Q&A - Choosing the Right Foundation for You

I think it is time for a little Q&A...

We all have questions about beauty products, techniques and trends. I have come up with some questions and answers that may help someone out in this department. This blog post will be geared towards choosing a foundation to best suite your skin type and preference.

Question: How do I choose the right foundation?

Answer: When you are in a store choosing a new foundation it can be a little daunting. There are so many brands, colors and styles to choose from! Your first big obstacle will be finding out which type of coverage you prefer. Light, medium or full. If you have scars or discoloring on your face you may choose to go with a more full coverage foundation. If you are a lucky one with fairly decent skin, you might lean towards a light foundation or even a tinted moisturizer. Now, most foundations are not labelled "light, medium or full" on the bottle so you will need to test it out for yourself, or read reviews before hand to know. Also, beauty department specialists will be able to point you in the right direction as well.

When testing a foundation in a store I suggest taking a sample of a few of them on the side of your hand. A couple different shades in your general skin tone group. You may notice right away that some look a little pinkish, others more yellow tinted, or even orange. Recognizing these tones in both the foundation and your own skin tone will help you pick the perfect shade!

Whichever foundation you have applied to your hand that appears closest to your skin tone is the direction you want to follow. Take that sample and smooth it into your hand. If you notice it enhances any fine lines or wrinkles on your hand, this foundation will do the same on your face. If you would like to avoid your products settling in the tiny cracks around your eyes or mouth, avoid these particular foundations.

Once you've found a decent color match in the right consistency for you, then take a walk outside in the natural light. Does the foundation color change? Does it blend better into your skin tone? Does it appear oily or over dry? All great questions to ask yourself when searching for the perfect foundation for you. Better yet, leave the samples on your hand for a few hours and see how they change through out the day. I understand the skin on your hand and your face are completely different, but this is the best way to test, without having to apply tiny patches of different foundations to your face for an afternoon. Unless you want to, then I won't judge. These simple tests will save you a lot of money from buying a ton of the "wrong" foundations.

If you purchase a foundation that is full coverage, but you also like to look less made up on sunny summer beach days, you are still in luck. Simply add a little moisturizer right into your foundation when applying it to your face, this will bring down the intensity but will still protect your skin from the elements outside. Also, you can add a few drops of illuminator into your foundation to achieve that gorgeous dewy look. Perfect for a youthful glow.

Sometimes you find the foundation you love, yet the colors just don't seem to match your skin tone exactly. Have no fear, you can always buy two shades and mix them together. This little trick is used on a daily basis for myself and the majority of my clients. It will allow you to adjust the tone slightly for the months when you have a little extra color in your face from the sun, just drop in some of the darker shade and ta-da, a better match. No need to go out and buy a whole new foundation.

Here are a few of my favorite products that I have found over the years work best for many different skin types:

a) Make Up For Ever HD Foundation - Average $50, found at Sephora

b) MAC Lustre Drops - Average $20, found at MAC stores

c) The Porefessional Primer by Benefit - Average $27, found at Sephora

d) Marcelle Sheer Tint Fluid Moisturizer - Average $13, found at London Drugs

Things to avoid when choosing a foundation... do not pick a shade that is darker then your skin tone as to appear like you have a tan. This will not only look wrong on your face, it will give you the unsightly "mask" look that we all hate. Instead, use a touch of bronzer once your foundation has been applied. This will give you a natural looking glow as opposed to a fake orange face you may get otherwise. In the end, finding the perfect product and shade for you can be trial and error but I hope with these tricks and tips I have mentioned above you will avoid spending an arm and a leg on figuring out which one it is. Happy Hunting!

If you have any questions yourself, feel free to ask. Thanks for stopping by,

Caitlin J

caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com
caitwhetstone.wix.com/caitlinjmakeup

Summer is Closed, Until Next Year

As the busy wedding season slows down a tad I have a moment to look back at all the Brides and clients I have had the pleasure of working with these past months...

From making the giant leap into choosing to do Makeup + Hair as my sole job (along with being a full time mommy), I have been overwhelmed with all the great people and projects I have gotten to work on and with over the summer. With every job I book I enjoy getting more and more experience and meeting new people. I have been a makeup artist for 9 years now, but I am continually learning new techniques and come across great new products and wonderful people with every turn.

I was a small part of many weddings this past summer and I look forward to all of the future weddings I get to be apart of as well. The bookings for summer 2015 are flowing in fast and it looks like it will be a great season!

Here are some of my favorite photos of the clients, Brides and Bridal parties I was lucky enough to work with. Enjoy! If you, or someone you know, is looking for a mobile makeup and hair artist please send them my way. Feel free to email me with any questions at caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com
Available for engagement sessions, special events, weddings and boudoir.

 Photo credit from above photos: Pink Lotus Photography

Photo credit for above photos: Hayley Rae Photography

Photo credit for above photos: Matt Kennedy (Photos)

Photo credit for above photos: Carla Elaine Photography 

Photo credit of above photos: Pure White Studio

Every woman I got to meet with, work for and make feel beautiful has truly impacted me in the best ways possible. New friendships have been made. New opportunities have occurred. When hiring your own makeup artist, make sure to not only check our their portfolio of work, but also take into consideration the person they are. Do they have the right attitude towards their work? Are they organized and punctual with meetings and returning emails? Do they make you feel comfortable? All great things to think about before putting down a deposit or securing a date with any vendor. I am happy to meet with any new potential clients so they can determine if I am the right "fit" for their wedding. It is YOUR day, I can not say this enough. Be excited with every decision you make.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out some of my work over the past few months!

Caitlin J

Boho Chic Styled Photoshoot

I have fallen in love with styling creative collaboration photoshoots! I am officially hooked.

So when Hayley, of Hayley Rae Photography, asked if I would like to help create a special shoot for her cousin Lexy I was excited. Lexy Atterton is an up and coming singer/song writer. She has a very unique and beautiful voice and I truly hope she follows her dreams and continues to pursue the gift she has been given.

Right away I pictured an outdoor sunset shoot. Trees, water and flowers all came flooding to mind instantly. Literally. I remember bombarding Hayley with all my ideas the moment she asked for my help! I knew Lexy played guitar and quickly found out that she also has a tambourine she uses while performing sometimes. These items made for the perfect props.

Stumbling across the stunning coral maxi dress and lace/crocheted vest, I knew the clothes would suit the photos perfectly. Luckily they all fit Lexy to a tee, as if it were just meant to be.

With being a avid "Pinterester" I have noticed the growing trend of the flower crown. That being said, I emailed Carly of Blooming Aisle Floral Design to see if she would be ever so kind as to donate a crown to our shoot. Of course, being her super giving self, she accepted. The flower crown was perfect. Not too big, not too small. The colors complimented the dress and Lexy so well. I am so thankful to have met Carly. She is one talented florist and such a sweetheart! If you want a florist who is easy to deal with, great at giving creative ideas and very reliable... Carly is your girl.

When it comes to girls and photoshoots they are never complete without some jewelry. Without hesitation I contacted Richard of Moonshine Dreams to see if he would like to contribute some of his pieces to the shoot. He was happy to help us out and ended up donating six pieces in total. Two amazing necklaces, three rings and a pair of earrings. To top it off he contributed an official Moonshine Dreams tank top to the photoshoot as well. I kept it for myself because it is honestly the comfiest and best fitting tank I have ever owned, no lie. His items can be found at Hunni's Urban Boutique in Langley.

To make all the magic happen, Hayley Rae Photography joined myself and Lexy at Williams Park in Langley. This park is a family favorite of ours. With endless options for a shoot like this. Beginning in amongst the trees where the sun was breaking through the leaves, our shoot started off with a bang. Once the first few photos were taken we were on a roll. Two hours, and a few location and wardrobe changes later we had more then we needed for photos. Hayley has been busy with all of her own weddings and sessions to edit but somehow squeezed in a little extra time to edit these amazing photos. Lexy will be able to use these photos to promote her talent and I am happy to have been apart of it.

I am very thankful for everyone that helped out and so stinkin' happy with how each and every photo turned out. I love making my dreams a realty... Here are some of my favorites from the photoshoot. I was the style designer, make-up and hair artist for the shoot, Caitlin J Make-Up Artistry.

And a couple behind the scenes photos... LOVE MY JOB!

Thanks for stopping by. Please check out the links above to websites and Facebook Pages of each business involved.

-Caitlin J

Big Changes

My most recent post explained that I would unfortunately be cutting back on make-up to ensure my family needs were met after going back to work full time at the office...

As of yesterday I drummed up the strength and quit.my.job... pause for reaction...

I am now officially a full time mom/make-up artist ready to get things moving. Being lucky enough to have such a supportive husband, family and friends, I will get to journey into a adventure I thought would always be out of my reach. A good friend gave me some advice, "no one got anywhere standing still." This, among with many other great points, lead me to the decision that I've made. I am only going to live once. My kids will only be little once. If I want to do something, now is the time.

The reason I made this huge decision after seven years at my job, was almost as if I had an epiphany. As corny as that sounds. I had just come back from maternity leave a little over a year ago and since then I have been in four different positions. Great that my boss and coworkers felt I could do anything that needed to be done, but it really put a damper on how I felt about working there. I was unable to get comfortable in any position before I was again moved. I would also like to point out, none of these moves were done because I couldn't do the job at hand, it was more so my boss having a better "plan" for our company as a whole. Being the perfectionist that I am, these changes caused me unhappiness. I was not happy where I was and needed to make a change. I was bringing home a bad attitude each day and when you only have a few hours with your children before bed they don't deserve a lesser version of you. They deserve all of you. Happy mommy. Not grumpy, crabby, stressed out mommy.

Now, I get to do what I truly love. Makeup. It feels as good to write it as it does to say it.

I will be able to work from home during the day and do jobs on the road in the evenings and on weekends. I can dedicate more time to building my business. I look forward to meeting new people and working with repeat clients. This is such an exciting time in my life and I can't exactly "shout it from the roof tops" but I can blog about it :)

If anyone is in need of a makeup artist or hair stylist (as in styling, not cutting or dyeing) I'm your girl!

Feel free to check out my website for up to date pricing and information here.

Thank you to all my supporters out there, you are amazing and I couldn't do this without you.

-Caitlin J

Facing Challenges

As many of you all know, makeup isn't my only job.

It is my passion, and my joy. Although I also work in an office Monday to Friday to help support my family.

With life comes responsibilities, as we can all relate. Which makes doing makeup solely not an option at the moment. As much as I would love to commit all of myself into my own business I have to think of my family first and what is best for us right now.

That being said, I will only be taking on a maximum of two weddings a month and a few single clients for either consultations or a special occasion.  This will allow me to juggle my full time job, my family and my hobby with more ease.

I absolutely love doing makeup and meeting new people and it hurts me to have to possibly deny a client due to this but at this time it is the best decision. With this limited availability it only makes me stress more to please book early to avoid disappointment.  I have been booking up to a year in advance with some clients. They have begun snatching up 2015 summer dates already.

Feel free to email me at caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com or contact me via Facebook regarding available dates. I will not black out any dates at this time. Basically, once I hit two wedding bookings for a single month I will stop accepting any new dates.

I apologize in advance for this change. This will be in affect starting now for any new bookings that come in. Once I have settled into my new role at my office job I may easily open up some additional dates if time allows.

I really appreciate all of the support from past and future clients. I have made many new friends through my business and I look forward to meeting many more. Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Caitlin J

To Kick Off the Wedding Season

Well, it is safe to say that Wedding Season is here!

Not only have my Saturday's been full of wedding hair and makeup, but it has also taken up some Sundays, weekdays and weeknights in between. I'm not complaining, I love it!

My first wedding of the season started off with the wonderful Shelby...
Not only did I get to do Shelby's makeup for her big day, I also got to make her over for a pre-wedding photo-shoot she did with Amber Leigh Photography. Needless to say, Shelby is a true sweetheart and looked stunning on her wedding day. From her gorgeous gown down to all the tiny details of her dress, she looked like a true fairytale princess. Her wedding day photos were captured by Amanda, of Pink Lotus Photography.

After getting my groove back into wedding season I was ready for my next Bride!

Then came Michelle, a girl who knew what she wanted and didn't wear a whole lot of makeup on a regular basis. Michelle was fun and funny, and I love that she wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. She put her full trust in me and allowed me to make her into the blushing bride she was meant to be. Soft colors and some dramatic lashes really made her beautiful eyes pop. She didn't overdo anything and it all came together so nicely. She had a beautiful May day for her wedding, sunshine and all.

The following weekend I head downtown early for Laurence's big day!

This hair and makeup was located at the Loden Hotel, where I received complimentary valet parking (spoiled). We had an amazing view from a gorgeous hotel room, where herself, her mother and a friend with two young girls had plenty of room to get ready in. Laurence is originally from Quebec and has a beautiful French accent. Her mother only spoke French, so there was a slight language barrier, but with the help of Laurence and some hand gestures we were able to communicate just fine. Laurence chose a romantic updo and a classic bridal makeup look. Both suited her well, and paired with her fun/flirty short wedding dress and pink pumps she looked amazing! She emailed me a few days later with the most heartwarming words and I am so happy I got to be apart of her day.

Stopping to think about past Brides and clients has me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

I did finally take a Saturday to myself in between all the hustle and bustle of wedding season, not that I needed a break, but it was my 10 year high school graduation I was celebrating. My best friend flew down from Fort McMurray and we stayed at the Signature Sandman in Richmond for the night. Let's just say, my feet hurt for a week afterwards and it has been many a year that I have seen Denny's at 2am... and back to the makeup...

To change the scene a little I was booked for a Boudoir Marathon the next weekend. Or should I say, a "Girls Night Out, Lets Get Some Sexy Photos Done" evening.

Insert three best friends, a beautiful hotel room and champagne. What better way to spend a girls night out. These ladies were fun, outgoing and kept me laughing. With photos taken by Amber Leigh Photography they were sure to get some steamy shots. I curled up their hair with volume and made sure to add in false lashes. No boudoir session is complete with out the lashes. Each girl had her very own style and every one of them looked super hot. I am sure their husbands and boyfriends are excited to see the finished product.

Jumping back into weddings, I spent the next weekend with Sabriena. Sabriena had me do her makeup for a pre-wedding photo-shoot as well at an earlier date. A wedding gift for her new hubby ;)
After working with her I created a makeup addict. Sabriena is a tall, blonde, bombshell...who likes to hunt and ride motorcycles. Sorry guys, she's taken.  But Sabriena never favoured makeup. Until I came into her life that is. She is now emailing me with my recommendations and also wants me to take her shopping for makeup as well. This, my readers, is called Makeup Artist Heaven! On her wedding day she wore suttle makeup to enhance all her gorgeous features and we did her hair in a side swept braided do. To fit the rustic theme of her wedding. I had Jen, of Dames and Dolls Make Up by Jen Vanderzalm help me out with some hairstyling for Sabriena's maid of honor, mother and junior bridesmaid. We were high up in the New Westminster Quay hotel room with an amazing view. The day wasn't all sunshine but the fog and mist looked romantic none the less. I was happy to be apart of her day and look forward to working together again.

I always feel so lucky to travel around the lower mainland for weddings, see all the magnificent sites of Vancouver. We live in one beautiful Province. The following weekend I got to venture a little more East then normal. Out toward Harrison Mills to be exact.

At a quaint, stunning and breathtaking little venue called Rowena's Inn on the River in Harrison Mills was the location of Brenna's wedding. After getting lost in the bush, driving with no cell signal, I finally found it! Yet, it wasn't hidden at all...I just completely missed the sign. Never again will I trust my phone to get me to my location. The room  I used to do the girls hair and makeup had a patio overlooking the ceremony site and pool. As well as, in the background, the river and mountains. Not too shabby a location to spend my day! After doing some of her Bridesmaid hair, one in an intricate updo, one with a waterfall braid and curls, then other with a low messy bun, I got to do Brenna's makeup. This girl does not need makeup. The minute I showed up she looked great. We did some copper browns and underlined her eyes with a pop of gold to bring out the beautiful blues. Her lips were a light pink and of course she wore some false lashes. That was all she needed. Hayley, of Hayley Rae Photography was there snapping some gorgeous photos of everything going on. I definitely want to go back to this location myself.

The last weekend in June. Instead of booking a wedding, I had a one on one booking with a return client for hair and makeup. Michelle H was going to a friends wedding and wanted to get made up. She chose a side messy bun to keep the hair out of her face and off her neck. Her makeup was suttle and she really loved the overall look of it. I have worked for Michelle on a few separate occasions. We have both come along way from our Brownie years back when we were kids!

After all these bookings and just get more and more excited for the next one. Just Monday I worked with another return client for her engagement photos, this evening I have a Bridal Consultation and next weekend I will be heading into Langley for another bridal party.

You are good to me wedding season!

Thank you for stopping by,

Caitlin J


Here are a few photos of my work...

The view from Rowena's Inn...

Little Hearts Make Up Big Dreams Fundraiser

Every day that passes I try to do something bigger, something better...


I have been known to organize and create collaboration photo shoots often. Gathering together local vendors to contribute their creative skills and talents to make amazing photos and advertisements for each and everyone involved.


This time, I have decided to do something that will benefit those in need.


My big idea includes creating, organizing, planning and putting together an event to donate money to a charity that I feel is extremely important. I had a hard time narrowing down which charity I wanted to fundraise for, and after a lot of thinking I have decided to donate to the BC Children's Hospital Foundation.


I am a mother of two young boys, whom are both healthy, but you never know what life may bring. I support a facility that dedicates its time to making any ill child or baby well. The powerful men and women that work in this hospital do some much and since I have the enthusiasm to help out, why wouldn't I?! The children in our lives deserve the best. Our kids are our futures, we can create a great one for them.


My goal is not a number. I do not have an amount that I wish to raise. All I want from this is to feel like I have helped. Any dollar amount will and can help those in need. If I have the ability to organize such an event I hope I inspire others to do the same.


I have decided to organize an evening event at a downtown club/pub location. An evening to get out of the house for some eats, treats, drinks, raffle prizes, silent auction, dancing and a show. A way to have fun and do good all in one.


Since I am only one person, I ask that anyone who wishes to help to contact me. Please email me with your name, number and how you can help. caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com


This entire event is completely non-profit and all proceeds will be going to the charity.


Some volunteers I am looking for include:

• Sponsors (Silent Auction Donations)
• DJ
• Greeters
• Videographers
• Décor Rental
• Ticket Printing

I kindly ask that if you know anyone that may be able to help out, please pass this along.
There will be letters to sponsors available explaining what their donations are going to.


To top it off, I will be donating my make-up service earnings directly to making this event a success. From now until the event, any weddings or bookings I make will be put towards the support of this charity. Tickets for the event will go on sale closer to the date that is chosen. Please anticipate that it may be up to one year from now that this event will take place, as the planning process will be quite intense.


I thank all of you for taking the time to read this post and I hope to hear from you on how you can help make this a bigger and better event. It is appreciated!

UPDATE: The name of this fundraiser is: Little Hearts "Make-Up" Big Dreams
With the help from my husband and good friend, this name has a lot of meaning :)
The event will be geared towards a "when we were little" theme. Things that make you think back to your childhood like treats, bright colors, classic 70's and 80's music that we all heard through our radios and so on.

Sincerely,


Caitlin J Make-Up


~~They Make Believe, We "Make-Up" a Reality~~