Makeup Artist Jessica Rivera

Blog Sale: Mehron HD Foundation Palette SOLD

2012-11-03T20:44:00.002-04:00

Selling my Mehron HD Foundation Palette for $100

That's $90 less than what it sells for and it has been used but I have barely hit pan. There is one foundation that has been used more than the others but still a lot left. This kit lasts forever!

Blog Sale: Make Up For Ever HD Concealers

2012-11-03T20:24:00.001-04:00

8 Make Up For Ever HD Concealers for $120 Colors: 330 335 340 345 355 360 365 370 Like New, barely used since I mainly used the foundation in my kit as concealer. Some were only tested, not used on clients.
-Makeup Artist Jessica Rivera

Blog sale: Iwata Silver Jet Airbrush system

2012-10-07T02:30:00.001-04:00

Iwata Studio Series Silver Jet IS-50 Compressor with Iwata Revolution CR airbrush gun.
I bought the compressor and the gun separately.
I have used this machine about 10 times, so I would label it "Like New".
I'm selling it all for $200 which includes the shipping price in it.
The compressor retails for around $150. The gun retails for $100. At least when I bought them.
For an additional $10 I will throw in my Dinair airbrush foundations with bottle of airbrush cleaner. I have 20 different Dinair airbrush foundation shades. Each bottles is .25fl oz.
You must have Paypal and all sales are final.
Goes to first person interested.
My email is iamjess03@yahoo.com

A professional picture of it:

http://www.dickblick.com/items/25048-1005/?clickTracking=true&wmcp=google&wmcid=items&wmckw=25048-1005&gclid=COuwlvKj7rICFQsGnQod52kAtA#photos

Midway Update

2012-08-27T03:06:00.000-04:00

HEY EVERYONE!

So if you read about 3 posts back, you know I told you that season has ended, so makeup work was going to be slow, and I am expecting my 2nd child. So here is the update!

I am 5 1/2 months pregnant right now and we found out we are having a GIRL! I will have one of each, lucky me. Everything has been going just fine with my pregnancy.

Makeup has definitely been.... nonexistent. But, two weeks ago, I fulfilled another dream of mine. I got hired as an English teacher at a private school. I am teaching middle and high school english. I went to college to become a Drama teacher but also minored in English and got certified to teach English, so I am finally doing that.

I am still with Wilhelmina, so I will still do makeup jobs, but only on the weekends or other days I have off from school. In fact, my agent booked me on a look book for two weeks from now. So sorry to say, the posts will be very few now that I am a teacher and am grading papers and making lesson plans most of my time, but I will definitely post new work as it comes!

Thanks for stopping by!

BEAUTY Color Story

2012-07-24T22:28:00.000-04:00

Photographer: Chad Finley

Model: Allie @ Wilhelmina

Makeup/Hair: Jessica Rivera

Idoll Magazine

2012-07-10T11:49:00.000-04:00

Idoll Magazine

Photographer: Greg Cunningham

Stylist: Brandon Fogel

Model: Jade

Makeup/Hair: Jessica Rivera

Bride Lianne

2012-05-30T22:03:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the professional photos from the wedding I worked a while back. The bride Lianne was so sweet and it was a pleasure doing her makeup. Below is a photo from our trial.

Makeup by me

Hair by Leslibeth Cunis

Season has ended

2012-05-19T10:03:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, I haven't been posting and as you can tell from the photo above, I'm expecting!

I am getting a lot of morning sickness and am also busy with my son's 2nd birthday party.

Also, season has ended in Miami so work will be VERY VERY VERY slow. Once in a while I can blog about a wedding I do but otherwise, I'm getting ready for baby #2 so when I do come back, I hope you will still find my posts to be good reading.

Thank you for your support!

Tinsel Tokyo Magazine: Published Work

2012-05-14T12:04:00.000-04:00

Tinsel Tokyo Magazine

Photographer: Zach Ramsey

Model: Zaina

Stylist: Obe Santos

Makeup/Hair: Jessica Rivera

15a20 Magazine: Behind the Scenes

2012-05-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, May 6th, I was booked to do makeup and hair for a Mexican Magazine called 15a20 Magazine, which would be the equivalent to Seventeen Magazine. The model Brooke @ Wilhelmina modeled the first day. This was a bottle of water and straw I gave her to keep her hydrated and the photographer ended up liking it and used it in the shot!

We had a brake and the model and I went home and napped lol When we came back at 3pm, I touched her up and she was modeling with a male model, Michael @ Elite, on a pink scooter.

Here is me on the prop! Wish is actually worked!

On Monday, May 7th was Day 2 for me and it was for the Cover and Editorial spread for the magazine. It was two teenage girls having fun on the beach. Allegra @ Wilhelmina and Anna @ NEXT had beautiful faces and were real friends so they had fun on the shoot.

The crew flew in from Mexico.

And this is me after working 13 hours in the sun.... not the best part of the shoot lol. Stupid me forgot to put sunscreen on my chest, DOH!

But it was a great time, the crew were super chill and extremely nice. Can't wait till the editorial comes out. It comes out at the end of June and is sold in some parts of Texas and California because of their Mexican population.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Review: Nuance Tinted Moisturizer (Salma Hayek's line)

2012-04-30T21:02:00.000-04:00

I was really excited to try out Salma Hayek's Nuance Tinted Moisturizer. I like to think that when a celebrity puts their name to something, it will most likely be good. I also liked that it was at CVS which is convenient for me and affordable. Although I wouldn't say $13.99 is cheap either.

I only wear foundation for special occasions where I know I will be taking a lot of photos, but for everyday life, I always use a tinted moisturizer. My go to tinted moisturizer is by Cover Girl and costs $7.99. I switched over to Nuance just to try it out, and the day after I began to brake out in pimples. I continued to use this product for a month, and for the whole month, my acne continued when usually it's under control. I know it was this tinted moisturizer because nothing else in my face routine changed and I have not broken out like that in YEARS. I keep my acne under control so if I brake out, I know it's from a new product.

Besides it breaking me out, I actually didn't like how it felt on my skin. The SPF smell wasn't too strong. Some tinted moisturizers smell like sunscreen! It gave me a nice light coverage though.

I'm sure it's for the best. My Cover Girl tinted moisturizer works just fine, costs less, and contains more product (1.35 oz) while Nuance Tinted Moisturizer contains 1.0 oz.

If you don't have sensitive skin or prone to acne, I'm sure this product will work just fine for you. Another thing I didn't like is that after a month, the tinted moisturizer became thicker in consistency and clumpy.

Essential Tools for your Kit

2012-04-26T21:50:00.000-04:00

1. Spatula
Having a spatula means having the means to be very sanitary. I use this to scoop out eye primer, cream blush, lipstick, foundation, etc. That way I'm not dipping my brush, using it and dipping it again which will contaminate the product.

2. Q-Tips
I use these on every shoot. I use them to remove makeup under the eye, remove bits of mascara, or to even remove peoples eye boogers, yup, it's part of my job!

3. Disposable Mascara wands
Of course, another way of being sanitary. I also use them to lighten eyebrows by putting foundation on them and combing them through the eyebrows.

4. Disposable lip brushes
Again, self explanatory. Make sure to leave one with your bride so she can reapply the lipstick you leave her.

5. On set bag
When I have to leave the studio for a shoot, I need to bring the makeup I used on location for touchups. I got a small one at Michaels.

6. Artist palette
I have the lip shaped one! =) This is where I put product after i have scooped it up with my spatula or wiping product off like lip gloss.

7. Mascara guard (not essential but I love it!)
This is a fun tool to have and it helps me in not getting mascara on the eyelid and underneath the eye.

8. Bug Repellant (ok so not a tool, but it ain't makeup!)
South Florida aint' no joke when it comes to misquotes! A shoot I did a couple of weeks ago had me itching!

9. Cotton rounds

I use these to remove makeup and in the skincare process by removing any oils or makeup they may have one prior to me starting.

10. Receipt booklet

I have been asked for a receipt for my services so I have this same one from Office Depot.

11. Wipes

I use this to clean my palette, eyelash curler, etc and to remove makeup at the end of the shoot.

12. Paper towel

I'm always using paper towel! Gotta wipe my spatula off with something. Or to wipe my brushes, or to wipe the sweat of a model. The regular.

13. Tweezers

I use them to tweeze and to place eyelashes on.

14. Straws

Don't want my models or brides messing up the makeup I just did!

15. Hand Santizers

Because you are touching so much crap!

16. Oil blotting sheets

Great for getting rid of oil instead of powdering so much.

17. Body Lotion

This Burt's Bees Radiance Lotion has a shimmer to it so its great for the body and photographs well.

18. Lip Scrub

I always make models and clients use this on their lips before starting and then put moisturizer over it so that all the gunk and dead skin is gone which makes for smooth lipstick application and your lipstick will last longer.

19. Tissues

Good for blotting the face after foundation before powdering. And if anyone has a cold!

20. Band-aids/Liquid Bandaid

I've had to use this a couple of times, you just never know when someone will come in with a cut or will get one on set.

21. Mini ziplock bags

I use these to put lipstick in for my brides to have for the rest of their wedding once I am gone.

22. Eyelash curlers

A must of course.

23. Nail Polish remover

You wouldn't think to have this in your makeup kit but if a model comes in with yellow nail polish and you are doing a super clean look, it has to go!

24. Pencil Sharpener

I got one at the art store that has 4 different sized wholes in one sharpener so I've never had a problem with my jumpo pencils, eyeliners, lip liners, etc.

25. Mirror

Your clients will want to see themselves afterwards.

26. Chair

I don't have a chair myself but seriously, I need one. My back suffers.

27. Lighting

This glamcor lighting is a luxury but I am most times in a place with bad lighting so I would love to have this one day.

28. Spray bottle

Good for toner and for water to water your sponge. Also good for condensing your kit if you want to put a liquid in a smaller bottle.

29. Eye drops

I've had crying brides or models that have partied the night before and it's not fun when a photographer has to retouch eye redness.

30. Safety Pins

You never know when you need to come to the rescue and pin clothing for a wedding or shoot.

31. Mini nail kit

You don't want your model with bad nails so you gotta do nails sometimes.

32. Hair clip

Great to get the hair out of the face to do makeup.

33. Apron
I only use an apron when working with kids.... nough said lol.

34. Glue

I've only used this glue when removing eyebrows but you never know when you'll need it for wardrobe or something!

35. Gum/Mints

Remember, you are really close and personal in people's faces so even if you think your breath smells good, it doesn't hurt to have gum or mints.

36. Scissors
I keep a small pair of scissors to cut eyelashes in case they are too long for someone, or to cut long eyebrow hairs. People are always asking me for it to cut off pieces of fabric, etc.

So these items are not exactly makeup but great tools for your kit!

Anything in here you never thought of having in your kit?

Oh I'm on instagram! @BeautyByRivera

Shoot with Greg Cunningham

2012-04-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

Monday April 16th, I shot with Greg Cunningham for the first time. He lives in Jacksonville and we have been facebook chatting for..... what seems like forever! I had been waiting for him to come down to Miami so we could work together and finally he came down for a whole week. Courtney was our first model and we wanted her to have a strong androgynous look.

Then, on Friday April 20th we worked with Nicole @ FORD. I have been wanting to work with Nicole for such a long time, since before she got signed with Ford again because I love her unique look. But she also lives up north and comes down every so often, so when I learned she was coming down to Miami, I told Greg I wanted to shoot with her. Well, I definitely loved working with her because she is soooo nice and we laughed a lot which makes for a great shoot! She has a big heart and I really hope to see her in New York or LA doing it big! The look for Nicole was VERY organic and almost as if she had no makeup on really. The hair was to be messy and no perfect. The clothes were very sheer and white. The photo above was my favorite and looked like a painting to me.

After Nicole, Joanna @ Elite came in and I did wavy hair and clean makeup for her. I didn't stay for the shoot but Greg told me they couldn't make it out to the beach because the weather became crappy.

For our last shoot together, we planned a special fashion editorial. The stylist, Brandon Fogel brought these 10 inch heels!!!

Here was the first look straight from the camera. Jade @ NEXT was our model, which I knew she'd be perfect for this shoot since I had worked with her recently and she's just amazing. We had fun and she told me she wants me to do her makeup for her wedding, she's so cute I want to put her in my pocket!!!! haha

So the hair was obviously a super tight, super high placed ponytail. I used a bunch of different colored hair ties to create that tall standing up ponytail. The makeup was very pale, no blush at all. Because this shoot was going to have a lot of light on her, I contoured her cheeks a eyes a tiny bit and the main focus were her red lips which I used my lip tar in NSFW.

These were two other looks. Aren't Jade's lips to die for!? Let me tell you, these looked beautiful when we saw them on the computer and I'm super excited about them. Greg is going to submit them so keep your fingers crossed!

So that was my week working with Greg. It was so great because I felt so comfortable with him, like we had been friends for years! And Greg, if you are reading this, I forgive you for calling me Jennifer a couple of times, LOL. Greg listens to what you want and works with you and is so talented. If something needs fixing, he knows what needs to be done to remedy the situation.

Hope you all had a great week!

Test Shoot!

2012-04-18T18:04:00.000-04:00

Photographer: Lucie Hugary

Makeup/Hair: Jessica Rivera

Here are the images from a test shoot with a Wilhelmina model a couple of weeks back. Clean wavy hair, clean makeup, the usual! But hey, it pays the bills! =D

HD Agency photos & video

2012-04-17T17:52:00.000-04:00

I posted a behind the scenes post of my shoot with HD Agency recently and the photos are edited and a behind the scenes video along with it.

Behind the Scenes: HD the Agency Miami Brand Shoot 2012 from Chad Finley on Vimeo.

Please excuse how horrible I look, it isn't a big deal otherwise I wouldn't post it, but I rarely wear makeup when I am working and if you read my posts, I always judge a product against my super oily skin. Well..... in this video you will see just how oily I am! hahaha

Jet Blue Makeup Class

2012-04-15T23:03:00.000-04:00

Here was my model, Tracy, for my Noon class.

Crystal who was my helper =)

The makeover begins!

Some of the Jet Blue Crewmembers

Donna won the Coach purse at the raffle!

Here is Tracy's before & after.

Here were some of the crewmembers who came to the class.

Me giving out prizes!

This is my most popular gadget! It's a mascara guard I got for a dollar on ebay.

Using my Inglot palette!

So Friday, March 23rd, I taught two makeup classes at Fort Lauderdale Airport in the Jet Blue Inflight Lounge. The class was to teach a smokey eye. The morning class wanted to learn a work appropriate smokey eye. All of these photos are from the first class. The second class wanted to learn a night smokey eye. I had so much fun during the class. It definitely is hard to get to everyone so I still tell people the best way to learn is to have a one on one lesson.

Review: NARS Laguna & Orgasm Illuminator

2012-04-13T14:45:00.000-04:00

I remember when NARS came out with these illuminators, they were all the rage. Unfortunately I succumbed to it as well. These pricey illuminators come with little product. $30 for 1.1oz I must have really fell for the hype! Sad part, I grab for these 2% of the time.

These are not bad products by any means, but I just don't reach for them. I also don't think they are the best.

I have never used Laguna on the face. I have used it as a body bronzer to give a nice glow to the legs and arms for beach shoots, but I have to say, I don't see any glow. When it's used more in a concentrated way there is more of a glow effect. For example, when you pick up some product and dab it on your check. But spreading it thin on the body, it just doesn't do it justice.

As for Orgasm, I have used it twice as a liquid blush and the color is extremely sheer but adds a nice glow. And one I mixed it in my foundation for that all over glow but I didn't see much of a difference.

So not the worst product if you use it in a concentrated area, but not so great if you are spreading it all over your face or body because then I don't see much of its effect. But definitely not repurchasing.

"RESORT" for The Archive

2012-04-11T12:27:00.000-04:00

"RESORT" for The Archive www.the-archive.co

Photographer: Lucie Hugary

Model: Carly @ Wilhelmina

Stylist: Stephanie Del Papa

Hair: Leslibeth Cunis

Makeup: Jessica Rivera

Three days of Makeup

2012-04-09T18:51:00.000-04:00

So Friday, April 6th I had a client in the morning who wanted her tattoo covered because her Mom had no idea about the tattoo and they were going to try on wedding dresses all day. I used airbrush foundation along with different concealers.

After my client I picked up my son, took him out to eat, put him down for a nap at my Moms and headed to the Boca Raton Resort where I did makeup for an Indian Wedding. The photo above is the ridiculous charge for wireless interent. Thank goodness I have 3G on my iPad! I had back to back clients and never sat for a moment so unfortunately didn't take any photos.

This is the blog for www.the-archive.co where my work was published. That was exciting!

So Saturday, April 7th I did makeup and hair for the cover of New You Magazine in their studio in Miami. Tommy Chung was the photographer and the model is Shardea @ Wilhelmina. Styling was by Hot Pink Style. I curled the front of her hair and volumized it with a volumizing powder. The first makeup look was clean.

The second look was pink lips which I think looked amazing on her. I made it by mixing two lip tars.

The last look I muted out her lips a bit and gave her a cat eyeliner which she was dying for me to do.

After the New You Magazine shoot Tommy took me out to Subway and we headed to his studio for a Wilhelmina test shoot for Martha, a lifestyle model.

While she was shooting, I realized I was extremely low on my Embryolisse Lotion Micellaire so I took the opportunity to order the infamous Bioderma Crealine. I'm so excited to try it, even though it seems similar to my Embryolisse one.

Martha is also a novela actress. =)

Sunday, April 8th, I woke up early to go egg hunting with my son and breakfast with my Inlaws. Afterwards I spent 9 straight hours doing makeup for an Indian wedding. I didn't stop to use the restroom or eat the entire time! It was girl after girl after girl! Craziness! But good business =) Again I have no photos because I was so busy that as soon as I would think, "I need a photo when I'm done with her makeup" the next girl was in my chair.

Shoot for Kiss Magazine

2012-04-07T22:58:00.000-04:00

The first sneak peak by Andrew

Photo taken after I finished her makeup with my iPad

April 1st I did makeup on model Christina for Kiss Magazine, shot by Andrew Thomas Clifton. This is a small Chicago based magazine. I was refered to Andrew by Jay with HD Agency in Atlanta. Amazing how powerful word of mouth is huh?

April 2nd I did another shoot with Andrew. Here are some sneak peaks.

Behind the Scenes: Creative Editorial

2012-04-04T12:54:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, April 3 I had an editorial test shoot with Photographer Tommy Chung, Model Jade with Prodigy Models, Stylist Luiza Renuart and of course, makeup and hair by me!

These are the shoes she wore for every look. She said they were super comfortable.

Tommy wanted a very glowing look so she had highlighter applied all over her and applied over and over again lol.

For her hair, I used a crimper and left the top untouched and sprayed it back.

Jade was sooooo adorable and the sweetest model. She is 19 years old and likes The Hunger Games trilogy so she's good in my book haha!

Check out the killer cheek bones I gave her! I used my Real Techniques buffing brush to blend darker foundation colors in the hollows of her cheeks.

If only you could see what was on the camera. They came out so amazing that Tommy is going to submit them to magazines, so keep your fingers crossed! I am so happy to have done another creative shoot unlike the clean makeup I always do.

Beauty Color Story

2012-04-03T11:54:00.000-04:00

Photographer: Chad Finley

Model: Gabriel @ NEXT

Makeup/Hair: Jessica Rivera

I'm so happy with how these turned out. I have been dreaming of doing this shoot for months and I only wanted Chad for the job and he seriously is amazing. It was a lot of work for a couple of hours. After every look I had to completely take off the makeup and pretty much start from scratch for the next look. But it was well worth it. If you want to know what products I used, read the blog post from behind the scenes.

Behind the Scenes: Beauty Color Story

2012-03-30T19:12:00.001-04:00

Here are some behind the scenes photos of my Color Beauty Story with photographer Chad Finley and NEXT model Gabriel.

And here is what inspired it all. This palette sparked me to want to do a look for each color. I did use other products besides this palette, but they were the base for every look. For every color I used NYX's pencil in Milk as a base. Then I would apply the sugarpill color. The orange I left alone. For the yellow, I used another yellow eyeshadow by Yaby to brighten the yellow. For the red, I used a red blush by LaFemme to darken the red. The purple was left alone as well but I added gloss on top.

Gabriel is only fourteen but is the cutest thing and has amazing eyes. Her mom was there during the shoot and was a sweetheart. And of course, Chad is so awesome, so chill, can't say enough good things about him.

I'm super excited to see how these will come out!

Sneak peak of Chad editing the photos:

MAC's Hit the Pavement Event

2012-03-28T23:01:00.000-04:00

How awesome are all of these models covered in body paint!? I really enjoyed the makeup art.

The red guy was a bit scary lol

These two with the birds were my favorite.

They were still finishing the man on the toilet when I arrived.

My +1 Dre! That's my girl! We had a fun time eating and catching up. We went to the booths for food so many times lol

The Cielo Blue Girls! haha All three of us are makeup & hair artists in the same agency. Josie, me, & Lesly! Our agent Sarah showed up later so it was nice catching up with her too.

This photo was taken by Roselaine, a MAC Mua.

It was a great event by MAC and I had a lot of fun. You have acquaintances/friends who you know you like but don't see often enough, so seeing those people today was such a treat.

HD Agency Photo Shoot

2012-03-27T22:51:00.000-04:00

I ended up doing makeup on Jay's friend.

Chad being silly and an unflattering me behind him lol

Here is Jay, owner of HD Agency with one of the models.

On Saturday, March 24th, I did makeup on four models for HD Agency located in Atlanta. Lesly did hair so of course, we had a blast working together. And Chad Finley, who recommended me for the job, was the photographer and I just love him. He's the sweetest and is an AMAZING photographer! The look was a clean Victoria's Secret makeup look. So not glamourous but pretty.