elea blake cosmetics

Eye Tips for that Smoke Sizzle and Wow!

2011-11-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

Eye Tips for that Smoke Sizzle and Wow!
The Wow factor, how do we get it. It's a fact that the Wow factor, the true 100% Wow does not happen without being in your correct colors and in harmony. For those of you that know your personal colors life gets easier especially around this time of year when we are pleasantly or unpleasantly thrown into family gatherings and galas. Whether your spending time with extended family and friends or decking it out at a gala keeping your look in harmony is key.

A great rule of thumb is that a harmonious look is one where you are seen first not your makeup. Think of Mimi from the Drew Carey show. Mimi is a great example of disharmony.

No matter how dramatic the look your makeup does not wear you, you wear it!

Sometimes we feel that being dramatic is wearing colors that stand out. Your makeup should always look fresh and finished. Avoid colors that lift off your skin. Colors that you see the color before the person. Even a bold lip can be worn without that separation. Being dramatic is a technique not a license to unharmonize.

Day or evening makeup should always emphasize and define you. You should never be defined by your makeup.

The below image is a great example of super drama in harmony. Even though the look is bold the colors are in harmony and the wearer is still seen. Following this photo are more snapshots of our everyday eye looks in the studio. If you scroll down we have prepared some eye and face makeup tips for you.

An uber dramatic eye in harmony. Lashes make quite the impact. Note the glitter in addition to shimmer. This Bright Winter has no problem pulling this look off. This model is wearing violet in her water line to intensify the look.

A smokey eye with soft colors a beautiful look that can go from day to evening. False eye lashes
enhance.

A beautiful display of an intensified day time smokey eye moving toward evening. A harmonious look framing the eye.

The softest of all smokey eye look the trick here was just softly smudging the eye liner does it really qualify as a smokey eye....maybe to some but the point is that smokey can be done in moderation.

Another display of moderate smokey. A true smokey eye is a lot of variation in the depth of the outer eye to the mid eye up to the bone. This look was applied for an intense day look the smokey concept is the top lid and the definition in the crease. This still looks soft as it is in harmony. Bold colors that blend. If you were to look at the colors that this model is wearing you would be surprised they look so fresh. This model has a light blue eye liner applied in the water line to give brightness to the eyes.

Another example of a day time soft smokey eye. This model uses light blue for an inner eye pop to lift the eye. Her eyes sparkle. This model shows a dark cool brown in the water line.

Another example of a moderate smokey look. Note the brightness of the eye lid and the contour reflecting the smoke. The bone is a soft cinnamon. This is the same application of a true dark smokey eye with softer colors. The colors however on this eye are not soft. We have deep turquoise, dark brown, purple and soft neutrals in soft cinnamon and flesh.

In all the models above the colors may be strong but do not lift off the skin. The foundation surrounding the eyes looks fresh and natural. These are examples of harmony.

Day or evening makeup should always emphasize and define you. You should never be defined by your makeup.

Below are techniques used in the above photos we added some extra makeup tips for the holidays. Enjoy!

1. add shine, spark, or glitter .....
2. build the lash line with eye liner
3. use a deep violet, blue, black, or deep green in the waterline or go for a brighter eye look by using a light blue or white even a light pink (for green eyes) in the water line.
4. smoke out the lower lashes making the line thicker towards the outer corner
5. smoke out the upper lash line as well. Either work the smokey eye in it's entirety or just the lash line.
6. add a sexy pop with either a matte lighter pop with white, light blue, gold, yellow, pink, violet, the possibilities are endless
7. highlight under the brow
8. Give your face a pick me up by applying a slight lighter foundation shade from the upper cheekbone upward under the eye
9. need contour use one of our specially designed faux glos to carve out the cheekbone. Apply at the base of the cheek bone and apply upward. Carve with our blending brush.
10. apply a soft blusher one the cheek bone and blend well with a finishing brush (Mr. Wonderful)
11. highlight around your lips to frame and enhance them.

Colors we love for the season..

Razzle Dazzle pure bright gold Spring family
Icy a white high shimmer Winter family
Outrageous a great gold deeper than razzle dazzle Autumn family
Silver Summer Family
Pure of Heart White matte
Bolder than Bold black baby
Captuous Cool deep brown
Reflective Autumn family gold/bronze
Night Owl Autumn family green/gold
Bossy rich brassy green gold high shine Autumn family
Demanding compare to Phlox a seasonal color matte purple/magenta
Smart a fab copper a red copper Autumn family

Learning the Lips

2011-09-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know at this point, I am not a makeup genius. My mother has often tried to explain and teach me the basic concepts of makeup but as the Blake in elea blake cosmetics, I am a sorry demonstration of the makeup arts.
As part of the namesake of the cosmetics business though I have put a great amount of effort to learn. After receiving an internship at a respected company I realized that my makeup-less face was just not going to cut it in the business world. There is something very empowering about lipstick and when my mother sent me a care package with the True Winter lipstick palette, I set to work learning how to use it. Heartthrob stood out to me as I am a great fan of the intense lipstick and after putting it on, I won't lie, I allowed myself to linger at the mirror for a bit. It is a strong color and when I wear it, I feel even more confident and strong than normal.
Looking at my lips though, I couldn't help but notice that even though I put it on accurately I had somehow failed to reach my arches. I don't know if that is what they are called but for those of you who don't understand that terminology it is this part;

The area where the black dots pin point

I didn't want to try to use the brush I had as I knew from previous experiences that the brush would make me look like a clown, so I took a lip pencil my mother had given me a long time ago and outlined my lips. I won't pretend... I was at first frightened, as my only knowledge of lip pencils made me think of those scary outlined lips that look fake kind of like this;

"Just in case you didn't get it, the outlined area is my lips"

So when I looked at my work I was so shocked. My lips looked so perky and full of spunk. It seemed to say, "I am ready to present anything now, just leave it to me!"
Yes maybe I am a bit imaginative, but nonetheless, I was ready to present a pink elephant like it was the new Cadillac.
So I guess this is another case where I learned that perhaps I should have listened to my mom a long time ago when she told me that lip pencils were not tacky, but as usual I am only prepared to learn lessons when I can sit in front of a mirror and terrify myself with all of my mistakes before trying something I was told would work.
Go figure.

10 Must Haves According to Darin

2011-09-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

Little black, brown, or gray dress: Basically your neutral color. Something that can go from day to night in a flash.

This dress can be paired with a bright vest or casual jewelery for a day look, and high heels and nice earrings for a night look.

A great purse: Don't be afraid to go a little over your budget on a purse that you will use daily and that will coordinate with your daily wardrobe. This is a good investment. If you like to have multiple purse choices then introduce a bold color, one that perhaps you're a little timid of.

Shoes/boots: The most common choices for fall are black, white, stone, metallic, beige, burgundy, dark blue, chocolate, deep violet, khaki and red. Animal influences, suede and satin, leather, patent leather, lace, and some influence of fur.

Wedge, Stiletto, and column heels as well as pike and round toes are popular.

Jacket: A jacket is a good way to dress down a fancy dress, but to also add a sleek look to jeans or a casual outfit.

A jacket such as this is extremely versatile and will go great with almost all patterns and colors.

Dark tailored jeans: Jeans are a smart wardrobe investment. Fit your jeans to your derier (butt) if the waist needs adjustment take them to a Tailor and have them professionally altered. Hips, thighs, and derier must fit properly.

A good neutral t-shirt: A good t-shirt will be a wardrobe staple. Purchase a nice form fitted tee that will cover your midsection well and be form fitting.

Black, Brown, Gray, or your neutral pants: These are a wardrobe essentials, especially for women in business!

Sweater in a neutral color: A sweater is a good way to keep warm but still look good and the thing is, they come in so many variations that there is a sweater for any person! Try to get a nice form fitting one, just because its cold outside doesn't mean you should be drowning in fabric.

A Neutral Skirt pencil or A line depending on your shape is a great way to add a boosts of elegance.
Lastly get some really beautiful tights, there are ones at Express that are lacy and have a beautiful floral design. They can really add elegance to any outfit!

Panic at the Mall

2011-08-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Shopping ordeal as portrayed by Blake Wright, daughter of Darin Wright, founder of elea blake cosmetics.

The Scene: A terrifyingly packed mall during tax free weekend.

The Mission: Get needed items before a return to Charleston, SC for college.

The Setback: Blake Wright's impatience and terror of packed spaces and long hours of shopping

The reluctance of her daughter to go shopping was of no concern for Darin Wright, whose joy was the thrill of the hunt for clothing apparel and deals. Dragging her daughter along the packed mall of persistent shoppers enjoying tax free weekend, Wright hunted for the perfect bathing suit her daughter needed for her college. This mission was a lot more daunting then it may seem, as Chattanooga is not a beach location and therefore had very limited bathing suit options. With little faith, Blake plodded behind her mother sighing and complaining.

Suddenly her mother stopped and showed her a somewhat meager collection of bathing suits priced around ten dollars. Knowing her daughter's distrust of colors besides black and white, a waste of a True Winter as her sister, Elea, jealously pointed out, she pulled out colors she identified as 'hers'.

Looking to irritate her mother, Blake pulled out her True Winter booklet smugly thinking her mother could not possibly identify a True Winter color just by browsing speedily through a clothing rack. Holding up her blues to the bathing suit, her smug face slowly crumbled into defeat, as the bright blue was indeed her color.

Outcome: Blake tried on the bright blue bathing suit, ended up loving it and purchasing it for a bargain.

Lesson: Never try to outdo the color experts... especially if they are your mother.

Silly, Step Away From Those Counters

2011-08-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

You got your color analysis, you got your color book... now what?

At elea blake cosmetics we believe that color permeates more than just your wardrobe. Getting your color analysis done, only to continue using makeup that isn't your fit, is not only a waste of money but... well frankly... it hurts our color loving hearts.

Sure you can go to the makeup counters and desperately try to find you skin tone or your correct color match, but that is a lot of time wasted in a rather foolish pursuit. You see, we have done all the painstaking work for you. Not only do we guarantee that we have your color but we also can assure you that our makeup is better for your skin. You can go to our website, or call us at 423-266-6222 if you need any help identifying just what you need. We promise to help you begin this exciting journey into color any way we can!

Lip Tips

2011-07-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

With the release of our lip draping kit we have noticed a substantial increase in fervor over the best look for your lips. There is two obvious choices, lipstick or lipgloss, but there isn't a need to draw a line between the two.

With lipstick you get a defined and polished look. Lipstick last longer than lipgloss and will leave a statement on whatever your lips touch. Lipstick also has a firmer look and a stronger color normally.

Lipgloss is, in my opinion, easier to put on, but doesn't last as long. It can make your lips look fuller and is a good choice when you want the star of your face to be your eyes.

However why not use both? Putting your lipstick on and then adding a glide of lipgloss can add a nice depth to your color and allow for you to switch up your average lip look and also smooth out any areas you may have missed during your lipstick application. This refined look is even easier to achieve with our lipstick and lipgloss palettes in your seasons. You can never pick a wrong color and you have a nice selection of colors to play with. The great thing about mixing the two is the range of lip looks you can achieve. For instance you can use a bright purple lipstick with one of your sheer orangey glosses or any warmer gloss and ta dah a slightly less purple lip with a touch of mystery.

So give it a try, mix up your lip look. There is no reason why the eyes should always have all the attention!

Eye Makeup for Dummies

2011-07-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

As a makeup artist's daughter, it has always been a private shame of mine that when it comes to applying eye makeup, I am a serious failure. So here is a guide that has really helped me apply makeup and not look a hot mess.

Using brush #13 or Hide Me (camouflage), apply a small amount of eb eye & lip primer from lash line to crease and under eye along lash line. Use finger to blend.

Using brush #14, Mr. Ed (pony fluff), apply allover or base color to lid from lash line to crease & under eye at lash line.

Using brush #8, Tickle Me (precision crease), apply crease color to outer corner and into the crease, another option is to look straight at yourself and apply a small amount of crease color to just above the crease to give added dimension to the eye.

Using brush #11, So Acute (angle detail), apply a powder liner along the lash line (smudging slightly upward for defused look) you can deepen the color at the outer corner for extra depth and drama.

Using brush #9, Eye Spy (smudger), apply even more eye line powder along lash line smudging for a smokey effect. Add under the eyes from outer corner in for ever more intensity.
Optional: For liquid or gel eyeliner or dry/wet minerals use brush #10. Walk the like (eyeliner). Load liquid or gel liner onto brush and tickle lash line from inner to outer corner- press harder to achieve a thicker line.

Using brush #7, 007 (oval detail), apply shimmer pop color to the middle of the lid. This gives a 3 dimensional effect to the eye.
Apply mascara of choice.

Using brush #11, So Acute (angle detail), apply powder eyebrow color to eyebrows. Brush upward in short strokes- direction of hair growth.
Using brush #15, Flawless, blend colors on eye into perfection.

*If you are like me, and extremely challenged at putting on eye makeup or liner, it might be a good investment to get our eye makeup removal as some of our pigments can get messy when whipping off with water.

A great example of color range in eyewear

2011-06-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because I have such challenged eyes, without corrected vision I can not see one foot in front of myself, but I love love love eyewear. In my opinion eyewear is like shoes you could really go crazy coordinating the perfect eyewear with your wardrobe. Most of us can not afford such a luxury as corrected vision does put quite the dent in any wallet, therefore choosing eyewear carefully and accurately is so important. Next to makeup these optical enhancements are more than just corrective. It's fashion! This is another prime example of when knowing your personal colors really makes a huge difference. Do not take eyewear lightly - realize that it's not just about 20/20 but about how the frames look on you. Go for a fashion color in your tone. I thought this photo was fun showing Blue frames being Summeresk, Red Winteresk, and Green Springesk. Have fun! Visit the link here! Click on the first photo bottom left hand corner.

Isn't She Lovely

2011-06-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

You get your makeup done and you feel lovely! However as you wear your makeup everyday you begin to feel that perhaps the colors you have are just one of those things. So you think, "Let me try again!"

Now you go back to the store and look for more colors painstakingly trying to find a color that makes you say, "You're the one". Because when it comes down to it, colors are like men.

If you are one of those people just waiting until the real thing comes along, then we have some wonderful news.

When you get your personal color kit done, you will find that that's all you need. It is a guide to finding all the colors you will ever need or want. So no one can call you irresponsible, because all your colors will be guaranteed to look good on you!

(Bonus points if you can guess whose song titles pepper this blog post!)

Routine Routine Routine

2011-05-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Routine, many people fall into it. Not just with their schedule but in their makeup. If you find yourself doing the same thing with your makeup everyday then perhaps it is time for some adventure. Changing your eye makeup can really revitalize your look and is less risky then a new haircut! Here are some tips for experimenting with your look!

Eyeshadows can be used as eyeliner all you need to do is wet the color
Try using colors out of your comfort zone if you have gotten your personal color analysis done then you can easily choose from the selection of eyeshadows at your disposal. Remember no matter what you pick it is gauranteed to look good on you!
By picking some of the more brighter tones to use as accents on your eyes you can make yourself look younger and make your eyes really stand out.
Use your eye makeup as an accessory to your outfit by matching the color scheme with the outfit you are wearing.

We hope these tips will help you get yourself out of the rut of routine without too much of a hassle!

Bertha emerges as a Soft Autumn

2011-05-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Bertha was the confirmation we were looking for at elea blake. When I was testing her for foundation it became quite clear that even though the Dark Autumn palette of colors had too much red in them for her features the Dark Autumn foundation was quite suitable on her.

This thought had been in my head for months. I have driven Stacie crazy with my ponderings. And now the thought confirmed. There are cross over colors. Perhaps this is due to blood flow to the face, hormone levels, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. I really could not tell you exactly but I know this to be true, as here in the flesh was Bertha. Bertha and I had just spent the last hour or so analyzing her colors. She was absolutely a Soft Autumn as the True Autumns were too warm and the Dark Autumns were too red.

Challenged with OCD the perfectionist in me emerged. Bertha patiently awaited as I formulated an even more perfect foundation just for her. Scrumtuous was birthed and Bertha herself named the color. Why did I do this when Dark Autumn matched so well? Bertha has some hyperpigmentation on her skin due to a traumatic fall so it was necessary to find a color that would either cover or help bring down the coloration on her skin. We were not able to cover it entirely but were able to balance it much better. The Dark Autumn color did not balance as well as the formulated new Soft Autumn. This is where the true colors really kick in when there are skin balancing concerns.

We did stick to her Soft Autumn colors for eyes and lips and pumped up her Soft Autumn blush with a snippett of True Autumn blusher the color named warmth. There was a color named hot that I had developed and forgot about. I felt he would have been lovely but I could not find anymore of him (note to self, find hot)

Her eye colors were primadonna on the eye ball up into the crease, treasured inner eye, refined (which is also a foundation) on the bone, and then since she had Some True Autumn colors I used her goldish shimmery color (I forget his name - he's not on the website because there are a lot of TA not loaded yet) I also used a deep blue along her lash line (I forget his name too a Soft Autumn that is missing from the website = we are still working on some missed colors) I used counselor a SA lip gloss with a number of lip liners just for giggles. We found that in the lip liners she could cheat to some TA and some DA.

I really believe that there are some cross over colors. Think about it we are all unique and depending where we fall into our seasonal palette we might be able to cheat one side or the other. I know I (a Bright Winter) can cheat to True Winter - by no means entirely but I can grab a few colors here or there. There are even a few Dark Winters that I like to play with from Time to Time but they don't play as well with my true colors so I typically avoid those guys. So anyway I enjoyed Bertha she rocks and we had a blast even saved a bird from the nest. I will try to get her photos posted soon! I have been in a bit of a tail spin in the last couple of days just trying to keep up. So stay tuned! We are always enlightened how science and art come together!

Custom Made For You

2011-05-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

Color is everywhere. Color psychology and applications are prevalent throughout our daily lives. The color of a room can influence how you feel even whether or not you're hungry. Color even influences how you interpret a person or item. When a person recognizes a color they assign it a certain idea.
When you think of the colors white and black what adjectives do you associate with them?
When you think of the color red?
Blue?

Even movies and marketing recognize the uses of color and the way they affect our perceptions. Just think of almost every recent action movie you have seen, what were the predominant colors? Orange and blue.

So with so much attention being paid to color, why is it that many people settle with colors that don't make them happy or bring their mood down?

At elea blake cosmetics we are working to change that. By identifying the colors that really make a person shine, we are also able to find the colors that can transform your mood just by painting the walls in your house. Finding your season with our personal color analysis goes above and beyond makeup colors. By having the colors that make you look fabulous you can change your home and your wardrobe to better harmonize your life.

So don't just generalize colors based on what you have heard you are suppose to feel towards them and get colors that are custom made for you!

Beep Beep Beep

2011-04-14T13:20:00.001-07:00

Scenario 1
*beep* *beep* *beep*
The alarm goes off. You pry your eyes open from a sweet slumber and mentally prepare yourself for the day. Sometimes coaxing your body to get up out of bed with encouraging thoughts and/or bribery. Either way the task is accomplished. You shuffle to your bathroom and complete your basic morning requirements. You go to put on your skin care and...

If you don't reach for anything, you don't put on skin care go to previous blog entry. If you read previous blog entry and still don't use skin care; well... shame on you your skin is very unhappy with you.

For those of you who have chosen your skin care weapon wisely you continue on to scenario 2.

Scenario 2
After putting on skin care you decide to go ahead and put on your make up since you are already in the bathroom and that would only make sense. So you reach for your bag, open it and are greeted with...

Make up that just doesn't match your skin tone. You take a long time putting it on wanting to get everything just right so that no one notices your foundation is a different color than your skin. You grimace at the fact that powders make you look ashy, dry, and seem to accentuate those (imaginary of course) wrinkles. Everything about your make up makes you unhappy but you know its a necessary evil. You have to look the best you possibly can. If this is you please don't lose hope. After all you are reading the blog of elea blake cosmetics and making you the definition of perfection is kind of a normal thing for us. We custom blend everything to suit your specific needs. If you love color we've got you covered, if you like to stick to the basics we have that too. Your beauty means the world to us. We know there are goddesses inside of every one of us. This worldly make up you currently have has outlived its purpose. We say with a great confidence that our make up is better than anything you'll find out there. So now that you know that and came to our store where we provided you with only the highest quality of make up...

Scenario 3
After applying elea blake make up and admiring your blinding beauty in the mirror you skip over to your closet looking at possible clothing options. You eagerly walk in your closet only to find...

Too many clothes to even distinguish what is what. You look at most of them wondering WHAT you were thinking when you bought them. After trying on a few outfits you start to become discouraged. Everything just looks wrong on you. Well hold up there honey. It might not even be the style thats making everything all wrong. It might be the color. What colors we wear can really change the way we look. elea blake knows this and that is why we offer a color analysis service. The color analysis will tell you what season of 12 possible ones you are and this in turn will provide you with a little booklet with all your colors in it. This will help you shop for clothes and will give you make up that truly makes you shine. But just in case you already knew this...

Scenario 4
Finally ready to take on the world and feeling empowered by your reflection in the mirror you quickly drink your coffee and tell the world to bring it on.

The world brings it on. Good luck. We can't help you with anything past this point.

Written by: Elea Wright

Moisturizer Not Just for the Consumer Zombies Anymore

2011-03-13T03:46:00.001-07:00

We are constantly told from ads and TV that we need to moisturize our skin. But why?

No one should mindlessly buy products like some sort of consumer zombie, so we have taken it upon ourselves to reveal why a moisturizer is important. In order to understand the need for a moisturizer, you have to understand that a moisturizer is not just for people with dry skin. There is a moisturizer for every face type because using a moisturizer promotes healthy and tight skin.
Now a lot of people think that faces should not have any oil whatsoever. This is misguided, everyone has glands underneath their skin that produce oils that work as natural lubricants, keeping the skin healthy. Normal soaps,when used to wash our face, remove these oils, along with dirt, leaving our skin drier. This is particularly bad because as a person ages, their body produces fewer natural oils. This leads to wrinkles, which as most women will readily admit are their worst nightmares in the aging process.

This lovely lady always slathers on a healthy amount of moisturizer to keep her skin nice and smooth.

However, it is not just the increased chance of wrinkles but also the recent studies that show drier skin is more susceptible to skin cancer that worries us. Luckily at elea blake cosmetics we have people who are happy to help you with your skin care needs and top of the line products that you can feel work. So drop on by and keep that skin healthy!

Spring Cleaning

2011-02-25T18:21:00.000-08:00

March is the month that clean freaks celebrate and procrastinators dread- spring cleaning. While you spend you're time throwing out trash and cleaning those long forgotten corners, don't forget your face! Your face needs cleaning and toning also! Whether you're a teenager or grown adult, everyone needs to properly care for their skin. Your face is always exposed to the elements, cleansing it removes toxins and exfoliates the skin.
People use the term 'exfoliate the skin' and most of the time we just nod our heads in agreement as we are told from an early age that exfoliation is good but many don't have a clue what it actually means! Our body is always shedding skin, little layers of dead cells that we no longer need anymore, most of the time you can't see these dead layers though if they build up enough you can begin to notice your skin become more scaly-like. Exfoliating the skin pushes out the dead or damaged skin out of your pores, not to mention any remnants that collect on your face throughout the day.

A random pretty picture of our minerals to make you stop thinking about the layers of filth that collect daily on your skin.

Also just grabbing a facial cleanser is not advised, as some facial cleansers mess up the moisture balance in your skin. At elea blake cosmetics we have a cleanser for every face! We are happy to aid you in finding the right skin care for you, whether you have oily skin, dry skin, normal skin, or even combination skin! So please don't hesitate to stop by and get some spring cleaning done!

Perhaps you can finally throw out all those bottle caps you were sure you were going to use for something now.

The Month of Red

2011-02-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

It’s the month of passion, love, and over indulgence of ice cream. For this reason the American Heart Association has adopted February as heart month!

In order to honor the Go Red for Women campaign we have created the Go Red for Women Lipstick Palette featuring the 4 True Seasonal tones and a toning gloss. These palettes simplify the process of finding the perfect red, taking the guess work out of what looks good on you! If you know your seasonal tone then we guarantee you the perfect red, because your lips deserve to look luscious, whether for a man or a pint of ice cream!

Our scientist at work

A sample of our colors for the curious:

Heartthrob

Smitten

Champion

Jovial

Ta-Dah!

Common Questions in the Quest for Current

2011-01-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

eleablake has a problem that few other companies deal with, our products last a long time. This has led to some questions about how long certain products should be kept and when they need to be updated. I think that most of you will find the answers quite surprising.

How long should I keep my gloss?

Lip glosses should be replaced after one year. Though if you get a cold sore and use the lip gloss make sure that you get a new one a lot sooner. Also, if you find yourself getting bored of your lip gloss, don't toss the old one but purchase a spunky lip gloss, only to be used for those occasions when the artist emerges.

When should I replace my mascara?

Mascaras should be replaced 3 to 6 months. Mascara tends to stop being absolutely fantastic after the 3 month mark, but some may last longer. If you are not sure if your mascara needs to be replaced, look for these simple signs: clumpy, dry, flakes, weird smell.
This occurs from the bacteria being transferred from the eyelashes to the liquid. Don't feel bad it happens to us all, its a matter of being human!

What about the liquids, creams, or gels?

Cream, gel, or liquid liners should be changed up about 6 months to one year. This is also the case for liquid foundations.

Okay, so you told us that your mineral foundation is soooo different from all the others, but how long does it really last?

Well our mineral powder foundations last up to 5 years. You say, "Wow! How do you make money?".
Well some people change color, whether through tanning or biological changes that occur to women. So just make sure you revisit your color and make sure it still matches!

What about my pencils and brushes?

Eye and lip pencils need to be kept sharpened, so the length of time it runs out really depends on how much love you are giving your pencils.

Brushes are also up to the user. It all depends on how well you take care of your brushes. If your brushes begin to fray or the application diminishes in quality then it is time to ditch the brush and get a new one.

What are your recommendations on the purchasing of new products?

Even though our products last a long time, it does not mean that you don't have the option of getting new stuff! A lot of our clients find that even though the products last a long time, their growth with the products have changed and they are ready to make some new ensembles with color. We encourage people to buy new things, when they themselves, feel more familiar and comfortable with the products and colors. Often, people don't know what they are looking for in color when they first come in, but return an expert on their face and their color likes!

Shades of Grey

2010-12-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

For several years I had been contemplating allowing my hair to be free and let the natural color emerge. This is a frightening task as I have been coloring my hair since I was about fourteen. The thought of allowing the hair to grow in and seeing a stripe just gave me shivers. In the last several months prior to each coloring I would pull my hair away from the root and check out my natural tresses. I went through a stint for years trying to obtain the perfect blonde. I wanted that ash blonde look that is basically platinum. I could never get it. My hair would always pull warm. I decided to allow the hair in the front - which I would call my signature spice to grow in natural. What I found was that my gray was actually pretty. So I took a deep breath and convinced my hair stylists to cut my hair super super short. I advised her that even if I cry tell her to stop or get angry to completely ignore me. We got through this process together. Honestly I was freaked out. I called my husband and warned him of my doings while driving to a friends shop and purchasing two hats. That night my daughter told me I looked cool so I thought well... okay... I can do this. The next day I went to work and my friends there told me to go without it! So the hat was dropped and I braved it.

This process brought me to a realization that is often ignored among most magazine: No one is there to guide you in a crucial life point. Aging beautifully is many a concern amongst women. As social and cultural constraints have redefined what is beautiful and allowed for women to make their own decisions on how they wish to be perceived, the obsession with staying beautiful has grown. Despite what some women think, it is possible to age beautifully. Whether you decide to fight the aging process with surgery, makeup, skin treatments, dying hair, or other methods-- it is important to understand that you don't need to spend tons of money to stay beautiful. At eleablake cosmetics we have pinpointed some simple things that retain your beauty.

1. Know Your Shades

Everyone can have beautiful skin, the trick is finding those colors that make your skin look beautiful and thrive. This is where the Color Analysis comes in handy. When you get a color analysis done, you get a cheat book so to speak, telling you every color that will make your skin stay glowing and beautiful. This may sound to many of you too good to be true, however, we assure you that when you sit in front of the mirror and allow us to drape you with our colors you will notice a HUGE difference in how color changes the way you appear. Everyone has noticed how certain lights heighten their beauty, well color is the human's perception of different wave lengths of light. So when looking at it this way, one can see the logic of colors drastically changing appearances.

Above: Uninformed color enthusiast- Judge him.

2. Apply Knowledge

Once you know what your colors are, you can use them for more then just clothes. In fact, we use them as a starting point for your makeup colors! That's right, the same colors that you wear to magnify your beauty can be used on your skin as well. Applying these colors has such a lovely affect on one's face. Once you have the right foundation, your skin looks smoother. Once you have the right eyeshadow, your eyes defy all age definition. These modifications can help you feel more confident, as you all should be, and give you a way to reveal your true magnificence. The great thing about this is that when you get the colors from your color analysis "dots" you never have to worry about any of the colors not looking good later. As long as you don't drastically change your skin tone with tanning salons, you will always have the perfect shades for you!

But Darling it said my color was cucumber green, obviously it's telling me spa.

3. Eat

Well obviously we all need to eat. How about making this daily regiment a more beneficial experience. Most people are aware that a person's diet can affect their weight but few realize the importance of food on skin. The British Nutrition Foundation has found that diets rich in vitamins A, B, C and E help skin keep elasticity and smooths wrinkles. Most of the skincare you purchase in order to counteract age effects such as wrinkles contain these vitamins. At eleablake we have many products that contain these vitamins and help you fight age, but it is always important to a reinforce any skincare with a healthy diet. When the body is happy, it feels a lot more motivated to smooth out those pesky wrinkles. And with that....

Supplementing beauty with tastiness... now picture all that fruit dipped in chocolate

4. Know You're Beautiful

Sometimes that 'bad hair day' is only in your mind. When you look at yourself and can see that you are beautiful.. well that is more important then anything else. We could give you all the makeup a woman could ever need, but you can never be truly beautiful without seeing yourself as such. This may seem cheesy, but it is a truth that I'm sure most of you agree with at some level. When you feel beautiful, you portray beauty. Whenever you look at yourself in the mirror, don't think of age as a bad thing, age is a merely a chance to transform and pamper oneself.

You see wrinkles but I see new boots.

Confessions of an Aesthetician's Daughter

2010-12-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

All my life I have always been known as the daughter of The Makeup Artist. People would look at me in a confused manner wondering how curious it was that such a daughter did not wear her own mother's makeup and sported all manners of unhappy skin. The truth of the matter was not in the fault of my mother, or in her products, but in a latent laziness in my character. I did not know why I should be bothered to put makeup on or why I should bother trying to clear up skin that was only acting in its natural angry way during teenage years. This attitude persisted until I moved away from home to college where I learned how fortunate I was to have such great products at my disposal and how I had wasted time not using them. Since moving away I have had to speedily learn all methods of makeup and its applications along with taking care of my skin. Not only the way I looked improved but the way I felt also.

This is a guide to those who also are clueless on how to use makeup and beauty products.

...Well not really a guide but a list of products I used that have both amazed and excited me.

1. Deep Purifying Cleanser

This product by eleablake has been crucial in the elimination of blemishes and angry acne. As a lazy individual who does not like to add steps to an already painfully early morning awakening, I simply use this cleanser during my shower. This way there is no additional steps as I was already heading for a shower anyway. After using this product for several days I noticed marketable changes and was content using it and it alone. However, life is not so simple and the more stress I underwent in college, the more clear it was that a cleanser was not going to be my sole savior.

2. Special Clay Masque

Another product by eleablake, the special clay masque offers an occasional treatment that has been a huge aid in my fight against angry and stressed skin. The great thing about this masque is that it is simple to use. All you do is slap the thing on once a week and then go off and do homework, or scare your roommate, and then wash whenever you feel your face tightening. After lifting this rather grotesque smelling product off your face feels as fresh as ever (yes I said grotesque, it smells like gasoline, but remember it is gasoline smelling goo that will make you beautiful). This both suits my lazy attitude when it comes to maintenance and my stressed out skin, making me look wonderful with the littlest amount of effort.

3. Foundation

I am not a makeup girl, lets face it I struggle just to make straight lines around my eyes, but when it comes to foundation even I can apply it successfully. The fact that I have the strangest tinted skin and that my mom was still able to match it speaks volumes about her products. I know many women who struggle just to find a similar shade to their skin, and really its just a waste of money because only the right shade can do what foundation is suppose to, cover blemishes and even out your skin tone. Yes, no matter who you are it is likely that you have woken up one day when you just have to look fabulous, look in the mirror, and find yourself saying hello to a bright red pimple. This pimple was not just bright red, but big and red, probably from its father never telling it how much he loved it enough. No matter how perfect your skin may be we have all had this day. Well it does not matter how much makeup you throw over that bugger, he is just going to keep begging for attention unless you have the right foundation. Elea blake foundation has done wonders for days such as this for me, because in this day and age we just don't have time for imperfections.

4. Mascara

I have unfortunately inherited blond eyelashes. This means that my eyelashes are not incredibly visible and therefore do not show off my eyes. I had seen the work of mascara on my eyes on special occasions such as prom or photos but never really appreciated them until I learned how to correctly apply it. Mascara can be a tricky thing, as you are hovering a wand of dark liquid close to your eyeball. This to me was scary... but soon I discovered that maneuvering the wand around my eyeball was actually quite easy and quickly developed the swooping motion necessary to darken my eyelashes and show off how long they really were.

So granted... I am still a long ways away from truly mastering the application of makeup but at least I got skin care down, and well that counts for something. This is my confession. A confession of complete ignorance to such a fantastically beautiful art. I admire those women who put their makeup on in the morning with ease and creativity. Kudos to you!

By: Blake Wright

Lovely Liners & Exuberant Eyeshadows

2010-11-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

At eleablake cosmetics, we are always looking to add to our collection of wonderful goodies in order to make your life easier and more exciting. This is why we are announcing the NEW gel eyeliner and creme eyeshadow! We have enjoyed experimenting with these wonderful products ourselves and found that they are extremely delightful for layering. Incorporating these colors with our wonderful 100% mineral shadows and pencil liners have really been a blast and yielded some lovely results.

The Eyeliner

Line and define better than ever before. This gel eyeliner has an impressive array of attributes, it is; highly-pigmented, waterproof, smudge-proof, long lasting! This gel eyeliner will glide on smooth and easy, making application a breeze compared to normal liners. We recommend using our eye lining brush #10 as the best approach to outlining those amazing pair of eyes.

The Eyeshadow

Makeup shouldn't be a job. This highly-pigmented creme eye shadow flows on smoothly and dries instantly for a beautiful finish. Advanced formula is waterproof, creaseless, and long wearing. Apply with eye shadow brush #7, #9 or #11. Darin's personal favorite is #7 as it allows a deep full coverage with less work, and we are all a fan of that.

Tips

An example of a fabulous winter layered look

When using these fabulous products you will need to cleanse your brush between colors and/or in between usage (unless of course you want to mix them). We recommend Cinema Secrets brush cleaner, a favorite of eleablake since 1997, as it cleans and disinfects. It only takes 10 minutes to dry and if you're feeling impatient, take a paper towel and gently squeeze the tip to hurry along the process!

For those who wish to experiment with layering we love to use the cream first then layer with the loose minerals. We have also added pops in color in the form of our pencil eye liners for a layered eye lining look that should definitely be tried out!

P.S.

Another new comer to eleablake is our Supershine. Apply Supershine to the eyelid area first then allow to dry slightly. Apply loose mineral shadow over and WAHLAH! Any shadows that have any shine to them will be enhanced. Besides positively glowing your eyeshadow will be kept from doing any creasing. Supershine does not allow any monkey business to occur to the windows to your soul.

Our Little Word Cloud

2010-11-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Curious as to what words would come up most in some of our posts we made a word cloud these were our results.

Sensational Seasons

2010-10-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Many of us wonder: What fits me best?

Jennifer came to my studio today with this question hoping that a color analysis would supply her with answers. Jennifer had been researching color analysis for several months and I found she was a joy to work with as she had a great deal of knowledge on the subject. She had concluded that she was a True Summer and was wondering what I would discover about her skin.

Result? Dark Winter.

When Jennifer and I first met to be truthful the first thing that popped into my mind was summer or winter. Her olive complexion did lean toward a trait that I often see in a True Summer. However, her personalty was much more of a winter.

What is a winter's personality, well it tends to include traits such as; open to change, artsy, bohemian-inspired, eccentric, and self-aware.

As Jennifer was outwardly descriptive of her likes and dislikes, and described herself using the adjectives above, I had my suspicions that she was in for a surprise.

After draping her and thoroughly examining the colors and their reflections upon her skin it was obvious that the Dark Winter colors gave her skin a glow and intensified her natural beauty. All that was left was the makeup.

While applying makeup on Jennifer she expressed to me that she wanted more of a natural look. Here's the thing, the colors that I applied to Jennifer's eyes were purple, pink, blue and green yet they still looked soft and natural. When applying makeup it is a must to use the colors within your color palette. This utilizes the tones that accentuate your best features. Even a lot of color looks soft and natural when you are wearing the colors that best fit you, allowing you to brave ideas and techniques you never would before.

A few strokes of enhancement of the brows and several coats of blue mascara and she was glowing!

The Rundown:

Foundation: Robust
Eye Base: Kooky
Lash Line: Color Endangered Gel
Liner: Proud
Accent Color: Miss. November faux glo
Lash Enhancement: Botanic
Lipstick: Seductress
Blush: Driven
Lip Gloss: Every Which Way Women

3 Reasons Makeup Makes You Feel Good

2010-10-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Women have been wearing some form of makeup for at least 10,000 years. Here, at eleablake cosmetics, we like to think that we are enabling this trend in the best possible way. When we give women a makeover there is always a noticeable difference in her attitude before and after. Her head is higher and eyes brighter. We found this curious and decided to do a little exploring to see whether it was more then our work as artist. This is what we found....

It highlights your natural beauty

Every woman has that one feature that people look at and admire. Whether it be your eyes, lips, or cheeks. Makeup takes those features and puts a spotlight on them, so to speak. Eyeliner and eyeshadow accentuates the eyes, mascara lets you brag about those lashes, blush shows off those high cheek bones, and lipstick or gloss makes all eyes drift towards that mouth! Makeup is like adding vanilla ice cream with apple pie, it just calls attention to deliciousness.

It's technique is flawless.

It is like axe for women

Recall all those commercials where the guy sprays on some axe and then all of a sudden every girl in the near vicinity goes running toward him... right.. well makeup acts like that... just not nearly as dramatically.

Axe Case Study

Nicolas Geugen, a social psychologist, decided he was going to make an experiment in order to gauge the reactions of men towards the application of makeup. He had two women sit in a bar-one time wearing makeup, the other time not wearing it. When a man would approach to talk to her the woman would signal to the observers by crossing her arms and promptly inform the men to bug off... well not in those words they used ‘waiting for a friend’ but you get the point. This was done for over 60 hours in two bars, you would think that the men would notice that these same women had sat there “waiting for a friend” for over 60 hours... but thats an experiment for another time.
Geugen found that when the women were not wearing makeup they were hit on an average of about 1.5 times per hour. However, when they were wearing makeup it was 2 times per hour.
Geugen acknowledged that there were some possible issues with the experiment as the sample size of men were mostly French, this experiment was done in London, and also that it could have to do with the fact that the women just felt more confident.

We have our suspicions

We like to think it was the later. Which brings us to....

It messes with your mind

Dr. Mogi, a japanese brain scientist, found that when women put on makeup they unlock the reward system of the brain.

Dr. Mogi

The chemical dopamine, some of you may have heard of it, is released into your brain and you start to feel good. Dr. Mogi believes it is because women associate makeup with building relationships and feelings of pleasure... we think it is because they know they are going to be looking fine, and thats fine as in fine.

Elegance

2010-09-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Soft Autumn eyeshadow 12 takes inspiration from the serenity of the simple things in life. A path way holding a beauty and power that is only realized when truly looked at.

Soft Autumn eyeshadow 10 and 3 take inspiration from the sun setting on the water, as does Loving blush.

Elegance is an attribute that all women possess. This week why not bring attention to this side of yourself? With a color palette dedicated to the look of soft and elegant beauty, you can take yourself away from the everyday hassles of life, and look as if nothing in the world could affect you. As most women know, elegance is not just a look, but a feeling. A feeling that brings power to the feminine form. Holding a feeling of inner peace and serenity can transform not only how you feel, but how others around you feel. Become a breath of fresh air with Loving blush, the color of a sunset on the water, and Soft Autumn eyeshadow!

Boldly Go Where No Fall Has Gone Before

2010-09-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Conscientious blue, Superfluous yellow, Investigative orange, and Unpredictable pink: These are the colors of fall.

The season is fall, and with fall comes a new energy! I myself have been accused of having too much of it- but that’s just at work. When I’m at home I’m a slug and like to kick back sipping a glass of wine. However, no matter what mood I am in, I love energetic colors! They are great to use on the eyes, lips, and cheeks. Color can enhance your mood AND make you look years younger! Try to use bright orange on the eyes as a pop this fall. This season is all about being daring and fun, but being natural is always beautiful too! Slapping a soft orange all over your lid can give you a great all natural look. You're in charge of your beauty, we're just here to fulfill your color needs!

This season, not surprisingly, an emphasis has been created on the lips. With colors like Enchantress and liners like Tomango, it would be a shame NOT to boldly emphasize them!

Dancing With The Stars

2010-06-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Collective Commute

2010-05-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

The Collective Clothing Fashion Show was such a blast for the elea blake cosmetics team. Everyday we make people beautiful and educate all clients on how to apply their perfectly blended colors. We also have slung quite a few brushes at many fashion shows in the past, but this show was different. The Modʼs vs. Rockers theme and the use of vintage and eclectic clothing allowed our creative juices to flow. We were free with our brushes and truly enjoyed the models willingness to allow us to express our creativity.

With lip looks such as Rocker Red and Twiggy inspired pink/beige, each model emerged with the complete look of the thematic moment. Modʼs modeled color inspired eyes while Rockers modeled smoky and sexy eyes. Our umbrella girl is a perfect example of a ready to wear Mod eye. The goal at elea blake cosmetics is always to teach, either by example or instruction, that color is our friend.

The fun part for us was experiencing the look coming together in the end. The makeup and eclectic wardrobe really made a hit! The crowd was thrilled. We left inspired.

The mixing of old and new is something that I, Darin, have always enjoyed. I love it when I see people remix their wardrobe with pieces of different eras. I also enjoy the individual style and flair that emerges when doing so. In our studio I have mixed old, new and recycled. The possibilities are as endless as they are unique.

Congratulations, Darin!

2010-04-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday night begins early!

2010-04-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

Whether you're a bride-to-be, prom royalty,
concert attendee, or hip chick getting ready for
a night on the town with your main squeeze,
this is where the action hits!

It all starts with getting the correct tones and
then the magic begins. Special affects such as our
Naughty Girl lashes intensify the eyes without
making them appear gaudy and over done.

The iridescence of minerals in action adds interest
to the aura of elea blake as the brushes fly!

Spring Inspirations

2010-04-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Springtime is here and as we embrace the beauty of the season, many of us feel the need to weed through our closets and shake off the winter blues. Need a little help deciding whatʼs for keeps and whatʼs not? Look into having your color analysis done to insure you're wearing the best colors. We suggest taking an inventory of what is needed to update your spring wardrobe. Next make a list and shop for the key pieces to complete this season's looks.

The color story for this season is a well-rounded palette of warm, optimistic colors of
nature's artist palette. Think of flowers exploring their new territory: neutrals and
brights. Spring brings new birth and flowers emerge: daffodils, violets, mini irises, new
greens. The feathers of a mallard duck taupe: soft brown, and slightly gray.

City life teems with potted plants emerging to spark life into an urban jungle. Rural farms birth tomatoes Splashes of color emanating sunshine bring us to a palette of neutrals and brights to accentuate, define, and highlight any human palette.
The colors of spring shout optimism and fun refreshing in an era of uncertainty.

Beauty aids adopt green tint - timesfreepress.com

2010-03-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

Beauty aids adopt green tint - timesfreepress.com

Chattanooga and Beyond

2010-03-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

Darin added two drops of magenta to wake up this shade of lipgloss while a shimmering tone gold adds warmth.

Work continues even when clients are not present. Kristen confers with Darin while filling an order bound for Mississippi.

Introducing the eb blog

2010-03-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

In a window of the Elea Blake studio at 133 Frazier Avenue are three arm sculptures, fingers elegantly splayed upward. Darin Wright's aesthetics practice is one of many small gestures, nuances that blend art and science to complement one's natural complexion.

After cleansing her client's face, Wright searches for a foundation match. "Skin tones are different in different places," she explains and complements her well coordinated outfit of soft pinks and beiges. Empathy matters because these ladies will be spending most of an afternoon together.

"If eyes are the window to your soul, brows are the drapes," Wright continues. Like an energetic painter of canvas, her face is a fierce mask of concentration as the brush stokes are applied. Then, with hands apart, she steps away to gauge their effect. Smiling, bantering, mixing and applying color, her dance continues.

"We are mixologists creating on skin," she says. The powders are mineral-based and not tested on animals.

Blending them may follow one of three schemes. The monochromatic results in shading. Analogous colors harmonize in their proximity on a color wheel while complements reach across the wheel to balance each other.

As time passes, her working surface comes to resemble a painter's palette and like that portrait artist's, the colors are unique, be they applied with a stipple brush or molded into a lipstick. Wright's clientele will leave the studio refreshed and empowered, knowing that they look their best.