Airbrush Pro's and Con's

What is so remarkable about this classic technique is that the most refined droplets of foundation are directed and deposited on your face through an air delivery system. The resulting finish is flawless skin with natural looking coverage. When the air fuses with the foundation, it oxidizes it into a high opacity…you get maximum coverage with a breath of product, a girl’s best friend!

The last thing the skin needs is to be weighed down with too much product, collecting in areas that exaggerate flaws instead up minimizing them. This is a strategy that any good makeup artist strives for in an application; perfect skin and undetectable foundation. However, it gets better!

The longevity of the water or silicone based airbrush foundation is good for ten to twelve hours. Brides can now dance on into the night knowing they haven’t budged or smudged. Dare to wear that short skirt that’s loitering in your closet? Have your legs airbrushed with a water base formulation. Not only will you take years off them, but with a shade adjustment, you can bronze them up to carry through that sultry summer tan.

• THE PROS OF AIRBRUSH MAKEUP:
  Maximum coverage with minimal product
  Delivers a natural and translucent look
  Great for oily skin
  Fantastic for overly active skin that tends to "eat" makeup
  Lasts ten to twelve hours - excellent for bridal makeup, it's a bride's best friend
  Does not require powder, which can be aging
  Some foundation formulations are silicone based
  Silicone is as smooth as silk

• THE CONS OF AIRBRUSH MAKEUP:
  Set up fee for airbrush makeup artist/technician: $500 to $800. Requires a skilled technician/artist or a lot of home practice
  Airbrush make-up session $80 to $200
• Beauty airbrush is slowly making its way into the television and the film industry. With the transition of high definition television, it's definitely a makeup artist's and television personality's new best friend.

Eye Makeup Tips

One version of a basic, but beautiful eye needs two colors, one light and one dark for contrast. The darkest color usually takes the focus and attention of the eye treatment, therefore placement is everything. Most of us are privy to the fact that if you have slightly wide set eyes (Oprah) then you should focus the darkest color towards the middle and inner corner of your eyes. If you are close set (Babs) then go in the other direction, softly putting emphasis on the outer corners. If I’m boring you I do apologies. So here are some universal, no brainer recipes that look good on most of us.

Eye Make-up Technique 1A - Close set gals, and most of their pals - general population:

(The simplicity with this treatment works correctively with close-set bombshells or balanced bells. With a fresh lid and shading on the outer corner, the darker shading will add incredible dimension to the lids with a bit of lift and extension at the same time.)
Apply an off white, cream, or a pale milky pink to ¾ of your upper eyelid starting at the inner corner. Take the second darker color, and with a small brush shade the outer lid with your chin slightly lifted in the mirror (let them make their own breakfast). Shade from the outer corner inwardly. And for God sakes, line the top eyelid with some eyeliner liner to finish it!EYELINER SEGWAY:

Do's

Do line just the top lash line.orDo line both top and bottom lash line.

Dont's

Don’t line just the bottom lash line - it drags the eye down, looks bottom heavy, and has the look of the top ten worst music videos of 1982.

Eye Make-up Technique 2A - Wide set wonders or slightly turned down / droopy eyes:

(This little classic design keeps the viewer focused at the center of your peepers, where the most flattering focal point of your eyes reside)
Apply a light to medium light, fresh color on you entire top lid. With a slightly fluffy, medium size crease brush, initiate the second, darker color in the middle of the eye socket. Rock the brush back and forth, creating a half moon in the crease area, slightly approaching the inner corner. Although the darkest color is traveling towards the inner corner, it must be delicate and tapered as it arrives. The finished eye contour must look centered detracting from the “ outward problem”.

Shopping for Colors
With regards to what colors to choose, the highlight colors mentioned early are neutral enough due to the fact that they are highlighters. My only caution is if you have pink lids because of veining or skin sensitivity, stay away from pink highlight shadows.
When choosing a dark contrasting color, there are many approaches. Here is one. Choose an accent color that is opposite of your own eye colour. The two colors side by side (your natural eye color and the eye shadow) intensify each other instead of competing. The opposite color doesn’t necessarily mean you work with it in its purest form.

If you have blue eyes, I’m not suggesting you plaster your eyelids with pumpkin orange. You could choose a dynamic gray that has a breath of orange in it. Recognize the difference between classic shades (straight colors) and contemporary shades that contains nuances of a second supporting color whispering through.

Blue eyes: Try a “ browny orange “ the amount of orange may be extremely subtle but effective in popping those babies.

Hazel green eyes: Perhaps a pimento brown – this contains a subtle red undertone that is cooled & tamed by the dominating brown.

Hazel green eyes with yellow flex will dance when accompanied by grays & taupes that have a soft violet support.

Brown eyes: What shade of brown are you winking with? Do you see yellow brown? A speckle of green?

Once you determine the other supporting colour that makes up the brown in your iris, grab the colour wheel and go shopping. At the very least take this concept to the boutique or makeup studio with your next visit. Remember, there is always a little magic when opposition works harmoniously.

These eye makeup techniques were originally published in B Magazine, November 2007 and Behind the Eyes Enhancing Eye Make-up Techniques By Robert Closs