Photoshoot

Having your first photoshoot assignment can be very daunting. The intimidating studio. The stereotypical bitchy models. The pressure to have your make up just perfect. The demanding stylist. The super sharp-eyes photographer that's ready to pinpoint your every mistake. A lot can go wrong.. or can it?

- I believe good preparation is the key. Have them send you their reference looks and concept, and openly discuss with the stylist before, during even after the make up is done. You're bound to have changes on the spot, and you just have to be ready for it. The good news is, sometimes changes can be good, especially when they like what you do to improve their concept.

- Have a professional attitude always, come on time or earlier even.

- Have a good set of makeup remover wipes. When you're rushing, this can be your lifesaver to save time..!

- Always bring a clean set of tools, whether that is your brush or sponges. I just think dirty messy tools scream lazy and unhygienic. You'll win points with the model and the stylist.

- Bring extra.. of everything. Extra brush, extra cotton buds, extra lashes, extra glue, extra whatever.

- Don't be surprised if your makeup look so different behind the lens. As we all know, lighting will affect how your makeup will turn out to be like. So don't panic, take it easy, just have your touch up tools ready at all times.

- Last but not least, be confident and just relax and have fun... It's not as daunting as you think :)

What? Hairstylist didn't show up? No worries, let's just do some simple hair styling updo..

 

Me with Cata that was having a major tummy ache that day, so instead of forcing her to sit through the gruelling hours, why not offer my lap and let her catch some sleep?

All done with Cata looking fierce and fabulous after her nap :)

Love,

A

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Indonesian style VS 'Bule' style

Whoa! This is an all different thing to talk about here. We can even dissect the topic into a more focused discussion, and in the end we can talk about this for days, weeks, months, years.. who's counting?

With no offense to my western friends, I use the term 'bule' because I think it's easier for us to generalise the Western style, even though it may originate from different countries. So 'bule' here is a term we use to speak on behalf of American, French, Australian, Italian, English etc etc. Oh, btw, bule means Westerners in Indonesian. :)

In terms of make up, I believe without a doubt there's a HUGE difference of styles between these two. Let's just take a couple of random examples. We'll start this interesting analysis by showing a couple of famous bule icons:

And now, let's bring out a couple of well known Indonesian celebrities:

Okay then, where shall we begin? I'm sure all of you can see the 'subtle' difference of make up styles between the two?

I'm an Indonesian, and I live here, and quite honestly, seeing this thick make up, applied super generously on the faces of the women here doesn't even make me raise my eyebrow anymore. How do you say it? It's just their cup of tea, and slowly I've come to accept it too. Not to me, personally, but I understand it's what they mostly look for when they go to a make up artist to get their make up done.

Here's a quick recipe on how to get the Indonesian celebrity make up look. You need:

- Thick foundation (even better in cream), 1 to even 2 tones lighter than your skin.

- Even thicker powder. Acne scars? Zits? Moles? Gone!

- Really sharp, defined eyebrows. Not a hair out of place, if there is, pluck it!

- SHADING. I have this joke with my students. You're not a true Indonesian if you haven't shade your cheekbones AND the most important thing of all; NOSE. Your nose have to look super straight, super sharp and super curiously will make people ask themselves whether it's cosmetically enhanced.

- Fake Eyelashes. This is it. The secret. The motherload of all makeup ship. Without fake eyelashes, I doubt anyone of the Indonesian celebrities would dare walk out their door. I'm not talking just a pair. We're being modest with 2 pairs. Yes my dear obssesionistas, we're in a different league here. We're talking 3 pairs and above. Rumour has it that Syahrini wore 5 pairs of fake eyelashes every single time. Hence, the famous 'bulu mata anti badai' (anti storm lashes).

Here I'm demonstrating what I meant on how the same style of makeup, but with different intensities can look like (have your finger close one side when comparing to appreciate the full change):

left: typican Indonesian makeup (here I only used 3 fake lashes)

right: same style, but softer look (i use 1 fake lashes)

Okay, I'm not being critical on this. Like I said, living here and seeing this type of makeup on a daily basis, I've come to accept it that this is what the public wants. I'm not saying it's horrible, but it sure is different. Anyone who would like to step out in a different style is welcome to try this look. I guarantee, it will make heads turn. Finish it off with the famous blowdried bouncy hair wave, and I'm sure no one would question whether you are truly an Indonesian :)

Until our next analysis,

Love,

A



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my REAL life :)

Hi there bloggers and make up addicts in the blogsphere...!

Forgive me for not writing for so so long.. omg, it"s been almost 2 years since I last posted! That IS long..

BUT

within that 2 years, a lot of things have happened, so let me quickly give you an update;
. i'm a proud mom to the most gorgeous, most talkative baby I've ever met, Chloe Daniella Joewono.
She came into the world after a giving me a 32 hour struggle, and one look into her face, I just knew I would go another 32 hours for her.
Okay. That's a lie. 32 hours okayy!! Who do you think I am? Wonderwoman? I aint gonna go through that again yo! I'm not equipped for that I think.. but really people, for all the pain and discomfort, she IS definitely worth the fight :) and I thank God every time I looked at her smile, for she is truly my living, breathing miracle..

Our first family Picture - 26 Dec 2010

. i'm now teaching make up. Oh Em Gee. Can life get any better than this? Well I guess it can, coz I'm teaching in one of the make up academies that are famous for its make up, and that's Make Up For Ever (MUFE). *scream* I love teaching. I love make up. and I love MUFE products! It's just the perfect combination. Give me a talented, easy-to-teach, eager-to-learn student, and I'll definitely know its a dream. It's just too perfect.. Hahahaha.. But I literally wake up super early, got ready for work (while humming along to a song) with a smile on my face. It's weird (and annoying), I know, but that's how much I love my job.

That's me re-arranging the model's headpiece, with my student finishing her work

. Never in my head or imagination would I imagine saying this; I have done quite a number of fashion shows (Alberta Ferreti, Jean Paul Gaultier, several Indonesian designers etc), Photoshoots for famous magazines and even weddings. It started slow, but I'm making my mark in the make up world, one foundation at a time.

So my dear friends, with that, let me give you my word that from this moment on, I'm gonna dedicate myself to writing and updating this blog of mine with everything and anything that is in my brain.. It can be things related to make up, or even simple tips and tricks that I've discovered along the way that would help you in your make up routine.. Either way, I do hope that it would turn all of you into my 'beautiful blushers'..

Write to you tomorrow..!

Love,
A

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the long and winding road

Personally, to finally admit to myself that I like doing make up is quite difficult. I was raised in a traditional Chinese family, with a strong business background. So it was quite fitting for all of my siblings (including myself) to choose a business degree in college. Don't get me wrong, I love doing business, analysing the strategies and the marketing tools that companies use to win the competition. Without sounding too obnoxious, I can say that I have a good understanding on it, and I'm pretty good at it. So it was a natural choice to submerge myself in the business world after I graduate.

But I guess God has His own funny way to direct my life path. My first serious job was actually in one of the biggest cosmetics company in the world, L'Oréal. I fell in love with it from the first interview. I desperately wanted to work there, not knowing that the real reason why I wanted to be there was because of the nature of the industry itself. I remembered going home from the first interview and said to my parents, 'this is my company, this is where I wanna work!'. I foolishly declined all other offers and waited for the call. After 2 months of waiting, I was lucky, I was hired to become the Training Development person there. I didn't care what position I was offered. I just wanted to be there.

It was my first job, but let me tell you it was my first love. One of my responsibilities was to train and gave people the necessary knowledge of the company and their line of work. Basically, I was teaching (and learning at the same time) about the importance of cosmetics in our lives. I loved what I was doing and so I guess that was the real reason why I was good at it.

Did I tell you that I met my future husband there? No? Oh well, now you know why I loved my job even more.. :))

Anyway, something came up and I had to leave the company and move to Australia. It was a difficult decision, because I felt that I had to leave so many things that I love behind. But my boyfriend gave me a good advice and motivation. He said to use the opportunity to discover and explore new things that I've wanted to know and do, but never had the time. So I knew I've always been an artistic person, from colouring, drawing, painting, origami, quilling, you name it, I've done all that as a mere hobby. So based on that, I decided on trying out design, specifically Interior.

And my new life began. Studying Art is NOTHING like business. Nothing is definite. Nothing is fixed. It's so abstract. I'm someone who likes things in order and art is quite the opposite. I felt miserable. I felt that I made the wrong choice. I wanted to drop out after just 2 weeks, but somehow I managed to hold on and in the end, graduated with top achievement award. During that time, I sort of rediscovered my love for drawing and colours. I found that I was actually good in picking and mixing different colours together to create this harmony of colours.

So with that, I started my new journey in Interior in a property firm. It was okay, it was a good job, good position, good pay, so why couldn't I have that happy feeling like I did in L'Oréal?

But, a personal health problem shifted my whole perspective in life. Suddenly, it all became clear. I wasn't happy with my work. I wasn't happy with my life. I was lost. I didn't know what I wanted to do next. And then my ex-boyfriend-now-hubby asked me why don't I just pursue make up? I looked at him and wondered why I married an obviously insane person. And then he said this, "A successful business usually comes from what you like to do best. And I can see how much you like to do make up. So why not?"

It was so simple. Too simple. Could it be that simple?
I was 30 and he's giving me advise to throw away everything I have and start from the very beginning. It didn't make sense. It sounded so crazy. But somehow, it crazily started to make sense. Huh?

So I did just that. I resigned, became unemployed and became a student again.
And it felt so great. Like a release of this great big energy that you've been keeping inside you for so long. From the day I walked to my first make up class, I just knew I belonged there.

I know it took me quite some time (and places) to get to where I'm supposed to be in life. But I have no regrets. With all that have happened in my life, it just made me appreciate what I've almost lost but found in the end.

So, make up anyone?

Love,
A

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my first discovery

I created this blog to share to the world how I finally discovered my real obsession. Sure, shoes have always been (and will always be) amongst the top obsession list, but from a very young age (as my family members and friends will vouch for), I have always been fascinated with the world of make up and beauty.


Picture this, me as an 8 year old looking at my mom applying her daily make up. I remembered being curious and at the same time amazed at how someone can colour their face without using crayons or paint - the only media colours I knew at the time. I seriously could watch her for hours. Yeah, unlike other 'normal' kids, I didn't need toys to keep me entertained, just give me a mirror (and possibly someone colouring her face) and I'll be happy with it. Honest.

I remembered one time when my mom was getting ready to go to a wedding. When I finally said something, I couldn't remember correctly what it was, but it was along the line of "orange doesn't suit you mom.. and your face is too white and your eyebrows are scary". (Yes, my honesty and frankness have always been with me ever since. But that's not the point. Let's put that to another topic for another time..) The main point here is, I was actually noticing how colours can affect or change a person's face...! But who would take a 10 year old's advice seriously? So off she went to the wedding proudly wearing her orange-ish gold eyeshadow and super duper flawless (read: porcelain too-white) face... well, it was the late 80s, so maybe the gold dust was still the IN thing in some parts of the world? Oh, let's not even start on her hair style! All I'm gonna say, think words such as: poofy, curly, wet, and BIG...! I'm gonna let your imagination begin now.. :)

Okay, this post is not to badmouth my mom.. I love her to death, she's one of the cutest and bravest person I've ever known. I was just trying to make a point that beauty and style have always caught my interest. Sure, I suffered bad fashion choice and make up mistakes in my lifetime (I've burned most of the pictures, you have no proof!).. But from failures come success! (I hope.. fingers crossed).

So, come and share with me my path to self discovery, as I've finally come to slowly embrace my addiction to beauty. It's not gonna be easy, but at least I know it's gonna be anything but ugly.. :D

Love,
A

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