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Airbrush vs. Traditional… What’s the Difference?!

            In the beginning of 2019, I started offering airbrush to my services along with traditional application which I have done since the start. (Traditional is just your brush/sponge + liquid foundation that we all do!). However, most people don’t know that the certification I received when I started by business was actually in airbrush! Yup, I’m qualified to spray paint your face. Just kidding, it’s not that scary.

I am thrilled to now be offering another option for my clients, and I want to answer all the questions I’ve been receiving such as “what is difference? which is better?”

About Airbrush

The main difference between airbrush and traditional makeup is the way in which they are applied. The airbrush method uses drops of specially formulated foundation into a machine, which is then sprayed onto the skin. The foundation used is still liquid, but comes out as a light mist. It feels like a cool breeze of air as it’s applied.

Airbrush machines come in several different forms. I use the one pictured below. This one is my very favorite, because unlike other devices, it is all hand-held, lightweight, and NO CORD! The kit I purchased comes with pretty much every shade of foundation under the sun, but the bottles are extremely tiny, which is why I charge slightly more for airbrush.

Image result for temptu airbrush

Meanwhile, needless to say, traditional is just your normal way of applying foundation- with a brush.

Which Way is Better and Why?

There is actually no direct answer to this question! It is all a matter of preference! But I will give you all the details on the finish, the feel, and performance of both applications so that you can decide for yourself which is the best option for you!

I describe airbrush as a light veil over your skin. And while you can do a couple layers of airbrush, it is not quite as build-able as regular makeup. It is also VERY important not to touch your face for several minutes after application, as the foundation remains wet for awhile and is very easy to smudge until it is dry.

Some people prefer airbrush because it truly can look flawless, almost as if your skin has been professionally digitally edited. However, airbrush is very prone to clinging to dry spots and looking cakey in those areas, so to achieve that flawless look, it is SO important as a client to EXFOLIATE your skin to get rid of any flaky patches, and then MOISTURIZE afterward. The smoother and more even your skin is, the better canvas it will be for your makeup!

As for traditional application, I personally find it easier to do color correcting and concealing with this method. It is also somewhat easier to mix colors to get the perfect shade, and it’s very build-able to get the amount of coverage the client wants. Possible cons would include that some fear their makeup will look cakey or streaky when applied with a brush, or simply feel too heavy. I can personally guarantee that I will never make you look cakey or streaky (I promise!) BUT I totally understand that traditional makeup just feels too heavy for some people! Especially those of you ladies who go natural and are not at all used to having anything on your skin.

To Sum Up!

To put it simply, here are my own personal thoughts on each method.

Airbrush is good for…
  • -Flawless finish
  • -Lightweight feel
  • -Those who have a fairly even-textured complexion
  • -Those who want to try something new for their next special event! After all, most of us don’t have an airbrush machine of our own. Treat yo-self.
Traditional is good for…
  • -Those in need of color correction
  • -Build-able level of coverage
  • -No wait time for drying

 

I hope this helped to answer some of your top questions of airbrush vs. traditional application! If you have a question I didn’t cover, let me know and I would be happy to do so!

Styled Bridal Shower

Near the end of 2018, Bethany Moberley of Rose & Lily Events asked me to do makeup for a styled bridal shower that was being planned by her and Mallorie of Mallorie Gayle Photography. She informed me that she was going to be doing a giveaway in which one lucky bride would WIN a completely styled, all expense paid BRIDAL SHOWER! Can you imagine being the bride to win that?!

I was so excited to say YES and jump right on board, because I had never heard of anything like it. Everyone is familiar with styled shoots where vendors get together to bring their visions to life and promote their businesses, but this is SO unique because it is also benefiting a bride in an incredible way- such a wonderful thing that I was thrilled to be a small part of! Mallorie was also gracious enough to do headshots for everyone on the same day- I’ve included some below!

Our winner was Kristie, and she is absolutely stunning and so deserving of this shower!

Please be sure to scroll to the bottom to see the list of talented, hard working vendors who brought this to life

@ankermobilebartending
@agoradowntown
@avalaurennebride
@whimsyva
@jennchancestylist
@gemstonecreations
@krcosmeticartistry
@malloriegaylephotography
@roseandlilyevents
@brideandjoyculpeper
@owlandenvelope
@theblacktux
@therefineryat120

Hosting A Country Classy Styled Shoot

I’m speechless right now trying to come up with what to say and where to start… If I didn’t know any better, I would think I just had a great idea and a vision of a perfect day far in the future, but it actually happened, just a year into my business.

Since the beginning of my business, it has been a dream and written down goal to host my own brand-promoting styled shoot. I had provided makeup applications for shoots, as well as modeled in some, but I knew one day I would put together one of my own- but I didn’t know when. It was one of my 2017 goals that I thought would happen toward the end of the year… but I’m excited to be saying that it was made possible so much sooner.

Here’s a little bit of background on the planning process…

In February, I reached out to Kerry (of course!) my go-to photographer about my idea, and she encouraged me to starting seeking vendors. Most of the wonderful business owners involved I knew prior, while also meeting a few talented new faces. Without an event planner, it was up to me to coordinate all the details, and I have to give HUGE PROPS to wedding and event planners… you guys are AMAZING! That is NOT easy work! I’m not sure how to express how stressful and complicated this process was but through it all I was feeling more thankful than anything else. It was also INCREDIBLY rewarding to pick and choose every detail and put things together according to your style and vision. What began as a small shoot idea continued growing bigger and more elaborate. I was completely BLOWN AWAY at the willingness of these vendors to provide for my shoot, and the teamwork was phenomenal! Another really fun part was giving each vendor the theme and colors and then letting them do their thing and add their personal touch- because their true work deserves to be displayed! I also have to shout out the beautiful models. It was a scorching 87 degree day, but you would never know by these photos! I may have been aching head to toe from hauling heavy things back and forth, but no pain has ever made me so strangely happy! It resulted in the most beautiful, unforgettable day. Scroll down for the list of fantastic vendors.

Well I’ve gotten my recommended dose of turquoise and it was just enough to hold me over for awhile and make my wedding idea dreams come true! Take a look!

 

Photographer- Kerry Renee Photography

Venue- Gari Melcher’s Belmont

Wedding Gown- Ava Laurenne Bride

Makeup- Kaelie Renae Cosmetic Artistry

Rentals- Darling D’s

Bouquets- Blushing Blooms

Invitation- Carley Lucas

Sign- Signs by Kara

Cake- Sorby Sweets

BEHIND THE SCENES!

I so much wanted to document the whole day through pictures and Instagram stories, but I was so busy I couldn’t even pick up my phone. Luckily, one of my models, Tara, was thoughtful enough to capture some moments during setting while my sister caught some shots of the makeup application! I’m so thankful to have these memories!

A Southern Garden Wedding

Earlier this summer, Elizabeth Wolfrey of Pinnfield Photography reached out to me about a styled shoot she was putting together in Spotsylvania. This was my first time meeting and working with Elizabeth, and not only was she the sweetest, but such a talented photographer with fantastic taste! Everything from the stunning venue choice to the flowers and the small details were absolutely gorgeous, and perfect for a summertime wedding. I hope you love these photos as much as I do! Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the full list of amazing vendors who made this shoot breathtaking!

Vendors:

Photographer: Pinnfield photography
Venue: Forest green Shooting Preserve
Rentals: paisley & jade
Cake: sweet memories cakery
Makeup: krcosmeticartistry (Kaelie Renae)
Dresses: peacaloo boutique
Florals: fredericksburg flowers
Wooden table decor: the scenic route
China: Nancy Goodman
Planner: Elizabeth Wolfrey
Models: Billy Sutter, Rory Loftus, Ashley Arrington, Lizzie Roscoe

Makeup Tips: Contouring & Highlighting

In addition to blending, contouring & highlighting was in very high demand when I asked everyone what they would most like to know about makeup. I once spoke at a women’s church group on makeup tips, and all but one said they had no idea how to contour & highlight- which makes sense! It’s a confusing concept, so where do you start? If you’re lost, there is an easy way to think of it to help you remember what goes where (aka, the “dark stuff vs the light stuff!”)

Think of a drawing or painting. The objects far in the distance are shaded while those closer up are lighter- contouring is no different! Just like in art, our goal with contouring and highlighting is to create illusions and enhance certain features. Therefore, whatever you want to bring forward you highlight, and whatever you want to recede, you lowlight, or contour.

Something to notice about highlighting and contouring is that where there is one, the other is usually right next to it. This creates extra emphasis on what you are trying to enhance. For example, the most common place to contour is right below the cheekbone where your face naturally indents, to make the cheekbone appear more prominent. But to really make it pop, we also highlight right on the cheekbone itself to bring it forward.

Another main place to contour is the sides of your nose, to make it appear slimmer, while highlighting right in the middle, down the bridge.

My favorite place to lowlight is the top of the forehead (This helps make your forehead look smaller- you are welcome, fellow five-heads!) and you can add a dash of highlight right below, in the center of your forehead near the area in between your eyebrows.

34599717_1734856549923769_8477867917310951424_n.jpg

These are the main areas that are contoured, and these techniques are generally flattering for most people. However, if you want to get really specific, you can look up how to contour based on your face shape!- round, square, diamond, and more. All contouring techniques for the different face shapes have the goal of making yours appear oval, as that is the “ideal” face shape.

I hope this helped clear up any confusion you might have! Thanks for reading!

Love, Kaelie

All About Blending

Hello and thanks for stopping by! It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged, mostly because I’m never sure what to write about! I’ve wanted to blog about makeup tips for a long time but have never gotten around to it, and didn’t know where to start. I posted a poll on Instagram to find out what everyone struggles with most, and I got so many great replies! Some of which were liquid eyeliner, spot coverage, and false lashes. I feel your struggles. And I plan on doing more posts, so I will be touching on all of these great topics! However, this poll leaned toward blending, so that’s what we’ll be talking about today!

I’m really excited to talk about this because I LOVE blending and the techniques you use make a big difference on the final look. In fact, before we dive in I feel compelled to share a story. One morning, my sister was getting ready for work and she was grumpy. I asked what was wrong and she said she didn’t like her eyeshadow. So without adding anything else, I just blended it all in a little more and her mood completely changed. It was so funny! #BlendingMatters

Let’s get to it!

Victoria Selman Photography

Blending can have a number of meanings, but we’re going to be specific and focus on eyeshadow. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  1. When you apply your foundation, apply in over your eye area as well. Some people prefer not to do this, but I think it makes a great base for a smooth ending result
  2. Make sure you are using a good eyeshadow primer following your foundation. My favorite is Urban Decay Primer Potion- which now comes in different colors and finishes! To apply, swipe over your eye area and use your ring finger to spread it evenly by gently patting
  3. This is just preference, but once it’s time to apply shadow, I always start with the crease. For best result, choose any color darker than your skin tone (browns will never let you down and are flattering for almost everyone!) I take a medium sized, fluffy eyeshadow brush and do windshield wiper back and forth motions directly in the crease. Once I have taken the brush back and forth several times, I continue the same motion but bring it up a little higher, but not too high. Just about right between your crease and your brow bone. This technique blends the product upward to create a soft finish instead of a harsh contrast in the crease, while still keeping most of the shadow and color directly in the crease.
  4. Next, for the lid, choose a color lighter than the one on your crease, and use a flat eyeshadow brush to pat it on. Having a lighter color on your lid will create the illusion of your eyes being larger, making them pop, while the darker color in your crease adds depth and definition.
  5. This step will seem like just a finishing touch, but it really brings it all together! Take a large, fluffy eyeshadow brush and choose a matte, skin-toned shade and apply to the brow bone (right below your eyebrow). Do the same back-and-forth motions as before, however this time we’re going to start at the very top and work our way slightly downward, just enough to touch the bit of crease color that you brought upward in step 1. Basically, this is where they meet in the middle and blend everything seamlessly.

Remember that everything takes practice and the brushes you use matter! Very cheap brushes may be easier to get but you will struggle with them while trying to blend, and you might even see bristles fall out of the brush often. Look for quality brushes with very soft, dense bristles. Investing in decent brushes will save you a lot of blending time, and honestly, do a lot of the work for you!

If you’re looking for a great palette, I cannot recommend Anastasia Beverly Hills enough. Their shadows blend like a DREAM and are wonderfully pigmented! I started with the Modern Renaissance palette, and I now have the Soft Glam palette, which is my new favorite and is PERFECT for everyday natural looks. Also, the brush that comes inside is dual ended. The black side is perfect for blending the crease, and the tan side is great for the lid. Here is the link if you’re interested: http://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/soft-glam-palette/ABH01-18174.html

I hope you enjoyed! If any of these tips help you, let me know! It will make my day 🙂