5 PRO Tips Inspired By MUA Renalda Bly

“My makeup is about clean and natural beauty.”- Renalda Bly

After working with professional makeup artist, Renalda Bly, I knew she would be one of my absolute favorites! Full of spirit and blessed with a heart of gold, this artist is the type that guides you through your makeup journey as she works, so you are never left to wonder what exactly is going on. Every opportunity to sit in Renalda’s chair is a learning experience filled with makeup tips and tricks that only a true professional would know. Now I can’t give away every method to her magic, but what I can do is share some of my favorite super simple, easy-to-do pro tips that can make a world of a difference!

1. Working With Your Natural Arch

Photo: SunnyGuns Collective MUA: Jacqui Viljoen Model: (Me) Bailey Olivas

Let’s face it! There is absolutely no way you can deny that brows are bigger and better than ever before. In fact, I would bet that a makeup artist today might actually squeal in delight at the sight of a clean, pretty face with a naturally full brow. For most of us girls in the fashion industry, tweezing, threading or waxing our brows is a huge no-no! Cara Delevingne set the brow standard high at the start of her career and we’ve all been striving for our own version of her glorious pair ever since!

What’s tough about growing them out and plucking only when absolutely necessary is that the arch becomes harder to identify.

Luckily, Renalda taught me a quick way to work around that.

• Renalda says that all you need to do is simply brush the brow hairs down with a brow comb and voilà! Just like that, your natural arch is revealed.
• Follow up with lining the arch subtly, filling in your shape, brushing them back into place, and securing the brow the way you do it best (i.e. a brow gel).

2. Making Your Eyes Appear Larger

Photo: Maybelline.com

Eye contact is a natural part of human communication. Therefore, the way you line them sends a message. Eyeliner can make your eyes pop in a mysterious, striking way, as well as sparkle in an inviting, friendly way.

Renalda taught me that tight-lining, a technique in which you line your upper waterline to create the appearance of thicker lashes, is a great way to really open the eyes. However, her special trick is that she uses a white colored liner to soften and brighten both the top and bottom waterline, which makes them appear larger. Personally, I would suggest using a waterproof twist-up pencil liner for tear-proof, easy application!

3. Enhancing Your Freckles

Photographer: Jamie Nelson Model: Kate Potter, for Cosmopolitan Magazine

Faux freckles… Tattooed freckles… let’s keep this trend UP! As a naturally freckle-faced girl myself, I could not be more pleased with the way people are praising freckles and incorporating them into their beauty routine!

Fortunately, I grew up in total acceptance of my freckles. I am one with them. They are a part of me and honestly, most of the time I forget I even have them until someone so kindly mentions that they love my speckled face!

In a recent discussion of this, Renalda shared with me the best way to enhance freckles or even create your own using an eyebrow pencil! Renalda says that brown eyebrow pencils work best for a lighter application. Her pro tip is to create the freckles, or darken your own, BEFORE applying your foundation. Next, apply your foundation of choice and repeat the darkening process. Softly smudge each little spot in (I just use my finger to do this) to create a natural looking freckle and ta-da! Snap some selfies you freckle-faced babe!

4. Wax Based Beauty Reminder

Photo: InStyle.com

Renalda loves using a good wax based product to achieve that fresh, healthy-looking skin. What’s amazing about wax based products is that there is a lot of freedom to customize the coverage and finish. In addition, these type of products will last all day and all night which is perfect for photo shoots.

While most makeup lovers understand the importance of washing our face before bed, that does not mean that we never slip up and occasionally commit the cringe worthy crime of crashing in your full face of makeup…eek! All of your fabulous skin care gets ruined by this lazy mishap so always remember to wipe off your makeup and wash that pretty face of yours!

Wax based products especially are not forgiving when slept in overnight so follow Renalda’s “You must wash your face, or else you’re going to be mad at me tomorrow.” rule and scrub that canvas of yours!

5. Lash Removal Hack 

Photo: Authoritynutrition.com

Lastly, I wanted to share a bit with you about false lashes removal and the moment I learned that tearing them off was not the proper way to remove them…oops!

Renalda says that the absolute best way to take off your false lashes is to simply rub a little oil on them and they’ll easily slide right off. I tried this myself using my coconut oil (you’ll soon realize I am the coconut oil queen) and sure enough it worked perfectly. All you need is a q-tip and your oil of choice.

Bye Beautiful,

-B