Review Time: RCMA Foundations

Review Time: RCMA Foundations

Remember when I was assisting on So You Think You Can Dance and the makeup artists had this foundation called RCMA?

If not, go read my other blogs. 

It's cool, I'll wait...

...Ok we good? Cool.

So of course after playing around with them on set, I decided I wanted to give them a shot. Adam quickly told me the best idea ever.

"The foundations are like, 30 bucks for 1oz. There's a website that sells sample sizes of them so you can give them a shot before you commit."

This is why he gets paid the big bucks.

So on Camerareaadycosmetics.com, you can buy sample sizes of them. BE SURE to do some research first because their numbering and palette names make little to no sense.

Here's a little cheat sheet I found:

https://camerareadycosmetics.com/content/Foundation-Comparison-Chart.pdf

YOU ARE WELCOME.

So for reference, I'm a neutral/pale girl. At MAC they usually try to sell me a NC15 which is a smidge too cool and slightly too pale (in my opinion) for me, but I'm not tan enough to go up in shades. So it's pretty accurate.

I ended up ordering Ivory and F1- which ended up being a perfect blend. Ivory would be great for me in the winter, I think, but F1 tans it up just every so slightly. If I were outside more often, F1 would look fine too. So basically, the cheat sheet I used worked out perfectly.

First I stuck them on a palette and did a few swatch tests, then I went ahead and mixed them.

I used a slightly damp Beauty Blender to put it on. Notice the giant face demon on my nose- this is how you know I didn't edit any of these pictures and there is no filter.

Here's the before and after. PRETTY GREAT RIGHT? I know. This is just one pass with the RCMA and the damp beauty blender. It covered the acne spots pretty great too. All I did after that picture was take a tiny bit more RCMA and conceal the hardcore areas like that one spot on my cheek and under my eyes.

This is the RCMA, natural light, no filters, after 10-11 hours of wear. Pretty great, I know. The only part that really wore down was under my eyes and that's because I have a terrible habit of rubbing my under-eyes when I'm frustrated or annoyed...or my eyes are itchy.

I also wore the foundation for another 3 or 4 hours after this picture and it was still where I put it.

I don't even... what kind of voodoo is this? Seriously? 

I'm pretty convinced RCMA is one of the best things out there.

Some things I should mention:

My skin is quite dry, and I only powdered this in the morning around my forehead and nose. For people with oily skin, you'll probably have to set this with a little more powder, since it is a cream consistency, but you should be fine.

What I used on my skin before the RCMA was a healthy dose of Embryolisse moisturizer (which is exactly what I use every single day of my life and before every foundation I use. No special treatment).

I am a picker, hardcore. If there is something on my face to pick at, I will do it- which is why I'm amazed that the RCMA held on for that many hours.

I plucked my eyebrows, that arch is pretty sick right? I have Lauren Becall's eyebrows.

So in summation, RCMA is pretty great, and the color ranges are pretty dang extensive. I know the pots and palettes are expensive, but they're really amazing and the tiniest bit goes a long way. I'm pretty sure I could use my sample sizes every day for an entire year before it runs out.

-SamanthaK

That Time I Assisted on a TV Show... (no seriously, I did)

That Time I Assisted on a TV Show... (no seriously, I did)

So remember when I said I did So You Think You Can Dance?

I did it.

And it was amazing.

I had to wait until they posted the Top 20 dancers before I could put up my pictures- just in case I took some of them by accident. I did my best to avoid taking too many pictures because I didn't want to get kicked out or get in trouble.

For those of you who don't know- this kind of work is something I'm really interested in, so when I got to do this I was drying. I know it was just assisting, and I realize it was a lot of me following dancers around with powder puffs and tissues, but it was really important to me. I met a lot of amazing makeup artists, who I've been texting ever since we went and I'm excited to say maybe LA is REALLY going to be in my future.

So the trip started with Erica (my fellow Phase 2 member) and Stephanie (we know Stephanie right? My teacher/mentor?) driving through the night to LA. I should say this was probably one of the best car trips I've ever had. We basically spent the entire 5 hours talking about school and life. It was very cathartic for me, and I got to dump out a lot of nonsense. It's amazing what a bitch buddy session does sometimes.

We did our best to sleep that night BUT OF COURSE IT WAS VERY HARD TO DO.

 So basically what we did was a series of different photoshoots-some were moving video, some were stills, some were group shots, etc.

I hope they don't mind me posting pictures of them. WHATEVER, OH WELL.

Also, I don't know what Erica is doing with her face, but Stephanie is rocking that water bottle, am I right?

The makeup set up.

On the ends is Abe and Melissa, who are Paul Mitchell hairstylists. They were the ones who called Debra Dietrich, who called Stephanie, who invited Erica and I. They're really amazing and absolutely adorable people. I'm hoping they hit us up again because they're really fun to work with.

This is Erica and Adam. Adam was the makeup artist she assisted for. He's done all kinds of stuff like Ant Farm, Happily Divorced, 10th Kingdom (a personal guilty pleasure of mine). He was a really cool dude and he let us go through his kit and pick his brain. Erica has pretty much declared him her new mentor.

Not pictured is one of my new mentors and also one of the makeup artists- Amy Harmon. She's such a cool lady, and watching her was kind of like seeing a future version of myself. I've been texting her ever since with questions and she's been nice enough not to block my number.

The kraft (craft?) services there were insane. Check out this jerk chicken. Amazing. Also, not pictured was the enormous breakfast burrito I got.

Then we played around with Adam's RCMA foundations. Erica is a beautiful model, yes?

She's gonna hate me for throwing in this picture.

Then we got lost on set for awhile and found a New York street THAT HAD A WEIRD FAKE SEPHORA ON IT.

Then we realized it was set up like some weird drugstore? Like, what kind of Sephora has liquor and immunizations? Seriously?

Erica posed while I sang, "On the Street Where You Live". I'm pretty sure anyone that could hear me thought I was crazy.

Apparently, Stephanie and Erica have this pet peeve about dirty wind shields? I don't even get it.

All in all, this was pretty much the most amazing thing I've probably done. It's amazing to me that as school keeps going, the opportunities I get are more and more insane. 

I promise when I move to Hollywood, I forget you little people. HAHAHAHAHHAA. (insert obnoxious laugh)

-SamanthaK

I Bounce Back... Strong.

I Bounce Back... Strong.

I've been working a lot lately. 

Most people at know I'm kind of a workaholic despite how tired/slow I come across at school. Between my "normal people" job, taking care of my house, and my school schedule (I'm in phase 2 as well), I'm already running a little ragged. Then add the fact that I have to find a new place to live by September... Then add the extra curriculars I got asked to do at school.

Yeah, it's a little rough.

So the night when I had a minor run in with another person at one of those extras was when I suddenly felt my boat tipping. I'm usually very good at keeping myself in check- especially my self-esteem, but things had been bubbling under the surface for a long time and it was due time it boiled over.

To keep that story short, it was another girl passing off her job on me and then sat behind my shoulder and insisted on micro managing me. She kept picking on me, and picking on my model. It was a nightmare. In the real world I would have fired her, but this is a girl I have to see most days. I should have been braver and told her to leave me be, or to stop making my model uncomfortable- but I chickened out.

Which of course ate at me.

If I wasn't strong enough to tell this girl that I was the professional and she needed to step back, how was I supposed to lead a team, ever?

 I told Stephanie what happened.

"She was... she was mean to me," I said, completely aware I sounded like a child.

But my friend was right, this girl was insecure and didn't know what to do, so she found the person in the room she knew could handle anything- which was me. She just felt the need to micro-manage so she felt like she did something.

Stephanie spent awhile trying to make me feel better. I still maintain she was blowing hot air up my skirt, but at least at the end of the conversation I wasn't crying.

I didn't feel immediately better, but I felt pacified.

But things were spinning out of control and I was slowly starting to slack in school. My anxiety was running rampant and insisting that everyone knew I was a fraud. I thought my clients could see right through the charade I was playing- this confidence I was trying to push, this smile on my face that was hard enough to feel like my face was ripping apart. I made 10% shifts at school but they weren't lasting by the time I got home.

 I spent a few evenings plastered to the TV with ice cream just trying to have an evening that didn't end with my pouring over ads for houses I couldn't afford, or falling asleep on top of my school books studying for tests I was barely passing.

I got a text one morning I was feeling ok, but still numb from Stephanie, "Hey, how're you feeling?"

"Better. I'm ok."

"Good... can you be at school early today? Before pow-wow?"

"Yeah of course."

I've never showered and threw myself together so quickly. I ended up being at school 20 minutes early.

"Thank you for being early," was all she said.

"Um. Ok."

And that was the end of that for awhile. I went to go find my friends and maybe 10 minutes later Stephanie came to find me.

"I need to talk to you for a minute."

Anyone who's been kicked out of Phase 2 knows this dreaded phrase. I felt my stomach fall through my butt.

"Ok."

It was made worse when she lead me, not to her office, but to D'Ann's office (my school's owner). I couldn't look at her when we slowly climbed the stairs.

"Just tell me if this is going to be bad," I begged, thinking my friend would spare me some humiliation. Maybe if I knew it was bad, I could will myself not to cry.

"No, it's a good thing for you, I promise."

"I don't like this at all."

Stephanie had the audacity to laugh as we came into the office and D'Ann was posed with a serious look on her face. Never in my life have I felt the need to throw up so badly. We sat down and there was a long pause. The room became unbearably hot and I was writhing in my chair.

I don't even know exactly what she said. It was a lot of name dropping and so and so calling so and so, but the story ended with the question, "Do you want to assist on So You Think You Can Dance?"

I'm pretty sure there was at least a full minute of pause where I was really confused.

Stephanie looked at me like I was a spaz, "We wanted to ask you because you're a visionary and we know that this is something you're serious about."

I'm pretty sure there was another pause before I became overcome with word-vomit like, "ohmygodyesabsolutelyIneedtogohomeandpackohnomymakeupkitisembarrassing."

They laughed at me (of course they would, who wouldn't). Stephanie and I went down the stairs after, with her telling me not to tell anyone right away.

I promised just as Stephanie went to grab my friend Erica, saying, "I need to talk to you real quick before class starts."

I watched Erica look at me with panic as she ascended the stairs, and I walked away laughing.


Sometimes it's important to play strong. Sometimes it's important to make 10% shifts. Sometimes those shifts feel like you've done nothing... but sometimes, people notice that dedication and reward it.

-SamanthaK

You Too Can Do: Packing for a Trip

You Too Can Do: Packing for a Trip

So, like I said in my previous post- I was in Florida for 4 Days. I haven't done a flight/long trip in awhile, and I forgot how ridiculous packing can be.

So here's some tips and tricks I wrote down for you guys.

1. Make lists. I can't stress how important this is. Oh, and don't make you list the night before when you're all freaked out about travelling. I started my list a week ahead of time and added stuff through the week. Whenever you remember something, write it down. 

2. Pick luggage that is brightly colored and can be easily identified. Look I get you, black luggage is sleek and sexy and makes you feel like Victoria Beckham, but it is the dumbest idea in history. A couple of the girls who went brought black luggage and didn't put anything on it to be able to identify it quickly- I don't even think they put a luggage tag on it. The mother in me was like, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" 

My bag in case you can't tell, it blue and grey with a yellow luggage tag. No one even remotely had the same color as me and baggage claim took 5 seconds.

3. Pack in quadrants. Some people roll their clothes to make more space, I usually don't. What I do is pack in corners of the luggage in specific themes. Example: the bottom left side is warmer clothes and nicer outfits, the bottom right is clothes I'll wear to the show, or cooler clothes. The top right ended up being swimsuits and shoes, the left was pjs and the pocket on the inside was underwear. 

When I pack in an organized way it makes finding things so much easier and I'm not the guy who's suitcase explodes on site because I had to dig around for something at the bottom.

4. Try not to get distracted like I did.

5. Pack wet stuff in a zip-lock. You will be so happy with yourself when something explodes but doesn't get all over your clothes.

6. Makeup goes in one bag, but is separated into smaller bags. Example: one bag for eyes, one for lips, etc. When I only had 5 minutes to do my makeup one morning, it made my life so much easier.

And make sure when you get the hotel you and your room-mate designate areas. I always claim the table, and leave the bathroom for my room-mate's stuff.

7. Hair stuff goes in another bag. Obviously you might not need as much as I brought, but I'm a hairstylist and that's where my luggage space goes. Deal with it. If I were you, I would consolodate your items for space. Either bring travel sized items or fill up those mini empty bottles they sell at the drugstore.

8. Be smart with your carry-on. Don't pack a crazy amount- remember you're carrying that around an airport all day. Here's what was in my carry-on:

-a change of clothes (leggings and a t-shirt that way I had either pjs for that night or I could mix and match with what I had on to make another outfit. I was scared my luggage would get lost with all the layovers.)

-Bag with my jewelry, aspirin, pens, etc.

-CASH, it's so much faster than messing around with a card and you only have 5 minutes til your next flight boards.

-Book and magazines.

-Clear TSA approved bag with all my liquids, which include toothbrush and toothpaste, moisturiser, lip balms, rollerball perfume, travel sized Awapuhi Styling Oil, concealer, eye cream, and lotion.

9. Get smart with your space. Altoid tins are so amazing for dumb stuff- iPod cords, bobby pins, rubber bands, headphones, ANYTHING.

10. Don't dress dumb for the airport. Now, I didn't take a picture of what I ACTUALLY wore, but it was pretty much this.

Except I wore leggings, different colored shoes, and no jewelry. 

My goal for the airport is always to not block the way for other people. So wear flats or flip flops, don't wear your jewelry, don't carry anything in your pockets, and always remember less is more. You don't have to wear the overcoat, the heels, and all your rings. Those are things for your carry on. Don't be a jerk at the airport, you're just going to make people like me angry.

Enjoy your trip, if you're taking one soon,

-SamanthaK

Premiere Orlando 2013 in a Nutshell

Remember when I won that trip to Florida?

YEAH IT JUST HAPPENED.

We pretty much decided to start with all the Paul Mitchell booth.

Then we went to watch Martin Parsons, who I love to death.

He is so adorable in person! He was incredibly nice.

Then we went to the Paul Mitchell show.

So in case you can't tell, the dresses the models are wearing are made from previous Paul Mitchell campaigns, but the parts where there's hair in the picture- they covered with real hair. It was amazing.

So everything starts out all normal....

...Until Robert Cromeans decides he wants to cut a square graduation with a serving fork and clippers.

Of course it turned out beautiful though.

Aren't they a cute couple?

Then again, Robert Cromeans decides to be crazy- and plops his hat on this model's afro and starts hacking with the clippers.

...like a lot.

Of course it turns out well.

Then we saw Martin Parsons again on the mainstage.

He's so funny and incredible.

This dress, am I right? I wanted to snatch it right off her and take it home with me.

Then Martin decided to parade the models around.

He was a proud papa, I think.

I bought a lot from Inglot.

Also, Florida didn't like my hair.

Then we went to Downtown Disney to go to the Curls Party Paul Mitchell was throwing at House of Blues.

We had dinner first at Wolfgang Puck's place.

The view was amazing, I wish I had better pictures.

The party was INSANE.

D'Ann even took us to the VIP room to check it all out. 

I went back to the hotel early because I wanted to take makeup classes in the morning with- dun dun dun- CONTESTANTS FROM FACE OFF SEASON 3. Yeah, I know. 

We learned about bruises and scratches and cuts, and then they made a broken bone out of sponges and liquid latex. It was gross and amazing.

...I bought a lot of Inglot.

FLORIDA HAS GRITS.

My friends made sure to let me know how much they missed me. I missed them too, of course.

All in all the trip was amazing, and I got to have a lot of opportunities I wouldn't have had before. I'm so grateful to D'Ann and Eric, the owners of my school who put this amazing chance in front of me.

But of course, it's nice to be home.

-SamanthaK