hair & make-up | Hold the Glamour

March 26, 2013

Have you heard of Kelley Quan?

NYC – Our day begins

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with the brilliant hair & make-up artist Kelley Quan on a job in New York. I’ve known Kelley for almost 10 years and we used to work together a lot and often and then our careers, schedules and lives took us in different directions… Until now.

NYC – The delightful Kelley Quan at her h&m table

We couldn’t stop talking the entire day as we discussed our new, exciting, busy and sometimes crazy and hectic lives – juggling career and family simultaneously. A massive undertaking at the best of times.

As this master of both hair & make-up worked on me, Kelley used this atomiser spray on my face that I simply flipped out over and had never seen anything like it before. You see, I love Rosewater spray and I’m a huge fan of hydrating my skin – I use it everyday as a part of my daily routine. I asked Kelley where I could get it from and she told me she invented it and came up with the concept. Genius!

NYC – Kelley Quan’s Pocket Spa

I initially didn’t believe her and then she showed me how her Pocket Spa worked and explained why it was so unique and different – I wanted one on the spot. With all the traveling I do, I simply could not get enough.

Not only had Kelley gotten busy with her Pocket Spa creation however, her Vegan Beauty Brushes were born. As if this mother of two young lads wasn’t busy enough, she gives birth to another baby – a line of beauty brushes that are made entirely out of vegan products. I love it!

NYC – Kelley Quan’s Vegan Beauty Brush collection

Kelley’s aesthetic is similar to my own – natural, organic and gentle. You should feel and experience her vegan brushes! They are unbelievable and she has an entire collection for you to build upon (15 to date).

I have the brush numbered 9 and it is the softest and lightest touch on my skin and face I have experienced in the longest time – and I’m not just saying that! Try it for yourself and see. I was blown away.

You need to know that I’m not a paid brand ambassador for Kelley Quan nor am I getting paid for writing this post about her amazing products. I am doing it because I want you to know what great choices and products are out there for all of us to use and benefit from. I love to share!

If you would like to know more about this amazing woman and her secrets in looking your best, please visit www.kelleyquan.com for more details.

NYC – Kelley and I at the end of our shoot

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June 23, 2012

Where the ocean meets the sky

Sydney – the studio, quiet and empty before the day starts

Sydney - the rack of clothes that need to be shot

Sydney – the racks of clothes that need to be shot

We started shooting the spring and summer catalogues for Sara by Ezibuy last Friday in a studio in Sydney at 8am. Traffic is a part of Sydney life and it took me an hour to get to work (that was with no traffic accidents or incidents). Once inside the studio, Annette McKenzie (genius) starts on hair and make-up. By 10am we were ready, Juli Balla (photographer) and the crew were ready to start shooting the new season looks.

Sydney - hair & make-up done with curlers setting my hair

Sydney – hair & make-up done with pin curls setting my hair

Sydney - curlers out, touching up my lips with a hint of colour before getting changed into outfit #1

Sydney – curls out, touching up my lips with a hint of colour before getting changed into outfit #1

Scanning the racks of clothes once I was ready to get changed I noticed there were some key pieces that I really liked and simply had to have. The new season clothes were bright, colourful and included skinny jeans that fit me like a glove (one of my all time favs). Stripes are still very much in and still one of my favourite trends. There was a navy and a tea coloured linen jacket that I really liked too. Having basic neutrals in your wardrobe is a must in my opinion. It’s all about variety and versatility.

This routine continues over the next few days in studio. Our days of shooting merge into one as the days go by. At the end of our Sydney stint we head up to Palm Beach (Northern Beaches of Sydney) to get some location shots done. One can’t go any further than Palm Beach and its a 45 min – 1 hour drive north of Sydney (depending on traffic of course).

Palm Beach is somewhat far for the crew to travel and we mumble to ourselves about the distance and 6.45am call time however, once we are there and Andrea Rowe (amazing producer extraordinaire) walks in with delicious coffee and we have a moment to enjoy and take in the breathtaking views, we soon realise how divinely beautiful and blue this part of the world is. What were we saying?

Sydney – Palm Beach, view from the house we were shooting in

Sydney – Palm Beach, our view of where the ocean meets the sky

Sydney – Palm Beach, the day is done and I am heading home

Sydney – Palm Beach at ground level

Tomorrow we depart for Noosa, Queensland for the rest of the Sara shoot. Stay tuned.

Where have you been where the ocean meets the sky? What beautiful places do you dream of visiting and experiencing?

May 22, 2012

Say ‘cheese’ to the cowboys

Welcome to Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee – This was my view for three hours

Dallas – Self-portrait once hair & make-up were done

Dallas – the shoe department

Dallas – behind the scenes from our set

Airports, airports and more airports this week. Work took me to Milwaukee, Wisconsin (known for its cheese, Harley’s and beer) with another 3.45am wake-up and a 6am flight out of La Guardia airport. It’s not easy for this night-owl to be in bed and asleep by 10pm the night before however, I do try.

My beautiful friend and co-model Marquita Pring and I were on the same flight. As usual, we both slept on the flight and caught-up on some much-needed beauty rest. We were picked-up by a car service our agent had arranged for us and we went straight to the studio. I was first-up in the hair & make-up chair (there were about five of us ladies, all different shapes and sizes)… Yeah baby!

We had a great day, took some lovely shots and headed straight back to the airport for a flight home to New York. I had to wait three hours for my plane so I kept myself busy, as I’ve gotten so used to doing. Marquita and I were happy to be going home and off to sleep after another glamourous day at work.

From the yummy cheese in Wisconsin to the cowboys of Texas, I found out the afternoon before I had to fly out, that I had another job to go to in Dallas and yet another 6am flight out of La Guardia. It’s three-and-a-half hours each way and I slept pretty much the entire journey there. My driver Sam picked me up at Dallas/Fort Worth airport and we headed straight to the studio where I had a full day of work ahead of me.

Hair & make-up didn’t take too long as my client prefers the more natural look. I wore tops, jeans, swimsuits and dresses and yes, I was lingerie/swimsuit ready! It was one shot after another… The crew and I were a machine of lights, flashes, quick wardrobe changes and hair & make-up touch-ups.

At the end of my day, Sam picked me up and took me back to the airport. I spent another three-and-a-half hours on the plane and arrived home late. My sweet family was sound asleep… Just how I left them almost a day ago.

What are some of your travel stories? Do you have any advice to share? Is there glamour to your travel?

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