Month: March 2014
Flawless Makeup? Airbrush it.. Yourself!
If you haven’t heard of High Definition (HD) Airbrush Makeup yet – you’re missing a trick!
If you’re getting married and your makeup artist hasn’t told you about airbrushing your makeup for your day – ask them why!!
HD airbrushed makeup gives beautiful, flawless coverage that, with a silicone based foundation, lasts ALL day. Just fabulous for brides for their wedding day makeup!
Airbrushing makeup has been around for a while and HD airbrushed makeup is one of those essential skills that makeup artists, who want to work in TV and film have to get qualified in. The results are so good. For all the films and music videos I do, and always for a bride on her wedding day, I’ll airbrush makeup on. I also use it for male makeup too, because it’s so light and doesn’t make them look like they’re wearing makeup.
So what a great result – Airbase Make-Up have brought out an airbrushing system that ANYONE can use – at home!!
There are lots of companies on the market that provide airbrushing equipment and makeup, but I already use Airbase Make-Up professionally, so I got in contact with the company to have a look at their new system and find out how it works – I thought I’d share my experiences with you in this blog.
Airbase Make-Up say the new system that they have designed is for everyone (the retail market), and anyone can use it, at home, every day! Anyone? Every day? Let’s see how easy it really is…..
The Kit Arrives
It’s here – I unbox it all carefully and check everything off against the list of contents.
Mirrored Vanity Unit with LED lit mirror
Airbrush Compressor
High Definition Airbrush
3 x 10ml silicone based Foundation, Blush or Bronze *
30ml Thinner & Cleaner
* I have two foundations and a bronzer.
But I’m missing the Mini Eye Shadow Palette and the Perfecting Primer, so I contact Airbase Make-Up and they both arrive in the post for me the next day – Super quick service!
Assembling The Airbrush
It really is straightforward – providing you READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!
The kit comes with a Step by Step guide on how to assemble the airbrush. It’s also got very clear pictures, so I follow them as they detail and it’s going OK so far.
I now have the nozzle on the airbrush, it’s tightened as I’m guided to do, the product cup is in place, ready for the foundation to go into and the airbrush hose is now attached to the back. It looks like the picture – always a good start!
So I’m finished and I’m ready to start using it now!
Using The Airbrush
I’ve removed the protective temporary cover from the mirror, and plugged the unit in. The power cable could do with being a little longer, but as the mirror in the lid of the case angles right back, I can plug it in where convenient. There’s a switch at the top for the five very bright LED lights on each side of the mirror.
Now it’s time to get the foundation into the airbrush – back to the step by step guide – and I’m following it to the letter.
I shake the foundation bottle then put about 6 drops into the holder on the side of the airbrush. It’s quite thick and nothing comes out when I turn the power on and test spray against a tissue. Back to the instructions!
On the back is a Trouble Shooting section – and the first point is one called ‘No Product Flow’ – as soon as I look at the things to check for, I don’t think there’s enough foundation there as well as it looks too thick, so I dilute with a little bit of the Thinner and Cleaner and add a little more foundation too.
Let’s try again!
Bingo, it works and the foundation sprays out onto the tissue!
I practice for a bit on the tissue to get the flow right so I don’t get too much product in one area, and now’s time to give it a go on my face!
Come back for part 2 – Airbrushing HD Foundation
Fresh Faced & Flawless
Have you seen the new Fresh Faced range of foundations, powders and concealers from Miners Cosmetics?
I wrote abut their new products for Meade Magazine this month – you can read it here: http://meademagazine.com/miners-fresh-faced/
The foundations retail at £4.99, concealers at £2.99 each and powders are £3.99 each – all available from www.minerscosmetics.co.uk and quality pharmacies
Sharing my Knowledge
So whilst I have my own Blog and write up about products and experiences on my website here, I am now also contributing to Meade Magazine and you can read more of my beauty features there too.
I’d definitely recommend following them – you can get the latest on fashion, beauty, music….. and lots more!
Moisturise AND Protect Your Face
Spring has arrived!
We’ve finally seen the back of those long bleak winter months … Daffodils, Snowdrops, blossom, new buds on the trees, everything starting to come back to life after the rain and cold and the clocks going forward. And then there’s that wonderful feeling of warm sunshine on your face. Is it just me, or does life seem so much better when the sun comes out and the days get longer? – After all who doesn’t love warm days and long summer evenings? I know I do!
But just because the sun isn’t shining and the skies are rainy and grey, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your skin.
You should always use a good moisturiser on your face with a high SPF and UVA protection in it! It really is so important to use this throughout the year and not just in the summer months. So, if you haven’t done so before, it’s not too late! Now’s the time to make absolutely sure you have one to hand and use it to protect your skin for the sun’s harmful rays. It’s so vital to prevent sun damage from happening to your skin, and certainly to your face; no one wants leathery looking skin, wrinkles and age spots, skin cancers and pre cancers have far more serious implications.
There are some fabulous moisturisers available now for all skin types – Tinted, oil free, mattyfing, hypo allergenic. Ensure you buy what you need to suit your skin type best. But more than anything, get one that offers you a high SPF content, one ideally that contains an SPF of more than SPF30.
Glo Therapeutics
www.glo-minerals.com – RRP £27
This moisturiser contains peptides for anti aging benefits and improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Initially white, it turns clear after application and has a high SPF40 protection.
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30
www.narscosmetics.co.uk – RRP £28
This oil-free tinted SPF30 moisturiser is dermatologist tested and fragrance free. It’s available in 11 colours for a perfect tint and helps reduce the appearance of hyper pigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks. Nars say it’s infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals and ingredients to immediately help thirsty skin feel hydrated. It contains Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater revive and re-mineralize skin for a softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Day Cream with SPF 30 and Advanced UVA protection
www.loreal-paris.co.uk – RRP £12.99
This power moisturiser helps help reduce the appearance of premature skin ageing, by making skin feel firmer and making wrinkles appear reduced. But most importantly, it shields your skin against harmful UVA rays that can pass through cloud and even glass, the No1 cause of premature ageing. It’s enriched with L’Oreal’s highest concentrate of Pro-Retinol A + Elasti-Flex
Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50+ (50ml)
www.alpha-h.com – RRP £27
This non whitening light weight moisturiser helps prevent premature ageing and is suitable for all skin types. It leaves a matte finish and is perfect as an under base for makeup, providing effective protection from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays.
Kiehls Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50
www.kiehls.co.uk – £31
A fabulous oil-free, ultra light moisturiser with a high level of sun filters(Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl Xl) to provide the skin with effective UVA and UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen protection. This gentle lotion is also suitable for sensitive skin.