Part 1: The beauty products makeup artists swear by

Fri, 8 July 2011 12:01PM

Over the years, I’ve spent a ton of time with hair and makeup artists on photo shoots and no matter where we are, or who we’re shooting, there seems to be a handful of products they all swear by. So, without further a do, here’s the first of a two part series, kicking off with the base and cheek products found in every makeup artists kit.

The BASE:

MAC Face and Body, $60. Available in 11 shades, it’s water-based and water-resistant  formula makes it ideal for the Aussie climate and all skin types. Because it’s sheer, you can take baby steps, with a soft application for barely-there-looking coverage, or continue layering for a seamless finish. And because it’s so buildable, you’ll often see makeup artists slathering it all-over the legs, arms and decolletage on it’s own, or blended with a hint of moisturiser to mask bruises and imperfections, like spider veins. Handy for when you’re wearing shorts or a skirt and don’t have time to fake tan.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. The Rolls Royce of foundation, enter backstage at any fashion show around the globe and you’ll see rows of this stuff lined up on every makeup table. It’s creamy, without ever feeling heavy and has a knack for playing up the light, meaning you can get away without wearing a highlighter without your skin looking flat or overly powdery.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. Here’s the thing with makeup artists, they’ll rarely ever apply one shade of a product to the skin. When applying foundation, you’ll notice they usually blend two shades of a product, sometimes from different brands, ’til they’re satisfied that the consistency, colour and finish suits your skin type. The same goes with concealer. This one is loved the world over for its creamy, budge-proof formula. Becuase it’s so thick, it’s best to warm the product using your finger or brush, before you start patting it on to the skin.

The CHEEKS:

Stila Convertible Colour in Gerbera, from Mecca Cosmetica: It’s the colour you wished your cheeks were naturally. The creamy soft-pink shade leaves skin with the same dewy finish you usually call on a luminisor for. In fact, it’s so subtle, you can also use it on your lips for the faintest flush of colour, or blend the excess under the brow to highlight your skin in all the right places.

Nars Blush in Orgasm, $49 from Mecca Cosmetica. It’s a relatively sheer formula for a blush which means it’s brilliantly buildable. The part peachy, part-pink number comes with the faintest amount of shimmer that’s just enough to pep tired skin, and because it’s sheer, you can keep layering it for impact, without it ever looking patchy or blotchy.

Stay tuned for the cult hair and skincare buys next week….

Primpettes,

Do you use any of these products?

What’s your all-time favourite foundation?

What’s your can’t-live-without-beauty-buy?

Posted by: Eliza Ashe

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Tags: blush, cheeks, concealer, creme blush, foundation, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Laura mercier secret camouflage concealer, MAC face and body foundation, makeup, makeup artisit products, makeup artist buys, Nars Blush Orgasm, peach cheeks, pink cheeks, powder blush, Stila Convertible Colour