A Subtle Makeup Look For a Quinceañera

This year I got the pleasure to do Alejandra's makeup for her quinceaños. Since we are Panamanians we celebrate when a girl turns fifteen years old with a big party called Quinceños. The main purpose of this celebration is to introduce the young girl as a lady. 

In older times it was done in a way in which parents introduced their daughter to society since she was supposedly ready for marriage. This marks the transition from childhood into womanhood, but, since we rarely marry at that age, we defeated the purpose and just have a huge party celebrating the girl´s fifteen years in this world.

This is the time in which the girl gets to put on that princess gown we've all dreamt of and dance all night long with her family, friends and waltz across the room with her father as a symbol of fatherly love and their bond as family. 

The hair and the makeup part is crucial for the girl to look her best. For many young girls this is the first time they ever wear a strong makeup look, or even makeup itself. This is the case of my cousin Alejandra.

She´s had experience with makeup before, but nothing really major. She would ware the usual mascara and a little bit of liner but nothing too outstanding.

 Alejandra (My Cousin)

My overall y goal was to was for her to feel comfortable and confident in what she was wearing in a way I could please her and her parents. 

After two trials we got the makeup look everyone liked We agreed on a very natural makeup. The point of it is to show her natural features and just enhance them with a little makeup.
She wanted to look a bit tan as well, so, I decide to go a little heavy on the bronzer, without her looking orange or blotchy. I find it gorgeous when someone wears makeup in a natural way and go for a dewy complexion. By dewy I don't mean oily, since those tend to be confused. By dewy I try to make the skin reflect some light when the light hits the high points of the face.

She is blessed with a set of amazingly natural long eyelashes and full lips, things that a lot of people wish they had. Alejandra has fair complexion and a elongated face, almost oval shaped. She has small almond shaped eyes and eyelids which are commonly called monolids.

Her reaction to the makeup was very interesting. She got excited since she felt she looked like a Barbie doll. Her eyes looked really large and bright since the inner corner highlight was quite a brighter shade of champagne. Her cheeks where a mauve/pink tone and her cheekbones stood out like the've never done before since I highlighted with a strong highlighting product.

             
                 

                   
                   

I´ll run you through the products I used to achieve this makeup look.

Face:
Primer: Smashbox, Photo Finish Primer (Clear)
Foundation: Revlon, Color Stay Foundation
Concealer: MAC, Pro Longware
Powder: Airspun, Loose Transluscent Powder
Bronzer: Bourjois, Chocolate Bronzer
Contour: MAC, Mineralize Skin Finish Natural
Blush and Highlight: NARS, Andy Warhole Collection Debbie Harry Palette

Eyes:
Primer: Urban Decay, Primer Potion - Eden
Base: NYX, Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk
Lid: Urban Decay, Naked 2 Palette
Crease: Sonia Kashuk, Matte Palette - Orange/Peach
Bottom Lash Line: Sonia Kashuk, Matte Palette - Reddish Brown
Liner: Guerlain, Liquid Liner - Black
Mascara: L'Oreal, Voluminous Carbon Black

Brows:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo- Medium Brown

Lips:
Lipstick: NARS Satin Lip Pencil - Rikugien
Lipgloss: Rimmel London Moisture Renew Gloss - Active Mauve

Tools:
Beauty Blender
Real Techniques Face and Eyes Brushes
MAC Eye Brushes
Coastal Scents Eye and Face Brushes


This pictures where taken in a makeup tryout before the party.
No retouching was done to show the actual colors used and the tone of her skin.
Pictures taken with white light and sunlight for true color purposes.



Camara: Canon 60D
Lens: Canon 50mm Static
White Backdrop