Q&A with a Makeup Artist

Q&A with a Makeup Artist January 29th Liz Boyle x Neat & Tidy Co. WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON MAKEUP MISTAKE YOU SEE? Skin is not hydrated enough. It is so important to get the skin right before applying makeup. The goal is to look like you are not wearing a lot of makeup and when the skin is not hydrated, makeup begins to cake. The goal is to have glowing skin which makes the skin look fresh and pretty. Any moisturizer that gives you a slip to the skin (but not wet) will work. My favorites are Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Face Cream or Extra Moisturizing Balm for really dry skin. I also like Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream which is a Sephora brand. Eyeliner Mistake Another mistake is wearing eyeliner just on the bottom.  The goal is to give the eyes a lift and wearing makeup only the bottom with drag the face down.  If you wear it on the bottom, just make sure to wear some on top as well. Make sure the liner on top is thicker than the liner on the bottom.   HOW LONG SHOULD YOU KEEP MAKEUP? Lipstick: If you have a lipstick over 8 months get rid of it. You don’t love it and if you did you would have purchased about 2-3 in this timeframe.  No longer than a year. Eyeshadow: Cream shadows for one year and powder eyeshadows for 2 years.  Again, if you have it longer than this, you don’t love it. If you are using a powder eyeshadow to fill in your eye brows, you may have it longer than a year.  But to be safe, better to throw it away after 2 years. Mascara: 3 months Foundation: One year as it can oxidize (turn darker) and will not match your skin if you keep it longer.  Eyeliner: 1 year, however, there is much conflicting info on this HOW DO YOU CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES? Dirty makeup brushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria which can irritate the skin. Brushes that are caked with product can affect makeup application and you can find yourself spending more time with our makeup then needed.  Cleaning your brushes once a week keeps them soft enough not to damage your skin. Once a week, I clean all my brushes with a liquid cleanser. I mild baby shampoo works well or a mild facial cleanser works too. I like to rinse all my brushes first to get them wet then I put a little cleanser in the palm of my hand and mix the brush with the cleanser making sure all product is out.  Wring all the the water out then lay them on a counter with hair part of brushes hanging over ledge to dry. If they dry vertically, the water can affect the glue that attaches hair to the handle. The right tools (makeup brushes) will make your life so much easier, especially for those of you in training.  I recommend a brush for each application. Do not use one brush for your powder, bronzer and blush and highlighter!  Hot mess! Each brush is designed for a specific part of the face. I recommend spending a little more money on a good brush.  They blend better and will last longer as long as you take care of them. Brush sets are great but they tend to have brushes that are not needed especially for women that don’t wear much makeup.   A lot of people like makeup sponges.  They blend well and you can use them for liquid and powder formulas.  I find it takes me longer when I use the sponge for application because it takes me time to clean off before adding another product.  It’s all preference on what works for you. HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR MAKEUP? I have a makeup drawer where I store my brushes and makeup because I don’t like clutter.  I store my brushes in a vase so I have easy access. I just pull them out when I need them then put them away when I am finished and it keeps them protected. Because I am a makeup artist, I have a lot of makeup so I need to stay organized.  I use small vases for my eye liners, mascara, eyelash curler, and tweezer. My other makeup is in a basket. I am always rushing out the door so having my makeup drawer organized it saves me time. HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR MAKEUP? I have a makeup drawer where I store my brushes and makeup because I don’t like clutter.  I store my brushes in a vase so I have easy access. I just pull them out when I need them then put them away when I am finished and it keeps them protected. Because I am a makeup artist, I have a lot of makeup so I need to stay organized.  I use small vases for my eye liners, mascara, eyelash curler, and tweezer. My other makeup is in a basket. I am always rushing out the door so having my makeup drawer organized it saves me time. WHAT MAKEUP TRAVEL ADVICE DO YOU HAVE? If you travel a lot, I recommend a separate makeup bag with foundation, concealer, blush, eyeliner and mascara.  For eye shadow, I recommend a cream shadow because you won’t have to worry about powder getting all over you makeup bag. I love Bobbi Brown Cosmetics or Laura Mercier cream shadow sticks which wear for 8 hours and do not crease. As for skin care, have travel size containers and just fill them up when needed from your home stash. Check out Hicarer 20 Pieces Cosmetic Containers Travel Pot Jar Set on Amazon. If you don’t travel too much, no need for a separate makeup bag.  Makeup generally doesn’t have a long shelf life and you don’t want the makeup to expire while sitting in a makeup bag not being used.   WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE FEW ITEMS YOU COULD NOT LIVE