New Work with Griffin Joy

Test shoot with Griffin Joy and LA Models (www.griffinjoyphotography.com)

New Work by James Lee Wall Photography

New work with James Lee Wall Photography, http://www.jamesleewallphoto.com.

To Prime or Not to Prime…that is the question?

A friend text-ed me the other day with a concern about her makeup looking bad on her skin. She said, “I use MAC Studio Fix powder, I put it over my moisturizer but I think it looks like CRAP! I can see my pores, little creases AND the worst part, my hyper pigmentation spots!! What can I use to give me a smooth even look?”

Well, friend, and others as I mentioned in my previous post there are things like BB Creams and CC Creams that can help with all of those concerns, but another solution is to use a tinted moisturizer to help even out skin tone and a primer with silicon to “fill in” the pores and give you a smooth finish before your makeup application! Primers come in many varieties, but my favorite are light weight, gel like primers with silicon in them, most commonly listed as Silica in makeup products. It helps to absorb moisture and give your skin a powder like finish without being heavy. If you have dry skin, only use it in places that your makeup tends to “cake” up or your pores appear large.

Examples:

– Tzone

– Under eyes

– Nose

– High cheek area

Some of my favorite primers are

Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer with SPF

 

 

Too Faced Primed and Poreless (they have a tinted one that I love)

 

MAC Prep and Prime Skin Base

 

Makeup Forever HD Primer (I have these in my kit because they color correct as well)

Napolean Perdis Auto Pilot

For a great list of Primers with cost and descriptions, check out http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/best-makeup-primers.

This should help your makeup stay put, control oil and even out the skin texture and appearance of your pores. Put moisturizer on first all over your face using your CLEAN hands or a synthetic bristle brush, then apply your primer either all over if you have oily/combination skin or just in the places your need it if you have dry skin. Then apply your foundation and other cosmetics.

Hope that helps my friend and all of you!

XOXO,

Morgan

New Work by Ellie and Polly Photography

New work of actress/model Carlotta Elektra Domitila Bosch, Makeup by Morgan Merrill (morganmerrillartistry.com), Photography by Ellie and Polly Photography (elliandpollyphotography.com), Styling by Elizabeth Watson (eamgmt.com)

Carlotta is such a fun, vibrant actress and it is was fun to shoot these great looks! The photographers gave it a vintage feel and the styling was very French Noveau. I am excited to add these to my portfolio!

I used Makeup Forever, MAC Cosmetics, Grafobtrian and Inglot

 

BB, CC, TM, WTF?

I have received a lot of questions on what exactly a BB Cream is (aka Beauty Balm) and now the industry is coming out with CC creams straight off the hype from Asian countries so I thought I would demystify what all the hype is about!

Let me start by saying that I am a user of said BB creams and LOVE them, for me they are great under my foundation for extra coverage, or I use them alone on my lazy weekend days. Wikipedia defines BB Cream as ” an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. It can be worn alone as a tinted moisturizer, over serum and moisturizer as a regular foundation, and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage.” The Huffington Post had an article from January 2012 “BB Cream being the next big thing”! So, if you are not on the band wagon for BB Creams, hop on because now the industry is adding CC Creams which is very similar to BB Creams, but instead of focusing on acne or blemish coverage it is focusing on discoloration of the skin.

CC Creams tend to have a higher SPF than BB Creams and have brightening agents to help even skin tone and lighten discoloration. CC Creams are very similar to BB Creams, just targeted to a different market and may have a lighter feel than BB Creams altogether. Formulated in Germany, CC Creams have gained a lot of steam in Korea before coming to the US, but now companies like Chanel and Loreal are coming out with CC Creams, I have even seen CC Creams at Walmart!
So what is best for you? Well to make it simple ask yourself if you want a little more coverage? Do you want to cover blemishes or correct skin discoloration? BB Creams have a creamer texture to cover blemishes and CC Creams are lighter in texture and will correct skin discoloration. If this is still all to much, then I say look for just a tinted moisturizer, this is moisturizer, SPF and sheer tint all in one as well, but it does not act as a primer and is mush lighter than both CC Creams and BB Creams.

So, did I help answer your questions? Get it? Got it? Good! Any additional questions please comment or contact me at info@morganmerrillartistry.com

XOXO,
Morgan