Inspiration Through Nature

Working on a photo shoot is the moment when art and imagination meet. All people involved are given complete freedom to openly express their creativity. It is an opportunity to break away from the confinements we are usually conscious of, and discover how far our talents can take us.

 

 

 

Artistic Makeup by Hala Ajam

 

Often, what is most fascinating to watch is the transformation of the ordinary object into extraordinary; turning a wheat blade into an eyelash, using the sequin of an old dress on the eyebrows, or a flower petal in place of eye shadow. The possibilities are endless, as is our imagination.

 

 

Artistic Makeup by Hala Ajam

 

The art of creating, challenging the laws of nature, and breaking down visual barriers is not just for those who use paints and brushes. A makeup artist, like a painter, uses their imagination to create unforgettable images.

 

 

Artistic Makeup by Hala Ajam

 

Such creativity is expressed during photo shoots, when there is no choice but to resort to all resources, both real and imaginary. Subsequently, we learn how to create in the most inventive ways.

 

 

Hala Ajam’s Book Face To Face

 

 

 

Looks of the Decades: 2000’s

2000’s

The growing trend during the past two decades has been to fight the natural aging process. The miracle creams of the 90’s gave way to miracle treatments of 2000. Botox injections and collagen lip implants have become quick fix beauty staples for many. Makeup trends of past decades merge, as people start to individualize their looks to suit coloring and features. So, women are either opting for a makeup that is a mixture of all the past trends, or choosing their preferable one or the one that suits the best their own style.

 

In the following photo, I chose a nude but frosty look like in a fairytale.

 

 

2000’s Look

 

 

Hala Ajam‘s Book-Face To Face

This text was taken from Hala Ajam‘s Book Face-to-Face

Hala Ajam

Looks of the Decades: 1990’s

Makeup and science merge during this decade. No longer satisfied with just covering up the signs of aging, cosmetic houses begin presenting a more scientific approach to beauty. They started promising a more youthful appearance with ‘light reflective particles’ and ‘wrinkle-defying results’. The choices in makeup products increase, as does the continual search for hope in a jar. The look of the 90’s is still heavily influenced by the previous decades: the 50’s and 60’s for young women and 40’s, like the smoky look, for mature ones. Although colors and application are toned down, veering more towards a natural look, yet, the look still groomed. Nude lipsticks or dark red were used.

 

In the following photo, I used a natural brown eye shadow on the model, with individual false eyelashes. I applied a shining blusher on the cheekbones and a very natural lipstick color.

 

 

1990’s Look

 

 

Hala Ajam’s Book-Face To Face

This text was from taken from Hala Ajam’s makeup book Face to face

Hala Ajam

Looks Of The Decades: 1980’s

During this decade, many rules were broken in terms of makeup. A rainbow of makeup colors became popular throughout the 80’s, as the era of the dazzling disco was born. Colored eye shadows and liners were popular, along with glitter and iridescent powders.

Beauty is back: harder, tougher, and more glamorous than ever before. Perfectly groomed, polished, and forever youthful women portrayed in television shows like Dynasty and Dallas, captured the ‘look’ of the woman in this lavish and opulent decade. Brook Shield’s thick defined eyebrows create one of the strongest trends of the 80’s. Applied with heavily bold strokes, bright pastel eye shadows, colored mascara, fuchsia pink blusher all over the cheek, and bright matte lipstick complete the look.

In the following photo, I used a hot pink shadow and a purple color eye pencil, in addition to a lot of mascara and black pencil inside the eye. I applied dark pink blusher and bright hot pink lipstick. I filled the eyebrows with a light brown eye shadow to make them look thicker, and then I brushed it up.

 

 

1980’s Look

 

 

Hala Ajam‘s Book-Face To Face

This text was from taken from Hala Ajam’s makeup book Face to face

Hala Ajam

Bridal Step by Step by Hala Ajam

Before

The Model before beginning the Bridal Makeup

Step 1: 

For a photogenic face, use 2 colors of foundation; the first one should be the same color of your skin, and is applied all over your face and under your jaw line. The second should be two shades darker, and is applied on areas which you want to make appear smaller like the nose, cheeks, forehead etc.  Finally, apply the concealer (anticerne), which should be two shades lighter than your skin color to brighten up under the eyes and the center of the face. Finally,  set it up with powder of the same shade of your correction.

 

 

Step 1

 

Step 2:

As for the eyes, apply on eyelids and under the eyebrows a beige eye shadow. On the bone of your eye, use a medium color brown (blend well) and the same medium color under your lower lash line.

 

 

Step 2

 

Step 3:

Use a dark brown shadow in the crease of the eye and under your lower lash line, blend well.

 

 

Step 3

 

Step 4: 

Apply liquid black eyeliner on the upper lash line, line lips with a natural color. Apply a peach color blusher on the apple of your cheeks. And finally, apply false eyelashes.

 

 

Step 4

 

Step 5:

Apply a natural nude color on the lips. Now you have a natural make up for a natural bride, the final photo is just to show you that the flash of the camera will take away 50% of the make up. So if you’re going for a day wedding don’t overdo the makeup so it will not appear to bold in the pictures, since the photographer won’t be using flash. 

 

 

Step 5

 

 

The Final Touch

 

 

 

After

 

In day light weddings, use light & natural makeup because the photographer doesn’t use the camera flash. However, in indoors & evening events and since you will be exposed to projector lights & camera flashes, the intensity of the makeup will look less in photos because of the previously mentioned causes.

 

 

Hala Ajam

 

 

 

Look Of The Decades: 1960s

Cleopatra and ‘Swinging London’ set the stage for fashion and beauty. ‘Cleopatra Eyes’ became the daring trend for some, using a kohl pencil to dramatically line, extending beyond the eye. Others were taken with the signature look of Twiggy, the first real supermodel and the epitome of swinging London. Emphasis on the eyes area remains, and false eyelashes became a necessity. They were uesd, sometimes colored or shiny with crystals, on both the upper and lower lids. It was not uncommon, and the look was seen in magazines. Face painting, like drawing a flower or a heart, was also trendy. Light colors blusher, like peach or pink, were used to underline the high cheekbones, and shiny frosted color brusher over the apple of the cheek. The fashion lipstick colors were pale frosted colors like peach or pink, or sometimes white, when going to a party.

In the following photo, I used a light blue eye shadow on the model to match the color of her eyes and false eyelashes on the upper and lower lids to open the eye wider. I even drew a blue flower on her cheek and applied a natural pink gloss in addition to a lot of mascara.

 

 

1960’s

 

 

Hala Ajam’s Book-Face To Face

This text was from taken from Hala Ajam’s makeup book Face to face

Hala Ajam

Looks Of The Decades: 1940s and 1950s

1940’s

The classic eyebrow arch becomes the fashion, paired with dark eye shadows, yet lighter than those trendy in the 30’s, thin black or brown eyeliner will smudged and blended to show no edges, and false lashes for the dramatic look. They used to add vaseline over the eye shadows, be they light or dark. A variety of dark colors are still the most popular choices for lipsticks. By the end of the 40’s, women started wearing cherry red lipstick color.

 

In the following photo, I used a medium brown eye shadow on the model. I accentuated the color with brown liquid eyeliner and false eyelashes. More important, I filled the eyebrows with a dark brown color, and shaped them to look full and arched. I applied a dark lipstick to suggest a dramatic look.

 

 

Look Of The 1940’s

 

1950’s

From film, to fabrics, clothes and makeup: color is everywhere. The new trend was towards lighter skin, beauty marks, fuller lips, and arched eyebrows like Marilyn Monroe. Eye makeup becomes more customized according to the color of the eyes. Sometimes, the pastel colors were used. A darker color was used at the outside corner of the eye to create depth. To complement the look, black liquid eyeliner was applied; thin first, then thick, then thin again, to end the line. Demi-lash was added to give the eye a sexy and dramatic look. A lot of mascara was also used.

 

In the following photo, I used a white frosty eye shadow all over the eyelid accompanied by a white pencil inside the eye. I also applied a dark shadow on the side of her eyelid black eyeliner. I also resorted to demi-lashes, beauty marks on the face and to red creamy lipstick to evoke the look of Marilyn Monroe.

 

 

Look Of The 1950’s

 

 

Hala Ajam

 

 

This text was from taken from Hala Ajam’s makeup book Face to face

Hala Ajam’s Book-Face To Face