Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - The Heist World Tour

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Tour – The Heist

Maile and me on the flight...
On our way!!!

I was recently invited to tag along on a 4 city tour doing makeup for the back up dancers, The Macklemorette’s, the Rebecca, Cellist and as it turns out a couple of the male performers for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist World Tour…was such an honor and amazing experience.

I feel very lucky that I had the chance to evn be backstage at all...I just kept pinching myself thinking 'I am not cool enough to be here'.  There ae such amazing performers and artists and just listening to them talk about writing their songs or practicing their instraments was sureal!  It was the opportunity of a lifetime and I can now check that off my bucket list.  
"Makeup artists for a 6-time Grammy Nominated Performers Tour"

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived and was totally intimidated by the thought of being backstage with all these amazingly talented people.  As it turns out, it felt exactly like being in the locker rooms as a SeaGal at the Hawks Games.  Doing the makeup felt exactly like doing a brides makeup for the first time…everyone just wants to look fabulous and feel great. 

Everyone was chill and easy going and with all of us from Seattle there was already a connection and many common threads that made the conversations easy and natural. 

Rebecca Chung Filice, Cellist for
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
World Tour

Each performer had a little different need or request, some wanted off the wall fun crazy makeup, others wanted a more traditional stage makeup look, and others just didn't want to have to do it themselves (I love that reason, my favorite)!

We did heavy winged cat eyes, we tried bright blues, and bright golds...as well as a seafoam green all over the lid winged all the way out to the temple.  It looked absolutely stricking on stage.

A great makeup artists’ goal should always be to make the client feel calm and comfortable and give them an hour to relax and chill before they have to be ‘on’ the rest of the night (hosting an event, attending a wedding, or performing in front of 40,000 screaming fans)…this was how I went into each concert.  I wanted whoever sat in my chair to relax and feel just a little more confidant and excited when they performed.

Ray Dalton singer on Grammy Nominated
song 'The Ceiling Cant Hold Us' one of
my favorites!

Anna, lead dancer and
choreographer for Macklemorette's
(as they are known)

The first concert was a trial run for everyone…a little nervous (bad experiences in the past) and a little concerned that I wouldn’t listen to what they were comfortable with for makeup looks.

Andrew Jocyln lead of strings section and
violinist, sporting his new 'Guy-Liner'.

By the last concert in San Francisco we were all ready to try some fun crazy looks with different color combinations and intense eye makeup.  We had a trust level at that point where everyone was able to sit back and relax.  That is when it clicks and it's fun for everyone!!!

Number one thing I took away from this adventure was to trust my talent (10%) and to be myself (90%).  Reading what the person in my chair wants and listening to everything they say, and then interpreting that into what I will do to make them feel and look fabulous….male, female, , homecoming girls, grandmothers of the bride, Grammy nominated performer, and everyone else!  I love what I do and I am lucky that people feel it is worth it to pay me for it!  

Cheers to living the dream and not working a day in our lives!

The Perfect Glitter Holiday Eye - Smokey Bronzed Eye Makeup

Holiday Trend 

The Glitter Bronzed Smokey Eye

I recently did one of my favorite holiday looks and wanted to share some of the basic techniques for appling it so the makeup will stay and look polished all night.  Everyone loves a smokey eye with a twist....add glitter!

1.) First rule of putting on glitter eye makeup -
Apply to the eye lid first...because you will end up needing to clean up all the glitter fall down below the eye.  Glitter is sometimes really hard to get off the skin completely and it stays in my makeup brushes forever so I avoid using them too.


I have started to use a mini lint roller on my cheeks when I have glitter fall down, lol.  A slightly damp mascara wand works too.  

2.) Use eye primer (my favorite is MAC Paint Pot in Painterly) and while it is still tacky place the glitter on the lid with a flat synthetic brush and press it onto the eye, never use a fluffy brush to swipe it on.  It will get everywhere and you wont get the look you are going for anyway.

3.) Go easy on the inner corner of the eye.  Not only is glitter super uncomfortable when it gets in your eyes (or worse your contacts), but it also can catch light funny in pics and look harsh and funny.  It is best to end it at the lash line and use a
or sheen to brighten the inner corner of the eye if that is the desired look.

4.) Eye Liner - Use a gel liner and and angle brush.  Press the liner into the lash line without dragging it across the lash line.  This will ensure that it does not mess up the glitter and the brush will likely not get covered in the glitter.

Product List - 

• MAC Holiday Pigment combo collection on the lid
• MAC Brown Down in the crease used very lightly
• MAC Fluid Line applied with an angle brush 
• Naked Palette Original - a mix of the golds and browns smudge out the bottom liner

Fall Make-up Trends 2013 - Copper Smokey Eye

Copper Metallic Smokey Eye

Make-up Looks for Fall 2013 - Trends and Tips

This year I have been seeing a new version of the Smokey Eye...the color is consistent almost the whole way up to the brow and really only one color is used.

This look is dramatic and modern, but very hard to pull off (keep it simple and extra blending will help).  It is usually done in one particular shade such as copper (shown here) or greys.  Metallic versions are often used as well.  The color is applied heavily close around the eye and then gradually fades out as you blend it to the brow.  This is similar to a traditional smokey eye, however usually there are at least three colors used in the smokey eye we are used to seeing.

This particular look using copper is beautiful with a bronzed contoured cheek (very little blush), heavy black eye liner, a nude peach lip, very heavy eye brows.

1.) Use a Short Shader Brush MAC #213 works great for close around the to blend out the black liner into the heavy copper.  If you are using a metallic copper color you will want to pat the product on your eye lid so it doesn't fall on you lashes.  Blend using short back and forth strokes below the eye.

2.) The #217 MAC Blending Brush is a must have in any kit and works really well for blending out the heavier shadow from the lid up thru the crease.  You shouldn't need to switch brushes for the blending from the crease up to the brow at all, I would just continue to blend (don't add any more product or it will end up too heavy in the crease)

Personally I think the heavy dramatic eye like this doesn't need any false lashes and should go with a very sleek hair style.  It speaks for itself and doesn't nee much else.

The Importance of Professional Head Shots

How to Look Your Best in Your Next Professional Head Shot Photo Session -

In this social media crazed world we seem to have a million ways to share photos, post photos, and tag photos....however when it comes to our professional lives it is nice to have a polished and stylized look.  This includes good lighting, polished makeup, styled hair, and appropriate attire.  These key ingredients help represent you in the way that you want people to see you.

Even though we are in the industry, I really do recommend hiring professional help with styling for attire, hair, and makeup looks.  These photos are going to be used for your business and represent you and you work so hard to put your best foot forward at work why not put your very best into your image as well.

Suggestions when considering a professional head shot...

Example of great lighting and location

1.) Location - Pick somewhere with natural light, but sometimes outside is too much natural light, and the environment ends up being hard for a photographer to control.  The wind or rain can be a problem for hair and makeup so I would recommend a second location in a studio as well.

Example of great hair and skin

2.) Photographer - Make sure to pick a photographer who does a lot of professional head shots, who has experience with the lighting and poses.  As silly as it sounds, having someone who can help you with your posing and how you stand is very helpful!

3.) Hair  - Hair should be simple in a style you feel comfortable with and one that is flattering to your attire and your face.  It shouldn't cover your face too much and also shouldn't be completely pulled back.
Not to much hair product, you want it to be soft and fall naturally not look stiff in the photos.

Example of the right amount of makeup

4.) Make-up - Make-up should be natural and enhance all your features.  It might be a bit more makeup then you are used to, but it is necessary in order to show up in photos.  A touch more contouring and highlighting might be advised as well as more definition in the eye liner and blush.  Makeup tends to get lost in photos and in order for your features to stand out and look polished with high def photos more makeup is required.



*** there is a benefit to airbrush makeup and that is, it holds up well in heat and lights and lasts for a very long time if you are having a long shoot.  It also doesn't show brush strokes because it is applied with an airbrush gun.  This is all much more important in a high definition photo shoot.  Or for media prints that will be enlarged such as posters or banners.

Tanning for SeaFair Weekend

SeaFair Weekend in Seattle -

SeaFair has offiacially started with the Tourchlight Parade the other night and now we get ready for the festivities!!!  Along with buying bikinis and beer...most girls get a tan, a pedicure, and a wax before the big weekend on the boats.

A couple tips to make sure your tan is flawless for SeaFair Parties...

1.) Get your pedicure and waxing appointments done before you come in for your airbrush tan (we recommend at least the day before your tanning appointment)

2.) Schedule your Flawless Tan appointment in advance.  It is one of the busiest weekends for us and we fill up fast and often have a very hard time moving around appointment times.  We recommend either Wednesday or Thursday (open 9am - 9pm) as the best days before the weekend.  Book ahead of time and just remember these appointments are pre-paid and non-refundable.  

3.) Exfoliate a couple days before your tan (you want your skin to be prepared nicely for your tan and this will help the tan go on evenly and stay longer

4.) Find an outfit for your tanning appointment that is loose fitting, darker colored, and light weight so you dont sweat.  I love maxi dresses and loose fitting flip flops.  No bra (it can leavea  tan line).  No sunglasses right after the tan either, they can leave a mark on your nose.

5.) Hats.  Hats are cute on a boat, but a really tight fitting baseball cap can leave a mark and maybe rub off the tan on your forhead depending on how much you sweat.  So I would stick with loose fitting hats or sunglasses instead.

6.) Buy a touch up lotion or spray to keep the tan looking flawless all the way to Sunday.  Normally it lasts beautifully without touching up, however that much sweat and water on the skin will naturally exfoliate the tan prematurely and you still want to look glowing on Sunday.  I recommend the spray at night and the lotion during the day.

7.) Sunscreen!!!  Use at least a 30 when you are on the water (50 for your face).  Keep reapplying it so that you dont get burned.  It will ruin your weekend, and your Flawless Tan will peel off funny the rest of the week:(

8.) Extra hydrating lotion at night (if you dont use a touch up spray).  I like Cetaphil.  It will help you hydrate your skin after being in the water and sun all day. Chances are you are drinking alcohol too, and that dehydrates your skin as well.  So lots and lots of water!!!

Those are my tips for a flawless tan for SeaFair.  Have fun, be safe, and we will see you later this week.  Post your SeaFair pics on Flawless Facebook page and we will do a drawing at the end of the weekend for a free Whish Tan Extender Lotion!

Follow up on 'Dairy vs. My Skin'

Dairy vs. My Skin - My skin wins!!!!!

If you have heard me talk about 'No Dairy' as a solution to acne...and if you have ignored me....now is the time to listen.  Check it out.  This is just June 18th start date...after picture taken the morning of June 27th.

This is a blog to follow up on the 5 days I was giving my skin to improve after going off dairy, well I waited 8.  But the results were amazing!!!  As you may recall I was traveling and attending events and eating meals where it would have been rude to NOT eat what was served to me so I had a couple weeks of eating dairy, wheat, and meats that were not in my normal diet.  It caused my skin to flare up and break out and basically rebel against what I was putting in my body.

If you are reading this and you don't know me...I am 35 years old and I should not be having acne on my wrinkles!!!  So after I tried every single harsh product and $1000's of dollars in peels and facials.  I turned to nutrition as a solution.

When I got home I went back to all my normal habits and routines...I must be clear that I didn't do a cleanse or a detox.  I don't like those and I don't believe in doing anything that I cant maintain.  So I just went back to my routine of no dairy or wheat and only fish...trying to get everything fresh and whole into my eating habits again.

This was the result:)

As a side note, I had blood work done and I am NOT'allergic' or 'sensative' or 'intollorant' of any dairy products, wheat products, or any meats.  I was totally low in ALL categories...so it isnt the actual food item, it is totally the way our American Food Industry creates them and what they are putting in them or the animal producing them.  There, jumping down off my soap box now.  Cheers to clear skin and a happy girl!

My First Lesson - Aerial on Silks

Aerial Lessons - (Apparently its Not Just about the Makeup)

I have been working with an amazing company called Animated Objects in Motion for over a year now.  They specialize in 'bringing life to your party' by providing aerialists and stilt walkers, fire breathers, go-go dancers, jugglers, among many other talents.  Flawless Beauty Bars has had the privilege of doing their makeup...we get to collaborate on all kinds of crazy amazing looks that are romantic and mystical!  It is such a cool outlet for us to have some creativity.

Recently I have become so impressed and intrigued with the aerialists who perform on the silks (or fabric)!  I finally felt like I was strong enough to do it and learn.  Today was my first lesson....

This was so difficult, but I am so excited to learn more and get better... I had so much fun and I am totally addicted and sold, however....it did seem really tough for the small outcome of just a couple simple moves.  I guess I have a long way to go with my strength and flexibility, but you better believe that this will give me a great reason to get some new outfits and 'attire' so I look cute while I train!

I will have 'Crossfit' outfits and now I will 'aerial' outfits;)