Visit Our New Blog!

NEW BLOG <----- Click Here

Kensington Artist Product Picks of the Month

Every month Kensington Artists get together to teach and share with each other about the latest trends in products and the bridal/beauty industry. We wanted to share our show and tell products for April with you, so that you too can stay on top with best products you can buy. Enjoy!
 ~Holli (I have decided to do an extra long review of my own pick ... stay tuned).


Amy's Hair Pick:
Lanza Beach Spray
Purchase at Mesha Salon or MAKA Hair Supply

"Fantastic product to make hair effortlessly chic. If you are having a bad hair day, just spritz some of this product in in your hair, and "scrunch" for beachy curls. Note- don't brush product in or use a brush after applying the product, as this will jeopardize the finish!'

Sam's Makeup Pick:
HighDefinition Mattifier by CARGO
ULTA/ cargo.com

"Oil free liquid/loose powder that can be worn under or over makeup.
I use it as a mistake eraser, to remove mascara, liner, and eyeshadow oopses."

Erin Jordan's Hair Pick:
Shiny Happy People
S-Factor
Purchase at salons or Beauty Brands

"This product is amazing! A great way to get  fantastic shine and make your hair color pop out. It is very light weight and smells amazing. The blend of ingredients that gives a brilliant and long-lasting shine."

Jessica's Makeup Pick:
X-Light Concealer
by Cover FX
Sephora

"It has great coverage and blend-ability! Use a synthetic blending brush to apply. Dab, blend, and powder with a loose translucent. Also great for tattoo coverage."

Lauren's Hair Pick:
Bed Head Masterpiece Hair Spray
by TiGi
Beauty Brands

"This is a massive shine hair spray. It gives a great hold while making the hair nice and soft, with a shine finish. Great for up-dos and fun styles! Use this product by holding it away from the head and use to style the hair or use it as a finishing spray."

Sasha's Makeup Pick:

Eyewear Set by LORAC

$24@ULTA

-8pc. shadow set

-mascara

-eyeliner

"The shadow colors are a great variety to choose from and highly pigmented. The mascara is dark, rich and contains fibers that give a fullness to lashes. The eyeliner goes on dark and smooth."

Mesha's Hair Pick:
Moroccan Shimmer Spray
Mesha Salon

"Ok who doesn't love Moroccan Hair Oil? The stuff smells fantastic! But I wanted to share a bit about it's sister product the shimmer spray. It is just that... spray that shimmers. It adds that health sheen to your hair and in the sun light actually reflects light with it's shimmer particles. Use by spraying the ends of your hair either before or after blow drying, and have the shiniest hair on the block!"

Interview with Holli Christensen

~ Kensington President and Makeup/Hair Artist
Courtesy of Professional Make-up Artists Interview Series

Q: Tell a little about yourself personally and if you attended school or you are a self taught makeup artist?

A: I own a makeup and hair artistry contracting company called Kensington Makeup and Hair Artists, that specializes in on-site services for bridal and special occasions. We have 3 major regions of operations; Arizona, So. California, and our latest addition Chicago. 

I have my masters degree in Neuroscience from King's College London, and worked in the pharmaceutical research industry. After being laid-off, I decided to follow my true passion ... makeup. While I was really great at doing my own makeup, my ability to apply on others was not a strong suit of mine. I decided to attend the Make-up Designory (MUD) in Burbank for formal education in both beauty makeup application and studio hair styling. My makeup teacher Jackie Mgido had suggest to the class to start a bridal business. I knew nothing about business so I started to study.  I had larger visions of the seed that Jackie had implanted in me, and In two years I have build a reputable company in the bridal industry with a staff of 50+ and growing.

Q: Do you think going to school for make-up artistry is important to excel in the business later on?

A: I think you can definitely make it on your own, but I personally feel more confident in those who have attended school because their work is closely critiqued and directed, something you can not get from attending seminars and watching youtube videos.

Q: Did you always wanted to be an artist, or did you stumble upon your talent by chance? Who or what inspired you to become a makeup artist?

A: No ...My cousin actually made the suggestion and I just made the decision on a whim, when I was laid off. 

Q: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?

A: My fav thing is to make someone feel spectacular on their wedding day, and then to get follow up emails and notes on how wonderful they looked when they receive their wedding pictures. I also love providing other artists job opportunities and watching them grow in their craft.

Q: What surprises you most about working as a makeup artist?

A: Others lack of professionalism ... my company gets a lot of last minute bridal bookings because the MUA they had originally hired flaked on them for a better job. That is my biggest pet peeve about artists in the industry... The lack of commitment. This is something I make really clear to my staff. I wont tolerate it. 

Q: Describe your "Classic Approach to Beauty." how do you define beauty?

A: Flawless skin. I work with a lot of artist who love to focus on the eyes... but I feel creating the perfect canvas is much more difficult and is the most important component to great makeup.

Q: What individual products and brands you're "addicted" to at the moment and you use on a daily basis?

A: Cinema secrets foundations all the way! Affordable, fantastic product for great coverage and longevity.

www.intriguebeauty.com ... I am one of Arthur's best customers!

*** Type in MUA 15% discount when you check out!

Q: What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips in general that you have, that are really important?

A: wash your face! ... and moisturize 

Q: Have you had an extreme, crazy or bad experience with a skin care product or during a makeup session? If so, what happened?

A: Yes ... i went out and purchased a bunch of airbrush fluids from a brand I know and trust ... biggest mistake. The product was difficult to work with and I had lost a few clients because of it. I stick with what I was taught with in school ... my all time fav- Temptu. 

Q: What do you find to be the most common mistakes women make with makeup? 

A: base matching ... and the girl at the makeup counter is probably not giving correct advice either.

Q: What do you think are best/worst trends in the makeup / skin care industry right now?

A: Best: HD makeup ... the technology is amazing! I can not wait to see what comes out next. There is a true science/technology to it all!

Q: Do teenage girls needs to splurge on high-priced makeup products, or are drugstore items are just as satisfactory?

A: There are a lot of great drugstore brand products out there ... but for everyday use beware of putting crap on your face especially when they are going through puberty break-outs. I love some of the prestige brands that really cater to the heath and healing of the skin, like Cargo's lightweight foundation and concealers. 

Q: What feature(s) do you love to accentuate and why?

A: I love contouring the cheeks and adding lots of blusher. Blusher brings back the youthfulness of the skin and give a great healthy glow. 

Q: What are your steps for the perfect, flawless, natural look?

A: Primer, foundation, concealer, powder, blush. ... I may use a dual finish to highlight and contour with colors that are two shades lighter and darker respectively. 

Q: What is a really quick way to change a day look to a special occasion or nighttime face?

A: using a dark charcoal grey shadow to deepen the daytime eyeshadow. Add more blush.

Q: What are the differences between applying makeup on models and on real women?

A: Typically the age and condition of the skin. I would have to say the biggest difference is in the application -Photoshoot vs. Everyday wear.

Q: In terms of eyeliner, if you had to choose between a pencil, liquid, or creme/gel based, which one would you choose? Why?

A: I hardly ever use pencil ... I like to use my brushes. I prefer cream/gel because it tends to be a bit more forgiving than liquid, however I use liquid on top to "seal" false lashes and sharpen my final lines. 

Q: Lip gloss or Lipstick. Which product is best? Why?

A: Can I say both? I think lip stick, even if it is a neutral lip, is a great way to even out the color and shape of the lip. A little bit of gloss on top will soften the creases of the lips and add dewey shine. I stay away from super shinny glosses and glosses with large flecks of glitter, as these tend to not photograph as well.

Q: What brand/type of concealer is your favorite for covering up the after effects of a late night out i.e. under-eye circles, blemishes?

A: Again ... I have to say Cinema Secrets

Q: How about airbrush spray makeup trend? Are these products better or easier to use than standard sponge or finger application? If yes when would you recommend using them?

A: It really depends on the look you want to achieve and the client/talent you are working on. I am a fan of airbrush. If I have a client who has good skin and is looking for a lightweight application, airbrush is great. A little bit of concealer then airbrush. This a great application for working on men as well. If I have a client with really bad skin, I would use a combination of traditional coverage and go over it with the airbrush to finish the look. I have recently started using airbrush for photo shoots and have found that my re-touching time has been greatly reduced because of the longevity of the silicone based (S/B) product. 

Q: What do your clients think of you? What are some individual testimonials?

A: Holli, the President of Kensington, did my makeup for my wedding, and I have never felt more beautiful in my life. I looked flawless all day, and the only thing I had to reapply was my lipgloss. Even through tears and the heat, I looked picture perfect the entire time. Even better, I looked like me, just a more glamorous bridal version of me. She is incredible, and I would recommend her to anyone. I also recommend the trial so you can try out colors and ideas with her ahead of time, so that you can relax on the big day. 

Erin R 

The day of the wedding was a whirlwind. Holli and her team showed up promptly and went right to work. They were able to get through ten individuals, and we were all ready on schedule for pictures. I was very nervous that I wouldn't feel as pretty as I thought I should on my wedding day. That I would just look the same as every other day with a little more make-up. Honestly I have never felt more beautiful, gorgeous, and confident than on my wedding day. . . which is exactly the way it should be. Throughout the entire wedding process I kept telling myself that the pictures were the most important part, because after the cake has been cut and the guests have left they are the only thing that a couple has left. But the pictures would be worthless if a bride felt she did not look like a beautiful bride. A smile spreads across my face every time I look at any of my wedding pictures, because it reminds me of how good I felt on that day. I hope every bride can feel as good as I did on my wedding day . . . and if she choose Holli and Kensington Make-Up. . . she will!  

-Courtney Carrara

Q: Would you share some of your future goals, your life motto, any words of wisdom that get you by in life and professional career?

A: My future goal is to create a national company that puts customer service and convenience into the the bridal beauty industry. I am currently writing a book on bridal makeup, hair, and beauty.

My Motto is: "Through my understanding of both science and makeup, I am able to unleash the expression of inner beauty to give my clients the confidence to be face-forward in life."

Business Wisdom: Makeup artistry is a business and you need to treat it like one. Study business and marketing. Protect yourself legally: 1) purchase liability insurance -it is about $200/year... and may cover your kit, 2) create a legal entity (DBA, LLC, S-corp),  3) write contracts, 4) make sure you get a photo usage release so you can use your TFP/CD photos for marketing yourself.

Q: What tips and advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists just starting out?

A: Fake it till you make it! I was terrified when working on my first photo shoot ... and many that followed. But I really took notes on what worked and what did not. And the more I put myself out there, the more confident I became. I would also analyze my photos by learning basic photoshop, blowing up my pictures and fixing my mistakes on the computer. This gave me a really good idea as to how to adjust my work and avoid making the same mistakes. 

Lit Lips

So my new favorite lip gloss is lit lips- you can go to litlips.com for more info, photos and videos!

Have you ever been in the dark and need to refresh your lip gloss but it is too dark to see your mirror? I find myself in this situation quite often, however my days of being frusterated with my lip gloss is over with! I was recently given the most amazing lip gloss called lit lips! When you twist off the cap a lite turns on in the inner part of the cap. On the side of the lip gloss there is a mirror as well!

There is limited colors that the gloss comes in but the pigment of the color is amazing! It is a perfect gloss for yourself and a great gift to give your girlfriends! 

xoxo ~ Dana

My night out with Lady Danger

After shopping around for the perfect Red for my friend... we came across the Lady Danger, a MAC Cosmetics lipstick of vibrant matte red.

A bold red lip is timeless and is the easiest way to make statement for a night out on the town. If you are not secure in your lipstick wearing ... proceed with caution! If you are in the market for a new red ... this is my pick. And I can confidently say that this puckering shade looks good on everyone. Bring your new friend Lady Danger to girls night out, and see what happens!

Lady Danger ... pucker up and leave your mark!
-Holli

San Diego Boudoir Shoot

San Diego Artists Keely and Travisean teamed up for a sexy boudoir shoot yesterday with the talented Aquario Studio. Shot in a private studio in Point Loma, Aquario Photography had all the tools for a perfect boudoir photoshoot.

In San Diego and looking for that perfect gift for your man?

Visit Here to find out more!

Kensington looks forward to working with Aquario Studio Photography

again soon! ~Keely

www.AquarioStudio.com

Artist Interview

This week Kensington Artist, Samantha M, dishes about every woman's must have makeup product and her favorite makeup look as an artist.


KM: Did you always know you wanted to become a makeup artist? If not then at what point in your life did you have an interest in the industry?

S: I actually had no interest in makeup growing up! I needed a job while I was in college studying architecture, so I took a retail cosmetics position and it was there that I realized my love for makeup artistry.

KM: There's not a girl/woman I know that doesn't like to have fun with makeup. What do you like best about being an artist?

S: That's exactly what I love most...being an artist! I think there is more "art" in beauty than most people realize. As cheesy as it sounds, I see each client as a new canvas per se.

KM: In your opinion, what is a must have makeup product that woman should always have and where can they buy it?

S: Aside from mascara, I have to say a good tinted moisturizer. It is the simplest way to even your skin tone, giving your complexion a fresh, healthy glow. My favorite is by Stila: the Oil Free Sheer Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 which can be found in Sephora stores or Sehpora.com

KM: What is one thing women should NOT do when applying their own makeup?

S: Use their fingers! It is always best to apply products with appropriate brushes, using less product than you would if you used your fingers... and also keeping the bacteria and oils from your hands off of your face.

KM: Lastly, what is your favorite makeup "look" to do?

S: I am a natural girl at heart therefore my favorite "look" is too, natural. I think women are surprised at how great they can look with very little time and very few products!

Red Carpet Hair Styles for your Wedding Day

The stars were out showing off their red carpet hair at the 2010 Academy Awards. There were tons of amazing hairstyles to pull from when dreaming up your wedding day hairstyle. The hairstyles range from Bold and Big to Smooth and Chic. I selected a few of my fav red carpet hair looks to inspire.

A lot of the red carpet dresses are very structured this season and so is the hair. For the modern bride, pair these voluminous hairstyles with a birdcage veil or bright budding flowers. Don't have the hair? Consider clip-in hair extensions for added volume and length.

Messy or neat. The high bun is the latest Spring hair trend perfect for the simple and chic bride. Incorporating a small headband or a simple hair pin will finish off the look to make you effortlessly glamourous on the big day.

Reminiscent of Veronica Lake's signature hair style, these celebs' brushed out and smoothed curls radiated on the red carpet. Finalize this a-symetrical style by twisting back one side your hair held by a glitzy comb or vibrant flowers. Depending on the placement, this may provide a great anchor for your veil to rest.

Unlike the slick back traditional up-do, these modern hair styles sweep away and gently frame the face. While this look seems relatively simple in the front ... turn around to the back for a pop of intricate details. Loosely placed curls and braids are perfect for a timeless yet modern bridal look. Add a vintage hair pin for the perfect accent to your veil.

-Holli Christensen

Artists Favorite Products

MAC is on top of the list in this weeks artists favorite products.

MAC Strobe Cream

Apply before foundation or mix a little bit with foundation to give your skin a glow.

- Lauren C.

MAC Lightful Charged Essence Serum

Available at MAC stores

Use as a primer by spreading evenly over face after using an SPF moisturizer then wait for it to dry.

- Jessica A.

Strawberry Fizz lip gloss by Victoria Secret

Leaves lips shinny, glossy and moist. Can wear with lipstick or without and still gives lips a nice natural look.

-Tanya D.

Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo by TIGI

Washing your hair everyday can damage your hair overtime. So keeping your hair down and straight for an extra day helps the oils on your scalp replenish your strands. Shake well and spray on roots then work through strands with your fingers. It gives hair the little refresher it needs and it's great for those who wake up late.

About $12 at Toni & Guy salons, Sally's and Cosmo Prof.

-Lauren D.

Major Lash Mascara by Stila

Available at Stila.com, Sephora or Ulta

This is my personal mascara and I also use it in my kit. It's a great one coat buildable mascara. Not clumpy!

-Sam M.

Lanza Powered-Up Texturizer

Available at Mesha Salon in Scottsdale, Maka Beauty Supply and anywhere Lanza is sold.

Gives volume and texture. Sprinkle lightly

-Amy

Lanza Neem Serum

Available at Mesha Salon

Light weight anti aging drops. Only a few drops needed then blow dry hair in sections.

- Mesha

Kenra Volume Hairspray

Available at Ulta or any salon that sells Kenra products.

All day hold, humidity resistant, helps give volume, and it smells great.

MAC Lightful Charged Essence Serum

Available at MAC stores

Primer that's good for any skin tone. Apply on fingertips and massage over skin.

- Dana H.

San Diego Bridal Shoot

San Diego platinum artists Keely and Travisean teamed up with Mat and Holly Sutor of Sutography for a bridal shoot.

The shoot took place at the Hilton Torrey Pines last Sunday, February 28th 2010.

... Oh and the photographer made the bouquet! Multitalented!

See below for photos of the shoot:

Artist Interview

In this weeks interview kensi artist, Paloma, shares with us her passion for makeup.

KM: You have such a creative and trendy style when it comes to makeup, how did that steer you towards this industry?

Paloma: The way that I steered myself into the industry is in a way sort of funny, I started doing event makeup in high school and from then on I said to myself "this is it.... I want to be a makeup artist!" Ive always found it fascinating the way that you can express beauty through the world of color and shapes on a face and in a way it defines me as a person.

KM: What style of makeup do you like doing the most?

Paloma: My favorite kind of style of makeup would have to be avante-garde or theater, it is absolutely AMAZING and WILD you can be so creative with it and bring out a little part of you in details. This is your time to show your personality that screams creativity!!!

KM: Do you have a fun or interesting story to tell from your experiences working in the field?

Paloma: I do, I remember the first time I ever did a fashion show it was crazy!!! It was my first huge event and all I remember is that I had to do like four models in like 20min and then change their style of makeup in 2min. It was absolutely nerve wrecking, but I love the rush its awesome!

KM: What is your biggest makeup pet peeve?

Paloma: My biggest pet peeve would be crusty eye lashes. It is horrible, once you realize that your mascara is old, please throw it away! You want your eyelashes to look marvelous.. this is the finishing touch of the eye! It makes it pop!


KM: If you had to choose a pro-artist you admire, who would it be and why?

Paloma: I think that the pro-artist that I admire the most would be Leslie Delvin she is absolutely phenomenal!!! She is the key makeup artist for the new film "Alice In Wonderland" she has also done all of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films and is Mr. Johny Depps personal :). Delvin has a very creative side to her... it yells artistic, she combines colors and fantasy and makes it come to life and look incredible!!! She has worked so hard in every film that she has put out as well as won Oscars for them.

Artist Favorite Products

New year new favorite products from Kensington's makeup and hair artists!

Rosebud Lip Balm

Sephora-$6.00

This is the "red carpet" version of Vaseline. It's the best lip balm and the normal version has over 100 uses - Sam

Revlon Color Stay Overtime Lip Color

Available at drug stores

Stays on for 16 hours and I love it because it doesn't come off. It comes as a two headed lip stick with the color on one side and gloss on the other. Use on clean lips and apply the gloss to keep lips moist - Jana

TIGI S-Factor (Spun Satin)

TIGI store, Toni & Guy Salons and Cosmo Prof- $18.80

To use for a soft curl look. I like this product because it's light on hair, easy to work with, shows texture, and smells amazing - Erin

TIGI S-Factor Vivacious Hairspray

Toni & Guy store, Cosmo Prof, Sally's, and sometimes at Target or other grocery stores- $23.00

I like it because it gives a firm hold while helping pump up the hair to give soft, weightless, shiny volume! - Lauren D.

Hair Tinsel

Order online in every color 20 pack-$5.00

Lasts for 5-7 weeks and you're able to wash, curl and straighten hair.

Very easy to use - Natasha

Urban Decay's Alice In Wonderland Eyeshadow Palette

Ulta, Sephora, Urbandecay.com- $52.00

Great selection of eyeshadows, some vivid and some neutral. Good for day or evening wear. Can mix and match colors or wear alone. The colors are gorgeous but, most are knock offs of other palettes - Rachel

Kenra Setting Spray

Ulta, select Salons, or Maly's- $25.00

I love it because it's the first product I've used that holds curls all day. To use, spray hair in sections before you curl - Jamie

Cargo Waterproof Bronzer in Medium

Sephora

Has great coverage - Paloma

Twizzle Stick

Available at drug stores- pack of 3 for $3.00

Shapes brows by taking away unwanted hair and peach fuzz -Brittany

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch-$32.00

Apply a small amount to clean skin before makeup. Blend in with finger and it'll minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines - Lauren C.

Cinema Secrets Foundation

Cinema Secrets and Intriguebeauty.com

A little goes a long way and it makes the skin look like butter in photos.

It's also a concealer - Vanessa

Welcome Matte Skin Enhancer

Sephora- $20.00

- Laura

G.M. Collins Creme

www.gmcollin.com

There are two types of labels- The blue label for oily to normal skin and the green label for dry skin. Gets rid of puffy eyes, fine lines and dark circles - Tanya

January's FreeStyle Shoot

Kensington's latest freestyle shoot was a great success! Thanks to our amazing makeup and hair artists, Ventola Photography, stylist Jill DeAndrea, Twirl Boutique for wardrobe, S.I.M Agency and all of our fabulous models!!

Celebrity Before and Afters

Thank you Dana (Kensington Artists) for sharing this video.

Good makeup can enhance anyone's true beauty.

Be Red Carpet Ready for your next event!

xx Holli xx

Artist Interview

In this weeks interview Kensington artist, Lauren D, talks about her love for creating up-do's, wedding day hair for brides and which celebrity hair style has caught her eye lately.

K: How long have you been styling hair?

L: I feel like I've done it forever! I would do my friends hair in high school, but I started doing hair professionally at the Toni & Guy Academy last year.

K: Among the different and creative ways to style hair, what' s your personal favorite?

L: I love to create up-do's. I love making someones hair into a piece of art. Giving big bouncy curls to someone with straight hair is also a lot of fun. You get to witness and be part of this huge transformation.

K: In your opinion what should a client, particularly a bride, think about when choosing her perfect style for her wedding day?

L: Thinking about your own hair type and knowing your hair and what your hair is capable of is a big deal. I also think it's good for women to know her face and know what styles may or may not be suitable. It's not about some extravagant up-do, it's about the bride being the most beautiful version of herself , accentuating her own beauty on HER special day. She'll want to look for something that fits her.

K: We all look towards celebrities for the latest hair styles. What celebrity style has caught your eye lately?

L: I like to keep tabs on Rachel McAdams. She's always playing with her hair color and styles. Curls, swept bangs, short hair, mid-length waves, no matter what , she's looking gorgeous and she shows how versatile hair can be.

K: Lastly, What product do you use that you can't live without?

L: I love Control Freak by TIGI. It's from TIGI's Bed Head line and the reason why I can't live without this product is because I have crazy curly, and frizzy hair. Control Freak tames the hair by smoothing and leaving you with non-frizzy and manageable hair. It's good for straight or curly hair types , and it basically tames the hair so styling is simple and faster. It feels like a gel in your hands , but once you apply it to damp hair, the strands are left silky and moveable after the hair is styled.