My journey with pursuing my makeup certification began in 2012...and due to my circumstances at the time and tons of research, I settled on gaining my makeup certification ONLINE. Now back in 2012, I was told that this was not possible OR a professionally acceptable way to gain a certification. 

I didn't listen...and for good reason. 

First of all, I knew that I had the drive and motivation to succeed and that ALL I needed was a reputable school with impressive tutors and quality teaching and coaching to make this happen. So I sat down and set to work finding an organization who ALSO believed that learning this craft was possible ONLINE.

And I came across the UNICORN that is QC Makeup Academy! At the time I enrolled, the academy was going through a re-vamp. With New York City based celebrity makeup artist Nathan Johnson coming on board and breathing new life into the program, this school was in for a re-birth that would ROCK the online makeup training world! Little did any of us know that come 2020, we were going to be pioneers in the realm of online learning for makeup artistry!

Fast forward to 2021 and HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Online learning is not only the NEW NORMAL but it has become a professional, credible and 100% acceptable and DESIRED way to learn makeup artistry. And NOT ONLY makeup artistry but ALL manner of careers. 

Those who follow WarBaby Cosmetics know that I have gone on to establish a thriving career as a published artist, working with many outstanding clients including New York Times Best Selling Authors, Gold Seal Chefs and features in magazines and newspapers across Canada. 

I am so happy that I was able to see the potential in learning online and that I took the time to choose the BEST training available! 

If you are considering a career in makeup artistry and online learning appeals to you, there is NO better time than RIGHT NOW to enroll! Your search for the perfect school is OVER! Click HERE: 

It's a normal day like any other. You wake up, brush the sleep out of your eyes and that's when you see it...did you age 10 years overnight??? How and when did this happen? TURKEY NECK! 

It creeps up on you slowly...

When applying skin care to our faces, we often neglect to consider our jawline and neck! Sometimes it's because we feel we are "wasting" product and costing ourselves money by caring for this area, sometimes we feel too rushed, some of us may not consider the neck to be part of our face and other times maybe we are just feeling lazy! 

Did you know that the neck is one of the FIRST areas to show the visible signs of aging?? This is because the skin on the neck is thinner than the skin on your face. 

Avoiding the early onset of the dreaded "turkey neck" can be as simple as caring for the skin in this area at the same time and with the same products as your facial care. 

If you have left it too long, this is a tough one to reverse but there ARE some things you can to do draw attention away from this area such as accessorizing with a pretty scarf or adding more makeup detail to the face.

Take a peek in our shop to find our line of Anti Aging Skin Care and begin a routine today that will lessen the premature signs of aging! 

And please...DON'T NEGLECT THE NECK! 

While I'm not a big fan of applying contour unless it is for dramatic effect under low lighting, for photography or for stage etc, I AM a fan of an amazing highlight applied to perfection!

The following image shows the areas where light naturally hits the face. I also calls these areas the "high points" of the face.

These areas are where you would apply your highlight! Please keep in mind that highlight is NOT to be applied this heavily or to look this obvious! This is a dramatic illustration!

Highlight should look so natural that it looks like your skin has an amazing healthy glow and NOT like you have makeup on!

This means BLEND BLEND BLEND and make sure you choose a highlight that is right for your skin tone! If you have warm skin tone, choose a highlight with a golden glow and if you have a cool skin tone, choose a highlight with a more silvery glow!


Highlight products come in various formulations! If your skin is dry, opt for a creamy formula that you can mix into your foundation or apply directly under or over foundation. If you choose a powder, be sure to add it AFTER you have added a setting powder to your foundation. This gives it more slip and makes it easier to blend!

And finally, please PLEASE do not add highlight directly to the middle of the end of your nose! It makes you look as though you have a light bulb on the end of your nose and while this may be flattering for Instagram, it is not flattering in life! Bridge ONLY!

A final word, visit our store to grab our Sirens Lagoon Face and Body Highlight and keep glowing ladies! #thesugarreport

This seems to come up regularly and as an artist. When I am asked to give a smokey eye and I show people what a smokey eye IS, the conversation turns to "that is not the smokey eye I saw on Instagram". Let me set the record straight!

I will begin by telling you what a smokey eye IS! THIS is a smokey eye. It is, in all ways...smokey. No hard lines...everything is smoked out. This is why we call it smokey. If you ask me for a smokey eye, this is what you will get! The image on the right (cropped down from it's original form) is a makeup I did on a client for a feature in a book. Photography by Brandie Sunley. It is all blended out and smudged. A smokey eye can be done in ANY rich colour from green, to purple, to brown, to black! The key is the SMOKE.  AKA BLENDING!

And now for what a smokey eye is NOT! This is NOT a smokey eye. This is a CUT CREASE. You will see this popular trending look all over Instagram and YouTube. A cut crease is actually originated from drag makeup! It is VERY defined with prominent, sharp lines and often many shades and colours. Though beautiful and eye catching when done correctly, it is not a smokey eye.

SO, if you go to see a makeup artist, be clear that what you see on social media is often not named or presented correctly. To be sure you are walking out with what you really want, be willing to have a conversation with a trained professional and TRUST what they are telling you. A certified makeup artist will know the difference between these 2 looks and be able to execute them both beautifully.

#thesugarreport

**black smokey eyes image and cut crease image not mine**

We are thrilled to announce that we are one of 43 boss babes, heading towards being a finalist for the Alberta Women Entrepreneur Awards!!

We work so hard and we love all of our customers and fans so much! Thank you so much for believing in us and supporting us!

While it may seem silly to have "beauty resolutions" for the new year, while there are so many deeper, pressing and more serious personal improvements we ALL feel we need to make, do not be so fast to rule out your personal care regime!

While makeup and skin care do not make us beautiful, they can certainly make us FEEL more confident and beautiful. If one of your resolutions is to take care of your body, then read on!






1. Start by considering the products you are using. Are they safe? Do they contain chemicals that may be harmful to you? Everything we put onto our skin is absorbed into our bodies within 21 seconds! Try making the switch to natural products that are safe for use!
2. Become a label reader and do not be fooled by product that is "brand name" but extremely cheap. It's likely a dupe!
3. Wash your makeup off every night to prevent pre-mature aging, clogged pores and unwanted skin conditions including acne and scarring!
4. Wash your makeup brushes once/week in order to prevent bacterial growth!
5. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking adequate water and using extra nourishing, natural skin care product year round!

These are just a FEW DAILY resolutions that will take you into a healthier 2018 and a healthier you in the future years to come!

HAPPY 2018 EVERYONE!!!

This is a graphic image that I created with makeup and NO ONE was harmed. The truth is however, that many of our children, indeed many of US are walking around either looking OR feeling like this daily! It makes me SO SAD!!

Makeup is such a powerful tool. I can barely even look at this image!

In turn, cosmetics can hide a lot of things but they CANNOT conceal our internal pain. Makeup cannot conceal the ugliness within people that makes them want to hurt others.

Some pains, cannot be erased. I believe that sticks and stones may break our bones but WORDS will crush our spirits.

How can we, as adults, change the way to treat others? How can we become more compassionate? More loving? More FEELING?

Can we show our children, can we model for them what it means to be a person of kindness? Our kids are watching us!

How often do our posts and comments on social media, show our children that we are sometimes NO BETTER than the bully at school., pushing around the little guy?

My hope for today is that we can all choose to shine a light on this broken world. That we will speak words of positivity and love into the hearts of everyone who is connected to us!

One act of kindness, ONE smile, ONE message to a hurting person can change the world for them! Be the one that takes the hand of the drowning man and pulls him to shore!

LOVE and PEACE to all today!!!

#warbabycosmetics
#thesugarreort

It has been a WHILE since I blogged and I have to tell you, these wacky makeup trends are getting to be TOO MUCH!! Right?!

BUT...let's remember that just because someone posted an image on Instagram that went viral, does NOT mean that you should try this at home! Or at the very least, if you DO decide to try it...STAY HOME!! :D

Let's get real for a sec...

I was able to take the squiggle brow and lip trend and work it to my own creative advantage...and even contributed my own take on the trend. I am an artist and I respect creativity but NOSE HAIR EXTENSIONS?? No. Just NO!!

And, what if you accidentally inhale a chunk of hair??

Doesn't it make your wheels turn guys? Like, what could I come up with that would go THIS viral?? I feel like we are ALL doing this now. Just sitting in front of our cosmetics, taking deep breathes and trying to harness our inner Instagoddesses!

On the upside, I was going to trim my nose hairs today and I guess I don't need to anymore! :D

Thoughts?

#warbabycosmetics.com

We've finally decided to get ourselves up on Etsy!! I can tell you guys...managing social media and multiple stores is a full-time job all on it's own!

This is a short blog simply asking all of my followers, fans and friends to help support WarBaby and I by sharing this blog AND our information!! Your assisted reach over the social media channels helps us to focus more and more attention on formulating and product developement!!

You are important to us, you matter and you DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!

Much love and thank you everyone!!!

Find us on Etsy @WarBaby Cosmetics

#thesugarreport

I hope by now, you are seeing a theme! My goal with this blog is to demystify makeup and makeup accessories so that it becomes MUCH easier and a LOT less intimidating for you to grab exactly what you need in order to get your makeup on! AND for you to feel confident doing it!

Let's talk brushes!

I am a self proclaimed brush addict! When I am not painting on faces, I am painting on canvas....I could spent my life's earnings, on brushes. #thestruggleisreal

I can and WILL often use up to 12 brushes during ONE makeup. The right tools are invaluable for getting the job done.

Here we are, surrounded by a MILLION choices once again. SO many shapes and sizes! Wood handles, plastic handles, synthetic bristles, natural hair bristles, small, large, toothbrush oval, tapered, short, long, round, flat....it goes on and on!

Trying to buy individual brushes when you are new to all of this, or do not entirely understand what you are looking at is going to get overwhelming. Purchasing a complete makeup brush set is IN MY OPINION the way to go! Once you have your set in hand, learn what each individual brush is for!

If you are a beginner, start with a simple set of the "essentials".

When to choose synthetic brushes: Synthetic bristles are made out of smooth, artificial fibers and are typically "stiffer" and smoother than natural hair (I will explain why in the natural hair comments). This makes them perfect for spreading and applying cream and liquid products such as concealer, lip products, liquid foundations, cream shadows etc.

When to choose natural hair brushes: Natural hair bristles have a "cuticle". See those raised areas on the hair shaft? That helps to trap and hold powder product and to distribute it and blend it seamlessly. Those cuticles help to PULL the product out and along the skin evenly allowing for more controlled application. Natural hair brushes should be used in most cases, to apply powder eye shadows, brow powders, face powders such as blush and setting powders/foundations and powder contour, highlight etc. ANYTHING powder will transfer and blend MUCH easier with a natural hair brush!

Choosing either plastic, wood or alternative materials for handles, really depends on you! Some people find wood has less slip and is easier to hold, some people prefer plastic!








This image is a quick guide to commonly used brushes, and what they are for!

I believe EVERY woman should go into her makeup bag, throw out EVERY single little sponge applicator that comes with the average eye shadow palette etc., invest in a full set of brushes and learn how to use them! Not only are you going to find that you can be MUCH more creative with your applications...but it just FEELS better!!

Don't be scared! You deserve it!!! XOXO

#thesugarreport