San Francisco Makeup photo shoot

In most cases Less Is More!

It’s not how much makeup you apply, it’s the technique in which you apply it. One thing I’ve learned as a makeup artist is that a little makeup can go a long way.

Apply your everyday makeup to look more natural.

Always apply your face moisturizer/primer and then conceal your blemishes and discolored areas.

Lightly apply a face powder to then set your concealer.

This makeup technique is a more natural approach compared to applying your face foundation to the whole face.

For fuller coverage, apply a tinted moisturizer before you apply your concealer.

You can also combine your daily face moisturizer and your foundation for a lighter texture.

Light tone makeup san francisco

Light tone makeup is not a technique one would use for everyday makeup application. However, using lighter tones can be subtly effective in photographic work, creating a clean but experimental look.

The technique I used on this particular model involved toning down her full face including her brows.

This can be done by applying a light based shade over the brows and keeping the cheeks light but still vibrant with color.

On this occasion, we wanted her lips to particularly stand out and this was achieved by using a heavy duty gloss lips makeup application.

In this image shown on the left, I applied black floral lace to the side of the model’s face.

As the lace was such a focal point, my next job was to complete the look by balancing the lace with the colors used in my makeup application.

Dark eye makeup weighed out the color and fullness of the lace while red glossy lips gave the image a boost of color and energy. As a makeup artist, it’s always fun to experiment with different textures and colors.

Welcome Bride To Be…

So your special day is coming up?

As a makeup artist, I love working closely with brides to ensure they feel absolutely stunning on their wedding day.

I like to make my brides feel comfortable and content during our pampering session and walk away feeling fresh and beautiful, ready to embrace the day!

Trials are recommended so that the bride and I can communicate as to how they would like their makeup applied on the wedding day.

Ideas can be passed round and I can get to know the bride’s features and the best way to compliment the bride, her style and personality.

Brides are more than welcome to bring samples of dresses or images that provide a better understanding of the entire look on the day. The idea is to work as best as we can together, to ensure you feel like the beautiful bride you are.

I pride myself on my elegant style of bridal and wedding makeup applications and I ensure my applications are long lasting and photographic all day.

Thanks for Visiting!

- Chelsea

Phone: (650) 575-8986
email: chelseamakeup@gmail.com
blog: Willow & Frank

The works of Andrew Dunbar- Renown Australian Photographer.

In the image displayed, we wanted the neck piece to be the main feature in the photo.

However, we also wanted the model equally drawing the viewers attention.

I feel we were very successful in achieving this look.

When applying makeup to a model where a product is advertised, the model should attract attention to the product but never overpower it.

On this occasion, I applied little makeup to keep the face natural.

Shades of shimmer  were applied to the model’s chest to highlight the neck piece.

I also wanted the model to look raw and powerful, a simple application technique was effective and presented the neck piece  suitably.

Makeup artists work always looks best under natural lighting

Natural lighting is a makeup artists best friend, as it keeps things looking natural and at their best.

If natural light is not an option, a fluorescent bulb will do the trick.

As a makeup artist, when working with a photographer it is important to discuss what lighting strategies will be used.

Different lighting techniques can change the look of makeup dramatically.

Having knowledge on the style of lighting also helps when applying highlights and contouring.

Makeup artist techniques for liscious lips

There are simple lipstick makeup applications that can balance out imperfections and help create symmetry for more luscious lips.

Thin Lips: Use lighter lip colors, dark colors will make thin lips look thinner.
Apply a highlight just above the bow of the lip and and also at the center of the bottom lip. This will give the illusion of fuller lips.

Uneven Lips: Use a lip liner to balance out the lip shape. Apply a lipstick rather than a gloss because gloss draws attention to the natural lip line but not the newly drawn one.

Upper Thin Lip: To make the top lip appear bigger, apply more lipstick to the bottom lip and extra gloss on the top lip. You can also apply a highlight to the top lip’s bow.

Full Lips: Can be made smaller by using darker colors and avoiding high gloss.

San Francisco Makeup Artist photographer and client list

Amy Sarabi (‘Project Runway’ Season 7)
Banana Republic
Ralph Lauren
Tigerlily Swimwear
944 Magazine
Collective Magazine
Alexandria von Bromssen
Oakland Magazine
Chaos Magazine
SA Life Magazine
Next Generation
Mary Frances Accessories
Made In: Liberia
Pillsbury & Levinson
Washington hospital

A natural, light makeup application.

Flawless Skin = Flawless Makeup!

Spend more time caring for your skin and less time applying makeup.

Cleanser: Removes excess oil and dirt from the skin and is essential for preparing a makeup base.

Cream – for dry skin
Lotion – suitable for most skin types
Foam – oily or combination skin types
Gel – suitable for most skin types

Toner: Removes traces of cleanser, refreshes and refines the texture of the skin.

Moisturizer: Moisturizers helps protect the top layer of the skin (epidermis), retains moisture and prepares the skin for makeup.

Cream – for dry skins, or as a nighttime treatment
Lotion – suitable for most skin types, use as a daytime base under foundation
Oil Free – use on oily or combination skin types

Eye Cream: The skin around the eye is very delicate and also the driest part of the face, which shows aging. Using specialist products is beneficial for softening and hydrating the eye area.

Exfoliates: Helps to remove dead skin cells, polishing the skin and making it more receptive to moisturizers and foundations.

Skin Primer: Creates a soft invisible layer to smooth out the skin before applying foundation and makeup. Ideal for open pores.

Sunscreen: An essential product and the only skincare product that protects the skin from premature aging. Apply everyday under makeup.

Makeup for eyes and brows

To create the perfect brow, face shape and features need to be considered.

Eyebrows frame the eyes and can influence the overall expression on the face.

For longer faces, try a straighter brow with a soft arch.

Rounder Faces, higher arches create a more slender look.

Those who have smaller features, a thinner brow looks best.

A fuller brow compliments stronger features.

It is also important, when applying eyebrow makeup to match your natural eyebrow color and also compliment your hair color.

Often two or more colors can be used for a more realistic effect.

Applying shadow in place of pencil also creates a softer look.