It Is Finished

This is Yvonne Ruiz, my final bride of 2012.

My 2012 Bridal Season is now complete.

2012 Brides in Review

It's kind of unbelieveable that today is the last day of the year!  On January 1st I did bridal makeup for Naadiya Patel and this afternoon, December 31st, I'll be doing makeup for my final bride of 2012, Yvonne Ruiz.

My team and I have been incredibly blessed to meet and have had the pleasure to do makeup and hair for almost 100 brides this year. All of whom are sophisticated, professional, and incredibly beautiful women... inside and out.  I'm always a little sad when I don't get the opportunity to see them again because I really do consider them friends.  I'm touched that they trusted me with their beauty on one of the most important days of their lives and have showered me with praise on a variety of websites and amongst family and friends.

With a brand new place of work, I'm already booking through October 2013 and I'm anticipating and looking forward to yet another even more fruitful year of providng you and many others with all the beauty services I offer.

In the meantime, please stay warm, be safe today, especially tonight, and if you have a few more minutes to spare, please browse through these pictures of some of my brides of 2012:

12 GRATEFUL Days of Christmas

Please sing along with me:

On the 12th day of Christmas my True Lord gave to me:

12 students and counting
11 months of blogging
10 pores unclogging
9 faces glowing
8 hours of working
7 months of teaching
6 days of waxing
5 STAR REVIEWS
4 copycats
3 products for men
2 paraffin gloves
And a new set of studio keys!!

Please be creative and share your "12 Days of Christmas" with me too!

In the meantime, Merry Christmas everyone!

Introducing Monique Powers

I've just added this video to my home page:



Please tell me what you think AND by all means, please share with your friends!

Lash Out Loud

Have you thought about perming your eyelashes?

This is the perfect procedure for you natural (or lazy) beauties that wear none or very little makeup at all. It's also great if you have very straight lashes that are hard to curl, don't curl or you don't make time to curl them on a daily basis.

It really is a very relaxing, quick and easy 30 minute procedure that lasts for about 5 weeks.

If you or someone you know is interested, call today and receive 50% off when you schedule your appointment by November 30th. My New Number is 310-869-8383.

A Bunch of Flakes

What is the one thing that can kill a long, perfectly smooth, passionate kiss? Dry, crusty, cracked, (potentially) bleeding lips! I see this not only on women but on men too. Especially on men!

Ladies, show your man a different kind of lip service, and purchase Lip Buff. Show him (don't say) how to buff those flakes off the lips you once desired so much. And then follow it up with Instant Emollient.

Use this as a time to connect in a different, loving, grooming kind of way. Let me set the scene for you: Candle light, soft music, a glass of wine in one hand, grooming products in the other. Just joking but you get the picture.

I think if the lips were the first thing we noticed on each other, we would take better care of them. Muah! :-)

Don't Hate... Let's Commemorate!!

This Friday, November 9th, is the beautiful Dorothy Dandridge's birthday and I'd like to tie in the official opening of my studio with the commemoration of her birthday.

If you don't know who Dorothy Dandridge is, she was an actress and singer who was the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for the film "Carmen Jones". But Grace Kelly won the award for her performance in "The Country Girl".

I will honor Dorothy's birthday all this week by giving EVERYONE (that includes new and existing clients) 50% off all services. If you or your friends would like to try a new service, such as a facial, eyelash perm, spray tan, etc., this is the week to do it.

If you can only make it after work, that's perfect because I will be open every night this week until 8pm! But call me soon, because those time slots will fill up fast! No need to bring a gift... your presence is all that is needed.

50 Won 50

This past February 14th, I implemented a Referral Program wherein I offered 10% off your next appointment as my way of saying "Thank You". Well I have since revised that Program wherein I now offer 50% off to first time clients AND 50% OFF YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT for referring your family, friends, co-workers, etc.

Last week I mailed out a lot of Thank You cards. If I inadvertently missed you, please let me know. In the meantime, continue on my beautiful busy bees. The endorsements are much appreciated!

Trick or Treatment

Do you or someone you know use Avon's product line "Anew"? If so, did you hear that earlier this month, the FDA called out Avon regarding their misleading ads on Anew's anti-wrinkle product claims?

Basically, Avon was claiming that Anew could change the cellular structure of your skin. Hello Avon!!! Only a drug can do that and you're not in the pharmaceutical business!! Anyway, you can view the FDA's letter to Avon here.

In the meantime, if you have questions about your wrinkles, call me and I'll tell it to you straight: The only tricks I have are in the form of facial treatments that will give the illusion of reducing, diminishing or appearing to erase fine lines and wrinkles.

See you in the treatment room... with an iron in my hand. :-)

Wisdom vs. Wrinkles

Last week I celebrated the 25th anniversary of my 21st birthday and though my face does not reflect any wrinkles, life has taught me some age old wisdom about God, love, people, situations, etc.

Though I'm in the business of manufacturing perfect beauty, I tease myself by saying the real keys to looking young are: 'Keep your body tight, eyes bright, teeth white, and your attitude right!'

Who else would agree with me?

By the way, the picture within this post was taken over 20 years ago. At the time, I obviously didn't know what I was doing with my eyebrows! I also didn't smoke, I didn't drink soda, and I avoided the sun at all costs. I worked out like a fiend, ate really healthy, and drank lots of water.

If you don't have someone taking care of your skin right now, I volunteer to do it! Let me erradicate your acne, brighten up your dull, dry skin, and erase those blemishes. It will cost you, but not too much when you sign up for a Membership.

The signs of youth are only a few treatments away. What are you waiting for? Call me today to schedule your appointment this week.

This Stuff Defies Logic

Over the weekend, we did 5 weddings (Beverly Hills, Diamond Bar, Torrance, Malibu and Ojai). Of the three I did, the last bride would have been a challenge without my faithful "Stay Don't Stray" eyeshadow/concealer primer by Benefit.

You know how I feel about waxing the eyebrows, and in a pinch, my bride did just that! When I saw her, she told me that she got burned by the wax, however, upon further examination it appeared that a thin layer of skin had been removed. Eyeshadow alone will not cover that. A substandard eyeshadow primer will also not cover that. Here's where "Stay Don't Stray" defies logic and comes to the rescue: I had to spackle this stuff on to cover that booboo. Yes, spackle. Because the eyes move so much, it is the last place you want to spackle on makeup. However, the beauty of this product is that you couldn't tell how much I used AND this product did not move!

"Stay Don't Stray" ERASES under eye lines, discoloration and booboos from that dreaded wax I continue to tell everyone not to use for shaping the eyebrows. WAX DOES NOT SHAPE EYEBROWS!! IT ONLY REMOVES HAIR (AND SKIN) AND SOMETIMES WILL BURN YOU!!

Anyway, ignore the few negative reviews from those that (unbeknownst to them) did not know how to use this product. The trick is to let it dry before applying your eyeshadows, concealers, powders, etc.

Please let me know how it works for you.

First Come... First Serve

Jennifer Smith was my very first client earllier today at my new location at 626 Broadway Street, Ste. 121, Santa Monica, CA. She is a member of MPBB and took advantage of the "Happy Hour" menu services.

It's Never Goodbye, Just See You Later

I celebrated my last night of teaching at Marinello Schools of Beauty at the same time students Lauren Jackman and Anais Cordova were celebrating their graduation. YAY!! I'm soooo proud of these two.

My experience at Marinello I will not soon repeat, however, the presence of Lauren and Anais, constantly reminded me of why I love to teach and will continue to do so at my new boutique in Santa Monica.

Lauren, Anais, a few current students as well as most of my graduate students, are wonderful, wonderful women whom I now call friends.
They can always call upon me for career advice, as a character reference, or just for further esthetic training. I love these guys!!

Now since I just publically confessed my friendship and love for these women, I hope they will now stop addressing me as "Ms. Monique".

"Monique" will do just fine. :-)

Monique Powers Beauty Boutique is Going to Broadway!

Isn't this exciting! Let me explain.

On October 2nd I will be moving my private studio of 7 years to a very public place on Broadway Street in Santa Monica. Yay!! My new address will be 626 Broadway Street, Suite 121, Santa Monica, CA.

I will be offering new and exciting levels of membership; longer hours of operation and some great new services. You'll definitely want to take advantage of these new changes now and this upcoming holiday season.

So Much to Say, Not Enough Time to Say It

You already know without me saying it... "I've been sooooo super busy..."

Last weekend I did makeup and hair for 4 brides (2 Italians, 1 Ethiopian, and 1 Korean bride). Today by the time you read this, I will be back in Simi Valley for the second time in 48 hours for my second bride.

Anyway, I'm not complaining because I thank God everyday for giving me the best job in the whole world! I love pampering people through the art of makeup and esthetics. Take a look at just a handful of what I've been up to lately.

The Ghost of Monique Powers

I know it’s been 2 months since I’ve last checked in, but I promise I haven’t forgotten about you.

In case you're interested to know what’s been going on with me, here is the reader's digest version: Spent a few days last month in Vegas attending an AMAZING esthetic conference; every weekend my team and I have been doing multiple weddings (a record 6 in one weekend); every day updating my website to include new services and payment options (to be revealed soon!!); every night looking through ads for retail space; a week ago attended an amazing wax show in Ontario; and over the weekend, Kurumi, Natasha and I did makeup for yet another bridal party.

I have so much to say and I'll begin to share the details in a few days. In the meantime, please enjoy some photos from only a handful of my many, many, many 2012 brides thus far:

Va-va Voluminous

My April brides are coming through for me!

Rachel Peters (formerly Hedwat) kicked off my April 2012 bridal month on April 7th. It was THE perfect day to get married and I loved the ambience of the morning. It was a clear, bright, sunny day where I met her at her mother's home on a beautiful, quaint street in Westwood. Inside the home, the atmosphere was very intimate with great food, conversation and laughter.

After I gave Rachel her bridal glow and finished the details of her voluminous hair style, I left feeling so thrilled for her and that she chose me to be a part of her wedding day!

Photos by Embrace Life Photo

Another Life Long Commitment

On September 10, 2011, beauty team member, Natasha Marcelina and I met with Hali and Brian at the London Hotel for a bridal makeup preview for Hali. I personally was not available to do Hali's makeup for their April 21st wedding but I knew she would be very pleased with Natasha's work. I was right.

Anyway, when I first met them, I thought Hali was very beautiful and Brian was really handsome. Within the short amount of time I spent with them, I heard their love story, experienced their sense of humor, and admired their love for each other.

Here is the beginning of their lifelong commitment:

Hali + Brian | April 21st, 2012 from Luke McCain Videography on Vimeo.

Love Can Change the World

As I mentioned a few days ago, Loura Alaverdi got married last weekend in Miami to Renny Cabreros. They are such a fun, loving, and very passionate couple. This is what real love looks like! AMAZING!!!

Loura and Renny from Senderey Video on Vimeo.

I can't get enough of watching this! I've shown this video to many people and their response is always the same... WOW!

Makeup in Miami

I had the pleasure of doing makeup and hair in Miami this past weekend for one of my best clients and friend, Laura Alaverdi. I’ve stayed in Miami before, but usually just for a night prior to boarding a cruise ship. This time I had the opportunity to stay a couple of days and it was fun! I can't wait to post pictures of her wedding and talk about the amazing Laura Alaverdi!

In the meantime, let's talk about me and how I STILL LOVE WEARING MAKEUP! This trip to Miami has helped me realize how much I have gotten away from playing up my eyes with dark jewel-toned colors, glitter, etc. I love it, love it, love it!

You know you love it too and have been wanting to schedule a makeup lesson but your schedule has gotten away from you and you haven't called yet. Well, summer will be here soon and I've got to spray tan you and teach you how to do "less is more" golden/bronzy style makeup, etc.

Call me now at 323-356-0125 and let's get the girls together for a group makeup lesson. Your Golden Goddess is waiting to be unleashed this summer!

The End of March Madness

My March madness ends today after I finish my wedding this afternoon. Yay!

I have worked 20 days straight without a day off from doing makeup, teaching, taking cake decorating classes, and doing A LOT of makeup. All at the expense of not blogging for the last 4 weeks. I'm back now with so much to share beginning with bridal photos of Liza Cyriac who recently got married. She is so sweet and personable even at 6:30 a.m. when I started to do her hair and makeup!

She subsequently posted a favorable review which states in part:

"Monique did a great job with me, and her assistants did an amazing job with all the girls...I would definitely recommend Monique to all of my friends! She's great, very sweet and easy to talk to. Plus, if you're of a darker skin tone like I am, she totally gets skin-tone matching, and you won't end up with a powdery-white or purple face. Everyone said I looked Flawless!"

The Knot Best of Weddings 2012 Pick

I'm so excited!

Today I received a package from The Knot which included a plaque and a letter which reads in part:

"Congratulations on being chosen as a top wedding professional in The Knot Best of Weddings 2012!"

What sets this honor apart from others I've received is that the award was the result of reviews given not by colleagues or The Knot but, rather, my brides who were thrilled with the level of service provided to them on their wedding day.

Thanks to all who took the time to review my services. It is much appreciated!!

Modern Day Belle

I can't think of a better way to conclude Black History Month in pictures except to introducing you to newlywed Paulette Ivory. Every time I look at her pictures, she reminds me of beautiful princess in a classic Disney movie.