Beauty School drop out. Is this the industry you want to work in?

Beauty School Drop out. Go back to high school. Best movie ever.

          

                                                                   Pics Courtesy of Google Images.

Why did I decide to study make up artistry and beauty therapy?

If we're going to be honest, I would have to say my passion began when I was quite young. I loved everything about beauty, fashion and good hair.

As a kid, I unfortunately had man legs. You know, the type you have to shave/wax apparently. In fact, I was hairy all over. (Thank you wog genes). I knew then and there I would be a beauty therapist.

                  

                                                                       Pics Courtesy of Google Images.

And lets not stop there.  I have 3 girls ~ a little hairy on the legs and brows. Holy crap. Sending them out to a beauty therapist was going to cost me (ok...shoosh... was going to cost daddy) a small fortune.  And yet, my boy isn't hairy at all ~ go figure!

But as I got older, I became annoyed with the way my brows were being shaped. "Just a tidy up thanks. Leave my shape". Clear enough right? Spoken in English or was it Engrish!!!!! I walk out with two lines, that look drawn on. Arrrggghhh.

     

                        
                                                             Pics Courtesy of Google Images.

There was my Green Light to beauty school. It was the best year of education I experienced. The friends I made whilst studying have become life long friends. I loved everything from the theory right down to the practical - except for Pedicures. Did not fancy performing those at all. YUK.

                          

                                                                Pics Courtesy of Google Images.

Years later, whilst teaching beauty therapy at a college, I always encouraged the students to 'LISTEN' to the client. "LISTEN TO WHAT THEY WANT". It's really not that difficult. Alas, communication in today's society has become some what obsolete.

                                                         Pics Courtesy of Google Images.

I became qualified in waxing, lash and brow tinting, manis & pedis, facials, Swedish massage, advanced facials - using electrical apparatus, indian head massage, female intimate waxing, aromatherapy in beauty, nutrition and spraytanning. This qualification was in addition to my Certificate in Fashion, Glamour and Bridal Make up Artistry - I attained at the Napoleon Perdis Academy in Parramatta NSW.

Completing make up at Napoleon Perdis Academy, I was enriched with loads of tips and tricks on make up application. I loved it so much, that I ended up working for the company in retail and as a make up artist for 3 years. Best experience as I learnt so much on the job and gained inspiration from my colleagues, the creative team and Mr Perdis himself. I was fortunate to listen to him at various masterclasses I attended.

Some gorgeous colleagues I trained with.

Photos taken in 2008 for the NP Staff Xmas Party.

Now I get to the part where I noticed the flaws in career choices. BEAUTY THERAPY - 'ooooh sounds so glamorous. I get to receive treatments all day. I get to look pretty everyday. I'm so going to blitz this course cause I'm already beautiful'. > Don't laugh. This actually happens unfortunately to school leavers.

      

                                                            Pics Courtesy of Google Images.
                                                                       
Everything is sweet for the first few months when studying beauty. Students settle in and are performing manis, pedis, lash and brow tinting and waxing. This is pretty easy. Even the assessments are not so bad.

UNTIL............ skin biology enters. Did someone mention Anatomy and Physiology of the skin???? The students freak out. Not all of them though. The passionate ones (like me) will attack any challenge in learning and research. The other 30% freak out. Is the trainer speaking another language. What do you mean the skin has cells that regenerate and hair grows in 3 phases. And what about this electrical jargon - what's Galvanic, High Frequency and Vacuum Suction? Is Vacuum suction anything to do with a Dyson??? So many questions. So much to know. Assessments way too technical and time consuming. (Yes future beauty students - there are assessments and they do involve research).

                                                       Pics Courtesy of Google Images.


Beauty Therapy, especially at Diploma Level, requires the student to have a basic knowledge of English, maths and science. Otherwise, if you are not keen to learn, you are simply wasting your time and mummy and daddy's money.

If you are not sure if you will like this course, why not begin with the Cert II in Retail Make up and Skin Care or Certificate in Beauty Therapy - these courses are not as intense and will give you an idea what the beauty industry expects from their staff. The beauty (pardon the pun) of it is that if you decide to continue with your studies, you can be exempt for those subjects you have already passed. This is called RPL (recognition of prior learning).

As for me, I loved Skin Biology - learning about the various levels of the skin; the 3 phases of hair growth (anagen, telogen & catagen); how beauty products benefit the skin; how products are absorbed through the skin; the aesthetics of the skin; using electrical apparatus in advanced facials - Galvanic to infuse serum further into the skin layers to promote collagen and elastin (look out for the blog in the future on different skin care definitions); vacuum suction to eliminate oil congestion and blackheads; High Frequency to zap those nasty pimples to promote quicker skin healing. I could go on but you would be here forever reading. Its simple. I love beauty therapy. I love skin biology.

 Galvanic / High Frequency / Vacuum Suction Electrical Equipment used in Advanced Facials.

 Pics Courtesy of Google Images.

So where to next for me - as I never get tired of studying and learning new things, I think I would love to study Skin Aesthetics further, so that I can keep up to date with treatments such as fraxel, microdermabrasion and laser. In NSW AUSTRALIA, Laser requires the therapist to hold a license as per the Skin Penetration Act.

Do your homework girls. Research the various colleges and TAFE that offer beauty. Ask questions to your careers advisor. Send me an email - smkrpez@bigpond.com - no question is silly. Attend Career Expos - as I use to work at these promoting Beauty Therapy and Make up Application. Don't be shy to visit a college - most have an open door policy so that you can see what they do. Most colleges will also have a Student Clinic operating, where you can have treatments, waxing and tanning done at a reduced price cause the students are performing them - under the close supervision of the Trainer(s).

    

                                                            Pics Courtesy of Google Images.


Places where Beauty Therapy can take you;

* Beauty Salons, Spas, Health Spas
* Retail at Beauty Counters
* Trainers for Colleges and Reps for Cosmetic Brands (I attained my Cert IV in Training and Assessment, along with industry experience, to train students in beauty and make up).
* Salons on a Ship / Cruise
* Beauty Editor / Blogger (me)

For further information on Beauty Careers and Courses, go to;

TAFE
Morpheus Academy of Hair and Beauty - Leumeah, NSW
OPEN Learning
Napoleon Perdis Academy - NSW.

(you can find these on Google)

SK x

MURDER MYSTERY IN AMAZON PLACE - Make up of a different kind.

I want to suck your blood!!!!

Our Host of the night - Branka.

No. I'm no mosquito. I'm simply creating the scene for you to imagine. As a Make up Artist, my weekends are filled with Bridal make up bookings, formal bookings and special occasion make up. But when I was sent a pic by my good friend, Branka, of her attempt to do her hubby's make up for a Murder Mystery night - I knew my brushes were going to grace the likes of white face powder, black kohl eyes and fake slimy blood. Her hubby looked pretty - NOT scary at all. This girl needed me......STAT.

MISSION: To turn 2 very good looking people (hubby and wife) into MR & MRS VAMPIRE.
I was excited. I've only done this a few times before. The last being for Maxim Magazine Models for a Halloween Party at Marquee 2013. Transforming business men's faces into ghosts, ghouls and alien-like creatures, was enthralling.

To be totally honest, this type of make up application is so easy and very quick. I ended up doing 3 people within 1/2 hour. Its like being given the Green Light to colour in outside the lines. So much fun.

EXHIBIT A : Mr & Mrs Vampire Brumec

I also had the pleasure of transforming one other mortal. He had sent me a question via my blog last week, enquiring about green make up. Think HULK, KERMIT & enter FRANKenstein; aka known as Frank. This is one of my favourites, only cause the different degrees of the colour green is awesome. And it was done by yours truly......lol

EXIBIT B: FRANKestein aka Frank. Such a sweety.

Once my mission was accomplished, I made a quick dash back home to paint the husband and to pretty myself up too.

The quickest 1/2 hour make up, hair and costume change ever. Thank you Halloween for allowing me to tick off one of my bucket lists' MUST DO points. To dress up as a naughty Nurse - from the grave, who brings Elvis back from the dead. Brilliant if I must say so myself.

EXHIBIT C: Elvis from the grave with his naughty nurse, AKA Andy & Sandy.

Make up done by Sminka Ink - me of course.

NIGHTMARE ON AMAZON STREET.
How cool do I look. I scare myself I'm that cool. Lol.

On arrival to the Haunted Brumec Mansion, we were greeted by Brumec Manor's Lady of the house. Now that her costume was on - the make up looked even better. Down to the dungeon we made our way, where it was covered in spiders (fake ones of course otherwise there is no freaken way I would be there - without the Baygon), skeletons, flying bats and cobwebs everywhere. The MAID welcomed us all........our Murder Mystery Night was about to begin. Who killed the original Madame of Brumec Mansion? Killed exactly 10 years ago to the date - SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER.

The Maid aka the Host of our Murder Mystery Night.

I'm not going to give too much away, as I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who want to host their very own Murder Mystery Night. Do I recommend it - HELL YEH. 100%. It would be great for adult birthday parties, hens or bucks parties or just an excuse to have a party with some awesome people - which is exactly what the Brumec's did. Nice work guys.

You are given a new identity - mine was Tammy Saintly (almost like a porn name) - and the group is put through various, yet hilarious activities to find out who the killer was. Everyone in the room is a suspect. We just don't know it yet. Sounds intriguing? Well, my lips are sealed where all this leads to.
Lets just say after approx. 2 hours, the killer was found. Definitely not who any of us suspected. Very clever gaming.

Boys will be boys - SCARY 

VAMPIRE JOHN, ELVIS ANDY & COUNT NICK. 

ROLE PLAYING - always the actress I might add.  

GIRLS IN THE DUNGEON. 

MORTICIA & NAUGHTY NURSE SANDYK 

MORTICIA & GOMEZ
Love these guys. 

BITCHES IN THE HOOD. 

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF AMAZON PLACE.

(Awkward moment when asked if I had powdered my body white - Ummm. Nope. I'm that white.
Enter Spraytans with Sminka Ink).

The night did not end there to much our delight. Out came the Spirits - not dead people, but actual Spirits, as in alcohol, booze and grog. No goon bags thank goodness. (I do like them - but lets pretend I don't, just for this blog).

LATE NIGHT SESSION WITH ELVIS AND MADAME BRUMEC 

CLEAVAGE OR DECOLLETAGE - YOUR PICK.
LATE NIGHT SELFIES AT 2AM IN THE MORNING WHEN THE WOLFPACK IS OUT. 

Fun times were had by all. The Make up disguised our drunken faces - our glow was no where to be found but that didn't matter. Can't wait for the next dress up party where I can have fun painting faces again. Hmmmmm, the real Halloween is coming up. Any takers?

BITE ME.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION MAY BE PRESENT. 

NO COMMENT. EXCEPT - look at that hairy spider. 

THE GOOD WITCH - SNOW WHITE I SAY.
NO APPLE BITTEN HERE. ONLY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMED. 

A BUNCH OF SCARY SEXY LADIES - Lana, Danielle, Kathy & Nurse SandyK.
Me in the white - well the gut hanging out is all part of the costume. (insert wink here).


* THE END *

SK x

(apologies for any words that may have offended any mortals) #soznotsoz

SMINKA INK MAKE UP BY SANDRA
FREELANCE MAKE UP ARTIST
SYD AUSTRALIA.

Fashion Frenzy........ZHIVAGO........and all the beautiful people.

What an awesome night I just experienced. Surrounded by fellow fashionistas, arm candy hotter than... ummmmmmm....... they were just really really really good looking. Think Zoolander....lol. I attended the MBFF [Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival]  2014 Red Runway Show, held in the gorgeous Sydney Town Hall. My daughter Adriana (20 yrs) had the privilege of sitting next to me. Got to love being seen with a size 8 glamazon. Damn. Hope onlookers think we're sisters. One can only hope.

 

Courtesy of Google Images.

The rain couldn't dampen my spirits as I sat amongst the attractive audience . I did feel a little out of my league but who cares. I can be as cool as them, couldn't I? Does anyone even use the word 'cool' anymore?

As I sat there admiring the scenery before the show began, I was frantically posting on social media - as any true fashionista would do. As they say, fake it till you make it. Baby, this mama does not need approval to be amongst these people. I figure if people hate seeing my posts - hit the delete key sweety. Mama Sandra is not slowing down anytime soon.

Some random took this pic of Adriana and I. (Okay, I asked them to take a pic for us).

I look up and I see my first celebrity of the night. Woop. Ronan Keating. Irish singer. Judge on X Factor. Hot stuff in the flesh too. He had his gorgeous lady on his arm. They reminded me of Victoria and David Beckham - good looking and simply stylish. Sigh.

Photos taken by yours truly. Oh Ronan.......sigh. 

Back in the day when I would spot a celebrity, I would make sure they didn't see me as I secretly took a picture of them. Not now though - to my daughter's dismay. I figure if you are a celebrity then you should be okay with the paparazzi flashing their cameras at you. That includes me too. No Canon - just my Samsung phone camera.

Felt pretty chuffed with myself. My pics were pretty good.

Okay, back to the show. The lights are turned down. The music is pumping, and by pumping I mean I can feel the beat run through my body. The first lot of models begin their strut. Not as skeletal as they were at the last show I attended. Although there were a few that needed some CAKE. Nevertheless, they were beautiful and made the clothes they wore beautiful too. I look over to Ronan - he was bopping to the music. You go buddy.

From Carla Zampatti, Cameo the Label, Bec & Bridge, Betty Tran, Camilla, Romance was Born, Alex Perry, Talulah, Bianca Spender, Aurelio Costarella, Jayson Brunson (to name a few) to Zhivago (my favourite of the night) these designers are blessed with their craft. There wasn't anything on show I wouldn't wear ....... if I was a size 8 again. (Size 8 on my Wedding Day 21 years ago. True Story).

My favourite Zhivago number.
 

Arm Candy..... I mean swimsuit for the boys.
 

All pics above were taken by yours truly. 

I loved the swimsuits. Attention Ladies - big pants are back in for bikini bottoms. Think Marilyn Monroe 1950's. I will let you all in on a little secret. I have been wearing that look for years; in the form of SPANX. That makes me a fashionista for sure. I wore it way before these designers decided it was trendy.

Marilyn Monroe. Those bikini bottoms.
Courtesy of Google Images.

See, I told you. I took this pic.

The show was definitely a 10/10. Well done MBFF. I was totally enthralled and gained ample amounts of inspiration for future make up looks. Thank you Maybelline for the flawless finishes on the models.

Pics courtesy of me. 

Feeling pumped, Adriana and I made our way to the Fashion Hub, held downstairs in Sydney Town Hall. I was fortunate to have worked there with my friend Helen back in 2012. It was for Maybelline. They are a great company. Just saying.

Free Lavazza coffee. Sure. Don't mind if I do. Free Maybelline goodies. Yep. Redken hair products - cool. Mr G will be proud (My hairdresser - who resembles Ricky Martin - his salon stocks Redken Hair Products). A swig of Baileys Chocolate Liquor - Mmmmmmmmm. And not to forget the various photos that were taken to make us everyday people feel a bit spesh. Sorry Ronan - I think I'm pretty cool now too.

I could have stayed and partied all night. But this mum of 4 has an early wake up call tomorrow. I'm getting ready to host my Pink Hope Lipstick Night - a charity to raise funds for Breast & Ovarian Cancer Research. Go me! Watch out for my next blog on this event. :-)

I think I'm going to start saving my pennies to purchase a Zhivago number. My hubby just doesn't know it yet. (Sorry baby. I do love you. Please work 8 days a week so mama can buy a designer piece. Please and Thank you).

Zhivago - SandyK wants!!!!!
These pics are courtesy of Google Images.

SK x