National Lipstick Day Celebration

Join F.A.C.E. in celebrating a makeup holiday: “National Lipstick Day”!

IN-STUDIO:


Lip Bar: Stop by anytime from 12pm-6pm and sit in the makeup chair. Let F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry curate a custom lip look for you. *Please arrive without any previous lip color on.

Door Buster Gifts: The first 20 purchasing customers ($50 or more purchase on F.A.C.E. brand product requirement) receive a complimentary lip liner of choice.

Lip Product Sale: F.A.C.E. brand product- 20% off. *Includes lipsticks, “novelty” lipstick (“LipsDick”), lip liners, lip brushes.

ONLINE:


Web Buster Gifts: The first 20 purchasing customers ($50 or more purchase on F.A.C.E. brand product requirement) receive a complimentary lip liner of choice. *Simply state which shade desired in the notes section at checkout.


Lip Product Sale: F.A.C.E. brand product- 20% off. *Includes lipsticks, “novelty” lipstick (“LipsDick”), lip liners, lip brushes.

Beauty Adventure Road Map

School is out, Summer is around the corner, and travel is resuming. For myself and many around me, I can feel the deep need for an escape, adventure, vacation or curiosity-chase. We know how both cosmetics and travel are vehicles for self-discovery. Mingled together, there’s really something unique.

We already know how the refurbished souvenir-style compacts at F.A.C.E. invite purchasers to use as a map to explore through psychogeography. This refers to the act of exploring a territory in a nontraditional way. We can choose to explore in ways that incorporate randomness and spontaneity, and in doing so we may transform our familiar cartography into something unexpected.

But, what about an actual Beauty Adventure Road Trip? Upon researching, there are several beauty landmarks scattered over the United States. These businesses honor the history of cosmetics and participate in travel and tourisms in their own regions. From the world’s only beauty saloon offering manicures + martini’s, to a Joshua Tree “hairstorian”, and a makeup compact art gallery right here in Paducah (that’s us!), there are so many unique beauty + travel fusion experiences in America.

Makeup Museum: New York City, NY

F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry: Paducah, KY

Beauty Bar: Chicago, IL

Besamé Cosmetics: Burbank, CA

Beauty Bubble Salon + Museum: Joshua Tree, CA

Leila’s Hair Museum: Independence, MO

BITE Beauty Lab: Las Vegas, NV

Hollywood Museum: Los Angeles, LA

Why You Don’t See Before And After Makeup Photos On My Feed: A Cinderella Analogy

While traveling, I found a copy of the children’s book Cinderella in a gift shop and thumbed through the pages. There were 2 side-by-side pages that helped me better understand my role and beliefs as a Makeup Artist. The first page depicted the unrecognizable Princess in her ornate gown leaving the ball at the first stroke of midnight. She was desirable and high society. The other page showcased Cinderella back to her normal self, camouflaged in her soot and rags.

I don’t mind Before and After photos. I enjoy seeing homes, cars, garden spaces transformations. I used to LOVE watching makeovers in their entirety on the Style Network Show “How Do I Look?”

Most beauty services are maintenance-based. They last an extended amount of time (days, weeks, months, years) on the face before needing to be reconditioned. They have a permanency aspect. 

I think Before + After documentation can become quite tricky in the human space with ephemeral makeup applications. Sure, including the Before photo guides the viewer to perceive a complete transformation. But with the way culture has primed our subconscious minds, this can also signal that someone is less attractive (and therefore less capable, less worthy and less of a person) without the makeup and “when the clock strikes twelve”, will return to what they were before.

Before + After photos of ephemeral makeup applications are actually Before + After + Before photos. Just like Cinderella’s transformation, the underlying issue is that the comparison praise of someone’s almost metamorphosed face is that it can devalue their previous state and subtly remind viewers that this individual will go back to this state.

I believe the role I am pursuing as a Makeup Artist is less about display, glow ups, and comparisons. My mission with ephemeral makeup is to operate in a beauty space compassed in calibration, connection and confidence. I hope this mission is reflected in my work. There is no Before + After,  there’s merely the look that we work together to achieve.

Tipping A Makeup Artist

I read a fascinating article about electronic “guilt tipping”. Thanks to popular technology, non-traditional venues give merchants the option of asking for a tip by simply swiveling an electronic screen around that asks whether you want to tip. 


Now that most any business type is participating in a tipping option at checkout, the lines are quite blurry on what services are “appropriate for” versus “dependent on” gratuity.


It has always been customary to tip traditional beauty services. While cosmetology service providers charge a professional rate, gratuity is generally accepted to reflect the level of satisfactory hospitality.


Although Makeup Artistry isn’t a maintenance-based beauty service, it still flows into the hospitality-driven line of work. Let’s get into The Why, When, How, What, Where and Who’s of Tipping a Makeup Artist.

WHY:

Makeup Artists work irregular schedules (evenings, weekends, and extremely early mornings). We often miss quality time with family and friends to meet the demands of the season, missing our own special occasions to accommodate our clients’.


WHEN:

Each party plays a role in when it is appropriate to tip.


The Makeup Artist:

-Is on time.

-Meets the service recipient’s needs in a professional manner.

-Provides any final suggested revisions.

-Accommodates last minute service upgrades or changes.


The Service Recipient:

-Is late to the appointment.

-Brings a guest or a child.

-Uses a cell phone/smart watch during appointment.

-Eats food during the appointment. {All components that severely slow down/interrupt quality of makeup service}.


HOW + HOW MUCH:

Methods of Payment now include cash, card, check, electronic payments. Suggested standard beauty service tip percentages: 15%-20% of total service cost.


WHAT:

With monetary currency. Please do not tip with food or physical gifts. Makeup Artists rarely have time to consume food and beverages during/between appointments.


WHERE:

Tip for in-studio appointments as well as on-location services. Remember- packing, loading and commuting for on-site bookings is time (and therefore money) expensed, preventing Makeup Artists from accepting several appointments on this date.


WHO:

Tip your booking Makeup Artist and ask how tipping should be distributed if they bring in a 2nd artist or assistant.

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Virtual Makeup Classes Debut Date

On January 1st, F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry will debut 6 signature virtual makeup classes. These $75 Hour Long Sessions include (20% off pre-registrations today only!):
– Key product kit for attendees
– Pre-recorded video link for the class
– Safe unlimited viewing to review and practice 

CLICK ON A CLASS BELOW TO BROWSE DETAILS AND PRE-REGISTER
WOW BROWS
PRE-TEEN/TEEN MAKEUP
AGELESS BEAUTY (AGE 50-60)
WINGED EYELINER
MASCARA + FALSE LASHES
5 MINUTE FACE

Want to gift a virtual class to someone special, but not sure what class they would prefer? Purchase a “Virtual Makeup Class” gift certificate and they can choose!
How about a completely personalized makeup lesson?
Our one-on-one Private Makeup Lessons are scheduled inside F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry studio or may be held virtually via Zoom.

Experiment Until It Feels Like It’s Yours

“You experiment. You play around with it until it belongs to you, and hopefully feels fresh and new.” 

It took so many versions, edits, and tests to circle around to the simplicity of refurbishing vintage compacts. **And to note, simple ain’t easy.** These historical beauty vessels all come in different shapes and sizes, from different places, staking claim in demand for their own uniqueness, just like the faces of guests who purchase them.

Compacts so intricately detailed in design are sustainable beauty packaging options and escort more minimal makeup routines through refillable cosmetic options. You don’t have to indirectly hoard prepackaged shades you won’t use or don’t relish.

Today, F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry’s  “Listener Tip” was featured on “The Minimalists” podcast, relaying how to trickle the practice of minimalism into our makeup routines (peep around the 36 minute mark). Our refurbished vintage compact initiative embodies a system to inspire, remove makeup clutter, and subscribe to sustainable beauty solutions.

Mixing Mediums: Makeup Class

MINI MAKEUP CLASS SERIES

Gel, paste, gloss, liquid, pigment. Learn how to mix different products and textures for customized makeup looks. *Demonstration style (not hands on/workshop). Advance online registration is required. Seating is limited. REGISTER BY MONDAY, JUNE 24TH FOR FREE EYESHADOW.

Monday, July 1st 2019 | 6:30pm-7:00pm | $10

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

If you possess a Beauty Egg Hunt paper for a “Free Seat for a 2019 Mini Makeup Class” and you would like to redeem your coupon by attending this particular class, simply email [email protected] that you’d like to attend “Mixing Mediums” class. You must present the physical coupon to enter the session. No exceptions.

All Things New: 2016 Makeup Edition

View More: http://rachaelhouser.pass.us/vendors
Rachael Houser Photography

I honestly LOVE ringing in the new year. It’s the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on all the happenings of the past year, but forces forward thinking for the upcoming one. Taking inventory on all the concepts that worked versus what didn’t work helps prepare for a new year- A new beginning. With that being said, here are my business highlights of 2015 as well as the “newness” of 2016.

2015 HIGHLIGHTS

Beauty Egg Hunt

I created the first annual Face Makeup Artistry Beauty Egg Hunt. It was held on the front lawn of the Carson Center in downtown Paducah. On cue, participants scurried and hunted for extra special eggs, containing popular beauty products! A fun, unique version of a festive pastime was brought to life! Proceeds went to a philanthropic organization I hold near and dear to my heart: Look Good Feel Better. It felt like the perfect way to support an organization that focuses on women’s BEAUTY needs and desires during cancer treatment.
Jessica Rumsey Photography

Jessica Rumsey Photography

Paducah Compacts

I’ve managed to create a specialized line of custom cosmetics, the most unique product being the PADUCAH Makeup Compact.
It is a mini masterpiece that creates a sweet reminder of the sights and experiences of Paducah, Kentucky. Inspired by unique souvenir vintage makeup compacts created as mementos depicting iconic landmarks, this useful artistic palette of color brings an aesthetic quality to the makeup application experience. This compact serves as a reminder of one’s time in Paducah.

Brad Rankin Photography
Brad Rankin Photography

7L3A1601Erin Hendley - Brushes & Makeup Retail - June 2015 - Brad Rankin Studio-2
Brad Rankin Photography

 

 

NEW HAPPENINGS: 2016

New Hours!

My business is both service and retail, so it has been a little difficult to balance being in the studio when I have meetings and bookings outside of it. Here are the new business hours (unless I am booked for a gig…I still strongly recommend contacting me to double check my schedule).

January-March

Monday-Saturday: 10:00AM-6:00PM

Sunday: By appointment only

April-October

Tuesday-Friday: 10:00AM-6:00PM

Saturday & Sunday: By appointment only

November-Decemember

Monday-Saturday: 10:00AM-6:00PM

Sunday: By appointment only

New Services!

Repeat Lessons: For any client that has previously booked a Private Makeup Lesson, they are eligible for a Repeat Lesson/Refresher Course for 50% off.

Body Makeup: For clients that want to continue a glowing/dewey appearance from the face to the decollate, arms, and legs.

New Products!

Beginning on Jan. 5th 2016, Lipstick Tubes will be available for purchase.

New Classes!

January 14 (Thurs.): Pantone: Colors of the Year 6:00pm-7:00pm $25, redeemable in the products used during the demo.

January 25th (Mon): Brush 101 6:00pm-8:00pm $75, or $35 for repeat attendees, or Complimentary to owners of entire brush collection purchased on Shop Small Saturday.

February 8th (Mon.): Sanitation: How to Clean Brushes & Sponges. 6:30pm-7:30pm. FREE

February 22nd (Mon.): Flawless Face 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

March 8th (Tues.) Mixing & Blending 6:30pm-7:30pm. FREE

March 21st (Mon.) Spring Trends 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

April 12th (Tues.) Bridal Makeup 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

April 25th (Mon.) Lashes O’ Plenty 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

May 12th (Thurs.) Resort Trends 6:30pm-7:30pm $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

May 24th (Tues.) Wow Brows 6:30pm-7:30pm $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

June 16th (Thurs.) Smokey Vs. Stormy Eyes 6:30pm -7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

June 27th (Mon.) Sleek Cheeks. 6:30pm-7:30pm, FREE

July 12th (Tues.) Bright Eyes. 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

July 25th (Mon.) Contour & Highlight  6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

August 9th (Tues.) All In The Details 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

August 25th (Thurs.) Lucious Lips 6:30pm-7:30pm, FREE

September 12th (Mon.) Fall Trends 6:30pm-7:30pm, $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

September 22nd (Thurs.) Skin You’re In 6:30pm-7:30pm, FREE

October 10th (Mon.) Vintage Face 6:30pm-7:30pm, $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

October 20th (Thurs.) Editorial Edge 6:30pm-7:30pm, FREE

November 15th (Tues.) Holiday Trends  6:30pm-7:30pm, $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

November 30th (Wed.) Makeup Essentials 6:30pm-7:30pm, FREE

December 12th (Mon.) Sparkle + Shine 6:30pm-7:30pm, $25, redeemable in products used during demo.

New Policies!

Booking Policy (Non-Bridal)

My website allows clients to conveniently book an appointment online and to pay ahead of time in full. Clients have 24 hours from booking time to cancel the appointment and have their payment returned if they book over 1 week (7 days) out from appointment date. If clients book less than 1 week (7 days) out from appointment date, the payment cannot be returned.  If client does not wish to book online, credit card information can be called in over the phone or cash can be submitted in advance. Appointments are not officially booked until full upfront non-refundable payment is made. Checks are no longer accepted for services. Anyone that needs to move/reschedule an appointment for excusable reasons (senior picture date has undesirable weather; photographer reschedule; Event date rescheduled), may use the full payment as transferable credit for product purchases.

Private Makeup Lessons

Sitting Fees: For anyone booking a Private Makeup Lesson, the appointment is designed for personal, customized attention for 1 person. For any client bringing in another person to the lesson, a sitting fee of $50 per person will be charged.

Product Purchases

Checks are not accepted for in-studio product purchases. Payment may be made with cash or card.

Product orders are not placed until upfront full payment is made via card or cash.

What I Wish I Would Have Known Before Becoming A Makeup Artist

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Let it be known to all that I am in love with my career of being a Makeup Artist and would not want to trade it in for any other profession. It has provided me with amazing traveling opportunities, networking connections, and the ability to see the world as art. It is an industry that is gaining popularity by leaps and bounds and I am in the middle of this amazing whirlwind. However, when I started pursuing the makeup industry, I had no idea of what I would be up against. For anyone interested in this specialized field, here are some things I wish I would have know before I took this path. *Although, really- I would not change a thing.*

  1. Makeup Studios Do Not Have The Same Business Blueprints As Salons.

I returned back to my hometown of Paducah, Kentucky about 2.5 years ago. When I decided to open up my own Makeup Studio, I was suggested to do market research on other salons & spas in the local area. I researched what was recommended to me and while I do have certain tidbits of salons & spas I can “steal like an artist” from, I quickly discovered that makeup studio businesses don’t run like them. As a Makeup Artist, most of my busiest days are on Saturdays for bridal makeup and afternoons for Senior Pictures and Family Pictures. I don’t cycle through clients on a daily basis, and the majority of my guests are not returning to me monthly for routine “makeup maintenance” as they would be for a haircut/color in a salon or a routine facial in a spa. I essentially had to create a brand new business blueprint for my specialization.

    2.  Going to Makeup School Does Not Necessarily Allow One To Legally Practice Makeup.

I had an interesting journey that led me to discover Makeup Artistry was my “professional destiny”.  In the middle of earning my degree in Fashion, I decided to enroll in Makeup School. Attending & becoming accredited in the Makeup industry was 100% one of the best ways to prepare myself for a career in Makeup Artistry. I became educated on more than I could ever imagine. But, I learned the hard way that there was a difference between earning a Makeup Certificate and a Cosmetology License. When I moved back to the state of Kentucky, I discovered that the state did not honor any of my Makeup hours, so I was forces to enroll in 1800 hours of cosmetology to be officially licensed. (A very lengthy, separate journal post building on this in the future). *Not all states have this policy, so be sure to do research ahead of time.*

3. There Is A Difference Between Beauty Bloggers And Makeup Artists.

It is apparent that since social media has taken over how we operate from industry to industry, that new caveats of beauty titles have also sprouted as a result. One of the biggest conversations that stirs about the beauty industry is the difference between a Makeup Artist and a Beauty Blogger. Both are relative to each other and are beneficial professions involving cosmetics/beauty products. Typically, a Makeup Artist is a working professional that applies makeup on other people, and a beauty blogger tests out certain cosmetics on themselves, and then documents their results and advises/consults subscribers accordingly (ex. Youtube). Although similar in industry, these two positions make their money in different ways and beauty bloggers do not require any sort of certification or license to practice or post their tutorials.

4. The Perceived Value Of Makeup Can Be Tricky.

With so many different methods of marketing and offerings in the beauty industry, it is quite easy for clients to be misinformed on how valuable a professional accredited Makeup Artist can be. Some women do their makeup everyday and think that since it is something that they are capable of performing on themselves on a daily basis, that it should not cost a professional rate. Someone can walk into most makeup counters and receive a makeup application for FREE, or with a purchase of products. Salons or spas in smaller cities that specialize in hair, nails, or facials, but provide Makeup as a quick add-on service for a low/no cost, entice a lower perceived value on makeup applications. I have been fortunate to have clients that value my makeup services & products and pay professional rates with generous tips, but it was no walk in the park to prove it’s worth in the beginning, especially in Paducah.

 

Makeup: Tools. Technique. Product. | Which One Is Most Important?

12191001_10156206562415344_776290076721700710_nI am closing out the year with approximately 80 Private Makeup Lessons under my belt, and right before the Holidays I like to take a bit of time to reflect and highlight common questions asked during these personalized one-on-one sessions. One of the most important questions asked during each booking is “What is the most important factor when it comes to Makeup applications-tools, techniques, or products”?

All three components are ESSENTIAL for ultimate and ideal Makeup applications. If you own the right tools, but don’t know HOW to use them, tools are essentially useless. If you know the best techniques, but don’t use them with the correct products or apply them with the proper tools, the same conundrum ensues.

When prioritizing the order of importance of investment, tools are #1. Tools consist of Brushes and Sponges. There are several Brush styles out on the market, and they all serve there own unique purpose based on their design. I have designed my own Brush Line (13 brushes) for clients that want to be able to achieve any look they desire on themselves. Each brush style has a different color handle for easy identifiability (as opposed to a sea of one color/monotone brush handles) as well as familiarizing the brush styles to the client. Sponges are equally as important as brushes. I retail the “holy grail” of sponges-the Beauty Blender & Micro Mini Beauty Blender. They control coverage of the products that need to be applied and buff out any lines of demarcation.

7L3A1540Next in line- techniques are #2. Once an investment in tools have been made, the techniques will work hand-in-hand with application. There are SO many trade secrets I learned in Makeup School, that I love to teach to my clients. Once they learn specific movements and angles of holding brushes and sponges, they realize how crucial these detailed edit are to the Makeup application.

10952143_10152675731423157_500836226_nProducts are #3. Most clients are usually surprised that products are last on the hierarchy of Makeup. This is why: I have my own line of Makeup (eyeshadows, blush, lip products, etc), but I am not one-brand loyal. There are SO many great brands on the market in all price ranges. I LOVE my line, but it does not include foundations, concealers, mascara, or gel or liquid mascara. That is because I love other brands better for those product options-some of them are drugstore brands like Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara, or Loreal Tru Match Foundation. Clients can shop in person at my studio for my line, order through me for bigger brands (Smashbox, Makeup Forever, MAC, Bobbi Brown), bop over to Ulta for various price points, or hit up the local convenience store. Products matter, but they’re useless without great quality brushes and knowledge of proper application techniques. Products can be manipulated with the right tools and techniques.unnamed