October 09. 2013 12:09AM
By Bobby Walsh (The Real King Bob) Weekender Correspondent 

Halloween is my favorite holiday, but it never fails: I wait until the last minute to decide on a costume. Sometimes I even wait right up to the very last minute before a party and whip up something on the fly.


Last year I found myself watching a million Tim Burton movies, since even as an adult I cannot handle Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger movies. One of the Tim Burton movies I found myself watching a lot, as well as my favorite of the director’s filmography, is “Corpse Bride.” It tells the story of main character Victor, who accidentally marries Emily (the Corpse Bride) while reciting his vows alone in the woods.


One night, as a party drew near, I rushed home to get ready. I started by washing, toning, and moisturizing, then finished with a face primer to ensure longevity. After that, I looked through my phone for some sort of Halloween image and, with no luck, closed my browser. But when I did, my wallpaper appeared and, lo and behold, it was Victor from “Corpse Bride.”


I looked in the vanity above my bathroom sink and pulled out my winter shade of foundation (pale), black eyeliner, and an eye shadow quad with white, gray, brown, and black in it (You can do so much with so little product or random everyday household items).


First, I applied the pale foundation, then with the black liner began mapping out where Victor’s features would be on my face. Make sure to draw new brows and elongate and add a point to your nose by putting dark shadow along the sides of the bridge of your nose and a line across the tip with shading under it.


I then filled in all the dark areas on my face (primarily the eye socket) with the black eyeliner and set the liner with black eye shadow. It started to look amazing, but just a little too cookie cutter, so to blend everything together, I diffused all the black edges with brown eyeshadow, then a light gray. I took the same brown, gray, and white and started to contour and highlight my cheeks, forehead, and jaw to give a more triangular shape (like most Tim Burton characters). I dusted the white shadow around my face to help set the foundation as well.


To give the cartoon effect to your eyes, trace a new shape with liner and fill the circle in with white, then draw pupils on your closed lid so when you close your eyes you have a new set of eyes (kind of fun, kind of creepy). Most of Tim Burton’s characters have these similar features, so this look can be converted into almost any of them, or you can create your own.


I then raided my closet for any type of muted dress clothes and finished the look with some tweaking of my hair (a lot of teasing and hairspray), giving myself a vintage coiffed hairstyle and completing Tim Burton’s Victor from “Corpse Bride.”


Tip: If you don’t want to continuously close your eyes for photos, invest in a pair of white contacts with the pupil still black; it will give the same effect.


Trick: If you aren’t a great artist, try mapping out your new facial features with a white eyeliner first - it’s more forgiving.

October 02. 2013 12:47AM
By Bobby Walsh (The Real King Bob) Weekender Correspondent 

With October comes breast cancer awareness month, so I would like to shine a spotlight on an organization that gives back to people affected by breast cancer: Look Good Feel Better. The group’s mission is dedicated to improving the self-esteem and quality of life of people undergoing treatment for cancer. The aim is to improve a person’s self-image and appearance through complimentary group, individual, and self-help beauty sessions that create a sense of support, confidence, courage, and community. Look Good Feel Better has programs for everyone: men, women and teens. I’m lucky to work for The Sapphire Salon & Destination Spa, which has a few representing members of The Sapphire family that volunteer at LGFB.


Look Good Feel Better is a free, non-medical, brand-neutral program dedicated to helping you look as good as possible during chemotherapy, radiation, and other cancer treatments. One portion of the program that I am in love with is the makeup section; each client receives a goody bag with all of the makeup essentials. Being brand-neutral, they include everything from Dior mascara to Covergirl foundation; it’s always a surprise.


Rose Altavilla, an LGFB volunteer, explained:


“When an individual comes in for the program, they are greeted by one of the LGFB volunteers where they will watch an inspirational video that helps to explain the program in full detail. LGFB is sponsored by The American Cancer Society, The Cosmetic and Toiletry Industry, and The National Cosmetology Association. Then after that, they receive their own makeup kit according to skin tone, whether they are light, medium or dark. Then each person goes through a 12-step hands-on process that goes from proper skin care to lip stick application. Following that, they go into wig education. Hats and turbans are available for purchase and further information as to where you can purchase a wig is provided.”


You can contact Look Good Feel Better by calling 1.800.395.LOOK to see which organizations hold classes. Some local places are Candy’s Place in Kingston and Geisinger Health Center in Plains Township.


Tip: When wearing a wig for the first time, it may take you a while to get used to. Try applying your makeup a little heavier and concentrate on using more blush and more gloss. Confidence is key!


Trick: For filling or drawing new eyebrows, always use more than one color shadow and pencil to give more dimension to the drawn-on brow. Light flicking motions will help create a more hair-like appearance.