I'll tumbr for ya

One is never enough for a Gemini so here is my twin blog: Roxy Inspired

XxRxX

I LOVE WSSM

My new beauty page in Women's Surf Style Magazine is on stands now!

I love writing for WSSM and supporting the amazing community of womens surfing. I am proudly a surfer of 17 yrs and going strong! Thank you WSSM for giving me a killer platform to share my beauty advise!

Find WSSM on stands now at Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Walden Books and Books-a-Million!

XRX 

This in MY now...

TAKE IN LOOK INSIDE MY MORNING THOUGHTS...



XrX

Its The Little Things

That make me happy.

Currently INSPIRING ME in MAJOR WAYS...

CHANEL PRE-FALL CAMPAIGN  

VOGUE PARIS (COVER SHOT BY MERT & MARCUS)

    
DOLCE & GABANNA WINTER 2012 CAMPAIGN

HENRI MATISSE "NUDE WITH PALMS" 

 VALENTINO FALL'12 COUTURE COLLECTION

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER FALL'12 COUTURE COLLECTION

                                        

            ELLE DECOR (SO MY FLAVOR)

                            SANTORINI, GREECE

                                                NATURE (ALWAYS)


                                                   XxRxX

GLOW YOUR WAY TO GORGEOUS WITH tarte!

I am so exited to introduce the best makeup kit of the summer from one of my most favorite brands: tarte 

tarte is known and loved by so many for using only natural ingredients in every product in the line (thanks Maureen!) so you can feel good and look good at the same time!   

I rarely write about things like this however when I come across products that I fall in love with, I am happy to spread the love because I know how overwhelming the world of makeup can be these days.  This kit provides everything you need to create a radiant look for day and night which is one of the reasons I love it so much. Its compact, easy and full of quality products that will complement any skin tone perfectly. 

Click on the link to see and purchase: tarte

Founder & CEO Maureen Kelly to is going to appear live on QVC Saturday, 7/2 introducing the kit and if it sells out, then that's it! Inside you will find:

*A new shade of the Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in an exclusive QVC shade: peaceful soft pinkish-peach making it PERFECT for summer! (retail price: $25)

*A new QVC exclusive blush bamboo brush (retail price: $27)

*emphasEYES™ Amazonian clay waterproof cream eyeshadow in a new shade: a shimmering taupe making it perfect for day and night! It has massive staying power and is universal shade that will work on every skin tone! (retail price: $22)

*A new QVC exclusive eyeshadow bamboo brush (retail price: $28)

*smolderEYES Amazonian clay waterproof eyeliner with sharpener in a new shade: fig (brownie-plum; retail price: $25 available August 2011 separately)

*LipSurgence™ natural lip luster in a new shade Sweet: a golden pink shade making the perfect finish to your radiant look! (retail price: $24)

*Lights, camera, lashes! Clinically-proven natural mascara that really adds drama to your lashes but in a natural formula to keep them healthy! (retail price: $19)

You also get a deluxe mineral powder bronzer in park ave princess and a deluxe sample of tarte’s pure maracuja oil which delivers a high dose of essential fatty acids and vitamin C to hydrate your skin.

All of these items come in a beautiful purple zip up makeup bag and is sold RIGHT NOW only on QVC for $49.94 so don't miss out!

Have fun glowing from your makeup in this gorgeous set! 

X R X 

Blushing

Tiffany Campbell: Hey Roxy! I would love to know a blush color/brand to get a fresh from the beach look. Oh and I love your videos with you and the Tone it Up Girls :)


First of all Thank you SO much for your support Tiffany! This is a great question because so many women fear blush thinking it will make them look like a clown or "over-done".  Blush, applied correctly, is actually the makeup product that can make you look fresh and awake.  Here are a few of my favorites in a variety of formulas:


GEL: 

Tarte Cheek Stains:  Tarte makes my favorite stain/gel formula blush. Its so easy to use and comes in an awesome variety of colors. I like to apply it using my fingers and blending it just over the apples of the cheeks. An added bonus is that you can also use these stains on your lips and lids.  This is a great formula for those with dry skin but is friendly to all types of skin. 


CREAM:

Nars Cream Cheeks:  I love these cream colors because they blend so softly and deposit the perfect amount of color. I sometimes use a brush like M.A.C's #188 to get a very light application or use my fingers to get a stronger wash of color. You can also use this product over your lips for a stained lip color. 


POWDER:

Smashbox Blush Rush:  These powder blushes rock.  The colors melt into skin looking so natural and some come with a gorgeous shimmer (not glitter) leaving your cheeks with a fresh glow for hours. 


To choose a color best to get a "fresh from the beach look" depends on your natural skin tone. I tend to work with more of the bright pink or coral shades because they come across very natural and healthy looking.  The key is to blend the color softly over the apples of the cheeks where you naturally blush.  I also like to apply a very light application to the bridge of your nose where you would also be slightly flushed from the sun.  Remember that less is more and don't be afraid to try because you can always take it off and re-apply if you need to.


Happy blushing! :)


xRx

NOT A DROP OF MAKEUP

Every year various magazines feature a story where they expose celebrities without makeup.  Some of those magazines are tasteless and cruel others actually promote these high profile women from a  positive and TRUE angle.  Well I had the wonderful pleasure to work with PEOPLE MAGAZINE who most definitely spin their story "Not a Drop of Makeup" in a tasteful and REAL light.  

I worked on 4 of the 10 beauties that are featured in the story all of which I put my word on were gorgeous wearing NOT A DROP OF MAKEUP.   What I noticed and loved about all of these women was that they all came to set very comfortable to be wearing nothing but their true face.  Sadly it is so rare to see that these days and especially when its a woman who is constantly in front of cameras.  

I gave each of them an oxygen skin treatment from the amazing skincare line: Intraceuticals.  This brought their already amazing skin to full hydration and a rejuvenated state ready for the camera.  Intraceuticals offers an incredible skincare line outside the oxygen treatments as well and they were the products I used on the girls.   

Although I am a makeup artist who loves color and using makeup as my medium to create art on faces; I am so particular about skincare and approach all of my jobs with full attention and concern to my clients skin before I even start thinking about the makeup.  

After all it is my canvas.  

It was the amazing makeup artist Shu Uemura who's philosophy was "Beautiful Makeup Starts with Beautiful Skin", he couldn't have said it better and this is a philosophy I swear by.  I am so proud that I was a part of a shoot that will hopefully shed light on woman out there to not hide behind their natural beauty but rather own it like these women do.

Here are the shots I worked on in the story: 
"NOT A DROP OF MAKEUP" shot by Don Flood

(click on the photo to enlarge)

XxRxX

5 Min Beauty!

Q+ A TIME! 


When I only have 5 minutes to get ready, what are the essential products I should choose out of my jammed packed makeup bag? I always try to pick a couple of products to use but end up taking forever and it makes me late! 

- Journey Junee Filkosky Mahanke

Hi Journey!

Here are my favorite go-to products that offer up a natural, fresh and  pulled together look when time for makeup is limited:

Tinted Moisturizer- I LOVE a good tinted moisturizer because they keep your skin looking healthy not "makeup"y" by depositing enough pigment to even out your skin tone and boosting its hydration.  As a bonus, most of them also offer SPF protection so it's basically a 3-in-1 product which definitely saves you some time. Some of my favorites are from Laura Mercier and Stila because they really do a great job of delivering moister with sheer coverage (that you can layer nicely if you desire more) and have awesome staying power. 

Mascara- This is my "desert island" product! I always, always, ALWAYS have mascara on (even when I surf or workout!) because it really wakes up the face with not much effort. Dior Show is a staple as well as Too Faced- Lash Injection. These mascaras really put on a show by giving you volume, length, and curl. I never leave home with out them!

Blush/Bronzer- Take your pick but definitely choose one. Bronzer is great for bringing nice dimension to your face and giving off a sun kissed look. Nars is a one-stop-shop for both bronzer and blush (I love the multiples!) Blush is a product that so many women shy away from but it can be the bridging product between looking dull or looking fresh.  Brands like Tarte and Smashbox make powder blushes that blend beautifully and also give off a slight shimmer (not glitter) to bring out a gorgeous glow. Just remember that less is ALWAYS more and especially with color on the face!

Lips- The finishing touch! The most important element to bringing out the best in your lips is to HYDRATE them. Fresh makes a killer lip conditioner that smells SO good and also offers SPF. Once your lips are conditioned work your favorite gloss, stain or lipstick on them depending on what kind of finish you want.

Using these products should help to give you a natural, radiant look and  allow you to NOT be late anymore ;) 

 XxRxX

(makeup by Roxy)

Volià!

Christian Chauveau, the academy I attended in Paris was no joke. 

It was 5 days a week, 8 hour days of makeup makeup makeup and all taught in French.

Did I speak French? 

No. 
It didn't matter. I understood what was going on and I was loving all of it.

Growing up, I was always using my hands to express creatively. My hands understood how to communicate visuals very comfortably and from this I found a real love for painting and drawing. With a mother who was always into her fashion and beauty (she is an amazing hair stylist) and through discovering my own love for it all, it was inevitable that I would be the friend who would design the makeup on my girlfriends faces for school dances or nights out.  I loved it. I loved seeing my creations and how it made each one of girls feel. 
Eventually that fun hobby of mine turned into a career...


I started working as a professional makeup artist in New York City but I wanted to take it to another level. What better of a situation for a wanderlust girl like me but to pick up and move to another country to gain that "next level." 


It was during my attendance at Christian Chauveau that something special happened.  My hands definitely worked the magic of makeup on a higher level because of my day in day out practice and the incredible instruction from the teachers, excuse me: les professeurs, but that wasn't the biggest tool I took home from mon ècole. 

The real magic was how they trained my eyes to see makeup...

Perfection was taken to a new level. 
Just when I thought I had everything brilliant, one little eyebrow hair would be off, they would fix it and Volià! 
NOW it was perfect.  
Their "photoshop eyes" taught mine to SEE everything and I cannot express enough how valuable this is to my work.

Living in Paris and attending this incredible academy was one of the best things I could have done for myself. Besides the brilliance of what the school had to offer, my surroundings in Paris where a constant source of inspiration. There is so much emotion to that city. From the beautiful architecture to the lovers in the street kissing in a crowd in midday light (something not as commonly seen here in the US) Emotions run wild in Paris and I took it all in. 

There was nothing easy about picking up and moving all my life as a young adult from New York to France. I have never been a fan of easy though so I didn't think twice and left the US.  I did not speak French and friends were limited at first. But I was committed. I would commit myself to being away until... Well, I really had no plan on when I was going to return, I just knew the moment would come to me if it was suppose to. Eventually it did. I came back to America with a fresh stock of inspiration, skills and some serious drive to succeed.  

The memories I took with me while being a student living in Paris are priceless.

xXRXx

I drew inspiration from Venetian masks for an"artistic"face I had to create for school

My sketch idea

(click on images to see larger)

It was shot in black+white by mistake so the colors are not captured but I still adore how it came out.

EVERYTHING was taught in French. I love looking back into my notes. 

My diploma :)

LIKE ME

Its up and running! My new facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/ROXYLOOK.NET

My fan page is a wonderful opportunity for me to be more interactive with all of you that are interested in beauty and fashion!  It won't stop there as my interests don't ;)

"Like"me 

xRx

Starry Nights...

Happy Birthday and a HUGE thank you to Vincent Van Gogh who was born on this day in 1853.

Van Gogh's work is a infinite source of inspiration to my art.  He was a post-impressionist artist who's work not only moves me but has played a huge role on influencing the world of ART we know it today.

Vivid colors, understanding of light, the use of texture and the ability to draw out emotions through his art is displayed in all of his work.  
Cosmetics are not what drew me in to become a professional makeup artist: creation was and makeup became the medium that I seemed to have a natural flair of talent with and from this I could actually create a career from it. 
So I have.
 I love my career with every ounce of passion in me.
  From painting on the walls and eventually moving onto canvases, I am constant channelling my admiration for artists like Van Gogh when I create. That is one of the greatest pleasures in my work... The endless need and constant sourcing for inspiration.

The gifts that artists like Van Gogh have left behind for us are so important...

Our world needs it's dreamers to stay inspired ....  

XRX

A few of my favorites from V.V.G

Elizabeth...

The Girl Who had Everything...

Today marks the day that the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor passes this life and moves on to her next.

She has ALWAYS been a face that inspired me. I think it was in Cleopatra that she stole my heart with her incredible blue eyeshadow,  sleek black hair and regal head pieces/jewels... she was simply stunning.

She was one of thE greatest actresses to come from Hollywood's Golden Age offering the world so much inspiration through her existence. She will always be a legend in my eyes and will continue to be an inspiration to my art...

XRX