Tag: minnesota

Midwest Makeup Supply

by Hannah

Corrie Dupay is a makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Midwest Makeup Supply and Femme Makeovers, both in the Twin Cities.  She has recently announced she is making a change in her career and is closing her wonderful makeup shop to focus on Femme Makeovers.

We as a community are beyond fortunate to have such an amazing talent in our city.  I’m sad about the closing of her store, the MN T-Girls have had two events at her store, but I am breathing a sigh of relief that she is still available for makeovers.

For details on her plans, please see the announcement she recently sent out below.

Hello everyone!

Some may already know this but yesterday I made an announcement (via our Midwest Makeup Supply Facebook page) in regard to closing Midwest Makeup, my Uptown retail location, on October 20th. 

Please do not worry! This is a very good thing on all fronts. I WILL be keeping my studio space at Vandalia Towers. Not being tied down to the retail part of things will allow me SO much more flexibility when it comes to doing the thing I love, which is helping YOU and doing makeovers, dress up sessions and outings. 🙂 Change is a good thing and I’m SUPER excited about the coming months!!!!

I will be liquidating my retail store inventory as the close date approaches so please let me know if there’s anything you’ll want. I’m still working out details – my phone number and email might have to change – but I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated with things like that. I also am toying with keeping a limited amount of product (foundation, powder, beard cover, etc.) at my studio – but am not sure yet. If that would be beneficial to you – please let me know. If I get enough positive response about it – I’ll definitely consider having that as an option.

As always – thank you SO very much for your support. It’s an amazing thing to be able to do the work I love!!

Love, Hannah

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T-Girls and T-Grilling!

by Hannah

Minnesota’s summer is winding down beautifully in an almost elegant, graceful way.  The days are increasingly cooler and shorter and although fall isn’t here yet, can see it getting closer with each moment.

The backyard barbecue is one of the season’s biggest tradition.  To be able to eat outside with friends and get to know new people is one of life’s smallest but greatest pleasures.  Most people attend them in flip-flops, but leave it to the MN T-Girls to pair brats with stilettos.

Last night was our monthly event and one of the girls graciously welcomed our group into her home and backyard for one last night of grilling, conversation and fun.  It was a perfect night and provided an opportunity for some new members to get to know the group in a very low-key way.

Very special thanks to Marcia for hosting us and for grilling as well as to all the t-girls who brought something to share.

Love, Hannah

 

PFLAG Events for September

by Hannah

PFLAG_TClogoPFLAG‘s mission is uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies.  PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy.  PFLAG has 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

PFLAG was the first support organization I heard of when I was growing up.  I attended their meetings a few years ago and found it was a supportive, and inclusive community.  PFLAG is a wonderful group, especially for our spouses and family members and I am happy to promote the events the Twin Cities chapter has scheduled.

Please join us for our September program and support groups.

 

OutFront’s Anti-Bullying Initiatives.
Join Blaine Kelley & Cat Salonek to learn about the Anti-Bullying Initiatives taking place throughout the programs of OutFront Minnesota. While Blaine will discuss the efforts of our Youth & Schools Program including our GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) Network that serves over 160 schools throughout the state Cat will detail the work being accomplished through the power of community organizing!
“A graduate of The University of Minnesota where he designed his own degree entitled, “Intersectionality; Critical Analysis for Social Justice” Blaine Kelley now serves as the Youth & Schools Coordinator at OutFront Minnesota.
His current position finds him traveling the state to meet with hundreds of students each year finding out what’s important to them, what’s going on in their lives, and presenting a plethora of workshops related to LGBTQ+ identities. When not working in schools or on the road, Blaine serves as advisor for the MN Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network’s Leadership Council working with 20 students from across the state to develop leadership skills and make plans for the greater GSA Network of over 150 middle and high school GSAs.”
“A graduate of The University of Minnesota where he designed his own degree entitled, “Intersectionality; Critical Analysis for Social Justice” Blaine Kelley now serves as the Youth & Schools Coordinator at OutFront Minnesota.
His current position finds him traveling the state to meet with hundreds of students each year finding out what’s important to them, what’s going on in their lives, and presenting a plethora of workshops related to LGBTQ+ identities. When not working in schools or on the road, Blaine serves as advisor for the MN Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network’s Leadership Council working with 20 students from across the state to develop leadership skills and make plans for the greater GSA Network of over 150 middle and high school GSAs.”

Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30 pm
Union Congregational Church
3700 Alabama Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416

Support groups will directly follow the program at 7:30 pm.

Love, Hannah

Pre-Makeover Skin Prep and After Care

by Hannah
Corrie Dupay is a makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Midwest Makeup Supply and Femme Makeovers, both in the Twin Cities.  She is a friend and hero to girls everywhere.  She is beyond talented.
Corrie has a newsletter that she sends out with helpful makeup tips like these and is reprinted here with her permission.  I am certain you’ll find this useful!  You can sign up for her newsletter here.
Love, Hannah
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello my Darlings!

Today we will chat about pre-makeover skin prep and the importance of makeup removal after your applications.

Before we get into that – I want to say thank you to those of you who take time to send me messages. Whether it’s just to say hi, ask a question or a quick follow up to a session – I can’t express how much those messages mean to me. Nothing brightens my day more than hearing stories of how having your makeup done, doing a lesson or just some basic guidance on things you’ve struggled with (like beard cover or false lashes) has made you feel so good and confident enough to step outside of your comfort zone and do something new. I love it! And I thank you for it!

😀

XOXO from your favorite makeup guru,

Take care of your skin!!

Today I’m going to answer a question I get asked a lot – which is: I booked a makeup application with you, what do I do to my face before I arrive???

This is a great question! But before we get into day-of preparations, I want to quickly touch on the importance of your daily skin care routine. At minimum I suggest everyone should wear a sunscreen. It helps protects your skin from harmful rays and sun damage that could potentially lead to skin cancer!! And we do not want that!! I suggest a broad range sunscreen with SPF of 30 (this is just what I like to wear, but consult with your dermatologist with any skin-related concerns).

I also suggest a light moisturizer to help hydrate your skin. It doesn’t have to be something fancy or expensive, just something to keep your skin hydrated. My favorite is by Embryolisse – it’s light weight and works well on all skin types.

Okay – back to day-of preparations. I generally like people to arrive with a clean face, clean shaven as possible. The cleaner the shave, the better our end result will be. As far as putting any sort of products on your face after you’ve shaved, using a moisturizer is fine, but try to keep it as light as possible.

The reason I prefer you don’t put a lot of (or any) product on your face prior is because I’m not always sure how it will react with the other products I’m going to be using. It could cause the foundation to slide around or primers to pill up (making it look like you have dry skin, etc.). Once you’re in my chair, I have all the products to properly hydrate and prepare your skin for a long-lasting application.

So let’s talk about makeup removal and skin care after your application is over. It’s really important to be properly removing your makeup at the end of the day. Sleeping in your makeup can irritate your skin, clog your pores and overall – just isn’t good for you!

You can remove your makeup using makeup wipes, liquid, cream or gel removers, or my favorite: The Makeup Eraser (a reusable towel that only requires hot water…and WORKS super well!)! Unfortunately – makeup removers are not all created equally so you may find some brands will do a better job than others.

Sometimes – depending on the makeup – you might need an additional remover that is specifically formulated to remove eye makeup (especially if it’s waterproof!). You can use soap and water to remove your makeup, but it could cause some irritation or burning, especially if you have to really scrub to get it off. I feel though – it’s best to use an actual makeup remover – it’s gentler on your skin and doesn’t strip your face of the oils that some soaps do.
Once you’ve fully removed your makeup – I suggest that you apply some moisturizer – mainly to add back some of the oils that may have been removed while taking off your makeup. You could also use a post makeup spray as well. These help rejuvenate, replenish and refresh your skin after you’ve removed your makeup. Skindinavia makes one that is nice.
Also – if you suffer from really dry skin – you could use something heavier after you’ve removed your makeup to help soothe and repair the skin barrier. I like OxyDerm Recovery Balm by Graftobian. I will put this on my face before I go to bed if my skin is really dehydrated. It’s really heavy, but really hydrating so why I suggest using it at night. You’ll wake up with super soft, super smooth skin though! 🙂

And one last thought on this topic – drinking lots of water will help keep your skin nice and hydrated. Just like the sun, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, etc. can all be drying or damaging to our skin so stay hydrated!!

Things to Remember:
1. Use sunscreen
2. Use moisturizer
3. Remove your makeup.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

If you have any suggestions for topics, please feel free to send them my way at makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com

Questions or want to request an appointment? Email me at: makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com

Be sure to check www.femmemakeovers.com for more info.

One for the Money, T-Girls go to a Show…

by Hannah

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The MN T-Girls had our monthly adventure last night and it was one of the most fun events we’ve ever had.  Many of us have dreamed of wearing a beautiful dress to a play at a nice theater and yesterday we had a chance to make that a reality.

This was the final weekend of the Guthrie Theater‘s production of ‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’.  Casey is an Elvis impersonator with everything going for him, including a flashy sequin jumpsuit. But just like that he loses his gig, rent is overdue and his wife announces a baby on the way. So when Elvis leaves the building and a drag show moves in, “The King” transforms into an all-out queen with the help of some new friends who become the second family Casey never saw coming. With snappy zingers and dance-worthy numbers, this wildly entertaining story will challenge your assumptions with extraordinary humor and depth.

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I was surprised at how much I loved the show.  Usually shows that feature drag queens portray them as catty, one-dimensional characters, but the cast was funny, smart, and just…fun.  Everything was handled with a lot of respect and dignity and I never felt the play was making fun of the transcommunity.

The Guthrie couldn’t have been nicer to work with.  Thanks to their helpful customer service, we were able to have a group of tickets reserved for us so we could all sit together.  We were seated in the front in what is consider ‘cabaret seating’.  We sat at little tables giving us the feel of being at the show the characters were performing in.

It was a very fun night and it was such a fun play.  I wish I had seen it earlier so I could have recommended it before now, but the final production is today.  If you put on your fastest heels you might be able to get a ticket in time.

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I can’t wait for our next outing!

Love, Hannah

 

Let’s Smoke it Up (Your Eyes, That Is)!

by Hannah
Corrie Dupay is a makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Midwest Makeup Supply and Femme Makeovers  She is a friend and hero to girls everywhere.  She is beyond talented.
Corrie has a newsletter that she sends out with helpful makeup tips like these and is reprinted here with her permission.  I am certain you’ll find this useful!  You can sign up for her newsletter here.
Love, Hannah
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Darlings!!

School is back in session!! Dig out your notebooks and pencils. Today we’re going to learn about the Smoky Eye – a classic look that never goes out of style!! A+ and bonus points for anyone who sends me photos (for my eyes only) of their work (makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com)!

😀

XOXO from your favorite makeup guru,


(See…even Pennywise loves a good smoky eye!)

Corrie
FemmeMakeovers | Midwest Makeup

A Smoky Eye Can Fix Everything!

What is a smoky eye?? Well – in the simplest form – a smoky eye is shading and smudging an eye pencil or eye shadow into and along the upper and lower lash lines. However….if you ask 10 people what a smoky eye is, I’d bet my favorite lipstick you’ll get 10 different answers…and none of them would be wrong.

I’m going to cover how I personally like to do a smoky eye – which will be a little more than just shading the lash line. I mean come on…if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it!  Let’s go!

Here are the tools and products you’ll need to do your smoky eye. And please remember – this is MY version so you can do any variation of it you wish. The concept will be the same – it’s just how dramatic you decide to take it (less dramatic for day-time wear, more dramatic for night-time wear, etc.). Also – please note that you can easily swap out colors….the whole idea behind the smoky eye is the dark, shaded lash line/lid – so feel free to play with the color.

1. Eye primer
2. I’m using three eye shadows (dark purple, light grey and black – and I realize the colors don’t translate well on the screen but you get the idea).
3. Eyeliner pencil in black
4. A fluffy brush, a tiny smudge brush and a short bristle fluffy brush
5. Mascara

1. Start by applying your eye primer to your entire lid. Then, lightly dust your lightest shade all over the lid using your large fluffy brush.

2. Using your smaller fluffy brush, apply the darker color to the outer corner of the eye, up to the crease and blend out. I prefer to keep the inner corner and middle part of the lid a little lighter and brighter (it keeps my eyes more open looking). Darkening the entire lid would produce a more dramatic look. If you have more hooded eyelids (like I do), it could close your eye down a little (or make them appear smaller). I also will come in with my tiny smudge brush to keep the color more concentrated in my crease the closer I get to the inner corner of my eye (keeps the crease and color application precise).

3. Next, take your small smudge brush and darken the outer corner with a little bit of black. Then smudge a tiny bit on the lower lash line as well (this is important for the smoky look).

4. Take your black liner pencil and line the upper and lower lash line. Think of it as working the liner into your lash line – we want to create the illusion our lash line is thick and full. Once you get your liner on, take your tiny smudge brush and smudge it in. Again – important for creating that smoky look.

5. Apply several (thin) coats of mascara – and/or, add false lashes. Click here for step-by-step instructions on false lash application.

6. Take one last look and touch up any eye liner or darken the shadow if you wish. Once I have my lashes or mascara on, I do usually like to darken the liner a little bit and/or add a little more smudgy-ness to the lower lash line to create a little more intense drama….because…why the hell not?!?!

And there you go!!! A quick, step-by-step tutorial on how to create a smoky eye. As a quick recap:
~ A smoky eye is just shading the upper and lower lash line – but I like to give it a bit of a bump and take it to the crease (or beyond).
~ Play with color! Concept is the same just swap out your light and dark with different colors (light grey/dark grey, light blue/dark blue…you get the idea!)..but I always like to have a black handy just in case I want to give it that extra push in to the dramatic.
~ Practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll become. And don’t forget – it’ll more than likely look like a HOT mess until you finish….most makeup applications do!
~ It’s makeup…HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!!! 😀
Until next time, darlings. Kiss kiss.
Be sure to visit Corrie’s newly updated website for more info and updated services.

Questions or want to request an appointment? Email her at: makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com

Be sure to check www.femmemakeovers.com for more info.

All Are Welcome in Hastings…

by Hannah

…(unless you’re transgender).

City Pages has an article about where they touch on Councilman Joe Balsanek and his perspective on diversity in Hastings, a suburb in the Twin Cities with a population around 22,000.  “It is important that we accept all the folks with different kinds of identities.”  Well, that’s really nice.

But wait!  There’s more.

Leaders of a few churches and one school have written a letter about the city’s message of everyone being welcomed.   According to the article,

The writers believe there is one group covered under the “all are welcome here” credo that shouldn’t really be welcomed: transgender folks.

“There is extensive evidence that the promotion of the view that a person’s sex as a fluid self-perception rather than a biological fact is harmful to children and teens,” they write. This view is “factually unsubstantiated” and will encourage young people to “make irreversible decisions to artificially alter their sexual identity.”

It’s frustrating to being singled out (again) especially in the light of a message where everyone, oh wait not you is included.  Especially from church leaders.  It’s been a while since I’ve been to church, but I’m pretty sure the Bible teaches ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you‘ (Luke 6:31).  Maybe I’m wrong.

At any rate, I don’t believe that these leaders speak for the entire community.  I am sure there are many residents and businesses that would welcome us with open arms.

You know, accepting people with different kinds of identities.

Love, Hannah