Tag Archives: makeup

return of the mani

17 Dec

Admire my Santa-claws.

I accidentally scratched the cashier at the supermarket on the way home

I accidentally scratched the cashier at the supermarket on the way home

After tomorrow, I’ve got three weeks off from my Qwik-e-Mart job, so thought I’d get my bitch slappers buffed and primed for the festive season down under.  Anyone who has a job that involves doing stuff or touching things knows that it can leave one’s mitts looking less than glamorous.

before

before

I kind of wish I’d packed before getting my nails done.  Also typing this is really hard.

Speaking of packing, I’m starting to think about panicking about it.  I just feel… so organised.  In that peaceful way you do when you find yourself with an unexpected free day, before realising at 5pm you’ve missed a christening or something.  (Just kidding, friends with kids.  I might have drunk a 12-pack at a baby shower once but I’ve never missed a christening).

deer me

deer me

I have gifts for the immediate family under control, all my laundry is done… apart from the ongoing problem of not knowing what to actually wear in forty degree heat, I’ve done everything I can.  Super organised.

Not really sure what/how much makeup to bring either.  Just the basics?  LOL.  I’ve got the tiger facepaint in already, and made a shortlist of the top five foundations.  I reorganised my makeup the other day actually and geez I’ve got a lot.  A collection spanning many many years.  

Chloe sometimes looks at me rummaging through it all and says “don’t pretend you know what you’re looking for in there” – referring in particular to a massive glass salad bowl I have, filled with identical MAC lipsticks in their beautiful black matte tubes.  But I do know them all, I do.  Their names, their finishes, their colours.  Don’t worry, I’m not about to call a bunch of lipsticks ‘my babies’ or anything vom-worthy like that… but my love is real.

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Anyway I really had better make a start on this packing business. Here is a CD I won’t be listening to while I do it:

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As you can see I really made an effort to get into the spirit of things, but if I still hate carols even when they’re sung by the greats of classic rock and metal, then it’s just not going to happen.

Hope your pre-festivus run up is fun and stress-free etc.  Don’t forget to call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and give some money to homeless charity too, just so it’s not all about unimportant things like whether the tinsel clashes with the baubles or whatever.

Here’s The Darkness with Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End), because this one’s not so bad.

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hair!

13 Dec

I did a makeup, y’all.  Three makeups actually, but so far I only have photos of two.

This was for hair magician Stephen Doran of Vidal Sassoon in Prince’s Square (Glasgow).
Photographs by Bryce Lowrie.
Models are Yasmin Coll and Darnell Starks Jr.

Check their foxiness:

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It was loads of fun working with all of them 🙂

Speaking of having amazing hair and being extraordinarily attractive, here are sexy noo yoikas Station with their bangin’ tune Everything.  Seriously, I feel sorry for you if you don’t click on the music clips I embed to pleasure each and every one of you aurally.  You’d be missing out.

This song is one of a very small handful that I can always rely on to put me in a good mood, no matter what.  It was also my go-to ‘sound check’ track for whenever I moved the speakers 1mm in any direction at the backpackers, and would need to put something on at the highest volume just to make sure they were working OK.

So press play, and enjoy the next 4:40 of your life, kids.  You’re welcome.

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cool shit, second edition

9 Dec

Or, a love letter to Irish makeup artist Maria Malone. (www.instagram.com/mariamalone1122 – twitter @mersartmakeup)

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Bob Marley

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Robert DeNiro

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Elvis

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Jack Nicholson

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Marlon Brando

HELL’S BELLS, that is some amazing face painting right there.  Mad skillz, Maria (I really hope that is your name, I just kind of assumed from your Instagram name…) – I want to be like you when I grow up *Admiration and disbelief face*

Keep practicing, Imo.  One day, grasshopper.

In other news, I’m in love.

no, not with myself. OK, I am, a little bit.

no, not with myself. OK, maybe I am, a little bit.

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This guy!  My new gadget, my first DSLR.  Scream!  Regular readers will be aware that I have a pretty jizz-worthy collection of photographic hardware… all of it analogue, except my Samsung smartphone and the new Nikon.

Where the love affair with analogue photography got serious; the first camera I owned that wasn't disposable. My NIkon FG, a gift from my parents on my 19th birthday. Sexual 70s strap came along years later, pilfered from my Olympus OM10

Where the love affair with 35mm film photography got serious; the first camera I owned that wasn’t disposable. My NIkon FG, a gift from my parents on my 19th birthday. Sexual 70s strap came along years later, pilfered from my Olympus OM10

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THE Fisheye. Watermelon print, cos that’s how we roll here at imogenmaxwell.com
get your own (but not watermelon, stop copying me, also they were limited edition and they don’t sell them any more, HA) from Urban Outfitters in the UK, or http://www.lomography.com for all you international flogstars

Anyway, welcome to the Imosphere, Nikon D3200, I look forward to making you my bitch.

And Dad, if you’re reading this and cross-checking Amazon for roughly how much I spunked on this, can I just say most of my student loan went on clearing my overdraft and credit card, and paying my rent right up until March.  And I NEEEEEEEDED it, amazing photos for my professional portfolio aren’t going to take themselves! 😉

You might think I’m about to sign off with Girls On Film, but I have an irrational hate for Duran Duran.  I would elaborate if I could, but I really can’t explain it.  So instead, not photography related, also not my usual 80s hair/glam metal crapfest, but glorious nonetheless.  Here are the Troggs, With A Girl Like You, cos it’s my favourite love song today.


Sweet dreams, lovers Xx

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gel eyeliner product review

29 Nov

oh hey.  Just thought I’d do a sneaky cheeky product review, since I never normally do them, and hey – maybe some people actually arrive at imogenmaxwell.com looking for ACTUAL INFORMATION about makeup.

Not just thousands upon thousands of photos taken in the mirror during class? Just maybe.

SEE? It's not just me.

SEE? It’s not just me.

Anyway, so here we have Barry M Waterproof Gel Eyeliner (colour: No. 1, £5.49), and Superdrug’s own-brand MUA (MakeUp Academy) Gel Eyeliner (colour: Underground, £3).

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As you can see, the packaging is exactly the same for both.  They both have little brushes in the lids which is nifty.  We don’t really use liquid liners at college because there’s no sensible way to hygienically apply them (double-dipping is, like, the hugest no-no) but with gel liners, you can just scoop out what you need onto the back of your hand and then apply it to Chloe’s face with your lovely clean brush.

Gel liner is good for pretty much all the same things liquid liner is good for.  But it’s easier to use, wobbles and mistakes don’t show up quite so much, you don’t need to be quite so precise.  It usually dries quite quickly.  You can get a few different effects depending on how you put it on/what brushes you use.

Use it to create a catseye 60s flick.  Sometimes, when I have lots of time on my hands, I do me a nice big Winehouse flick starting first with pencil, then gel liner over the top, then liquid eyeliner over the top of that to give it that real crisp outline.

I still prefer pencil on my waterline though; gel can be a little flaky.

If you want to get that nice dramatic Avril Lavigne panda-eye, put it all over your lid and blend it all about.  Go for it but move quickly with a fluffy brush to soften the edges.  It’ll then act as a black primer basically, and you can put more black powder eyeshadow over the top to set it and darken it up even more if you like.

The Barry M wins the race between these two; it’s blacker, and it’s permanent.  Whenever I use it at college, I can scrub as much as I like but that shit stays on the back of my hand for about 36 hours.

Which makes an excellent conversation starter; “what’s that black crap on your hand?” and then I get to talk about my journey to becoming a makeup artist, starting about 15 years ago, right through to the present day.

Happy lining, flogstars!  Xx

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I’ll be your dream, I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your FANTASY!

27 Nov

Don’t worry friends, I won’t put THAT Savage Garden song anywhere near this post.  (You’ll have to click through here to see what I’m talking about if you don’t already know.)

Anyway – FANTASY FACE!  That’s right flogstars.  We’re straying into krazy katwalk territory now; welcome to the Fantasy Face unit of advanced makeup techniques.

The story so far:

Tutor Gillian demonstrating on Jordan

Tutor Gillian demonstrating on Jordan

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dirty girls

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I studded Shinnerz right up

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… then contoured her to within an inch of her life

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She got her revenge by putting a fishnet stocking on my heid to create a fish-scaley effect, and turned me into a merman

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So we’ve got another few weeks of this, the only two criteria for assessment being that we have to use “skin additions” (sticking pretty much anything on) and the design has to go down on to the neck.  One two three GO!

Here’s Tesla with Modern Day Cowboy, cos that’s what you are, you sexy little flogstar.  Love your guts.

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mature?

25 Nov

I’ve been called worse.

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You’ll be miffed to hear that in the beauty industry, this most evil of machines whirring away to sell us our own insecurities, a lady is classed as “mature” once she’s 27.  LOL!

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As such, throughout this flog post, the word “mature” will be appearing in sarcastic quotey marks.

“Mature” makeup is one of the looks we cover in basic makeup (along with basic bridal, Asian bridal, basic female and male makeup, and evening makeup).  As with any makeup you’re doing on anyone, you start by (gasp) asking your client/model/Chloe what they want, what they usually wear, what kind of look they’re going for etc etc.  Then you moisturise their mug and get busy.

Tutor Caroline did the demonstration on the lovely, remarkably good-skinned Mum-of-Rachel, Elaine.

like mother, like daughter - gorgeous!

like mother, like daughter – gorgeous!

So what’s different about makeup on the more “mature” skin, then?

Basically, matte powders – rather than shimmery cremes – are more flattering around the eye area as they sink less obviously into fine lines.  Also, you apply all the makeup about an inch higher than you would on an “immature” face, so that when the skin is relaxed (ie not being stretched hither and thither for the makeup artist to be grinding their powders and potions in), it’s where you want it.  On a less-elastic lid, for example, your lovely liner might disappear under a fold of skin when your model’s eye doesn’t have your finger propping it open.

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owww

And that’s basically it.

Angela (27) and I did our “mature” assessments on each other’s dewy skinned faces.

Nubile as.

Nubile as.

So that’s that, kittycats.  Here are some other “mature” faces for you to admire before tonight’s singalong.

Dame Edna Everage: Australian superhero

Dame Edna Everage: Australian superhero

My bosom buddy, my wig hero, Dolly Parton I LOVE YOU

My bosom buddy, my wig hero, Dolly Parton I LOVE YOU

And now, a song.  Here’s someone’s hillwalking video I weirdly stole from YouTube.  Soundtrack is In a Big Country, by our friends… Big Country.  Band and scenery are Scottish.

 

Until next time Xx

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meet Dana

17 Nov

last name Scully.

look at my new boots vying for attention in the corner there!

look at my new boots vying for attention in the corner there!

He is my skull ring.  He was named after Dana Carvey and it’s just a coincidence that his last name is Scully like Agent Scully from the X Files and he’s a skull.  Regular readers will recognise Dana from every photo of my left hand.  Sometimes he’s on my thumb.  He’s with me always.  He’s a cheap piece of shit I bought from http://www.emp-online.co.uk which is where I get a lot of my cheap, badass stuff.

Once I’m rolling in the kind of money that will come with my imminent glittering career in makeup artistry, I’ll be adding to my collection via German designer Thomas Sabo and The Great Frog – home of wow.  Most coveted at the moment is this skull cuff:

I love you, why are you so expensive, will you ever be mine and do you love me too?

I love you, why are you so expensive, will you ever be mine and do you love me too?

… and next thing you know I’ll be rocking up to work in one of these:

for illustration purposes only, not actual mode of transport, it's an ornament calm down everyone

for illustration purposes only, not actual mode of transport, it’s an ornament calm down everyone

In that top photo of my hand, if you look closely you’ll notice that my nails have weird ridges in them.  That’s because I bought a miniature angle grinder masquerading as an electric nail buffer, for £3 on Amazon.  I do not recommend.  It’s going to take ages for my nails to get back to normal, and thanks also to my Quik-e-Mart job ravaging my hands they’re not going to grow out any time soon either.  UGH!  I miss my claws.

Anyway.  Time to get off the internet and go meet Chloe for lunch. Happy Sunday, flogstars – hope you’re keepin’ it lazy like you should be.

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rumours of my disappearance have been greatly exaggerated

13 Nov

I’m alive and well, flogstars – I’ve just been a lazy bastard.  A busy one actually, and over a week has passed without a post because I’ve been flat out like a lizard drinking (apologies, just getting my Australian lingo back up to scratch for the imminent visit home).

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Here’s a quick recap of … some things I did.

Flog devotees (hey, you) will remember how hard I had made Chloe slave in the lead-up to the body painting assessment.  The day came and I was as prepared as I could be.  I’d burnt though nearly a whole cake each of orange, black and white Snazaroo paints in the practice sessions.  Chloe’s torso was practically raw from having stripes scraped onto it with my cheap shitty brushes.

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Doing the design plan right before I started the painting. Yes, that’s a toothbrush in my mouth. Imogen Maxwell: Eleventh Hour Calm is what I shall call my first autobiography.

And it came together pretty well.  I had pulled together some good accessories – the black claw-nails, white fluffy eyebrows that I’d originally procured to use on Agi for the doomed oompa-loompa wig assessment, tiger ears headband, vampire fangs that wouldn’t bloody well stay in so I ended up Blu-Tac’ing them to Chloe’s incisors.

It's really hard to get a wide shot in the bodypainting studio without there being like a MILLION boobs in the background. And you've got to watch all those mirrors too - oh lookee, there's Megan with her baps out behind Chloe there, heehee

It’s really hard to get a wide shot in the bodypainting studio without there being like a MILLION boobs in the background.

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All in all pretty happy with how it came up, and I passed, which is all that really matters.

That same day, Chloe stayed for the afternoon to be my model for Asian bridal makeup.  Heehee.

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International heartbreakers

In non-makeup but Chloe-related news, it was her birthday this week so I made a tiramisu…

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… and we went out for drinks with Loz.

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That’s all for today, my beloved flogstars.  I’ve got a bit to catch you up on so will post again soon.  And I’m thinking of completely changing up the format of the flog, so strap yourselves in.

And now, to bed… here’s Darren Hanlon with a lullaby to send you soundly to the land of nod.

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boo!

31 Oct

Hey hey flogstars, happy halloween.

Today was the final day for wig assessments, and while I had already completed both of mine, my services as a short-haired model were required.  Today I was Freyja’s model, and she turned me into a haunted Alice in Wonderland.  I don’t have copies of the pics from the college camera (yet) but here are a few from my phone.

sans wig

sans wig

a wee cheeky green one with halloween stickers, because why not

a wee cheeky green one with halloween stickers, because why not

completed look

completed look

with the pin curls taken out

with the pin curls taken out

bus home. There are no other passengers BECAUSE I ATE THEM ALL!!!

bus home. There are no other passengers BECAUSE I ATE THEM ALL!!!

and now I'm sitting in the kitchen writing this flog post. Not taking my makeup off, no sir.

and now I’m sitting in the kitchen writing this flog post. Not taking my makeup off, no sir.

 

The contacts are “Berzerker” from MesmerEyez.

So here’s 80s German power-metallers Helloween, with I Want Out.  Parental Advisory: Contains exactly as many fluffy blond Euro-mullets, denim jackets, leather, skin tight jeans that show EVERYTHING, and dodgy special effects as you would expect from a video endorsed on imogenmaxwell.com

Happy tricking and treating, ghouls.  Xx

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easy, tiger

30 Oct

I don’t actually WANT to kill any of my classmates, but I’m going to have to.

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They’re too talented, and I just don’t need that kind of competition.

lucy's tattoo

This week we began Asian bridal in basic makeup, and continued practicing bodypainting for next week’s assessment.

My tiger is coming together OK; I was right, getting organised has helped confidence levels considerably.  Today (Tits-Oot Tuesday) I practiced twice, first on Saoirse …

saoirse tiger

… after which she practiced her Xena cuff on my arm.  I volunteered to get my top off like a million times, but no dice.

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Then I practiced on Chloe at home …

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… after which she sat around my lounge room topless, painted as a tiger, watching TV for ages and ages.

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Also this week: Asian bridal …

Tutor Caroline demonstrating on model Jen

Tutor Caroline demonstrating on model Jen

… CV head-shot makeup for Chloe …

I'm hired!

I’m hired!

… a bit o’ facepainting on lovely wee Eilidh …

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… and some goldeneye action to cover up my stained eyelids.  Stained from the MAC Chromaline we were using as a base for the bright eyeshadow in Asian bridal.  Oh, so pink and fabulous (until you try to wash it off – so, perfect for the long-wear you’d want on your wedding day!)

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Graftobian cosmetic powdered metal (copper) and Graftobian Magic Set Mixing & Lining Liquid.

I don’t have any of my own to experiment with yet, but I suspect the Magic Set might rival Illamasqua sealing gel. It’s the same kind of thing – a setting liquid that you mix with powder to create an opaque, fast drying and long-lasting paint… only Graftobian’s is a fraction of the price.

Oh speaking of bargains, Crownbrush UK will be having a 20% off sale probably within the next couple of days (once they reach 20,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook).  I use a lot of their brushes – they’re good and dirt cheap.  Get in.  You don’t need to spend heaps on brushes; if you use them a lot therefore clean them a lot, they’re going to lose hair regardless, so you may as well get cheaper ones cos they’re going to need replacing anyway.  And I honestly don’t notice a difference in quality with most of my cheap brushes up against, say, MAC ones I’ve paid a fortune for.

It’s just unnecessary.  Get cheap brushes and spend what you’ve saved on regular facials; no brush or foundation for that matter is going to make a lick of difference if you face has the texture of a house brick.

Bed time, flogstars.  Here’s Harry Belafonte to sing you to sleep.

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