Photos: Lime Crime Make-Up

Blurb from YAMS:

I am a fan of Jeantrix and Raquel Reed, so it was only a matter of time. Doe Deere is so bright, it’s illegal! Their worlds are magically delicious, aesthetically. Below, I have embedded two videos: a make-up tutorial using Doe Deere’s Lime Crime Make-Up and one of Raquel Reed and Doe Deere getting ready for a Jeantrix fashion show. For more about Lime Crime Make-Up, kindly click here. Glitter.

Lime Crime Make-Up’s Bio:

Like most real-life fairy tales, Lime Crime began as one girl’s dream to make the world a brighter place. It all started in 2008 when NYC-based makeup artist, lifestyle blogger, and self-proclaimed “Unicorn Queen” Doe Deere realized she couldn’t find makeup bright enough for her tastes. Lime Crime Make-Up fills the voids in the makeup universe where “whimsical” and “high quality” are rarely found together.

Lime Crime creates the most intensely pigmented, premier dare-to-wear cosmetics with unmatched color payoff and saturation to create looks as vivid, quirky, and unique as our customers. Distinct colorful packaging adorned with a silver unicorn – our mascot – makes every application a fantastical event.

GrungeCake: If someone wanted to ‘outshine’ Lime Crime, would it be illegal to do so? In other words, is your product design and product covered under a patent?

Lime Crime: Yes, everything is protected – to the extent that it can be protected. I mean, anyone can make a green eye shadow or an orange lipstick. (Smiles) We do believe in offering the best balance of color payoff and quality that is chemically possible. (Smiles)

GrungeCake: Explain to aspiring product designers and commercial artists how necessary is it to patent or trademark your name; product and service.

Lime Crime: 100% necessary; it’s the first thing you do when you start a business. It would be a shame to develop a following only to find out your name’s already taken! In fact, I deem it so important I only trust the professionals to handle it.

GrungeCake: For the carnivores and non-vegans around the world, what does it mean to have vegan products? What’s different about vegan products?

Lime Crime: Vegan products contain no animal products. None. Zilch. Including beeswax. To have a vegan formula means to find ways to substitute animal-derived ingredients with synthetic equivalents.

GrungeCake: Do you wear and use other brands?

Lime Crime: Absolutely! I love Lipstick Queen, Illamasqua, my foundation is from L’Oreal… I use a variety of brands on a daily basis.

GrungeCake: Is your make-up good for children in the entertainment business?

Lime Crime: I’ve never considered this, but I don’t see why it couldn’t be used on younger humans. (Smiles)

GrungeCake: What does SpaceNK mean to Lime Crime as a brand? Does this venture widen your audience? By how many?

Lime Crime: Launching in SpaceNK is a huge deal for us. They are the #1 makeup store in the U.K. with stores on every corner, including Scotland and Ireland (Sephora withdrew from the U.K. market because they couldn’t compete with SpaceNK). They also have 13 locations in the U.S. To have SpaceNK on our team is a dream come true and we hope to be working with them for a long, long time! Wish us luck with the launch! :)

Lime Crime will be available at all SpaceNK locations in April 2010.

Obviously, we all know Lady Gaga had CG applied to her eyes, but that doesn’t mean we cannot replicate the look using makeup. As you can see, it looks very close to her big googly eyes, maybe not as crazy looking haha! You can use After Effects to enlarge the eyes. Credit.

Photo: Danny Fontaine

Photo: Danny Fontaine

Blurb from YAMS:

Sareta Gabriel is a professional freelance make-up artist with a recognised qualification and experience in the make-up sector. She followed GrungeCake on Twitter and I had to seize this opportunity.

GrungeCake: Tell us about your beginnings. Did you always dream of being one of the most important figures in the fashion industry? How did you get your start?

Sareta Gabriel: In the beginning ‘was a 6-year old — well into riding her BMX, making clothes for her Barbie and not having a clue about make-up! Fast-forward 13 years and I was studying hair, make-up and fashion at The London College of Fashion and I hated make-up! Still didn’t have a clue, I hated wearing it, I only wore mascara, the classes were boring, all I wanted to do was design and make clothes!

After I graduated, I started a degree in Fashion Design & Technology at Manchester Metropolitan and loathed all the technical side! Being the poor struggling student, I managed to score a job, part time at MAC cosmetics — it was amazing! We had theme days and went crazy-wild with our make-up! One week, we could be sexy film stars, the next, fabulous fairies! The only thing I disliked about the job was the selling so, I decided on completion of my degree. I’d return to London and become a freelance make-up artist!

GrungeCake: What is your competition like in London? Is it steep in anyways? Do you often feel threatened by any new comers?

Sareta Gabriel: Competition is fierce in London. There are so many make-up artists! There are certain make-up artists you hear of, and it can be annoying when the same person gets the job — time after time — purely, because they’ve been in the game longer!

I totally don’t feel threatened by newcomers. If I can help, I will! I often get emails asking to help me out on jobs. If I have projects that could be beneficial to a new make-up artist, I’ll often suggest coming along for the day and working on extras. Everyone needs to start somewhere and not that many people are willing to help you out, which is a shame. A lot of make-up artists and professionals in the business should remember that they started at the bottom!

Photo: Danny Fontaine

GrungeCake: How long have you been applying make-up professionally?

Sareta Gabriel: I’ve been applying make-up professionally for 6 years. 4 years as a Freelancer.

GrungeCake: Are you a licensed artist? Kindly add what school or trade you might have been a part of.

Sareta Gabriel: I am a fully licensed make-up artist! I studied my art at The London College of Fashion. I should also thank the trainers at MAC Cosmetics… even though they hated me! (Sareta laughs)

GrungeCake: Whom have you worked for and with?

Sareta Gabriel: I’ve worked with a lot of music peeps, fashion magazines and companies. The list is long! The most resent “Good Cause” job I did was for Rankin. I worked on his project Rankin Live which donated the profits to families in the Congo. I totally worked for free; I will donate my services at least twice yearly if it’s for a good cause. More information can be found via Rankin Live.

Photo: Danny Fontaine

GrungeCake: You work in the bridal industry as well. From what I imagine, it is more of a structured job with limited creativity. You are commissioned to create an unique palette that is worn one day, for arguably, the most important day of someone’s life. Are the pressure levels higher?

Sareta Gabriel: Bridal make-up is quite creatively limited. Most brides want fairly plain make-up, very natural, complementary colours. A fairy tale princess look. Apparently, princesses look like they don’t wear make-up. A lot of them have never worn make-up; so get a bit of a shock when they look immaculate. Start wondering why they’ve never worn make up before!

Surprisingly enough there’s less pressure! Magazines and shows are more hectic; you have to be quick, quick, quick! Doing up to 6 different looks on one model! With weddings, I’ve met the bride already — done a trial, so on the day, it’s quite relaxed! I arrive and leave before Bridezilla is released.

Photo: Titus Powell

GrungeCake: Do you have a signature look yet? Describe it.

Sareta Gabriel: I don’t really have a signature look. I try to make everyone look different — as though they are a better version of themselves. So hopefully, I haven’t created clones every time I work!

GrungeCake: When is a good time to use toner?

Sareta Gabriel: Good question! I don’t use one. I’m quite naughty when it comes to looking after my own skin! I use a facial wash, and moisturize, but that’s it! I’m blessed with youthful blemish-free skin, so I don’t tend to do any of the extras. As I only wear make-up occasionally, this has definitely had a play in my great skin! I am only 27, but this is probably the time to invest in a good skin care routine. If I was one of my clients, I’d recommend using a SPF moisturizer. Even though I’m in rainy London, cleanser, toner, and invest in a good night cream! So, I would say mid-late 20’s depending on your skin type.

GrungeCake: What would be your best make-up tip/s for brown eyes?

Sareta Gabriel: Brown eyes are fierce. Yeah, I have brown eyes! My favorite colours to go with brown eyes are purple and green. Not necessarily together, but those colours make brown eyes pop!

GrungeCake: Tell us about your web TV series.

Sareta Gabriel: Yay! Sareta TV is my new baby! We shot the pilot last year and it went up on the site (www.saretatv.com) a few weeks ago. It’s primarily about make-up and how to achieve specific looks. We have tutorials, favourite products, new products, and also segments about fashion, clubbing, and everyday peoples thoughts. With the help of my main interviewer/researcher/writer Akua Gyamfi, we’re aiming to get some celebrity interviews, so keep watching and subscribe on Youtube!

GrungeCake: What is your favourite look? What is your favourite look to apply?

Sareta Gabriel: My favorite look would probably be anything with glitter. I love glitter! If I could cover my clients with glitter from head to toe that would be my favorite look! It’s bright, eye catching, fabulously glamorous!

GrungeCake: I feel the smoky eye is a common technique honed by amateur artists. How do you feel about the “smoky eye”?

Sareta Gabriel: The smoky eye is one of the looks that good make-up artists need to know how to do. Everyone asks for smoky eyes. From wannabe glamour models, to photographers, to music artists to your best mate who wants glam make-up for the night. Don’t get me wrong, I do like smoky eyes, I have been known to rock that look on a Friday night, but it gets a bit boring. Maybe 7 out of 10 jobs; at least one of the looks is a smoky eye! I do tend to mix it up and use a few colours and glitter! Actually, the next episode of Sareta TV shows you how to create that perfect smoky eye!

Photo: Jez Tozer

GrungeCake: Which look/s do agencies or photographers mostly request?

Sareta Gabriel: Natural, “barely there” make-up, and smoky eye!

GrungeCake: Share an experience where allergen killed the moment.

Sareta Gabriel: I’ve never had the experience! The only time where anything has killed the moment was a couple of years ago. I was about to work on a model for a photo shoot. She came straight from a night out — smelt funky, greasy hair, greasy make-up… just plain dirty! I had to ask her to go and wash her face, as it was too bad. Her hair was terrible, just the worst thing you could imagine. There was nowhere to wash it, so the professional that I am just rolled with it. Did the looks, bared the stench… rocked it. She looked amazing!

GrungeCake: (Laughing) Sareta, you’re amazing!

GrungeCake: Is cucumber juice good for the face?

Sareta Gabriel: Cucumber juice is refreshing. I’d recommend it if you had puffy tired eyes or wanted a relaxing cheapo do-it-yourself facial experience. I do like to wind down in my Jacuzzi bubble bath, some wine, a facemask, and cucumbers on my eyes!

GrungeCake: Should any make-up be applied over skin with heavy acne?

Sareta Gabriel: The only time I wear make-up is on jobs and meetings, and on nights out. It’s important to let your skin breathe! I would say use your medicated cream and that’s it! Acne spreads due to the bacteria in the spots… it’s a cycle that can damage the skin and leave scars if not taken care of properly! Why exacerbate the problem by using products? Obviously for people with acne, they want to conceal the fact. If they wanted to wear make-up, I would recommend using the bare minimum… concealer under the eyes… conceal the spots, apply some mascara, gloss and work it! But not everyday, let you skin breath and heal!

GrungeCake: Have you applied make-up on top of oily skin and acne skin?

Sareta Gabriel: Yes, I had to apply make-up to a bridesmaid with bad oily skin and acne. She was very self-conscious and wanted to look as good as the other bridesmaids. I basically asked her about her skin routine, she used medicated soap and creams, but wore make-up everyday! Bad! I told her to limit the amount of days she wore it — giving her skin at least 3 days off!

On the wedding day, I used an oil control lotion, a silicone base, and an oil control foundation. I worked slowly around the effected area; used disposable sponges instead of my brushes and everything went well. She looked great and was amazed at the results!

GrungeCake: Would you say and agree that, “a great application could do what botulinum toxin A cannot”?

Sareta Gabriel: To be honest, no. (Sareta laughs) Possibly, around the lip area you can get great lip-glosses that plump up your lips giving the lips a fuller look. Thus, giving the skin around the lips a tighter look. If you’re an everyday person without make-up artists, photographers and retouchers, then make-up can conceal and hide those areas, but with the elements constantly working against you; rain, heat, wind… you’re not going to look immaculate! People just need to realize they are beautiful and age gracefully! Stop injecting toxins into your skin!

GrungeCake: You are commissioned to create a face for GrungeCake’s 50th magazine. You’re asked to create a palette that describes what a GrungeCake is to you, miss Sareta Gabriel. What are the colours on your palette and why?

To read Sareta’s response to this question — look forward to the next GrungeCake printed magazine release.

GrungeCake: I’d like for you to share something with aspiring make-up artists. Can you kindly share inspirational words with them, men and women, as a source of motivation?

Sareta Gabriel: You need to be prepared to start at the bottom. Whilst working on crappy jobs, probably for free, don’t let people take advantage. Only work on things that will give you a meaningful outcome. Eeperience, proof of work, images for a portfolio! Decide what area you want to go into. Whether it be a retail make-up artist, fashion, bridal, special fx, film… there are so many different options. Be persistent! Contact others who are in the business you want to work in! See if you can work shadow or assist!

Keep up to date with new trends, looks, fashions, visit trade shows, use your friends! Do their make-up and take pictures! That is exactly how I started, then posted it on my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/princesssareta) Last, but not least, realize your goal, and aim for it! Good luck!

GrungeCake: What’s next for Sareta Gabriel?

Sareta Gabriel: Next? Besides world domination, my own TV show, celeb status… I want my own beauty salon. It’s not much to ask for, but the plans are huge, kick-ass, glamourously fabulous! I want to offer the best staff and the best experience you’ll ever have in an exclusive salon. Watch this space.