Favourite Eyeliner of the Moment!

2014-05-13T07:12:25+00:00

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STILA - Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner

Love, love LOOOOVE this eyeliner! I buy mine from Sephora overseas - it's an easy-application, waterproof liquid liner that stays on all day and night.

What it does (Sephora Website):

This easy-glide, quick-dry precision liner stays in place until you say when—no smudges, feathering, or running. The thin, marker-like tip is easy to use, even for the beauty beginner, and delivers any look—from a thin line to a bold, dramatic stroke. It goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, and lasts all day.

Serious staying power, jet-black, and glides on easily and quickly. You can get varying thickness too for that perfect straight line to a thick dramatic cat eye look. Can't go wrong with this purchase ladies! :)

Winter Offer - Don't Miss Out!

2013-06-24T12:07:20+00:00

Come in for a Makeup Trial and receive $50 off future bookings!

Hey ladies, it's that time of year again!!! Yes it's cold out there in Sydney as we hit rainy winter, but that just means it is a great time for brides to come out and do their trials and bookings for the upcoming wedding season!

Feel free to contact me for any upcoming bookings for end of 2013 and 2014, and if you come in for a bridal makeup trial, you are eligible to receive $50 off any future bookings! Be sure to print out and quote this post with any queries on available dates.

Facebook Offer!

2012-10-01T01:02:08+00:00

Hit up a "Like" on Facebook

Hello my fellow makeupgurus!

I know I have been extremely MIA with the blogging as of late... but it has been a busy last few months behind the scenes leading up to the wedding season, and I had a lovely break visiting my family in Canada!

I have a special offer for all those brides out there looking for the right makeup artist for their wedding.

$50 Makeup Trial

(discounted from $80)

To redeem this offer you must claim from my facebook page MakeupGuru Styling

Then please contact me directly to redeem the offer, my email is shakereen@makeupguru.com.au or phone 0422 284 023.

This offer is available immediately and brides will be able to claim up until early next year.

Thanks lovelies and until next time live life and stay happy! :)

THE ULTIMATE CONTEST, GIVEAWAY & THANK YOU!

2012-06-11T12:34:10+00:00

Enter now for this Awesome Giveaway!

As some of you may know, I am uber excited to have recently reached over 500 "LIKES on Facebook!! It's a great way to see so many supporters and followers, and I'd like to give back in a small way of saying THANKS HEAPS - what better way to do it other than releasing an awesome contest! YAY!

Keep reading for details..!

To enter the contest, here's what you need to do:

One Entry = Visit MakeupGuru on Facebook (<<click on this link) and hit the "LIKE" button, if you haven't already!
Want another Entry = Visit MakeupGuru on Facebook and hit the "SHARE" button under my last status update with this contest - this will help reach more people and share with potential new fans! Hooray!
THE LAST STEP TO ENTER FOR THE BONUS PRIZE = Write me a post on MakeupGuru on Facebook about your favourite eye makeup look - whether smokey eyes, rainbow, purples, different shades of turquoise, the list could go on forever - you name it, I want to hear about it! *you must complete this last step for entry into the draw for the BONUS prize*

Now you've done the hard yards - what's the prize?

$100 gift certificate towards MakeupGuru Services to use for hair, makeup, styline or henna services available!
*BONUS PRIZE* $75 worth goody bag for MAC and other awesome makeup brands!

Yay, now make sure you get at least ONE entry through for the gift certificate giveaway, and the last step entry in for the BONUS prize! You must enter by Thursday 21st of June 10pm (Sydney time).

The random draw will take place on Friday 22nd of June and the winners will be announce on Facebook and MakeupGuru website. The winner of the gift certificate must use their prize before the 31st of June 2013 here in Sydney, and will be dependent on date availability. The Bonus prize is available to win worldwide!

Again thanks to everyone out there for the support and can't wait to hear from you! Good luck my fellow MakeupGurus and I look forward to announcing the winners!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for...EYELINER!

2012-04-27T04:42:53+00:00

Pencil vs. Liquid vs Gel Eyeliner

I'm sure many of you are with me on this one, but eyeliner is something that I never leave the house without wearing. I can honestly say that I may very well take it to the grave with me...it's a staple in my makeup kit where ever I go! Here's a quick breakdown of the benefits of the different types of liner on the market today.

It's an age old debate really, the historical battle between pencil and liquid liner and what's best in terms of eyeliner. However gel liner is a new contender has come into play in the last few years - and I admit is leading the way in terms of popularity. In my opinion, eyeliner depends on what look you are trying to acheive and always comes back to what you're personally comfortable in using. With all options, it does take a bit of time getting used to steading the arm/hand/fingers to perfect the application. It's like contact lenses... it initially takes a few months to get used to sticking the thin lens into your eye! So any chance you get a few extra minutes in the morning before your day starts, try your luck with application of eyeliner to see what suits you best. All versions of liner can provide controlled application, but personally I see pencil quite easy to use for quick looks or those who are novice to the world of eyeliner. I tend to use liquid or gel liner when I have a bit more time to apply or I know I have a long day ahead of me. My favourite overall is defintiely the gel liner because of how long it lasts, the variations of style and looks that can be produced, and they still come in some striking colours to use!

Here's a quick breakdown of features of all three:

PENCIL	LIQUID	GEL
Thin or thick lines, great control, easy to use	Thin or thick lines	Most brands extremely long lasting, variety of colours
Can be dipped in gel liner for longer lasting effect	Most brands are long lasting	Shape to build using different applicators
Can have softer or more dramatic effects	Usually offers bolder look	Can be used on waterline, and usually water resistant
Endless availability of colours	Requires steady hand for precision application or shape	Has more of the “liquid” look than “pencil” – very smooth
Can be used on waterline	Usually smudge proof once dry	Smudge proof
Has “kohl” variations (softer look to the liner)

Some of my favourite pencil/kohl liners include:

Urban Decay - 24/7 Pencils - Amazing colour! Love them ALL! Here's just a sample.

Revlon ColourStay Pencil - Ebony: Long lasting for a household brand!

MAC Kohl Pencil - Smolder: Beautiful for any smokey eye look!

My favs for liquid liner:

MAC LiquidLast Eyeliner - This stuff is hard to wipe off, even with eye makeup remover!

Sephora Liquid Liner - Economical, ong lasting, great precision tip!

Lastly but not least my favs for gel liner:

MAC Fluidline Gel Liner - oldie but a goodie!

Shu Uemura Gel Liner - black of blackest lines!

That concludes a short snapshot of my eyeliner collection of favourites, and I do have others depending on the look required...but if I kept going this blog could go for ages. Maybe that's why it takes me a few months to write each entry! (Promise to get better at this!)

What's on your list for eyeliner favs or other products? I'd love to hear from you! Let me know with comments on the blog, facebook or tweets!

Until next time my fellow MakeupGurus, live life and stay happy. :)

Special OFFER: Promo for February/March!

2012-02-08T03:20:14+00:00

Special OFFER: Promo for February/March!

Ok my fellow MakeupGurus - tell your friends, tell your family.... I am offering $50 off bridal bookings in 2012!!! You must book in before the end of March - enquire now: shakereen@makeupguru.com.au or call 0422 284 023.

How to Clean Makeup Brushes - The Ultimate Deep Cleanse!

2012-01-23T03:57:48+00:00

How to Clean Makeup Brushes - The Ultimate Deep Cleanse!

I’ve had many clients ask me the HOW TO’s in terms of maintaining and cleaning their makeup brushes. I know I spend good money behind my brushes, and look to make sure to maintain their quality and treat them like an investment! Here's some great tips on cleaning and maintaining your brushes.

Because I’m a busy makeup artist and I know hygiene is imperative to my clients, I look to deep clean my brushes at least 2 times per week. This always does depend on how many clients I have during the week, and I make sure to use brush cleansing spray products on the go when working through multiple events. I also ensure to have an extra set of brushes on hand to use while the others are drying.

This deep cleansing process below for your own brushes, can be done once a week or every two weeks, depending on how often you use makeup brushes for application.

You’ll need the following items:
- Baby shampoo
- Olive oil
- 2x small bowls
- Paper towel
- Drying towel
- Clean sink and running water

Here some step by step processes for deep conditioning cleanse for your brushes:

Step 1: Put a few drops of olive oil in a bowl, take a brush and swish it around in the oil, so that it coats the brush hairs. Then on some paper towel brush out the oil, this will help breakdown all the product/residue in the brush.

Step 2: In the other bowl put a few drops of the baby shampoo, and again swish the brush around for at least 20 seconds, so that it is well coated and creates soap suds. By this time you should see a lot of the residue leaving the brush.
Baby shampoo is great to use for this process because it’s gentle enough on brush hairs, and will ensure to get the entire product out of the brush.

Step 3: Take the brush and run under slow flowing lukewarm water, until water in the sink runs clear of any colour. At this point you can use your fingers as well under the water to help get the soap out of the brush. Make sure to hold the brush downwards, so that water does not touch the handle of the brush. As most handles are made of wood, ideally no water should seep inside the handle as this can cause mold in the brush.

Step 4: Pat dry the brush on a plush towel, and set aside to dry. Best to dry on an angle pointing downwards again, so that the water does not trickle into the brush handle. This step does take the longest in the process and usually about 24 hours to dry completely.
I’ve recently come across another product released by Sigma Brushes called “Dry n’ Shape” that I’ve found helpful in the drying process. It actually has helped cut down drying time for some of my brushes to less than 6 hours and does help keep the shape of brushes as well. Not too sure how it works, but for a busy makeup artist on the go – it’s worked wonders for me so far! My only complaint at this stage is that it doesn’t hold as many brushes as I would like to dry at one time, but would work well for someone who has a smaller collection of brushes.

So that’s it for tips and tricks for this specific way of cleansing brushes, I’ve been doing this for the last few years and have really found benefit to ensuring that my brushes last long and stay clean. For in-between cleans, I would suggest to keep a brush cleaner in your kit with you that you can spray and wipe, then use. I’ve used Smashbox and MAC products as show below, these are great to use between deep conditioning cleans!

Any queries, as always feel free to contact me at shakereen@makeupguru.com.au – I’d love to hear from you!

That’s it for now…Until next time my fellow MakeupGurus! =)

5 Makeup Tips for a Blushing (and STUNNING) Bride!

2012-01-14T14:26:22+00:00

5 MAKEUP TIPS FOR A BLUSHING (AND STUNNING) BRIDE!

Ladies, here are a few ideas that I've looked to use with every bride that I meet and work with. Hopefully these tips will help to ensure that you look completely flawless and stunning during your big event!

Tip #5: Prime! Prime! Primer!

I can't say enough how important it is to have your face primed for makeup application, especially when you have a long day of events ahead of you! Ideally one should start with a good moisturiser, then a seperate face primer as well as a long lasting eye primer (to put on the eyelids and the under eye area). My favourite and most reliable eye primer that I use is the original version of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. For face primer I mainly use 'Prep + Prime' by MAC.

Primer ideally should be applied at least 5-10 minutes before actually applying any other makeup, this is so that it has time to dry and set with your foundation and the other the products used on your face.

Tip #4: Using the RIGHT Amount of Concealer and Foundation

No bride ever wants to looked caked-on during their wedding event. Instead it is important to make sure that you have a stunning glow and dewy look to your overall makeup application. Best way to acheive this is to use the right amount of concealer and foundation.

Ideal is to ensure that your foundation is the correct colour to your skin tone, and if you have been using a foundation that is suitable to your skin for sometime it's best to use the same product on your wedding day. However if you are looking for a new product to use on the big day, ensure to look for either HD (High Definition) foundation products or a foundation that will ensure to give you that lasting affect for the entire day.

Application of foundation and concealer would depend on how your skin is - for example if it's oily, combination, acne proned, etc. For all these skin types it is still ideal to maintain a medium coverage consistency with your overall foundation.
First start off by applying a light coat of foundation to your entire face, blending into your neck as you go along. Then use your concealer for spot coverage and any blemishes, while also applying on the under eye area and into the cheeks as well as out to the bridge of your nose. With this triangular motion of blending, this will creat more light to bounce off this area, giving the illusion of evened out skin tone under the eye. You can then take a bit more foundation and further blend to give you some more coverage if needed. Finish with a setting spray or loose powder all over the face.

Tip #3: Eyeshadows - Setting the Focal Point of the Face

The eyeshadows that you use for your wedding day, can make or break the look that you're going for. Obvious to many, eyes are really the key to any bridal look - ideally it is best to keep in mind the outfit that you are wearing as well as the overall cultural aspects of your wedding day. For example, brides from a Western cultural background would ideally like to have their makeup match to the traditional environment of wearing a white wedding dress; while brides from a South Asian or Indian cultural background will expect to be wearing traditional wedding costumes with vivid and bright colours. It's important for any bride to keep in mind - you do not want to looked washed out comparative to your dress, jewellery, and overall theme of your wedding event!

Whether going for a natural or dramatic look, a modern trend at the moment is the 'Smokey Eye', this can be done in various colour tones including black, grey, and purple - and really suits any bridal outfit!

Tip #2: Lashes - Falsies or Natural?

This is a very debatable topic in the world of bridal makeup! I really do look to leave this to the opinion of the bride and what she feels comfortable with. I would also advise that if you haven't previously worn false lashes, do make sure to trial them before your wedding day.

I personally am a BIG FAN of falsies - they look amazing on most people, but can take some time to get used to. I mainly use false lashes made out of real hair on my clients, as they tend to blend better with the real lashes. I also use DUO lash glue, as it's waterproof and dries on clear or black - and it's easy to take off with any makeup removing product.
False lashes can come in all types of sizes, individual, full bands and half sizes. It can sometimes be overwhelming to try different eyelash products, but for your wedding day always try to go for sizes that are medium length and a bit more volume to your own. If you choose the route to going 'au naturale' - always best to use a really good waterproof mascara that adds again volume and length and ensure to put on a few coats at a time to finish the look!

*Have trouble putting false lashes on? Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on how to apply falsies!

Tip #1: Contour and Define!

Ladies we all know how we love to strike a pose in front of that camera...especially on our wedding day!
Photos are always an important memory to any special event, and I know most brides are concerned about not only how their makeup will look in person, but also how it looks in photos.

Contouring and highlighting are always a great way to accent certain features on the face. This can be the case for any face shape. It is important to know with contouring you should have a few shades available to use - one as a highlight, another as a pink/bronze blush (depending on your preference), and another blush product that is a few shades darker than your actual skin tone. For this darker product it is important to know how to use it, as you don't need too much in terms of application. You want to ensure to use the product on the hollows of your cheek bone, a bit on your temples and also just below both sides of your jaw line. Again always ensure to blend in any harsh lines created - this will also happen naturally as you bring in the other products. You then want to use the pink/bronze coloured product on or just below the apples of your cheek - again this depends on the preference of how flushed you want your cheeks to look. Then take the highlight colour and add that just above your cheek bone and under your eye area - again using only light application of this product as it can tend to whiten your face. Continue to blend as you go along the process. Also keep in mind that blush products tend to seep into the skin quite easily so you may want to put on a bit more than you usually do, overall giving you that long-lasting beautiful look. Now you've got that perfect glow as a blushing bride!

So that's it, but by no means an extensive list of what to do with bridal makeup....that's where I come into the picture, haha!

Jokes aside, I hope it gives everyone ideas of things to keep in mind when either DIY or meeting with potential makeup artists and getting your queries answered.

Also keep in mind to have an emergency kit available and on hand either with your bridesmaid or in your clutch purse on the big day, this should have a touch up lipstick/gloss, some blot paper, and overall face powder to soften any shine or oil that produces during the day.

Thanks for reading, hope this was helpful!

Live life, and stay happy. =)

Signing off for now,

MakeupGuru

Author

Shakereen Chowdhury

CONTEST TIME!!!!!!

2011-10-25T07:37:41+00:00

As a HUGE thank you for all the support on my facebook page, and reaching over 400 Likes, I've decided it's time for a contest!! Please see below for the contest rules and how to enter.

----------- Ok my fellow MakeupGurus - tell me what your favourite makeup product is and why, to enter for the first ever MakeupGuru Giveaway! ------------

~Up for Grabs~ Bag of makeup goodies for the land of the Far North! My homeland CANADA! Good to suit all complexions, and including products from Sephora for the Aussie gurus to try! :)

~To be Eligible~ You must follow my Facebook page or if your on Twitter please follow @MakeupGuruShak. You will need to post your answer on my facebook page or twitter by Wednesday November 9th. With every tweet or re-tweet/status update about this contest, you can post your entry again here on Facebook or Twitter! This is a worldwide contest, and the prize can be shipped around the world.

Be sure to check out my new website as well: www.makeupguru.com.au and like the photos from my portfolios.

Can't wait to hear from you and good luck!!!!!

HIP-HOPPIN’ AND BEAT BLOGGIN’!!

2011-10-01T03:00:43+00:00

HIP-HOPPIN’ AND BEAT BLOGGIN’!!

Here I am…finally after three years of working with stunning brides and models across Sydney – I’ve finally had enough time to create an official website towards the services I offer and start BLOGGING!

I am so excited to announce the launch of my website www.makeupguru.com.au !! Do feel free to stop by often for tips and tricks to makeup, hairstyling, and henna tattooing as well as product reviews, contests, and much more! I hope to assist each of you beauty addicts to reach your true potential to creativity. Remember working with your features and strengths can be fun, teach you a lot about your own body, and make you feel fabulous all at the same time!!

As some of you may already know, I specialise in bridal styling and I have had the honour to work with brides from all different walks of life here in Sydney as well as Canada, my home country. It has taught me so much about people, where they come from, who they are and what their stories have been so far. I love being part of their precious moments, full of emotionality, fragility (let’s not forget sometimes wild and chaotic as well!) and in the end – leading towards complete happiness.

Weddings are a beautiful time of family, friends, (food!) and celebrating what’s most important: the incredible sacred union of the couple. All religions and cultures involve beautiful ceremonies full of meaning and tradition – and I have to say it is so humbling to be a part of it all.

Speaking of staying humble, I am really thankful to my family and friends who have supported me so far through this journey… and especially to my husband, Shawn - who rarely sees me on the weekends and has supported me through my ambitions of working full time but also pursuing my hobbies and passion. Here’s a picture of us on OUR special day, over 4 years ago! Time flies when you’re having fun!

On that note, enough of the sappy stuff!!! Please do continue to visit my page for updates on my blog, photos from my portfolio and what’s upcoming in the next season of bridal services! I personally can’t wait!!!

Live life and stay happy!!

Author

Shakereen Chowdhury