Organic MakeUp

Couple months ago I had a chance to work with Christopher Drummond, a New York based Makeup Artist who also has his own line of Organic MakeUp called Christopher Drummond Beauty. We got to use his line to work on the models for a fashion show and I fell in love with his products. He gave me a sampler and since then I have been using his line for myself. His makeup is 100% natural and organic based, even adding antioxidants, plant extracts and products such as Acai and green tea. His brushes are 100% vegan approved soft bristled brushes that is so easy for application.

I get asked a lot to what makeup I usually use for myself and since I got introduced to his organic line, that's all I have been raging about. I try to eat healthy and buy organic milks, eggs, etc...I mean why not use something organic on my face too?? Trust me ladies, start with this Veludo Velvet Foundation and do something good for your skin!

Bronzer Time!

Now that it's Summer, I'd say we need to add a little bit of color on top of your usual powder or even to your bare skin to add a little glow onto your complexion. Normal powder is great to keep the oily skin under control but by using the bronzer, it will add a little shimmery glow onto the skin. Make sure you don't go any darker than 2 shades of your tone. I like to use the powder bronzer because my skin is on the oily side than dry, but for those who have dry skin, I would recommend a liquid type. For the fair fair fair skinned ladies out there that gets burned easily, I would recommend just using a pink blush to just give it a faint color. Apply bronzer onto the cheeks, nose, forehead, and the chin and blend. Please don't over bronze yourself unless your goal is to look like Snooki. If you are already tanned from going to the beach, bronzer is a great way to even out the color on your face since you aren't really supposed to be tanning your face (sun spots ladies!!! Please please wear sunblock everyday on face, neck, chest and your hands, you'll thank me later)

Concealer 101

Concealer comes in a liquid or creme form and is an essential product to getting a perfect skin through makeup. It's a color corrector that is applied over dark circles under your eyes, red blemishes, pimples or any other discoloration you have on your skin before the usage of any other foundation.

We use the color wheel concept for picking the right colors for the concealer. If you have red blemishes or red pimples, you want to use the color opposite from the red on the color wheel which is green or blue. If you have dark under eye circles which is usually in the blue tone, you would want to use a concealer that has a warmer red or salmon tone. If you have a brown or red discoloration over your eyelids, again you would use the blue or green tone to conceal.

I would recommend using a small brush to dab it onto the part you want to cover. Do not take big brush strokes like you are painting. After applying it, you can blend the concealer with your finger or sponge in the dabbing action, and then set it with powder.

Protect Yourselves

As we approach the Summer of 2010, I cannot express how important it is to wear sunscreen. I am originally from Japan where they are utterly obsessed with protecting their skin from future sun spots. Out of the many beauty products in Japan, I wanted to share my favorite sunscreen that I wear under my makeup everyday.

Biorè UV Perfect Milk is a cream with SPF 50 protection but it doesn't have a thick creamy texture nor does it turn your face white or greasy. When you apply it, the light creme quickly evaporates and leaves you with a clean, powdery finish. The sunscreen is ideal for the summer; leaving your face fresh and light. It is ideal for makeup wearers because it doesn't make your makeup run like other sunblocks. Non makeup wearers can use this too because it absorbs any unwanted oil and keeps your face looking fresh.

Click here to get your hands on a bottle.

Make a Face: Betsey McClain x Refinery29

We've all woken up with the previous nights' liner still hanging around. Who would have guessed that "morning-after" makeup, on purpose, would be the new thing? Ladies Lotto beauty writer, Betsey McClain, fills us in on the trend that was all the rage on the fall runways. Some designers went for a more clean, matte look. So long bright, super-shiny lips and bronzed cheeks, hello cool minimalist-chic. We guess our lip gloss doesn't always have to be poppin'.

Betsey contributes regularly at Refinery29. Check out the full dish here and here. From what's hot, to the tools of the trade and proper techniques, Betsey has us covered.

Lunar New Year: Tiger Eyes

Twenty-two year old makeup artist Michelle Phan is a YouTube phenomenon. She has more than 500,000 fans, and with good reason. Her highly professional but low budget tutorials -- done with a camcorder and iMovie -- are creative, fresh, fun and daring. Beauty giant Lancome caught wind of her classes; where she frequently used their products, and snapped her up as a spokesperson. Click here to go directly to Michelle's page and view other tutorials inspired by Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video; Snow White and more.

Are you brave enough to show off your wild side? We'd love to see your interpretations of Michelle's tiger eyes.

Every girls gotta 'ave it!

GIRLS....this book is amazing! If like me, you love to experiment with make up and love fashion...then this book is for you. There are tips for everyone, of every skin tone...beginers and pro's. Over here in the UK it costs £20; you can order it online or at the Bobby Brown counter.

She's a LLady: Claudia Lake

How did you link up with Ladies Lotto and has it been an asset to you?

I had heard of Ladies Lotto (LL) from several sources but my friend and Ladies Lotto member, photographer Carissa Pelleteri, took me to my first meeting. I loved it! I was thrilled and humbled by the amount of talent that was in the room. The networking aspect of Ladies Lotto is key in my line of work. I've met some fantastic ladies whom I've built good relationships with, all thanks to LL...

You started out studying Fine Arts at both the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Parsons School of Design in New York. How did you go from this to makeup artistry?

The transition was quite easy actually! There are a lot of makeup artists who have Fine Arts degrees. Makeup artistry requires the artist to know the human facial structure, it's basic shape and most of all you need to know all about color and lighting. While I was in school, I was fascinated by the human form. I never really wore make-up but I had done several pieces in which I used a live models in full body paint. This led to taking photos and being asked by photographer friends to collaborate on projects. So at first, most of my photos the models looked like weird peacocks, birds and whatnot. Looking back it was fun, but not refined at all. Just raw creativity.

I also began to play with different paints and foundations and realized I really liked working on a three dimensional form. I love humans. We are very beautiful creatures. I was hooked, so once I made up my mind that I wanted to pursue it as a career, I went to the biggest agency I could find and said: "I don't know who the biggest and best make up artist you have on your roster, but whomever that is I want to assist even if it's free." I was clueless about fashion. But this move led me to working for the very best artist. Namely Pat McGrath, Dick Page, and the late Kevin Aucoin. I learned a lot and made no money, but it was all worth it...

Did the painterly aspects of Fine Art help you in your current profession? I'm sure it was a huge leg-up to have a basis of mixing colors and different color palettes in general.

Oh indeed!!! I don't think I would have followed this path if I didn't know all about color. I can't wing anything. I am a perfectionist!

What's the most fun about what you do?

I love meeting new people, traveling all over the world and getting paid for it. It's fantastic.

Are there any celebrities that you're really hankering to work with (and on lol)?

You know, I would love to get my hands on is Naomi Watts. I love Jessica Alba too. Hmmm I dunno, I would do makeup on anyone who allows me to. I just like to paint faces... lol.

Working with folks such as Minka Kelly, Sia, Gabrielle Union, and Terry Richardson are great for keeping you busy work-wise, but what styles of makeup appeal to you personally? Do you do personal shoots that express a more artistic/less mainstream style of makeup?

I personally love the very clean, natural look. And this believe it or not is the hardest thing to do. It's easy to pile it on, but if I can make someone look like they have perfect skin, and if the focus is on the subject rather than the makeup itself I am happy. However, when I get inspired and if the team is the right one. Nothing beats an avant garde shoot. Bring on the wigs, the lashes and the body glitter (I am a drag queen at heart). From Victorian to a 60's look, I love it all!!!

Do you still enjoy doing art (other than makeup)? What artists (music, makeup or otherwise) and photographers are you inspired by?

Drawing and photography are major passions of mine. I am an image junkie. When I close my eyes, it's like a collage of photos, drawings and images I've absorbed throughout the day. Basically it's sensory overload. But it works because it keeps me creative. I always slow down and look at the small things. You never know where inspiration will come from.

On a more practical note, what would you say are five essentials in any LLady's everyday makeup bag?

A good moisturizer and lip balm with an SPF to start with a nice base and protect the skin from the elements is a must. But after that the goodies should be:

1. Tinted Moisturizer or foundation with an SPF for protection and to create an even tone.

2. A good compact ( pressed )powder for touch ups on the go

3. If you have trouble spots like dark circles under your eyes or blotchy patches of skin, you will also want to have a concealer.

4. Mascara

5. Eyeliner pencil (black or brown), in case you have to go out after work and you want to look more done up, nothing like a sexy smudgy eyeliner to take you from day to night.

Do you have any favorite makeup brands, and which would you say cater to the largest number of skin tones?

I love love love Mally Roncal's line. She's got soooooo many goodies. I want the entire line. Armani because they have the most amazing foundation. Nars for all the fun eyeshadow colors and Orgasm blush is my favorite. You can't beat L'oreal and Maybelline for mascaras and eye pencils. Makeup should be fun and fun doesn't always have to cost an arm and leg...

Where would you like to take your career in 2010? More runway makeup, perhaps?

Runway is always fun and I do love designing the looks for shows, so more of that for sure. I would love to be a spokesperson for a brand. More TV related things would be great, such as on-camera makeovers and that sort of fun stuff. Also I have my blog www.bestthingtoday.com which I hope will lead to being a guest beauty editor. I have the best agent (Jim Indorato at Contact NYC) in the world so I am sure whatever I do will be amazing! For 2010, I just want to have fun and make every woman I touch beautiful ;-)

See Claudia's work on her site: www.claudialake.com