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04.27.15

Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes

If you are like me, you were born with what is called “hooded” eyelids. Hooded eyelids happen when the upper lid “hangs” over the lower lid making it “disappear” when your eyes are open. If your eyes are hooded, I’m sure that you have fought the fight of trying to find an eyeliner that won’t transfer on your eyes leaving an unwanted half-moon line in the crease of your eye. In this blog, I am going to divulge some of the best kept makeup artist secrets to getting the most out of your eye shape with eyeliner.

Do’s

Do find a great waterproof eyeliner. Most eyeliner gels and waterproof liquid pens are a great bet.
Do buy your eyeliner from someone who will happily take it back or exchange it for you if it doesn’t work out
Do use a eyelid primer to reduce the oil on your upper eyelids
If you choose to line your upper eyelids, keep the line as close to your lashes as possible. Thick line will close your eyes and make them appear smaller
Do try tight-lining your eyes with a waterproof gel vs. lining your upper lid. Tight-lining is when you apply eyeliner to the inner, upper waterline. This will give definition to your eyes and extend your lashline without closing down your lids.

Dont’s

Don’t use traditional pencil eyeliners as they will transfer
Don’t use non-waterproof eyeliner
Don’t use a thick liner line as it will make your eyes look smaller

seattle boudoir photography(pp w768 h572) Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes

04.25.15

Cannot wait to do one again!

We want to thank all of our out-of-state and international clients for making the trip out here. In a span of about a week, we had women travel from Colorado, Canada, and Hawaii just for the shoots with us!! Being that we are an all-inclusive studio, we offer more to our clients to help them prepare for their big day and ensure that it is nothing short of spectacular. In the case of Ms. B, she found us while living in another country!

Ms. B took up snowboarding in her mid 20’s and found that she had a natural talent. She quickly became technically skilled and started racing professionally. While she still competes on the slopes herself, Ms. B’s road took her to South America to coach a local snowboard team. Her life couldn’t have been better. Not only did she have her dream career but she had met and become engaged to a beautiful Chilean man while in South America. Her fiancé grew up on a remote island and boudoir was not a common gift idea in his culture so naturally, Ms. B had to do it for him!

It was June of 2014 when Ms. B began her search for the perfect boudoir studio. She didn’t mind traveling in order to have the perfect experience and best photos she could find. She searched through all the major U.S. cities, Dallas, NY, LA, SF, Seattle, Denver…etc., until she found Belle Boudoir. The “website stood above the rest in professionalism, quality of photos (before and aftter), and (that) the session was all inclusive.” She contacted Cheryl in July of 2014 and began her journey toward her in-studio session.

By February of 2015, Ms. B and her fiancé called off their engagement and parted ways due to infidelity on his part. She was devastated. Now Ms. B was faced with the decision of wether or not to move forward with her session at Belle Boudoir. Sure, it wouldn’t be for the same reason she originally booked it for but she “was in the best shape of (her) life, (she) was single, had low self-esteem,” and figured that giving herself a 5-star trip to Seattle for her boudoir session was exactly what she needed.

Ms. B arrived at the studio full of excitement and anticipation. She “loved how much fun (she) had. From working with the amazingly talented make-up artist to the posing and laughing during the shoot.” (There is never a shortage of laughter during a session with Belle Boudoir!) Ms. B had never done a boudoir session but she “cannot wait to do one again!” When we asked Ms. B how she felt after her session she responded by saying “I felt beautiful, empowered, hopeful, and ready for the future. I am so grateful that I did this as it was the exact motivation I needed to compete my transition into the next phase of life.”

04.21.15

Cool Your Curls!

When you heat style your hair, the proteins loose their composition and are able to be manipulated into a different shape. Therefore if you hold your curl in your hand after releasing it from the iron, long enough to cool, it is more apt to retain it’s new shape. Have you ever curled a piece of your hair only to realize it turned out to be a tighter curl than you wanted? Gently pull on the curl until it reaches your desired level of wave or curl. The key to remember is that your hair hasn’t fully committed to a shape until it is completely cooled. You still have the opportunity to manipulate the shape of your strands while they are warm. So take full advantage and get the exact texture you are looking for next time. Happy curling!

xo,

Nikoma, Hair and Makeup Artist

04.20.15

Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes

If you are one of the 8% of the worlds population to be blessed with hazel eyes, you are in for a real treat when it comes to playing with eyeshadow colors. You get to choose which of the colors in your eyes that you would like to make stand out more. I’m sure that you have noticed that your eyes “change color” depending on what you are wearing. Right? Well, the same is true based on what colors you use on your eyes. Certain eyeshadow colors will give the perception that your eyes are more one color or another. Use the guideline below to decided what colors you may want to choose.

More Green: Red is opposite of green on the color wheel so anything with a red undertone will make your eyes look more green. Really warm browns, copper, cranberry, etc. And plum shadows with red undertones are thoroughly flattering as well. Keeping your shadows warm and finishing them with jet black mascara will ensure that your eyes stand out, not your makeup.

More Blue: Since orange in opposite on the color wheel from blue, anything with an orange undertone will make your baby blue’s truly POP. I suggest going with bronze, copper, soft peach, and warm nude tones. You can also wear warmer purple and plum colors as these are complimentary to blue eyes but will not give the same intensity as something with an orange undertone.

More Brown: Blue tends to make brown eyes look a shade lighter and brighter. I know most people think that since we are out of the 80’s, blue eyeshadow is no longer en vogue but I beg to differ. Sure, the powder blue shimmer applied from your lash line to brow bone is a thing of the past but there are tons of ways to work blue into your routine without looking dated. Choosing a grey or gunmetal with a blue undertone is an easy and relatively neutral way to wear blue. You can also use a little pop of a soft silvery-blue in the inner corner or center of your eyelid to create a color contrast. My favorite way to add in blue when working on brown eyes, is by lining the inner upper rim of the eye with a royal or dark blue color. This puts the blue as close to your eyes as it can get and makes the color less noticeable but everyone will wonder what you did to make your eyes look so vibrant.

04.18.15

Old hollywood starlet for a day

Ms. J has always been enamored with the great old hollywood starlets and pin-ups. They evoke a certain femininity and sensuality that we don’t often see in the 21st century. One sleepless night while surfing the internet Ms. J came across the old hollywood and pin-up galleries on Belle Boudoir owner and photographer, Cheryl Jones’, website. Her heart nearly skipped a beat as she began flipping through the images and there was no doubt in her mind that she needed to have her own photoshoot. she immediately booked her session for the next available time slot and anxiously awaited for the big day to arrive.

Ms. J read the preparation guide over and over, borrowed some incredible vintage attire from a friend who works in the burlesque industry, and made her way down to the Ballard, Wa. studio. She was greeting by makeup artist and hair stylist Nikoma Souza and immediately jumped into the makeup chair a little weary of wether or not she would be able to evoke the spirit of the old greats like Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page. When her hair and makeup were finished, Ms. J was jaw-dropped looking at the transformation. She felt like she stepped directly out of an early 1950’s film and onto the set at Belle Boudoir.

Cheryl gave Ms. J direction through her entire shoot. She helped her with wardrobe selection, posing, and ensuring that she looked and felt comfortable the entire time. Ms. J had a blast throughout her session saying that she “never anticipated laughing so much!” When she took her lunch break after her session Ms. J couldn’t imagine the day getting any better…until she saw her images. Her jaw nearly hit the floor as she squealed out of excitement. She couldn’t believe that it was HER in the photos.

Ms. J not only was able to fulfill her dream of playing an old hollywood starlet for a day but she is now able to carry that dream with her in the form of an incredibly beautiful coffee table book…HER book.

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Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes

Cannot wait to do one again!

Cool Your Curls!

Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes

Old hollywood starlet for a day

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