IMATS LA 2010!

I'll be traveling to Los Angeles/Pasadena to attend IMATS 2010 in Los Angeles/Pasadena! I'm thrilled and excited to be helping out at the Yaby Cosmetics booth. Those who worked with me know that I love my World of Pearl Paints eye shadow palette religiously.  The models also love that palette and look at it with "ooooohhs" and "aaaaahhhs" and love the results! But of course I hope that it's also due to my amazing artistry as well and not just because of a great product! (lol~~~) I am excited for the opportunity to buy new things for my kit and meet some new people!

Last Sunday I worked on a photo shoot for Yael Designs with 2 gorgeous Russian models, Svetlana and Khrystyna (whom you might recognize from my previous work!) and amazing photographer Laura Tillinghast!  :D All behind the scenes photos are taken by Yael Designs! Without these photos, I won't be able to see what I did other than in memory for at least a couple of weeks so I was super excited to see them! I know I look really really scary from working hard below, but I'm holding and using my favorite World of Pearl Paints on Svetlana below!

I was transitioning from look 2 to look 3 for Svetlana~ I changed the makeup first and then the hair~ and below is Svetlana on set! 

This is Khrystyna's 2nd look~ Also using Yaby eyeshadow~! 

And finally, Khrystyna's 3rd and final makeup and hair look! Also using Yaby!

I'll have another behind the scenes post soon when I return from IMATS!  If you're there and spot me, please say hello! I'd love to meet you!  :) Have a great weekend!!

NeoBohemian Fashion Story with Cecilia Austin

Model: Niamh Parsley 
Makeup: Elizabeth Chang (Skyla Arts) 
Hair: Ciara Robles
Wardrobe: Chaine Leyendecker and Hannah Trevino
Photography & Post-processing: Cecilia Austin

I finally finally posted these photos! I'm catching up slowly~ ^^ We did three looks that were all dropped eyeshadow looks that started 'clean' and gradually transitioned into smokey.  The theme was neo-bohemian traveler inspired. Cecilia is also a fine art photographer, so her compositions and background selections are always so inspiring! I received lots of compliments after applying Niamh's foundation~ :) Cecilia also named the story as "Under her Spell" but I thought I would just use a different title for my blog just so I'm not directly lifting from Cecilia! :) I also think the whole story fits the NeoBohemian theme~ teehee! The crew really liked the way I applied her highlighter and blush and loved the way her skin looked and glowed! yay! There were 4 outfits~ I think outfit #1 (by the window, shorts) and #4 (rock'n'roll with the boots and hat) are my favorite.  I have been enjoying the world cup this weekend while doing a bunch of chores and work! The warm weather is not very pleasant, though...! I hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Some behind the scenes! lol I don't look too good in this photo, but that's ok! haha The photo to the right, is Hannah (wardrobe), Ciara doing some final touches to Niamh's hair, and Chaine (wardrobe) to the right. We were a great team! 

To view some more beautiful photos from the shoot please visit the Fashion/Editorial gallery! Enjoy!

Customized Makeup Lessons!

This is just a mini-update here; I hope everyone had a great weekend! Since I don't do any before/after or take photos of my makeup lesson clients, I just thought I would blog briefly about the customized makeup lessons I provide. There are 1-on-1 options, or small groups up to 3 people and I customize the lesson depending on the level of experience and the desired look. Usually 90min is the optimal time, but 2 hours is also a very nice time frame to do this. Part of it is demonstration, and the other part is hands-on so you practice the technique immediately! I have my clients fill out the usual skin care questionnaire, and I usually ask about the desired look and we go from there!  I wanted to share this face chart (the chart itself I got from MUA Jordon Liberty~ and at the end of the lesson, I can either email the products we tried and experimented, or I can draw a face chart with some easy instructions/reminders of what we covered during our lesson.

I really have a lot of fun in all of the sessions I've done!

In other news, I am a bit backed up with updates! But I managed to create a new splash page on my website with some of my new works so check it out if you like!  (you can click the image and it'll take you straight to my website) ^^ Also I designed a new composite card (it's like a postcard professionals in our industry print out to give to people, like a fancy business card! ^^) and sent it to the printer! So I was actually very productive today so I'm happy. That's it for now, I hope everyone had a great long weekend~!

Summer Beauty Story: Laura Tillinghast x Skyla Arts x Khrystyna

Model: Khrystyna Ukushu (Look Model Agency)
Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang (Skyla Arts)
Photography & Post-processing: Laura Tillinghast

I'm so so proud to post these new photos from a photo shoot earlier this month! It is my first time buying/using hair extensions and thankfully the hair color was a perfect match (as it was none-refundable!) and it looked just so much like Khrystyna's natural hair color.  This is probably the most challenging shoot to date due to the weather conditions (very hot, and then very cold and windy! we were blown all over the place on the hills!) and also time-pressure.  I clipped on the hair extensions in a moving car on a sinuous freeway (the 280!) oh nausea - I definitely pushed myself to reach new heights. We raced against the sunset, battled for light!  So some of the hair changes had to be finished while on the car, driving on a sinuous road up and down the hills!  And of course, makeup on location! Despite the freezing windy conditions, we were still able to succeed! I was stressed to come up with 4 summer & airy makeup looks, but I'm super happy it all worked out! The laced tops and some of the flower hair accessories were provided by Laura, and I provided the cute beaded pink ring & the white headband! :)


Look 1: "Airy Fairy Look" - Coral&Gold eyeshadow/Romantic Curls

Look 2: Pink & Brown Eyeshadow/ Side romantic braid & accessories

Look 3: Soft Lavender eyeshadow / Middle part, twisted side-do, teased curls

Look 4: Soft, smokey purple with liner / Hair completely down.


Extra Fashion shots for Khrystyna - very GUESS ad! :)



Another favorite of mine:


To view some more beautiful photos of Khrystyna, please visit the Beauty photo gallery and the Fashion/Editorial gallery! Enjoy!

Beauty Story with Caroline, Charlene & Rummy [Part 2]

Model: Charlene (Look Model Agency)
Makeup: Elizabeth Chang (Skyla Arts)
Photography & Post-processing: Rummy Makmur

Charlene shared that she once tricked her cousin into believing she starred in "Rush Hour 2" that featured Zhang Ziyi! At first I didn't see the resemblance, but I can see it more in the film; either way, I'm super thrilled we got some really classy shots and we're happy that the image got selected to be used on Charlene's portfolio in her agency! Go team! ^^

Beauty Story with Caroline, Charlene & Rummy [Part 1]

Model: Caroline (City Models)
Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang (Skyla Arts)
Photography & Post-processing: Rummy Makmur

In this post the photos feature Caroline from City Models; Charlene will appear in Part 2! ;D The shoots happened on the same night, so I thought it would make sense to put'em together and do parts 1 and 2. Above is the second look, and below was the first look. During the makeup session, the beauty blender I was using on Caroline rolled to the floor and I had shared how Skyla jumped on the table in order to get closer to the beauty blender. Caroline was like: "Quick! We better pick it up before Skyla gets to it!!!!" Rummy did wonders in his hair editing!  We loved all the subtle expressions Caroline brought to the shoot and we are all so proud of the outcome! Enjoy!

Good-Buys and Hell-Nos! [April 2010]

I decided to mix it up and do some product reviews as well and came up with a fun name for it "Good-Buys and Hell-Nos!" OK OK I realize that calling a bad investment "Hell-No" is kind of mean and I apologize if you find it offensive; I just thought it's a funny play on good bye & hello!  But seriously - only products I'd never buy again or REGRET buying, and cannot/feel bad about returning will go into that list!  I also can't guarantee I'll write one of these each month, but we'll see! :)

I bought all of the products with my own money (Unfortunately lol...) mostly for use for my business.  Please read this while keeping in mind that this is just my personal opinion but I hope you might find the review helpful for your next purchase!  I think for now I'm going to stick to 3 in each category!

Hell-No #1: Laura Mercier Eye Basics (Peach) $24 

First up on the Hell-No list....while I admit that when I bought it (rashly, I might add...) I was looking for a concealer specifically for the eye area and to use it as a color adjuster/color corrector, but honestly, I couldn't have used it as a eyelid primer (what the product is actually for) either because the the crease-resistant formula is dries up too quickly, and cakes up immediately on mature-r skin.  Especially the delicate eye area - we naturally have LINES there (That are not necessarily wrinkles) and this product just accentuates those lines and makes you look like you have wrinkles.  Scary. Good thing I returned it or else I would have been a bit depressed over wasting money on something I would never use...! 1/5 stars..worst possible score! Rating: 

Good-Buy#1: Benefit Cosmetics Erase Paste (Fair, Medium, Deep) $26/color

I wish it came in a tube and not a jar, but that's just me whining a bit - I don't actually know what it would be like in a tube with such a creamy product - just a sort of "in the ideal world" kind of thought!  I've been using this on everyone and - while it doesn't perform as well as a liquid under eye concealer (*sigh to Kanebo Lunasol...it's just hard to get here..) in terms of the danger of sinking into the lines, you just have to be extra careful about going against the grain and have your client not move until the concealing is done+powder is set. Smooth consistent texture - what's not to like? It was my first time ordering with my pro/industry discount and it sucks because you can only use either the industry discount, or free shipping for over $50. Other cosmetic companies (ahem ahem smashbox) ships for FREE or if you reach a certain amount, you get free shipping. GrrRrr! My other complaint is the "deep" doesn't feel/appear deep enough! I'd still have to mix it up with darker concealer for deeper skin tones. I own all 3 shades, too! I wish it would have maybe 5 peachy colors, so I can just get 1, 3, 5 and mix...but that's a perfect world I guess! For that, I give it 4/5 ! 

Rating: 

Hell-No #2: MAC Cosmetics Matte $18 

I was kind of forced to purchase this during the MAC PRO master class (Another sigh for me..) as the other products I wanted was out of stock!  But it's my own fault for accidentally throwing the package away...But anyways, this is basically a primer you can use before or after foundation, but I tried it both ways and find it to be less functional than say, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, considering oily/combination skin.  It would definitely help hold the makeup for normal skin, and smooth out pores, but considering I could have spent my money elsewhere, I give it a 2/5, because at least I can use it on normal skin! Rating: 

Good-Buy#2: Make up For Ever Eye Seal $26
I didn't see a need to purchase this product mainly because I have a lot of eyeliners already, liquid metallics liners that I just squeeze out and dip a brush into, but saw how neat it was to kind of make your own waterproof liner with pigments or eyeshadows!  Granted you don't need a lot of the product, but such a tiny bottle!! I often get it confused with one of my sample products...that's how tiny it is! I was tempted to take off 1 star for my complaint but...in terms of its function and how useful it could/would be for my kit - definitely a great buy! Rating: 

Hell-No #3: Revlon ColorStay Liner For Lips (Natural 685) $7.99

I was kind of possessed when I saw the BUY 1 Get 50% off sign at Walgreens.  Well not just the sale, I was also on a mission for the perfect nude liner - I bought 2 of Make up Forever Aqua Lip waterproof liner and they were not the right colors, but still very useful  and very waterproof.  The other shade I bought (The Buy 1 Get 50% off) was OK, but this shade was just not very pigmented at all.  Maybe I got a bad one but I expect color to come out...!! but nope...nothing.. might as well go out with your NUDE/NATURAL lip.  Not to knock out the whole series of lipliners though, I would just not buy this particular shade. Rating:

Good-Buy#3: Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick (01 Only Beige & 02 Beige Champagne) $28

My other possessed moment...lol...I think at $28 a piece for a lipstick is ridiculous - I thought it was $21 until I went over to pay lol....And I barely got any discount...15% at Sephora, plus California sales tax is like - NO discount. But how shall I put this...these are definitely investments...I do dislike the packaging and I feel like I'm overpaying for unnecessary packaging - I have a lip palette ready that I haven't put all my lipsticks in there...yet! ;) [I'm working on that...the whole condensing kit thing...*sigh*] I am setting these aside mainly for my bridal clients. These are great colors for bridal, and definitely a close cousin to my

Dior lip palette...one that I bought at the airport as a traveler's set! Those colors are just the perfect bridal palette...but alas when I tried to repurchase it, I bought a LIP GLOSS palette! (Definitely a HELL-NO  product...the Dior lip gloss palette...I had spent...so much money thinking I would get 5 great bridal colors, but I was wrong! Be careful with those duty free traveler sets!) Anyhow, I digress - while the color doesn't last as long as a matte lipstick, dry cracked lips (that matte lipstick emphasizes) is unattractive to anyone, especially the camera, and also a pain to retouch for the photographer.  Considering the creamy/moisturizing texture, the wear is OK. Even though I dislike the price and the packaging, (grrr please put them in cheap plastic recyclable cases next time lol) great buy! Rating: 


OK! That's the end of my first issue of "Good-Buys and Hell-Nos!" :) I hope you enjoyed the read and found it helpful~ ;) Until next time!