June Faves!

Where has the month gone? It's almost July, meaning the Fourth (tutorials to come soon), the beach, the pool and....summer intensives! But we aren't done with June yet, so I want to tell you all about my favorites!

Face Product

This month I have THREE face products because I've been totally obsessed with smoothing out my rough skin. I have dry, bumpy, rough skin so any product that makes my skin smooth is a life saver!

1. This isn't for my general skin, it's actually for underneath my eyes! It's Bobbi Brown's Brightening Gel and it's AMAZING. It's smooth, creamy, and it seems to me like the delicate skin under my eyes has actually firmed a little from using it. I haven't noticed a huge difference in the brightening, but for some reason it just looks a lot better in that area. I only have a sample, so I'm considering purchasing the full size.

2. This next product has been a life saver for a night cream. It's so moisturizing and thick and lovely and after I use it, I feel very....energized. My skin is very happy! It's Pond's Dry Skin Cream. The smell is amazing too. I recommend this if you have dry skin like me.

3. Finally, because it is summer and I'm going to be in the sun every day, I needed a good, inexpensive sunscreen for my face. I need it to be inexpensive because if I need to restock, I want to be able to go to Target and buy it for $30 instead having to go to Bloomies and pick up a $200 lotion. My life saver is my Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock. It's great protection against the sun and it's only $10 at drugstores or online. I discovered this through my mom, but I've noticed it pops up a lot online. Both Blair Fowler (juicystar07) & Ingrid Nilson (MissGlamorazzi) use this, and they have oily skin types, so it proves it works for all skin.







Eyeliner

Onto eyeliner! I have been obsessed with two eyeliners, but one clearly exceeds the other in formulation. My favorite is Mac's Gel Eyeliner in Macroviolet, which is a purple color. I wore this everyday in the later winter and spring months, but I've been obsessed with it still during the summer, even though I don't normally wear eyeliner everyday.



Eyeshadow

Going into eyeshadow, I actually bought this eyeshadow a few months ago, but I only recently started using it for banquets and...(pause for dramatic effect) recitals! It's the perfect shimmery blue color (on the left) for my costume. I've been pairing it with Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink. The eyeshadow duo is Ulta's Baked Eyeshadow. The left in a tortoise-shell style patten with purples, blues and white. When you swirl it together, it's a lovely dark blue shimmery silver color. The right is a plain navy color. I don't use it often, but you can take a angled eyeliner brush and press the shadow into your lash line for a navy eyeliner look.



Blush

As far as blushes go, I've been pretty good with exploring the range of blush colors. I was never a huge fan of blushes but recently I've gotten in to them. The most fun product I've discovered in Maybelline's Dreamy Bouncy Blush in Orchid Hush. This one is a very pale pink, and yes, they are cream blushes. It's very creamy (hence, cream blushes) and the entire line of the Dream Bouncy Blushes are amazing! I particulary like this one, even though I usually prefer brighter pinks and oranges. It's a lot paler in person, the camera just seems to want to make it more red than usual.



Lip Product

My new obsession in Bobbi Brown, so it's no surprise that my favorite lip product is a Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss. It's called "Rosy" and it's a beautiful rosy pink color. If it weren't for the color, I probably wouldn't love it so much because of the sticky formulation, but I can live with it. This looks great on olive skin tones, and also on very pale, pale skin tones.



Perfume

On my old blog I talked a lot about my Pink Chiffon Perfume from Bath & Body Works. I still love it, especially because it's a perfect summer scent. I was attracted to the name because it reminded me of ballet, and the scent because it smells amazing. Immediately it reminded me of apple juice, and juicy sort of scent but I can't quite describe it exactly. It attracted me immediately and I think everyone should like it too!

Dancewear

The other day, right before an audition, I went to my local dance supply store and bought a colored leotard. I haven't worn colored leotards for years, but I decided I wanted to stand out that night, so I chose a royal blue leotard. It's pretty standard leo, nothing too fancy. I love the back because it's very low cut and the entire leotard fits perfectly. Where ever stores sells Capezio, you can find great colorful leotards like this one. Capezio is my favorite brand because I have sooooo much stuff from there (tights, leotards, ballet slippers, etc).



Snack

Calcium is extremely important in an everyday diet, and I really wanted to get my share of it, but I don't really like drinking plain milk. I eat yogurt and cheese and milk in my cereal, but I still wanted more in my diet. Recently at the grocery store I picked up Almond Milk. I've heard good things about it, and when I got home and tried it I fell in love. It's extremely tasty and amazing and so good. I drink a glass of it a day and have even used it in my milk and honey mask (tutorial to come)!



Youtuber

If you read my old blog, you probably know how in love I am with Ingrid Nilsen, or MissGlamorazzi on YouTube. She was the first beauty vlogger I ever watched, and I thank her for introducing me to beauty. Anyway, I love her so much and I've watched every single video of hers, her boyfriend's (his videos introduced me to Ingrid, his name is Luke Conard on Youtube) and all of her beauty friends (Nikki Phillipi, FleurDeForce, pixi2woo aka Tanya, juicystar07 aka Blair, allthatglitters21 aka Elle, etc) and all of her other friends (Sawyer Hartman, Jason Munday, Alex Carpenter, Lisbug, and my favorite, Joey Graceffa). www.youtube.com/MissGlamorazzi

(Picture Credit to Beautylish.com)

Song/Artist

I know this isn't beauty or health or dance, but I have been obsessing over Ed Sheeran and his song Lego House. Just listen to it, and you'll fall in love!



Random Favorite

My random favorite for this month is....Breaking Pointe! It's a reality show following the dancers of Ballet West in Salt Lake City prepare for their performance. It's really inspiring AND addicting! It's on the CW Thursdays at 8.

(I believe the girl is Beckanne- I could be wrong- and the man is Ronnie)

(Picture credit to rafani.net)



 



Off With Your Head- A Queen of Hearts Stage Makeup Tutorial

One of the most famous characters in literature, in film and on the stage is the Queen of Hearts. She's shown up in so many different adaptions: in the Disney cartoon, in Tim Burton's film from 2010, in Lewis Carroll's book "Alice in Wonderland" and, of course, on stage! So I decided to do a tutorial based upon Helena Bonham Carter's version:

Let's jump right in!

1. First use a good amount of foundation to achieve her perfect skin. It's important to look flawless for this character because she's a bit..quirky? I'm using NYC  Skin Matching Foundation in Shade 686 Light.

2. Next use your favorite concealer for covering up discoloration, dark circles and any imperfections. I'm going to use Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer fo Eyes in 05 Fair.

3. Onto blush! In the picture, she doesn't have any blush on, but I wanted to create a little more color on her cheeks, so I chose to put a light coat of Maybelline Dream Bouncy in 45 Orchid Hush on the apples of my cheeks and up to my temples.

4. Moving onto the eyes, I'm using an all over the lid white color from Bobbi Brown- "Snow".  It'll act as a good base for the blue we are putting on.

5. Next, using some Scotch Tape, tape diagonally from the outer corner of your eye to the outer edge of your brow. Do this on both sides. Then, take another piece and tape from the inner corner to the inner edge. This will create a sharp edge.

6. I'm going to take my Color Concept Palette from Target and use the lightest blue color, which is very sparkly. With a flat lid brush take the color all over the lid and up the brows. Make sure it's solid to create the very regal look.

7. Now with a pencil brush and the same pallete, take a slightly darker blue. Outline your outer edge and go into the crease and slightly into the lash line to create a little dimension in the look. Blend it out with a fluffy blending brush.

8. To make a gradient effect, I'm going to use the same Snow color and place it under my brow. It'll blend in with the blue, creating a gradient of shadows.

9. Now to define your eyes, take a gel or a liquid eyeliner (I like Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in 01 Black Ink). Make a thin line staying close to your lash line, and then take the color onto your water line.

10. Curl your lashes and use a waterproof (to prevent smudging under the hot lights of the stage) mascara. Focus the mascara on your lower lashes to make you look ever quirkier!

11. Onto the lips! Start by using ELF's All Over Color Stick in #10341 Golden Peach and put it all over your lips for a good base.

12. Now take a red lipstick (I like Rimmel's Red Lipstick......but I don't know the name of it!) and make a fish face. Come on, you know what I'm talking about. Suck in your cheeks. Stay like that while your put on your lipstick on the top lip. For the bottom lip, create the shape of the bottom of a heart. When you relax your face, you can touch it up.

And your done! I hope you like this tutorial and if you do, follow and keep reading! :)

xoxo Anna

Basic Stage Makeup Tips

Basic Stage Makeup Tips: A Must Know for Every Performer!

 

As a performer, I've had tons of experience with stage makeup. I'm a dancer and an actress, but both areas of performing has similar if not the same general makeup! Stage lights are like high school snobs: harsh and point out your flaws. But stage lights are necessary for a great production. So I put together some tips for basic stage makeup.

1. Remember that basic stage makeup is the makeup that goes on under any makeup needed for your character. Also, if your director tells you not to wear anything that I put below, don't wear it! This is generalized and the usual makeup worn by actresses.

2. FoCoPo
I know, it sounds strange, but I think FoCoPo is a must have/do routine done before your other makeup. It stands for Foundation, Concealer, and Powder. As I said before, stage lights can be your worst enemy when blemishes aren't covered up enough. They bring out redness, discoloration, etc. So a good foundation, concealer and powder is absolutely necessary for looking flawless.

3. Eyeliner & Mascara
Being washed out is another terrible deed done by stage lights. You can look sickly pale if you don't darken up areas like your eyes. A basic rule for eyeliner is to make it black. Black looks the best and darkest on stage. I like liquid eyeliners, but pencil can work just as well as long as you thicken it. And for mascara, make sure it's waterproof, because the lights, plus dancing & moving around can make you sweat!

4. Bronzers and Highlighters and Blushes
Bronzers can be very tricky, especially when it comes to contouring. Unless your director tells you to, I like to skip bronzer, or else I could look suntanned or something horrendous like that. Highlighters can be tricky too. If done right, it can really make your cheeks and eyes sparkle. I like to a nice pigmented highlighter on my cheekbones and my brows and in the inner corner of my eye. I done wrong though, it can make you just look washed out. Blush is absolutely necessary for stage makeup. Without it, it can definitely make you look like a zombie. I like creme blushes for the stage, just because it's easier to touch up before going on stage.

5. Lipsticks
These can be really scary. Nudes can make you look washed out, but reds can be totally wrong for your part. Ahhh! Talk to your director, and always bring a variety with you to dress rehearsal.

6. Your Makeup Bag and Touch Ups

Every performer should bring a touch up bag. In it are the necessaries:

• Concealer & Powder
• Creme Blush
• Several different lipsticks in different shades (Red, two different pinks and a nude)
• Eyeliner (whatever color is needed for your part)
• Hairspray
• Bobby Pins
• Mascara

Yeah, hairspray and bobby pins aren't makeup, but they are still necessary for a good show. And even if you don't need them, someone else in the cast might need to borrow it!

Fun Fact: Hairspray doesn't have to be used for just hair- it's great for keeping your makeup on throughout the show! Just shut your eyes and mouth and spritz some on your face!

I hope this helped!

Question: Can you name the Broadway Shows shown in the pictures?

 

DISCLAIMER: This had been posted on my old blog, inbeou.blogspot.com. I decided to transfer it to this new blog because I think it would be helpful. :)

Welcome to Ballerina Beauty!

Welcome to Ballerina Beauty! I'm Anna, and I'm a ballerina and an actress. I love beauty and makeup, so I decided to start my own blog. But this isn't a normal beauty blog. Sure, I'll review products and give my monthly favorites and give fun makeup tutorials. It's unique because I'm going to give stretches and dance combos for staying healthy, plus diets and my favorite- STAGE MAKEUP TUTORIALS!!!!! Yayyyyy!!!!!!!!

So if you are interested in beauty and performing, keep reading and don't forget to subscribe!