What is beauty?

{Image credits – Photos Ali Mitton, Styling Kate Stien and makeup Kate}

An article in the January 2012 issue of Vogue really got me thinking. Entitled ‘Faking it’ Has artificial everything become so ubiquitous now that it’s accepted as the norm?  It forced me to question my beliefs and ask, what is natural beauty? Is it someone born with a perfect face and body, with curves, bones and plumping in the right places? Is it someone with a personality that brings warmth to your heart when you’re with them? Is it someone who embraces their flaws and learns to love themselves for the person they are? Or is it someone who ‘bought’ the perfect figure, ironed out their lines and plumped their lips?

Now I know some of you would question why I would bring this up when my job is ‘purely superficial’ but for me it’s so much more than that. My approach to makeup comes from two different places.  The first is my passion for creativity. One of my favourite ways to work is by collaborating with other creatives, compiling our ideas and thoughts, and creating a beautiful story that encapsulates a collection of talent. The second is love. The majority of my makeup work is for the most important day of someone’s life, their wedding. I genuinely feel honoured every time a bride invites me to be a part of her special day. Being included in such a celebration of love, is something I will always cherish.

All of this being said, I’ve always been a fan of natural makeup and the less is more approach, so I thought I would share my daily makeup routine and products with you!

I like to use either primer or moisturiser, so I use a SPF 30+ everyday of the year rain hail or shine. (This is so important that I will do a whole post about it in the very near future) For foundation I use MAC Studio Sculpt. This has quite a good coverage and a dewy finish. I follow this closely with MAC  Select Moisturcover concealer around my eyes and on my lids, and in the capillary areas on my nose. Then I use the Benefit 10 bronzer and highlighter duo. The colour is awesome and it comes with a cute little brush that my friends and I affectionately named ‘Murry’. I then take the oil from my eyelids by applying loose powder with an eyeshadow brush. Next is my mascara. Now this is my FAVOURTIE mascara ever! You should all try it, the brand is Graftobian and I use black. The link is further down this post. I put loads on my top lashes to really open my eyes, and just one stroke on the bottom. Finally I finish with trusty old PawPaw or Elizabeth Arden 8hour Cream on my lips.

When I’m feeling really adventurous I add some shadow and liquid liner to the eyes. I particularly love dark purples to compliment my green eyes, with the Jemma Kid liquid liner in black.

MAC Studio Sculpt

http://www.maccosmetics.com.au/product/shaded/158/4386/Studio-Sculpt-SPF-15-Foundation/index.tmpl

MAC Select Moisturcover

http://www.maccosmetics.com.au/product/shaded/157/964/Select-Moisturecover/index.tmpl

Benefit 10

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/10

Graftobian Mascara

http://www.makeupandglow.com.au/Graftobian-Professional-Black-Mascara-p-16248.html

I would love to hear what beauty is to you in the comments section below, as well as you’re daily makeup routine.

2011 ARIA’s Hair and Makeup – The Lady Rouge Wrap…

At any red carpet event there’s always a huge range of different hair, makeup and fashion looks on show. Some celebs like to stay safe and opt for a ‘Classic’ or ‘Elegant’ approach. (This would be me if I were famous) then there’s the ones who risk it all (ok so that’s a little bit dramatic, but I think it’s fitting when describing celebrity land), and try something outside the box.

I’m a big believer in expressing yourself through your hair and makeup, finding what makes you feel good and wearing it with confidence. For me personally, I know that I feel so much more confident when I love my hair, makeup and outfit. And more often than not, the people around me don’t really get my style, but when I feel good about myself that’s all that matters!

In saying all of that, I’m going to contradict myself and pick out what I love and hate about the 2011 ARIA’s Red Carpet outfits!

First up I really enjoy the whole look that Missy Higgins is pulling together here. She probably could have gone with a bit of a cats-eye eyeliner to finish it off, but overall I think she looks lovely!

Now when it comes to Ricki-Lee and her recent weight loss, the opinions are generally split. Me? I think she looks beautiful here;  I particularly love her hair- very similar to what I did for one of my gorgeous clients last week. (That’s you Miss Kate Bennett!)

Ruby Rose was her usual self in something slightly left of centre, which she pulled off beautifully! Not too sure whether I’m a fan of the shaved head though… I like her with a little more length in her hair.

Havana Brown. I don’t know what is going on here, but I am not a fan of the dead straight hair. I think if she pulled it back into a slick pony it would have looked a MILLION times better! And on a side note, are those pants made from al-foil?

FIFI! I’m a bit fan, hair and makeup looks beautiful, and she has the perfect smile to go with it! Just not too sure what the fashion police would be saying about this one!

Erin McNaught, you are so ridiculously gorgeous so please tell me why you didn’t do your hair? I understand the whole beachy hair look, but it’s still meant to look clean. This looks like she has been on an island holiday for a week and hasn’t washed her hair! (Half her luck if she has though!) Makeupwise? I love her with tangerine lips!

Kasey Chambers… Next time, please get a brow tint, and ask your makeup artist to shade them in!

Lady of the moment Miss Kylie Minogue and good ol’ Jules.

I think Kylie is beautiful, and she really nailed it here! Her hair and makeup is lovely. I could comment on the botox, however my views may be different in 10 years!

Now I have a little issue with people bagging the appearance women in powerful, and significant positions such as Julia.  I won’t lie, I have been known to have a bit of a go at Julia for her re-growth, however if she doesn’t have time to get it done cause she is busy running the country, I’m totally ok with that. (Thanks for asking Jules)

At the Aria’s I think she looks well presented, yet professional.  I just wish she would wear a different colour lipstick, this one makes her teeth look yellow!

What are your thoughts? Was there anyone I missed who you thought was a stand out? And who did it best on the red carpet in your opinion?

 

My Style Muse – ALEXA CHUNG

In a bid to help you to get to know me a bit better, I decided that I would share my style muse and secret girl crush (well it’s not really a secret anymore), ALEXA CHUNG.

A little behind the eight ball, I only discovered Alexa’s brilliance about a year ago, but have since used her style to help me create my own. I have modeled my last 3 different hair colours on Alexa’s (but adapted them to suit me of course). I commend her ‘less is more’ approach to makeup and love her quirky fashion choices and confidence in executing them!

I actually also found a blog (which has since ended) called www.iwanttobealexachung.tumblr.com

So here it is my tribute to Alexa and her style!

ps I’m not a stalker

And the winner of the Mish Mash Kabuki is…

KATHERINE R

With her answer…

For my “non-makeup days” it would have to be my cream blush to stop me looking like a vampire… And for days when I’m getting dolled up, it’s my eyelash curler – somehow I lived for 21 years without knowing it’s power and once I discovered it, it changed my life (and face!)

Thanks so much for everyone who took the time to enter the first LADYROUGE competition, keep your eyes peeled cause there’s plenty more coming your way!

All time favourite – Mish Mash Kabuki

I love this little brush so much that I thought it was important to re-visit this post from a few months back (off my previous blog) But this time, you can win your very own Mish Mash Kabuki.

How to enter..

As you will see after reading this review, this is one brush I can’t live without, so I want to know what hair, makeup or beauty product or tool that you can’t live without! Write your answer in the comment section at the bottom of this post and the winner will be announced on Thursday morning!

LADYROUGE’S REVIEW

Women spend hundreds of dollars every year on makeup products, which to me means that it is all the more important to ensure that you have excellent quality tools to get the most out of your products. This means good quality brushes!

For many of you out there, a kabuki is part of your daily makeup routine, while other may not have even heard of it! The kabuki is a firm haired, medium bristle length brush. It usually has a small handle and is super cute. They are used for dry products such as powder, blush and bronzer as well as contouring and highlighting. Personally I like to use mine for powder and bronzers.

Recently I was given the opportunity to have a play with the first brush released from the MishMash Makeup range, the kabuki, and here is what I thought…Aesthetically this is a great looking brush. Firstly it has a really great design, and let’s be honest, not only do we want our brushes to work for us – we like them to look good too. The outer casing is made of a durable metal – I think this is very important as our brushes live a tough life being thrown in and out of bags, being dropped and getting used day in, day out. When you remove the lid there is also a retractable casing around the bristles.

Now I have to admit when I read on the packaging that it is 100% synthetic I was a tiny bit disappointed, I have always been one to opt for sable (animal hair) brushes, mostly because they tend to stay softer for longer and generally hold together a lot better – which means value for money. However I have been extremely impressed! It doesn’t feel at all like a synthetic brush and is silky soft! (I even caught my boyfriend brushing it on the back of his hand in awe at how soft it was!) I also washed it a number of times in water and shampoo and allowed it to dry (as I do with all of my brushes) and I am yet to see it loose a hair!

Ok so now for the important bit… How does it perform while applying makeup???

It’s great! The product goes on evenly, but still allows for building up. The versatility is fabulous! It’s perfect for every makeup kit. You only need one brush for powder, blush/bronzer and highlighter or contouring. I used the brush fully retracted for powder as I was covering the whole face, for blush, bronzer and contour/highlighting, I needed to be more specific with where the product was going so I retracted in by only about 1/4.

Another great bonus, if you fully retract the brush, swirl it around in your powder, tap the base on the bench, and close it back up – you can put it in your bag for touching up your makeup throughout the day!

Overall the Mish Mash Makeup Kabuki is a WINNER!! With an RRP is $32.95 I recommend buying this one right now!

I can’t wait for the rest of the range to be released!

To purchase the MishMash Kabuki follow this link …

http://www.mishmashmakeup.com/

Or to win your own tell me what hair, makeup or beauty product or tool you can’t live without in the comment space below!

What is this LADYROUGE thing all about?

Hello world! I’m Kate and LADYROUGE is my new baby.

I decided on the concept of LADYROUGE a number of months ago now, with a clear vision of the blog I wanted to create; something professional, informative and savy. With months of preparation, system development and planning behind me, on Tuesday, (3 days ago) everything changed! I was stressed and uncertain about the journey and commitment I was about to embark on, so I called the person who understands me more than anyone else, my mum! She reminded me why I decided to create LADYROUGE in the first place, to share my knowledge and what I love, with anyone who wants to read it. Then and there everything became clearer.

So my plan for LADYROUGE is – there is no plan….

Ok so I lied. There is a little plan, but nothing like the ‘5 part novel of a plan’ I had already created! I want to share my knowledge, my favourite products and the beautiful things I come across in my job, as well as my mistakes, questions and own learning experiences. I want you to get to know me as a person and a creative, and hopefully share my passion for all things beautiful.

So here I am….

I’m 23 years old and live by the beach on the Gold Coast with my boyfriend Michael, and my brand new puppy Kobe. I’m a working hair and
makeup artist with my own business and a love for all things beautiful. I have a loving family who I wish I got to see more often, and a beautiful group of friends with values just like mine.

I hope you enjoy all that LADYROUGE has to offer, and please send your feedback, requests and questions to makeup@katemckenna.com

Be sure to stay tuned over the next week to get a taste of what’s to come! Including freebies, and an interview with one of my BIGGEST makeup
idols!