May has been bonkers, guys!
I covered The Makeup Show NYC the first weekend of May, and as always, it was packed with educational opportunities, brands to discover and LOTS of awesome shopping. But of course it’s almost Memorial Day and I’m finally getting around to my usual show recaps today!
So where to start…hmmm….I decided to break up my approach, because I typically throw it all into one post and it’s humongous. So how about a quick-hit list of the top things I heard from sessions I attended? This year I sought out education not just for blog and freelance fodder, but to soak it in as an aspiring makeup artist!
I attended Kevin James Bennett’s feature presentation, “Makeup Kit Breakdown,” to truly learn not just what a makeup artist might carry in their kit, but to understand what products and types of taskers artists rely on.
Keep it really simple. It’s easy to over pack your kit, but you don’t have to.
Consider the ingredients of your products – are you using wax-based? Oil-based? Cream-based? Are you being consistent across the board? Research and learn about ingredients and formulations and make a conscious decision about what you want to carry in your kit.
Always prep your client’s skin – even if they say they didn’t put anything on their face, cleanse and prep it!
He recommended great palettes for artists to keep on hand – like a color correcting palette and palette you can use to adjust the shade of foundation you’re working with.
Carry 100% pure silicone – it’s a great oil-absorbing agent and is a great primer. If you buff it onto skin before applying foundation you won’t need an oil control product.
Keep the conversation to a minimum while you’re working – it’s all about making the client feel and look good.
Keep matte neutral shadows and saturated brights in your kit.
You don’t need to go to school to become a makeup artist but learn technique, put the time in to get yourself educated and assist other makeup artists you admire.
“This is hard, it’s a job,” Kevin said.
There was a lot more education than I could attend, but I hope you enjoyed these insights from the sessions I was able to make! Is there anything here that resonates with you? I feel that sometimes the tips that are given to the artists attending this pro show are so applicable to all of us. Like knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and learning proper technique. I’d love to hear your thoughts!