Schooled by the Pros - by Cathi Singh

We at IMPO like to cover events such as The Makeup Show from all angles - just like a great Cinematographer!  So this year, Cathi, Aileen, Heather and this Pro attended the 2-day event in Los Angeles in order to bring you different perspectives and class information.  The following post is a recap by IMPO's Contributing Writer Pro; Cathi Singh! Enjoy!

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What better way to jump into Spring than to attend one of the most sought after makeup events, The Makeup Show in Los Angeles. Hosted by The Powder Group, and spearheaded by creator Michael DeVellis, The Makeup Show (TMS) brought bi-coastal makeup artists together for two days of teaching, demonstrations, and product launches.

Celebrity makeup artists such as James Vincent, Orlando Santiago, Jon Hennessey, Joanna Schlip, Victoria Stiles, Kat Aragon and Lori Taylor were in attendance to share their expertise, experience, and even some industry advice about working in LA. TV mogul Eve Pearl was also teaching and selling her fabulous products, including her famed Salmon Concealer, which I was lucky enough to win in a drawing!

I started off my morning with a brisk walk through the vendors and made my way to Kat Aragon’s Master Class teaching Red Carpet Beauty. After hearing and seeing so many wonderful things about Kat and her work, I was excited to meet her in person. She is a fabulous teacher, down to earth, and has a very grounded approach to her work. Being a visual learner, as most makeup artists are, I soaked up her application tips and noted her tricks of creating a stay-put look that you can be confident with when your client is walking down a red carpet.

She started off with Embryolisse Moisturizer, and then used silicone liquid foundation and HD powder by Make Up For Ever and concealer by YABY Cosmetics. I love the MUFE Hi-Def Powder, but she had some unique uses for it straight from the lips of MUFE artist guru, Kevin-James Bennett!

USEFUL TIP: If the skin has too much texture or is a combination of oily and dry, try brushing a small amount of MUFE Hi-Def Powder onto the textured areas before applying foundation to even out the skin to a smooth finish!

Kat worked out a red carpet ready smokey eye using a subtle gold loose pigment and Yaby burgundy eye shadow. She also smudged Stila Smudgepot waterproof black liner into the lash line and worked it into the crease with her finger to provide lasting power for the smoldering look.

I noticed that Kat worked all aspects of the model’s face as opposed to focusing on eyes, then cheeks, then lips, etc. By working in light layers, she was able to get the “big picture” and thus, control where she wanted more emphasis on color. She mentioned that by building layers of color and highlight, the camera flash is more forgiving and the light will catch the applied highlight more naturally.

Popular items in her kit: MUFE Flash Palette, HD Liquid Foundations, HD Powder, FaceAtelier Ultra Sheer #2, Rosebud Salve, and her custom color Yaby shadow palette.

After her class, I made my way over to Yaby to see what all the pigment panic was about! I had been looking for a bright color palette to use for editorial print work and Yaby had it! The Something Bright Palette has every pastel and primary color you could ask for, in matte and sheen. 

The little pods of color might seem small, but they are heavily pigmented and pressed. While this particular palette is packed with eccentric colors, I would use it mainly for print and fashion work. For a wide selection of matte neutrals and shimmer cream paint colors, try the Best of Both Worlds Palette. The neutral colors are ideal for contour and correction, as well as for TV and film work.

The next forum I attended was the TV Forum, which focused on working in reality TV. I am a non-union artist, and to learn that artists are working in that genre as both union and non-union members was extremely helpful. Forum Host James Vincent said, “The Union allows you to work, it does not give you work,” so never rest on your laurels!

Makeup Department Head for “So You Think You Can Dance”, Amy Strozzi, was an absolute delight to listen to and truly honest about how things work behind the scenes. After hearing about the 2 minute and 37 second makeup change they are given to work with, I am even more astounded at how quickly they are able to change dramatic looks and how beautiful the end result always is!

Each guest in the forum was informative and gave insight about the Union, the fast pace of reality television, and some of their favorite products that have passed the scrutiny of Hi-Definition cameras. As James Vincent said, “Hi-Definition is a technology, not a product.” The panel listed FaceAtelier, Make Up For Ever, and Smashbox among their favorite lines.

I was eager to attend the class on the application and coloring of tattoo stencils, taught by sensational Temptu artist, Jenai Chin.  Fellow MUA Jennifer Bernhardt was also in the class and we tatted up each other! This was a black outline transfer that I applied and then filled in with color using the Temptu Dura Pro Palette in Trauma with a fine nylon brush.

After watching how quickly Julie was able to color and shade each tattoo transfer, it became even more apparent how valuable that airbrush machine really is. It has officially been added to my gotta-have-it list!

One area in which I wanted to expand my kit was skin care. And with Embryolisse and Dermalogica at my fingertips, I stocked up for both my kit and myself! The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is one of my favorite products, and gives my skin that instant glow, even if I’ve been sleep deprived!

I had to make a stop by Smashbox to say hello to Lori Taylor. I also picked up the new Halo Bronzer, and trust me; this pale California girl wants to bathe in this bronzer! It has anti-aging benefits, vitamins and antioxidants a plenty, is mess-free, and doesn’t turn Oompa Loompa Orange on me! I’ll take two!

The last panel of the day was titled, "Working In LA." James Vincent, Koren Zander, Bryin Smoot, Lori Taylor and Sarah Lucero are all working artists in either LA, New York, or both.

With an insightful Q&A session with the audience, the panel emphasized the importance of networking, and that every job you do sets you up for the next one so behave accordingly! Lori Taylor said it best, “check your ego at the door, and don’t even bring it in the car with you.”

The artists also reiterated what Victoria Stiles taught during the weekend about having a thriving online presence (website, Facebook, Twitter, etc) to be relevant and get work. I found it interesting to learn that several of the artists on the panel had never attended a formal makeup school (they truly have a natural talent).

When I began my career towards becoming a MUA, this was a huge debate for me as to whether formal school was the right path for me. I am a hands on learner, so apprenticeship ended up being the best way for me to learn and apply technique. With that said, there are some outstanding schools out there and the great thing about this industry is that you are always learning- there is always something new on the horizon and some way to better your art. So, I have taken concentrated classes and will attend more in the future!

Now that you have all the inside and behind the scenes info about The Makeup Show Los Angeles, make sure to attend the upcoming show in NYC - click "here" to purchase your tickets!  Hope to see you there!

 *Pictures courtesy: Cathi Singh, Melissa Street and The Los Angeles Times

Education + Cosmetics = POWER!

Upon my return from the Los Angeles Makeup Show put on by The Powder Group, I immediately reviewed all of my notes taken during the many educational seminars I was able to attend.  I wanted to organize all the information I learned because this year, The Makeup Show was jammed packed with career building instruction and tons of vendor booths that housed 60 pro-industry makeup companies!

With 3,000 makeup artists and students in attendance, The Makeup Show offered many hands-on workshops and keynote presentations that this Pro took advantage of thoroughly!

Eve Pearl’s “Market Yourself, Get the Job and Make Money in Front of the Camera” seminar was incredibly informative.  This Pro has not been asked to demonstrate a makeup application in front of the camera before, but after attending Eve’s presentation I feel less intimated and more capable of doing so if or when I am asked!

The “Working in Reality Television” forum was another highlight and James Vincent brought together a “cast” of extremely talented artists from the shows Ru Paul’s Drag Race, America’s Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance, who told truthfully what it was like to work behind-the-scenes on a reality television show!

Victoria Stiles, who is an incredible makeup artist, based in Washington, D.C., taught two seminars this year.  “Back to the Future: using innovative products to create classic looks” and “Strengthening Your Online Presence.”  These two workshops were a Pro favorite and taught great tips on how to recreate classic looks using current products, as well as how to use Facebook and Twitter properly to promote a makeup artist’s business.

In the presentation “State of the Union,” Susan Cabral Ebert told the artists exactly what was needed in order to join the I.A.T.S.E. 706 and why it was important to belong to such a prestigious group (especially if you are an artist like this Pro and work in television and film regularly).  Getting first hand information straight from the “horses mouth” is much better than second-hand info coming from people who may not understand all of the logistics.

“Working in LA” was another forum where James Vincent, Lori Taylor (Smashbox), Bryin Smoot, Sarah Lucero (Stila Cosmetics) and Koren Zander were able to answer questions directly from audience members on how to properly approach an agency, set etiquette tips and the importance of being an educated artist.

KJ Bennett, Kathy Aragon, Joanna Schlip, Christina Farrell, Jon Hennessey and Orlando Santiago were also among the “heavy hitters” that held hands-on workshops and demonstrations on everything from Editorial Beauty to Airbrushing, to Bridal and Red Carpet makeup looks!

This year, The Makeup Show’s Diamond Sponsor was Make Up For Ever, along with two Platinum Sponsors, Temptu Pro and Inglot.  Crown Brush and On Makeup Magazine were also among the company’s that sponsored the show.

On the Saturday prior, The Makeup Show allowed unprecedented access to beauty and fashion bloggers.  This Pro, along with many other bloggers, attended an exclusive tour of the vendor booths by Michael DeVellis and James Vincent in order to preview products that were being launched at the show.  During this tour, we were allowed to preview MUFE’s newest HD Microfinish Blush and Aqua Cream collections, as well as the newest additions to the Dermalogica and Naked Cosmetics lines and we also received full-sized samples of SmashBox Cosmetic’s new Hyperlash Mascara, Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer and OCC’s newest Lip Tar colors!

During the two-day event, this Pro also SHOPPED TIL I DROPPED!!! Stopping first at the Alcone booth to stock up on my favorite disposable sponges, Collyre Bleu Laiter Clear Blue Eye Drops and a Viseart 12-color neutral eye shadow palette (the best palette in my industry)!

I then made my way to the BECCA booth to pick up a few of their newest products.  My favorite BECCA Beach Tints now come in shades of Strawberry and Tangerine.  I have raved about these gorgeous, waterproof, crème stains in prior posts and I was thrilled to add these new colors to my personal and professional makeup kit.  I also purchased a Soft Touch Blush in Songbird from BECCA’s new Santa Rosa Collection.

As usual, the MUFE booth was packed especially with the launch of their new products.  This Pro decided that I needed to add the HD Foundations to my professional kit and MUFE was offering an amazing deal where I was able to purchase 6 popular shades for $120 excluding tax, which is half of what I would have paid retail!

Shuffling through the crowd I was able to make my way to the Temptu Pro booth where I watched many demonstrations using Temptu’s airbrush machine.  It’s amazing for applying foundation, contouring, highlighting and tattoo cover.  I purchased several Dura Pro Palettes that I added to my special FX makeup kit!

Embryolisse’s booth was my next visit and I was able to learn all about this product line directly from their Vice President, Michelle Shaffer.  This is a cult favorite of most professional makeup artists, found in most professional kits and makeup trailers, it is now easily available in the United States and it is affordable for all consumers.  Known for it’s ability to restore skin tone and elasticity while protecting your skin, Embryolisse creates a natural balance and minimizes risk of allergy.

Hakuhodo brushes are all hand made in Japan and are available either online or at many upcoming makeup artist shows (including the NYC Makeup Show & IMATS).  Established in 1974 in Kumano, Hakuhodo is one of the leading makeup brush manufacturers in the world!  This Pro could not wait to add a few of these brushes to my stockpile!

iNuovi Cosmetics launched their first United States booth at The Makeup Show this year!  This pigment rich, high intensity makeup line is developed in Italy, France and Japan.  This Pro fell in love with this product line last year and was so excited to view (play) with their top selling products!  I picked up iNuovi’s Probox (professional makeup luggage), which is a lightweight, easy to clean and stain resistant case that all my special effects makeup now calls “home!”

Eve Pearl Beauty's booth was hopping with the launch of 4 new eye shadow palettes, lipstick palette and her new HD Powder Foundations!  Always on hand to demonstrate her product line, Eve showed the crowd how to make the most of a client’s facial features.  This Pro has several of Eve’s products in my professional and personal makeup kit and I literally don’t ever work without using something from her product line.  From her famous Salmon Concealer to her gorgeous color line, Eve’s makeup can bring out the best in all women and it looks amazing on television and film!

Crown Brush's booth is always a crowd pleaser and with James Vincent showing the bloggers his “go to” brushes at the Blogger Preview, this Pro had to make a stop and pick up James’ recommendations!  Foundation brush, eye shadow blender and fan brushes all from the Badger Hair collection are now in my personal makeup bag (they were always in my pro kit)!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is making its mark in the world with its famous Lip Tars and at The Makeup Show they launched new colors, not yet available to the public.  Hoochie, Vapid and Complex are a stunning addition to the current Lip Tar line and will be available for Spring!

Face Atelier was my last stop because I wanted to give my full attention to learning about this innovative product line that is “all the buzz” in my industry.  Victoria Stiles was on hand demonstrating products and this line is the official makeup sponsor for Madonna’s Confessions Tour!  Face Atelier’s secret weapon is Silicone and their foundations are water resistant, while absorbing oil from the skin.  I purchased their Ultra Foundation Pro, Zero Minus and Zero Plus, which lightens or darkens foundation colors when added.  This Pro also purchased their Transforming Gel that magically transforms any loose or pressed powder into a “pool” of easily applied, lasting color that sets quickly!  Hello!!!  I am now able to turn all of my powder blushers and eye shadows into creams!

Whew!!!!  Needless to say, this Pro was t-i-r-e-d after two full-days of The Makeup Show (thank goodness I wore my flats), but some how I found the energy to run home and clean out my makeup kits to make room for all my new purchases!!!

Contributing Writer Pro, Cathi Singh, was also in attendance at The Makeup Show and she will be providing IMPO readers with more information about the seminars and vendor booths she visited, so stay tuned!

Click "here" and become a "fan" on this Pro's Facebook page to see more fun photos from The Makeup Show!!!  Also, make sure to subscribe to my other blog Epic Makeup if you are interested in going behind-the-scenes of television and film sets!  Click "here" and enjoy!

This Pro wants to thank all the hard working staff from The Powder Group for putting on an amazing show and is looking forward to next year!