Wedding Wire Award ~ 2012
I was so excited to hear that Pittsburgh Makeup received the Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award for the 4th year in a row! This award is important to me, because it means that my company is in the top 5% of wedding professionals in the country. Wedding Wire is a great resource for all brides who are looking for not just a Makeup Artist, but any other type of wedding vendor they may need. All of the reviews on the site are done by previous brides who take time to review their own vendors after the wedding. This is where I would go if I was getting married…15 years ago this resource wasn’t around yet! Take a look at the website if you haven’t before, www.weddingwire.com. Pittsburgh Makeup can be found under Health & Beauty. Thanks again to Wedding Wire for this great award 
.
Date Night
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I hope you have a date night planned with your special someone! I’m typically pretty au-natural with my makeup on a daily basis, but occassionally I like to do a smokey eye if I’m headed out to the paint the town… haha, not really ~ more like dinner and a movie. Here are a few products to get you going in the right direction on perfecting a gorgeous date night look!
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Collection (online exclusive $80) www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer (can be found on sale at Walmart $9) www.walmart.com
Chanel Orchid Rose Powder Blush (Saks $43) www.saksfifthavenue.com
Revlon ColorBurst Lipsticks (my personal favorite…Soft Nude) sold at most drugstores
Maybelline Falsies Mascara – sold at most drugstores
Ardell False Strip Lashes (my personal favorite are called “Babies” and can be found at Sally’s Beauty Supply). www.sallybeauty.com
Happy Valentine’s Day <3
Favorite New Beauty Items
Like most women I am constantly buying new beauty products to try, forever searching for the perfect lipstick or hair conditioner. Below are just of few of the many items I’ve recently tried, and I think you’ll love them as much as me!
Ted Gibson Build It ~ Blow Drying Agent
I first saw this hair product via one of Carmindy’s tweets…from What Not To Wear. Naturally I immediately wanted to try it because I love her and she does have amazing hair! I really love the scent of this product especially. I spray this on my damp hair prior to blow-drying it per the directions and also spray it just to refresh my hair on non-wash days. I’m not 100% sold that it builds body (at least on my hair) but I do notice that when I use it, my hair is so much shinier and is more manageable. Even if you’re not interested in this product, check out his site…it’s very cool. www.tedgibsonbeauty.com
Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara
Mascara to me is something I hate to spend a ton of money on…I don’t know why. I typically use Maybelline’s Great Lash and I’ve been happy with that. I have noticed, the older I get…the more sparse my lashes become unfortunately. I tried this product because of the commercial (sucker) and the statement that it builds lashes up to 80% and is also a lash “treatment” to grow your lashes. I can honestly say after about a month or so, my lashes look so much better. I feel like they are longer and thicker and really contribute it to this mascara since it’s the only thing I’ve changed. I just picked it up at my nearest Target! www.rimmellondon.com/
it’s a 10 ~ Miracle Hair Mask
My feeling about this product is ~ I can’t live without it! I use this in my shower every single time that I was my hair, and only leave it on my ends for a few minutes as I would a normal everyday conditioner. It has improved the condition of my hair. Since my hair is on the longer side, I really struggle with keeping it looking healthy. With frequent trims and this conditioner it looks the best it has in years. Thank you to my hairdresser for introducing me to this miracle! I really want to try some other products in the line and will keep you posted if I do! www.itsa10haircare.com
E.L.F Golden Bronzer
I stumbled upon this at the beginning of Winter at my Target so I decided to try it because of the inexpensive price! It has some definite shimmer going on which I tend to stray away from, although I must say when I wear it I feel a little brighter and my skin looks prettier. I love the lightest shade as a high-lite and I use the goldish tone on my cheekbones. It’s only $3, which is such an amazing steal and really worth trying. I can’t wait to sport it over a tan…I love it in the winter, so I can only imagine how great it will be in the summer. www.eyeslipsface.com
Thanks so much and if you have any products you’d like to share, please do!
Kate & Adam’s Knot Magazine Feature
I was so excited to learn just yesterday that one of my bride’s weddings was recently featured in the KNOT ~ Spring/Summer 2012 Pennsylvania issue. She was absolutely gorgeous and I’m so happy for her and Adam that the magazine featured their June 18th, 2011 wedding. Here are a few additional pictures from my original post as well, photos there are from Leanne Marie Photography! http://pghmakeup.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/kate-adam/
:)
Tanya & Jon
Congratulations to Tanya & Jon who were married on December 3rd, 2012! I arrived early morning at the beautiful J. Verno Studio in the Southside to do makeup on Tanya and her bridal party…they were such a fun group of girls! Shari Tumminello, owner of Tease Salon did an amazing job as always on all of the hair. This is by far one of my favorite venues and the pictures were so much fun to look through. Here are just a few of my favorites.
Pictures by J. Verno
Airbrushing with Temptu Pro
I think this picture looks like a painting … <3
With their dog Carson … so cute 
~best wishes guys…thanks for being so great to work with!
Kelly & David
Congratulations to Kelly & David who were married on October 21st at the beautfiul Lingrow Farms in Leechburg. This was the only wedding this year that I got to work with one of my favorite Photographers and friend, John Pascarella of The Brand Studio. Here are just few of my favorites and best wishes to the beautiful couple Kelly & David!
See more of The Brand Studio at www.thebrandstudio.com
<3 this one…
November Ambush
This past Monday was our second Ambush Makeover! We ambushed Peggy at her job in Plum…she had no idea that she was going to be whisked away for a day of beauty and pampering. If you know someone who really deserves a makeover, don’t hesitate to nominate them! All of the details and November’s full post can be viewed at www.ambushpittsburgh.com.
The amazing before and after ~
Look Good Feel Better
Today I am volunteering for Look Good Feel Better, an awesome program I have been a part of for the last year. If you know someone who is battling Cancer, and especially going through treatment…let them know about this amazing organization. They will receive so much helpful information and a great product kit to aid them during this challenging time as their skin and hair undergo changes from treatment. All the info you need to know can be found at this link. http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/
Ambush Pittsburgh!
So yesterday was my very first Ambush Pittsburgh makeover, a very cool project me and my friend Kathy Wolfe started. It was amazing. I love giving back, it’s something I am very passionate about. This is a fun way to do just that and who doesn’t love a really good makeover!? Below is just one photo, so be sure to visit the website to see more fun photos and what Ambush Pittsburgh is about! www.ambushpittsburgh.com.
It’s truly amazing what a little hair color and makeup will do not only for the outside appearance, but for the confidence inside…it was fun seeing MaryBeth flourish through the day
If you know someone who is a great candidate for a makeover, visit the link above. We’re planning on doing one a month but need your help!
Interview with Cory Bishop of Temptu
Meet Cory Bishop ~ Celebrity Makeup Artist & Lead Global Artist for Temptu! You may even recognize him from a recent episode of Rachel Zoe, as he can be seen touching up the models makeup in the background. I had the pleasure of meeting Cory at a Temptu airbrushing class I attended in 2009 at the Temptu studio in NYC. I not only learned so many helpful airbrushing techniques from him, but also that he grew up right here in Pittsburgh, small world. I really admire him for all he’s achieved so far and have been wanting to pick his brain…so here it is! A huge thanks to Cory for taking time out of his hectic schedule to answer my questions!
JM: Was being a makeup artist something you knew you wanted to do at a very young age?
CB: I didn’t start experimenting with makeup until age 15 or 16 and even then I was more interested in the special effects.
JM: When did you decide to leave Pittsburgh and move to NYC to pursue your dream even further?
CB: Around 2005 I started booking weekend work in NYC and the requests grew and grew, so in 2007 I decided to move here because I was getting more work in NYC than in Pittsburgh. It was a risk, but I loved the city and I could have always moved back.
JM: How long have you been with Temptu and if you had to pick one thing, what is your favorite aspect of working with them?
CB: I have been using Temptu products since 2002, and I have been working with them for 6 years next month. This company is small so we are like a family. We all know everyone and get along great. We also make products that work. I have worked for many companies that have had some awesome products, and some not. We really strive to only create and house things we love.
JM: I know you are one busy guy because I read your Facebook statuses and tweets! Tell me what a typical day in the life of Cory Bishop is like…
CB: HaHa! Every day is completely different. That’s what makes me love my job. Some days I’m teaching in the NY studio, or on set for different TV shows or photo-shoots and other days I’m in some random city working with clients or teaching makeup. When I get older I will be ready for some regularity but until then I live for the spontaneous makeup artist lifestyle.
JM: You are an inspiration to other makeup artists, but who has inspired you throughtout your carreer?
CB: One of my strongest inspirations was the first makeup artist that I ever assisted. I was in high-school at the time. In his prime he was a special effects makeup artist for major motion pictures in Hollywood. He was retired at the time and did a few makeup jobs here and there, which is how we met. While retired he made prosthetic pieces for people who had to have part of their faces removed from cancer, making it possible for them to eat, breath and return to normality. It really touched me at such a young age and helped me realize the transformative and powerful effect makeuup can have.
(I love that answer!)
JM: What are some of your absolute favorite items to carry in your makeup kit?
CB: Temptu S/B foundation! I have been using it for almost 10 years and I have yet to find anything so realistic and beautiful. I also love a good tear drop eye blending brush. I can do the entire face with the airbrush and one tear drop blending brush. Also a kohl pencil – right now I have the Lancome kohl pencil in Black Ebony. It’s a great tool to shape and define the eye. And with my brush I mentioned, I can create a multitude of great looks.
JM: What is a pet-peeve that you have or a mistake that you see so many women making with their makeup?
CB: Many women choose too dark of a foundation…I know we all want to look like we just got back from St. Tropez (myself included) but that is what bronzer is for! If foundation matches the skin, you can use it only where you need it – giving you a lighter natural look. It also lowers your risk of an uneven application. A darker, mis-matched foundation is the easiest way to make your complexion look uneven and old.
JM: Is there someone who you haven’t worked with already that you want to…who is it?
CB: I know it may sound cliché but I would really like to work with Lady Gaga. I think she is one of the most out of the box artists that everyone looks to see what she is going to do next. Her looks are always over the top but not without meaning. I also really enjoy what she supports in the community; I would have a blast collaborating with her.
JM: Once I saw written on your Facebook that you quoted…”Following my dreams not the competition” …, I really loved that quote because this business is so extremely competitive. What is the best advice you can give to makeup artists to keep that in mind while trying to pursue their career?
CB: If you are following your competition and doing what they are doing, you are already two steps behind. Follow your heart. If it feels right or feels wrong you are probably right. A lot of this industry is getting your name out there any way possible, sometimes without pay. That is why you need to love what you do because sometimes that personal gratification needs to be enough.
(LOVE LOVE THAT!)
Thanks again Cory, you rock xo
