Nicole Fraser-Herron

My Favorite Products for Winding Down After a Long Day

June 7th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 12 Comments

Hi, I’m Nicole, and I’m a workaholic.

I spend most of my days running my raw cat food shop in Oakland called RAWR and most of my nights designing product packaging, photographing shows, or photographing/writing here. I have a deep passion for everything on my plate and hold a high standard for work that goes out into the world with my name on it. While realistic perfection within my work is important to me, running on 3-4 hours of sleep night after night is not sustainable.

So I’ve been making a lot of adjustments.

It starts with my surroundings. I schedule my phone to go on Do Not Disturb everyday from 9pm-7am, and I generally stop working around 10pm, unless I have no other choice. After that, no screen time is allowed unless its media on the tv with the backlight lowered almost all the way. I switched the bulb out of my lamp to a blue one mainly because I thought it would look neat, but it turned out to be much more useful than a cool look.

I like winding down with media on Netflix, but I don’t like sitting in the dark while watching television, unless I’m in a theater. The contrast between the brightness of the TV and the darkness of the room hurts my eyes. Since switching the bulb to blue, I’ve found that being immersed in blue light totally relaxes me, which makes falling asleep happen 40% faster.

Even when I’m relaxing, I’m all about efficiency.

My go-to makeup remover is the Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Balm from It Cosmetics. I like it because it gets all of my makeup off quickly, even glitter and waterproof mascara. It’s easy to wash off and leaves my skin feeling hydrated, but not oily. I like to follow up with a gentle cleansing milk like this one from Vichy or this one from Bioderma, just to make sure my skin is happy and clean.

My favorite skincare product to reach for ever is the Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Night Balm from Decléor. Scents relax me more than anything, and this balm really makes me stop and unwind. It sends a signal to my brain that’s like “now entering Low Power Mode”. Just like clockwork, my eyes get all droopy, and I smile a sleepy grin.

Decléor Aromessence Neroil Hydrating Night Balm, 0.5oz for $42 — Decléor Aromessence Neroil Hydrating Night Balm, 0.5oz. for $42

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Say “Bye Bye Pores” With It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakthroughs

May 27th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 16 Comments

Sometimes I just want to be a poreless alien babe… A couple weeks ago I was at a drag show, and a queen named Kylie Minono was passing shots of vodka to the people seated behind me. She apologized for reaching over me and told me that vodka can sink into your pores. “But wait, do you even have any? Girl, what do you use and where can I get it?”

Well, you can get it at Ulta! It’s a $29 pressed translucent powder aptly named Bye Bye Pores (which you’ve probably heard of by now) from It Cosmetics.

_MG_2527_web — See? Exactly. You can’t because there’s nothing there. I’m wearing NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Terre Nueve as my base.

Let’s backtrack for a second.

I don’t have large pores, but they can get clogged pretty easily, so I try to let my skin breathe as much as I can. Luckily, I’m a workaholic who barely has time for breakfast, let alone fierce wings before work. I wish I did, but I also like sleep.

When I have dry patches, healing spots, or just want the smoothest finish possible, I reach for a silicone-based primer. If I’m getting ready during the day, I reach for Murad’s Invisiblur Perfecting Shield. It stands out to me because it’s a primer with SPF 30. Since I can’t step outside without sun protection, it’s a godsend. While I wear it on light makeup days too, I usually wear it all on its own. I like that it offers protection without making me look shiny. I also love products that let you know exactly how much you have left, because running out of a staple without even knowing it was close to empty is not a great way to start the day.

_MG_3164_web — Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 / PA+++ (1oz) $65

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Dear Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation: It’s Not Me, It’s You.

May 26th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 32 Comments

Dear Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation,

I really wanted to love you. I really tried to make it work, but today I realized I have to let you go.

When we first entered each other’s lives, I had stars in my eyes. I’d heard what everyone had to say about you, and they were nothing but great things. So I grabbed my favorite buffing brush as of late and got to work.

Oh, my god. I couldn’t believe it — you were so easy to blend, to build, and your finish was so even and just… perfect. I’ve never seen myself with so few freckles, but then again, I don’t generally go for fuller coverage foundations like you.

_MG_3162_web — Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer ($27)

As I went on with the rest of my makeup, I kept remarking at how amazing my base looked. It seemed like we were quite a match, but there’s something you should know… I don’t really fall easily, or ever at all. I can’t help but anticipate disaster.

_MG_3102_web — “This photograph is my proof. There was that afternoon, when things were still good between us.” – Duane Michals

While we seemed to be compatible on so many levels, you were a few shades too dark for me from the get-go. Love can require some sacrifice, and I understood that.

So we went out into the world together, and I was feeling like a total boss.

Eventually, the dream started to fade and reality began to set in. A few hours after we left, I looked in the mirror, and you separated across my skin the way oil beads up around water. It didn’t help that you weren’t quite my shade, which just exacerbated the visibility of our impending separation.

_MG_3155_web — Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in 5 Breeze compared to Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y205 Alabaster

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It Cosmetics Universal Contouring Palette for Face and Body: I Sculpt, You Sculpt, We Can All Sculpt With It Cosmetics

May 20th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 24 Comments

Sometimes the best beauty days are the ones where you don’t really try at all. Today I wanted to play with the new It Cosmetics Universal Contouring Palette for Face and Body ($40), but I didn’t want to spend more than 30 seconds on each eye. I also decided to channel my inner Pebbles Flintstone. Days like these are made for bold lips. It’s called deflecting!

Anyway, while It Cosmetics has created quite a lovely palette, I find the brand’s marketing description kind of off putting. The mention of plastic surgery and fillers sets the wrong tone for me and makes me feel like the goal with contouring should be to actually change your features instead of enhance them. Of course, there are times when the goal is to change facial features, but I think for your average cosmetic consumer (not makeup artist), that’s not what it’s about.

From It Cosmetics:

“Developed with plastic surgeons, the leading experts in contouring and aesthetics, each powder shade is formulated with proprietary Perfect Lighting™ Technology to mimic real facial contouring and provide a foolproof alternative to fillers. While the four contour shades absorb light and minimize the areas to which you apply them, the two highlighters enhance features you want to pull forward, creating the appearance of more volume. Talc-free, and perfect for all skin types and skin tones, these shades are infused with anti-aging collagen, silk and peptides to blend effortlessly and deliver smooth, natural-looking coverage that lasts all day.”

I just don’t want to be made to think that there’s something wrong with my face. I have to look at this mug every day! Makeup is heaps of fun and makes me happy, but I really try to only wear it to express myself, not cover up my insecurities. Also, I’m pretty sure that Perfect Lighting™ Technology is, like, matte vs. shimmer powders.

_MG_3176_web — It Cosmetics Universal Contouring Palette for Face and Body ($40)

Apart from my philosophical grievances with this palette, the formula is soft, pigmented, and soo easy to blend. I’ve been using it with this Contour & Highlighting Brush ($34.50 and also from It Cosmetics), and it does pretty much all the work for me. There is some dust that kicks up when loading up your brush, and the packaging is silver cardboard. It gets messy; I got contour powder in the highlighter pans more than once.

_MG_3122_web — Top: Soft Contour, Light Contour, Matte Highlight Bottom: Medium Contour, Deep Contour, Radiance Highlight

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What I Wore to Work, ft. Sugarpill’s Loose Eyeshadow in Countess

May 16th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 27 Comments

_MG_2362_web — Eyeliner: Sugarpill Countess loose eyeshadow; Lips: Lumiere by Colourpop; Highlight & Contour: MAC All the Right Angles in Light

Do you ever sit down to get ready for work and just…wing it? Sure, I have a few different go-to looks for different occasions, but sometimes I’m down for a challenge.

It usually goes something like “alright Nic, we’ve got 30 minutes to shower, beat thy mug, and be out the door.” I paw at my makeup till I see something sparkly like the pigment Countess by Sugarpill ($13) and some Eyelure lashes that kind of resemble black caterpillars. Then, I decide there is no way to continue on with my day until I have giant, sparkly cat eyes and dense, fluttery lashes.

Isn’t Countess stunning? It’s a deep maroon with subtle aqua reflects that are pretty difficult to capture on camera, but are definitely apparent in real life.

Sugarpill Countess Loose Eyeshadow (5 grams)

Luckily everything worked out this time, because I had to get to work.

I photographed one of my favorite shows, Baloney! Baloney is San Francisco’s first (and only) gay all-male revue. It’s part theater, dance, peepshow, and pays homage to classic burlesque and pantomime. The show was created and choreographed by some of my favorite artist friends and couple, Rory Davis and Michael Phillis. It is among the most visually stunning shows I’ve seen and is a total dream to photograph, let alone just watch.

What happens at Baloney usually stays there, but here are some of my favorite moments I’ve shot from Baloney shows both past and present:

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

May 9th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 33 Comments

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

Blush was the last, most recent category of makeup I got into, because I’m really fair, and while I’d say that my skin tone is generally more neutral, I do still get rosy. Since I thought that the point of foundation was to even out your skin tone, and getting rosy plays into that, I guess I just figured that blush was sort of a contradiction and would work against my efforts.

So I rocked a pale face for a long time. Then, well, I found Luminoso.

I’m pretty sure it was the first blush I ever tried, too, and what a good choice it was. It’s not just pink, and it’s not just peach. I feel like it’s the color that was meant to be there, like its found a home on my face.

Milani’s baked blushes are wonderful, and they’re not just good for the price (around 7 bucks). They’re good across the board.

I feel like Luminoso, especially, is kind of a one-stop shop. It isn’t matte, and it isn’t overly sparkly. It’s just a healthy peachy glow with a slight and very fine white/gold glow.

I think it looks phenomenal with, like, a really flawless base down, a strong brow, loads of mascara, and a classic red lip. Luminoso just like brings it all together.

Bolder lipstick shades wash you out pretty instantly, and Luminoso brings the life back into my cheeks.

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I Hung Out With James Vincent and All I Got Was This Brush Set*

April 26th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 29 Comments

James Vincent x LBC — James Vincent x London Brush Company

I was oohing and ahhing over pots of glitter when I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around to see James Vincent smiling at me saying, “Hi, Nicole.”

A mutual friend introduced us. I have long since admired James Vincent, but meeting him in person, artist to artist, was so wonderful. I met him at The Makeup Show in San Francisco last year. If you aren’t familiar with The Makeup Show, it’s a pro-focused beauty convention that travels the US every year. Bigger brands and smaller local brands attend, and you can find tons of goodies at a pro rate. They also have classes! I could listen to James Vincent teach for hooooours. And I did.

When I met him, he told me about this brush collection from the London Brush Company (it looks like they’re sold out as of right now), and I obviously needed it. The brushes are vegan Mongoose hair, and very simple in design with only James Vincent and London Brush Company on the ferrule. They’re very soft, and very versatile.

Let’s break it down: there are 3 pyramid brushes and two bent ones.

The biggest pyramid brush works for so many base products. That’s something I LOVE about LBC — the multitude of uses a single brush is made to have. I’ve used this brush for moisturizer, primer, foundation, setting powder, and contour. It’s bloody brilliant. The fine point makes it easy to get in there and contour precisely and the pyramid angle helps blend it out. It applies powder so easily with not too much product (I’ve been using it with the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder and the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder).

The next two pyramid brushes I’ve been using mostly as eye brushes, but also for contouring my nose (which I don’t do often, but it helps in photos and when I’m hanging out with drag queens and feel under…painted). Again, this pyramid thing is bloody brilliant. Apply with the tip, blend with the edges. It also makes crease work so damn easy because the flat part of the triangle sort of blocks pigment from blending down onto your mobile lid. Brilliant I tell you.

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The MAC All The Right Angles Contour Palettes Are Très (or Tres) Dimensional

April 8th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 20 Comments

*** THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ***

TO: My fair beauts

SUBJECT: I found a highlighter that shows up on us!

Allow me to introduce you to the MAC All The Right Angles Contour Palettes.

Now let’s get acquainted! ✨

There are four of them, which are like little trios, ranging in shade family from Light to Dark, and each one comes with a cream color base, a shaping powder, and a sculpting powder. The cream product is on the lower part of the compact, and the powder tray slides snugly over it so you don’t have to worry about ruining your day by getting schmutz in the cream color base. And they also come with a mirror.

What I’m getting at here is that these little black boxes are great for traveling!

In the photo above, I’m not wearing any blush or bronzer, just All The Right Angles in Light to showcase its full effect uninterrupted.

Right off the bat, the shade of the sculpting powder (called Bone Beige) seemed off to me. MAC describes the sculpting shade in this kit as a warm brown, but compared to my beloved Too Faced Milk Chocolate Bronzer, Bone Beige is a couple shades darker and less warm.

On my skin (my undertone is usually pretty neutral), it appears more…fleshy. It doesn’t look off at all, and I don’t feel the need to wear blush when I’m wearing Bone Beige. It just threw me off upon first glance because it wasn’t what I generally expect from a lighter contour shade… I usually expect a corpse grey.

MAC All the Right Angles — MAC All The Right Angles in Light

The cream colour base in Luna is aptly named. It’s white and sparkly (not glittery), so your cheekbones can shine like a crescent moon in the night sky. The shaping powder shade is called Emphasize (accurately named, though not as cute), which is a nice subtle glow — great for daytime or no-makeup makeup. I like wearing it in my inner corners on light makeup days. It’s subtle but effective in brightening up the area and making me look like I actually slept last night.

My faaavorite way to wear Emphasize is on top of Luna, which is how I’m wearing it today! Every time I pass by a mirror and catch a glimpse, I stop, do a double-take, and then go “damn girl, you’re glowing.” I’m not sparkling; I’m glowing. It’s not very often that I find a highlighter that can actually highlight my skin tone, so I am very impressed.

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