Here are some of the latest examples and how to read between those lines (the bold/italics are mine) …

Makeup artist (and hair) needed last minute for a headshot…

One look, super clean and easy, headshot in natural light indoors. In and out in 1/2 hr. Talent is paying, so there is not much money, but we’re looking for someone who might come in once lo budget in order to create a relationship with well established Beverly Hills studio and established producer. Students and recent grads are perfect. $50.00 plus tip.

On face this is not as completely terrible as CL listings can go. They are saying that they only expect the artist to be there for a half-hour, they were offering a little bit of a rate (we’ll get to that)… not bad (although they do call it “easy” and you know from my last article on bad jobs how much I love that ). First of all you have to understand how rates work; $50/half hour is reasonable, but most artists will not book by the half-hour. Reason being unless you happen to live right by wherever it is that they are shooting you have to factor in travel and that means time and gas. Likewise, in the real world it is extremely unlikely that you would actually only be on-set for a half-hour. Every working artist will tell you stories of how the artist suddenly “had to” stay for touch-ups or changes, or in some cases I’ve even had extra talent pop up on a shoot and they tried to keep me at the same rate, etc. Moreoever – even if none of that happens – if you are booked on this job you cannot take anything else in that time period. Realistically you’ve got to figure this is actually going to take at least 2 hours of your time. At that point $50 is not sounding too great, is it? This was listed in the LA area and it is much more common for headshots in LA to be in the $150-$200+ range for 2-3 hours booked time. Lastly, saying the Talent is paying as an excuse of why it’s only a $50/half-hour booking makes no sense, just charge the Talent a realistic rate.

But let us get to the really questionable part of the post; what established photographer and producer does not already have an entire Rolodex (Blackberry, iPhone, you know what I mean) of artists they already know and work with? Why do they need a new artist all of a sudden? OH, because the artists with whom they normally work are not willing to work for this low rate? Yep. So you mean when they get a full rate job they are not, in fact, going to hire whoever did this ‘lil cheapie job but they are going to hire one of their regular artists? That’s exactly right. This is one of the tricks I see most often on Craigslist and I HATE HATE HATE it. I file this under the “future opportunity” tab of Craiglist false promises. Maybe this listing turned out to be the one out of a million exception to the “future opportunity” rule, but in all likelihood this is a One and Done deal. Or they’ll keep calling whoever did this gig for little cheapie jobs and keep hiring someone else for the real ones. Either way once people know you will work cheap there is no incentive for them to pay you more. No matter where you are in your career, it is important not to become known as The Discount Artist (term coined by makeup artist and Camera Ready Cosmetics founder, Mary Erickson).

Sad to say that when an unfinished draft of my article accidentally posted last week I had someone email me to ask if this position was still open.

~~~~~~~~~~
Next let’s take a look at a listing I’ve noticed fairly often on Craigslist….

We are shooting a makeup tutorial video and looking for a makeup artist. Looking for someone who can clearly explain techniques and have a bright personality. Must be comfortable in front of the camera and be able to take direction. Prior on-camera or acting experience would be helpful. MUA will be paid $120 flat for session. Please attach resume for consideration.

Compensation: Yes, see above

~~~~~~~~~~
This last job listing was sent to me by one of my fab NYC makeup friends. This was not listed on Craigslist, this came from the other bane of my makeup artist existence, Model Mayhem. I am not even going to go into Model Mayhem right now, but suffice to say most of their listings are as bad as – if not worse – than those found on Craigslist. This listing definitely fits our theme…

MUA needed for Jewelry shoot

I’m Seeking – Makeup Artist
Unpaid Test

Details:
Seeking a make-up artist for an upcoming jewelry shoot. Photographs will be used on our website as well as our look books and advertisements. Must be available for all day shoot.

First of all it is listed as an unpaid TEST but then when you read the listing they plan to use the photographs for their website, lookbook and advertising. There are not even any lines to read between on this “job”, this listing is just ludicrous. Since when do artists not make money on advertising jobs? Those are amongst the highest paid jobs an artist can get. I am not saying that a small designer such as this should have the same budget to work with as Prada, but I am saying they should expect to pay something for an artists services. Further, E-commerce (websites) and Lookbooks are also paid jobs. Nothing about this listing is a “test” in any sense of the term so for this person to list it as such is disingenuous. This person would also like a full day of your time. Now, I often see these kinds of jobs listed as trade for product. A lot of start-up lines may not have cash to pay but they will at least offer comparable product in return for the artists services. While one should be discerning with trade jobs, it can be a fair way to get it done particularly if the designer and the artist are both equally starting out or if great connections will be made, etc. You will notice this listing says nothing of a trade. This person is offering the artist nothing. Basically put this person is building a website, a lookbook and advertising with the intention of building their business in order for them to make money selling jewelry. They would like the makeup artist to play a key role in building this business for them, absolutely for free with no compensation at all whatsoever. And do not forget: makeup costs money, so you would actually be PAYING to be on this shoot. One can speculate on all the various scenarios as to who is getting paid or not, would this be a good portfolio piece or not, etc. (also notice they did not say you would receive prints for your portfolio or website). I went to the website and this designer’s wares are already in several stores (in multiple states) and they have already garnered press in major publications. Bottom line: I have to believe that an artist would be better served working for a client who has any level of respect for their makeup artist. This person does not respect your time enough to offer any kind of compensation.

Let me be the one to say it: The artist unfortunate enough to respond to that listing is getting played, straight up.

With each passing year, the education the show provides gets better. This year’s list of guest speakers included some of the industry’s best such as Sharon Gault, Mario Dedivanovic and of course, Mr. Maurice Stein. Between the Keynote Speaker Forums and the Main Floor Seminars, there was something to meet the needs of every type of artist from student to pro.

One of the areas I was impressed with this year was the Professional Resource Area hosted by Crystal Wright. Ms. Wright had “PRO Pods” set up on Saturday and Sunday where you could meet an agent, speak to a producer, meet a blogger and many other business and career opportunities. Sadly I was unable to make any of the resource areas on Saturday, which is the day time was set aside to meet an agent. One-on-one time with an agent to get feedback on your work is a tremendous opportunity! On Sunday, choices were limited and I was unable to attend the Pro Pods due to scheduling conflicts. This is one area I really hope they bring back next year.

Sunday, I attended Mario Dedivanovic’s Keynote forum. Mario has worked on countless editorials and has created many of the stunning red carpet looks you see on TV, but creating Kim Kardashian’s glamorous look is what most of the world knows him for. This turned out to be a very popular forum as there was standing room only and photos were strictly prohibited. After waiting more than 20 minutes after his scheduled time, Mario finally hit the stage. Mario talked about the industry and answered questions while he did a beautiful make-up application. Many questions were thrown around but Mario spent a good amount of time talking about assisting. He mentioned that he assisted for over 6 years before he started getting his own clients and even then it took him a while to build his own clientele. Making yourself “invisible” was another key factor in assisting. Let the key be visible. More importantly he said know your industry! Do your research in order to become successful. Overall, his presentation was great and the results of his make-up application were stunning.

I quickly rushed over to Maurice Stein’s seminar on The Importance of Color Matching. Mr. Stein, the creator of Cinema Secrets, shared his technique for color matching, which consists of wiping the area from chin to nose clean then using that area to color match instead of the jaw line. Another tip he shared was to use a white cape around the client so that the light reflects off the face. Always entertaining, Mr. Stein kept us laughing from the beginning of his presentation until the end. And of course, The Make-Up Show is not complete for me until I take my annual picture with Mr. Stein!

Aside from the various educational opportunities, there was also time for shopping. Our favorites lines like Make-Up Forever, Inglot and Kevin Aucoin were present, as well Temptu, Stila and Smashbox. Sadly, not present and greatly missed were Yaby Cosmetics, Face Atelier and Yves Sant Laurent. I sure hope these lines decide to return next year because it wasn’t the same without them.

Con cada año que pasa, la educación que se ofrece se pone mejor. La lista de este año de los invitados fueron algunos de los mejores de la industria tales como Sharon Gault, Mario Dedivanovic y, por supuesto, el Sr. Maurice Stein. Entre los seminarios del piso principal y los foros, había algo para satisfacer las necesidades de cada tipo de artista de estudiante a profesional.

Una de las áreas que estaba impresionado con este año ha sido el Área de Recursos Profesionales organizado por Crystal Wright. La señora Wright organizo “Pro Pods” el sábado y domingo, donde podrías encontrar un agente, hablar con un productor, conocer a un blogger y muchos otros negocios y oportunidades de carrera. Lamentablemente no pude hacer ninguna de las áreas de recursos, el sábado, que es el tiempo del día fue designado para hablar con un agente. Uno-a-uno con un agente para obtener una opinion profesional sobre su trabajo es una gran oportunidad! El domingo, las opciones eran limitadas y no pude asistir los “Pro Pods” por conflictos de programación. Esta es un área que realmente espero que regrese el próximo año.

Domingo, asistí a Foro Mario Dedivanovic. Mario ha trabajado en innumerables editoriales y ha creado muchos de los maquillajes que se ve en la televisión, pero la mayor parte del mundo lo conocen por ver creado la mirada atractivo Kim Kardashian. Este resultó ser un foro muy popular y las fotos estaban estrictamente prohibidas. Después de esperar más de 20 minutos después de su hora programada, Mario, finalmente, subió al escenario. Mario habló acerca de la industria y responde a las preguntas al mismo tiempo que hizo una hermosa aplicación de maquillaje. Había muchas preguntas, pero Mario tomo una buena cantidad de tiempo hablando de ayudar. Mencionó que el ayudo de más de 6 años antes de que él comenzó a recibir a sus propios clientes e incluso entonces le tomó un tiempo para construir su propia clientela. Los ayudantes tiene que hacer se “invisibles”, fue otro factor en la asistencia. Deje que el maquillista encargado sea visibles. Más importante aún, dijo que tienen que saber su industria! Haga su investigación con el fin de alcanzar el éxito. En general, su presentación fue excelente y los resultados de su aplicación de maquillaje eran impresionantes.

Rápidamente fui a el seminario de Maurice Stein sobre la importancia del color. El Sr. Stein, el creador de Cinema Secrets, compartió su técnica de combinación de colores, que consiste de limpiar la zona de la barbilla a la nariz limpia y luego usando esa zona para el color en lugar de la línea de la mandíbula. Otro consejo que compartía era utilizar una capa blanca en el cliente para que la luz se refleja en la cara. Siempre entretenido, el señor Stein nos mantuvieron riendo desde el inicio de su presentación hasta el final. Y, por supuesto, la demostración de maquillaje no es completa para mí hasta que me tome mi foto anual con el Sr. Stein!

Aparte de las oportunidades educativas diversas, también hubo tiempo para ir de compras. Nuestras líneas favoritos como Make-Up Forever, Inglot y Kevin Aucoin estuvieron presentes, además de Temptu, Stila y Smashbox. Por desgracia, no se presento y se perdió en gran medida eran cosméticos Yaby, Face Atelier y Yves Sant Laurent. Por supuesto, espero estas líneas decide regresar el próximo año, porque no era lo mismo sin ellos.

My show started at the Blogger’s Preview which is an overview of who’s who at the show both as presenters and as vendors. It is very useful to get a lay-of-the-land and be able to plan what you want to see and when. This year in addition to the show run-down, the Bloggers were treated to a talk and demonstration from one of the premiere celebrity makeup artists in the country, Pati Dubroff. Ms. Dubroff is known for her clean, modern, with just a touch of funk style and her work appears regularly on major magazine covers and major ad campaigns. Pati Dubroff is one of my absolute FAVORITE makeup artists and I could NOT believe she was there doing a demo. After Ms. Dubroff’s demo, James Vincent went through the various vendors etc. at the show as he normally does at the Preview but by that point my mind was totally blown. I was totally inspired hearing Patti Dubroff’s story and watching her work.

Pati Prema Dubroff speaking at the Blogger's Preview (click to see larger)

Saturday morning began the actual show. This year I was only able to attend the first day of the show as I was flying out for a job that Sunday. As I mentioned in my preview of this year’s show I already had my game-plan of what I wanted to see mapped out. The show itself started out slowly in the morning but picked up steam throughout the day and was quite crowded and busy by the end. Vendors I spoke to said they were doing well and I believe it. Make Up For Ever, for example, had a line down the corridor pretty much the entire day. I live in L.A. with pro-stores-a-plenty and I have my pro discounts so honestly, I do not really go to the shows to shop. My first stop of the day was to see Smashbox Cosmetics Lead Artist Lori Taylor do a demonstration of Kitten Liner, Bold Brows, and Bright Lips which is a trending look for Spring. Lori worked fast and efficiently showcasing Smashbox’s FABTABULOUS new “Be Legendary” lipstick colors. The end result was modern, chic and beautiful (as is the model herself, my friend & fab model Jade Corinne) (click images to see larger)

Smashbox Demo Face Chart & Products used

Smashbox Cosmetics Lead Artist, Lori Taylor at work

the finished result on Jade Corinne

Even though I already know her story because I have had the pleasure of working on her team before, I had to stop by and hear a bit of Keynote speaker Sharon Gault (sponsored by Make Up For Ever). If you have never heard her story before…Sharon’s great. She has been in the ‘biz a loooong time and has worked hard to get where she is. She is super honest and open she talks about all the ups and all the downs in her career, always gives credit to all the people who have supported her along the way and even though we’ve not worked together in years and we do not often see each other she ALWAYS remembers me when she sees me. She looked great and was filled with great anecdotes as always. She later did a demo which I unfortunately had to miss because I had to sneak off for lunch. (click image to see larger)

the blurry figure on the left is Sharon Gault. Note to self: Bring better camera next year...

Next I sat in on David Klasfeld’s workshop on cosmetic chemistry. David is the founder and developer of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics which means he is the person who invented the infamous Lip Tar product that has been steadily taking over the makeup landscape. It was interesting to hear his history and how he got into cosmetics development which ultimately led him to developing his own brand. This workshop was filled with good, solid information that all makeup artists should know. You should know what is actually IN the cosmetics that you are using. For example; a product lists ingredients by the amount of that ingredient in their product. So if “water” (“aqua”) is listed first, that is the primary ingredient, etc. Many brands that claim natural this that are a shamockery* because if you actually read the ingredients the touted natural element is often listed last which means that there is a very small amount of that ingredient in the actual formulation of the product. Another shamockery* he addressed is the whole Mineral Makeup phenomenon. Makeup has always been chiefly comprised of minerals. David explained that what can make a difference is the grade of the pigment and the percentage of pigment vs other fillers in the product. Check that out next time you are buying a “mineral” makeup. You might be surprised. The science geek in me loved this workshop. (click image to see larger)

David Klasfeld, founder of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

While I enjoyed those workshops, there are good workshops at The Makeup Show every year so that was not the game-changer of the show in my opinion. What really changed the landscape of the show for an artist like me was the emphasis on professional resources. Organized by Crystal Wright, the Professional Resource area largely got little love from most show attendees but I bet most of us who did take advantage of it would call it the most important part of the show. During the day, she had tables set up where show attendees could meet one on one with various decision makers, show their work, get feedback, etc. These professionals ran the gamut from successful beauty bloggers to show/event producers to agents. Later that evening Crystal Wright moderated the Industry Experts Panel featuring Agent Dion Peronneau, Photographers Richard Reinsdorf and Pamela Lopez-Grant, Editors Jane Fort of Teen Prom Magazine (who has hired me many times. Thanks Jane! ) and Rose Cefalu of Emmy Magazine and Publicist Cecy Galvan. Hearing them speak on the panel was excellent. But for those truly serious about their career, these decision makers all gave time after the show to meet one on one with people. I do not know if people truly realized what an opportunity that was. These are folks that would be nearly impossible to get an audience with just by emailing or what have you. I took FULL advantage of that opportunity. The feedback and advice I received is invaluable. As I tweeted at the time; “…shopping is great but I’m trying to WORK”. Thank you thank you thank you to Crystal Wright and the architects of The Makeup Show for making these opportunities possible! (click images to see larger)

Crystal Wright and the Industry Experts Panel

Industry Experts Panel: Jane Fort, Dion Perroneau, Richard Reinsdorf (speaking), Rose Cefalu, Pamela Lopez-Grant and Cecy Galvan

Shopping:

One of the benefits of the show is of course the shopping. Vendors are generally offering their products and pro prices or special “show” discounts and they often introduce new products at the shows. All of the usual suspects – who are also show sponsors – will be there; Inglot, Crown Brushes, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Smashbox Cosmetics and of course Make Up For Ever. Kevyn Aucoin Cosmetics joined the show last year and I am happy to see that they are returning this year. For those of us who need/use high end product in our kits it is nice to be able to have access to this brand at a nice discount. Also Anastasia of Beverly Hills – famous for their brow grooming products – will be joining the show this year. Other than that it seems to be all of the usual suspects.

Education:

The strength of The Makeup Show in my opinion is always the education. The difference between The Makeup Show and the other large makeup show that is happening later this year is the Makeup Show is still for the trade only and it is geared towards the beauty/print side of the industry versus the film/tv/fx side. The education offered is geared towards all aspects of the beauty business – from bridal to high end print – and there are workshops and classes for all levels of artists. Classes which caught my eye this year are;

Saturday, 3/17

12:30- 1:15pm
Studio Focus: Kitten Liner, Bold Brows, and Bright Lips- Lori Taylor for Smashbox

We all love the look of a sultry cat-eye with a bold lip. The reality is that these are not entirely easy looks to do beautifully. Learn some tips on achieving these looks from Lori Taylor, lead artist for Smashbox Cosmetics. Lori regularly leads teams of artists for Smashbox during Fashion Week as well as being the artist behind Smashbox’s advertising and promos. She stays at the vanguard of what is in now and what is going to be in for the future.

2:00 – 3:30pm – KEYNOTE SPEAKER: One on One with Sharon Gault – Sponsored by Make Up For Ever

There are people who call themselves celebrity artists and then there are true Celebrity Makeup Artists. The latter work on A-list celebrities everyday and have a resume that reads as a who’s who of the Entertainment Industry. Sharon Gault is firmly in the latter category. With clients such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and Charlize Theron Sharon will be answering questions interview-style led by James Vincent. This is a rare opportunity to peek inside the very gated community of being a true Celebrity artist. If you want to be a true Celebrity artist you are going to have to make your way inside those gates and the only way to do so is to start meeting the people on the inside.

- 2:45- 3:30pm
Cosmetic Chemistry for Makeup Artists-David Klasfeld for Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

I’m not even sure what exactly David (founder of OCC Makeup) is teaching but seeing as how he is a makeup wizard this should be an interesting class. Now that I’m teaching I’ve noticed a lot of my students are very product dependent. Knowing the components of how makeup is made is important to being an artist and also knowing how to combine pigments, mixing mediums and other elements to create custom shades and textures can unlock a whole new level of artistry. So whatever angle David will be going for it is sure to be interesting

5:00-5:45pm
Industry Expert Panel hosted by Crystal Wright including Agent Dion Peronneau, Photographers Richard Reinsdorf and Pamela Lopez-Grant, Editors Jane Fort of Teen Prom Magazine and Rose Cefalu of Emmy Magazine and Publicist Cecy Galvan.

If you want to work you HAVE TO push past your comfort zone and show your work to decision makers who are in a position to hire you. This panel lead by Crystal Wright (former owner/agent of The Crystal Group agency now speaker and educator of Crystal Wright Live) gives you access to working professionals all in decision-making/hiring positions who will give you insight into the state of the industry what they are looking for when hiring an artist. Most of the working industry is not happening online. Meet real life people who can help you create a real life career. (Sidenote: I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Editor Jane Fort for many years )

Sunday, 3/18

Alas I won’t be there at all Sunday as I have to fly out of town for a job but if I were there these are things I would check out;

12:00-12:45pm
The Importance of Color Matching- Learn the Easiest Way to Color Match- Maurice Stein for Cinema Secrets

MTG spoke about Maurice Stein at last year’s show. He is a legend and the creator of Cinema Secrets cosmetics and that amazing foundation. He is also an extraordinary speaker and educator and his lectures are always of the “not to be missed” variety. Speaking of missing – definitely one of the things I see newer artists struggle with the most is color matching both in terms of selecting/blending proper foundation coverage and making good choices in their color cosmetics. Mr. Stein’s workshop will undoubtedly clear up any confusion.

12:30 – 2:00pm KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Troy Jensen

Another of the premiere Celebrity makeup artists will be speaking on Sunday. Troy Jensen’s clientele includes a diversity of talent including Christina Aguilera, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bjork, Matthew McConaughey, etc. Again, if you want a peek in the very small and tight lipped world of being a celebrity artist, this is a Keynote not to be missed.

2:30- 3:15pm
AIRBRUSH MAKEUP: Work Smarter, Not Harder – Cory Bishop for Temptu PRO

I started Airbrushing on a more regular basis over the past year and I can attest that it is one of those things where the more you know the more you realize you don’t know. If I were going to be at the show on Sunday I would DEFINITELY sit in on this workshop. This is an opportunity to learn from one of the best Airbrush artists in America.

Both Days:

The belle of the ball for this year’s Makeup Show has to be:

The Professional Resource Area hosted by Crystal Wright

This is an ongoing presentation throughout the show where show attendees can meet one-on-one with various Industry “movers and shakers” for career advice and guidance on various topics. Guests include agents from CloutierRemix agency, star beauty bloggers, consultations on real-life and internet marketing, etc. If you are at all serious about a working career or if you want to take your existing career to another level this is an amazing resource. Check the website (under Education) for the specific schedule of who is available at what time.

As you can see the education at this year’s show is going to be excellent. Director of Education for the Makeup Show – James Vincent – really puts a lot of work into creating wide variety of dynamic workshops. What’s more: All the education I listed above as well as many many other workshops are INCLUDED in the price of your admission to the show

If you are interested in Hand-on training workshops, there will once again be a variety available for an additional fee to the general admission price. You can see the schedule for those classes here and here.

Each year the show has improved upon the last. The Makeup Show is a great resource for artists of all levels and I look forward to seeing how it’s all done this year. Needless to say Makeup to Go will have several post-show posts.

With event makeup it is all about a clean application (there is no Photoshop in real life situations) and making it last. It does not fly to have your client looking great when you are first done with the application but then their makeup is already starting to break down by the time they arrive at their first event. For these moments I have special cache of products which are not the types of products I necessarily use for every job but which are perfect for when the makeup has to give maximum impact and last last last.

1 ) Benefit Cosmetics – They’re Real Mascara
As I’ve stated many times on this blog, I am a Maybelline Great Lash gal to the teeth. However, Great Lash has one flaw and that is it can flake. So it is perfectly fantastic to use on set when I am going to be there to touch up talent, etc. It is not a good option when I’m going to do a client and they are going to go their own way. There are a lot of great mascaras on the market but I have particularly fallen in love with this one because it is nice and Black, nice and glossy and it really does pick up and maximize every single lash. Perfect for my clients who do not wish to wear false lashes, although it plays nicely with falsies, too. One Note: A lot of the action of this mascara is in the brush so I have tended to use it on clients whom I plan to give the mascara to afterwards. Some day I need to try this on an on-set job to see how it performs with disposable wands.

2 ) Amazing Cosmetics – Amazing Concealer
I first discovered Amazing Concealer about 4 or 5 years ago. More often than not I use cream concealers (either Three Custom Colors or Kryolan’s Dermacolors) but the pitfall with cream concealers is they can separate into creases, particularly under the eyes. As with the mascara, this is tolerable if I am there with my talent for touch-ups, but no bueno if I am not going to be there. Historically I do not love liquid concealers because they are often not pigmented enough and those that are oftentimes are stiff and cakey. Amazing Concealer is incredibly pigmented, does not separate and crease and moves with the skin so as to not look stiff and cakey. Let me re-iterate: This product is very highly pigmented. A little goes a very long way, and I find it works better for me when I warm it up on my hand the way I do the Kryolan concealer. That said, once applied it gives me seamless coverage that I do not have to worry about for hours on end. And it comes in a fantastic array of colors to match all skin tones, lightest to deepest.

3 ) Smashbox Anti Shine or Nurturing Force Blot Out Offensive cream
Smashbox I have used for a long time, Nurturing Force is a product to which I have been more recently introduced. I have not decided which I prefer or if I like them both equally. One thing is for sure: I have GOT to have an anti-shine product in my kit. I use this on both men and women. On men (I did a little bit of grooming on my client’s husband as well) I will typically do a little concealer if/where needed and use an anti-shine cream all over the face to keep them looking even and matte. For women, I will carefully tap a little bit of an anti-shine cream over key hotspots like the temples, tip of the nose and the center of the chin. Both of these products can be used over makeup without disruption and they are far more effective than continual powdering to control shine.

4 ) Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray
I am not a fan of the “hairspray on the face” variety of makeup setting sprays. In my experience they disrupt the makeup, they make the makeup look cakey or even worse “break” (they basically try to glue the makeup to the face, but faces move so makeup needs to stay flexible and move with the face), and I cannot imagine they are comfortable feeling for the wearer. Skindinavia has been a staple in the pro community for seemingly ever and it works by controlling the surface temperature of the skin so the makeup does not suffer from melt down. I guess you can say instead of “hairspray for the face” Skindinavia’s Makeup Finishing Spray is more anti-perspirant for the face. LOL!

I have used this product for years and I can attest that it definitely works. As a plus, it also gives the final makeup a pretty “glow”. This is a great, great product and one of my “Top Ten Products Without Which I Would Die“. (Yes I have recommended Model In A Bottle’s Sensitive Skin formula in the past. I do not like it as much as Skindinavia but when I need something “stronger” it works well without the pitfalls of most makeup fixative products).

5 ) Koh Gen Do – Maifanshi Face Powder
I remember discovering Koh Gen Do at an IMATS tradeshow several years back and at least a good year – if not two years – before Make Up For Ever introduced it’s now legendary Hi-Def Microfinish loose powder. Koh Gen Do was actually the first I’d heard of anyone referring to High Definition makeup and it was explained that these types of products were what Japanese makeup artists were using for film and television. Now “High Definition” is so ubiquitous in makeup it has become a meaningless term. Koh Gen Do’s products, however, remain as The Truth. While the two powders are similar, I ultimately prefer the Koh Gen Do powder because it – in my experience – does not build up the way the Make Up For Ever powder can. Both powders set the makeup flawlessly with no creasing. The Koh Gen Do contains a moisturizing ingredient that gives it a silky texture and finish and it is beautiful on all skins; young and old, fair or deep. (Sidenote: Koh Gen Do’s Maifanshi Moisture foundation is also an amazing product).

© 2012, Tania D. Russell / Makeup to Go. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: amazing concealer, amazing cosmetics, benefit cosmetics, grammy awards, grammys, koh gen do, nurturing force, skindinavia, smashbox cosmetics

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