Airbrush make-up?

[emsyj]

Just wondering if anyone has used/tried airbrush make-up and if so, how did you like it? Did it look natural (more so than liquid/mineral foundation)? Did you have just foundation/blush or full make up including eye colours etc?? Was it for your wedding?

I'm in the process of ambling through various make-up and hairstyling courses with the aim of eventually doing bridal hair and make-up and my latest 'pet project' is to find out more about airbrushing as it seems many folk have a thing for it. One friend in particular said she sought out a makeup artist for her wedding specifically because she did airbrush makeup - so is it really that good??

I'm looking at the Airbase gun and products but open to suggestions for alternatives (Temptu or Dinair perhaps?)

All information gratefully received!

It depends how well it's done and also, whether your client has facial hair. I have seen it look a bit heavy when done by someone who's not adept at applying it and also if the client has downy hairs on her face the product just sits on it, which looks nice .

There is a common misconception too that having airbrushed make up with give them the "airbrushed look" - ie. like they have been photoshopped. Only photoshop will do this!

Most good make up artists I know don't use airbrushing as a matter of course. Out of all the enquiries I get in a year, I'd say I get asked by no more than 2 people per year if I do airbrush make up.

The times when it really does come into it's own is for covering tan lines and tattoos, in which case it's second to none.

I bought the rio so perfect system about 8 years ago and its does look really good. Obviously you will never look as good as photoshopped celebs but I really do think it gives a more even finish and it great for coverage. If you apply too much though you will end up with a cakey face. I only use for special occasions and going out now as its a bit too much faff having to clean the darn thing everyday if i use it daily. The foundation that comes with that is brilliant as well as you get a light foundation and a dark foundation that you put into a container with a dial which you turn to get you preferred colour. Lasts bloody ages and convenient for when im darker in summer and paler in winter. TBH ive never used it to cover tan lines or tattoos.

Thanks for the feedback - I get the impression from this and from other sites I've looked at that it's a bit of a gimmick and doesn't produce better results than a competent make up artist with a good liquid foundation and a decent set of brushes... It does look cool on the YouTube tutorials though.

Havingkittens can I ask how often you're asked about camouflage make up? There's a specific course I'm looking at which covers camouflage of scars, tattoos etc (from the British Association of Skin Camouflage). I really fancy being able to do that stuff but wonder how often it's requested?

Thanks

Not that often, if I'm honest. I do more shoots than brides though so often they can do all that in photoshop. But with brides/bridesmaids/special occasions I'd say the most common is covering tattoos and very occasionally scars. I can cover the majority of scars with stuff like Dermablend though, but airbrushing would probably work better on the face for close ups. But like I say, it's not something I'm asked very often.

Afaik, those that use camo make up go to the red cross. They teach you how to do it there, find the right colours for you and then your gp gives you a prescription. Have to say, Red Cross absolutely brilliant for this! Neither my daughter or me would ask at a salon. Don't know about others though.

I was just wondering about camouflage stuff as I have a friend who used to work for a big cosmetics house and she did voluntary work at the local hospitals doing makeovers for patients and I thought that would be quite good - she really enjoyed it. I'm really aiming for make up artistry as 'something to do and enjoy' rather than 'something to make money out of', although I would like to get enough bridal work to maybe make £100 a week - that would be plenty (long term aim!)

If you do the BASC course you are supposedly added to their graduate directory - they teach camouflage techniques using the products available on NHS prescription. I've not looked at the Red Cross, will see if they offer training or if it's just for individuals who want to use the make up themselves.

I think that's a lovely thing to do, emsyj. I know it was the hospital that recommended us the red cross, we then had to be referred by our GP and my dd was really grateful. I know that there are a lot of teens out there with skin conditions who would love the help. Good luck with it!

The theory behind camouflage makeup is really simple, it just takes practice. I'd say if you already have some makeup training and can mix foundations and concealers to create custom colours that accurately match skin tones then there's no need to pay for another course.

The trick is to "knock out" any strong pigmentation that would show through a thin layer of camouflage concealer by using a colour that is opposite on the colour wheel. This is especially important for covering tattoos. Start by using a fine brush to cover just the black outlines with a thin layer of orange concealer (the black in tattoos has a lot of blue pigment), if it has any red cover it with green, any blue cover with orange etc. Lighter colours don't generally need to be treated in this way. Once you've neutralised the strong colours apply a matching skin tone, building up coverage in layers blending the edges away to nothing. Don't forget to apply setting powder between each layer.

Once done you'll end up with a very flat, unnatural looking area that even though you've matched the skin tone perfectly stands out to you like a sore thumb. It's time to trick the eye by adding back in some imperfections. You can either lightly stipple on a rose colour to make it look a little more natural, try painting on a few freckles or adding back any veins that you've covered up etc.

As for airbrushes, I have a Dinair that I like and know quite a few other makeup artists who use them also. Easier to use than some others as the air flow is controlled by the knob on the compressor so you only need to think about controlling the makeup flow with the trigger. Perfectly adequate for normal makeup and easier to get the hang of than a system where air flow and makeup flow are both controlled by the trigger at the same time. You don't really need that super fine level of control though unless you're doing detailed body art etc so something like a Dinair is fine. I prefer temptu products to Dinairs though.

Yes I was one of them Dawndonna! I have suffered with bad acne since I was about 14 - since having Roaccutane it's better, but I still need to take an occasional course of antibiotics and use spot treatment at night. So camouflage is an issue close to my heart! I am a picker and have lots of scars .