Spring Ball "Get Ready With Me" Makeup Artist and Hair Style Secrets

Makeup and Hair care tools for that Met Gala, Red Carpet Glow

Met Gala 2016: Now that we've seen the beautiful dresses and posh outfits from the Gala, here is how you can translate these trends into a star-worthy entrance for your next event. If you notice the overall makeup was quite natural with dark lips showing up everywhere. This look is not for everyone but is a makeup option to either include or skip. The hair ranged from Hollywood glamour to everything in between so I'll cover that too. Oh and keep in mind many of the makeup and beauty products included here make GREAT last minute Mother's Day Gifts!

Chic and Sleek. Makeup and Hairstyles for a Spring Ball, wedding reception or posh Gala.

June is Bridal Month so be ready to be announced at a wedding reception with all those cameras flashing and videos being recorded. You'll want to look your best. I just covered skincare and how to give yourself an at home spa facial using natural products which you may read HERE. Now that your skin is moisturized, here is the next step before applying any makeup.

Give yourself a spa quality facial and moisturizing treatment by clicking HERE

Step 1: Primer & Concealer
After working for years with professional makeup artists on photo shoots and television, I'm sharing these secrets. Once I'm done moisturizing, I apply my primer of choice. It's important to let your moisturizer sink in completely before adding a makeup base. Some of my favorite primers offer a mat finish and stay put. You might want to try Miracle Blur by Revlon or Baby Skin by Maybelline. Both erase pores as well as fill in fine lines. My Lorac UnZipped Palette comes with a similar primer for your eyelids. Really any primer for your face will work on your eyelids too. Once you apply your primer to face and lids, use a really good concealer under the eyes and other dark areas of your face. My favorite? Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay in Place High Cover Concealer. It covers very well without being cakey and has 12 hour + wear. Also has a SPF 35 for sun protection.

Step One: Face and /or Eyelid Primer

Step 2: Air Brush Foundation Application
In order to have a flawless, HD photo-ready finish, I always air brush my makeup. I use Kett Cosmetics Kett Jett air brush compressor and foundation which was matched for my by the company founder, Shiela McKenna. I just started using Mineral Air's natural foundation and cordless airbrush as I plan to take it with me for travel and on vacation this season. Fill the Mineral Air compressor with between 10-12 drops of foundation. Shake and hold the airbrush about 5-6 inches from your face, spraying in circular motions. You can always build more coverage but I've found this amount adequate for evening makeup. So easy you are done in under a minute.

Mineral Air's cordless, portable compressor includes three liquid foundations

Mineral Air comes with three small bottles of foundation which allow you to mix and match according to the seasons. I like this option as you can fine tune your foundation to match your neck no matter how much tan you have. I then go over my first airbrush application with a slightly darker shade to do a little contouring. The thing with airbrushing is to add your highlighters and shimmers BEFORE the application. Once it's on, putting anything creamy or liquid will disturb it. I didn't need any powder but you could use a light application of translucent powder if you like. So you can see how it looks on in the photo below.




Mineral Air makeup at The Winter Ball, Lincoln Center Plaza

My Mineral Air makeup stayed on all night despite high winds and rain on the way to Lincoln Center Plaza. What an amazing night! Get more information about Mineral Air makeup an accessories online at MineralAir.com

Natural Eyes for a night out. Lorac's Unzipped is an upgraded dupe for Urban Decay's Naked Palette

Step 3: Evening Eyes
You'll notice from the Met Gala and other red carpet events that the ultra heavy smoky eye and contouring are pretty much done (except for Kim Kardashian maybe). Classic elegance is what you are going for especially at a formal event such as a wedding or anniversary party. If you notice no one is wearing multi-colored or sparkly shadows either. Go with something like my neutral Lorac Unzipped palette above which has shimmers, metallic and matte shades which will be more than enough smoke for the evening. Start with "Undercover" as your base and sweep over the entire lid. Wet an eyeliner brush and line your eyes with the deepest shade, "Untamed". Finish with a Black Mascara like Calvin Klein's CK One.

The trend toward more natural, neutral eyes and makeup.

Step 4: Lip Service
This season we are seeing dark, wine red lips. I personally think these shades drain the color from your face and age you so I stay away from any lip color with blue/red undertones. If I do go for a rich color, it will be an orange based deep red. My favorite and what I am wearing in the gala photos is Estee Lauder's Pure Color Envy in Envious applied with a ESUM lipstick brush.

New designer fragrances from Ariana Grande and Jimmy Choo for the evening.

Step 5: Seal the Deal with A Mist
Mist your makeup with a setting spray like this makeup extender from L'Oreal, the Infallible Pro-Spray & Set, (see lead photo). You'll also want to mist yourself with a little perfume, (Mother's Day Gift Alert)! Two new fragrances to try this season are Exotic by Jimmy Choo and Ari by Ariana Grande. Also bring the elegance home with this Sensual Rose & Hibiscus Candle by Northern Lights, NY. Presented in an artisan hand blown glass it will set the mood.

Darker lips are perfect. Smokey eyes and heavy makeup with contouring are OUT.

Hair Style Secrets
Whether you decide to wear your hair up, down or somewhere in between, you'll want to start with the basics. A precision layer cut will insure that your hair holds its shape. After shampooing, allow hair to air dry a bit. Go easy on the styling products as too much can weigh hair down. To add shine and polish try a tiny spritz of Rusk Elixir Thermal Shine Mist before blow drying. 
Use a large round/oval 100% boar bristle brush like this Grand Gala from Monroe Brushes to finish with. This will seal the cuticle for a no frizz, mirror shine. I learned from my stylist at Christo Fifth Avenue to aim the dryer at an angle over the brush as I blow out my hair. This gives my hair lift at the roots. They use a dryer similar to this NEW Ionic 1875W high powered one by Pro Beauty Tools. It comes with a concentrater for blow outs and a diffusor for keeping curls undisturbed. Finish with a blast of cold air as this dryer has that plus several heat and power settings. See their collection of hot styling tools at Target.com or ProBeautyTools.com

Professional Hair Styling Tools for extra frizz free shine.

So there you have it. This season's gala looks are posh and polished with clean, healthy skin, rich lips and shiny, frizz free hair.

A little something extra: The big red carpet deserves a Little Lace Box Subscription! Some extras for your jet-setting travels include: a 100% cotton laundry bag, Claudia Pearson Brownstones Tea Towels, Brownstone NYC Shopping List, Beakman 100% all Natural Wondermint Lip Balm, Bellapierre Precious Diamonds Body Butter, Knot & Bow Party Confetti, Artisan Mother's Day Card. Also perfect for Mother's Day, bridal party gifts, birthdays and much more. Visit LittleLaceBox.com online. 

Little Lace Box Subscription

Coming Up: Season in The Hamptons - Local Style and Vacation Destinations

Makeup and hair styling accessories c/o the companies included and mentioned herewith.