How to Look Celeb-a-Fab in your Passport Photo

Last week I attended a Spring makeup event hosted by Tia Cosmetics, held at Ambience boutique in Edgewater’s City Place shops. Despite many years of working with makeup artists, both personally and professionally, I find that I always walk away from a live makeup event with some sort of new tip.

Bettina is the creative force behind Tia – executive makeup artist and creator of her eponymous line of skin care and beauty products.  Full disclosure – I’m a client of Bettina’s. But my relationship with her has been one-sided – meaning, that I’m usually the one sitting in the chair.  At last week’s event, however, I got to see a true artist at work. 

Bettina’s approach to her craft is a combo of “your cool aunt that gives you those great makeup tips” mixed with “celebrity sizzle.”  Her goal is to make her clients “look celeb-a-fab for even their passport photos.”  And I can say from firsthand experience, that you channel your inner Scarlett Johansson when you leave her chair.

So you get the drift – I’m a big Bettina fan.

Here are some beauty tips I came away with from last week’s event – straight from Tia, herself:

1.  A good skin regime is fundamental. Ladies, that means not going to bed with a face full of makeup! Cleanse, exfoliate occasionally and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  Take a tip from Kris Jenner (probably the only salient piece of advice I ever got from watching hours of Keeping up with the Kardashians) — use a hot wash cloth at the end of the night to remove your makeup and allow your pores to breathe.

2. Break the rules: mash things up. Thought eye shadow was just meant for your eyes?  Think again. Try using a dab of darker eye shadows to deepen your lip hue.  Use a smear of lipstick to blush your cheeks. Apply dewy creamwear blush over eyelids for a hint of shimmer.  It’s all about multipurpose use of key products.

3.  Conceal last, not first.  If I had to pick one trademark of Tia, it would be her use of concealer at the end of her makeup application. This is helpful especially when working with dark, smokey shadows for your eyes that may leave some soot under your lower lash line. Simply clean things up with a bit of makeup remover, dot on concealer and light powder. 

For more info and tips on how to be ready for the red carpet (or your local passport agency), check out www.tiacosmetics.com

{Disclaimer: While I am a paying client of Bettina/Tia Cosmetics, these opinions expressed in this post are solely mine. I have occasionally received complimentary makeup products from Tia Cosmetics, however I was not compensated in any way for this post.}