I am sitting at Starbucks in midtown having a little r&r. I thought I would post a couple of pics from my shoot that was done on Wednesday evening with model/makeup artist Alexis. i have not blogged in a long time but I figured since there are so many new things to talk about why not. I have started to refocus on Artist Development. you know how we sit around and wonder what can I do to help make the world a better place around me? well I thought to my self it should be something that I definitely enjoy doing so why not help other makeup artist take it to the next level so that is my new point of interest.

Let's Talk Mineral Makeup

Recently I was asked what I thought about mineral makeup. So I did some research and thought I would share with you what I have learned about it. Mineral makeup has a huge following and is considered a big trend at the moment. Mineral makeup is not for everyone. Most people are not shown how to properly wear this product and that is the reason a lot of people are turned off by mineral makeup. There are a few steps that you might want to follow if you decide that you want that natural look from mineral makeup. It is good to start off with a skin primer before applying your mineral makeup to insure that the product goes on smooth and does not get cakey. Most mineral makeups contain talc which can make the product look cakey on the skin's surface. Titanium dioxide is also one of the main ingredients in most mineral makeups. Titanium dioxide is a natural UV absorber(sunscreen) found in mineral makeup. Sunscreens as you know block out the sun's harmful rays and also can clog pores because it creates a barrier between the skin. Another key ingredient in mineral makeup is bismuth oxychloride. Bismuth oxychloride is a fine powdery substance that gives the skin that luminescent or pearlescent look. Personally, I like mineral makeup and I think it looks great if applied on the high planes of the face with a buffer or kabuki brush. When I apply mineral makeup to the skin, I always finish it with a colorless powder that is matte. The reason I do this is because after the powder has set you can see the pearlescent quality that mineral makeup was designed to give. I like to finish the look with a water atomizer to help speed up the oxidation process for a more natural look. One of the main reasons people like using mineral makeup is because it causes people who are looking at them to see less wrinkles and fine lines because of the way it looks when light hits the skin. The only way you will know if mineral makeup is right for you is to try it.

Color Theory and Makeup

One of the first steps to executing a beautiful makeup is to have vision. When you can look at a person and tell them exactly what the best colors are for their skin tone you have arrived. I remember when I first started working in the makeup industry and I would put clients in the same colors if they were a certain undertone. The trainers from Orange County would make fun of me for this cause at the time I did not really understand color theory. I sit down and have conversations with fellow artists pretty regularly and the question always comes up "How do you know what shades to put people in?" I like to look at the clients eyes and hair color. If your client has brown eyes the best colors to go with would be colors that have a derivative of blue. These colors can include various shades and tints of blue, blue-violet, and red-violet. Basically, you are pairing a color with its complimentary color. Color theory is used in advertisements to get you to buy into a product. We see color theory used on cereal boxes, billboard advertisements, even in display windows at retail environments. When you apply color theory to your makeup applications your work stands out above the rest. Even if you already have a basic understanding of color theory it is good to take a refresher course. Color wheels can be purchased at your nearest art supply store. Knowing color theory can be a real eye opener. I know it was for me.

Elroy

Where I Am Today And How I Got Here

Sometimes, everything is not so beautiful. I think it is important not only as an Artist, but as a person to voice how I came to be where I am today and what has inspired me. I am where I am today because of everyone who I have been fortunate enough to come in contact with throughout the years on this place we call Earth. The road has been rough, filled with potholes and breakdowns, but I continue to move on. Some years back I found out that my Mother had breast cancer and in the same year when her immune system was so low from the chemotherapy she was struck by a truck where her lungs collapsed and her pelvis was crushed. She is lucky to be alive. These incidents changed the way that I viewed life as well my life forever. I worked long hours at MAC COSMETICS INC. as a Resident Trainer at the time. Giving my all or at least all that I had left to give. I learned so much from so many people it is not even funny. I taught a lot of artist superior skills that were handed down to me from the veterans of MAC. I can honestly say that I loved going to work each day giving and receiving knowledge. But now it is time to look forward to an even bigger and brighter future. I am thankful that I was allowed to work for a company for 12 years, working with personalities and celebrities that I may not have had the opportunities to be exposed to. But most of all I want to thank my family for making me strong, because without you I would never have made it this far. So I sit here in front of my computer typing this message to all of you explaining where I am today and how I got here...........

Elroy

Airbushing vs. Brushes

I want to talk about the advantages of airbrushing vs. brush application of makeup. First I want to start off by saying there are advantages of using either technique. Airbrushing takes a steady hand and a lot of patience. The good thing about airbrushing is it is very fast. If you have a large group of people that you have to take care of in a short amount of time airbrushing is ideal. The downside is the gun gets clogged easily which can be challenging if you are pressed for time. The distribution of the product goes on easily but don't be mistaken, airbrush can give a flawless look but it is a heavier application than utilizing brushes. Makeup applied with brushes is old school but sometimes this can be a good thing. You have more control when using brushes and you can build where you need more coverage. You can also use different brushes to create different effects in your makeup application. I have also found that makeup application with brushes is preferred by entertainers in the industry cause it holds up better under extreme lighting situations such as being on stage or out in the elements. I have found that it is easier to cover tattoos with the airbrush machine. So there you have it, there are pros and cons to both now based on the information I have given you I will let you decide which technique you think will be best for your client. Good Luck!

What We See vs. What We Hear

Is it true what they say about beauty being in the eye of the beholder? Is it possible to see beauty in everyone? Even potential beauty? These are some of the questions that I am asked constantly by clients. The answer to these questions lie within. True beauty starts in the head and somehow makes it to the surface. At first glance, I see a woman who visually stimulated my senses(eyes), but after that, I start to look at the posture, tone, and assessment of one's self. These are just a few ways beauty can be measured. Beauty is a feeling, and the way you view yourself and others has a lot to do with how the world sees you. How does this relate to makeup and the mind of a makeup artist? When I look at a person I listen to what they are looking for such as what they are saying to me and also what the client is not telling me. I like to find out the history of the client such as where they have been with a particular look and where they are willing to go with a look. I remember one time when I was working in a makeup store and this beautiful tall dark skinned model walked in and I went crazy. I started having all these ideas of what I wanted to do to her face. I asked her if I could do her makeup and she said yes. By the time I finished with her she had on about four to five eye shadows, foundation, lipstick, lip liner, and a few other things. I was very proud of the makeup look that I had created for her but when she looked in the mirror she hated it. She stated that she never wore foundation and she thought it was too much. Sometimes what we see is not the way people want to see themselves. So the lesson learned is to ask questions to find out what the client likes and dislikes so you don't spend an hour creating a masterpiece and an additional fifteen minutes trying to take it all off.

Elroy McDaniel