How I got started in makeup ;)
Sorry it’s taken me a while to write this post. I started in makeup when I was 17 years old. Right after high school I got a job working at Sephora in NYC as a fragrance consultant. I had never thought a day in my life of becoming a makeup artist. At work, women would always come up to me and ask for help with colors, etc and I never said no, LOL. I just jumped right in and gave them my opinion. It wasn’t long before I was getting booked to do people’s makeup for events and weddings. It sort came naturally for me. I remember doing my first “make over” at Sephora. I wasn’t even nervous at all. I loved every minute of it and I loved how it made the woman feel so beautiful. I was hooked. Working at Sephora was really good for me because I learned about so many different products and got to work with alot of different skin tones, etc.
After a few months, I began to freelance with different lines like Lorac, Giorgio Armani and GIELLA. Working at Giella was priceless because it’s a completely custom blend line of makeup and i REALLY learned color and texture there. I would have to custom blend everything from scratch and create all of my own colors, etc. Simultaneously, I was testing with photographers and building my portfolio. I tested as much as I could and learned alot from these tests. Each time, I got better and better by looking at my mistakes from the previous shoots. I then began to assist other makeup artists on shoots as much as I could. I really recommend assisting, as you learn alot of tricks of the trade and it prepares you for bigger jobs as they come along. My last couple of years assisting was amazing. I was able to work on sets with the top photographers in the world working on major fashion and cosmetic campaigns and for major fashion magazines. I never forgot about my own career though – I always continued to work and build my book even when assisting. I even assisted while I was represented by my 2nd agent so it’s never too late to assist!
Just don’t forget that it’s very hard work and you have to be smart and dedicated. I spend endless hours in the library and online researching makeup and fashion, learning the different looks of the periods and the work of other legends and icons in the industry. I worked for free as well for years but trust me, it pays off in the end. Good luck to you all 
Get the Face! Kim K – Maxim Hot 100.
Hey guys… For the Maxim Hot 100 event, Kim wore an all while dress and the hair was pulled back so I definitely wanted to use alittle bit of color on her eyes and green is my favorite color. I really like how this look came out on her and it photographed beautifully. When using a color on the eyes, keep the cheeks and lips soft and pretty. Here’s how to get the face…
Skin – Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation by Make Up For Ever in Neutral Beige. GIELLA concealer in #2. Set the face and under the eyes with Make Up For Ever HD translucent powder.
Eyes – Golden Olive pigment by MAC on lids. Humid eyeshadow by MAC in the crease and blended on the lower lashine. Electric Edge Liquid Eyeliner Marker Pen by Calvin Klein in Electric Black on the upper lid and winged out alittle on the outter corner. GIELLA B-dazzle eyepencil on the inner corners (tear ducts) and on the inner rim of the eye. Two coats of L’oreal Voluminous mascara in Carbon Black, top and bottom lashes.
Cheeks – Rock and Republic contrived pressed blush in Call Me on the apples of the cheeks. Apply Summer Affair Bronzing Powder by Calvin Klein framing the face lightly.
Lips – No lip liner. Just a clear gloss Let me know how it comes out if you try it!
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Ask me your questions and I will answer! ;)
Hey guys, I’ve been getting lots of questions about makeup, how I started, etc and it’s hard to answer them all throughout the day so I thought I’d have you all ask me here on the comments area of this post and I will then post another blog with your answers. This way, you can all see answers to other peoples questions that can be helpful to you. Xo
Mario
GET THE FACE! Adrienne Bailon on the set of Fabulous’ music video.
I recently did Adrienne Bailon’s makeup for an appearance in Fabulous’ music video and used all NARS makeup to “get the face.” She was wearing a beautiful bright yellow dress so I went for a bronzed, sunkissed look with a smokey eye. I began working with Adrienne when she was a Cheetah Girl about a year and a half ago and she’s one of my favorites! She loves makeup!
GET THE FACE – All products by NARS
Skin – The new Firming Foundation all over skin and I set it with loose powder. I mixed the new Duo Concealer under her eyes and on eyelids only.
Eyes – Duo Eyeshadow in Scorching Sun. Use the golden color on the brow bone and the more orangy color all over the lid. In the crease I used Surabaya Duo Eyeshadow (the lighter shade in the crease and the darker blended on the outter corners) Also, use the darker shade to smoke on the lower lid. I lined the upper and inner lids with Blackmoon liner. The brows are filled in with the Jodhpur brow pencil. Several coats of the Black Orchid Mascara on top and bottom lashes.
Cheeks – To contour her face, I used the Casino bronzing powder. If you have lighter skin, try the Laguna color. For blush, I used Orgasm on the apples of the cheeks and to highlight, I blended The Multiple in Maldives on the cheek bones and alittle on the bridge of her nose.
Lips are lined with Bomeo lip pencil, followed by Barbarella lipstick and Orgasm lip gloss.
Try it out… its a good look for evening
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Lil Kim’s music video “Download” GET THE FACE!
Hey guys, have you seen Lil Kim’s new music video for her song “Download?” I had such a blast working on her makeup for this video and she is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever worked with. Music videos are hard work and very long hours but I love them! For “Download,” I gave Lil Kim two different looks. Some of her girl freinds stopped by for a scene so I did the lovely Lisa Raye’s makeup too. The beautiful girl in the pic with me is Sally, my assistant in LA. I love her to death! Here’s the video Lil Kim\’s \”DOWNLOAD\”
Get the Face!
On Lil Kim’s brows – Lingering brow pencil by MAC
On Eyes – Dreamy eyeshadow all over lid and on lower lashline by LORAC. Feline eyepencil by MAC on top.
Cheeks – Dior bronze matte sunshine in amber matte on hollows of cheeks and framing the face. Diorskin shimmer powder in diamond rose to highlight cheekbones and bridge of nose.
On lips – Way To Love lipstick by MAC.
Pretty in Purple – GET THE FACE!
This was a really fun shoot with a mermaid theme. I don’t use bright colors that often so I was excited to do so this day. I really pushed for the smokey purple eyes instead of the usual black and I love it! LOL. So girls and guys, GET THE FACE -
On Kim – I used Giorgio Armani Silk Luminous foundation to get a more glowy look. I mixed a couple of the colors to get the exact match. It’s set lightly with Laura Mercier translucent powder. The brows are filled in with CORK by MAC. On the lids I used Stars N’ Rockets by MAC. In the crease, outter corners and under the eye, i used Deep Truth – also by MAC. Right below the Deep Truth shadow, I blended Creme de Violet shadow (a lighter shimmery purple, MAC) all the way down to the cheek bones. I also swept a bit of it on the brow bone. The liner on the top is a very pigmented black liquid that I blended myself from GIELLA cosmetics. In the inner rim of the eye, I used the black power point pencil from MAC and ALOT mascara – Bad Gal mascara by Benefit. For this shoot, my assistant and I cut up a bunch of different lashes and I placed them in peices all over the lash line so I wouldn’t be able to tell you the brand or style type.
For blush, I used Angelika by NARS and the bronzing powder by LORAC ( framing the whole face and on the hollows of the cheeks). To get that glow all over the skin and on the bridge of the nose, I blended my own color with different pigments and shimmers but you can get a very similiar effect by using Shroom shadow by MAC, or if your skin is darker, try Trace Gold blush by MAC.
For Kim’s lips, I used alittle bit of the foundation on them, followed by a clear gloss. So easy
On Kourtney – I used the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer in Fawn all over her face, followed by Laura Mercier loose powder in Beige.
On the lids – Creme de violet. On the outer crease is vibrant grape and also on the lower lash line. I used Smolder by MAC on the inner rim of the eyes and blended into the vibrant grape (with more on the outter corner). I filled in her brows with Espresso shadow by MAC and brushed them with the MAX FACTOR clear brow gel. Her eyes are lined with Feline, also MAC. For eyelashes, I used L’oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black.
On the apples of the cheeks, I used NARS blush in Desire and I framed her face and the hollows of the cheeks with the new Tantalizer baked bronzer by LORAC.
Lips are lined with Spice by MAC, blended towards the center. Lipstick is called Mario Pinched My Lips by GIELLA cosmetics, followed by a clear gloss.
On Khloe – For skin, I used the Matte Velvet foundation by Make Up For Ever and set it with the HD translucent powder, also by MUFE. Khloes eye makeup is almost identical to Kourtney’s, except on her lids, I used red violet by MAC - so refer to her eye makeup above. I used a few coats of the Lancome definicils mascara on top and bottom lashes. Her lashes are filled in with Lingering pencil by MAC.
The apples of cheeks are brushed with Orgasm by NARS and the cheekbones with Good as Gold by MAC. Framing her face is the Guerlain Terracotta bronzer.
For lips, I used Lingering lip liner by GIELLA cosmetics blended all the way in and followed by the Lip Enhancing Gloss in Expose by Smashbox.
On Kris – Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation followed by Make Up For Ever HD powder.
Brows are filled in with MAC shadow in Cork. I used creme de violet by MAC all over her lid and vibrant grape on the outter lids and on the crease. I then used Carbon by MAC on the outter crease for more intensity. The inner rim is lined with Smolder pencil by MAC. Lancome definicils mascara on top and bottom lashes.
NARS blush in Desire on the apples of her cheeks and Smashbox bronzer all over in Suntan Matte. I used Artificial Light Luminizing lotion by Smashbox on the cheek bones for a glow and on the center of the lip. Lips are lined with subculture by MAC and turkish delight gloss by NARS.
ps. I know you’re going to ask about the concealer, LOL but I can’t say because I was testing out and blending some formulas (with no names or colors yet). Hope you guys GET THE FACE!!
XO Mario
Welcome to my first blog post – “GET THE FACE”
Hey guys… I know it took me a while to finally start my blog, but here it is!! I’m going to start off with a “Get the Face” post. This is one of my favorite looks that I’ve created for Kim Kardashian and I’ve been getting tons of messages and questions on this look, so here we go baby!! Read below for the products I used.
Eyes – DuWop duet eye shadow in chai (the lighter shade) all over the lid and on the brow bone. MAC eyeshadow in Brun in the crease. MAC eyeliner in Feline on top lid. GIELLA b-dazzle shadow on inner corners of eyes. MAC eyepencil in Fascinating on the inner rim of the eye. Brun by MAC swept softly under the eye. TONS of mascara on top and bottom lashes. I filled in the brows with MAC brow pencil in Lingering.
Cheeks – NARS blush in desire on the apples of cheeks. Smashbox bronzer in Suntan Matte on the hollow’s of the cheeks and framing the face, softly. For the glow on the cheekbones, Stila illuminating powder in Gold.
Lips – MAC creme d’ Nude lipstick. Make Up For Ever lip pencil in #50. You can use a gloss for this look but I didn’t because the lipstick is very creamy.
Have fun with it and let me know how it goes!
XO Mario D
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MAKEUP MONDAYS WITH MARIO
EYE M GLAM Highlighter
MAKEUP BY MARIO
