The Real Electra Lane

Trying to name this makeup “thing” was more difficult that I could have imagined. After several years on the bridal makeup circuit, I wanted to create a place where we could sit down over a cup of tea and talk about makeup; a place where frank and practical advice isn’t backed by someone selling something; a place where no question is too silly and technique is explained instead of demonstrated.  Essentially, I wanted to give you the tools and knowledge I have so you can be your own makeup artist.

The problem is that I couldn’t figure out a name that summed up all of that, had something to do with makeup or beauty, and was catchy.  So I went a little rogue.  After a lot of research and a little guidance, I picked the name of the street I lived on at the time:

And so, Electra Lane was born.

Good Skin

It cannot be stressed enough: good skin is essential to good makeup.  More than that, your face is a reflection of what is going on in your body.  A few years ago I made some drastic changes in my diet.  While I believe that everything should be consumed in moderation, some things, like vegetables, should be included in our diets more than others (far easier said than done).  There was a time when I could not imagine not having some form of bread, cereal, or cow’s milk for breakfast.  I believe my (panicked) reaction was, “But what am I supposed to eat?!” You have to create a diet that works for you or it will. not. work. After about 8 years researching food and what it does to us, I came across Kimberly Snyder, a clinical nutritionist, and her book The Beauty Detox Solution.  While I follow some of her principles, that lifestyle in general is not for me.  One thing I swear by, however, is her Glowing Green Smoothie.

I started drinking a GGS first thing in the morning starting November 2011.  Snyder claims that if we eat balancing foods, they will continually cleanse our bodies on a daily basis.  While I have no definitive proof because I do not strictly follow her plan, I can tell you this without hesitation: my life and my skin have been transformed.

When I started drinking a GGS most mornings and began to eat clean 80% of the time, things started to change.  My nose was less runny; I had more energy; and most of all, my skin, which has A L W A Y S battled acne, completely cleared.

Snyder notes that when you first start a clean diet, toxins that have built up in your system will start to exit the body in different ways for different people.  This is what happened to me:

Don’t worry, it only lasted about a week.  These photos were taken in November 2011, just out of the shower with no product on my skin, and in natural light…as is this one, but taken today:

I hope you’ll consider what’s going into your body, because, clearly, it can show up on your face.  Let me reiterate:  I eat cookies, drink wine, and have a bit of an obsession with dark chocolate.  But balanced with way more vegetables at every meal, my skin is much happier.

The Big Secret

When I crossed over from doing the occasional makeover to studying to be a makeup artist, I was so excited because I thought I would finally get the definitive answers to how to execute a perfect smokey eye or flawless concealer. I was severely disappointed.

Not only did I find out that there wasn’t an exact science to makeup, I learned that literally every makeup application – even on the same person – will be different.  This means that the big secret makeup artists are keeping from every-day makeup wearers is this:

THERE IS NO BIG SECRET.

When friends ask me makeup questions, like recommendations for a good red lipstick, my answer is always, “it depends…” because there are so many variables involved.

If you want an in-depth, beyond-the-typical-video-tutorial lesson, know that you’ll probably have to pay for it.  Start by checking around your area for master classes, and there are great options on Skillshare.  Of course *winkwink*, you can always receive a lesson from me through a password-protected Vimeo video that you can review any time you want.  For the ultimate immersion in makeup, the best advice is to work at a makeup counter; you will get thrown into the deep end, but you can’t not receive an unbelievable education in that environment.

Five-Product Challenge

Folks ask for my top five makeup products…but I rarely have an answer because I’ve been known to use around 20 different products (tools not included). For a challenge, I tried a makeup look (I actually liked) with only five makeup products.  It was fine, but since I couldn’t use anything to set my makeup, this look won’t last all day.  If you want to be a naughty rule-breaker and add powder and/or setting spray, this would be a perfect Minimalist or Work Appropriate.

Here’s the breakdown:

I applied tinted foundation with an SPF using my fingers and dabbed concealer around my eyes and nose, then blended cream blush onto my cheeks and lips.  Next, I used a dark brown eyeliner to my lash line and smudged, then used the same pencil to fill in my brows.  I really wanted my bronzer to contour, but I remembered a technique from this video (@ 5:50); so I used my liner instead.  I dotted a little liner down the sides of my nose and smudged using the same brush used on my eyes – then I used the residue on the brush to draw around my cheek bones and jawline.  Finally, I curled my lashes and added mascara.

Finding Your Guru

While YouTube is filled with excellent makeup advice, sometimes finding a go-to guru can take you through some rather…interesting…videos.  To hopefully make your journey easier, here are the artists I follow:

Wayne Goss (gossmakeupartist and gossmakeupchat)

Wayne is my favorite, and I’ll watch his cheeky videos several times a week.  He gives practical advice while demonstrating beautiful makeup looks for every age.

Lisa Eldridge (LisaEldridgeDotCom)

Even though I think she might have magical makeup powers, she will show you looks that you can absolutely recreate.  Full disclosure: sometimes I fall asleep watching her videos because her voice is so soothing.

Cara Brook (maskCARA)

Allure’s 2013 Beauty Blogger of the Year, Cara is a busy mom of two who shows you how to recreate celebrity looks.  Her blog also offers advice on everything from highlighting and contouring (aka HACing) to incredible hair tutorials, and she recently launched her own makeup line.

Teni Panosian (MissMaven)

Finally, Teni will give you the most gorgeous, romantic looks.  She’s also a hair genius.  She claims not to be a makeup artist, but her techniques are pretty advanced.