an artsy camera app.

The make-up in this editorial was pretty straightforward- the girls all have amazing skin so in lieu of foundation I opted for luminizers- my weapon of choice for this particular shoot was Make Up For Ever Shine On Loose Powder and MAC Strobe Cream. I gave the ladies pink flush on the cheeks and lips with Stila Convertible color in "Petunia".

The Wig Wall in the Prager Studio

Skincare Shcmincare

I've found so often that skincare can be an afterthought for make-up artists- I know for a long time it was for me. When I was a newer artist I just carried around some generic moisturizer and that was pretty much the name of that tune. Over the past few years I've really been opening myself up to learning about and trying many different types of skincare in my kit. So I've compiled a list of things that I like to use in my kit and some new things I'm loving a lot. There are serums and oils that I love, but I'm going to just stick to what is relevant to my kit and at the end of the post I'll let you guys have a peek into my medicine cabinet and show you what I use on myself.

From left to right, top to bottom: 
1. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish- Everybody loves this stuff, great for flaky lips that need TLC.


2. MAC Fast Response Eye Cream- A quick fix for the post travel/party eyes, I also use it to sheer out Amazing Concealer.


3. Witch Hazel- Natural and hydrating toner, super basic, always in the kit. 

4. Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Intensive Vitalizing Eye Complex: A bit high-brow, but a fantastic product. I've been playing with it for a couple weeks now. 

5. Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25: Sunblock is a must, so a nice lightweight formula that works well layered is necessary. 

6. Nude Skincare Miracle Mask: Five minutes and you've got the perfect canvas.

7. Make Up For Ever UV Prime SPF 50: A higher SPF with the added benefit of a primer. 

8. Super by Perricone Lush Lips: I know I've written about this one recently, but it really deserves all of the praise it receives

9. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate: A cult favorite for a reason, my kit has not been without it for years. 

10. Clairol Sea Breeze Original: I carry a small bottle of this in my kit for those times when I really need a powerful toner, but I use it sparingly and with great care.

11. Embryolisse Emulsion Hydra-Mat- the BEST mattifying moisturizer, hands down. Great for film, TV and event work.

My own personal skincare routine is a little less complicated. I have a few masks and goodies that I use depending on the needs of my skin, but my life pretty much consists of the items listed below.

From left to right, top to bottom:


1. Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture: Super hydrating and absorbent, but not greasy. 

2. Ren Rose Synergy O12 Restoring Facial Serum: People are way too oil-phobic. Oil is AWESOME. This serum and it's oily goodness give that "I just got back from a relaxing vacation" glow.

3. Origins United State Skin Balancing Tonic- I've been using this for about 10 years now, easy peasy toner that keeps my combo skin fit and ready. 

4. Fresh Black Tea Perfecting Mask: Once a week or before special occasions, leave it on for 8 minutes- it's like having new skin. 

5. Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash: I'm such a fan of this exfoliating face wash, it works well and leaves skin squeaky-clean. 

6. Make Up For Ever Extreme Cleanser Dry Oil: When I really really really need to wash the day off, I start with this- it breaks down the most difficult to remove make-up and it does it quickly.