Sweet Kitchen Junk

O, makeup, how I love thee….. You were there for me when I foolishly used eyeliner on my eyebrows in  elementary school to and when I discovered how a powerful red lip can change a bland outfit. Though I stand by the belief that makeup is not always needed (natural inner beauty goes a long way), I do enjoy how makeup can enhance one’s beauty and make a woman feel extra feminine. This latest SKJ Fame Junk Tour artist is stepping into the world of brushes and sponges, showing off her talent as a immensely creative makeup artist and soon to be brand owner. Check out her story and tips below!

How did you get started as a makeup artist?

I’ve always been creative and had a love for all things colorful, the different hues, shades, intensities and mixing color combinations.  But I didn’t know how to express my creativity, I mean I’ve painted, sewn, and drawn, but I didn’t practice frequently enough to maintain those skills.  I’ve always applied makeup though and I didn’t realize that it was a talent all these years, it was just something I could do. I started showing my friends how to apply makeup, and the next thing I knew I was getting paid to do it for them.  I started with a wedding and I’ve been building my brand ever since. 

What’s the inspiration behind your work?

A lot of my inspiration comes from something in nature.  I love the sky,
fire, water, flowers, anything that nature produces.  I mean humans couldn’t imagine the awesomeness of the colors in everyday life. I also view a lot of youtube videos like panacea81, queenofblendingmua, and petrilude to name a few.

My specialty hmmm, I don’t know how to answer that, I try to do it all from the most subtle,to a run way.  Is blending an answer lol, but seriously I think its basic wearable everyday makeup, with vibrant, high pigmented colors, with a lil fantasy thrown in the mix.  I am working to put together makeup courses to teach regular women (you don’t have to be a makeup artist) how to properly apply makeup and skincare regimens, so that will be my specialty.

What song or quote motivates you?

So there’s this local artist named Only (onlythekid.com) and he has a song called “Complaining” and whenever I feel like I want to stop or sit in the lower end of life, I play that.  He has a line that says “I’m not complaining I’m saying that I should make it” it helps me claim what I want.  And of course India Aire’s “Beautiful” that
song reminds me that there’s always a journey ahead and sometimes you have to
move to breathe.

List the top 3 makeup tips that you live by?

1. ALWAYS use a primer, Urban Decay
   Primer Potion is my fave.
2. Use a base coat, NYX jumbo pencil in
   Milk, to make colors vibrant.
3. The secret to blending is to overlap
   the colors, and move your brush in small circles around the area you want to
   blend.

What advice would you give to a person who has never worn makeup before but wants to try ?

Learn the parts of your eye, know where the lid, crease, brow bone, waterline, tear duct, and lash line are. Start with three basic brushes, eyeshadow, blending, and an angle brush, please throw out the sponge applicator that comes with some of the drugstore
brands.  Invest in a good primer, and start with 3 shades of the same color, practice with something inexpensive.

Apply the lightest shade in the inner corner, medium shade on the rest of the eyelid and apply the darkest shade in the crease and blend (small circles) in an upward motion and then apply the lightest shade under the brow bone, add some eyeliner and mascara.  And practice with different color combinations and placement. Exfoliate and moisturize your skin prior to applying any foundation and start with a press powder.

If you could design your own eyeshadow or lipstick, what would you call it and why? How would it look?  It would be an eyeshadow called Out of the
Box, because I’ve carried my makeup in a box for the longest lol and I think
makeup is something that can take someone out of their comfort zone.

Makeup has the ability to create an image that’s so far from this world, to something so subtle and unassuming.  It’s a form of expression and freedom, to be
and do something different, and the best part of it all is, the next day you
can change how you come out of the box.

It would consist of vibrate highly saturated pigments in loose powder form with a mix of mild shimmers and mattes.

Any upcoming projects or ventures? What’s next?

I am working with some friends to create a makeup course, where we will have a 5 to 2 student teacher ratio, to provide instruction for proper skin care and makeup application. The course is not geared toward makeup artists, but to women who would like to be flawless by their own hand.  I am also looking into making and manufacturing my own eyeshadow line. I’m still in the learning phase for this one but it’s definitely in the future.

What piece of junk can you not live without?
The piece of junk I can’t live without would have to be tweezers or wax lol,
because a flawless eyebrow sets the tone for the rest of your face.  Your face can be beat and having messing untamed eyebrows can destroy the look. With a flawless brow, some eyeliner and mascara, who needs eyeshadow.