Octavia Spencer for the Win!!

So, it has been quite a busy beginning of the year for me.  I am really lucky to be doing the hair and/or makeup for a very talented, Oscar nominated Octavia Spencer, as she wins some amazing awards leading to the Oscars.  It is a very exciting time and I am betting all my cards on Octavia to win the big award! Whoo Hoo!!

                                         Octavia Spencer on the SAG Award Red Carpet/Hair by me

I had a chance to talk to Blogger extraordinaire, Patrice Grell Yursik, from Afrobella to give the details of Octavia's red carpet make-up for the Golden Globes.  Thanks a million to Afrobella for a fantastic interview.... check it out here..

                                           Octavia Spencer winning the GoldenGlobes/Makeup by me

Here's to winning the Grand Prize, Ms. Spencer, for a spectacular performance!!

Make-up Tips featuring Gloria Govan from BBWLA

So, I love doing make-up for red carpets and events and I had the chance to do Gloria Govan's make-up for the BBWLA Reunion show.  I have been getting lots of feedback and inquires as to what make-up I used, so here is a breakdown.  Gloria went to rapper T.I.'s book signing event after 6 hours of shooting the reunion and as you can see by the red carpet pic below, she still looked amazing. (Thanks to the primer I used under her make-up).

This amazing look was achieved with mostly L'Oreal make-up... as drugstore brands are some of my favorites.

Thanks a million, Gloria for including me in the fun..... and Thanks to L'Oreal for the make-up gift basket for Gloria.....

                                                    Gloria Govan from VH-1's BBWLA

 

Makeup for Gloria by missval14 on polyvore.com

Buy Now Studio Blush for Professional Makeup Artists
$3 - eyeslipsface.com

visible lift under eye concealer at Target
$9.99 - target.com

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer : Target
$11 - target.com

L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara - Bl... : Target
$7.94 - target.com

Professional Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette – Limited...
$5 - eyeslipsface.com

L'Oréal Elnett StrongHold Hairspray - 11.0 oz. : Target
$50 - target.com

LOreal Bare Naturale SF Mineral Finish : Target
$11 - target.com

L'Oreal True Match SuperBlend Liquid Mkp : Target
$7.99 - target.com

L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Gloss Collection « Musings of a Muse
$7.99 - musingsofamuse.com

L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner : Target
$10 - target.com

OCC Fall 2011 Lip Tars (Banjee, Femme, Narcissus, Pretty Boy, Queen)...
temptalia.com

NYX Cosmetics - FABULOUS LASHES
nyxcosmetics.com

My L'Oreal Make-up Pics for Your Make-up bag

I have more make-up than I need but I cannot help myself.... especially when I find a good deal.  One of my favorite brands that I like to use on Celeb photoshoots is L'Oreal. Here are some new products that will work for you, as well, like the Voluminous False Fiber Lashes and their Studio Secrets Face Primer, True Match Foundation finishing with Visible Lift Under Eye Concealer. I love lip glosses and their le Gloss is a new favorite. (There are a great range of colors.) And don't forget to use a night moisturizer... I'm loving the Advanced Revitalift Night Cream, it absorbs into the skin and is non-greasy. Try these for yourself.....  Enjoy!!
                     
                    Loreal Must Haves by missval14 on polyvore.com

        

                                                                          -Valerie

3 Gorgeous Make-up Looks featuring NYX Cosmetics

I love make-up and with so many brands to choose from, I usually mix and match.  I recently started using a lot of the NYX Cosmetics line and I did a few of the editorials for our current issue of Regard Magazine featuring this fabulous make-up line. This line is really luxurious and the variety of colors gives me endless creative choices. Here are 3 different looks you can try at home.

Plus don't forget the importance of removing your make-up at the end of the day, ..... Check out their extra gentle but effective Eye and Lip make-up Remover.

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Erica Cerra's smokey eye look....
HD Photogenic Studio Foundation in Natural

Powder Blush in Espress

Slide on Pencil Eyeliner in Black

10-Shadow Palette in Haute Model

Fly With Me Mascara

Jumbo Lip Pencil in Iris

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Crystal

                                             Erica Cerra for RegardMag.com Issue 9

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Caity Lotz' 60s-inspired look.......

Liquid Make-up Foundation in Natural

Slide on Pencil Eyeliner in Black

Trio Shadow in Honey Comb

Doll Eye Mascara

Powder Blush in Terra Cotta

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sweet Heart

Caity Lotz for RegardMag.com Issue 9

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Sandra Vergara's beauty-inspired look.......

HD Photogenic Studio Foundation in Sand Beige
Loose Face Powder in Medium Beige

Slide on Pencil Eyeliner in Black

10-Shadow palette in Versus

Eyelashes: Dreamcatcher

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Juicy Pink

                                    Sandra Vergara for RegardMag.com Issue 9

New hit Show and Movie

So this has been a very busy summer....While I was working on Tia and Tamera Mowry's hot new doc-drama on Style Network doing hair and make-up for the ladies, my friend, Octavia Spencer, has been crisscrossing the country doing press for the hot new movie "The Help," which she co-stars in along with Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas-Howard.  I had the chance to do her hair and makeup for the movie's premiere and I think she looks absolutely gorgeous.  Dimitry styled her in custom Ivonne Dome cocktail dress with dazzling Report Signature shoes and a killer clutch by Ambrosi Abrianna.  Check her out below and then check out Tia and Tamera on Monday nights on Style.....
ps.s You can catch a peak of me doing my thing on the premiere episode.....

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"

Tia and Tamera on Style

Make-up Essentials....My favorite picks....

So, I've been really busy the past few months, working on the new issue of Regard Magazine and doing hair and make-up for an up-coming reality series (with a few Red Carpets sprinkled in). This has been a great few months, though, because I love to be busy!  The next issue of Regard Magazine Issue 8 (available onliine on June 15) is on fire so here are a few behind the scenes from the shoots we did with Blogger, Fashionista and YouTube sensation  Dulce Candy and Actress Claire Coffee (who is in the new TNT show, "Franklin and Bash.")

                                             Val and Dulce Candy for RegardMag.com Issue 8

                                                Val and Dulce Candy for RegardMag.com Issue 8

                                         Val and Claire Coffee for RegardMag.com Issue 8

Since I've been doing so much make-up, I wanted to share some of my favorite go-to products that I love to use. Many are drug store brands (I'm a big fan of many of them) but all are essentials in my kit.

For Face: I've never really liked primers until I tried this one by Celestine Signature Color Cosmetics... It leaves the skin soft and silky and makes foundation application a breeze.

Celestine Signature Color Cosmetics

Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder is a great a great finishing powder that can be worn over foundation or alone as a light base.  I love the texture of this powder and the colors include colors for golden toned skin.

Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder

P.S. I found out about Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder from the fabulous Ms. Loretta Devine when I did her for the May cover shoot for Ebony.  She wanted to know if the powder that she just bought was a good choice and when I tried it, I loved it. Thanks, Ms. Loretta....

My favorite trick for creating amazing cheek bones is to use a highlighter at the top of the cheek bone.  This one by The Balm is amazing because it has a fine gold shimmer that works on any skin tone. You can also use it to highlight under the eyebrow or as a shadow base.  

                                                  Hot Mama highlighter by The Balm

Eyes: 

I almost always use fake eyelashes when I do make-up so I don't know which mascara works the best on natural lashes.  But my favorite mascara for my kit is Maybelline's Volum Express Classic.  It really plumps up the added lashes and makes them look really fabulous. 

                                                  Maybelline's Volum Express Classic Mascara

I usually use gel liner because it stays put when it dries but lately I've been mixing in a little liquid liner (Thanks to a tip from Dulce Candy) from Wet n Wild for a more dramatic look. 

                                                              Wet n Wild Liquid Eyeliner

Lips: 

I am really a fan of using a lip liner, filling in the lips with the color and then using a gloss on top.  Most pencils are thin but I love the jumbo lip pencils that are sort of a lipstick and pencil in one.  One of my favorites is the Elf Studio Matte Lip Color. They are a great for lining and as a base under any lip gloss color.

                                                               Elf Studio Matte Lip Color

I love mixing lip glosses to get unusual colors and I love color with lots of shine.  So some of my favorite glosses are the Diamond Sparkle Lip Glosses from NYX Cosmetics. They have  a smooth moisturizing texture and lots of shine.

                                                              Diamond Sparkle Lip Gloss

I also love the Celestine Signature Lip Gloss Trio.  Great color and shine without being sticky.

                                                    Celestine Lip Gloss Trio    

Make-up Essential....New Hot Pick...Celestine Signature Line

I had the chance to check out the new make-up line from the brains behind the famous Celestine Agency.  Renowned for decades for its roster of top makeup artists and hair and fashion stylists, the Celestine Agency has been delivering style to some of the biggest names in Hollywood. 

By tapping into the collective creativity of the agency, combined with leading cosmetic research and development they have formed a “beauty think tank.” As a result, CSL products are made in small batches using the highest quality ingredients and the latest in cosmetic technology, including smart molecules and minerals that create a flawless finish from the fairest to the darkest skin tones. All are paraben- and fragrance-free, with no animal testing.

I really like the line and find the foundation one of the first to really match my skin color with minimal transfer (It doesn't rub off on my clothes) and all day wear. It's like I'm not wearing foundation....  My Thanks to CSL and Angelika Schubert for the fabulous products....


If you want to check it out for yourself click here.

Primer

The essential first step to optically minimize lines, smoothing the skin surface and allowing the foundation to glide on with long-lasting effectiveness. It also contains vitamins A, C and E and antioxidants – so, along with extending the wearability of your makeup, this unique primer nourishes your skin all day long.

Foundation

This is lightweight and water-based foundation that creates a soft, silky airbrush finish that’s perfect for all skin types and remains barely detectable throughout the day, even at close inspection and under high definition

Pressed Powder

Their waterproof pressed powder creates the perfect finish over the primer and foundation, or it can be applied on its own when you find yourself just running out the door.

Duo Blush

Created with sunflower seed oil  and cornstarch to alleviate any oiliness while providing a lightweight blendable color.

Mascara

This is a lush, vitamin-enriched mascara that boosts volume and curl with every stroke. 

Lip Gloss

Has rich pigments and creates glistening color while it hydrates and protects lips from dryness all day. The colors have been selected to wear well on a wide range of skin tones – whether by itself or applied over other lip products. 

For more info check out Celestine Signature Line or to order...

.....

Favorite Make-up Essentials.... Palettes

I love eye colors and I have increasingly become addicted to palettes. I am loving that the packaging on many products are becoming more green and it has seemed to lend itself to make-up companies creating more compact color palettes.  Here are a few that I love....

                                     Sephora 5-in-1 Color Palette

This collection comes with five runway-inspired sub palettes, each its own color story. The five sub-palettes can be removed from the main array to fit easily into a conveniently portable compact. Each of the five sub-palettes includes: - 10 eye-shadows - 2 lip colors- 1 blush

                                        Sephora Colorful Artist Palette

This 15 shade highly intensive pigment shadow palette offers smooth, long-lasting coverage with antioxidant protection.

                                    Kat Von Dee True Romance Eye Palette

A palette of eight passion-inspiring eyeshadow colors from tattoo artist Kat Von D. Everything you need to create a beautiful smokey eye.

                              Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful  Palette

This palette features four beautifully wearable soft pinks and browns for eyes. Plum blush and a shot of bright pink for lips complete the look.

                                
                                     Lorac Private Affair Palette

This mini palette includes six highly pigmented eyeshadows of shimmering neutrals, silvery grays, and sparkling purples. It also contains a compact drawer that holds a mini eye primer and double-ended brush (blender and smudger).

A Minimalist’s Guide to Summer Beauty….

                              Photo: DimitryL.com, Model: Krista, Hair/Make-up:ValerieNoble.com

Now that summer is here and the weather has gotten warm, it’s a perfect time to streamline our beauty regimes. Looking fabulous with a minimal amount of skincare and make-up is easy so let’s take a look at how we can streamline our summer beauty routines down to 3 or 4 steps.

Skin Care- Skincare is really important in the summer when our sun exposure is increased but we can keep it simple by using:

• Cleanser- It is so important to remove your make-up and if you don’t wear make-up to clean your face nightly. Use a cleanser that works for your skin type.
• Nighttime moisturizer- After cleaning your face, it is imperative to moisturize. (Keep in mind that dry skin and sun damage shows up as wrinkles and fine lines.) With the new technology in today’s creams like retinol, glycolic acid, botanicals and oil-free moisturizers, nightly use can give you amazing results for younger looking skin.
• Weekly Facial Scrub- Use a scrub once a week to keep your skin looking fresh and revitalized. (Remember to moisturize after the scrub and don’t forget your neck)
  (Try: St. Ives Mineral Therapy Body Polish)

Make-up –Light daytime make-up is perfect for summer. Keep it simple by using:

• Moisturizer- With an SPF (after cleansing your face first, of course.) Mix with a little foundation to make it a tinted moisturizer.
• Blush or bronzer- Create a warm and sculpted face with blush or give your entire face and neck a warm-up with a bronzer.
• Mascara- Apply a coat or 2 of mascara to open up your eyes
  (Try: Maybelline’s XXL Pro Volume Washable)
• Lip gloss- Use your favorite gloss or lip tint to complete your daytime look.
  Add- A dab of concealer under the eye and on any discoloration can be used if necessary.

Hair Care- Summer is also the perfect time to keep hair simple…. Here are 2 essential items for great hair….

• Shampoo- Use a formulation designed for your hair type.
• Leave-in Conditioner- Skip the conditioner step by just using a leave-in conditioner. And many leave-ins work as a styling agent, too. (For example, the leave-in for curly hair can eliminate frizz and define the curl….just add a little more.)
  (Try: Sebastian Potion 9 wearable styling treatment)

Body Care- Keeping your skin moisturized and sun-protected is important for the summer.

•  Shower Gel Scrub- Keep your skin radiant and dry skin at bay by using a shower gel scrub.
  (Try: Orgins Gloomaway Grapefruit body-buffing cleanser)
• Moisturize- Use a moisturizer with an SPF for daytime protection. If you are spending time in the direct sun, you can add more as needed.

Now, with these easy tips we can get out and enjoy our summer activities and look fabulous in the process……

-Valerie