skin deep

A new year always inspires me to tweak my fashion or beauty style just a bit – something to make the outside feel like the inside. This month I had the pleasure of adding a new zip to the makeup routines of two wonderful women who do so much to bring St. Charles Avenue magazine to life.

Morgan Packard, Managing Editor, recently had over 14 inches trimmed from her hair as an incredible donation to Locks of Love. She then wanted to take her look to a new level and decided to have Niki Walker of the Niki Walker Salon ((985) 764-6977), change her hair color all together. Walker, who just returned from working with Sebastian Haircare in London, whipped up an incredible formula that instantly took Packard’s naturally light brown hair to a shiny, luscious dark brunette.

On to the cut: Scott Reynaud of Jupiter Salon (jupitersalon.com), feels it’s important to take the time to work with a customer to find their most complimentary cut and color. He takes into account the face shape, skin tone and lifestyle to create a perfectly tailored cut for you. Having been trained under both Vidal Sassoon and the famed French stylist Jacques Dessange (who also gave wings to Frederic Fekkai) Reynaud’s technique of cutting hair in the French manner leaves it with more movement and body then traditional methods. Reynaud is quite often requested on many photo shoot and film sets in New Orleans. Watching Reynaud, one understands that he has a specific vision and he “directs” the hair into the finished look. When done, her hair was soft, fluid and in beautiful long layers. Instantly I found more attention was on her eyes and her face glowed.

As the makeup artist I wanted to give her makeup more sizzle, playing up her striking green eyes. After apply foundation just in the center of her face and blending outward, I added concealer under her eyes and around her nose.

When using concealer, look for a color just a shade lighter than your foundation. I then used a powder foundation to fill in the rest of the face; this gives the makeup a softer look with more staying power. For blush I mixed a soft pink with a bit of bronzer and contoured her face by sweeping the color on her cheekbones, down her nose and along the forehead. With her eyes,
I took a chubby eye pencil in a smoky bronze and lined her bottom lash line with a thick line; then I blended the line for a soft effect. Next I applied mauve brown in her eye crease to really highlight her eye color, and then used a dark charcoal cake liner with a wet brush to line the eyes and bring shape. With the same brush, I smudged liner into a cat-eye shape adding a little length and drama to the outer corner of her eyes. Finishing the eye with two coats of a faux lash effect mascara (Dior Blackout) and the lips with a mauve lip color (Clinique Pink Chocolate). The total look was dramatic and sexy. Va-Va-Voom!

Beverly Church, Avenue’s executive editor, is a one-woman dynamo! Her hair had been coiffed earlier in the day by John Jay of John Jay Salon (JohnJayBeauty.com). Jay himself is an icon to New Orleans and has been recognized with many accolades for his work as a stylist. They chose not to change her style too much – which goes to show you don’t have to change everything to get a new look! Much of the first few steps of makeup application for Church was similar to the steps I used for Packard. Foundation in center, blend out, apply concealer to under eye and blend, blend, blend! I used a lighter weight powder for a fresher look, then a peach pink blush (Nars Orgasm) along the cheekbone and apples to bring brightness to her skin tone. She normally wears black eyeliner across her upper lash line, so I wanted to soften her look. I first applied a soft taupe shadow from brow to lash line and used an olive-brown shadow to fill in the outer corner of her eyes. I also used the same olive shadow smudging underneath the lower lash line as well. This helped to widen and open her eyes, the olive complimented both her skin tone and blonde hair, and her eyes appeared almost turquoise. I used a dark brown cake liner to line her eyes, smudging to a softer line, then applied a soft brown shadow overtop to further soften the look. A tip to remember: Hard lines age a face; soft lines will give a face youth. For mascara, I applied L’Oreal’s Double Extend Mascara to add length to Church’s lashes and to give her a bombshell look.

It was a fun day to say the least – filled with stories, laughter, inspirational thoughts and, of course, two incredibly special ladies feeling, well, a little more special. A makeover isn’t about assembling a team complete with photo shoot; it starts with your motivation to change a routine and then finding the right professional that will listen to you and has the knowledge to take it from there.

Happy New You Year!
 

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