Q&A with Amy Nadine Celebrity Make-Up Artist & REVIEW!

I know i've been extremely busy and not able to post as much as i'd like - but i'd like to tell you all what i've been up to! I was given the most amazing opportunity to interview Amy Nadine a celeb make-up artist for my Mommy website WorldForMoms.com in addition to posting the Q&A on WorldForMoms.com, i thought i'd share this to all my blogger friends as well! 

Amy Nadine is known for her intuitive ability to define and accentuate the natural beauty of every face she touches. She prides herself in being an expert in her field, always studying color trends, cosmetics formulations…anything & everything makeup-related, and pinches herself daily that she’s having a career out of one of her greatest passions.

Amy has worked on a number of celebrities including Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, Shannon Doherty, Jordin Sparks, George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington, Patrick Dempsey, Khloe Kardashian & Jack Johnson, among others. Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Seventeen, Glamour, ELLE Girl and Fitness, to name a few.

Amy Nadine was so gracious enough to take the time to answer a few of my questions:

• What products can't you live without?

I am obsessed with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Designer Shaping Foundation and Foundation Brush. It is the closest thing to airbrushing that I can find... foundation perfection as far as I'm concerned.  The best concealer that I've ever found is by Cle de Peau Beaute, which you can find at Neiman Marcus and Saks. It covers EVERYTHING! From age spots, dark circles to freckles and blemishes; and the best part... it doesn't crease or flake. It is genius.  Contouring!  The cheekbones, jaw line and top of the forehead must be contoured!! Foundation evens out your complexion but makes your face a blank canvas... so you must add the dimensions back in by contouring. My absolute favorite product for this is Hourglass' Bronzing Duo. It's a cream-to-powder formula that melts into your skin and I love the 360-degree compact mirror.  I love for my clients to have a radiance about them, not clown cheeks. NARS Blush in Luster is brilliant for achieving that, because it is a sheer golden apricot, made with transparent pigments to avoid heaviness. It truly does look gorgeous on everyone, on camera or on a dinner date!  I adore the department store brands, but I swear by Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara. Years ago when I was assisting Meg Ryan's make-up artist, he laughed at me for spending so much money on mascaras for my kit. He introduced me to 2000 Calorie and I've been hooked ever since. It gives major volume and length but doesn't clump, which is hard to find. And because it is under $10, I buy a new one for each client and give it to them that day, because I don't believe in sharing mascaras and disposable wands are poorly designed and never give me the effect I want.  The silkiest lipstick I can find is Cle de Peau Touche de Rouge. They are super slim and incredibly creamy. They are a luxury at $50 each, but you feel like a queen every time you treat your lips to a fresh coat. Luckily, a tube can last a long time, because the color has staying power that lasts for hours. It is every lips' dream and my favorites are 101, 105 and 106.

• What is a MUST use product with every look you do (for yourself and for clients?)

Most of my clients request a cat-eye winged liner look.  I love On The Edge Hook-up by Mark Cosmetics. It doesn't flake or feather and is the most user-friendly brush on the market. Anyone can draw a perfect line like a pro with it! I use it most in Cleo (black) but I personally love it in Nefertini because it still adds the drama that only a liquid liner can, but is softer for a freckled-face strawberry blonde like me! And at $5, it's a steal!!

• What should we do to prepare our face for putting make-up on? And what products you can recommend (if you can suggest high end/middle/low priced products)?

Find a great moisturizer with at least SPF 15.  I use Proactiv Oil Free Moisture because it’s super lightweight and won’t break out my clients.  Then follow with your favorite primer.  I love NARS ProPrime.

• What is a basic and easy routine for Moms on the go that have only 5 minutes to get ready?

Using a sponge, apply a powder-foundation formula (a cream base that turns into a powder). It’s simple to use and because it provides great coverage, you can skip the concealer and powder. You can literally “wipe” it on your face and neck. (30 seconds)

Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and bronzer to your hairline, temples, cheekbones, nose, chin, and neck. (60 seconds)

Line your eyes with a kohl pencil. (60 seconds)

Apply mascara. (60 seconds)

Slick on your favorite lipstick or gloss. (10 seconds)

I also was sent a few products that Amy Nadine uses on some of her clients to try and review! 

These are Amy Nadine's recommended products from the Proactive skin care line, includes the Medicated Blemish Stick and Makeup Removing Cloths.

First up: Proactive Medicated Blemish Stick in Medium. Product itself is 0.009oz/280mg.

Proactiv Medicated Blemish Stick is an anti-acne concealer specially formulated with salicylic acid to treat and cover up blemishes.Available in four shades, this portable pencils blendable formula provides natural looking coverage and doubles as an effective on-the-go spot treatment for hard to hide blemishes.

Concealer in Medium matches perfectly on my skin

Swatch on hand (but still matches my face perfectly)

sorry it's blurry, but ingredients...

Directions

other active ingredients

The stick itself..

So i really do like the idea of a blemish stick! easy to use and perfect to use on the go. this works perfectly for blemishes like mentioned, but in my opinion not to use on under eye area because the salicylic acid in it.. just my thoughts.. i did try it and it was drying under my eyes so i just used it fr blemishes.. and it was perfect timing because i did have some hormonal acne spots and blemishes i needed to conceal. it did hide blemishes quite flawlessly. i always apply my foundation first, then conceal any blemishes and imperfections then go over it all with a powder to set it and this has worked very well for me and using this concealer was no different.

I know that pimples are raised and will have a shadow, but it covered up the redness really well! which i was suprised. Heck i even used this to cover the redness around my nose which was quite impressive because around my nose is SUPER red.. im so sorry for not taking pictures, but i didn't charge the battery LOL! i know i suck! but take my word - it was amazing!

Also this product lasted SO long! i loved it! and it didn't make me break out at all, and it was creamy and blended flawlessly.. i used a concealer brush to apply and blend or used my clean fingers.. 

Packaging - 4/5

It looked like an eyeliner, but it's concealer! very neat concept. of course it's lightweight and super simple to use. it's sturdy enough to bring with you in your purse/pocket and the cap stay put which i like. there are no problems turning the dial (it's a twist up type concealer stick).. so it's a pretty good design in my opinion, and although it is a tiny product, a little goes a long way like any other concealer.

Quality - 4/5

The consistency is so creamy and super blendable, i really love how it blended flawlessly. the coverage is medium to full coverage depending on how much you layer and also if you use your finger or a brush to apply and also makes it more flawless when you set with some powder. you can tell this stuff is made of great quality, when you put it on theres a thickness yet creaminess that makes it feel heavenly on the skin. it's not waxy feeling, on the skin it feels weightless and i really like that about this product.

Usage - 5/5

Extremely no brainer, easy to use, easy to take with you on the go, when your traveling, spot touch ups. easy to blend and does not cake (unless you cake it on yourself, then it'd be your error! lol) 

Overall - 4/5 

Extremely awesome product to try if you can get your hands on it. I did not see this product on the proactive website, but i did see this product (sold out) on amazon.com - so the only gripe about it, is if i run out, not quite sure where i can get this product besides amazon and possible e-bay. but it is nonetheless an amazing product that i'm glad i got introduced to. although it didn't work for any under eye concealing - it was amazing on my blemishes and actually did what it was supposed to do (not anything miraculously like in a few hours).. but did help heal acne over time with regular usage which was a big plus for me. it did not irritate my skin whatsoever which is another big plus for me and mixed well with all my make-up (either liquid foundation/powder foundation).

Recommend - YES! if you can get your hands on this product and need something you can tote around with you or are the type that needs a concealer for spot touch ups - this is for you! 

definitely approved by yours truly 

Next Up... Proactive Makeup Removing Cloths

I had been using the Neutrogena Makeup remover cloths (separate review to come in the future).. and although the neutrogena wipes were definitely NOT my favorite.. they were alright... and now having been able to use the Proactive Makeup removing cloths.. 

I found this on the proactive.com website, it says the price for the makeup remover cloths are $15.00 for regular price and $11.95 for member price. I guess if you are already a proactive customer you can purchase this on the website for a discounted price. I believe though if you have a proactive kiosk (we have one here at the local mall - northridge mall and i believe i can get both products)

What the website claims about the cloths:

Pre-moistened towelettes are infused with skin conditioners to quickly and thoroughly remove makeup from eyes, lips and face without any irritation.

• Alcohol Free
• Fragrance Free
• Oil Free
• Wipes away difficult-to-remove makeup, even mascara and lipstick

Directions: Gently Wipe entire face, including lips and eye area until all hints of makeup disappear. Use additional cloths if needed. Follow with your favorite cleanser.

Ingredients: Water (aqua/eau), butylene glycol, lavadula angustifolia (lavender) extract, allantoin, laureth-9, disodium EDTA, methylparaben, ethylparaben

Honestly, i liked these slightly more than the neutrogena wipes because, although these cloths were a lot softer for me than anything i've used.. i guess i wasn't really impressed with the ease of taking off my make-up was. at first wipe of my eyeliner, it kind of just smudged it. i took the wipe and layed in on my closed eye for a few seconds and started to remove the make-up. i guess it kind of breaks up the layers of make-up first and then tells you to follow with your favorite cleanser to remove the remainder which in reality is what your supposed to do - but i guess i was really looking for an easy way out lol. 

the great thing about these makeup remover cloths was that it did not sting at all, or leave a filmy residue. as i got toward the middle of the pack (after much use - not all at once!) i noticed thats where most of the moisture was and those wipes in the middle were extremely wet and worked a LOT better! those more wetter wipes were able to remove the makeup with ease compared to the first few ones i had used in the beginning thus changing my mind from first impression..

okay it was really a wet wipe, but not sopping wet where if you wrang it out liquid would come out of it.. there was NO scent at all whatsoever and it didn't sting my eyes nor my face or lips. it did remove my waterproof eyeliner and mascara with ease, and after i washed my face off my skin felt healthier than just washing it alone with facial wash. 

i did also love using this on my client that i did a make-up trial on for touch ups (cleaning up the under eye area and outer corner etc.... since i could bring this with me and was travel friendly, brought it to work and was able to touch up any make-up smudges throughout the day if needed.. 

See! Sealed for your protection! lol

What the makeup remover cloth looks like (unused)

I hate that you can barely tell i have eyeliner and mascara on.. but this is before..

and After using the wipe (haven't washed face yet)

it did really do an amazing job :)

Here's the proof ;) a used one.. lol

Packaging - 5/5

Absolutely loved the packaging. the sturdy plastic flip-top was awesome! very convenient! it was also sealed to guarantee freshness and for my protection - and to me that's extremely important! it was quite heavy, there were a lot of wipes and they were actually pretty big wipes (unfortunately, it didn't say the size of the wipes anywhere). I Love the reasalable package! it makes touch-ups easy and it's SUPER convenient and travel friendly!

Quality - 4/5 

I liked how the cloths were quite thick and soft, and very well moistened throughout the packaging. the quality of the wipes itself were great. loved how they did not sting my eyes when removing eyeshadow, eyeliner or mascara. heck i even used this ever so carefully on my waterline and it did not leave a filmy residue in my eye LOL.. some wipes were more wet than others.. but none of them ever left my face feeling dry or never irritated my skin at all.

Usage - 4/5

it's a great product, very easy to use.. if your in a hurry and not wanting to wash your face after using these cloths, you might feel sticky as it's drying, but when it does dry on your skin it's not sticky.. or it doesn't feel filmy. but i definitely recommend washing your whole face thoroughly after use. i love the resealable package! the flip top was extremely helpful (unlike those sticker resealable packages that tend to rip or dry out) these really stayed moist/wet! one cloth does both eyes and some! i think this is going to be great for halloween looks! it'll take that make-up off in a snap! i think because of it's size if your not used to a bigger wipe, you might get tripped up on using it (i was using the neutrogena ones and they were quite thin and tiny compared to these) so i really enjoyed using every inch of this makeup remover cloth.

Overall - 4/5

I don't think i mentioned it, but this pack contains 45 makeup towelettes. and if you can get your hands on this (from the website or your local proactive kiosk) you might just want to try it! i think it's great! theres no alcohol (hence no stinging action), no fragrance, no oil! (hence no filmy residue).. great for touch ups and it's also travely friendly. Extremely easy to use and also has directions for those that don't normally use wipes. if you find yourself breaking out after using foundations etc.. try removing it with one of these cloths and then washing your face with your favorite cleanser - you shouldn't break out anymore (unless you really are allergic to ingredients in that particular foundation).. because sometimes make-up tends to settle deep down in the skin especially if you wear primers and what not... so im guessing what this does is helps break down the oils and products in your makeup and prepares it for the actual wash itself! 

Recommend - YES! i'd definitely recommend these to all my gal pals! why? read the above1 lol

This product is also My Fit Beauty Approved!

FTC: I was sent these products by a PR firm for review purposes. I was not paid to do this review, nor does it alter my view on the product. As always, my reviews are with my HONEST thoughts and opinions.

Thank you for reading! hope this was helpful for you all! :)