Beauty Icon: Jean Harlow

     As of lately I've been doing quite a bit of research into different beauty icons throughout the years. I wanted to share some of the information I've learned. The information in this article came from Wikipedia, Max Factor International, and Jean Harlow's website. 

      On March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri an iconic film star was born. Her name was Harlean Carpenter- who became a film star under her mother’s maiden name- Jean Harlow. Before her Jean Harlow days, she had experienced a few other events. Her parents divorced in 1922 and after the divorce Harlean would lose touch with her father. A few years later, while attending a camp in Michigan, Harlean came down with Scarlet fever; she supposedly also became ill with meningitis at one point in her life too- both of which would affect her later on. After this fasco, she attended school in Illinois where she would meet her first husband- Charles McGrew. When McGrew turned 21 he inherited a lot of money. The couple moved from Chicago to Beverly Hills- neither worked and were said to be heavy drinkers. They eventually divorced in 1929. This was around the time Harlean’s first audition happened, which was because she didn’t want to lose a bet with her friend! The day of the casting call, she decided against using her legal name and used her mother’s name instead. This is how she became known as Jean Harlow. 

      Her career didn’t really take off until 1933 with MGM films. During her early film years, Max Factor bleached Harlow’s ash blonde hair- this is where the terms “Platinum Blonde” and “Blonde Bombshell” were born. The 1920s were ruled by brunettes; usually bleached blondes were lower class. At first this caused some turmoil but eventually woman started going blonde- even Bette Davis and Joan Crawford! The major issue with her bleach blonde locks was that Max bleached her hair with a mix of Anomia and Clorox which was later thought to cause her health problems. The strong chemicals also eventually caused her hair to fall out, and towards the end of the career she supposedly wore wigs. 

      Another event that happened during her early film career, was when Jean met her second husband, Paul Bern, while shooting Hell’s Angels. Bern was an executive at MGM. The two married in 1932 and he played a big role in jump starting her career, including helping her sign onto a big contract with MGM. He also scheduled an appearance tour in the East Coast- which completely sold out. Later on that year, Paul Bern was found shot and dead in their home; it was ruled as a suicide. There were many speculations that Harlow killed him, and in his 2009 biography it mentions he was murdered by an ex-lover. Most believe that MGM rearranged the crime scene to avoid a scandal. Shortly after his death, Jean began having an affair with boxer Max Baer whose wife threatened to divorce. In order to avoid another scandal, MGM had Jean marry her friend Harold Rosson. Rosson was her third husband, and the two divorced 8 months later. Shortly after this she was engaged to William Powell; they stayed engaged for two years but never had the chance to marry because she died on June 7, 1937 at age 26. 

      Shortly before her death she came down with influenza. As previously mentioned, in her past, she had dealt with Scarlet Fever and Meningitis, which in this time period weakened her system. If you add this to the toxic chemicals put in her hair and her past of drinking, it’s no surprise to learn she died of kidney failure. MGM closed on the day of her funeral and her final film Saratoga was still released in July. Decades later Jean Harlow is still well known as an amazing actress and a timeless beauty icon. Her look has been an inspiration to many- including Marilyn Monroe. She is known in the beauty industry for her Blonde hair, wide eyes, long lashes, thin brows and accentuated lips.

Thanks for the read! Stay tuned for more information in the beauty world! -Reg xoxo

The Science and Math in Beauty

Did you know that there are scientific and mathematical reasons why we find certain faces and features attractive or unattractive? Well, surprise- because there are! There have been various studies and theories that show "beauty is not always in the eye of the beholder." I first learned about a well known theory- "The Golden Ratio" from a friend of mine. I decided to research a little more into it and discovered a lot of other studies and interesting information as well. A lot of the information I learned for this post, I owe credit to GeniusBeauty, Glamourdaze, Wikipedia, YouBeauty, Telegraph, and Youtube. 

A theory that goes back to the time of the Ancient Greeks is the idea that an attractive face has a particular set of measurements and placement. This is known as the Golden Ratio with a numerical value of 1.68... The Greeks called this value  "Phi" (after the Greek sculptor Phidias). The Golden Ratio is used for more than just the human face, but when it does come to the human face, there is a specific chart people use. When a person closely matches or exactly matches up to the chart, they're supposedly more appealing to the human eye. Below are some pictures of iconic woman with the Golden Ratio Face Chart over their faces.

The celebrities above include (left to right) Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Megan Fox matches very closely to the chart, as do Kelly and Hepburn. Other celebs that match up include Jessica Alba and Shania Twain. What's very interesting about the charts and other ratios I learned of, is that many plastic surgeons go by these charts and theories. This is why celebrities, like Fox, who have gone under the knife, fit more closely to the ratio (especially compared to their natural face).

Does not meeting the Golden Ratio mean you're not attractive? Of course not, especially considering Angelina and Marilyn don't match up. There's many other factors that make a beautiful face- from particular features to uniqueness. According to numerous studies, common characteristics that appeal to the eye (especially sexually) include large eyes, big lips, a nice smile, and high cheek bones. Jolie and Monroe have a majority of those features. As for individuality, certain models are known for something unique- not necessarily just for good looks. For example, Tyra Banks is well known for her large forehead and big eyes. Another example is ANTM's Chantelle Brown-Young who has Vitiligo (and yes, that's the same skin disorder MJ had). So what's the secret behind these ladies being disproportionate and unique yet still just as beautiful? Confidence. Most models have a signature, and when they carry it confidently it becomes a valuable asset. See both of these ladies pictured below. 

Another less complicated and more commonly used way to measure a "beautiful face" is by specific ratios. There have been studies that show that men/women that match these ratios appeal more to the eye. Supposedly, if you measure the distance between three certain points, and all three points are equal then you're considered more attractive than a person who doesn't match up. The three points are: 

1. Your hairline to the center of your eyes

2. The center of your eyes to the tip of your nose

3. The tip of your nose to your chin 

A celebrity that doesn't match up to the Golden Ratio, but matches up to this theory is Angelina Jolie (see below) because all 3 distances match equally. Beyonce also fits this theory. 

The last theory I learned while researching is:

1. When the distance between your pupil and the tip of your nose

are just over 1/3 (36%) the length of your face from your

hairline to your chin 

AND...

2. The width between your pupils is just under 1/2 (46%) the

width of your face from ear to ear 

THEN...

The brain registers the face as "normal" or "average" and we in turn call that feeling "pleasing to the eye", beautiful, attractive, stunning, etc...(See an example of this theory on Mona Lisa Below) Lastly, one final fun fact- most plastic surgeons base the length of a client's nose off the length of their ear. 

Overall, I'd say my personal opinion about beauty is that anyone can be stunning if they have a positive self esteem, confidence and are happy. I just figured I'd share information about the math and science side of beauty since most people don't realize it's not just about Cosmetology and Art. 

Thank you so much for reading this post. If you have any requests for future posts, please feel free to comment below or email me at Makeup@ReginaDionne.com 

XOXO -Reg 

Beauty through the Ages: Present Day Trends

Recently I decided to research into different beauty trends throughout the years. I decided to break it up into decades and write a short summary of each, this post is part IV. See part III here. I thought it would be fun to share. I owe a lot of the information I uncovered from various Youtube tutorials, Wikipedia, Glamourdaze and The Vintage Makeup Guide. I'm hoping to put together a series soon- but until then, here's all the great information I discovered!

Present Day: There have been so many trends in the past 5 years that it's hard to say what our decade/generation will be known for. Some very popular looks I saw emerge in 2013 and 2014 include extremely heavy contour and highlighting with both foundations and powders. This is a look highly influenced by Kim Kardashian West (top left). Other looks highly influenced by the Kardashian family include pairing bold smokey eyes, liner and lashes with bold lips (such as dark purples and reds) and over drawn lips via Kylie Jenner. Other popular looks these past few years include fuller, thicker and geometric shaped eye brows (like Kim K's or model Cara Delevingne's) purple/blue hair, as well as purple, blue and black lips (Kelly Osbourne, bottom left) Woman also were fans of vintage style makeup- the classic winged liner and red lipstick look too. The expected trends for 2015 that I've seen on runways thus far include lighter and natural fresh faces (like Miley Cyrus, top right) and fresh dewy skin like JLO's (bottom right). Experts are predicting brighter pink lips over darker reds/purples, and more focus on graphic eyeliners then crazy eye shadows. Most people are expecting 2015 to be about enhancing natural beauty, which makes a lot of sense, considering the last few years were all about lots of heavy makeup. It's similar to a "60s to 70s" or "80s to 90s" transition. It will be very interesting to look back ten years from now and see what this decade becomes most known for...I guess we will have to wait and see. Thanks for the read, and have a great day :) xoxo -Reg    

Beauty through the Ages: The 1970s to the 2000s

Recently I decided to research into different beauty trends throughout the years. I decided to break it up into decades and write a short summary of each, this post is part III. See part II here. I thought it would be fun to share. I owe a lot of the information I uncovered from various Youtube tutorials, Wikipedia, Glamourdaze and The Vintage Makeup Guide. I'm hoping to put together a series soon- but until then, here's all the great information I discovered!

The 1970s: The 70s were a "back to the basics" time period compared to the 60s. Foundation was applied lightly and matched the skin as closely as possibly. Tanning and bronzer starts to become popular as woman desire a sun-kissed look. Woman also begin using gel based blushes for a rosy yet dewy natural cheek. Neutral pinks and browns or pearlescent shades of blue and green were popular eye shadow choices (shown left). Mascara wasn't always worn (only for lengthening not volumizing.) Upper liner was still worn, but it was toned down compared to the 60s. Eyes were still a focal point, so lips continued to stay nude or a frosted peach/pink color. Brows were kept cleaned yet natural and were shaded in lighter.  

The 1980s: Since the 70s were so toned down, the 1980s were wild! Makeup went from "less is more" to "more is more." Hair was as big as it could be, and colors were bold and bright. Two well known beauty and fashion icons of this decade were Madonna (left) and Cindy Lauper. Woman loved Madonna's mole so much- they began to draw fake ones onto themselves. Bright blue, purple, pink, orange and yellow shadows were the style- and if you had multiple shadows on at once it was even trendier!  Eyebrows and eyeliner were thicker. Eyeliner was also darker than ever, worn all around the eye. Heavy pink blush was worn, more so on the cheek bones then apples (to emphasis them). Lastly, bright red, pink, purple and orange lips were worn to complete the look too. 

The 1990s & 2000s: The 1990s was toned down compared to the 80s. Woman began wearing light smokey eyes in browns, blacks and grays. Sometimes glittery shadows were worn too. Brows were styled a little thinner and filled in darker. Lip liner was also back in, and so were darker lips. Woman began wearing matte dark brown nudes, some even wore darker liner than their lipstick. (Rachel Aniston, top left) Cheeks were warm and bronzed and foundation matched skin tone. As the 90s transitioned to the early 00s, grunge makeup styles became popular, like singer Avril Lavigne (bottom left). Girls wore extreme black and gray smokey eyes, with dark and thick smudged liner. Blush/bronzer were worn lightly and lighter shades of nude lipsticks were worn, along with clear lip gloss. Another nickname for this trend is the "Heroine Chic".  

Thanks for viewing, have an awesome day. xoxo -Reg

Beauty through the Ages: The 1940s-1960s

Recently I decided to research into different beauty trends throughout the years. I decided to break it up into decades and write a short summary of each, this post is part II. See part I here. I thought it would be fun to share. I owe a lot of the information I uncovered from various Youtube tutorials, Wikipedia, Glamourdaze and The Vintage Makeup Guide. I'm hoping to put together a series soon- but until then, here's all the great information I discovered!

The 1940s: The 1940s was the start of Vintage and Pinup girls beauty trends that have re-emerged in the past few years. In the 40s a new rule was to "match your nails to your lipstick" and a common color for this was red. The lips were starting to be more defined with highlighting and contouring, and cheeks were rosy pinks. Foundation was typically a shade darker, and layered with a light powder (which finally became available compact style.) Lashes were made long and full with lots of mascara. Eyebrows became a little thicker and pointer towards the forehead in a pin-up style. Eye makeup returned to lighter looks and shades, especially with the war because supplies were short and woman were working in untypical conditions.  

The 1950s: The 1950s are known as one of the most classic times for beauty- with timeless woman such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Pastel colors were very popular such as greens, blues and yellows as well as peach and pink blushes too. Big lips were very popular, usually in bright pinks or red shades. Eyeliner started to take more of a role as woman began to wear liner on their upper lid and add a small wing to the end- the beginning of the long loved "Cat-eye." Full and long lashes were the rage and some woman (like Marilyn) used falsies. Marilyn was known for her blonde hair, long lashes, beauty mark (which was fake) and red lips. Marilyn's mouth was over-drawn and she sometimes used up to 5 different shades of pinks, oranges and reds to achieve her voluptuous lips. She also used Vaseline as a lip-gloss and highlight for certain areas of her face. Audrey Hepburn was known for her naturally thick brows and "baby doll" face. She also wore fancy eye liner, lots of mascara and pink and red lipsticks. Grace Kelly was known for her natural beauty as well, especially her facial structure and cheek bones which she contoured using two different variations of blush- a lighter shade on her cheekbone and a darker one beneath. The woman during this time and trends they set are still looked up to/used today. 

The 1960s: The 1960s was the "Mod" and "Hippie" time period. This decade was all about the eyes, not the lips. This time period consisted of some more well known beauty icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Twiggy. Elizabeth Taylor is well known in this time for her 1963 film Cleopatra. Her makeup in this movie went right along with the style of that period. Blue, gray and white eye shadows were popular- especially paired together. Bold, crazy, graphic liners were also worn- in black and white (a Twiggy classic) and upper and lower lashes were long and full and usually fake. Twiggy painted her lower lashes on with a thin brush and black liner. Both woman wore white eyeliner on their waterline, and Twiggy sometimes doubled her black and white liner in a crazy cat eye. Taylor was well known for her thick and dark brows. Foundation and blush were kept light and natural along with the lips. Pale pinks lips were a popular style because they were now "second place to the eyes." 


Thanks for the visit! Enjoy your day! xoxo -Reg

Beauty through the Ages: The 1900s-1930s

Recently I decided to research into different beauty trends throughout the years. I decided to break it up into decades and write a short summary of each. I thought it would be fun to share. I owe a lot of the information I uncovered from various Youtube tutorials, Wikipedia, Glamourdaze and The Vintage Makeup Guide. I'm hoping to put together a series soon- but until then, here's all the great information I discovered!

1900s: In the 1900s Edwardian style makeup was the big trend. Makeup foundations were soft, shine-less and pale. Most woman actually wore foundation lighter than their own skin. The lips and cheeks were usually stained using the same products, so cheeks were very rosy and matched the lips. The brows were of a natural, medium thickness and the eyes were kept light with just a touch of mascara. 

**Check out more of the spread I did Edwardian style makeup for in SNE Weddings magazine here. (Picture left)**

1920s: In the 1920s a popular trend was Flapper Makeup. Eyes that were light in the 1900s turned smokey in the 20s. The eye shadow was typically dark up to the crease of the eye and a little smudged in the outer corners. Cheeks were still rosy, focusing mostly on the apples- and lips were usually a deep red. The lips were shaped in a signature way too with a Cupids Bow up top and a wide bottom lip that narrowed at the sides. Eyebrows started to become thinner and rounder, and a lot more mascara was added to the lashes as well.






1930s: The 1930s were a bright and pink time period. Platinum blonde hair started coming into style, thanks to Jean Harlow (pictured left) courtesy of Max Factor. Foundations were still pale but now had pink undertones. Eye shadow colors began to become more popular in shades of green, blue and violet. Blush was preferred in light pink and natural colors, while lips were bright oranges and reds. Lipstick was still drawn in a defined way. Eyebrows became even thinner- some woman even shaved theirs off to draw perfect ones on. Contouring also started becoming more popular, as seen on certain stars like Marlene Dietrich- who is known for contouring her cheekbones. The 30s started certain trends that carried into the 40s and 50s and have recently re-merged again today.  Thanks for the read. Enjoy your day! xo -Reg

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Urban Decay: Naked Flushed Palette

Today I wanted to talk about the Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette. This is a blush, bronzer and highlighter palette. I love it! The pigmentation on the blush and bronzer are both strong- so just be careful to start with a little product and work your way up! However at least you don't have to use a lot of product to see some color. The highlighter is shimmery- so it's meant for the top of your cheek bones, but you can also use it on your brow bone or your tear duct too (if you're feeling a little on the Marilyn side) The color lasts all day (especially when paired with a face primer) and it gives a nice dramatic rosy cheek..it's great for the winter! The bronzer and blush blend well together. It's also nice having all 3 products in one place- it's much easier for traveling, and for keeping my studio organized. Overall I highly recommend this product. I have the original..but there are some new colors available too! See them all here. See pictures of me wearing this product below. Thanks for viewing and have an awesome day!

Bite Lipsticks: Maraschino

Since I already have an Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, I have already posted a few cosmetics reviews that I would still like to share. The first is about a lipstick my best friend got me for Christmas this year. It's from a brand called Bite Beauty and can be purchased at Sephora. The color she purchased for me is Maraschino- it's a bright, matte red color. The texture is creamier and smooth and the color is long lasting. The packaging is smaller, so it's easier for travel and the lipstick itself isn't fat like a normal lipstick- so it's easy to apply without making a mess, especially for people who don't wear lip liner, or lipstick often. (Although even for professionals- applying red lipstick can be such a pain!) Overall I'm a fan of this product and recommend you check out their other colors here 

See pictures of me wearing this lipstick below. Thanks for the read. Have a great day! :)

About Me

I figured a good place to start a blog would be to start off by getting into a little more detail about the author! As previously mentioned, my name is Regina and I'm a certified Makeup Artist. I mainly work throughout New England- in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut but I have also traveled to New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Denver. I traveled for both makeup and spray tanning for a fitness/pageant competition called The WBFF. I also have experience with the following types of makeup- Bridal, Special Effects/Costume, Theatrical, Editorial, Everyday/Evening, and Runway. 

Obviously gaining this experience over a year didn't happen over night! My love for makeup started back when I first started wearing it- in middle school! I loved to experiment with bright and bold colors, but unfortunately wasn't very good at it. Thankfully throughout high school and my first few years of college I continued to practice it. Originally after high school, I went to a local college for Elementary Education. While the program was great, I knew it wasn't for me. Eventually I discovered (thanks with the help of a family friend) a local beauty school that certified makeup artists. I took both the beginners and masters courses and was then hired onto the company's team! I worked for this company for 6 months, I gained a lot of knowledge, made some great connections and friendships and was able to travel. I ended up leaving to become a freelancer. I reached out to a variety of companies, and am lucky enough to still be traveling with one of those places. 

I would have to say that finally becoming a makeup artist has been wonderful! I understand what it means to live the dream...it doesn't always mean being economically rich- but emotionally rich, because doing what you love, will give you a very rewarding career and daily happiness. 

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me! Have a great day :)