Designed by Australian makeup artist Sheri Vegas, not only are these brushes silky soft and amazing on the skin, they are also 100% synthetic and cruelty free. If you're looking to upgrade your kit with some local professional tools that don't break the bank or have a negative impact on the environment, look no further.

Stockists: Makeup Weapons

https://www.popsugar.com.au/beauty/New-Beauty-Products-January-2016-39673226?stream_view=1#photo-39673244

When you take a selfie remember to look at the camera lens, not at the camera screen .. believe me, stops you looking like a startled rabbit in lights

Shoot In Square Mode – As most selfies are shot for insta it makes perfect sense to shoot on this mode and cut out an editing step…less work is always better .. right?

Use Burst Mode - Simply hold down the shutter and your iPhone will take 10 photos per second. The newer iPhones even help you select the best shot. To share all the shot’s use an app like phhhoto and flipagram to make a fun GIF to share.. you know those fun over and over again shots

Use The Self Timer + Burst Mode - Set the timer on your iPhone by clicking on the clock icon at the top of the camera. Simply click on the shutter release button. After 3 to 10 seconds, your iPhone will take a burst of 10 shots. Gives you the time you need for that instagrammable pose

Hold Your Iphone With Two Hands – Keeping your arms close to your body to minimise camera shake

Use Your Earphones - Did you even know this function existed? Connect your earphones open the camera app and press the volume (earphones must have a mic) Then snap away!

Try A Selfie Stick – Once the domain of only the middle-aged tourist in socks and sandals now that has changed and it’s easy to see why they actually do really help

Set Up A Mini Tripod - If you can’t see yourself sporting a selfie stick get the same result with a tripod

Try CamMe - a FREE app that allows you to take selfies from a distance simply just prop your phone up and do a Samantha nose wriggle and snap. Even Better is SelfieMatic this is the Aurora nose wriggle of apps it uses motion sensing and face detection to capture your best side

Adjust The Exposure -You would have seen the little yellow square so simply tap this and tap where you want the camera to focus but the hidden gem is by moving up or down on the screen to make your image brighter or darker

Hold Your Camera Higher Than Eye Level - Eliminate that double chin by raising your arm up

Experiment With HDR-HDR is a mode that takes three photos – an overexposed photo (too bright), an underexposed photo (too dark), and a third photo that is somewhere in between—and then automatically merges them into one photo. Keep this setting on Auto HDR and when the time is right it will swing into action

Use The Camera Grid-It definitely helps with perspective in your shots

Use Editing Tools -There are many of these Facetune, Perfect365, YouCamPerfect to name a few that I have tried                    

Don't you just love this look that @the_wigs_and_makeup_manager created. She was inspired by the beautiful colour palette of our brushes. 

BEAUTY WITHOUT CRUELTY

At age 28, there is no stopping award-winning make-up artist and girl boss Sheri Vegas with her luxe makeup brand MakeUp Weapons, recently accepted into PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, certifying the range as cruelty-free and vegan friendly.

Her MakeUp Weapons includes a range of 14 multi-functional and makeup artist quality brushes, diamante-encrusted lash curler, brush cleansing bar and bio glitters have also been given the tick of approval from Four Paws Australia, accepting the brand into the international Fur Free Retailer Program. Earlier this year, Sheri was named Best Independent Business Thinker of the Year 2018 and MakeUp Weapons was awarded Best Independent Beauty Brand 2018 in the Australian Make Up Industry Awards.

Founded with the intention to provide makeup artists and lovers with quality makeup brushes that give back and do not negatively impact the environment, MakeUp Weapons is a 100 per cent hand-crafted makeup brush product range made from quality durable synthetics with a nylon and Taklon blend and are suitable for use with cream, liquid and powder. In additional to being environmentally friendly, MakeUp Weapons also gives back by donating 50 cents of each brush sale to local charities.

In addition to brushes, MakeUp Weapons also offers a variety of vegan and cruelty free tools, such as diamanté-encrusted lash curlers, biodegradable, hypo-allergenic brush cleansing bars, and  bio glitter, made primarily from eucalyptus trees, sourced from responsibly managed plantations. With over seven years of experience in the beauty industry, Sheri Vegas had long aspired to develop and create a line of make-up artist quality make-up brushes that give back charitably and don’t negatively impact the environment.

Readers also enjoyed our story on vegan beauty by Kat Von D. 

Words by Heidi Tan
Images via MakeUp Weapons

MID-YEAR BEAUTY REPORT: TOP 8 MAKEUP PRODUCTS OF 2019

I have always been obsessed with collecting makeup. I am a sucker for unique packaging, eye-catching shimmers and vibrant pigments. I’m extremely lucky to try many amazing products and now would like to share my favorites of 2019! Similarly to my recent skincare report, see my best makeup products of 2019:

8. MAKEUP BRUSHES­

My go-to makeup brushes have always been Sigma (I even have a discount for you all – chicontherun for 10% off ;)). As mentioned previously in my ‘Must have Sigma brushes’ post, they are the original, professional makeup brushes. Personally, I have been using them for around 10 years, right at the start of my love affair with makeup. When it comes to foundation, I can’t go past the 3DHD Max Kabuki and 4DHD Kabuki for harder to reach areas like around my eyes. However, recently I discovered Makeup Weapons brushes. The tapered powder brush 1.2 is the perfect multi-functional brush for bronzer, highlighter or blush. I love how soft and fluffy it is, perfect for my highlighter application.  My other favourite is the 1.6 pointed Blender Brush. Perfect for applying and blending out eyeshadows! Makeup Weapons are also Aussie made and I am all for supporting small, local businesses. Get amongst it.

7. FOUNDATION

L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear is one of the best affordable foundations on the market. It is blendable and provides a high coverage with a matte finish. Wear it on its own or along with the Magic Essence Drops and Magic Loose Powder (part of the new Infallible range) for the perfect matte finish! Great for occasions where you know you’ll be breaking out a sweat or you need lasting wear.

6. SETTING SPRAY

Recently, I became obsessed with sprays and mists. While I can’t say my makeup stays on longer, I love the hydrating and smoothing properties. With a spray, I always feel like my makeup is done. And, this year I have been particularly loving the MAC Prep+Prime FIX+ Goldlite. This spray can be used before, during or after makeup application and not only smooths skin, it also makes it glow! Give your makeup a quick spritz and shower yourself with shimmery gold pigments for a dewy look.

5. EYESHADOW PALETTES

While it’s hard to get your hands on now, the Charlotte Tilbury Stars In Your Eyes Palette brings the most perfect luxurious glow to your eyes. Truthfully, I can never go past it when doing my makeup for something really special. The colours and shimmers make my eyes pop while the application itself is super satisfying and perfectly blendable. Charlotte Tilbury has now released a few mini eyeshadow palettes like ‘Golden Goddess’, ‘Dreamgasm’ and ‘Pillow Talk’ that resemble the original palette, so grab them quick before they are gone!

Next, for a botanically enthused palette I often reach for the Arbonne It’s All In The Eyes Volume 1. I’ve gone into great detail about this palette previously but it gives the perfect day time look. Additionally, the shadows are vegan, cruelty free and filled with botanicals that heal your skin whilst also making your eyes pop.

Previous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next

4. PRIMER

Do you want a primer with results beyond simply extending the wear of your makeup? The LUMA Liquid Light Illuminating Primer is a great multitasking product which also provides a beautiful, natural glow. In fact, it’s more than just a great primer as it’s also beautiful to wear on its own. Providing a beautiful dewy glow, the skin looks healthy and luminous with a pretty, subtle shimmer. The must-have tool for a natural makeup look!

3. HIGHLIGHTER

LUMA Illuminating Highlighter Golden Glow. I’ve never been a huge fan of cream highlighters until now. The LUMA highlighter gives out the most natural, yet eye-catching glow. With an almost wet-look finish, the highlighter makes your skin appear fresh, radiant and natural. The LUMA highlighter is a must-have in your makeup collection if you’re after a natural, dewy look or to add a radiant and striking glow for a glamorous look.

2. EYE BROWS

When I need eyebrows on point I reach for my Poni Cosmetics Brow Magic Brow Pencil. It’s incredible precision and perfect colour is hard to beat! The retractable pencil creates fine strokes to replicate tiny brow hairs for a natural look. Finally, the magic is in its incredible one-colour-fits-all shade. It is the most perfect colour for my complexion but, according to trustworthy sources, the dark-haired beauties love it too! Canberrans can also purchase and test out the PONI products at Natural Body Image beauty salon.

Finally, to finish off my brow look, I reach for the Full Brow Brow Fibre Mascara in Blonde. It thickens up my brows with fine fibers which stay put all day long. The colour range is awesome and the blonde shade matches perfectly to hair.

1. MASCARA

This is the makeup product that got me absolutely shook in 2019: MAC False Lash Maximizer Base Mascara. This white ‘base coat’ mascara primes, lengthens and thickens your lashes. After applying, wait for it to dry and then apply the MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara. I seriously can’t get over the results, my lashes look luscious, long and thick. The base works with other black mascaras and helps to intensify the finished look. For example, top it up with a volumising mascara for thick and dramatic lashes, lengthening mascara for unbelievable length or a natural finish mascara for ‘yours but better’ lashes with an oompth! Hands down, my best makeup find of 2019!

So, what did you all think about my best makeup products of 2019? Do you agree?

Let me know in the comments below!

www.makeupweapons.com.au 

https://www.chicontherun.com/mid-year-beauty-report-8-best-makeup-products-of-2019/

Let’s take a look at the fabulous creative artistry that is undeniably our top Australian Makeup Artists. These artists are at the pinnacle of our industry and to see them work is inspiring. We are talking makeup artists that have a passion for literally passing down the makeup-baton and nurturing the creative genius in everyone that watches their artistic process. Show them a little Aussie love and appreciate the plethora of home-grown talent we are lucky enough to have and enjoy. These masterclasses are so good, they could actually spark your passion and even project your career to the next level.

You will know these names… you have admired their work and you no doubt follow them on Instagram. Get ready to learn about our all-time favourite Masterclasses and the Makeup Artists who run them.

Don't miss the opportunity to attend these Masterclasses hosted by our most experienced makeup artists coming soon to a location near you. Be warned though… they all book out very quickly.

1. Becca Gilmartin

Get excited because Becca will be bringing her unique Makeup Artist courses back. 'The Makeup Mindset' Live Series is a must, and it has all the promise of the original Makeup Artist Bootcamp series. Becca can’t wait to share the new, additional concepts of the course. Becca says “Instead of creating an advanced course, I am creating new content and including it with original content for a complete career discipline”.

Lady Gaga recently said - "There's a discipline for passion, and it's not about how many times you get rejected or you fall down, or you're beaten up. It's about how many times you stand up, and are brave, and you keep going." The Makeup Mindset is a discipline, a mindset, and with artistic and practical activities to assist you in flourishing in your Makeup Career. It's unlike any Makeup course you have ever attended.

Becca says “In May, I will be previewing a new format for the course as an express, one day course.  In addition we will be conducting an evening Masterclass, 'Keeping Creative Beautiful' in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne”.

 Becca's masterclass is one of a kind and is unlike any other Masterclass I have attended. I personally recommend this Masterclass, as Becca talks about mindset and goal setting. I learnt from Becca that you can be the most incredibly talented artist but if your mindset isn’t correct that talent could be wasted. Becca has always inspired me personally and has helped me take my career to the next level. I can’t recommend Becca’s courses strongly enough. So, don't miss out on such an extraordinary chance and attend one of the best masterclasses for makeup and mindset in Australia!

@beccagilmartin 

2. Isabelle De Vries

Isabelle De Vries - internationally recognized, award-winning makeup artist. She's well known for being an innovator challenging traditional beauty trends. Her work has gained recognition from the makeup industry's elite and made her a leader in the Australian makeup industry.

Right now, she's touring around the world and sharing her knowledge, talent, and experience. She'll be giving her masterclasses in Los Angeles, New York and London.  What is even more exciting is that Isabelle will be back in Australia in July. You can attend her Masterclasses on July 12th in Sydney and July 14th in Melbourne.

There are so many reasons why you shouldn't miss her classes, you will see her unique style and techniques and this alone is truly inspiring.

Isabelle says “that creativity is all that matters when it comes to makeup and that every artist should be pushing their boundaries”. What's more, at her classes, you won't be only taught how to replicate a look she's creating, but she will help you find your own inspiration.

When using her styles and techniques, Isabelle will push you outside your comfort zone and encourage you to try new mixed mediums and textures. Listen, learn and enjoy, and by doing so, you will definitely grow as an artist.

Attending her masterclasses will certainly help you obtain new skills, improve your technique, and you may even learn how to achieve her iconic “Buttery Skin’

www.instagram.com/isabelle.de.vries

3. Martha Mok

Next on the list is the Makeup Wow Factor - Asian Bridal Masterclass by Martha Mok. If you are keen to learn and appreciate the latest makeup skills, styles, and techniques from Asia, you should definitely not miss Martha's Makeup Wow Factor Masterclass.

Martha says “I will teach you how to use various eyelid tapes for different purposes, either to enhance, correct, lift, or create a different eyelid shape”. Martha will also share her knowledge and experience regarding Asian clients. To be more specific, she will teach you what the most popular makeup styles that Asian clients crave at the moment, and the colours that are most suitable in their application.

This new knowledge and skillset is not restricted to Asian clients. At this workshop, you will gain insights into Mature Makeup, and how to make a client look more youthful, lifted and 10 years younger.

Last but not least, she will also share some tips and tricks to help you succeed in this business and advance in your career.

If you aren’t booking Asian brides, you are missing a big chunk of the wedding market .. and this is costing you dollars.  So arrange your model and get ready to learn from the best!

www.instagram.com/marthamok_makeuphair

4. Clare Mac

Clare Mac is known all over the world and highly regarded for her creative lip and eye makeup designs. Luckily for you, this award-winning artist is bringing back her Macro Makeup Masterclass to Australia this year. The dates for the masterclass are yet to be finalized so look out for them in mid-2019.

In her live demonstrations, Clare will show and use her creative flare to help you unleash your creativity and uniqueness. She will then assist you to create your own macro beauty looks. Once you're done, Clare will provide 2 high-resolution edited photos for your portfolio which will also help you enhance your online presence. And… you can also purchase more if you need.

What's even more important to know is that Clare's Masterclass is quite versatile and includes lots of useful tips and tricks which will help you take your business to the next level. To be more specific, Clare says “you will learn how to create close up images of high quality, how to get free products and be paid for the work done, how to choose models and where to find them, and how to improve and hone your skills in such a competitive industry”.

Also, Clare will give you some tips on where to find inspiration for creating unique looks that will successfully showcase your originality and individuality. Do you look at your poorly lit and  lacklustre client photos and wonder how the well-known artists always take such great behind the scenes shots?  Clare will teach you the secrets that she and other top artists use in Macro imagery. Clare will teach you how to get the most out of every shoot by sharing tips, tricks, and techniques from Macro shots through to Editorial shoots including how to work with photographers.

Take the opportunity and upskill!

www.instagram.com/claremacmua

5. Samara Nilsson

Samara Nilsson’s experience includes a wide background in fashion, body art, beauty editorial, television makeup, etc.

Samara says “These Masterclasses are for all of you who want to expand and add another revenue stream to your business and they will give you the opportunity to upskill in quite a short period and add either makeup or hairstyling to your business”.

Having said that, Samara is launching The Beauty School, which is approx one day a week over  8 - 10 weeks. This is an exciting  hair or makeup course where you will be able to improve two skills at the same time.. quite time-saving when you have a busy schedule.

Samara's course is focuses on Blow Waves, amazing Fashion, and Bridal styling and when it comes to makeup, the course focuses on Bikini Comp Makeup, Photographic Makeup, Mature Aged Makeup and of course Bridal Makeup. Also, coming soon there will be an Airbrush Makeup one day workshop designed to have you all leaving as airbrush confident artists by the end of the day.

So this year you can brush up on your hair and makeup skills. Then next year checkout Samara’s Beauty Business Management and Social Media courses in 2020.

 The official launch will be at the Brisbane Hair and Beauty Expo. So stop by and say Hi to Samara and the “The Beauty School by Samara Nilsson”

www.instagram.com/beautyschoolbrisbane

6. Emma Chen Artistry

Emma Chen is hosting a full day course where she shares and demonstrates all of her industry knowledge and experience working around the world as a hair and makeup artist.

Emma will also share her favourite products and even give you a sneak peak into her kit so you will see what Emma really uses to achieve her signature looks. Plus, all of her students will get an insight into the techniques and methods she's uses when approaching artistic challenges. What's more, Emma will share her tips and tricks to managing and working your social media.

And, since Emma believes that collaboration is the key to success, this year she is partnering with Jaye Edwards, hair stylists, in order to give you the most informative, collaborative, and networking event in the USA. At their course, you will have the opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes of creating perfect, trending Instagram content that can make your business go viral.

In general, Emma and Jaye will focus on the ins and outs of personal branding, i.e. what it means and what it takes to build your own brand inside a business. You will learn how to create ready to wear Instagram content from best lighting, angles, and how to engage your audience most effectively.

Now, let's see what you can learn from Emma. First, she will take you through 3 styling looks which can maximize your time and investment in the salon. She will also demonstrate how to create Instagram content and looks you can take straight back to the salon.

Furthermore, Emma will show you all the secrets needed to do her most sought-after makeup looks. Emma will also demonstrate how she creates the perfect glow that has hundreds of shares on social media globally. Emma is touring worldwide and conducting classes in New York and Los Angeles before returning to Australia for our turn at these amazing must do Masterclasses.

www.instagram.com/emmachenartistry

7. Cameron Jane

Cameron Jane Make-Up Design is an elite makeup academy widely known and praised for introducing the first ever Masterclasses to Australia.
This academy has created something quite unique - Make-Up Masterclass Membership (MMM).

Designed by you, delivered by icons - it is the first ever make-up masterclass membership program in Australia. MMM is designed to inspire every beauty lover through a great variety of affordable educational courses and workshops presented by highly recognized and well-known artists like Martha Mok, Isabelle De Vries, Jaz Pampling, Rachel Montgomery, Mia Connor.

MMM will show you new ways of learning by some of the industry's most reputable icons. All of the courses have their own unique structure which will take you on an extraordinary learning journey.

So, why join? – Cameron says “One of the benefits of becoming a member of Make-Up Masterclass Membership is having the chance to get exclusive discounts on masterclasses, to buy masterclasses as packs for further discounts, to get priority access to International Guest Artist Masterclass seminars, and to receive special offers from sponsors via monthly newsletter.”

Don't wait! Become a member today and enjoy all the benefits!

www.instagram.com/makeupmasterclassmembership

8.Mia Connor

This masterclass is for professional artists wanting not only to improve their makeup skills but also how to capture it to create content.  

Mia’s Masterclasses not only inspire you artistically, but Mia also helps you learn how to capture your amazing work in your images for social media… which is what we all know brings us work.  

Mia says “No longer are we just makeup artists, we are hair stylists, creative directors, stylists, photographers, editors, creative writers and marketing managers. I will show you and teach you how I have grown my combined social media platforms to over $150k and used it to grow my business and work internationally and with brands that I have forever looked up to since the start of my makeup career”

Mia will be demonstrating one of her signature makeup styles. She will go into great detail and teach how she photographs her model, and how she utilises the lighting, angles, editing, captions, social media marketing and even getting exposure from brands.

This is very much a hands-on workshop where you will either recreate Mia’s look or a look of your own on your model.

Mia Connor Bridal Masterclass: -

If you are a Bridal artist Mia’s Bridal Masterclass may be for you,  

You will see Mia create three Bridal looks and then it’s your turn. This is a hands-on workshop where you will have two hours to create one look of your choosing. You may be inspired by one of Mia’s looks or something that is totally your own.

Mia says “Also included in this class is an in-depth group seminar on the back end of your bridal business including correspondence with potential brides, running time of the day, rates, handling of payments, trials, travel fees etc. - everything you need to consider when booking in a wedding… and all the things that no one tells you when starting your bridal business”

Imagine two hours of Mia’s help to learn her Bridal perfection techniques. You will walk away from this class much better prepared to win bridal clients in what is a very competitive market.

www.instagram.com/miaconnor

9. Secret Fox Education

This is a little different and perfect.  If you are a stylist or salon owner who wants to invest in education, but may not have the budget, the time or the logistics to travel, then this is for you! … And if you just suffer from FOMO and don’t want to miss out on any of the cool new trending techniques, then this is also for you.

It’s a monthly subscription to join and then you receive discounted ONLINE masterclasses

The Secret Fox Education delivers monthly training to Salons all over the globe at an affordable price, in an accessible way.

Mia & Michelle share a passion for unpretentious, real education. They love Social Media and know that’s where everyone is at. Their goal is to tap into those who know: the influencers, the style makers, the ultimate industry creators who are shaping current looks and trends and bring the lessons to our community so we can all be better artists.

They say that ” So many stylists are given pictures from their clients of styles and makeups they just have no idea how to create. We want to work with the picture makers and takers”.

The Secret Fox Education delivers monthly training to Salons and Artists all over the globe at an affordable price, in an accessible way.

So stay in your PJ’s get comfy and learn from the best of the best.  Recent featured artists include Penny Antuar, Rae Morris, Renya Xydis and Mia Connor. I feel the super advantage of these classes is you can ask questions live unlike a “you tube”  video when you may or may not receive an answer.

www.instagram.com/thesecretfoxeducation

CATEGORY: BUSINESS IN FOCUS

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Meet the Makers – Sheri from Makeup Weapons

February 11, 2019Renee - The Happy Organic Girl

Happy Monday! I’ve had an incredible day starting it with a gym session and then coming home and doing some cleaning. I have a week off in between starting my new role and it’s been really rewarding spending the day doing the little things.

Today we are chatting with Sheri from Makeup Weapons, which is a vegan and cruelty free makeup line. Sheri has created the most amazing make up brushes which are so soft to touch and are stunning.

I became familiar with the Makeup Weapons brand early last year and was then lucky enough to meet Sheri at the Tribe Skincare Melbourne event where we had a lovely chat.

R. Thanks for joining us today Sheri, it’s lovely getting to chat again!
What lead you to starting Makeup Weapons?

S. Cruelty-free was always my one non-negotiable. I developed these purely because I am an editorial make-up artist and work with many clients, including models who are vegan and there was nothing on the market that was make-up artist quality to use – even though the hair brushes claim to be cruelty-free because the animals aren’t killed, the process to remove the hair is truly shocking.  I refused to use them and saw an opportunity to create something that was truly cruelty-free but yet of a professional standard to make people aware and provide a much-better alternative.

R. I absolutely love that about your brand, and how eco-conscious you are.
If you weren’t running Makeup Weapons, what would you be doing?

S. I am a makeup artist, so if I wasn’t running Makeup Weapons, I would be doing more makeup work.

R. What have you found to be the biggest challenge with running a business?

S. I think it is keeping the brand exciting and new, so customers want to come back.

R. I’d love to hear what day-to -day life looks like for you in the world of Makeup Weapons?

S. I exercise the first thing in the morning, generally two classes. Then I go to the studio to see my admin and marketing manager and see what sales are coming through. We will then discuss marketing concepts and ideas as a team. Sometimes we need to do a photo shoot or live content for either MakeUp Weapons or my personal Instagram, in which we are joined by our graphic artist and/or photographer. I tend to work on new ideas for products at night when its quiet and I have no distractions.

R. Any big tips for those considering starting a business in beauty?

S. Double the amount you think it will cost and always watch cash flow, earn more than you spend. Develop a product that no one else has done, so find a gap in the market.

R. A fun question, where the imagination can run wild. What would you do if money was no object?

S. I would travel continually and make it a point to go to the top 10 dive sites in the world.

R. Are you working on anything new at the Makeup Weapons HQ?

S. Yes, we are, we have several new products being developed and will be branching out to cosmetics. Watch this space, they are fabulous and will be a game changer!

R. I love hearing good news stories, how do you celebrate success?

S. I celebrate my success with travel, it is the best feeling for me to be on an adventure somewhere. I recently came back from working with Budapest Tourism and I chronicle all my journeys on Instagram.

R. Who has been the most influential person to you and your business

S. My mother, as she has always been in business and is a great sounding board.

R. While you’re not running the business, what do you like to get up too? 

S. I love exercise and I’m also an adrenaline nut. I am happy to try any extreme sport. I also have a passion for the ocean and scuba diving.

R. Often it’s purpose that pushes us, have you figured out yours?

S. I don’t know if I have fully figured out my purpose yet, however at the moment my passion is promoting cruelty free products and the companies that make them.

R. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

S. When a great makeup artist says they love my product, the creativity involved with designing new products, teaching art whether that be in a workshop or a You Tube tutorial and seeing the great feedback, such as how it has helped someone else with their art practice.

R. Self-care is incredibly important, how do you like to practice this?

S. Having massages regularly. Finding the exercise that’s right for you so it isn’t a chore and finding time for new hobbies – mine is art.

R. Walk us through your beauty routine, what does this look like?

S. I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day and use masks about once a week. I believe in exfoliating a lot and I also drink a lot of water. I eat a healthy diet – your skin is your biggest organ, so what you do and eat always shows.

R. If you could reach for any skincare product, what would it be?

S. I love rosehip oil and use it daily.

R. Such a simple yet versatile staple Rosehip Oil. I also love mine!
Thank you for joining us for Meet the Makers! It’s been wonderful. 

If you would like to connect with Makeup Weapons you can do so via their website at www.makeupweapons.com.au or via instagram @makeup_weapons

Have a great week everyone!

Renee https://thehappyorganicgirl.com.au/category/business-in-focus/
x

Photographer: Theresa Hall
Model: Jemma May Rubach @Que Models
@j.rubach
Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: Sheri Vegas
@sherivegas_mua

Amateur to Pro: 5 Ways to Choose the Right Makeup Weapons

By Sheri Vegas 

When it comes to your makeup slay, you have to choose the right weapons. The right tools are going to give you the kind of blending and application that takes your makeup from amateur to pro territory. It seems like it should be a very simple thing, but it can be quite confusing choosing the right makeup brushes especially with all the brands, options, shapes and sizes out there these days!

But fear not, as an expert in the field and the owner of Makeup Weapons (a cruelty-free, luxury makeup brush brand) I’d like to share my PRO tips with you, so that you know exactly what to look for when shopping for your makeup brushes. Not only are makeup brush sets a useful go-to gift for the special girlfriends in your life, they are also the perfect treat if you’re needing to upgrade your tools this holiday season.

 

Here are 5 Key things you need to look for when selecting your brushes:

• High Quality (ideally synthetic with a Nylon and Talkon blend, and hand-made)
• Dense (does it feel like velvet?)
• Durable (the handle really matters)
• Variety (the right brush will serve a purpose)
• Cruelty-free and ethical (a good-quality brand will be a conscious supplier)

Let’s expand on some of the more technical points.

High Quality: Synthetic Fibres

Whilst some professional MUAs prefer to have a mixture of synthetic and natural brushes, one of the greatest benefits of synthetic hair is that unlike real hair brushes, they don’t require natural oils to stay healthy, so they will always have a greater life span. If you do choose a natural-fibre brush, always choose a cruelty-free brand and ensure you understand the brush maintenance involved (shampoo, conditioner, etc).

Choosing a brush that has been handmade and individually hand-tied means the fibres will be at equal length (versus something cheap and machine-made, which tends to be of unequal length and “spikey” – giving you an uneven blend).

As a rule of thumb, great synthetic brush fibres should look and feel like real hair – to the point that it is hard to tell the difference.  You will find brushes with quality hairs will feel super soft, like running velvet over your skin. When looking for a particular type of brush such as an eye blending brush, test it out on your eye by moving it back and forth to see how it feels.

Density

The density of the fibres on the brush is another thing you should consider – naturally, the quality of the brush will depend on how the fibres are packed.  A high-quality brush will always be packed quite tight with synthetic fibres, whereas cheaper made brushes will have less, making them fairly ineffective when it comes to applying makeup.

Looking at how the hairs have been sealed into place is also of importance.  Have the hairs been wrapped and then glued before it is ‘crimped’ into the ferule? (The ferule is the metal part of the brush that holds the head of the brush to the handle).  If so, this is a good sign, as this process will stop the brushes from shredding fibres.  Ideally you also want a double crimp, as a single crimp will result in the loss of fibres over time.

Durable (The Handle is Key!)

Brush handles are just as important as the brush fibres – the shape and size do matter, but the really important factor is what the handle is made from.  Really good quality brushes will be made of bamboo to withstand water damage and won’t split like cheap wood handles. Whilst you are looking at the handle, take the time to look at the ferule.  Whilst there are many different types, most of them are just painted aluminium – whereas what you really want is a copper one.

Variety: A word on Shape and Size

With so many shapes and sizes of brushes available these days, ensure you understand whyyou are buying a specific kind of brush. What is the purpose of the brush from a makeup application perspective? Also, consider your personal lifestyle, preferences and skin type.

For example, if you’re trying to buy a foundation brush, do you choose a flat one, or a fluffy one? What kind of skin do you have? What kind of makeup you do generally use? How long do you like to spend? All these things matter in selecting your brushes.

If you use a tinted moisturiser and prefer a very quick, natural-looking base for example, you can use your fingers first and then perfect the application with a fluffy brush, moving it in circles and blending outwards. Or, if you wear a more full-coverage foundation to cover acne for example, you may need a flat brush to really push and pat the product into the skin, and then layer it with powders etc. If you’re a beauty junkie or MUA, you may need various foundation brushes of different types to achieve a variety of looks.

The same goes for any area of your face – including the eyes. Again, consider the purpose and end result. The bigger and fluffier the eye brush, the more the product will disperse, distribute and blend, versus a smaller, more dense or more detailed brush which will provide a more focused application. With eyeliner for example where precision is key, you would select a small, fine, tapered brush, or even an angled brush.

Essential Brushes 

Even though each woman is different, there are a few essentials that will ensure you always get a good overall application. You can even go for brushes that are designed for multi-tasking (such as our range featured below) to save space in your make-up bag.

As per the image below showcasing the “Essential Brush Set” from the Makeup Weapons range – you will usually require a selection of base brushes (for your liquid foundation, concealer, powder, contour and blush), as well as a few others (for eyeshadows, brows, eyeliner, etc). Many eye brushes can multi-task as lip brushes. You could even cut the below selection in half to a handful of makeup brushes depending on your needs, and you could still get a flawless application!

Cruelty-free and Ethical Choices

Whilst you can’t ‘test’ anything on animals with makeup brushes, there can be plenty of heart-breaking cruelty involved. Many natural-fibre makeup brushes are usually made from employing painful methods that are just as cruel as animal-testing. If you know a brand uses cheap materials from China for example, you can pretty much guarantee their methods are not going to be cruelty-free. Whether it’s horse, goat, badger or squirrel hair (or something else) – many companies will claim to use humane methods that don’t seem believable. Don’t fall for it!

If you care about being ethical and not contributing to animal suffering through your dollars, then buying high-quality synthetic, or vegan brushes is the safest way to go!

In terms of being eco-friendly, is the ferule part of the brush actually copper? This is the best option. Many ethical cosmetics companies these days use recycled materials such as aluminium and plastic, their packaging is made of alternatives to paper such as tree-free paper, bamboo fibres, and cotton, and their handles are made from renewable bamboo.

 

In conclusion, don’t underestimate the importance of good brushes, because a good makeup look is all about well-blended, intentional, and precise application. And most importantly, have fun selecting and using your brushes, and experimenting with different looks!

See Website for local and online stockists 

www,makeupweapons.com.au 

www.instagram.com/makeup_weapons 

www.facebook.com/makeupweapons 

https://www.beautybyneha.com/5-ways-to-choose-makeup-brushes/?fbclid=IwAR0njbKkSIROtx0oe3_0gtv2m-5eMC5YRNur6VwDjHWXK-o1QpXywuTlCHI

BEAUTY WITHOUT CRUELTY

By Samara Nilsson

This creative cookie has been doing the rounds on the awards circuit, creating cutting-edge beauty editorial looks, touring with her very own booked out masterclass and has seamlessly positioned herself as an industry heavy weight!

We recently hosted the tremendously talented Isabelle De Vries in our headquarters for the Brisbane leg of her national tour and managed to snag the Gloss Queen herself for a quick Makeup Weapons Fast Five!

Read on to find out more about Isabelle’s love for high pressure situations, her 2018/19 makeup trend forecast and when she last said W-T-F back-stage at a fashion show!

Your body of work is amazing and you have worked on some insanely cool projects in insanely cool places, please tell us about a time (or several times) you thought “F*** yeah!” on the job.

It would actually have to be while I was on tour and in Brisbane.

The day after my Brisbane masterclass I shot an international fashion editorial for a clothing company on my way to the airport. It wasn’t so much the shoot itself, it was just the excitement and pressure. It was quite exciting and fast paced - I had to take my luggage with me to the shoot on location as I had to leave directly from the shoot and race to the airport.

I love working under pressure and remember thinking this is the life I want to live!

Tell us about your background, what path lead you to where you are today?

Like a lot of artists, I have a background in art. I still paint and draw to this day and use this as my inspiration for my editorial creations. I never set out with intention to teach, but I found that I love sharing what I know and getting others excited to create their own masterpieces.

Let’s talk 2018/19 trends, what is hot right night? 

Over shaped over arched brows are definitely out and the bushy natural browse are in! I have seen the trends change over the past year from your Instagram make up to just beautiful clean real skin and emphasis on the natural features of the face. I think we going to see a lot more beautiful glowing make up and a lot more emphasis on skin care for the rest of 2018 and 2019. I think it’s going to be all about creating a real organic glow from healthy hydrated skin. 

Tell us about your product-squad. What are the hero products/tools in your kit are your ride or dies?

Temptu SB foundation has got to be my favourite face product I love using both hand applied and through an airbrush. I love how it just melts into the skin and give the dewy natural glow.

Another of my favourites is Mac Cosmetics, Softening Lotion it is the perfect product for creating the perfect base. I also love Mark Traynor face tape in my editorial work to change the dynamics of my models face! I can’t live without it! 

What would be your advice for creatives looking to break it into beauty editorial?

A good photographer and a good model is key, even if you need to pay for shoot it’s worth it to get those hero images in your portfolio. If you can show in your portfolio a high level of work, you will then get offers of work with other creatives of a high level. Also, when doing your own shoot rather than ‘TFP’ you have complete creative control. 

You were just in Brisbane at Makeup Weapons HQ training your signature masterclass and always have exciting things happening! What is next on the horizon for you?

Wow what’s next? I’m expanding my tour to Canberra and Adelaide and looking to expand internationally next year. The support since my tour has been overwhelming! I’m excited for what 2019 holds! 

The Fast Five  

If you could have dinner with anybody dead or alive, who would that be and why?

Oooh... Can I say myself and 50 years? I mean wouldn’t it be great to get some insight a what paths to take!

Are you a dog or cat person?

I own two cats but I’m going to say dog, I really want a sausage haha 😂😂😂 

Tea or coffee? 

Neither I don’t drink any hot drinks! I know I’m strange.

What is your favourite Makeup Weapons brush? 

That would definitely have to be their lip-brush. I find it so easy to create a perfect crisp lip It’s the right Length and size! I use mine all the time. 

When was time you thought W-T-F? 

I’ll never forget when I worked backstage at fashion show and we airbrushed this incredible design with lace onto the models’ faces. They then went off to hair and when they came back the hairdressers had done wet pin curls on the face, smudged gel all over the make-up and completely ruined it the with only minutes to go on stage 😱

You can find Isabelle on Instagram under @isabelle.de.vries 

www.makeupweapons.com.au 

By Samara Nilsson

Looking for your daily dose of inspiration?

We take a look at the imaginative entrepreneurs and makeup artists that have been influencing the most change and creating some serious waves in our industry. These creative minds are using their talents to actually influence a change of market: be it a new standard, trend or product offering.

Some of these you may know, some of them might be the brains behind your favourite makeup brand, magazine or makeup styles.  In no particular order, here are our some of our favourite creative entrepreneurs, making waves in the beauty industry:

1. 
   
   Trish Lee (Founder, Laud Magazine). You may not know Trish personally, but she founded and now carefully curates the content for Australian beauty heavyweight magazine, Laud Magazine. With a diverse background as a makeup artist, hairdresser, IT guru, Trish is a multitalented entrepreneurial genius creating a digital and print platform for artists to showcase their work.
   
   

2. 
   
   Emma Chen (Makeup Artist, Hairstylist, Trainer). Emma has exploded in the industry over the last two years. With a beautiful Instagram showcasing her effortlessly styled texturised hair and flawless glowy makeup, coupled with a huge number of dedicated followers, it is not hard to see why. However, behind that beautiful Instagram is a hairdresser with over ten years experience and she has worked in all areas of the industry before deciding commercial makeup was her jam. Emma’s unique hair styling skills has set a new standard of expectation for artists on set. However not to worry, Emma is sharing the love and rolling out both hair and makeup workshops for artist to upskill and learn her techniques.
   
   

3. 
   Jo Horgan (Founder, Mecca Maxima, Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca in Myer). Hailing from the UK, this former Loreal executive had a dream of creating makeup hysteria in Australia. In 1997, she launched her first Mecca Cosmetica in Melbourne and the rest is history. Jo credits her success to her tenacity and not taking no for an answer.
   
   

4. 
   
   Max May (Celebrity Makeup Artist). Australian celbs have this guy on speed dial and one look at his portfolio, you will wish he was beating your face too. However outside of celebrity glam-bam and swoon worthy makeup and hair, Max’s portfolio is stocked with a solid dose of edgy editorial beauty. He is regularly published in high end beauty and fashion magazines and to just confirm that this bloke is boss at what he does, the guy is a damned Giorgio Armani ambassador! #goals
   
   

5. 
   
   Zoe Forster Blake (Author, Beauty Blogger, founder of Go-To Skin Care). You may know her as Hamish Blake’s other half, or for her book The Wrong Girl, which formed the basis for the television show. However outside of all that hoopla, Zoe was a beauty journalist for Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan and had her own highly successful beauty blog. She has written two beauty guides and now is the brains behind Go-To skincare, which is just about to launch in the USA.
   
   

6. 
   
   Sheri Vegas (Makeup Artist, founder of Makeup Weapons). With over 10 years working in the makeup and beauty industry, Sheri is an award winning makeup artist, having just slayed the 2018 Australian Makeup Industry Awards (winning Best Independent Brand and Business Thinker of the Year). She is also the founder of vegan and cruelty free high end makeup brush company Makeup Weapons. Being a full time creative holds no barriers for this babe, outside of the beauty industry, Sheri also has her own successful resin art business and does creative art workshops!
   
   

7. 
   
   Adam Johansen and Damian Martin, (Prosthetics and Special Effects Makeup Artists, directors of Odd Studio). These two artists are putting Australia on the map in terms of film and television special effects makeup. Creating prosthetics and puppets for movies on a blockbuster scale, think Pirates of the Caribbean, The Great Gatzby, Peter Rabbit, Pacific Rim 2 – just to name drop a few!. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, they have won an Oscar, Bafta and Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylists Guild award for their outstanding work on Mad Max: Fury Road
   
   

 8.

Rae Morris (Makeup Artist, Author, founder Rae Morris Brushes). Rae is the OG       makeup guru and the reason this copy writer is even in the industry! Outside of         inspiring the writer personally, Rae has written a whole swag of books, all of             which to the same high standard and utterly inspiring. She is regularly shooting       for some of the biggest brands and most famous faces. She is also to credit for       creating the world’s first magnetic brush range, create by Japanese artisans             and now stocked in Mecca Cosmetica. 

 9.

Ania Milczarczyk (Makeup Artist) Ania has a profound ability to create skin goals. Her entire Instagram is stocked with dreamy snaps of glammed up babes wearing her signature effortless glowy beauty.

 10.

Nikkia Joy (Australian Makeup Artist, Beauty Blogger, YouTube star and Founder of Nikkia Joy Cosmetics). Nikkia is a You Tube superstar that creates videos that both makeup professionals and enthusiasts adore. She has her own cosmetics line and she has lived every beauty hard-core’s dream by designing her own lipstick for MAC. For a little of Nikkia trivia: Nikkia is also a qualified Paramedic Nurse and still works in the industry!

 11.

Becca Gilmartin (Makeup Artist, Author, Trainer). Known for her quirky way of injecting body art into her creations, Becca has pushed the boundaries of what can be considered ‘beauty editorial’. She also has created her own bespoke makeup boot camp and book, which teaches both the importance of mindset along with her own signature creative techniques.

 12.

Lynette Phillips (CEO and founder of Max Media Lab and Max Connectors). After 20 years in senior executive publishing roles, Lynnette turned her passion for magazines and content creation into two highly successful businesses. Her digital and media agencies manage some of the leading (a few of them are even named in this article!) names in the makeup industry as well as some of Australia’s biggest social media influencers.

 13.

Nicole Thompson (Freelance makeup Artist, MAC Global Senior Artist). This creative cookie has travelled the wold directing beauty at international Fashion Weeks, working with the likes of Just Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood and Moschino (just to name a few). She has also worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Val Garland and Alex Box. Nicole’s work inspires you to get out crazy colours and push your artistic boundaries.

 14.

Shelley Sullivan (Founder, Model Co). After spending years running her own modelling agency, Shelly wanted to provide an affordable solution to women needing quick-fix beauty products in their handbag. Starting humbly with a lash curler, ModelCo now has over 250 products in I’s collection and is sold internationally. This certified #girlboss was also cast in The Nine Network’s Celebrity Apprentice as both an advisor to the host and mentor to the contestants!

https://www.makeupweapons.com.au/blogs/news/makeup-weapons-most-influential-people-in-the-australian-makeup-industry

Firstly, congratulations on your two wins at the Australian Makeup Industry Awards! Taking home Best Makeup Business Thinker of the Year and Makeup Weapons taking Best Self-Created Independent Makeup Brand! Woo-hoo! Tell us about your background, what path lead you to where you are today?

I intuitively knew from a young age that I wanted a career in makeup. As soon as I finished high school, I went straight into studying my Diploma. From the moment I started on the brushes, I knew it was my passion right away. That was in 2009 and I have been in the industry ever since.

I started Makeup Weapons from this passion, I always loved makeup brushes, however when I looked into how they were made I was shocked to find that most of my favourite brushes were made with animal hair and definitely not cruelty free. I started on a mission to give artists an option to buy a vegan brush, one that was just as good as it’s animal hair competitors.

I quietly developed Makeup Weapons for over three years, trialing different materials and manufacturers before I was really happy with the product. When I finally had a collection of high quality brushes that were not made from animals and I had my branding/ website underpinned, I launched the company. Since this time, due to the incredible support from the industry, Makeup Weapons has gone from strength to strength.

You have been doing the makeup thing for almost ten years, launched your own successful makeup brush business, please tell us about a time (or several times) you thought “F*** yeah!” in your career?

Winning the two awards was an incredible moment for me.

Also, when I did my first beauty expo for Makeup Weapons. I loved speaking to customers and hearing their thoughts about the products. It really validated all my hard work and I was proud to be able to deliver a quality product. It is always a buzz to hear from past customers year on year telling me their brushes are still amazing and makes all the hard work worth it.

Makeup Weapons is a little different from other brush companies, in that it is it 100% synthetic, cruelty free, made by hand entirely ethically and sustainable, what challenges did you face in sourcing the right products and getting the company to the industry heavyweight it is today?

It was incredibly challenging, at the time, synthetic hair was a new technology on the market. The quality and grade of hair that I was looking to manufacture was unheard of. I looked for ages to find a manufacturer that was able to deliver a product that was 100% vegan, cruelty free, sustainable and also employed their staff in ethical standards. I am glad I did not settle until I found the right manufacturer, their employees are not just ‘workers’, they are artisans, each brush takes two months to make, however the quality payoff is worth it.

What would be your advice to anybody looking to start their own cosmetics or beauty company?

Everyone tells you in business that you need a one-year plan to get started, but you really need a two-year plan. The first year is fun and exciting, you have your start-up capital, a fresh new business concept and lots of energy. Your second year is much harder to keep the momentum going. You need new products, new marketing strategies to make sure your audience is still captivated by your brand.

I design all my products with artist in mind, our bio glitter is a clear example of this. We chose large pots of glitter simply because as an artist, you can go through product incredibly quickly. My tip is to try to help your ideal client solve a problem.

So, after totally smashing the awards, what is next on the horizon for you? What can we expect to see from Makeup Weapons in the next twelve months?

We are going to start tackling the US market and developing a cosmetic line.

Oprah, because she built her empire from the ground up. She would be an enormous resource to talk to – even just for a night.

Are you a dog or cat person?

Dog. You can even see my pup Coco in some of Makeup Weapons’ earlier photos!

Tea or coffee? 

Tea – I love peppermint and honey. To be honest I have never tried coffee.

What is your favourite Makeup Weapons brush?

Dome foundation brush, it was the first brush I designed for my collection and it has a special spot in my heart.

When was time you thought W-T-F? 

I dropped a Bio Glitter in my kit over the weekend (of course in our hot pink shade ‘Mean Girls’!) and it is the plague of the makeup world!

https://www.makeupweapons.com.au/blogs/news/sheri-from-makeup-weapons-talks-about-her-big-wins-at-the-amias

By Samara Nilsson for Makeup Weapons 

The writer herself is new to this whole world of Youtubery, until about six months ago, I only used the Tube to see videos of cats being jerks, the Hoff eating that cheeseburger drunk, dubstep remixes of the Kazoo Kid and of course, my personal favourite, that goat that spent a day terrorising a town in South America.

For those of you, who alike me, are new to the video makeup game, Youtube is a great place to start to get your noggin around the concept of putting makeup on your noggin, but in amongst all the rich beauty advice, there is a lot of digital white noise on there (please people, do not try clown contouring).  

So, for the purpose of saving y’all the drama of digging through all the random terrifying sh*t that would make you want to toss away your beauty products and join and Armish community, I have found some of Australia’s video blogger heavyweights, ones that are the real deal and will steer you in the right direction when it comes to matters of the face.  

Chloe Morello

Most of Chloe’s videos are under ten minutes, so perfect for beauty lovers looking for a quick fix or a bit of inspiration. This bright and bubbly babe is known for keeping it real and her audience loves her for it.

Ms Morello is not just a pretty face, she also co-developed the Revlon Sculpt and Highlight Contour Kit and has her own Ciate London shadow palette.

Get it girl!

See Chloe’s video on Instagram makeup here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJDWKNidpKE

Nikkia Joy

This gal does it all! Pro makeup artist, YouTube queen, she also has her own beauty line in the works and is now creating a personalised lipstick shade with beautifying heavyweight, MAC Cosmetics. 

#talentedAF

I love her video for this rocking cranberry smokey eye holiday look! See if you can spot the Makeup Weapons ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD1ThBmjDbo

Lauren Curtis

This YouTube kween is known for her glamour statement looks.

Although predominately beauty based, Lauren also publishes lifestyle videos and is very generous with sharing her life with her fans.

If you are looking for some party makeup inspiration along with some solid product knowledge, Lauren is your girl!

This ultra-glam smokey-eye would be the perfect party accessory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X72qURBCNq8

Heidi Hamound

In my mind, Heidi Hamound embodies your stereotypical YouTube superstar, her videos are well edited, her product knowledge and content is tight and she nails her looks every time.

Heidi is known for her super-glowy-lashy-flawlessAF aesthetic, she does glamour looks and she does them well.

Check out Heidi’s signature style with this glowy summertime look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzNtaPZHfUA

Michelle Crossan

If you are looking for natural beauty inspiration, you will love Michelle Crossan.

Although Michelle’s stuff focuses primarily on high end beauty, she does let her audience know when she can find cheaper substitutes.

Also, she keeps her website up to date, so if you prefer the old fashioned pictured blogpost (or just can’t watch Youtube because the boss is close by and between googling cats being jerks, you are kind of starting to doubt your job security), you can read her content (on the low key) at http://beautylifemichelle.com/.

Check out Michelle’s channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/BeautyLifeMichelle

Rachel Lea

Rachel is a baben’ Melbourne blogger with a huge range of high-quality videos. Her content covers a wide spectrum, from DYI to lifestyle and beauty and I found her tips on organising your makeup area are incredibly helpful (my makeup area looks like the beauty version of the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, yanno the one on the beach #makeupwarzone).

See her video here on what is in her travel makeup kit here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc0f_l39dvY

P.s. I also live the zip-lock makeup life

Makeup Weapons!

Yes that is right, Makeup Weapons has it’s very own Youtube now! Curated by its founder and makeup super star Sheri Vegas, this channel features stuff straight from the makeup artist’s mouth and is incredibly helpful if you would like some advice on how best to use your Makeup Weapons brushes.

I loved this sweet and subtle smokey-eye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L32rQ4z_Nhc

Samara Nilsson is a freelance writer, content creator and makeup artist who lives in Brisbane, aside from writing short bios about herself in the third person, she dabbles in a bit of beauty training (not bias, but her makeup workshops are pretty fun and you should buy one so that she can continue to fund her dog’s taste for luxury pet food), painting on peoples’ noggins and singing to gangster rap in her underwear when no-body (except her dog) is home, you can see her body of work, along with more third person talk about herself here: www.samaranilsson.com or find her on the I-G @samaralouise.

https://www.makeupweapons.com.au/blogs/news/australian-beauty-youtuber-superstars-that-will-inspire-you

Brief 

'Makeup is Art'

Get inspired by those words and create a Makeup master piece. 

Choose an artist or art work that inspires you and create a makeup look around it. It can be a painting hanging in a gallery, street art down an alley way or an artist him or her self that sparks your creativity.  

Eligibility

• This contest is open internationally

• Entrants to the Makeup Enthusiast category:
• Must not be a practising makeup artist with over two year experience;
• Can be beauty or makeup students completing their degrees with less than two years’ experience;
• Can operate a YouTube channel, blog or any other beauty related outlet.

• Entrants to the Pro Artist category:
• Entrants to the Pro Makeup Artist category are makeup artists with over two years’ industry experience.

 Prizes 

• Pro Makeup Artist Category (Value of $8,000)

• Pro Makeup Artist Category Runner Up

Makeup Enthusiast winner (Value of $4,000)

• Makeup Enthusiast Category Runner Up

TOP TEN 

The top ten in both Pro and Enthusiast will receive the full Makeup Weapons brush set as well as a top ten certificate.  

Judges

The competition closes on 23:59 midnight AEST on 30th of November 2016 and judging will commence from that date.

There will be a panel of international industry professionals retained as judges for this competition.

This competition is judged on skill. Chance or number of entries plays no part in determining the winners. All entries will be judged individually based on image quality, skill and creativity. The best entries in each category, as determined by the judges, will win a prize.

5. Judging Rules

• The competition will be scored out of 100 marks
• Over all look including hair, nails, set design – 20 marks
• Meeting the brief – 20 marks
• Creativity of the finished makeup – 20 marks
• Makeup application technique – 15 marks
• Makeup look – 15 marks
• Social media attention – 10 marks
• A hair stylist, photographer, model, videographer, stylist and/or any other industry professional can be used to help with the overall look of the entry, however is not a requirement of entry
• Hair styling does not exclusively need to be done by the makeup artist and can be done by another professional
• Airbrushing and use of special effects makeup is permitted in both categories
• All entries must be done by a singular artist and cannot have other makeup artist involved in the entry
• When posted to Instagram accounts, entrant must follow and tag the following social media accounts: @makeupweapons, @laudmagazine, @ponicosmetics, @glamcor, @modelrocklashes and hashtag those companies i.e. #makeupweaponsart
• All entries must be done by a singular artist and cannot have other makeup artist involved in the entry
• Contact lenses are permitted to be applied
• Retouching is permitted on the competition images
• The artist must submit 1 "behind the scene" shot of them using a Makeup Weapons brush.
• Completed entry will have two images of the work created for the competition on the artist’s Instagram. One BTS and the 2nd image of the final work. 
• All entry must be in English
• Entries are open internationally
• One entry person
• Must have rights to enter the images into the competition from all parties involved
• By entering the competition, you give Makeup Weapons the rights to use the images and video for promotional material for Makeup Weapons
• All entries must in be submitted by 12:00pm Queensland time on 29th of November 2016
• Judging for top ten will be held on 2 December 2016 by a panel of industry experts
• Top 10 will be announced on the 10th December 2016 and the winners and runners-up of both category will be announce on 15th  December 2016
• The judge’s decision is final
• All scoring will remain confidential to Makeup Weapons organisers
• Failure to follow competition rules and guidelines will result in disqualification.

6. How to Enter

• Using the phrase ‘makeup is art’ entrants are to pick an artist or an artwork that inspires them and create a makeup look around it
• Entrants must take a BTS picture of them using a Makeup Weapons brush whilst completing the look
• Entrants must also take at least one still photograph of the makeup un-retouched
• Entrants are allowed then to enter one retouched finished photograph of the look;
• Entrants must upload their makeup image(s) to social media Instagram using the #makeupweaponsart and tag Makeup Weapons as well as @laudmagazine @ponicosmetics @modelrocklashes @glamcorofficial 
• Entrants must use at least one Makeup Weapons brush in creating their entry
• Makeup can be done on the entrant themselves or on a model
• In your entry post to Instagram tell us which Artist or Art work you are inspired by 
• If you are chosen to be in the top ten you will be required to submit all 3 images as well as paragraph on your entry telling us more about your entry and what inspired you.
• At the bottom of your entry post to Instagram you must Include an email for contact.  

7. Prize Drawing

The prize will be drawn after the date of 10 December 2016 after all judges have had necessary time to assess the entries.

Along with the prizes from the above mentioned sponsors, winners will receive a trophy and certificate and runners-up will receive a certificate stating their places in the Makeup Weapons, Weapons of Mass Creation Awards.  

Meet one of our artists from our Makeup Weapons Master Class.

For the past 14 years, Australian born artist Heidi Scarlett King has built a name internationally in the makeup artistry and beauty world, working with some of the biggest and best names in television, fashion, and cosmetics throughout the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Here are a few questions for our followers to get to know you a bit better.

MW: Tell us about your background, what path lead you to where you are today?

Well, I'm a Perth girl originally, but left at 18 to pursue makeup in Sydney (it was 2001 & not many makeup schools in Oz!) I fell in love with Sydney so I stayed on, assisting as much as I could whilst working part-time at MAC. I was lucky to begin assisting with makeup maestro Dotti for almost 2 years which was in incredible jumpstart into high fashion. My 1st day with her was shooting a Vogue cover, the 2nd day Harper's bazaar. At 23 I was instantly addicted to fashion makeup, so I continued to work & learn & although it was hard times, it was very exciting too. I worked every season for MBFW & got an agent, but In 2008 I was ready for new challenges, so I packed up & moved to London. It certainly was a challenge starting again in a new country but after a year (of wondering why the hell is moved!!) contacts & work started to open up slowly, and soon I realised that there's a much higher ceiling with work in London than lil OZ (and that was exhilarating!) I started freelancing on a lot of TV shows & began working personally with some high profile names. It was in 2012 I was asked to do a screen test for a well known morning show, ITV This Morning show, for their next beauty experts; I ended up getting the role & they created a beauty squad segment. We created beauty How-Tos and also appeared on live TV answering viewers Questions. It was such an exciting time, beauty companies would throw sooo much product at me because they wanted it in the show. It also opened up a lot of doors in the way of presenting/hosting that I would never have predicted.

MW: Tell us about your product-squad. What are the hero products/tools in your kit are your ride or dies?

Well, I must admit this squad list changes quite a lot as I'm constantly trying new products!! At the minute, it's: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder (this powder has been no.1 for 6 years with me! Say no more) The Estee Edit Pore minimizing stick (a new one, great for oil & open pores), Studio 10 makeup glowplexion plumping blush (make everyone's skin look like you've just stepped out of a spa) Kiko cosmetics water Eyeshadows (wet and dry, has serious pigment!) Charlotte tilbury (cream shadow pots.. They stay looking wet & are long-wearing)

MW: You always have exciting things happening! What is next on the horizon for you?

I do??! I guess a lot of that comes from constantly looking for new things to work on (that's a job in itself!!) but I go crazy when I'm quiet!! Things coming up are I'll be working on a new tv series (keep an eye out), a work trip to shanghai with a very glamorous 'housewife', my masterclasses start soon-yay! And some exciting masterclasses with the Beauty expo & some other makeup brands :"))

MW: You work a lot in TV on some very interesting shows, you mentioned you started working on TV shows in London, tell us about some of the shows you've done thus far.

Yes, actually I did briefly assist the head of makeup for channel 7 straight out of makeup school on a few shows but quickly moved into fashion. It was in London & since being back in Oz that I've done shows tv again. In London I worked on quite a few entertainment shows for various channels but I guess one of the highlights was The bachelor and getting flown to St Tropez for the filming! This year I was the hair & makeup supervisor on The Voice for the battles & blinds and Aus Next Top model. It's been a great year so far, I feel very lucky to have been asked on such fun shows.

Fast Five MW: What could you absolutely not live without? Energy supplements at the moment! (All natural, don't worry!!)

MW: When was there a time you thought W-T-F? All the time! I think it springs to mind quite regularly when scrolling through Instagram & seeing some absurd makeup pics! All this clowning/baking/caking biz.. Hello..!! You look ridiculous!!!

MW:Are you a dog or cat person? Both of recent! Always been a dog lover, but now recently an insane cat lady thanks to my two rescue babies :"))

MW:If you could have dinner with anybody dead or alive, who would that be and why? Kevin Aucoin (I'm a 90s fan girl), Harvey Specter (big suits fan.. Yes I know he's not real!) Brett Easton Ellis (one of my fave fiction writers), Kurt cobain (I've got so many questions!), Julienne Moore (I find her intriguing) and John Cleese (mad & funny).

MW: Favorite place in the world to holiday in? Mauritius.. I got married there a few years back & I'm desperate to go back again. It's got history & culture, breathtaking unspoilt beaches, luxury placed to stay & beautiful warm people.

Make sure you check out Heidi on her Instagram @heidiscarlettkingmakeup as well Heidi with me one of our Key makeup artists in the Makeup Weapons Ultimate Master Class. Date are up now under shop on the website for Brisbane and Sydney Dates. Don't forget you can book now and pay later with After Pay. 

https://www.makeupweapons.com.au/blogs/news/fast-5-with-heidi-scarlett-king

It seems like hair visionary Shannon Williams came almost out of nowhere to make his mark on the creative world. With his ability to effortlessly create pure hair art, ranging from gravity defying hairstyles to seamless polished looks and everything in between, this industry trail blazer is carving his way through not only the Brisbane editorial scene, but also on an international creative level. Whether shooting from rooftops in New York or working locally in Brisbane, Shannon puts 110% passion into all his jobs. We sat down recently with this sassy and sweet natured hair artist to talk 2016 trends, his professional journey and his ride or die products.

MW: Your body of work is amazing and you have worked on some insanely cool projects in insanely cool places, please tell us about a time (or several times) you thought “F*** yeah!” on the job.

SW: Last year when I was in New York for Fashion Week & had five shoots shot in Brooklyn and on rooftop buildings in the heart of New York City. It was such a monumental moment.

MW: Tell us about your background, what path lead you to where you are today?

SW: I was born in Brisbane, parents originally from NZ, growing up with a music and dance background gave me the platform to be very creative. I finished year 12 and started to find full time experience as a hairstylist. I did full time college and got myself a job hired as an apprentice. Things happened and I ended up finding my passion in the editorial and photographic world. To this day I take my dance and music energy to capture in some amazing imagery!

MW: Let’s talk 2016 hair trends, what is hot right night?

SW:Texture, texture, texture! Bangs that add movement and lobs are going shorter

with added texture. Sea Salt Spray dried in leaving ends to be a lot more natural

for a grown out natural look. I say more texture the better!

MW: Tell us about your product-squad. What are the hero products/tools in your kit are your ride or dies?

SW: Sachajuan! Ocean Mist one of my favourite products ever made! Also my Mason Pearson Brush

MW: What would be your advice for creatives looking to break it into editorial hairstyling?

SW: Don’t wait for opportunities, start grinding, look for creatives and start shooting! Make sure you know your principles and start creating. I’m still trying to break into it

myself. Don’t give up!

MW: You always have exciting things happening! What is next on the horizon for you?

SW: Hopefully move overseas ASAP.

The Fast Five

 MW: If you could have dinner with anybody dead or alive, who would that be and why?

 SW: BEYONCE! She’s a triple threat! Hard worker and Determined. Love me someone who

grows constantly.

MW: Are you a dog or cat person?

 SW: Dog

MW: What could you absolutely not live without?

SW: FOOD, love FOOD

MW: Tea or coffee?

SW: Tea

MW: When was time you thought W-T-F?

Seeing my latest collection X

Want to find out more about Shannon? Look up his Instagram @shannonjjwilliams

https://www.makeupweapons.com.au/blogs/news/119791235-fast-5-with-shannon-james-julian-williams

We’re sure you have heard it all before, those beauty tips that seem okay, but when you take the plunge and actually try them are total duds, like that red lipstick concealer crap or contouring with a damned spoon. 

Here at Makeup Weapons we understand how much white noise there is on the internet, so we asked professional makeup artists for their favourite beauty hacks and have come up with this list of practical beauty tips, that are tested and tried and actually work!

1. Use Coconut Oil to remove eye makeup
It is no secret that coconut oil is pretty much made form the loins of God and can be used for a range of things outside of the kitchen - from mouthwash to moisturiser! So, it should come as no surprise that it makes for an amazing (and gentle) eye makeup remover. Just Massage a small amount into your peepers to eradicate all remnants of eye makeup - it is even strong enough to break down gel eye liner!

2. Turn lipsticks semi-matte with tissues and translucent powder
Matte lipsticks are 100% in at the moment, but sometimes finding that perfect shade (and perfect formula) can be a bit difficult! With lipsticks having an expiry date, you want to be using as much of those suckers as you can, but never fear, you can turn your favourite shade semi-matte using a few kit essentials.

Method:

1. After lipstick is applied, separate a tissue (so it is super thin) and place it over your lips.
2. Using your Makeup Weapons Pointed Blender Brush, apply translucent powder liberally to your lips.
3. Touch up with any concealer as necessary to keep those lip lines sharp! 

3. Create indestructible bobby pins with hairspray
Sick of flimsy bobby pins falling out? Or your up styles just not holding as strongly? Firstly, are you using your pins the right way? The rig (i.e. The bumpy side) of the bobby pin should be downward facing, this is your first failsafe against slippery bobby pins. Secondly, spay those babies with hairspray before applying, it will give your bobby pins extra grip to hold even the heaviest of styles.  

4. When rocking a dark smokey-eye, do your eyes first! 
We've all been there, you are racing out the door, about to finish your makeup, and notice some dastardly fall out, you think, 'I'll just gingerly wipe that away with a q-tip’.

All of a sudden your few specs of fall out turn into a one giant smear that leaves you looking like an Adam’s family relation (BTW chances of this happening double when you are rushing!). If you know you are doing a heavy smokey-eye, do not be afraid to start on your eyes first, and then come back to the rest of your face. This way, if you get any fall out, you can just wipe it away with a baby wipe and then start on creating a flawless base.  This not only saves your base and product, but will save you time. Also, do not freak out when you see yourself with boss smokey eyes and no other makeup, it does look a little starkly at first, however have faith, once you have your usual makeup on it'll all work. 

5. Cut Bar lashes in half to help with application
If you are new to bar lashes, hell, even if you are a regular 'lasher', you know that some types are trickier to apply! Avoid getting your eyes stuck together and cut your lashes into more manageable pieces and apply section at a time, your bottom lashes will thank you for it!

6. Mix dishwashing liquid and shampoo for beautiful soft bushes
Woefully missing when your brushes were soft fluffy and white?

Mix a ratio of 50:50 dishwashing liquid to shampoo to work up a lather and get those babies looking brand new again! The dishwashing liquid will sanitise your brushes and the shampoo will leave them velvet soft. Best of all, this mixture is a boat load cheaper then brush cleaner!

Want to learn how to clean your brushes? See our video here

Becca Gilmartin is a Makeup and Body Artist working between Australia and the US, her work has been showcased on celebrities such as Kimbra, Dannii Minogue, Tara Moss, and Angus Stone. Becca is also the Beauty Editor of LAUD Magazine and took the title of ABIA's 2014 'Makeup Artist of the Year'. Makeup Weapons sits down with Becca to learn a little more about her body of work and her plans for the future.

Your body of work is amazing and you have worked on some insanely cool projects in insanely cool places, please tell us about a time (or several times) you thought “F*** yeah!” on the job. 

Ha! The appearance from the outside is always more glamorous than the reality I assure you. Most of the time the “F*** yeah!” moments come once it is published... or months later when updating my website and I get to appreciate what happened in the chaos and I have forgotten the pain of no sleep, no light and no time.

I had a “F*** yeah!” moment when shooting for Kimbra in the Joshua Tree desert once my body art  was on set and I saw how it was being shot (and I didn't stuff it up)... another “F*** yeah!” moment when shooting Kimbras 90s music video in LA and I had transitioned a glitter makeup design to a clean makeup with geometric teal eyeliner in 10 minutes and her makeup read as clean and balanced in camera... and the latest “F*** yeah!” moment was seeing L A U D magazine in print for the first time. 

 

The creative process is different for everybody, tell us how you get your head in the game for big jobs. 

Hmmm... being open to dancing with the chaos and having a lot of quiet thinking time to myself. That usually does it. Quiet time and the adrenaline of last minute brief edits and lack of time forces focus... that, and I have learned the ability of learning to clear my mind when under pressure and only letting in productive and creative thoughts... aka trusting my guts in every situation. Nothing ever runs smoothly or goes to plan so learning to deal with breakdowns in a powerful way is a golden skill to have.

 

You recently took up the post as Beauty Editor for Laud Magazine, tell us more about this exciting new publication and what we can expect to see within its walls.

LAUD is one of the most exciting projects I have been involved with...we are a luxury beauty magazine that reads like a fashion magazine. It is a showcase of Makeup, Hair, SPFX and body art talents to inspire and appeal to our creative eye candy whilst at the same time having a voice for our industry.

You can expect to see aspirational work by our industries best... interviews with industry masters and conversations about topics that are important to this modern world. There are comprehensive beauty notes so beauty lovers can spy on what everyone uses and we also showcase up and coming talent with our RISE section. Print is not dead so I see LAUD as a beauty publication that many artists and beauty lovers alike will use to rip pages out of to use as inspiration for their own work.

 

You have been rolling out master classes for quite some time now, however yours have a few more elements outside of just creative content, tell us about this? 

People always ask me what my secrets are to being 'so creative' and/or getting to be involved in such great projects... so I created MUA Bootcamp that explains it all. You learn body art techniques that are used as exercises to train your hand/eye for advanced brush skill and confidence in any circumstance ( this is NOT a body art course) and I also break down exercises to help set knee knocking goals and how to achieve them. There is nothing more to it than that and trust me... I am a living example that this works.

I am a gold coast trained MUA who thought she wasn't going to get anywhere and now a MUA who now gets to travel the world, write books and be a beauty editor of an amazing magazine... it wasn't 'luck' or an 'accident'. I just practice what I preach.

You always have exciting things happening! What is next on the horizon for you?

I am moving to LA sometime this year and finally releasing my books MUA Bootcamp and 'We The Painted'...

I will travel back to Oz to run the Face2Face Makeup Awards in August at Beauty Expo and teach MUA Bootcamps... but in the immediate future we are working on issue 2 and 3 of LAUD magazine and we have some cool content coming out! Most of my energy is going into those projects at the moment... not a bad problem to have!

The Fast Five  

If you could have dinner with anybody dead or alive, who would that be and why?My grandparents, Joan and Darcy as they died when I was younger and I would love to know them more. They were amazing humans.

Are you a dog or cat person?

I am an animal person full stop. You can't make those kinds of decisions between loves. 

What could you absolutely not live without? 

Water... thats not a sarcastic answer... I am a 2/3 litre a day girl. Also... water goes into coffee and tequila/lime/soda. I equally cannot live without those things either.

Tea or coffee? 

Coffee times a million. Tea in the evening.

When was time you thought W-T-F? 

The LAST time i thought this (which is about 20 times a day) was yesterday at the gym I watched WAGS on E! and that was my response to the heavily over contoured makeup on everyone. I'm talking 10 times darker than their natural colour as a ring around their faces... as dark as my long black coffee and the centre of their faces my friends flat white. What is happening? In saying that.. I haven't checked Instagram yet. 

https://www.makeupweapons.com.au/blogs/news/115586755-fast-5-with-becca-gilmartin

Here at Makeup Weapons we are not the ‘New Year new me’ types, however we have made some careful observations of the evolution of some of 2015’s biggest trends. Let us start saying that this article is not to shame 2015, 2015 was a fantastic time in the beauty world! Like the proverbial caveman, the makeup world is swiftly evolving, meaning we can let go of some of these techniques and embrace new styles. Also, Instagram has a lot to answer for. Could 2016 see the death of Instagram trends?

We damn well hope so. Ta-ta overdone matte lipsticks, hello luscious glossy lips.
Why? Mostly because of three words: cat’s bum mouth. 

Wet to matte lipsticks have taken the industry by storm, with excellent staying power and the ability to quick dry for sharp lines they have been a godsend for makeup-artists and beauty lovers alike.

However, these products can be quite drying on your lips, which coupled with the fact that your mouth generally likes to move, over time the product will find its way into the fine lines of your lips and before you know it, your pretty-pink lippy starts looking like a pretty-pink butt-hole. Although the formulas of these products are developing to become better wearing, we are anticipating in 2016 that the natural glossy lip will make a comeback. We love using a pencil then stacking with gloss, however watch how close you get to the edges you go with the gloss, because that stuff will run like a jilted lover, instead build your product from the inside out. 

We get it, y’all love big lips, hell, we love big lips! But, there are subtler ways to achieve this rather than with broken lip-lines and weird suction cup things. Also, please do not even bother with the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge, it is the equivalent of the waist trainer of the makeup world and you are not fooling anybody.

RIP Instagram ‘on fleek’ brow
Okay, we hope that this is a painfully obvious one. But, for the love of God, get rid of heavily stencilled brows, especially the kind that a super square at the front of your brow! Unless, of course, that is because you want to look like a Geordie Shore extra! 

Instead embrace a slightly fuller, more natural softer arched brow, we are loving Samantha Harris’ brows. The crazy thing about this makeup fail, is that it is so easily corrected, just brush your brow colour through your brows to soften the look. You could do this using a clean mascara wand, or the Makeup Weapons 1.10 Angled Brow Brush, which is specifically designed for perfect brows.

 
Perfect brows on Samantha Harris Source: Popsugar

Bye-bye cray-cray contouring
Over the last few years the world has revelled in the discovery of contouring, but 2015 saw contouring go to a whole new level of crazy. Let us start this off saying, we are contour lovers, but there is a time and a place for a heavy contour, and for the most part, natural daylight is not one of those places. Unless you are walking around with studio lighting, those sharp heavy angles and overly bright eye highlights look far from flattering.  

A lot of us were taught many moons ago the old ‘use three foundations to contour’ trick, but alike most industries, makeup formulas, technology and techniques are always evolving, and you no longer need to utilise this dinosaur technique to achieve a solid contour. In addition, the wastage of three foundations is absolute blasphemy!

Instead, opt for a tiny bit of sculpting cream or even a pigmented concealer and buff it in with Makeup Weapons 1.3 Angled Contour Brush to get your contour on point. Be mindful of your under eye highlight colour selection as well, a lot of standardised contour palettes have paler then white colours for your highlight, which also can show up strangely in daylight.  

If you wanted a minimal look, you could even use powder products with the Makeup Weapons 1.2 Small Tapered Powder Brush, it is soft & fluffy and will let you sculpt like a renaissance period artisan, rather than like a drunk tradie with a chisel.

Using the right makeup brushes and tools right from the start will help you in the long run, with contouring you don’t want harsh edges, you want soft curves and blending out heavy lines can be a real pain in the bum. If done correctly, you should not actually know someone is contoured, also, brown foundation sideburns aren’t really big in the beauty world!

Lastly, clown contouring is possibly the worst thing to happen to the industry (right behind that flipping lip challenge thing), it is as if someone saw that Simpson’s episode with the makeup gun and thought ‘How’d about I put a beauty blender on that’. Ten points to Gryffindor for creativity, but how about no?