David Harel Makeup Artist

Makeup Primer

I am so glad to be back home in Los Angeles! I was in NYC over the weekend to do makeup for a wedding, which I love to do. It’s gratifying for me to be part of such an important time in people’s lives. It can also be stressful for the bride, which is why I’m glad that I’m a pretty relaxed person. I usually get to be with the bride in the last moments before she walks down the aisle, and keeping her calm is a priority of mine. Well, that and making her look gorgeous.

An important step in flawless bridal makeup is using a makeup primer. A primer is important because it fills in any lines or “textures” in the skin that you would like to cover with makeup. Primer also creates an invisible barrier between your skin and the makeup, so that it lasts longer.

My favorite primer nowadays is the Temptu Primer, which is what I used on my last bride. It is a very light lotion that I apply to the skin after using moisturizer (let the moisturizer sink in for 5 minutes first). It is silicone-based, which helps smooth out the skin and “primes” it for whatever you put on next (concealer, foundation). I find this product highly effective, and at $11, much more cost effective than comparable primers. Note: If you have acne, a silicone-based product may aggravate your skin. Otherwise you’re good to go.

DIY Salt Scrub

Ever since we got back from Israel I’ve been thinking about the Dead Sea and its effects. After just one visit my skin felt clearer and softer than ever. It got me thinking: how come I don’t use salt more often? I decided to experiment with making a skin scrub. After using it for a few days, I am completely hooked! It’s ridiculously easy, and I highly recommend trying this out for yourself.

Pour a tablespoon of regular salt into a small bowl, then squeeze the juice of a lemon on top of it. Mix the salt to dissolve it into the lemon juice. That’s it! I took mine into the shower (it’s neater) and scooped some into the palm of my hand. Without any pressure, I massaged the mixture onto my face for a minute and rinsed it off. After moisturizing, my skin glowed! This scrub can be tailored for your whole body by adding some olive oil to the salt and lemon juice.

In this economy, many people cut back on luxuries like skincare. This is an extremely easy way to pamper your skin with items you already have in your kitchen!

Glittah!

On Friday I did some makeup for a charity event called Friends of the Family, which was a lot of fun! It’s organized by TV therapist Stacy Kaiser, and benefits families who are in trouble both financially and emotionally. Some of the kids in the program were performing, and I was putting glitter and lip gloss on them beforehand. They were so excited about their makeup, it was really sweet!

On the topic of glitter, one of my absolute favorites is called Reflects Antique Gold by MAC. The glitter is very finely ground, and looks flattering on adults (not just teens). It comes in a loose tub, and when applied on the skin it catches so much light and looks really glamorous. It’s like you have built-in paparazzi!

Of course glitter is not for every day. But if you’re in the mood to sparkle, here are few ways to apply this gorgeous product:

1. Apply a bit to your eyelids over cream eyeshadow or clear mascara. You can also just put a small amount of eye cream onto your lids before applying. The idea is to make your lids moist so the glitter sticks.

2. Mix a small amount of the glitter into your lipgloss before applying.

3. Squeeze some body cream into your hand, and mix a bit of glitter into it before applying to your body.

Makeup Artist Trick: Make sure you have some scotch tape nearby, as it will help you remove any glitter that will inevitably go astray. I know this sounds odd, but it is extremely effective! Just take a few inches of tape and lightly press onto the areas that need to be cleaned up (usually under the eyes). It will look more polished and less like you are headed to a rave.

The Dead Sea

I just got back from an amazing trip to Israel! While I am jet lagged to the point of feeling narcoleptic, I had to tell you about my experience at the Dead Sea. My partner and I joined my parents for a one night stay at a hotel, and we spent most of our time floating in the mineral-rich water. It is nothing like swimming in a regular ocean. First of all, it is bathwater temperature and feels incredibly oily. Second, the salt content of the water is so high that I floated like a styrofoam cup. It feels kind of goofy and incredibly relaxing at the same time.

It is recommended to take a break after floating for 15 minutes (which is not hard to remember; let’s just say that several body parts start stinging noticeably). After a quick rinse and sea mud application (thus the photo; that’s me on the right!), the mud dries and draws out impurities in the skin. It get so tight, it feels really nice to wash it off in the water and float again. Just one day of “salting” myself left my skin feeling amazing! Not only was it smooth and moisturized, but the flakiness on my knees and elbows disappeared. It’s no wonder that people from all over the world visit the Dead Sea to correct many skin ailments (seborrhea, psoriasis, dandruff).

The experience reminded me of a job that I worked on not long ago. I had been hired to do makeup for a major motion picture’s press junket. The actor I groomed is a well-known movie star, and when I showed up to do his makeup I was shocked to see the state of his skin. He had gotten sunburned while golfing a few days earlier, and his whole face was peeling. I was annoyed that he neglected his skin the week before such an important appearance (sunblock people!). My regular exfoliant was not working on him, so I politely excused myself and ran over to the studio caterer to grab a packet of sea salt. After mixing some salt with a dollop of rich moisturizer, I applied it to his face and tissued it off. Bingo! The dissolved salt immediately sloughed off the remains of his dead skin, and the cream helped replenish the moisture he had lost.

So just in case you can’t make it to the Dead Sea anytime soon, you can still reap the benefits by using the same technique I described above. Make sure that you dissolve the salt really well with plenty of moisturizer before applying, and use almost no pressure (otherwise it could scratch and irritate your skin).

Bronzed Skin

Now that summer is upon us, many people like the look of gorgeous bronzed skin. However, since we all know how bad the sun is for our skin, it’s important to use an SPF. So how does one banish pasty skin without getting sun damage? Self tanner of course!
My favorite self tanner ever is called Jergens’ Natual Glow. This product has been reviewed many times before but it is just too good not to mention. It is a face lotion that combines moisturizer (now with SPF 20), and a light self tanner. The product is not meant for immediate results; you use it every day and after about a week you will see a gorgeous, natural glow (thus the name, duh). They have three different shades (light, medium, and dark), but the product itself has no color. They’re talking about how tan you want to be after using it for a week. I like the medium, and dark for summer. I find that the light shade hardly gives any color, but it’s good if you’re freaked out by the idea of self tanner at all. It’s sold in drugstores everywhere ($7), and it’s so popular that they often sell out! Jergens also makes Natural Glow for the body, which I love as well. However, the body lotion has some shimmer in it (I guess for some instant glow). I don’t think it’s too noticeable, but check it out and see how you feel.

Getting your face to glow

One of my favorite ways to exfoliate is also the cheapest. Use a washcloth! I’m surprised that more people don’t know about this. Take any clean soft towel, wet it with warm water, and just gently massage your face with it. The towel will help to scrub off dead skin and leave you glowing! This is called manual exfoliation. The other kind is chemical exfoliation, which includes Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s). You can use an AHA lotion every day (such as Neutrogena Healthy Skin Lotion) and it exfoliates your skin for you. However, if you’re trying to save money, I say go for the towel. It’s easy, it’s effective, and who doesn’t own a towel? Ideally, you should use a microfiber towel, which is softer than a regular terrycloth towel. When I first moved from NYC to Los Angeles, my skin was so dry and flaky, it looked rough. This got my skin glowing in a snap. Try it and let me know!

Why are we so hard on ourselves?

Do you ever notice how critical people are of themselves? As a makeup artist, I regularly come into contact with models, actresses, and tv personalities. These are some of the most beautiful people in the world! Why is it, then, that they criticize themselves just as much as your average 9th grade girl? It’s fascinating to me that our insecurities are such a common thread, regardless of how the person actually looks. Whenever I see this negative self-talk happening, I try to remind the person to appreciate their blessings and be happy! We are so much greater than we give ourselves credit for.

MAC Naked Lunch Eyeshadow

So I’ve been going through my kit today, trying to narrow down my list of favorite products. This is not easy for a makeup artist, you should know. However, there was one eyeshadow that I immediately reach for more often than not with clients. It’s called Naked Lunch, and it’s a powder eyeshadow from MAC. It’s a shimmery, nude-pink. This is an absolute must for achieving that ethereal, glamorous glow. Take a bit of this shadow with your pinky, and smudge it in the inner corners of your eyes, and right under your eyebrows. Bang! You look more polished. You can use this all over your eyelid to get a soft, natural shine (As seen on Heidi Klum, above). Take a little on a blush brush and apply it to the tops of your cheeks to add some radiance to your skin. This is my favorite kind of makeup product, because it’s subtle, which means that people won’t notice your makeup, but they will notice how pretty you look!

Dry lips begone!

So I was with a client yesterday, who had the most ridiculously chapped lips I have ever seen! Seriously, we’re talking parched, flaky, sunburn-dry lips. We were trying to figure out if it was her diet, the amount of water she was drinking, or the dry Los Angeles climate. Nonetheless, I used my secret weapon: Aquaphor! I slicked on a bit of this amazing salve, and within about a minute her lips were completely saturated with moisture. I have used this product on dehydrated models, time-crunched actresses, and TV personalities. They all say the same thing: “wow this really works!” The best part is that it multitasks beautifully. Rub a pea-sized amount into your cuticles before bed and no one will ever know about your nervous habit of biting them. Use a bit to keep eyebrows in place. Elbows and heels will feel like buttah with the smallest amount of this stuff. The best part is that you can find this in any drugstore for about 6 bucks.

DietTribe on Lifetime TV

Today was a great day! I just got home from working on the TV show “DietTribe” which airs on Lifetime. I was doing hair and makeup for therapist Stacy Kaiser, who is also a good friend. For Stacy I used Temptu S/B airbrush foundation, and mixed shades 2 and 5. It’s silicone based, which means that it glides on the skin and looks effortlessly flawless (although if you are prone to breakouts, I would try to stick with water based products). I used my Kett airbrush to apply the makeup, which allows me to use the smallest amount possible. I finished with Temptu airbrush blush in the shade “blush” (there’s a logical name). Can you tell that I love this stuff? The best part is that you don’t even need an airbrush to apply this fantastic foundation. Grab a bottle, and use your fingers! It will even out your skin and last all day. Of course it won’t look as perfect as using an airbrush, but that’s why I’m here!

For Stacy’s eyes I used all MAC products, starting with Paint Pots cream eyeshadows as a base. I used “Quite Natural” on her eyelid, and “BlackGround” in the crease to create definition. Then I layered over it with “Quarry” eyeshadow on the lid (a grayish purple) and “Haux” in the crease (a deeper mauve). Finally, I defined the outer corner of Stacy’s eyes using “Sketch” eyeshadow, an amazing plum with gold sparkle. I used this last shadow to line her eyes as well, and applied two coats of mascara (Lash Stylist by Maybelline). On her lips I used “Fast Play” by MAC, possibly one of my favorite mauve-y lipsticks.