5 of My Favorite Tutorials From 2010

While I could easily go over five, I'll keep the list short for brevity's sake.

In just over five months from now, I will be on YouTube for two years. Even if what I'm basically doing there is uploading videos of what I personally enjoy in case there are those who might be inspired, or get some ideas from what I post (in other words, being a famous YouTuber with a huge following is not my motivation for this), I'm still grateful.

Here's a toast to the past year, and to any more to come where I decide to continue doing this...!

In no particular order, below are five looks I loved creating tutorials for in 2010.

...and, since the TRON tutorials are inspired by the same movie, I am making both my videos with that theme my number 5 here.

Thanks for joining me for this mini commemoration of the year that was. I hope your 2011 is spiffy so far. ;)

~Lea

Some of my most favorite tutorials...

...to create are those with an Old Hollywood theme.

I already have a bunch, which you can see by clicking HERE, and I intend to continue posting videos of that sort once Halloween is through.

Come to think of it, I've squeezed a few of them in despite there being a greater demand for All Hallows' Eve tutorials at this time of year. There are at least a couple more that I am about to upload with a combined Old Hollywood-Halloween motif.

One that you can look forward to is a look I am calling "Marilyn Monroe's Ghost," which is essentially Marilyn Monroe makeup in (mostly) grayscale. Pair it with an elegant outfit in either black, gray, silver, white, or off-white to complete the look of a faded Marilyn.

As I write this, I have yet to post the video, so stay tuned for it on my YouTube channel if the concept sounds appealing to you.

'Til next time,

~Lea

Snow White and Wicked Queen Costumes for Halloween

Click HERE to see the tutorial with my mom as the Queen from Snow White

No, I didn't film a tutorial for a Snow White look. :)

What I'm suggesting is, how about dressing up as the Queen, while your daughter or niece dresses up as Snow White?

Since a little girl wearing a Snow White outfit doesn't need makeup to be recognizable as the character she's portraying, all you need now is to look like the Queen. Once you've got the costume--and perhaps a shiny red apple as a prop--you can complete your look with the makeup. The steps are posted on my YouTube channel, along with a growing list of videos especially for Halloween or a costume party.

This is just a little "hello" before I go about my day. I'll see you again soon!

Take care,

~Lea

Disney-Inspired Halloween Looks

As I type this, I am about to film a tutorial focused on the makeup of a villain from a Disney feature film. I'll be using a model for this particular video, so I'm off to get my stuff ready.

I just wanted to post a quick blog as an update in case anyone out there is still exploring possibilities on what to be come October 31st.

Also, speaking of Disney, I just posted a very easy to create Alice in Wonderland look on my YouTube channel. Here it is:

Easy Halloween or Costume Party Look: Alice in Wonderland

I'll be back before you know it!
~Lea

Are you a Barbie girl?

One night at the place I used to work, one of the employees told the manager about a customer who had just called her a "bitch." The manager, a tomboyish--almost androgynous--woman, responded, "I'd rather be called a bitch than a Barbie doll."

While I understand that she meant that according to her personal definition of what a Barbie doll is, I couldn't help but take notice of her words because I, on the other hand, associate Barbie with good things.

For one, I have pleasant memories of playing with Barbie when I was little and didn't have many friends. I've always been on the introspective and introverted, rather than outgoing, side, so along with my thoughts and dreams, the doll kept me company.

As I had several different Barbie dolls, I also got the message early in life that I could be whatever I wanted and dress up in a variety of ways if I so wished. I'm glad the many looks I've posted on my YouTube channel serve as a testimony of this lesson I learned in childhood.

So, as a tribute to the girl who's played an important role in my life, I've made a tutorial based on 1959 Barbie, the first ever. Despite the 1980s being one of my least favorite decades in terms of style and makeup, I've also uploaded a Barbie look based on how her face was made up in those times, which is when I was growing up.

1959 Barbie Makeup for Halloween or a Costume Party

"Brunette Barbie" Halloween or Costume Party Makeup

As with the videos I've already posted that appear to be a recurring theme on my channel, you haven't seen the last of Barbie. ;)

Pink Barbie kisses,

~Lea

Vampires Galore

During my college years, I was sucked into the movie, Interview with the Vampire. I've seen Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst over and over again, both on the big screen and on VHS, as well as on DVD years later.

When Interview came out in theaters, my angst-y teenage self was so into the whole existential kick; I was in the mode of attempting to figure out the reason I was put on the planet and whatnot, so it was no surprise that I related to Brad Pitt's Louis, who questioned his way through the film. In Louis' eyes, Tom Cruise's Lestat appeared so monstrous, yet after reading Anne Rice's books that inspired the movie, I found Lestat more than likable. Why, I empathized with him more than Louis as I got to know him better.

Although I left my vampire-loving days further and further behind as new interests and passions revealed themselves to me, I see that there are remnants of that time in my life. Below are links to vampire-themed looks that I've made tutorials for on my YouTube channel. Click on the captions under each picture to see the corresponding video.

Before you proceed, take note that I did not include here the looks I've created that are vampy, but not as evidently vampiric as the ones below. Also, feel free to skip through the photos in the beginning of the first tutorial. I was attempting to get a decent thumbnail (YouTube freezes one spot each in the beginning, middle and end of the video so you have three to choose from if you are not a partner with the site) as I made this early video, hence the actual how-to portion comes much later.

Easy Halloween Makeup: Vampire

"Twilight Saga" Jane Makeup Tutorial

Vampire "Queen of the Damned" Akasha-Inspired Makeup

Dark Glam Vampire-Inspired Makeup Tutorial

"Twilight" Rosalie Hale Makeup for Halloween (...or anytime you want)

"Twilight" Alice Cullen Makeup for Halloween (...or anytime you want)

I know I haven't posted my final vampire tutorial. Hang in there if you love them as much as I apparently still do. ☺

Bites and kisses,

~Lea

This is Halloween (...well, almost!)

My "Brunette Barbie" look for Halloween or a costume party

Last year, during the Halloween season, I started posting makeup tutorials on a consistent basis. Before then, I was really wary of uploading my makeup videos on YouTube, as so many were already doing it and I didn't want to be just one out of a million.

However, I realized after putting up my first Halloween-themed video that not only was it so much fun, I could actually put my own spin even on a look that's been done thousands of times before.

When the views started coming in--and these were the most I ever had at the time--it was clear that people liked clicking on makeup videos. The grateful messages I received afterwards from women who wore my looks as part of their Halloween costumes showed me that there was an audience for my work.

This served as inspiration for me to continue coming up with tutorials even after October was over, and I'm glad I did. Since the videos I used to upload have temporarily gotten displaced by the makeup ones, I also have to say:

I've been asked several times when I will be posting inspirational vlogs again like I used to before I started putting makeup videos up. Rest assured, for anyone who enjoys them, I have an idea for how I can continue sharing inspirational and metaphysical video messages on my channel, even after being tired at the end of a busy day.

In the meantime, I'm about to begin work on Halloween tutorials. Stay tuned if you're looking for ideas on what or whom to be this year.

I'll be back soon,

Lea ♥

Sexy Pirate Part Two?

Last Halloween (2009), I was requested to do a pirate look by someone who was searching for the makeup to go with her costume. I was feeling inspired, and filmed the instructional video for it the very next day.

It was a hit during the season (thanks for suggesting it to begin with, Lynn!), getting the most views any YouTube post of mine had ever gotten, and so soon after I put it up too.

Now it's nowhere near Halloween as I write this, but about a week or a week and a half ago, I noticed that my "Sexy Pirate Costume Party Makeup" video had out of nowhere once more shot to the top of my most-viewed list. It didn't creep back up the list--it was at number one just like that.

And that got me thinking... Perhaps I should post a second version of the look come Halloween. It appears to be pretty popular, so anyone who enjoys the "Sexy Pirate" look will have two options to choose from on my channel.

I'm so excited for Halloween! That time last year was when I started filming more makeup videos because I was having such a blast playing with looks we normally wouldn't wear outside of a costume party. I look forward to another All Hallows' Eve fun time on YouTube this year, with videos that I'll make sure are at least a step up from last year's.

Stay tuned... ;)

Excited,

~Lea