KissyFace Artistry

KissyFace TV| Chocolate Face

2011-06-25T13:00:00.003-04:00

Here's the video as promised for this look I posted this morning.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Haitian Heritage Month| Chocolat

2011-06-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

Morning Lovelies,

Better late than never, right?

Or according to Mr. Drake, "Never late is better."

Well regardless of what stance you take, I wanted to share with you a few more looks that was supposed to go in my Haitian Heritage Month Series posts for May. Now I know that we're in the end of June but I still wanted to share the looks regardless.

This particular look turned out to be a favorite one that I wore multiple times after creating the look and I even used it for a wedding that I did makeup for earlier this month. It's a natural look but it still shines in it's own right.

To further prove, my love for the look I decided to do the tutorial on someone else. I wanted to see how it would turn out on someone else. And so far it has turned out amazing on whomever I do the look on.

Regarding the inspiration was this piece of real cocoa. It smells divine!

And cinnamon.

Other ingredients such as sugar and evaporated milk go into making Haitian hot chocolate but I chose to focus on the richer colors when creating this look.

I wasn't able to find a color that was closely matched the ruddy color of the cinnamon and had to settle for something else as you see here, which is Copper Penny by Covergirl below.

I had half a mind to use the actual cinnamon but of course I got real because how would it look if I used spices on someone face? So I settled for the alternative.

Even though I didn't have exact colors on hand, I loved how it turned out through the interpretation.

Check out the pictures on the model I used for the video and some pics with the look on me. It looks great on so many different skin tones.

And here are the products used to create the look.

EYES

Base| Orange on inner third of lid // Milk on outer two-thirds of lid ( NYX)

Lid- |Golden Sunrise on inner third (Covergirl)//Copper Penny on outer two-thirds of lid ( Covergirl)// Karat (NYX)
Crease| Surabaya II (NARS)// Spiced Chocolate ( M.A.C.)
Highlight| Shimmery Nude Color ( from Almay brown eyes eyeshadow trio) & Apricot ( NYX)
Lower Lashline| Copper Penny (Covergirl)
Waterline | Any black liner
Upper Lashline| Black Gel Liner by Black Radiance
Mascara| Lash Stilletto in Very Black ( Maybelline) followed by Telescopic in Carbon Black ( Loreal)

Face ( Model)

Highlight -Taj Mahal ( NARS)

LIPS

(MYSELF)
Lipgloss| Undeniable Mauve ( L'oreal) topped off with Clear Lipglass ( MAC) on my self,

(MODEL)

Lipliner| Mocha ( Beautique)

Lipstick | Mila's Plum ( Revlon)

I'll be posting the video later on this afternoon.

Have a beautifully blessed Saturday, lovelies.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Camera Down in KissyFace Town

2011-05-26T09:50:00.002-04:00

Morning Lovelies,

Yep, as the title of the posts reads my camera is having, shall I say, a moment. It's having some issues with "memory card error" problems. Whatever that means. I've tried multiple memory cards in the camera but it keeps saying the same thing so it has to be the camera. =(

I'm doing some research as to how to fix it or what can I do.

I won't let it get in the way of my regular postings. I'll just have to get creative with it. If there's one thing I've learned over the past few years is to keep on going no matter what. Obstacles and circumstances may come to slow you down they should NEVER stop you.

Thankfully I have some pictures and videos that I've already taken for the some posts and hopefully next week my camera will will be back in working order.

And tomorrow's post will be the official beginning to my Foundations Beauty 101 Series. Looking forward to getting that in full swing. =)

Have an awesome day, lovelies.

the last picture I took with my camera
and it came out blurry. lol It's a flowe.

I'll be posting my a few more posts alter on today as well. =)

XOXO & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

KissyFace TV| Interview Pretty Makeup Look

2011-05-24T16:00:00.002-04:00

Afternoon again Lovelies,

Here's the tutorial as promised from today's earlier post!

Enjoy! If you have any questions don't hesitate to task. I love answering questions! =)

Much love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Face of the Day | Interview Pretty

2011-05-24T14:20:00.004-04:00

Afternoon Lovelies,

This past Friday I had an interview for a position. It was my first real interview out of college so I wanted to do it up right but in an approporate tasteful manner. When it comes to wearing makeup for an interview or in a professional setting it's important that what you are wearing isn't what people are focused on. It may catch their attention for how well it looks but it never should be a distraction.

So with that in mind and wanting to make a good impression I went back to my tried and true Jane Cosmetics eyeshadow dou to create my interview appropriate look. It was really simple and quick to do. When ever I want a simple and clean look I easily run to this duo for help.

I even had time to film a quick tutorial on how I used the products to show what I did for my face. I focused on drugstore products because I don't know about you but when you're in job hunt mode spending money on high-end makeup shouldn't be the first option if you can avoid it so this looks concentrates on drugstore products. Only two items were "high-end."

The only color I wanted to really show was in my lips and and as you can see it wasn't a lot! =)

Below is a quick list of the products used:

EYES

Lid- |Hazelnut ( Jane Cosmetics)
Crease| Brownie Points ( Jane Cosmetics)
Highlight| Shimmery Nude Color ( from Almay brown eyes eyeshadow trio)
Lower Lashline| Brownie Points
Waterline | Brown Velvet ( Mary Kate & Ashley
Upper Lashline| Black Gel Liner by Black Radiance
Mascara| Lash Stilletto in Very Black ( Maybelline) followed by Telescopic in Carbon Black ( Loreal)

FACE
Concealer| 8002 ( Black Radiance)
Powder| MAC Mineralized SkinFinish in Deep Dark
Cheeks | Raizin ( MAC)

LIPS

Lip Liner| Obsession ( Rimmel London)
Lipgloss| Undeniable Mauve ( L'oreal) topped off with Clear Lipglass ( MAC)

And here are the close-up of the eyes after it's all said and done. =)

And I'm signing off with a kissy face! ;-)

I'll be sharing the video with you all later this afternoon! =)

Much Love and Many Blessings!

B. Pierre

I'm Flattered: The Adorable Blog Award

2011-05-23T16:30:00.006-04:00

Yep.

Third post today! =)

Less than two week ago, my friend over at WLJ Thoughts awarded me with th adorable blog award. I was truly flattered. It's nice to recognized for trying to make things happen. Things may not always go as planned but progress is being made in my little world.

And the rules of the tag are a fun way to learn about people so on with the post, shall we?

The rules for this award are:

Thank the person who gave you this award, and link back to them in your post.
Tell us 10 things about yourself.
Nominate your bloggers.
Contact these bloggers, and let them know they received this award.

My 10 little tidbits:

1. I'm the oldest of three

2. My favorite fruit is pineapple

3. I sing soprano

4. I'm a sucker for carbs

5. I love chocolates especially with almonds

6. Purple is my favorite color

7. I LOVE writing

8. I'm hard-headed and very opinionated

9. One day I WILL go to Paris

10. I'm planning on getting my esthetician's license in the Fall or Spring

So my bloggers of choice are those whose post make me smile. I don't comment as often as I should but I always look forward to checking up on their next post.

So I'm nominating:

Jacque and her blog Dope Fiends: Her fashion posts are adorable. I love her sense of fashion. It's girly but not excessive. And she's always rocking some cute oxfords.

Emmanuel Gamor and his blog "A Picture's Meaning Can Express Ten Thousand Words": I truly enjoy his take on photography. I have a lot of friends who are photographers and each of their perspectives are unique. When i look at his pictures, it's like I can see the emotion behind them. If that makes sense.

Jen and her blog Comme Coco: This is another awesome fashion blog. Her style is so effortless and just clean similar to how I like to dress. And she's a beauty. Plus she's Haitian too! =)

Monique from Yes, Diva's Can Cook: I'm a foodie too. Fashion and food just like makeup makes my heart smile. I love how in her videos she's so down to earth. And I love her personality. Her food is amazing and she gives some great tips on relationships. I know that when I get my husband, I'll know how to treat him right! ;-) lol

Looking forward to reading your posts and learn some new things about you all too!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. I'm still working on fixing this layout. o_O Bear with me. =)

KissyFace TV| Mango Madness

2011-05-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

And as promised the corresponding tutorial from this morning's post!
Enjoy!

Oh. There are bloopers at the end too. I get tongue tied so easily. SMH But I can laugh at myself and get on with it. =)

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Haitian Heritage Month| Mango Madness

2011-05-23T10:40:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday Lovelies,

Hope your weekend was amazing. This morning I'm sharing with you the
second installment to my Haitian Heritage Month Makeup Tutorial Series.

Last week, I showed you a look dedicated to Haitian Flag Day. The follow-up looks I have planned are centered around food, which makes sense. Food is one of the many things that define culture. And mangoes is just one of them for us.

I really wanted to capture the colors and make it vibrant and appealing at the same time.

As a kid, I could remember enjoying this tropical fruit every summer. Even though it's not necessarily a fruit that is exclusively from Haiti, it's a fruit that was prominent in my family. If you've never tried one, I defintely recommend that you do.

It was important that when you looked at my eyed that you thought MANGOES!!! And I think I achieved it. =) Take a look for yourself.

Here are the list of products I used to create the look:

EYES
Lid- First 2/3| Super Tokyo ( Cuberry)

Lid- Outter 1/3| No. 99 ( Makeup Forever)
Crease| (Makeup Forever) * not to sure what No. the color is. SMH
Highlight| No. 153 ( Makueup Forever)
Lower Lashline| dark lime green color ( NYX TS44 palette. I'm not too sure if they make them anymore.)
Waterline | Bourbon ( Urban Decay)

*I loved the eyes so much I decided not to add anything to my face and keep the attention solely on the eyes.

And of course pictures are as follows. =)

flash

no flash

That just leaves me with three more looks to present for this series. Doing all these looks have really triggered my imagination. It has me falling more back in love with makeup each time. I'm looking forward to doing more series like this in the future.

I'll be posting up this video if you'd like to recreate this look too. =)

Catch you in the next post!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace TV| Haitian Flag Day Beauty Tutorial

2011-05-18T20:30:00.004-04:00

Evening Lovelies,

Here's the look I corresponding video tutorial I promised from the post earlier this afternoon.

It was really fun creating this look. I'm looking forward to sharing more looks with you for this series!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Haitian Heritage Month| Haitian Flag Day Tutorial

2011-05-18T16:10:00.003-04:00

Afternoon Lovelies,

As I mentioned before, I was planning on doing some looks to celebrate Haitian Heritage Month. And here's the first one. I'm of Haitian descent and I'm more than enthused to share these looks that I have planned.

Today actually marks Haitian Flag Day, so it's a perfect way to kick start this series of looks for the rest of the month!

The look I created isn't neccessarily a direct representation of the dominant colors. I wanted to do something untraditional and take a different approach. I decided to focus on the colors more on the inside of the white box choosing to focus on the colors of yellow and green.

And when I finished the look the yellow and green reminded me of plantains that I used to eat all the time as a kid. LOL So this look was in dedication to the food as well.

Below are a list of the featured products for this look

EYES
Lid| Honey ( Urban Decay)
Crease| Hard Luck ( Kat Von D) & Grafitti ( Urban Decay)

Below Brow Bone| Lime Alive ( Covergirl) and random green and gold eyeshadow Color: 01 ( Giovi, beauty supply store brand)
Highlight| Skin ( NYX) mixed with the highlight color from an Almay brown eyes trio palette
Lower Lashline| (outside to inside) Red for Dangerzone trio, Deep Truth ( MAC Colors)
Waterline and Upper Lashline| Black Gel Liner by Black Radiance
Mascara| Lash Stilletto in Very Black ( Maybelline) followed by Telescopic in Carbon Black ( Loreal)

FACE
Concealer| 8002 ( Black Radiance)
Powder| MAC Mineralized SkinFinish in Deep Dark
Cheeks | Red-Orange Pigment ( MAC)

LIPS

Lip Liner| Chestnut ( M.A.C. )

Lipstick | Soft Nude ( Revlon)
Lipgloss| Clear LipGlass( M.A.C.)

PICTURES

And here are a close-up of the eyes with and without flash

Have an awesome end to your day, lovelies.

I'll also be posting a video tutorial for this look as well later this evening.

Much love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Behind the Scenes: An Evening Photo Shoot with Mr. Three Bear

2011-05-14T09:45:00.003-04:00

Lovely Saturday Morning Lovelies,

This post was supposed to go out yesterday morning but we all know the fiasco that Blogger has been going through for the past few days, But now that it's cleared up, here's the video I promised from the previous post.

Have a beautiful Saturday. Make the most of what's presented to you today. And enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Much Love & Many Blessing,
B. Pierre

Photoshoot: An Evening with Mr. Three Bear

2011-05-12T02:26:00.000-04:00

Morning Lovelies!

About two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of doing makeup for a photoshoot. The photographer wanted to shoot somewhere with horses and we came across a local stable that was willing to help us out with the shoot.

For one Saturday evening we had the pleasure of working with a horse by the name of Mr. Three Bear.

We went with a very natural makeup look here. It was a new experience for me since I've never been so close to horses, well not that I remember anyway. Here are a couple of shoots from the day.

Photographer: Ed Maximus

Model: Sheina Mompremier

Tomorrow, I'll be uploading a behind the scenes video for our trip that day.

Much Love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

Beauty 101: Shades, Tones and Tints

2011-05-10T10:00:00.004-04:00

Happy Tuesday Morning Lovelies,

Even though school is out my "real" education is just beginning or shall I say is recommencing. I mentioned in a previous post as to how I forgot what the focus of my blog was and that I really want to get back to that. One of the most important thing to my blog was sharing what I've been learning. And I haven't been doing that. Now with school out of the way, I can really pour my energy into studying beauty. I'm so excited. When I dive in? I DIVE IN. So be prepared for the overload.

And to start things off, we're going to start with foundation. I really want to dedicate this summer to foundation. One post a week will be dedicated to that topic. There's so much I don't know and that needs to be remedied immediately. So why not share, right? I've got other ideas looming in my head for the blog too but I've got to map it out. =)

I really want to perfect my foundation application skills and truly be able to match a woman's skin tone beautifully. In the past I've been fine to mix colors but not necessarily take on this higher skilled approach from this video I'm presenting to you.

Thanks to Koren of EnkoreMakeup, I came away with these three new vocabulary words:

Tint= Color + White
Tone= Color + Grey
Shade= Color + Black

And I definitely need to get a color wheel ASAP.

Looking forward to sharing with you what I learn as I partake on this journey. So far so good, right?

This post was just a kickoff sharing my excitement as to what I'm already learning. But next week, I want to focus on moisturizers then primers because essentially that what a good foundation starts off with, which are those key steps.

Is there anything in particular you want to learn about foundation? Foundation tips you want to share? Comment down below. I'd love to read what you know or desire to know. We can all learn together

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Do not sleep on Youtube. People are sharing some awesome information.

KissyFace TV| Picture Perfect Graduation

2011-05-06T11:00:00.005-04:00

Morning Lovelies,

One week ago today, I had the pleasure of graduatig and taking pictures to commemorate the occasion.
Here's the look I created for the pictures I was taking. I don't have edited pictures yet but I'll be sure to post them when I get them.

I so thankful to have made it thus far, to have completed grad school and to be moving onto another phase of my life. Now that I don't have the demands of school I can definitely devote my summer to really kicking things into high gear for KissyFace. I'm looking for a job at the moment. But in the mean time, in between time. KissyFace is getting some major attention.

Have an awesome weekend and I'll catch you back here--maybe not the same time but definitely the same place!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace TV | Claudia Stevens Facial Prep Foundation Base Video Review

2011-05-05T15:00:00.002-04:00

Here's the video I mentioned before.

I'm getting a little more comfortable with the camera so more of my sarcastic, goofy personality is coming through, which I'm happy about. It'll only be a matter of time till I get rid of my ummmms too.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Approved? | Claudia Stevens Facial Prep Foundation Base

2011-05-05T10:40:00.002-04:00

Happy Thursday,

Back for my final review this week, which is the Claudia Stevens Facial Prep Foundation Base. I've used Claudia Stevens in the past before and th experience was quite favorable.

And the same went for this one as well.

PRODUCT
This product serves the purpose of smoothing out the skin and making the canvas leveled and even. Often times our pores are large, we have acne scars and other issues with our skin that gives our skin less than a stellar feel but a primer such as this gives the skin an even, level canvas so that when you apply foundation, it'll apply much smoother and help your skin all the more flawless.

It promises to "create the perfect base for your foundation," and "smooth skin texture for a silky flawless looking finish."

Before tax, it was $4.49 and that was with the Sally's Beauty Supply Card, which anyone can apply for and get.

REVIEW
It did just as it promised. I've tried other high-end primers and this is comparable to what they're selling. It felt amazing on the skin and dried quiet quickly. And the silky feeling it promised? It definitely delivered.

From the picture above you can see that it didn't leave a cast on the skin and it blended seamlessly into my skin.

VERDICT
I definitely love it. I'm so glad that I came across it.
I'm going to uploading another video on it in a bit and you'll see my only grip about it, but it's definitely KissyFace Approved despite that.

Have an awesome day, lovelies!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

FTC Disclosure: The primer was purchased with my funds. No sponsorships here! =)

KissyFace TV| Equate Naturally Beaming Moisturizer Video Review

2011-05-04T08:58:00.000-04:00

As promised!

Enjoy your Wednesday, lovelies.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Approved? | Equate Naturally Beaming Daily Moisturizer

2011-05-04T08:50:00.003-04:00

In my skincare post, I mentioned that I was looking for a new moisturizer and just in the last week, I found something that suited my needs.

Originally I was looking for a gel-like moisturizer but this one caught my eye while browsing in the skincare aisle.

Well actually, the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer caught my attention but at a price tag of $14.97, it stayed on the shelf. I couldn't bring myself to spend that much on a moisturizer so there it stayed.

PRODUCT
But the alternative to that was the Equate Naturally Beaming Daily Moisturizer that was only $4.97-- a whole $10 buck cheaper, which was right up my alley. Wal-mart is notorious for doing this. They usually offer a "knock-off" version of the more popular products. It even said so in the packaging, stating that it was comparable to the original. It states that "helps even out skin tone and texture," which is what the Aveeno line similarly promises. Also, like the Aveeno, the Equate moisturizer contained SPF 15. And it comes in a pump.

REVIEW
Typically, I'm not a fan of SPF lotions because of the cast they give on my skin if not rubbed in extremely well. And any thing with SPF tends to have an unpleasant smell that I'm found of at all.

Without fail, the two aforementioned issues arose. With good blending I was able to make the white cast disappear Now as for the smell, Equate tried to mask it with a fragrance but it wasn't enough because I could still smell the SPF-y lotion smell. Yes, it wasn't as prominent as it would be in other lotions but it was still there.

Another thing that I noticed was the fact that it came in a pump. That convenience factor in comparison to my usual moisturizer was a pleasant change. My current moisturizer comes in jar and dipping my hands in there is both not sanitary and I can't necessarily get control as to exactly how much I want to take out. With this new moisturizer, one pump is enough to cover me and my neck area.

VERDICT
So this is staying on my bathroom as my new Spring/Summer moisturizer. It gets the KissyFace stamp of approval. =)

Even though the issues of the SPF was there, it gets the job done and I can't really complain about it. We all need SPF especially during this time of the year. In fact the SPF may be a little too low but I'm not outside a lot so I'm not too concerned. I jut appreciate the benefits of the products along with its protection against the sun.

Are there any moisturizers that you like? Hate? Want to try? Are there ones you prefer if you have oily skin? Dry skin? Share some of your thoughts.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I'll be posting the accompanying KissyFaceTV review later this morning

FTC Disclosure: This product wasn't given to me for consideration. It was paid for with my own coins. =)

Celebrations | Haitian Heritage Month

2011-05-03T15:00:00.001-04:00

Image via WikipediaNot sure if I've touched upon my ethnicity too much on this blog but I'm of Haitian-descent but it hasn't been until my late teens and into my twenties did I truly begin to appreciate my culture, what it's about and who we are as a people.

So appropriately, with this being Haitian Heritage Month, I'm going to be sharing a few looks that will be inspired by some pictures that I can dig up. A lot of these looks aren't neccessarily going to be "wearable" but it's all in fun and in celebration of what's molded me to be the woman that I am.

Hope you guys like what I come up with. =)

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Approved? | Black Radiance Concealer

2011-05-03T10:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I uploaded my review on all the products that I had purchased from Black Radiance and shared with you a more in-depth review as to what I particularly thought about the foundations which I was pleased with immensely.

Now on the other hand, I wasn't too pleased with the concealers.

PURCHASE
I picked up colors 8002 and 8003, which were the darkest two colors that were available. Each were $1.74. They came in lipstick tubes which I appreciate because it'd be easier for personal application.

REVIEW

When initially swiping them they applied with great ease but when it came to blending out. They lacked the necessary creaminess or moisture to blend out the edges. It'd conceals but when I want to blend out the edges or sheer it out a bit after initially applying it. The best one that I'd use would be 8002 for general blemishes but for to brighten up my under eye area, I'm not sure if the next shade up will suit my needs. But for now I'll stick with my M.A.C. concealer for that.

VERDICT

We all already know the verdict but for the sake of writing this post, It's not kit worthy. It's for personal use but not good enough to use on my clients. For it to be as inexpensive as it is, it's fine but I won't be repurchasing it though.

I've got a few more reviews up my sleeve this week.

Have an awesome day lovelies!

Much love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

FTC Disclosure: This was all me, no sponsors here! =)

KissyFace TV| Black Radiance Products

2011-05-02T17:40:00.005-04:00

Evening Lovelies,

Here's the video review as promised on the Black Radiance products I've tried. Hope you like and be sure to comment, thumbs up and subscribe if you haven't already.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Approved?| Black Radiance Foundations

2011-05-02T08:50:00.009-04:00

It looks like I'm on a KissyFace Approved? blog rampage. I've got a few more things that I want to share with you all. I've made a few purchases recently and I want to get in the habit of giving you my opinions on products and sharing my thoughts with you on them.

About two weeks ago, I had a photo shoot that I had needed some products for. I didn't want to spend too much money but I wanted something of good quality. Plus I wanted something that are women of color friendly so I choose to try Black Radiance at Walmart.

I had been curious about what they had to offer in the past so I thought it was good timing to try them out. I ended picking up five items. Some were hits others were misses.

REVIEW

What I was interested in at first were their foundations. It was part of the "Color Perfect" line. I picked up two of them in the colors Brownee and Cocoa Bean. Each bottle was $3.87. It looked like that these two were the darkest shades they had available. At first I assumed Cocoa Bean was my color but after it oxidized it was too dark and Brownee ended up suiting me better.

The foundation states that it's a oil-free liquid make-up. Each comes in a glass bottle with 1.0 fl. oz. What I found interesting was the fact that applicator was this plastic wand below

Brownee on the "wand"

Here's Brownee on my had before it was blended out.

Brownee on my hand before rubbing in

It's consistency on my skin was very weightless. For it being a liquid foundation I didn't really feel it which is what really liked about it.

Brownee blended

Just a quick shot of Cocoa Bean on the wand. Initially I thought that this was my color.

Oxidation really darkened the color. Even thought it was a test on my hand I knew that it wasn't going to blend as nicely as the first color. So thankfully I bought the two. But probably during the summer I'm going to have to add a little of Cocoa Bean with Brownee to warm it up a bit. But for now Brownee suits me well.

VERDICT
KissyFace Approved? Yes, a million times over.

For a foundation to only be $3.87. I was pleasantly surprised by the coverage. It didn't break out my skin. It worked beautifully on my client. The wand was awkward but it was good for applying to the back of my hand when I was using it on my client.

Even though I'm not a fan of foundations, this made me more of a believer. I actually ended up using it in tinted moisturizer mix for graduation photos that I took this past week. I'll have a video up on this at the end of the week.

And here's quick pic of it on me. Blended beautifully, right? And this photo is unedited. Straight from camera to blog. =)

Later on this afternoon, I'm going to be posting another review on the concealers and an accompanying video about me rattling off about the products.

Are there any other women of color foundations you want me to try or suggest? Any one have any foundations horror stories they want to share? I'd love to read them.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

FTC Disclaimer: These products were purchased with my funds. No sponsorships here!

KissyFace Approved? |Nivea: A Kiss of Smoothness

2011-04-14T17:00:00.001-04:00

My trusty lip balm pouch. Alway gotta have options

Evening Lovelies!

I'm back with another review post, like I mentioned in my previous posts, right up there with mascaras, lipgloss/ lip balms were my favorite makeup products too. Even today I have a small pouch of various lip products that I carry with me at all times.

And wouldn't it be most appropriate to feature a lip product of the week, right? It is KissyFace so it'd be a perfect fit, so I'm looking forward to getting that going.

So last week on a trip to Wal-mart, (I'm there a lot) I needed to pick up some much needed items. And on the way out, I noticed Nivea's lip balm. My lips were dry and I decided to pick up the quick fix at the checkout line.

I can't recall how much it was but it was under $4.00. My previous relationship with Nivea was through a body cream that I used a few years back. I had a favorable experience with it in the past so I was excited to try this.

SPECIFICATIONS
Directions: Apply evenly to lips before sun exposure. Re-apply as needed.
Description: Hydrating Lip Care SPF 4, Light-weight, fast absorbing formula and long-lasting moisturization
Product: 0.17 oz

REVIEW
At first glance, the packaging is simple and is a classic style of lip balm but having the lip balm container stark white reminds me of a glue stick. I'm a sucker for packaging so it failed in that department. But that's not the most important about the product so I can live with it.

With the actual lip balm, the smell was faint, which I appreciated. It applied smoothly and was really velvety and felt really promising. And the fact that it had SPF4 made it more favorable.

But I had to constantly re-apply the lip balm. Within an hour of application I needed more. I could be doing absolutely nothing and the product still wouldn't last after an hour. And it seemed that if I didn't re-apply soon after it started to wear off my lips felt extremely chapped to the point of slightly cracking.

VERDICT
KissyFace Approved, you ask?

NOPE! It's doesn't make the cut for my lip balm pouch.

It didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't long-lasting as it promised. It felt moisturizing but not for long. Even as I type it's been less than hour since I've applied it and my lips are felling less than stellar.

I was actually disappointed by the fact that I was disappointed by the lip balm because I've been a fan in the past but you can't win every time, right?

Are there any particular lip glosses and lip balms you enjoy? Have any suggestions? Let me know, I'm alway interested in trying new things.

Till the next post, loves.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I'm still working on getting my space tidied up here. I'm hoping by tomorrow things will be back to the old template till I get it figured out. =)

FTC Disclosure: Product reviewed were purchased with my own dollars. It's not affiliated with the company.

Start Fresh, Shall We?

2011-04-13T05:00:00.004-04:00

Morning Lovelies,

Hope your in high spirits today.

I wanted to come to you all on a more personal note. Don't worry, it has everything to do with KissyFace but it's not a typical post that I do for the most part but it's something that I feel that I needed to address. I'm just wanting to be transparent.

When I started this blog it was supposed to be a "diary," an account of me building KissyFace as a business, growing/expanding my skills, sharing my ups and downs that and sharing what I learn with those who happened to fall upon my site with a passion or interest for beauty and makeup.

For goodness sake, my blog description said it all, "witness my trials and tribulations of becoming a makeup artist and follow the progress of my building my dreams."

Clearly that wasn't enough of a reminder because along the way, I lost sight of that. I can't necessarily pinpoint when that happened but it did.

Not to drag out the post anymore, I just wanted to share that things are now in a proper perspective because I've made that realization and I'm now back on track. My vision and actions with my space here are now realigned with what I originally intended.

Thanks for being faithful as you've been to my little piece in this vast blogosphere. It's truly appreciated.

I couldn't necessarily pinpoint what I was missing and why my blog wasn't as much of a priority as it used to be when I first started but thankfully I figured it out.

My vision is clear and I've got my direction back. I'm looking forward to what's ahead and what I'll be sharing on here.

Love you all,
B. Pierre

P.S. Look out for a more streamlined look to the blog for now-- taking a few steps back in order to take a few steps forward. Plus, I royally screwed up my current template so it's an opportunity to change things. =)

KissyFace Approved?| L'oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black

2011-04-12T10:00:00.002-04:00

Morning Lovelies,

I'm back with another "KissyFace Approved?" post. When I was younger my go-to makeup picks were lip gloss, eyeliner and mascara. I just loved the effects that these three little things had on my face. But more in particular I was obsessed with mascara. With all the various kinds available, promising different things, I just couldn't get enough of them. I was always trying to find and explore the options that were available.

And today is no different.

I purchased this a few weeks ago from Wal-mart. Unfortunately, I didn't keep the receipt to give you a price but it was fairly inexpensive.

When I popped open the tube, the brush was already making this look to be something promising.

REVIEW
Because I have small eyes, I knew that this would be perfect to really catch all of my hairs and really allow me to get in on my lashes in order to get the full benefit of the mascara. The "bristles" are more like plastic teeth instead of the traditional bristles of a mascara.

So to truly give this mascara a go, I applied it in layers in order to see how far it could go. Here are what my lashes look like sans mascara.

It's nothing to get too exited about but they're mine. LOL But as you can see I can use the help of mascara to bring my lashes to life.

On the first application, I was pretty amazed. The carbon black really helped my lashes to pop in comparison to them in their natural state.

I had no clumping and the lashes are separated which I really like. Nothing like seeing clumpy lashes. That really makes me gag. SMH But I didn't really gain that much length, which is something I'm always looking for in a mascara more than anything else.

But it was on the second application that it really delivered on length.

It's like night and day between the first and second application. The lashes are still separated and nothing else is amiss either.

And because things were going so well, I attempted at a third application. It wouldn't hurt right?

Same satisfied story. Because of the teeth I'm able to really comb through the lashes and prevent them from clumping. Had it been a traditional brush, I might have ran into a clumping disaster by the third application. It just kept getting better and better on each go-around.

THE VERDICT

And now the question stands, is it KissyFace Approved?

Well, if you couldn't tell the answer is YES! It's become my go to mascara. I love what it does for my lashes. The carbon black and the bristles made this a favorite for me. So, this will definitely stay in rotation.

Do you lovelies have a mascara of choice? Brands you recommend?

Let me know I'd love to explore even further.

Till the next post!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

FTC Disclosure: L'oreal had no in on this review. It's all me. Mascara was purchased with my dollars. =)

Skincare Regime

2011-04-08T11:30:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday!

I wanted to share with you all what I'm currently using for my skincare regime. I have normal to dry skin so these recommendations may be best suited for you if you similar to me.

CLEANSERS

I use one of two cleansers and they both are from Aveeno. When I wear makeup, at the end of the night I reach for Aveeno's Makeup Remover Cleanser. It effectively removes my makeup while cleaning my skin. I used to try using just a regular cleanser to remove my makeup and finally saw the light when I tried this beauty right here.

With one pump, I wash my face. The cleanser comes out as a foam so it's really light but it gets the job done.

There are days when I don't wear makeup and I skip to my using my regular cleanser, the Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser. It barely lathers up at all but that's not necessarily what I'm interested in.

I got it mainly because of it's promises to " bring out [my] skin's natural radiance" and " helps [to] even out [my] skin tone and texture." Dry skin tends to get a little dull and always being out in the sun, in Florida I need any help I can get to maintain and protect my complexion and really show off my skin at it's best.

SCRUBS

Everyone needs a good scrub. In fact, I have two. I use them in an alternating sequence.

Even though the Aveeno Skin Brightening is a daily scrub, I more so use it every other day. It's not too abrasive. The scrubbing granules are really fine and doesn't scratch my skin too bad, which is why it's safe enough for everyday use but I just choose not to.

Now when I feel like my skin is not at its best, or it's not as smooth as I'd like it to be, I skip my Aveeno scrub altogether and use my Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub. This is a true scrub through and through. I love the smell and it get's the job done. I definitely don't recommend using this on an everyday basis because, of how abrasive and large the microbeads are.

MOISTURIZER

I only have one at the moment and it's on the heavy side. It's perfect for the fall/winter season. It's thick consistency holds up to the weather. I've been using it for years and it hasn't failed me yet. A little does go a long way, I literally just dot it on my face and blend out. I used to over use it and ended up looking greasy. SMH.

But because I've learned better, I finally figured out to use less. Over time my skin has normalized and I'm using less of it because of it. When it comes to the spring/ summer, I sparingly put it on my face to moisturize my skin. Currently I'm looking for a gel-based moisturizer that I can switch to for this current season and the next so it'll be my lighter alternative to what I currently use.

And that's rounds up my routine.

I even recorded myself talking about my routine. I was so sleepy when I recorded this. SMH There's bloopers at the end. Enjoy!

Have an amazing weekend.

Much Love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

FTC Disclosure: All the products mentioned were purchased on my own and I wasn't compensated in any way.

Spring | Bring On the Bright!

2011-04-06T22:00:00.003-04:00

Hi Lovelies,

To usher in the spring appropriately, I chose to go with a super bright and load look to kick off the season. This look was inspired by a blog post that I read a few weeks ago on Fashion Bomb Daily. I absolutely fell in love with it and had to try it.

Spring is one my favorite seasons and this was my attempt at celebrating it.

So on with the tutorial!

And a couple pics too.

without flash

with flash

snapshot from the video

Listed below are the products that I used:

EYES

Base| Hot Pink & Yellow ( NYX Cosmetics)
Lid| Incredible Bee (Facefront Cosmetics) & Sunset ( NYX)
Crease| Little Gremlin ( Facefront Cosmetics)
Highlight| **add in later**
Lower Lashline| Incredible Bee ( Facefront Cosmetics) & Graffiti ( Urban Decay)
Upper Lashline| Yellow (NYX) topped off by Sunset ( NYX)
Mascara| Carbon Black Telescopic (L'oreal)

FACE
Undereye Concealer| MAC NW45
Powder| MAC Mineralized SkinFinish in Deep Dark
Cheeks | Red-Orange Pigment ( M.A.C.)

LIPS
Lipliner| Chestnut ( M.A.C.)
Lipstick| Fresh Brew ( M.A.C.)
Lipgloss| Savory ( H.I.P. by L'oreal)

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday night!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Approved? | Claudia Stevens Eye Prep Lid Primer

2011-02-15T17:00:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone's Valentine's Day was a great one. As for me I took it upon myself to get done up and go ab out my day. =)

Image via Wikipedia

Well, this past week, I took it upon myself to try a new primer. As much as I love Urban Decay Shadow Primer, I'm always up for trying something different and see what's less expensive. While at Sally's I came across this:

It peaked my interest and took a chance on it. For less than $4.77 ( with tax) it was worth a try.

On the box, it promises to "create a perfect base for eyeshadow," and "increase wear and prevents color fade."

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

When I first opened it, I liked the fact that the 0.39 oz of product was in a squeeze tube. It lends itself to allowing the product to be easily accessible.

I also liked the sponge-tip applicator. It minimizes being abrasive on the eye if you decide to use the applicator to swipe across your eyelid.

And it wasn't a hassle when I was squeezing it out of the tube.

I tried it on my hand. You can see here that it leaves a cast on my skin. The box claims it'd be acceptable to be worn alone for a perfect natural look but clearly, that's more in reference to lighter skin females. When I smoothed it on, the texture felt quite velvety. A little too velvety for my taste. Comparing it to Urban Decay Primer Potion, which is tacky, this one felt soft and really smooth.

In order for the eyeshadow to stick, instantly I thought this formula wouldn't be conducive to long-wear since it had no "stick" factor. So I was a bit concerned as to how effective it would be in doing its job.

TRIAL USE

I tried it over a period two days in the the typical fashion that I use primers. When applying it across my lid, I ran into no problems. And I followed to color it with my NYX jumbo pencil color for whatever look I was going for.

First Use

Sunday, I went through a range of temperatures, freezing cold in the morning, to some heat at church. So it had been about seven hours past when I checked my eye make-up. It had creased on my. Now, mind you I had some makeup meltdown on other parts of my face, so I still hadn't considered it a complete fail.

Second Use

Yesterday, I wore it and the temperature was perfect. I wore it approximately 14 hours and it didn't budge! The same way I left that morning was how it stayed later on that night. So I was more than pleased with the outcome.

VERDICT

KissyFace Approved? Yes!

Now I will say that it's best in fair weather. It's a good alternate to the UDPP in my opinion. But I know when it comes to an extremely hot day, this wouldn't be my go-to pick. But because of the price point, its squeeze application and it's general effectiveness, it's worth purchasing.

So, if you ever get a chance to swing my Sally's Beauty Supply, this is something definitely worth trying.

Much Love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

FTC Disclosure: This was purchased with my own funds. It was not given to

me for consideration by the manufacture

A Moment of Truth & Joy

2011-02-11T10:00:00.004-05:00

Afternoon Lovelies,

Hope your new year has been off to an amazing start. I ended last year on amazing note and starting this one the same. Just wanted to share some more good news with you guys.

The latter end of 2010, I was featured on Jaye Magazine and now I'm featured here on One Million Entrepreneurs. I entered my profile to the site on a whim but when I got the email stating that I had been chosen to be showcased it made my day.

Too often I let doubt enter my mind and stop me from attaining what God has already opened the door for me to do. I just need to walk in faith that this is for me. This stop and go attempts at pushing for KissyFace is such weak and undisciplined attempt doesn't allow things to fully develop. I can't expect thing to move if I'm standing still. I need to get be consistent and work on that much harder to make things happen. I can't expect things to just fall in my lap, which admittedly I have been doing. It doesn't work that way. I've got to work hard to get what I desire-- point blank.

I've made commitments in the past, to get things going but having experienced certain things recently, and being aware of the greatness that is open for KissyFace Artistry, it deserves a fair fighting chance.

I've realized that the same faith that others have in me, I need to have it within myself.

I look forward to interacting more, sleepless nights and just working to make things truly come true.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B, Pierre

P.S. I've recently got KissyFace Artistry, LLC status so I'm an official business, so I better start acting like it. =)

Jaye Magazine 2010 Feature

2010-12-19T13:00:00.003-05:00

It's been a minute since I've posted but I have some great news to share.

KissyFace Artistry and I have been featured in the January 2011 edition of Jaye Magazine, an online mag for college-aged women. I was seriously honored when I was asked to interview about my take on beauty.

Take a look if you'd like especially page 56.

I know everyone is in the midst of the holiday season, so this is probably my last post for 2010. And it's not a bad way to end. Enjoy the time with your family and friends.

I just know that the 2011 will be that much bigger and better.

Much love & many blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. Hope you all have an amazing and safe start to the new year. =)

Autumn Beauty Series| Classic Black Smoke

2010-11-23T08:00:00.005-05:00

Happy Tuesday!!

I'm coming to you with another tutorial! This is the second installment to the Autumn Beauty Series.

I think this is the perfect look for this season. I just think smoky eyes are so appropriate for this time of year!

Of course, I've included some pics below.

without flash

close-up of the eyes

with the flash

And the list of products as well!

EYES

Base| Black Bean by NYX

Lower Lashline | Cinderfella by M.A.C.

Main Lid| Zero by Urban Decay

Crease| Alaska followed by Grey by NYX

FACE

Under Eye Concealer| NW45 in Select Moisturecover by M.A.C.

Powder| Deep Dark in Mineralized Skin Finish

LIPS

Lipliner| Mocha by Beautique

Lipstick| Fresh Brew by M.A.C.

Lipgloss| a creamy sheer pink

Thanks so much for all of your continued support.

Also, if you have any questions that you want answered about makeup tack it down below as a comment and I'll be sure that it makes it onto my first Q&A video!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. Happy Turkey Day!!!

No Laptop, No Posts!

2010-11-17T11:41:00.001-05:00

My laptop is going through some MAJOR issues and I can't get anything done. ::side eye::

I had my posts lined up and everything. #sadface

Hopefully, I'll have at least one post up by Friday.

Hope your week is going smoother than mine. Lol

Much Love & Many Blessings
B. Pierre

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.4

Handling My Biz| Marketing & Branding 101 Pt. 1

2010-11-12T21:30:00.004-05:00

"Describe your company in 15 seconds?"

::crickets::

That's the exact response I had when I was first asked that question back in April while attending an effective communication strategies workshop.

In only a few words, we were charged with considering what makes our company/service unique and why would someone would choose to work with us over another that offers a similar service.

And I simply drew a blank.

I just couldn't hone in on what made KissyFace Artistry tick. And that was a problem. Sure I love doing makeup for people but it wasn't enough to have support the brand that I envisioned for KissyFace.

Fast forward to October, and I started making it one of my personal missions to get a grasp of how I wanted to define KissyFace from a business perspective.

The first book I picked up was Rework. Actually it was given to me over the summer, but I didn't get to it till October ::hides face in shame::. lol

It highlighted the fact that the traditional rules to making a business work needs to be thrown out the window and you should go for it. And it made me think of things in a new way, especially in the areas of marketing and branding that I needed to consider.

Here's what I took away:

If you're successful, people will try to copycat what you do. But to protect yourself form copycats: make you part of the service, inject what's unique about the way you think about what you sell, make it something no one else can offer*

When I read that, it opened up my eyes. I always thought to put KissyFace in the limelight and I'll slink away in the background. But I'm learning that it can't work that way. I'm quirky, loud and energetic and I want that same energy to be apart of KissyFace.. From there, the collabo of KF and BP ( that's me. lol) emerged. And honestly, it's been making creating KF a lot more fun.

Lucky companies have fans but the most fortunate ones have an audience. An audience returns often to see what you have to say because they're the most receptive potential customers you'll ever have.*

The text goes on to list what it takes to build an audience which were to:

-speak

-write

-blog

-tweet

-make videos

I have the potential to do all those things and I have been but not consistently. That's not fair to me and the potential of what KF can be. So, I'm disciplining my self to do all of the above. it gives me an opportunity to really flesh out what KF can turn out to be through trial and error. And I know in the end it'll pay off. Besides, they're not that hard and I love doing them. It'll just take a huge helping of discipline. =)

There's a lot more I could share on the book but these two were the most pertinent to marketing and branding KF to me, and I just wanted to share the journey I'm currently taking with KF.

Next Friday, my experience on marketing and branding continues.

And check out the book, it was a really quick read. I read it on the plane ride back from Ireland, which in total took me about four-five hours to read.

Have an amazing weekend!

Much love and many blessings,

B. Pierre

*all the quotes were paraphrased but I wanted to make sure that I appropriately attributed to the source.

FTC disclosure: the book was recommended to me by a friend. I'm not affiliated with 37signals

YouTube | Tutorial Smoky Brown Chestnut

2010-11-11T14:00:00.003-05:00

So, after having introduced you to some purchases that I've made, I went ahead and made a video for the Smoky Chestnut Quad.

I originally starting making videos just to practice my skills but I'm finding that it's helping me out in so much more. Being able to communicate what I'm doing, getting practice at editing videos and really helping me with my presentation skills. Saying ummmm, so much is not a good look. And maybe being a little dressed up more. lol. My hair needs some attention.

And I wanted to give a special thanks to the readers who've stuck it out with me thus far. I really feel I'm in a place to make things happen and I have God to thank for that. Thanks to so much knowledge and wisdom, I've gained as of late, I know KissyFace Artistry can only go up from here! I'll do a special post on that tomorrow.

So enough of me rambling, below are the products I've used.

EYES
Base| French Fries by NYX
Lashline| #1*
Lid/Crease| #2*
Highlight|#3*
Inner Tearduct| cream color to the side*
Lower Lashline | #1*
*all colors come from the Quadpro

FACE
Concealer| Level 6 Brightening Concealer by Prescriptives ( no longer made. #sadface )
Powder| Mineralized Skin Finish ( MSF) by M.A.C.
Cheeks| Coral blush by Be Chic

LIPS
Gloss| Mauve Infallible Lipgloss by L'oreal topped off with Clear lipglass by M.A.C.

And here are a few pics too!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Overseas Haul | L'oreal at the Airport

2010-11-10T11:00:00.001-05:00

I'm not too big on "hauls" but I just wanted to share with you some stuff that I purchased while I was overseas back in late October. As part of my grad program, we had to go to Ireland for about a week.

One of my missions was to pick up some make up while I was there. I was so busy with everything that I ultimately forgot about it until I got to the airport and picked up these babies!

I know it's L'oreal, a brand we carry in the states, but it was better than nothing. Even though I wanted something exclusive to them, I'm happy with my purchases. And I don't think I've seen anything like this packaging in the states, which was reason enough to get it.

And as trite as this may be, I love the multiple languages used in the back with French being first, followed by English, Spanish, Italian and Dutch.

I've already done a look with the brown palette. And I plan to on uploading a tutorial on it soon.

So, that's it-- my two items from overseas. =)

Hope you all have a pleasant Wednesday!

Much Love & Many Blessings

B. Pierre

YouTube| Autumn Beauty Series: Cherry Raspberry Delight

2010-11-09T13:00:00.001-05:00

So, after going a month without making a video, I'm back in the game.

I must say that getting this video edited was a hassle. From being busy with school, having Windows Movie Maker issues and a side of lazyness, this video took a week to get done. But hopefully, I'll find a routine and stick with it.

I've included some pics. As you can see I was heavy handed with the concealer in my brows which is a no-no. But I'm posting the pics to serve as a reminder and to show you guys that everything isn't always perfect and I have room for improvement. And I'm always willing to grow from my experiences.

The list of products used are as follows:

EYES

Lid| Jazzy Bronze ( NYX)

Crease| Sweet Chestnut

Highlight| Nano Gold

Lower Lashline| (outside to inside) sweet chestnut, jazzy bronze, nanogold

Waterline and Upper Lashline| Zero by Urban Decay

Mascara| L'oreal Telescopic Clean Definition in Blackest Black

FACE

Concealer| MAC NW45

Powder| MAC Mineralized SkinFinish in Deep Dark

Cheeks | MAC Raizin

LIPS

Lipgloss| Queen Bee Liglass ( M.A.C.)

Till Next Time!

Much Love & Many Blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. I'm aware of the off-center pics. Blogger did not want to cooperate so I left it as is. o_O. lol

KissyFace Approved? | EOS Lip Balm

2010-11-02T08:00:00.018-04:00

Long time no blog! Yes, I know. How typical. So instead of boring you with the details lets press on with the some newness.

In one of my previous posts I introduced you to this little beauty.

As you you can see, It's been worn done to the little mound that you see before you.

The one I purchased was mint. So what did I think?

I loved it! It's applied with no problem and it left a tingly mint feeling on my lips and tasted minty too. It was really moisturizing and really helped me out during those dry lip emergency moments. And what I was surprised about was the length of time that it stayed on my lips. Even in the midst of eating and no matter the weather, it lasted for hours. I wasn't constantly reapplying, which was a definite plus.

It was even a great conversation starter. Every time I pulled it out people were questioning as to what it was because of it's odd shape.

This is definitely KissyFace Approved. And I'm definitely going to be adding it to my kit.

In fact, I went out and purchased the honeydew scented/flavored one. I like this one even more because of the scent. So, if your ever in the market for a lip balm this is definetely one to consider. =)

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Find me on Facebook, on Twitter and YouTube.

*FTC Disclosure: These were purchased with my own funds

and were not provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

Makeup Tutorial | Everyday Look with Green

2010-09-28T16:30:00.002-04:00

I'm at it again. This morning I had some free time and knocked out this video. This time around, I'm a lot happier with how things turned out.

The products used are below and some still pics as well

EYES
Lid| Hazelnut ( Jane Cosmetics)
Crease| Brownie Points (Jane Cosmetics) and Eutopia (NYX)
Highlight| Skin ( NYX)
Lower Lashline| Ivy ( Rimmel London) topped with Algae ( NYX)
Water line| Bourbon ( Urban Decay)
Upper Lashline| Black Aqua Cream Liner ( Makeup Forever)
Mascara| Maybelline Great Lash in Black

FACE
Concealer| MAC NW45
Powder| MAC Mineralized SkinFinish in Deep Dark
Cheeks | MAC Raizin

LIPS
Lipliner| MAC Chestnut
Lipstick| MAC Fresh Brew
Lipgloss| MAC lipglass in ?!?!?!?! - I have no clue what color it is =(

It was easier this time. I was way more relaxed and was able to talk slower too! I think I'm gonna like this. Even if nobody watches, I'll still make them. Any opportunity to hone my craft, I'm all up for. My next look is gonna be one to usher in Autumn. I'm excited! =)

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Tutorial | Pink & Purple Makeup YouTube Tutorial

2010-09-27T12:10:00.001-04:00

Could you tell I was nervous?

Well, I was. But I will say the experience was amazing. I've already learned so much on how to make the next one better. I was able to actually talk after all even though my voice sounded not so good.

I just know for next time that I've got to relax and sloooooooow doooown while I'm talking. I'm a fast-talker by nature and that's not translating so well on camera. I can go on and on and pick on other flaws but I'm just glad that I did it.

Stay tuned for another look that I'll have up by the end of this week. Since autumn is in the air, I'm going to go in this direction.

Outside of expanding my network, I really hope this channel will really help me to refine my craft, speaking skills and teaching skills as well. And besides, it's something fun too. Hope your week is off to an amazing start, loves. =)

Much love & Many blessings,
B. Pierre

Handling My Biz| Taking Time Like Fine Wine

2010-09-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Anything worth having is worth fighting for.

And that's exactly what I'm doing. This post doesn't necessarily have to do with anything with makeup but everything to do with pushing through.

KissyFace Artistry, both the blog and the business is far from anything I could have even imagined two years ago. Despite the bumps along the road, I wouldn't take back any of my experiences.

But I must admit there are times, I feel like giving up but that quote always comes to mind and I tough it out all the more because it's true. Anything that you aspire to have is all the more rewarding, when you put your blood, sweat and tears, to finally realize the beauty that results from it. I'm still learning, still experiencing and that's ok.

Besides, KissyFace is my baby and like fine wine, it takes time to mature. =) Things may not be where I want or expect them to be but in time they will.

As for my health, I'm still not at 100%, but I'm still keeping to my promise and will be posting a video by Saturday, it'll be sans my voice because it still sounds atrocious. Lol

Much Love and Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Beauty Finds| EOS Lip Balm

2010-09-21T16:00:00.002-04:00

So, over the weekend I decided to rest up hoping I would get better from being sick since last Wednesday. But downing OJ, eating chicken noodle soup, drinking tea and taking Theraflu didn't do the job because by Sunday evening, my voice was hoarse and by Monday morning my eyes were bloodshot as if I had just got off a drinking binge, which is far from the truth.

I woke up from a nap Monday evening and felt horrible so off to Walgreens I went for some meds and to speak to a pharmacist. Well, the pharmacy was closed but the trip wasn't wasted. On my way out, I came across this little beauty.

What is it you ask?

It's the EOS ( Evolution of Smooth) Lip Balm. And the particular scent I picked up was sweet mint. The other option was lemon drop. Being that blues and green are my favorite color, I went with the green one.

I learned about it after watching one of Fashionista804 youtube video where she put it on to prep her lips, which I always do for me and my clients right along with prepping the face and the eyes before I apply any makeup.

Lip balms are the best everyday way to keep the lips moisturized free from chapping. And the best thing about this little gem is that it's 100 percent natural with 95 percent of it being organic.

Just twist off the top and your looking and you discover a gem that boasts having shea butter and jojoba oil, which I'm great fans of.

I wont try it just yet, but once I get over my little sick episode, I'll be all over it. And if I like it, I might add it to my kit because as much as I like petroleum jelly to helped the chap lips of my clients, this might serve them better. I'll have a full review for a "KissyFace Approved?" post in a few weeks.

Oh, it retails for $3.49 so it won't break my bank and worthy of a fair try.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I made it to CVS to get my meds instead. =)

FTC Disclosure: I got this cute lip balm with my personal cash. No freebie here. =)

Clientele Highlight| Solutions Bridal on the Runway

2010-09-17T19:30:00.002-04:00

I was roaming on Facebook this morning during class, checking up on my KissyFace Artistry FanPage. I came across a comment from Russel Martin Photography. To my surprise, he had captured the models wonderfully. I wasn't able to get any up close shots of my work but I'm glad he did. So, not paying attention led me to a great treat despite my yucky morning. I caught a really bad cold earlier this week and its been rough.
But enough about my illness, here are a few shots from the runway.

Visit his Facebook Fan Page: Russell Martin Photography and his website for more of his work.
Have an amazing weekend all! As for me, I'll be focusing on getting better with plenty of soup and rest. =)
Much Love & Many Blessings
B. Pierre

Handling My Biz| Networking

2010-09-16T00:30:00.005-04:00

Simply said, "GET YOURSELF OUT THERE"

And it's just that. It's easier said than done.

In late July, I had lunch with a mentor and I was speaking with her as to how to attract business. She's a local restaurant owner and her eatery is one of the best known around town. So, I know that whatever she had to say was worth listening to. She made some suggestions as to a few businesses that I should approach to make my services available and a willingness to work for free at first.

So, I took her words of advice and made a nice sizable list of whom I should I approach. And thus far, I've had done makeup for the models at the my local bridal show, which I'm hopping willing drum up some business and I've booked some work with a local magazine.

Not bad, huh? =)

And I can only go up from here.

Making the first few calls and sending out e-mails had me scared but I soon realized that people are open to working with me. And the fear was all in my head. Besides, the worst thing they can tell me is no. And so far, I haven't heard that. =)

So, I've still got my the rest of my list to work through and I'm looking forward to what comes of it.

Much Love & Many Blessings

B. Pierre

Updates | Digital Camera & YouTube

2010-09-15T13:00:00.000-04:00

Well, it's not make-up but I finally purchased a camera after I lost my old one. Who know's where that old one even is? But I purchased one that I've had my eyes on for almost two years.

The Canon SD780 IS
I've seen countless positive reviews on it and it takes amazing close up shots which really come in handy for my pictures that I'll be taking for my blog, informal portfolio and Facebook Fan Page. So, I'm looking forward to uploading and sharing more too.

YouTube News
And like all great digital cameras, this baby is great for making videos because of its HD function. A number of friends have been pestering me to get a YouTube account and start making videos. I must admit the thought of doing that was a little unevering. But I'm taking a leap of faith and taking the chance. I've got thick skin and I'm aware of what may come. =) Well, I've got the camera, the YouTube channel set-up ( since Sept. of last year! Oops. lol). All I have to do is start cranking out the videos. ::teeth chattering::

You'll finally get to see me in all my glory. Well, once I purchase an 8GB SD card. My little 2GB isn't going to cut it when it comes to filming.

If you want to get a heads up on subscribing, check me out at KissyFaceTV. I'll have something up by the end of next week. I promise. I'm going to recreate the look in my YT avatar to get things started. I guess, I'm going to be putting to use my old video and editing skills to use.

I'm looking forward to feedback, comments and just sharing more of me because as intimate as I find writing, making videos will just be on a whole other level. Get ready for my loud, kooky and sarcastic personality live in action.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Approved? | Mehron Barrier Spray Fixer and Sealer

2010-09-14T19:15:00.001-04:00

The best thing about makeup is that it's not permanent. And the worst thing about makeup is, well, it's not permanent. In my experiences, I haven't found anything to make my face makeup last.

For my eyelids, I have my trusty Urban Decay Primer Potion. But for my face powder and blush, I haven't had much success. So, I decided to try a sealer. Enkore ( YouTube makeup guru) has a great series on refresher sprays, fixers and sealers that teaches you on setting and fixing makeup. Before I watched his video, I only used M.AC.'s Fix+ to give me a less powdery look after I apply my mineralize skinfinish and powder blush. But that's all that it was good for. It didn't help my face makeup last.

So, I picked up Mehron's Barrier Spray Fixer and Sealer

It claims that it is: a moisture resistant coating for setting cream and cake makeup. Also, provides protective underbase before application of prosthetics and adhesives.

And the directions stated: lightly mist from approximately eight inches directly onto skin or over makeup. Cream makeup should be set with powder before applying spray.

For me, I only wanted it to seal my skinfinish and blush. Now I bought it a while back but never really started playing with it until this summer, so I've had a really long time to use it both on my self and other. And let's say it was less than stellar.

REVIEW

Even thought it cost me less than $9.00 for 1 fl. oz. Flat out, it sucked.

Over the summer and in the previous weeks I've used it in multiple scenarios and each time it failed. Daytime use? FAIL. Night out? FAIL. And I even used it on my bridal models on Sunday in an indoor environment. You would have thought it would have worked, right? Again, NO. The girls weren't running around sweating or in a hot environment and it still didn't live up to its name.

To make things worse, it stunk. I don't know how to necessarily describe the smell but each time I went to spray it, I wasn't looking forward to it because of the smell. It's like a medicinal and alcoholic smell at the same time, if the makes sense.

And another negative point was that it didn't spray as I fine mist. It would sometimes land on my face kinda splotchy. I also had to spray multiple times to cover my face.

THE VERDICT

KissyFace Approved? NO WAY! Can't you tell? lol I had not one good word to say about it except the size of the bottle was cute and that's about. So, I'm still on the look out for a stellar sealer.

And to learn more about various sprays, definitely check out Enkore's Videos. It's a two part series, Facial Sprays 101: Part 1 and Facial Sprays 101: Part 2. Although they're a bit long, they were highly detailed and I learned a lot. Just thought I would share.

Much Love & Blessings,

B. Pierre

Clientele Highlight | Solutions Bridal Designer House Presents Florida Bridal Expo Fall 2010

2010-09-13T23:30:00.002-04:00

Sunday was just a sea of white and ivory dresses at the 7th semi-annual Florida bridal expo. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of doing the make up for the twelve modeling the store's designs. And I have to admit, the dresses were gorgeous. I'm not shopping for a dress right not but I did tuck a few in mind for future reference. A girl can dream, right?

I had about five hours to get everyone and it was time crunch but I pulled it through with my awesome assistant. =) It took out a lot out of me because by the time I got home I needed a three-hour nap to recharge.

Below are just a few snapshots from the day

Enjoy!

And if you're shopping for that special day, check out the amazing gowns in at one of their locations, either in Gainesville or Orlando, if you're in the Florida area. Check out their website for more details.

Also, special thanks to Cherish, one of the stylists, for giving me the opportunity. It was an amazing experience!

Much Love & Blessings,

B. Pierre

Portfolio: Warrior

2010-06-29T10:00:00.017-04:00

How bad of me. I can't believe I never posted this. Goes to show how little attention I pay attention to my blog. =( I started this blog to chronicle my journey as a makeup artist. I know how important it is to journal things because you can always look back to see where you've been. And you can only create a future, avoid repeating your past mistakes and understand where you currently are by knowing where you've been.

So here's one of my pics from the summer portfolio I created.

Photography: Edson Andre

Model: Wanting

Two NYX jumbo pencils ( Milk and French Fries) and one FaceFront Cosmetics pigment, Maple Brown Sugar, helped to create this look. I'm digging masks, so I may experiment with that in the future.

Portfolio: Splash

2010-06-28T12:15:00.004-04:00

Photography: Edson Andre

Model: Wanting

This look was inspired by a look I saw on Jaleesie's tumblr site. It was just so bright that I wanted to try it. Of course I put my twist on it. And I made her lips nude, so all the focus could be on her eyes.

Portfolio: Brush Strokes

2010-06-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

Photography: Edson Andre

Model: Whitney Rae J.

When the photographer wanted me to do this I was a bit puzzled, I admit. But this turns out to be one of my more favorite ones. For the most part I'm a fan of symmetry but it defies that and I'm still in love with it.

I couldn't tell you what I used. It just came together with a bunch of NYX eyeshadow pencils and various eye shadows.

Porfolio: Barbie Girl

2010-06-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

This shoot was so fun to do. Her facial expressions were dead on.

Photography: Edson Andre

Portfolio: Obviously Pink

2010-06-27T10:00:00.001-04:00

When I was creating the look, I instantly thought of a superhero. I was almost tempted to make it a mask. lol I even joked around with the name Pink Powergirl. Yea, that was a weak attempt. lol And this is the third picture from my business card.

Photography by Edson Andre
Model: Anna K.

Handling My Biz: Business Cards

2010-06-25T16:56:00.000-04:00

I got one thing checked off the list I mentioned in my last "Handling My Biz" post. My cards made it into my hands, not even an hour ago.

(front)

(back)

I'm elated!! Now, when I meet with people, I have something to give them.

Happy Friday all!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I haven't forgotten about my previous photo shoots that I plan to post. They'll b up in the coming days. =)

Handling My Biz: Updates

2010-06-18T10:00:00.002-04:00

Image by mkosut via Flickr

Recently, I've made started making moves to driving KissyFace Artistry toward being legit. There's more to it than the make-up, a strong factor of business is involved too.

Business Cards

I know it seems like the obvious thing that I should have done when I first wanted to start business cards. As many times I started designing one I gave up. But thanks to the kindness of a graphic designer friend of mine we finally knocked that task out of the way. I should be getting them next week .=)

I can't wait! =)

No, seriously, I can't. That's one thing I need to get better with, which is patience. lol

Model Mayhem

Some of you may not be familiar with the site but its a online community of photographers, makeup artists and models who work together on collaborative efforts.

Almost everyone I've known has been pushing me to get on there. And a few weeks back I did. And I'm making some connections and already worked with one of the photographers and model from there. So, thus far, it has been worthwhile.

Find me there at MM#: 1705920

Future Endeavors

LLC Status

This has been a toughie. I've crunched the numbers and it's going to take a couple hundred dollars to attach that to the end of my name. So this may have to be held out till the end of the summer =/

YouTube

A lot of friends on Facebook ask me to do this but I'm still skeptical. I have a page (KissyFaceTV) just in case I ever do decide to go that route. I may give it a go one day. But for now, it's a no, well I don't know. lol

Much Love & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Porfolio | Captured Fire

2010-06-17T09:09:00.000-04:00

Here's another look I created earlier this month. I just love this look.

Using colors of yellow, orange and pink and an NYX jumbo pencil in Black Bean were used to create the look. Exact details are below.

Photo By: Edson Andre Photography

Model: Whitney Rae J.

EYES

primer: L'oreal Decrease
base: Yellow| NYX Jumbo Pencil
inner third of lid : Bee Incredible |FaceFront Cosmetics
main lid: Sunset | NYX
Outer Lid: Little Gremlin| FaceFront Cosmetics
Outline: Black Bean | NYX Jumbo Pencil

LIPS
main lip: Little Gremlin| FaceFront Cosmetics mixed with M.A.C. Clear Lipglass (sheer application)
middle of lip: Bee Incredible |FaceFront Cosmetics ( dabbed)

FACE

Unfortunately, I don't recall what color I used on her face but it was Dream Matte Mousse Foundation.

But, overall I loved how it turned out. =)

I've got just two more looks to share with you all from what I've recently done.

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Flower Pretty

2010-06-03T08:33:00.000-04:00

Visit Edson's site, for more of his work.

And Anna, you were a joy to work with=)

For a list of products used. Check it out here.

Portfolio Building: Flower Pretty

2010-06-03T08:28:00.001-04:00

Here's another look I was fortunate to create about two weeks ago.

EYES

primer: L'oreal Decrease
base: NYX jumbo pencil in milk (not pictured)
inner tear duct: Lightfall by M.A.C.
main lid: Fishnet by Urban Decay
crease & browbone: Bee Incredible by Face Front Cosmetics
upper lashline:NYX jumbo pencil in Purple topped with Makeup Forever No. 92
waterline:Rimmel London soft kohl kajal eyeliner in Purple Passion
mascara: Revlon's Beyond Natural Defining Mascara in Black

FACE

foundation: Tantone in RCMA foundation palette
cheeks: Coral by Be Chic

LIPS

lipgloss: clear M.A.C. lipglass mixed with Scratch from the Urban Decay Palette

This look was pretty easy to create the only unconventional aspect to it was the placement of Bee Incredible from the crease to the brow bone, but I'm really trying to stretch myself. Want to see what I'm talking about? Checkout the final look in my portfolio!

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Portfolio Building: Purple Princess

2010-05-26T22:13:00.000-04:00

Make-up was heavy in action this weekend. Two early mornings back to back to be exact. I'm finally getting some free time with the summer to add to the portfolio

Enjoy!

EYES

BROWS

concealer: darker of the cream colors | VS Concealer Palette
brow fill-in: Ash Brown |Wet 'n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit

FACE

foundation: NW 50 | M.A.C. Pressed Powder with Fix+ | MAC
highlight: Shell Pearl | M.A.C.
cheeks: Dirty Plum | M.A.C.

LIPS

lipgloss: clear lipglace M.A.C. mixed with Raisin | Covergirl

This had me nerve racked. Sometimes I find it harder to work with a family of colors than it is working with colors that are obviously not alike. It's important to find a balance in making sure that the colors have a gradient effect but the same time each color is able to stand out on its own. Hopefully, I accomplished it with this look Tell me what you think!

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Purple Princess

2010-05-26T22:08:00.001-04:00

This was uber fun to play with. I especially like the orange liner under her lower lashline. It even came out looking awesome in the black and white photography.Check out what I used to create the look.

Photography: Edson Andre

B. Pierre

Skill Building: Scott Barnes, Teach Me!

2010-05-05T23:33:00.000-04:00

Cover via Amazon

Sure, I pride myself on being self-taught but if ever given the opportunity to pick up some lessons from a famous make-up artist, I'd take it in a heartbeat. And it's looking like I'm getting that chance.

Scott Barnes has recently published "About Face: Amazing Transformations Using the Secrets of the Top Celebrity Makeup Artist." It's a compelation of what Barnes has learned during his career working with A-list celebrities and is broken up in three parts. Part one focuses on the makeovers of real women where each woman comes in looking the best she thinks she can look. But Barnes then deconstructs their looks taking them from attractive to amazing. In part two, Barnes focuses on beauty rituals, key makeup items and preparations that a woman must embrace in order to look and feel their best. And part three focuses on the celebrities Scott Barnes has worked with.

That description alone, has already got me sold.. But the price point isn't too shabby either, especially at $16.49. This is definitely going to be added to my book collection.

Is anyone else considering on picking this up?

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. It's good to be back! =) It was a long hiatus, indeed. No need for explanations but just to move forward. I;m looking forward to what the summer is going to bring. =)

P.S.S. What do you think of the new layout? I'm still working out the kinks but it's coming along nicely.=)

Randomosity: A Tragic Day-01.12.10

2010-01-13T09:28:00.001-05:00

This may be a makeup blog but I just had to share because being of Haitian descent, this hits home for me. If you haven't read in the news, watched TV lately or checked up on twitter, at this very moment Haiti is in a time of tragedy.

As of yesterday afternoon, Haiti was hit with a 7.0 earthquake and an onslaught of aftershocks.

Please keep Haiti in your prayers and to help, text YELE to 501501 to make a $5 contribution for relief efforts in Haiti. It's affiliated with Wyclef Jean's organization, Yele Haiti Foundation.

To read more on my thoughts check out my other blog, B. Pierre Writes.

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Look of the Week: School Daze

2010-01-05T17:00:00.001-05:00

Today is the first day of spring classes. Yay!

Even though my blog is solely focused on make-up, school has an impact on my make-up journey as well. The closer I get to graduation, the closer I get to focusing more of my energy towards KissyFace. :-)

Yes, it's strange that I'm excited about school but I don't hate the feeling. I guess because I'm so close to graduation, I can't help but be excited. Usually I don't care to look good for school but today it was different. And of course I had to do a post on it. I pincurled the hair and did my make-up. And even dressed up.

I felt uber cute today.

So, here's what I used to create my first day look.

FACE

Moisturizer- Pond's dry skin cream mixed with Maybelline Mineral Power Bronzer
Powder: M.A.C. Mineralized Skinfinish in Deep Dark set with a rosewater and glycerin spray I make
cheeks: M.A.C. Raizin

EYES

brows: Wet 'n Wild brow powder and Victoria Secret's concealer ( it's awesome)
main lid: MA.C. rich & earthy ( notoriety quad from the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection)
crease: M.A.C. spiced Chocolate (spiced chocolate quad from Cult of Cherry Collection)
highlight: Covergirl in Champagne
eyeliner: Wet'n Wild cream eyeliner in black
waterline:Rimmel London in purple passion

LIPS

lipliner: MAC Chestnut
lipstick: M.A.C. Fresh Brew
ligloss: M.A.C. Icescape

I'm just beaming with so much energy. It's redic. :-)

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Looking Back to Move Ahead: Unfinished Business

2010-01-05T15:11:00.000-05:00

Image by hyper7pro via Flickr

Ok, in my last post I mentioned that I have some housework to get done.

Every once in a while i like to reflect on things that I should change, get better at or get rid of in my life and it's that time again.

I've looked through my posts and I realized that I leave a lot of stuff undone, like an unfinished puzzle. I had every intent of finishing it or going through with it but life happened. But KissyFace is part of my life and neglecting it, is in it of itself neglecting myself. Sad, but true.

So, I've actually gone through every post and looked at what needs to actually be done or posted on. My goal is for the end of the month. I'll be posting an update list tomorrow.

With a new zeal I've gained, I'll get it done. I hope you enjoy. :-)

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Look of the Week: Happy New Year

2010-01-02T11:35:00.001-05:00

Ok, better late than never. Right?

Well, it's a new year and like always we all have plans to change and what not. But unfortunately they sometimes never stick.

I quit making resolutions a few years ago and I like it that way. It eases the pressure of having to accomplish something by Dec. 31. Sure, i have goals and thinks I want to accomplish by a certain date but I don't limit my plan-making to Jan. 1. I make plans and adjustements year-round. It's just my opinion but for those who've got those resolutions listed, get to making them happening.

As for KissyFace, i hope to keep it going to where it's destined to be.

And to ring in the new year, I have a look that I wore on Christmas to kick-off the reintroduction of my looks of the week, which I haven't done since the summer. (I know that's so bad of me.) With a favorable academic schedule this semester, they'll be happening more often. It doesn't necessarily go with what's categorically a holiday look. But vibrant colors are always what I love to wear so I wasn't going to change that. =)

I took the pic on my phone so the quality isn't the best it could be.

Once again, happy new year everyone. I feel there's some housework that needs to take place so that'll be on the next post.

Till next time. =)

XOXO & many blessings,

B. Pierre

Randomosity: TJMaxx Treasure

2009-12-17T16:20:00.000-05:00

If I'm ever in search of a good deal on clothes or housewares, I can usually count on one of these three Ross, Marshalls and TJMaxx. But never did I think one of them would be a great place to find make-up.

I was surely wrong.

A couple weeks back I took a trip to TJMaxx and found this little gem.

I'm holding it upside down. My lighting makes the far two right one look similar but

they're so different. One has a gold undertone, while the other has a purple undertone.

It's a NARS eyeshadow palette. Regularly it's priced at $50.00 but I only paid $29.99 (excluding tax)

Truly a Steal!

So for my monies (lol) I'm getting six shadows for about $5 each, which is a steal when it comes to NARS.
It was hidden amonst a bunch of riff-raff. But I was persistent in my search. The colors are amazingly pigmented and beautiful.

So, along with CVS and Walgreens, TJMaxx might have made it to my weekly visit hit list.

And I also cam across some CHI hair products, along with other high-end hair products. So that might save me a couple bucks when I need to restock on my CHI Keratin Mist or ever decide to try their Silk Infusion.

Happy hunting!

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Follow me on Twitter @KissyFaceMUA. You'll get a chance to know more about me and my ramblings on make-up and more.

P.S.S. And my face isn't the only place where I like to add color. This morning I painted an accent wall in my bedroom Kingfisher Teal and updated my bed with a new bed set and a suede-ish headboard. I'm in love. :-)

Randomosity: Schools Out!

2009-12-14T00:02:00.001-05:00

As of this past Friday, I've finished my last fall semester at UF. The semester had really been trying but with God I pulled through.

And with this much needed break, I've been opportuned to dedicate some much needed energy to KF and my beloved blog.

For the next few weeks I'll be working on finally getting my business cards out, a few gigs and some much needed updates. I've made some recent discoveries and made a few essential purchases for my kit (and myself. lol) that I'd like to share. So be on the look out for an onslaught of posts. lol

More to come. :-)

XOXO & Many Blessings,
B. Pierre

Clientele Highlight: Ruche Hour

2009-11-22T12:02:00.000-05:00

On Friday I was in Orlando doing make at UCF Faces Modeling Troupe Ruche Hour event. I was set do makeup for one designer which included four girls but ended up doing only got to do three of them because of time and I did another young lady that walked in one of the last scenes. She was apart of the FACES family from USF. She's so sweet. I only got to take pictures of three of the girls that I did though.

I did a smokey eye on her using Cinderfella from the Style Black collection.

I might have to go back and pick up Guilded by Association.

I used golds, pinks and a raspberry group of eyeshadows. Either I need a new

camera or need to really learn the settings on the one I

own right now :-/ It looked really darling in person.

I used a combination of Young Punk by M.A.C., Fishnet and Ransom from

my Urban Decay shadow palette. Sorry for the undone brows.

I was pressed for time. But I loved how this purple smokey turned out.

The camera didn't capture the glitter as well as I wanted it too.

All, in all it was amazing experience. When I first got there I saw other make-up artists from Paul Mitchell and I must admit it really made me nervous because i never went to school. And that really took a toll on my confidence. But after a while, my nerves eased up, my confidence came back and I was bangin' out the faces of the lovely young ladies. :-)

And as always, with each experience new knowledge is gained.

LESSONS LEARNED
1. Have Confidence
When I did my first girl (she's not pictured) I was just a ball of nerves. I was constantly second guessing myself and what I was choosing to do with her. I knew what I was capable of but with each girl my nerves eased up and I was able to work and really create some awesome looks.
2. Write Down What I Use.
Sometimes I don't know what look I'm going to do and I create them spur of them and I instantly fall in love with them ::pat on the back:: I'm thinking that will be important to write it down for future reference just in case I may want to recreate it or change it up for future work oppportunities.
3. I Need a BIGGER Traincase
The one that i bought from Yazmo is entirely too small. Yes, it is awesome and really sturdy but plain and simply said, carrying extra tools and neccessities in a ziplock bag in my Barneny bag is not going to cut it. I'll probably use that for small shoots or shoots where I'm specifically packing the items that I know I need.
4. Organization is Key
My old roommate helped me pack my make-up kit appropriately and I thank her for that. I'm looking to invest in a set of drawers from the container store so I can house all my make-up necessities. That way when I have to pack up my items they're all in one location instead of all over my room. Remember I still am I college student. But I also need to aknowledge that it's not an excuse for poor organization on my part. Precious moments I waste looking for sponges, or brushes or whatever it may be could be better utilized on something more productive.

And I had to get a shot of me too. Lol. I felt so important when I had a seat reserved for me... Ah, the little details. :-)

I just had to rock the necklace!

Till next post!

XOXO & many blessings,

B. Pierre

Portfolio Building: KissyFace Artistry Teaser Pic

2009-11-16T22:15:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post from a recent photo shoot.
Nov. 13 marked the first official day of working towards creating an active portfolio. I'll forever remember that night. :-)

I must say, that I'm in love with this pic.

Special thanks to Edson Andre Photography and the model. Just seeing this pic inspires me to keep going with my endeavors. I have it posted as my laptop's wallpaper. lol

Till next time!

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Next post will be a few things learned from this shoot. Each makeup endeavor is another lesson learned.

P.S.S. And the items from my last purchases have become everyday staples. Drugstore brands are not ones to be skipped. :-)

Randomosity: Walgreens-In My Stash

2009-11-04T23:52:00.000-05:00

As promised, I'm sharing the goodies I got from Walgreens last night.

I'm really hooked on lips at the moment so those were the things I was drawn to while browsing the make-up aisle. For the most part, I've always been a clear and/or pinky lip gloss kind of girl. So, in a desire to expand my skill set and have fun with some lip color, I was really interested in the lipsticks and the highly pigmented lipglosses.

So on with the stash!

From L'oreal, I picked up two lipglosses and and two lipsticks. The lipsticks I chose were more fall-color oriented and somewhat safer colors. As for the lipglosses I went for highly pigmented options.

For the lipsticks, I chose:

and Mulberry ( I forgot to take a pic of the name. :-/)

Here's a quick swatch of them.

It may have been a better idea to do them on my lips. There's always next time. As you can see, Milla's Plum has a more pink nature, while Mulberry leans to more of a purple hue.

As for the lipglosses, I picked up two of Loreal's Infallible lipglosses in:

(Undeniable Mauve)

and

(Barely Nude)

I wore Undeniable Mauve today. Got some compliments on it too.

And it really lived up to its infallible name. If I hadn't eatten, I knew it would last as long it said it would, which highly impressed me. I'll give a more in-depth review later.

Even though it wasn't on sale, I picked up a clear lip liner. This is so ingenious!

As you can see, it's not exactly clear but I'll see how it works. I'm just excited to not have to match up lipliners with lipsticks and what not.

And for the eyes, I picked up two Maybelline Stiletto Lash mascara's.

I wore it today and it simply was amazing! After I applied my eyeshadow, I loved the length it gave to my lashes. And with the trick I learned from a recent MAC class, they curled up pretty nicely too.

I'm pretty satisfied with my purchases. I may be a Wal-mart girl, but they sure don't have deals such as these. I may make it a habit to check out CVS and Walgreens on a weekly basis and share my finds. Who knows.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Tonight I made a stop at CVS. They had a BUY 1, get 1 FREE deal on Revlon eye and lip products. And....... I bought more lipsticks..... :-/ Maybe, I'll post on it later. lol

Randomosity: Walgreens Sale

2009-11-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

I stopped into Walgreens tonight just doing some make-up browsing and I came across a great sale that I had to share.

ALL L'oreal lip products are BUY 1, get 1 FREE!
and

ALL Maybelline eye products are also BUY 1, get 1 FREE!

Great sale, indeed!

I'll be sure to share what I purchased tommorow.

XOXO & many blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. I noticed more followers. Thanks for the support. Hope you enjoy what I have to share!

Clientele Highlight: Pageant Pretty II

2009-10-14T10:00:00.007-04:00

The pics from Friday's Hispanic Heritage Month Pageant came sooner than I expected.

All the contestants in their gorgeous gowns

So, as promised here are some pics of the women I got to work with on Friday. I tried to choose some photos that really captured their face best.

Hope you like. :-)

showin some dance moves

singing her heart out

the excessive blush was on purpose ;-)

modeling their lovely ensembles and she looked amazing.

I loved her gown...

smiling bright....

just one more flick... lol

Also, I forgot to mention my other life saver for the night from a previous post, which was the Notoriety quad from the Make-up Art Collection.

the colors are a little washed out

The colors worked beautifully on each of their varying skintones.
I'll definitely keep it in my "simple and go-to" stash.

Oh, and thanks so much to Rakesh Behara for snapping the photo's. His contact info are on the pics.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

KissyFace Randomosity: Blinged Out Beauty!

2009-10-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

While shopping for cami's at Forever 21 yesterday this caught my eye.

Isn't it adorable?!?!? I didn't expect to find a pair of rhinestone-encrusted lips!

I just had to have it! And for only $5.80 i sure did.

Typically, I'm not one for bling but at first sight it screamed KissyFace Artistry.

Can you say blurry?!?! lol

It's even giving me ideas for a photoshoot. Hmmmmm...... I need to contact my photographer friend and see what I can make happen....... :-)

Happy Tuesday!

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

Clientele Highlight: Pageant Pretty

2009-10-11T00:21:00.010-04:00

Yay for the clientele highlights :-)

I haven't been able to post one of these in a while. And I'm all the more thankful I get to today. Any opportunity for work is a blessing... :-)

I mentioned Thursday about the pageant I was doing Friday. All in all, it went A-Ma-Zing! From the hours of 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. I got to do about eight girls in total. Six of them contestants, one host and the pageant director.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get any pictures because I was working straight through the whole time and during the show when girls wanted subtle changes for their looks. But there was a photographer on hand who was able to snap some pictures of the show. And as soon as I get my hands on them, I'll be sure to post, with his permission, of course.

But more importantly I learned a lot of things from this experience that'll carry onto other appointments, shows and make-up opportunities.

So here goes:

LESSONS LEARNED
1. Always have make-up remover on hand
-It sounds like a no-brainer, but that night it completely slipped my mind. And that's something I'll never forget. Gotta have it!
2. Have a game plan
-I was a little flustered at first so to calm my nerves I'm creating, what I'll call my "facial checklist" just to make sure I'm doing things orderly and timely. I found myself skipping certain skincare prep steps by mistake. Not cool :-/
3. Have back-ups of essential brushes
-Like my Sonia Kashuk blending brush and my duo-fibre brush. Love em!
4. Sponges make foundation streaky!
- For doing a lot of faces they are the go-to measure for applying foundation. Thankfully I had my duo-fibre brush to smooth things out
5. Carry baby powder.
-The girls were asking for it a lot.
6. Learn some basic make-up skills for men.
-Even though I was there to do make-up on the female contestants, the males wanted a little enhancement as well, which frankly I don't know about. I only know to blot excess oil off of their skin. That's about it
7. Purchase a metal spatula/scooper thingy
I bought a bag of disposal ones but after a while of constant repurchasing it'll be more cost effective to get the real deal
8. Get a stainless steel plate to mix all make-up concoctions
Sure the tip to use CD's are fine but I gotta be a bit more professional so this one should be making into my mailbox pretty soon. They're pretty inexpensive. I've seen them for about $8
9. Find an online resource for disposable necessities.
Working with so many girls, I go through a lot of disposable mascara wands, lip brushes and etc so I need to look into finding places that offer them in bulk at a great deal.

And my lifesaver of the day?

My RCMA palette!

It was worth every penny. Mixing a few colors here and there created the perfect foundation for these lovely ladies.

Overall I loved the experience and would love to work with them again.

And shout out to TJ for giving me a chance! ;-)

I truly appreciate you all for reading!

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

Skill Building: Class is in Session!

2009-10-07T22:16:00.006-04:00

Yep.

I did it again.

I went ghost.

But skip the reasonings cuz I don't want to bore you with the details.

So, without further adieu, a post. :-)

This past weekend having a Saturday off, which I haven't had in a long while, I was invited to attend a local M.A.C. class on fall trends.

a few of the things we got to play with

And the instructor?

An artist who's had the pleasure of working with....

::drumroll, please::

Kim Kardashian

::gasp::

Lol. But seriously she was so down to earth and I must say I picked up a few tricks and scribbled down lots of notes.

See?

I love the notepad that they gave us. Really cute!

And of course, I couldn't just go to the class. I had to make a few purchases.

Welcome to what I like to call my Style Black Triplets.

sorry for the blurry image but you get the point. :-)

Yes, they are gorgeous. You've all seen the YouTube videos, countless swatches and rave reviews.

They'll make an awesome addition to my kit for smokey eyes. I can't wait to play in them.

That's it. ::crickets:: lol

Have a safe weekend!

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I'm doing make-up at my school's Hispanic Student Association Pageant, which is part of it's month long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at UF. So of course expect a post featuring the lovely ladies.

A Little History on My Dear KissyFace Artistry

2009-09-02T23:05:00.006-04:00

I planned on doing this post just to share a little bit of background on what KissyFace Artistry is and how it came to be but it's going to be more than that.

One of my old girlfriends gave me a call this afternoon and after catching up for a little bit on what's going on in each others lives the conversation quickly diverted to a comment she made to another mutual friend regarding me.

"I want to be just like her."

"She wants to be just like me?," I thought.

I was a bit shocked. She had been referring to me pursuing KissyFace Artistry.

Quickly, I said,"Don't be like me. Be like you."

Only because of the shame and guilt I felt for not pursuing to make KissyFace all that I wanted it to be as I planned and spoke about. I know she's still a baby and moving too fast isn't the best course of action but with all the talking and so-called planning I'd been doing KissyFace should be miles ahead from where it is now. I may have spoken with too much angst but nevertheless progress isn't where it should be, which bothers me.

With my stats of being only 22, working part-time, going to school full-time and a woman yearning for spiritual growth in God, along with a slew of other interests, I'm being pulled in all kinds of directions but shouldn't let it stop me from pursuing what is to be for me. I can't let these reasons, or what other say are excuses, deter my course of action.

I'm not to sure about others or what others believe in, but I say with complete faith that KissyFace wasn't something thought up on my own but placed in me to be brought to life.

Back in 2007 KissyFace Artistry started off as a passing idea which over the years has grown to it's present reality. It's funny but the idea for my business was before I even knew what a make-up brush was or even dare put one to my face. But that all changed in 2008.

After picking up Iman's book, " The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color," I was hooked. School was put on the back burner along with everything else. Never in my life had I delved into something with such zeal and passion. And after taking that year growing in knowledge and in practice, in April 2009 KissyFace Artistry was officially launched.

Never was I so sure about something. It felt so right to me. Couldn't anybody tell me anything about me or my passion and what direction it was headed in.

I say this to share, to maybe give inspiration and to let others know, that each of us are capable of being great people and doing great things. In whatever area that may be in choose to excel and pursue it wholeheartedly. Dare to be bold and attempt what is in your heart. Who knows what the results will be.

I speak about KissyFace Artistry with pride. I have no children so it's like my baby. And I need to treat is as such. Unfortunately, as of late, I've been a bad mother. Hearing my friend praise me for having the courage to start a business today really made me think in my pursuit and actions in making KissyFace Artistry the greatest realization it can be.

On a daily basis new ideas are coming to mind on how to push forward with KissyFace. I just need to take the time to plan it out and take action.

I created this blog to chronicle my daily steps to building KissyFace Artistry. It was put here to hold me accountable for my actions towards this ultimate goal.

I don't want to be just another blog. I want it to mean something. And if I have anything to do with it, it will!!!! [ Gotta speak things into existence. :-)]

Sorry for being long winded but I was just in a sharing mood. :-)

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. No more of my sob stories, starting tomorrow. I promise. lol All things make-up and beauty is in full effect. I'm backlogged on too many posts but I'll get a move on it. Hope you don't mind seeing or reading more from me.

Neglecting No More!

2009-09-01T14:49:00.003-04:00

"Excuses are for the weak."

But I'm far from that.

"If you truly love something, you'll devote your attention to its needs."

Yes, that is true. But I've been neglecting KissyFace Artistry for everything else. It's so sad but is no lie.

All I can say is, "no more!" B. Pierre is in full effect with pushing towards making KissyFace Artistry all that it can be. Being in school full-time and work and other reasons are no longer excuses.

Thanks so much to those who are still diligently following. All the plans I had started are still going to happen and more. Don't worry I'll make you and myself proud. ;)

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Tomorrow's posting is gonna take a walk in the past, just some background on what brought about KissyFace Artistry. From there, it'll be nothing but great details on building my skills, and overall KissyFace Artistry. Hope you enjoy and are as excited as I am! :-)

Handling My Biz: Domain Name

2009-08-10T22:22:00.007-04:00

When it comes to business, its important to have appropriate ownership so I registered my name KissyFace Artistry for a Web site. I'm loving the journey so much that I just had to grab it up.

So, without further adieu:: DRUMROLL PLEASE:: I present:

KISSYFACEARTISTRY.COM

lol. It's still links back to my blog but, hey, it's a start.

I purchased the Web site back in June but with the ongoings of this past weekend, it gave me the gusto to actually put it to use.

Doing make-up at this event truly gave me the drive to take the right steps and making KissyFace Artistry as official and legitimate as possible. There's no room for game playing 'round these parts.

So either using kissyfaceartistry.com or with the addition of blogspot you'll still get the necessary tidbits about the growings of KissyFace Artistry.

XOXO and many blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. Summer term was officially over as of last Friday and business finance has made it's way out of my life. :-) Now only 16 more credits to graduation. :-)

P.S.S. Welcome to the new followers. It's highly appreciated. There's more to witness, experience and see in the future.

Neglecting Nelly

2009-07-31T12:27:00.002-04:00

That's what you can call me. For the past two weeks a lot has been going on in my life. Not bad but great time-consuming things. But I just wanted to do a quick little post to say, I'm still here. And I should be back in full-effect by mid next week. I have one more exam to knock out before I'm home free.

Also in the past two weeks I got a car, moved out of my apartment and have had assignments out the yin-yang. ::woo-sah::

Hope everyone has a safe weekend all.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Next week I'm heading to Orlando to do make-up for a fashion show. I definitely need to add some stuff to my kit this weekend to be ready in time for the big show on Saturday. :-)

Skill Building: An Introductory Post

2009-07-09T10:35:00.001-04:00

Image by sunshinecity via Flickr

Just had to share really quickly an idea that I'm planning on doing on the blog. As an aspiring makeup artist, I feel criticism is what's necessary for me to enhance my craft overall. So to keep myself motivated and practicing on a consistent basis, I'm going to start a Skill Building Series.

This is where once a week I'll focus on executing a look or focus on certain skills of interest. For the next few weeks I'm going to focus exclusively on the face.

But before we get into the make-up, what's most important to have is great skin.

Aside from a balanced diet (still a work in progress), I turn to vitamins, drinking lots of water and skincare products to keep my skin in tip-top shape. My greatest advertisement for my fledgling business is my very own skin so it always has to be in great condition.

So next week I'll be sharing my skin care regime.

I'm looking for open and honest feedback. There won't be any hurt feelings, seriously because I'm really here to learn, so share your thoughts.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S I look forward to seeing what you have to say and it's been confirmed, the photoshoot is set for Monday. :-)

Portfolio Building: Manic Monday to Come!

2009-07-08T22:55:00.004-04:00

I just made it home from my business finance exam not to long ago. And all I can say is that, it was interesting. lol But enough about academics.

Let's get to the make-up. One thing that I need to make sure to have in my portfolio is variety. My roommate has already confirmed to help out along with a previous client. I'm shooting for Monday as the big day but it's yet to be confirmed.

So here are the two looks that I have in mind for them.

Classic Smokey Eye- it's self-explanatory
Chiseled to Perfection- a look that focuses on contouring the cheekbones and other assets.

And here are some other looks that I"m wanting to do as well.

Green Gem- its a look that I did in this first post. I loved how it looked and would love to see how it would look when done with a professional photographer
Egyptian Goddess- I couldn't think of an appropriate title description but think blue and gold. I It was initially inspired by the make-up did on a friend for her graduation. I wasn't able to snap good pictures though
Natural Beauty- A look that focuses on the no make-up look, just minimizing flaws and keeping things simple
Bold Lips- I really want to do a look where the focus is on the lips. Naturally the go-to color is red but that may change for when I go to create it.
Orange & Purple- It means what it says. Literally the idea for this look came to mind earlier this week and i can't wait to put it on face ( Get it? Instead of putting it on paper? Yes, lame. lol)

Let me know what you think or any suggestions you have in mind for looks that I should create in my future portfolio projects.

But in the mean time I'll be spending my free time planning the looks and elements that I want to include because I create better through trial and error.

Talk to you lovelies tomorrow!

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

Look of the Week: Blue-Eyed Soul

2009-07-07T20:30:00.004-04:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Micheal Jackson was laid to rest today and I witnessed it all on TV. Even though I'm in the younger age bracket I was still a great fan so I'm dedicating this look of the week to him.

He inspires me to be the best in my craft. I may not reach the greatness he has achieved but I'll sure do my best.

R.I.P. MJ

I usually get inspired by colors, flowers, and other artist's work when creating a look. The look I created below was initially it was inspired by a look that Rihanna wore to the Met Costume Gala back in May.

I made mine more vibrant and used a greater variety of blues.

I really have a bad habit of pursing my lips
when I take pictures. lol

And here are the products used:
FACE
Foundation- Cover Girl Queen Collection: Rich Mink
Finishing Powder: Deep Dark MSF Natural by M.A.C.
CHEEKS
Blush- Be Chic: Coral
EYES
Base- UDPP followed by Wet n'Wild Blue Peniil
Inner Lid- Velvet Blue by NYX
Main Lid- Navy by NYX and Sapphire Sparkle by Covergirl
Outer Corner and Crease- Blue Color from NYX Lake Moss Trio
Highlight- Champagne by Covergirl
Lower Lashline- Indigo Impact by Covergirl
Upper Lashline- Navy by J.A.N.E.
Waterline- Zero by Urban Decay
Lashes- L’oreal Clean Definition Telescopic: Blackest Black
Brows-Wet ‘n Wild Dark Brown Brow Kit
LIPS
Lip Liner- Obsession by Rimmel London
Lipstick- Sellout by Urban Decay
Lipgloss- Sheer pink in a KISS palette

That's it for today! And like I said last week I'm getting a move on my portfolio. Tomorrow I'll be sharing the looks that I'm wishing to create next week Monday at my first photoshoot with an up and coming photographer. So this weekend is going to be really nerve racking. I'm really excited. :-)

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Follow me on Twitter if you like. I'm a fan of all things social @KissyFaceMUA.

KissyFace Approved: E.L.F. Shader Brush

2009-07-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I mentioned the three eye shadow brushes that I purchased from E.L.F. and they are amazing. I'll definitely be adding more to my kit.

They pick up color really well and only cost $1.

KissyFace Approved? No doubt about it. For such an economical price and great ability to pack on color, there's no reason for it not to.

And after cleaning my brushes. I added them to the brush belt.

Aren't they purrty? :-) lol

It looks a little empty at the moment, which means I definitely need more brushes or is that another excuse to go shopping? lol.

Have a safe weekend and Happy Fourth of July!

XOXO and many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I've got some great details to share next week so stay tuned. I'm uber excited.

Kit Building 101: Eyes, Lips, Face

2009-07-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

This mini-haul took place at the end of May. It took almost two weeks to get to my house, which was a bit long but after having had them for a few weeks they were definitely a purchase well made.

I only purchased three items. And everything was reasonably priced.

It seems someone else was excited about my package too because when it arrived it had some tears before I got to it. All I can say is hmmmmmmm. But ally my items were intact.

All I received were three eyeshadow brushes for myself,

a professional brush set for my roommate's birthday

and a brush belt to house my brushes whenever I'm working on clients.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Tomorrow will be a quick review on the brushes that I purchased for myself .

In My Stash:MAC's Naked Honey

2009-07-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

Source: Temptalia

I mentioned two new additions to my personal make-up bag in the last post. Both of them were from MAC's Naked Honey Collection.

Initially I only planned on purchasing Pollinator eyeshadow because as of late I've really been fascinated by coral, pinky colors. And this fit right in.
But my other purchase, Queen Bee lipglass, found its way home with me after getting a closer look at the color while at the make-up counter. It too fit well with into coralesque love affair so I couldn't leave without it.
I'm just in love with my purchases.

Did you pick up anything from the Naked Honey Collection?

Clientele Highlight: Cap and Gown Glory

2009-07-01T07:00:00.005-04:00

Here are the long-awaited pics from my friends graduations that I did makeup for in early May. One wanted a more natural look and the other wanted more color to her eyes. It just happened to be a trend at my school for everyone to get professional photos done for graduation, which I'm not mad at. I'll probably be doing the same when I walk across the stage next year.

Val wanted more of the natural look so I kept her bronzy and simple. I only used two colors for her lid.

Main Lid- a wash of Sunset by NYX
Crease- Brownie Points by Jane Cosmetics
Highlight-Champagne by Covergirl
Eyeliner- Brown by Jane Cosmetics
Waterline-Zero by Urban Decay
Lower Lashline-Karat by NYX

As for Kedly, she was more drawn to colors and I was allowed to have more creative liberty with her eye makeup.

Unfortunately I cant recall what I used on my second friend but it was a combination of greens from NYX.

And when it comes to more work for my portfolio I'm planning on hiring a few local photographers to take some shots. I'm working on getting pricing estimates and I'm officially designating July as primetime for building my portfolio and want to do about eight girls by the end of the month.

This means I need models aka some good friends to use as my willing subjects. I need to plan out the looks to maximize the greatest potential for each of the looks in order to showcase the array of work I can do. Next week I'll be giving an update on how things are going on my current portfolio's project progression. :-)

I've also got some great news to share as well but I won't spill the beans until next week Monday. I still need to firm up a few things before I go public with the details.

Look out for my post on Eyes, Lips Face tomorrow because like I said before, I'm getting through all the posts I planned on doing and a little more.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. All the pictures are by my friend Edson. Check out the rest of his work on his Web site.

Look of the Week: KissyFace Returns

2009-06-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been bad but I'm back on track. I sure did enjoy the min-vaca but it really threw me off course but nonetheless, I've returned to my love. :-)

Better late than never, right?

Here's a pic that I took last week for a look that I wore to work.

On my eyes I have:
main lid- Pollinator by MAC
crease- No. 99 ( a powder blush) by Makeup Forever
lower lashline- Ransom by Urban Decay

And on my lips I wore Queen Bee lipglass by MAC

Tomorrow, I'll be posting the overly delayed pics from a couple of friends graduations back in May. And the rest of the week are the posts I've promised.

Much love & many blessings,
B. Pierre

Out of Town Derailment

2009-06-18T14:09:00.002-04:00

Hey All!

Yes, I've been ghost once again. A trip that was initially for two days turned into a five-day vacation with cousins I haven't seen in years. Traveling through Jacksonville, followed by a 36-trip to South Florida to visit the my mom and brother took up my time from Sunday to Tuesday. And for the past two days I've been trying to catch up with other daily things. But I have lots to update with you on tomorrow! It'll be very pic heavy.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

Handling My Biz: Certified Am I?

2009-06-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Image by carinasuyin via Flickr

Even though I'm self-taught I'm considering on becoming certified, just to make myself more credible to clientele. More importantly I really want to be taught by masters in the game of make-up.

After getting a hot tip from Kandee, I learned about this make-up school in Boca Raton, FL where I proceeded to make a phone call to learn more about what the school has to offer. After speaking with the director of admissions, I learned that the course is a 20-hour weekend event. Within the span of Friday, Saturday and Sunday for about 6-7 hours per day I'd get a crash course on a variety of topics.

From what I remember she mentioned that we'd learn about corrective techniques, sterilization, business practices/ethics, custom color blending and a long list of other things that escapes me at the moment. Most impressively, they're a M.A.C. Academy so I know their school is respected and credible. And a bonus is that by the end I'd be M.A.C pro card holder. That wasn't the only thing that impressed me, it was their attention to the students. The class sizes are limited to 6-8 students, which allots for more opportunities for one-on-one training with the instructor.

And with such a stellar opportunity comes a stellar price, which is set at ::drum roll please:: $1,495. Yes, that is a lot but comparing to other schools I've researched and what I'm trying to pursue, this price is not too shabby. I don't have time to go to school for months or weeks, I'm a full-time student for goodness sakes so this seems like the perfect fit.

I must admit, looking over my previous post from this past weeks, I've got some $$expensive$$ plans ahead. But that doesn't deter me one bit. It actually really encourages me to take the appropriate steps to make sure I am able to make the them happen.

Even though I'm still in the thinking phase of this idea, but I'm heavily considering it. Any opinions? Comments? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great Thursday everyone. As for me I'm up bright and early getting things done for my classes, taking care of KissyFace Artistry affairs and general chores followed by a night at work.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Tomorrow's post: Eyes, Lips, Face. :-)

Look of the Week: Cheri, I Adore Thee

2009-06-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

Just to ease myself back into blogging, I'll keep this post short and sweet. My last week was a little more than I bargained for but my first week on the job went well. As for my exam it wasn't what I expected but what is a girl to do? No need to stress over it. What's done is done.

Well the title is referring to the Spiced Chocolate quad from the Cult of Cherry Collection that I used in the look below. Get it? Cheri and Cherry? Yes, I know I'm lame but I thought it was cute. :-)

I wore this look last week. All the colors came from that quad. And with having a new job, I'm wearing make-up on what seems to be a daily basis. So I might make it a daily addition to the blog. I'm still debating. I'm always rushing before work so it may or may not be a good idea to add something else to my laundry list of daily to-do's.

Stay tuned! I missed my little blog so much and those of you who take the time to read my posts. I truly appreciate it., which also relates to the blog title :-)

More post to come!

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. I was wearing a tube top. Pics can be so deceiving... lol

Handling My Biz: Skool Daze

2009-06-02T21:06:00.005-04:00

As soon as I got into the swing of daily blogging, school and work came in to ruin the fun. I've got a huge exam on Monday, business finance, and I just started a new job this previous Monday. So with studying and the long hours of orientation/ training, something's got to give and unfortunately it's the blog at the moment. :-(

By next Wednesday,after the exam and a settled work schedule, KissyFace Artistry will be back to regularly scheduled programming. It's official I'm a blogging fanatic and I dare not turn away now. :-)

Here are some of the future posts that'll be up next week. They're not in order though.
Handling My Biz: Certified Am I?
Clientele Highlight: Crossing the Stage
Kit Building 101: Eyes, Lips, Face
Look of the Week: Cheri, I adore Thee

I like to have non-traditional titles, well, because I'm quirky that way.

Be back next week.:-)

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

Handling my Biz: Making it Legit

2009-05-29T07:00:00.006-04:00

Being in business for oneself can both be a scary and exciting thing. But for me it's more about the freedom and independence that comes with the territory. I've never been too keen on following the lead of others so ultimately my destiny was to be an entrepreneur.

But a good entrepreneur knows his/her limitations and takes the initiative to locate the best resources to get things done the right way, which I'm trying to do at the moment. Going freelance is more than just make-up, there's a business component to it as well.

With the various tags of inc., llc, co. and etc. I don't know where to start and where I'm headed in the market. But thankfully I have a local small business development center to turn to. From my research it's a great place to learn how to start a business. Once a month they hold a three-hour seminar that speak on the seven basic requirements for a business start-up.

According to the site those include:
-Selecting an Idea
-Testing the Market
-Acquiring Capital
-Writing a Plan
-Turning for Help
-Understanding Legal Requirements
-Putting it All Together

Aside from the seminar, they have one-one-counselors available for personal help and other valuable resources. It's been quite helpful for people that I've talked to so I know that it'll be a valuable experience. So that'll definitely be an addition to my summer list of to-do's.

Even though my blog will heavily be based on my make-up trials and tribulations, I want to dedicate one weekly post to the business side of it all because I think that it's so important. So whatever I learn, I'll be sure to share.

So, enough of me blabbing, go ahead and enjoy your weekend. As for me my weekend is kick starting with doing make-up for a client tonight and a fancy girls night out tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post the photos's for both my Clientele Highlight and Look of the Week next week. I still have other pics from other photoshoots that I need to post, so we'll see how that pans out.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S.The position that I'd mentioned earlier in the week is officially mine. I start Monday. Shoot, after three interviews, they had better hired me. lol

Kit Building 101: Kit Tested, KissyFace Artistry Approved

2009-05-28T07:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I had the last interview and it went really well. But before that final interview I tested two new items to see whether or not they'd make appropriate additions to my kit.

With the New MAC Style Warriors collection that recently came out I was really interested in their Lustre Drops. But after getting a tip from Reflections of Beauty that there was a dupe available, instead of dishing out $18.50, I paid less then $9.00 at Wal-mart (I can't recall the exact retail price, sorry.) for the comparable.
I mixed a little with the foundation, more so 3 parts foundation to 1 part bronzing liquid.
After mixing the two I applied it to my face.

Sorry for the overexposure. I'm figuring out that I'm in
need of a new camera esp. with all the make-up pics
I've been taking as of late.

The picture doesn't do the outcome justice at all. The glow that it created was amazing! I spent a little too much time angling my face to the light watching how it would catch the sunlight from my window. lol

KissyFace Approved?: Definitely. But it only comes in one color. MAC has three options. I plan on purchasing Pink Rebel from MAC just to add variety to my kit.

Tip: You have to be very careful when mixing it in with your moisturizer or foundation that it doesn't over power your look. Incorrect proportions can have you looking like an over-bronzed dame, unless that's the look you're trying to achieve.

My application wasn't done with my handy fingers like usual but with a new brush I picked up. Personally, I am not a fan of the traditional foundation brush and have been on the hunt for a better alternative. And this past weekend I found it. Initially, I purchased a $34 Air Brush from Sephora. I must admit that it was uber-soft but I never got to use it, with good reason.
After hitting up Target and browsing through their Sonia Kashuk brushes, instantly I wanted to head back to Sephora and return the recent purchase. I saw a Sonia Kashuk Duo-Fibre Stipling Brush. And get this it was only $11.99! I could almost get three Sonia's for one Sephora, so that was a no-brainer, right back to Sephora the Air Brush went.

But no regrets, I was pretty impressed with the alternative.

KissyFace Approved? Yes, 10x over. For such an economical price, I'll definitely be adding at least three or four of them to my kit. The bristles worked effectively and blended my foundation effortlessly.

So now I'm slowly but surely crossing things of off the get-these-things-for-my-kit list. Thus far my additions have been bargain finds but I don't necessarily think an item has to be expensive to get the job done. Great quality can definitely be found at affordable prices. Tomorrow I'm getting a package in from E.l.f. Cosmetics. I'll be sharing the details for it next week. It's just more items for my kit :-)

Have a great Thursday all! As for me I'll be attached to the library doing some much needed studying.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. And a little fun fact about me is that I love painting my nails. Whenever I look down at my nails after a polish change or design upgrade it just brings a smile to my face. I did this on Memorial Day. I've been antsy to do polka-dotted nails for a while and I finally did. And the little black dot is a pen mark. I was being impatient and wanted to test if it was dry but didn't bother fixing it. Aside from that, they came out pretty nice, right?

Expanding My Horizons: Events/Conferences Galore!

2009-05-27T07:00:00.005-04:00

If you've been under a rock in the Amazon then you probably haven't heard about this past week's The Makeup Show NYC, a yearly event that brings beauty enthusiasts from around the country together for the love of make-up.

As great as it would have been to attend, the pockets were giving me the side eye and saying, "hex nawl. Don't you dare" lol. But nonetheless after reading countless other blogs and watching numerous Youtube videos, it was like I was there, not missing a beat. But as soon as that were over, a slew of other opportunities have popped up.

After getting a Tweet from ClumpsofMascara, I was informed of a local event in Orlando, Premiere Orlando International Beauty Event. But it's just around the corner and right before a major exam (darn it!). So that's crossed of the list.

But after doing a little more digging, I found a few more events. I may not be able to attend but I felt the need to share. You never know, you maybe can attend or probably share it with others.

After getting another Tweet Update from ScandalousBeauty, I learned about IMATS (International Make-up Artist Trade Show). The event is open to the public and is a location for make-up artists, vendors, manufacturers and enthusiasts to discuss, display, discover and collect on everything make-up. But thats around the corner as well, slated for June 20-21. So that's scratched off the list too (or maybe not, lol).

And another one that I had to sadly cross of the list of opportunities was BlogHer Conferences set for July 23-25 (Actually, I'm still debating). It's hosted in Chicago and from what I've read it's a weekend filled with more of the business side of blogging, which may play a great role with what I'm specifically trying to persue. It seems to be loaded with speakers on a range of topics and another opportunity to network.

I just want to know where was I when all the planning was going on? Can a girl get a heads up on these awesome events please? lol

But no worries, after a little more research, I finally found one that's a little further along in the year, which gives me plenty more time to plan and prepare for properly.

And that is::drumroll please::—Blogalicious Weekend.

It's only one state away and I sure do love a good road trip. And after visiting the site to get some information on what they have to offer, it seems like a great atmosphere to meet some other bloggers. It's described as a weekend getaway for women of color to get together that combines all the things women love about blogging with the added element of face-to-face interactions. But that's not what really sold me on the event. It was the itinerary for the weekend and the keynote speakers.

I may be new to beauty blogging but I really want to soak up all that I can from all perspectives.

All I know is that the pockets are going to have to get a little fatter in order to officially add these to my agenda, but best believe I'm working on that.

And speaking of fatter pockets, I have a third interview for the same retail position I mentioned on Monday. I really hope I get this job because I've never experienced a three-interview process.

Well on that note, I'll bid adieu!

XOXO and many blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. If you're aware of any events later on in the year, I'd definitely love to learn more about them. Thanks in advance!

Kit Building 101: The Necessities

2009-05-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well, yesterday really wasn't all too relaxing as planned, but don't worry it was a great day nonetheless. Instead of lounging around I attended a cookout with some friends, studied (darn my incessant needs to be ahead) and watched the basketball game last night. So, overall it was a great day despite the original plan. And some of the best things are unplanned.

Now, on to the make-up!

Since I'm striving to become a freelance makeup artist there are a "few" things that I'll need in order to get the job done right. After much research and a lot of reading, I tailored from the knowledge I gained to create what I want in my kit. Yes, the list is a dozy but I promise they're all necessary.

Ok, let's get started!

SKIN CARE & PREP

Facial Wash- To prep the skin and make sure that it's clean (need to find an economical option to carry in my kit to serve clients the best)

Moisturizer-Cetaphil (great for sensitive skin), MAC Strobe Cream (dewy skin looks) and Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion (great for mattifying oily skin)

Toner-TBD (need to fig. out which is best for all skin tones)

Moisturizing Body Lotion-TBD

Monistat Chafing Gel- great alternative to Smashbox primer (but need to look into other options as well)

FOUNDATION

RCMA Palette- for liquid foundation options ( But also considering options from Cinema Secrets, Graftobian & Yaby at camerareadycosmetics.com)

Powder Foundation Options (need to do more research on what's available or whether or not I should even have it)

CONCEALERS

MUFE- 5 Camouflage Cream Palette( light, dark and corrective options)

SETTING POWDER

Silica Powder- TKB Trading (cheaper than MUFE)

MAC- Mineral SkinFinish Naturals (about 4 to use on the range of possible skin tones)

BLUSH

Blush Palette- La Femme 12 Blush Palette (just to have a good starting point in terms of options)

Crème Blush Options- I just have a personal preference for them and might include them in the kit

COUNTOURING

Blushes- Blunt by MAC (darker skin-toned women), Strata by MAC ( lighter skin-toned women)

Countouring Palette- Coastal Scents

BRONZERS

Liquid Bronzers- to mix in with foundations or moisturizers to create a luminous look

Powder Bronzers- more research needs to be done

EYES

Eye Primer- Urban Decay Primer Potion and various other color bases by NYX

Eye shadows- various options for colors from diff. companies but considering on ordering the neutral palette from coastalscents.com for bridal work

Eyeliners- gel eyeliners, pencil eye liners

False Eyelashes- various options

Mascara-three to four formula options (most likely drugstore brands)

Brow Fillers- most likely will use brown eye shadows to get the job done.

LIPS

Vaseline-great primer for lips

Lipsticks- I've heard great things about NYX lipsticks and possibly looking into lip palettes as well

Ligloss-OCC Clear Lip Tar, and other basic colors

Lip Pencils- Urban Decay Lip Pencil in Ozone (great alternative to carrying a lot of various colors because its clear) but looking into possibly NYX lip pencils as I progress

BRUSHES & TOOLS

Brush Belt- E.L.F (just as good as the one by M.A.C.)

Duo Fiber Brush- For applying foundation (I"m not to fond of traditional foundation brushes)

Powder Blush-various shapes and sizes

Blush/Contour Brushes- tapered, angled and rounded brush options

Buffer Brush- great to buff out overly intense colors

Eye shadow Brushes- lid application, crease brush, highlight (but of course I'll have various styles for ea.)

Angled Liner Brush

Straight Liner Brush

Dense Angled Liner Brush- for eyebrow color application

Disposable lipstick brushes

Disposable doe-foot lip wands

Disposable mascara wands

Brow brush and comb duo

Disposable cosmetic sponges

Concealer brush

Tweezers

Duo Surgical Adhesive for lashes

Disposable Spatulas

Mini-scissors

Pencil Sharpener

Eyelash Curler-She Uemera (expensive but nonetheless is an investment)

OTHER NECESSITIES

Cotton pads

Empty spray bottles

Isopropyl alcohol

Make-up Wipes

Eye Make-up remover

Cotton Swabs

Visine-regular

Visine for Contacts

Kleenex

Hand Sanitizer

Mini-pack of Wet Ones

A Nail Kit

Nail File

Polish Remover

Cuticle Sticks

Hand Cream

Small Hand Towel

Sunscreen

Mini-Fan

Business Cards

Mints

Hair clips-to move the hair out of the way

Robe for clientele to wear over clothing

Empty Palettes for Eyeshadows- Coastal Scents

Last but not Least…

A Train Case- I've been scoping out by the recommendation of Ren of MakeupbyRenRen who mentioned that Yazmo was a great place for traincases.

If I shop wisely I should have a "complete" kit in no time.

Ok, I'm through. Creating this list, although time consuming, was necessary because I can keep better track of what I need and it'll help me to be more conscious when shopping.

I've got my second interview to get ready for later and I'll be testing out a Dupe for M.A.C.'s luster drops along with a new duo fiber brush that I bought. I'll be sure to share my experience with the new purchases later on in the week.

Have a great Tuesday all!

XOXO & many blessings,

B. Pierre

P.S. Here are a list of the sites that I used to compile my personal list. These were great resources.

Look of the Week: Interview Ready

2009-05-25T07:00:00.003-04:00

This weekend I had interview for a retail position, so of course I had to get the face appropriately ready. Staying away from the bright colors and dramatic looks, I went back to my tried and true. This was the second eyeshadow purchase I ever when I first got into make-up and I've gone back to it time an time again.Image Source: Jane Cosmetics

Everything was really simple but this time around I opted to try a new concealer for my under eye area. Usually I don't wear anything but, anything to build my skill level is worth attempting.
I got the color latte (dark), which was the darkest color available. It seemed a little to light at first glance but I didn't let it stop me from trying it. I applied it with my ring finger in a light dabbing motion then smoothed it out. I was a bit worried that my foundation wouldn't be able to mask it well enough but i was proven wrong. After applying my foundation on top I noticed that the lightness that I was initially worried about was a bonus. It had brightened up my under eye area really nicely.

Check it out for yourself!

My hair in its infamous wrap.
I always do it after my make-up.

a simple & fresh look

Products Used:
EYES
base-UDPP followed by French Fries Jumbo Pencil by NYX
main lid-Hazelnut by Jane
crease-Brownie Points by Jane
highlight-the forementioned concelear by Maybelline followed by Champagne by Covergirl
eyeliner-Dark Brown by Jane
waterline-Zero by Urban Decay
mascara- Natural Defined Telescopic by L'oreal
brows-Wet 'n Wild Dark Brown Brow Set
FACE
moisturizer- Ponds Dry Skin Cream
primer- Monistat 7 Chafing Relief Powder Gel ( Smashbox Primer dupe)
concealer-Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer in Latte
foundation-Rich Mink by Covergirl Queen Collection
setting powder- Mineralized Skin Finish Natural by M.A.C in Deep Dark
CHEEKS
blush-Taj Mahal by NARS
LIPS
condititioner- good ol' vaseline
lipstick-Sellout by Urban Decay
lipgloss- a no-name clear gloss

And that completes the look.

As for the interview, it went well. I have a second round interview tomorrow. :-)

Well, have a great Memorial Day and enjoy all the cookouts! As for me, I'll use it for ultimate relaxation.

XOXO & many blessings,
B. Pierre

P.S. Quick Question: Is it a good idea to place a watermark over your photos? I just don't want my pics plastered elsewhere without my knowledge or proper attribution.