Kode Purple: Giving Back - 100 Women Makeover

I had the opportunity to donate my makeup services for women who are living in shelters and have been abused. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had thus far in my career. It is not always about making a dollar. YES, we all need money to live, but sometimes the reward that you receive from being a blessing to someone else is even greater!

My heart was so full of joy when I was doing makeovers on the women and a couple of women actually was about to cry because they felt so good when they got up out of the chair.

The event was hosted by Sharon Payton (Ms. Sha) of Trenz Salon along with Sensationnel. Sharon recently opend up Trenz Beuaty Academy where aspiring hairstylist can come and get the education and the tools they need to start a successful career. Trenz Beauty Academy is located at 695 Wentworth, Calumet City, 60409. To enroll or if you have questions, please call 708.832.0000.

Below are some pics from the event:

Tips for Male Grooming

I had the pleasure of working with Tomi Popovic on last year doing male grooming for his album cover that is over in Japan now! Tomi's sound is a little bit of R&B/Soul/Funk. His single "Party with You" is the number one ringtone in Japan.



With Tomi, I started with a clean face and then moisturized his skin. I then used the airbrushing technique and lightly airbrushed his skin just to even it out. I applied a little lip balm and there you have it!


Here are some tips on male grooming:

Code yellow: Moisturize the skin

Code purple: Lightly apply a liquid or airbrush makeup to the skin. Remember males should still look like males, the makeup should be close to non-detectable.

Code orange: Use a lip balm to condition the lips without adding kolor. Burt Bees with Pomegranate Oil is my fav right now.

Code red: Lightly powder only in areas more prone to shine like the t-zone (forehead, cheeks, chin) and top of head if the client is bald. My fav powder is Makeup Forever HD powder. It take away shine without looking cakey and can be used on all skin tones.

Smashbox Complexion Kit - Perfect Canvas

If you are looking for the perfect foundation, powder, concealer and primer all in one kit, look no further. Try Smashbox's Complexion Perfect Kit. This well packaged kit comes with the following: award-winning photo finish primer, High Def Foundation, High Def concealer and award-winning halo hydrating perfection powder all for the low price of $49.

How to use?

Step 1

Apply a pea sized amount of photo finish primer to the entire face using your fingertips. The primer is going to act as a liaison between your skin and your foundation. The photo finish primer instantly smooths the skin and fills in fine lines, wrinkles and pores thus making the foundation application much more smoother and longer wearing throughout the day.

Step 2

Apply High Def Concealer underneath the eye area, using the #4 concealer brush in a patting motion, never pull underneath the eye area as that is a very sensitive area of the face. Tip: To add an extra glow underneath the eye, use Photo Op Under Eye Brightener first and then apply concealer. You will actually use less concealer this way and add more of a highlight underneath the eye.

Step 3

Apply the High Def Foundation using the #13 foundation brush to even out the skin. The nice thing about the High def Foundation is that it mimics the skin and gives a radiant glow.

Step 4

Apply the halo hydrating perfection powder using the #22 fan brush to set your high def foundation and to add more coverage where needed. the fan brush is going to allow you to have more control over the application thus resulting in a much more polished yet natural look.

Some other fine products to try from Smashbox to complete your perfect canvas is: Brow Tech, Photo Finish Lid Primer

www.smashbox.com

You can also purchase Smashbox at: Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom's

Start to Finish: Track and Field of Life

Your Race

Think of life as one big track meet. Some of us are sprinters and we can get through life in a breeze, so we think and picking up as much stuff as we can as we go by. Some of us are long distance runners, it takes us a little longer to get to where we want to go, but when we get there, it was worth it. Some of us are long distance jumpers, we just want to get there with the least amount of pressure. Some of us are cross-country runners, we like to just take our time and go through the weeds, the trees and any other thing that we may encounter. For cross-country runners, it seems as though it takes forever for us to get to where we want to go, but in the end, we make it. We may be a little weary, but we finish and the reward is even greater because we went through so many trials and tribulations to get there.

Your Competition

The only competition that you should consume yourself with is YOURSELF. One you pick the meet that best suits you then always try to do better than you did before. Imagine this…You are in lane 5 of the meet and in the other lanes is also, YOU try to beat yourself. When we focus on others, we lose focus on ourselves, so if we have no one else around us to compete with but ourselves, the focus is always going to be where it should be. Which is you being a better YOU!

Your Training

Begin training by redirecting your energy to those things that are positive and not negative. Everything that you may THINK is negative, look at it as an opportunity to do something better. Don’t covet what someone else has. BE YOUR OWN PERSON. Set goals and the necessary steps that need to be executed to achieve those goals.

In closing, ask your self, Are you a Sprinter? A Long Distance Runner? A Long Distance Jumper? A Cross-Country Runner? Once you determine what meet you want to run, find YOUR pace and hit it with no turning back.

So every time you feel like you are getting tired and ready to give up, just remember you started this thing and you have to finish it, because YOU are not a quitter. Even if it takes you a little longer to get there, it is better to get there eventually than to never get there at all.

Get on your marks, get set and go………



Stay Blessed and Focused!

Kelli Kolors

(Kode Red) Career Inspirations: Aspire to Go Higher

We often times get complacent in our careers. We feel like we are doing as well as can be expected based on the economy, family or any other elements of life, but who determines what is to be expected? Complacency is for those who are planning on failing. Life will bring about some unexpected elements, that is just life, but you cannot allow those things to throw you off track of your mark. Some things may slow you up, but don’t let it stop you.

I am reminded of when I was a participant in, “Hustle of the Hancock” a few years ago. I ran up 42 flights of steps. They called my name, unexpectedly at that moment, and I took off running, by the time I got up a couple of flights, I was out of breath, then I realized, that I had to slow it down, not stop.

We can use this example in our careers. Look at where you were when you started, where you are now, and where you want to be. When I started running, I knew that I wanted to be at the top of the 42nd floor and that is exactly where I ended up. The anticipation of getting there, made me work harder to finish. Even though in the process, I got weary, I didn’t stop, I may have slowed up, but I didn’t stop.

In pursuing your career, your passion, there will be times that you will get weary, maybe feel like quitting, feel like you are not progressing, but don’t give up, tell yourself, “I am aspiring to go higher”, make this your daily affirmation.

Stay Blessed and Focused!

Kelli Kolors

KOLOR CODE TIP:

If you want to take your lashes to a new height, try CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara. This mascara will make even the shortest and thinnest lashes look bigger and longer and take your lashes to heights unseen. You can purchase this mascara at: Walmart, Walgreens, Ulta and CVS Pharmacy.

Application: Apply one coat to one eye and then move to the next eye and apply one coat and repeat the process. I would suggest no more than 2 coats of mascara per eye. Your lashes will have more volume and length.

Introduction

Greetings all,

My name is Kelli James-Paige and I am a makeup artist located in Chicago, IL and founder of Kelli Kolors.

I wanted to start a blog so that I can prayerfully be an encouragement and motivate other artists in the industry as well as share some of my makeup tips. I will be posting "Career Inspirations" along with a makeup tip for the week.

I pray that those of you who choose to follow my blog will be encouraged and motivated to continue to pursue your dreams no matter what.

Dreams really do come true!

Stay Blessed and Focused!

Kelli Kolors