News

Makeup Mentor...We've Got Lift-Off!

Makeup Mentor Launches at the Makeup Show 2009

The chatter of attendees at this year's Makeup Show was charged with enthusiasm and optimism about the new kid on the block, Makeup Mentor. Makeup artists, students and business owners alike saw Makeup Mentor as a positive addition to the industry.

Artists were enthusiastic about The Mentee Program, expressing emphatically that something like this program has been long overdue. Shannon Thompson, a Film, Theater and Special Effects artist of 13 years wrote, "There is a HUGE need for guidance in this industry. I wish I had someone help me when I started."

Spring Super started this company to fill the void of business experience that exists amongst many makeup artists today. It is holding them back from making a living at their dreams, even if they are great artists! We believe that is not fair and every single person deserves to make a living, preferably doing what they love. We do everything in our power to help.

The experiences we have had with Mentees have been wonderful and very gratifying. We see immediate results and so much progress, so quickly. The proof in the pudding, so-to-speak, as every single one of our clients has this experience.

We believe we've got it right, we believe we have Lift Off!

Embryolisse - pronounced embryo-leez

Never before had someone in my makeup chair asked me "Mmmm, what moisturizer was that", until I used Embryolisse Lait- Creme. Now it happens every time!

My first experience with Embryolisse was at Fashion Week earlier this year. I am always snooping around other MUA kits backstage to see who has what. Let me tell you, Embryolisse is the new black. It was everywhere. Of course I went right out, got me a tube, and haven't gone a day without it since.

Almost every single person I put this product on is visibly impressed, and is compelled to ask about it. I was asked about it so often and it was so hard to find that I started carrying samples for my clients. It's now available in select pharmacies in Manhattan but can be more easily purchased online, at Temptu and Alcone.

This is a product whose reputation has been built by word of mouth. Professionals used it and loved it. They told everyone, those people told everybody, and now it's all anyone is talking about. People are pointing it out to me saying how great it is. Funny how these things work.

It has now been featured in many beauty magazines as the 'new big thing'. Judging by personal experience and feedback from clients, this product and the entire line does something incredible, it works. It's great for any skin type and has neutral packaging, which makes it appealing to men, as well as women.

Another must have for home and kit!

www.embryolisseusa.com

Airbrush...an artist must have!

Never has there been more controversy amongst makeup artists as there is around the question of airbrushing. Some believe it's the only way to apply foundation, while others resent it or maybe just fear it. Perhaps it's the use of machinery and a device called a gun that is intimidating?

Regardless of your position on the question of airbrushing as a tool for makeup artists, the medium is flourishing and is often a requirement for a professional artist to have in her arsenal of skills. If it is not going anywhere, best to know what's out there, what works...and more importantly, what doesn't!

I have been using and instructing airbrush for many years and found that if you do not use the right products, your experience can be horrible. Using the right products makes all the difference. Complaints of issues such as dryness and cracking, flatness, bad skin color choices are usually what I hear from artists who have airbrushed, and claim it does not work for them.

Because airbrushing is still a niche in our industry, I've found that the products available vary extremely from brand to brand. It seems that little product development has been put into airbrushing by most of the major brands and their products are less effective next to the smaller developers who have been doing it longer and specialize.

Temptu Airbrush, from my experience as a customer, is the best in more ways than one. Most importantly, they specialize in airbrush cosmetics. Everything is made for the skin including formulas for foundations, temporary tattoos and other special effects. They have a luxurious silicone based airbrush foundation that is far superior to any other brands...hands down! The finish and soft focus glow is truly beautiful and comes in colors for all ethnicities and undertones. Other brands I have tried are usually water based and dry or silicone based but don't have the tone or finish of Temptu.

One of Temptu's best traits is their customer service. Staffed with working artists, all with at least a decade of experience in the industry, anyone you speak with will be able to help you with even the most complex project. They love to help and always come through in a makeup emergency!

My advice, try airbrush with Temptu before deciding. Airbrushing opens the door to more creativity, control and speed. It's a great tool to have in your kit!

COME See Me...I will be teaching Temptu Airbrush classes at The International Beauty Show April 27 - 29, 2008 at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York, NY!

Seasons change, why do colors have to?

Having a name such as Spring, perhaps the season issue is more blatant for me. I've always wondered where the heck this season issue started in relation to beauty and fashion.

Why is it that every season magical color fairies decide what colors we should start wearing? Where did this phenomenon start and who does it benefit in the end? I was on a mission to find out.

When Spring and Summer comes along, things get warmer and brighter, we naturally gear ourselves toward more fitting colors in our makeup and fashion choices but why do we need an authority to tell us exactly what shade of pink, purple and peach we need to be wearing? And what happens if we don't adhere? Do we get a ticket from the fashion police? Will we instantly be noticed in a crowd as someone who didn't do her homework on the subject and be kicked out of the cool kids club?

Let's look at where this all started. We all know that color, and it's associations and meanings are as old as time. Purple, for example, was originally a color of royalty because of the high expense to create it. The pigment for purple was hard to obtain back then. But when did it start getting forecast and made into trends?

"Before 1915, it was the milliners, the US hat makers, who were responsible for setting color trends for the US textiles industry.", according to The Color Association of the United States. They have a pretty thorough history on their site and they are an organization dedicated to setting color forecasts for all sectors of industry. They put out extremely detailed reports on the subject each season. They are telling manufacturers and advertisers what colors to use in order to make the most...you got it...profit.

As usual, what's driving this is sales. Studies are done with color association, what pleases people as well as world-wide production of pigments, textiles and other goods that would effect the price and production of goods. This totally effects the beauty and fashion industry's decisions for what new products they will create and how they will market them to us.

It is not a coincidence that everyone somehow agrees on these colors. Pantone and other color companies follow suit. Fashion and beauty companies produce their stuff and flood the magazines and other media, who enthusiastically report on these new 'trends'. They also convince us to like them. The magazine beauty trend choices are made more by their advertisers and all of the free product they are sent each month than anything else. Usually associating the use of the colors with fashion shows, makeup artists, beauty/fashion editorials, celebrities and other desirables, we are fed a constant diet of these colors. Before we know it, we're falling in-line, buying the new shade of pink that is suddenly everywhere.

The result is our choices being made for us just for the benefit of business. How much money do we throw at buying the new colors every season? The new shade of lip gloss? How much money is wasted manufacturing our desire to buy these products?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE COLOR. I don't love our choices being made for us. Every season I feel forced to incorporate these new trendy shades into my makeup work as well as do something 'new' to influence the trend. Sometimes I'm inspired by these new trends but usually I am burdened by them, I feel trapped into using them.

I would much rather our color choices be personal and organic. We should wear the shade of red that looks best on us, regardless if it's trendy or not. That is the main point I want to make...look at seasons and their color trends for what they are...suggestions made by companies wanting to sell you something. Consider them, but make your own decisions, wear the colors that make you feel good, that make you look good.