Inspired by Robin Fredriksz - Celebrity Makeup Artist

Inspired by Leslie Lopez - Celebrity Makeup Artist

Eileen Kastner Delago - Professional Makeup Artist & Personal Makeup Artist to Natalie Portman

February on PEI can definitely put you in a fowl mood fast. And when, at this time last year, I was laying on a beach in Jamaica, I now get more sour with every snow flake.

So instead of wallowing, I took out some of my most bright and fun coloured polishes and started playing! Here’s what I came up with:

Colours used: Revlon Nail Enamel in Minted, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac, Gosh Nail Lacquer in Peachy, Kiss Nail Art Paint in White (not shown).

After the first coat.

Voila!

Stephen Sollitto - Professional Makeup Artist

I have a love/hate relationship with Valentine’s Day.

The girly-girl in me LOVES all the red, pink, purple, hearts, Xs and Ox and poems everywhere. But every once in a while the cynic in me gives me a guilt-trip about falling into the traps of consumerism.

It’s times like these that I have to take off the internal boxing gloves and ask myself the real question:

“How do I want to celebrate Valentine’s Day? How do I want to show the people in my life that Love them?”

Generally, I find, it all boils down to the little things. The simple ways that we can express our abundant Love.

For instance, today, I decided to surprise my husband with a grilled cheese sandwich. But not just any grilled cheese sandwich! It was a deluxe grilled cheese sandwich. Thinly-sliced Granny Smith apples melted together with Balderston Farm’s cheddar cheese on fresh pumpernickel bread, pressed in a panini press and cut on a diagonal so I could shape it into a heart.

A few other simple ways to make the hearts around you beat a little faster:

Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut a piece out of a Red Delicious apple and Granny Smith. Insert the red piece into the hole in the green, and voila!

Heart-shaped sandwiches are even cuter with heart-shaped strawberries and candies!

    
Making use of that cookie cutter again…

A favourite from my Valentine’s Day post last year!

First things first: I Love me the prices and value of products from Shoppers Drug Mart and other local retailers on PEI. I’m 100% all about supporting the local economy and promoting the great things that this Island has to offer - my businesses all centre around that. But as a makeup artist of 8+ years, I’ve tried, tested and adored some products that simply aren’t available here on the Island. And sometimes, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!

So, a quick working weekend visit to Halifax for the ACTS and Gift Show at the Halifax Forum allowed me to have the excuse of ‘picking up a few things’ at MAC and Sephora. I can order from MAC over the phone and the staff at the Halifax Shopping Centre location are always so friendly and excited to hear about my upcoming projects and makeup adventures. But nothing compares to getting into the store to see everything for yourself. Touch the product and try it. In person. Not on a website.

MAC Haul - Clockwise from top left: Eye Shadow in Knight Divine; Lashes #44 (top) and #6; Loose Pigment Powder in Melon; Powder Blush in Plum Foolery; Brushes #150 (top), #129, #130, #239, #242, #209; 2oz Travel Bottles; Luxury Powder Puff duo (that look like macaroons! So cute!)

Sephora items - Top: Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo by fresh = My early birthday gift! As a member of Sephora, I get info about their special events and deals, as well as a gift if I visit the store on my birthday. When the cashier reminded me of this during my last visit, I explained that I lived out of province and would rarely get to enjoy this benefit. She thought this was a very sad story and gave me my gift early! Right: Sephora Instant Depuffing Roll-on Gel. Bottom: Sample of Betsey Johnson’s NEW Too Too Eau de Parfum.

Inspiration:

What I used (in the order used):

Face
- moisturizer
- primer
- foundation
- foundation brush
- concealer
- loose powder
- large powder brush
- soft pink blushes (2 complementary shades)
- fluffy blush brush
- fluffy tapered brush (for highlighter)

Eyes
- clean spool brush
- matte brown shadow
- angled liner brush- navy eye shadow
- small, soft pencil brush
- burgundy eye shadow
- small angled brush
- taupe/grey eye shadow
- small round brush
- pearly white pigment powder
- fluffy shadow brush
- wide, fluffy shadow brush
- black cream liner
- fine tip liner brush
- black mascara

Lips
- medium pink/mauve lipstick
- lip brush

Don’t worry - it’s not what you think…

After seeing that the latest Chanel haute couture show was ‘all about the blues’, I decided to hop on this trend too!

My tools: Sally Hansen XtremeWear in Gunmetal, MAC Unconditionally Fabulous in Frost, O.P.I. Top Coat, O.P.I. Drip Dry.

Starting with clean, shaped nails, I put two coats of Gunmetal.

Once dry, add on layer of Frost.

To smooth out the glitter yet give a 3-D look, add one layer of Top Coat:

Finish it off with a couple of drops of Drip Dry, and relax until it’s completely dry!