Inside Scoop!

When you find yourself working 12 to 14 hours a day, on your feet for most of that time and using your skills to solve problems which pop up without warning, then you can relate to us as professional makeup artists.

MUAs and hairstylists in the television and film industry rarely have the luxury of pampering themselves daily like they do their clients. If we get 30 minutes to eat lunch and use the facilities then we consider ourselves lucky. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like we are abused or anything, it’s just that life and work on set is very unpredictable.

In the trailer, we as a team like to make this tin-can-like office homey. We burn candles, we put up photographs of fun, beautiful moments and we decorate much like our homes because we find that our actors, and some of our fellow crew members, flock to our trailer and use it like a home-away-from-home.

You can’t blame them! It smells good in there and it is a place of comfort where, depending on what is being filmed that day, you will find some peace and quite or a grooving dance party.

MUAs and hairstylists have to bring their A-game everyday. There are no bleeding hearts on a set. We are making movie magic and we cannot be a weak link in the chain. It doesn’t really matter if we didn’t get enough sleep the night before, or if we are having a personal problem at home or if we are not feeling well because the show, as they say, must go on!

Just like a magician, Pros have a few tricks up their sleeves that help them get through long, strenuous work days and I thought that our readers, who are hard working individuals in their own right, might enjoy knowing the “inside scoop!" This post will focus on many items other than makeup, so if you are only interested in powder and paint, then you might want to stop reading now or scroll down to the bottom of this post.

The Pros also want to make it very clear that we do not represent any of the lines that we are reviewing and we recommend that you seek the advice of a doctor prior to purchasing any of the mineral or food products we list.

Okay, now that the disclaimer is out of the way, let’s return to our regularly scheduled programming…

First and foremost it is important to eat healthy and that can be easy or hard to do on set!Crafty is short for Craft Services and we loooove Crafty! Why? Because you can get almost anything your heart desires from these wonderful people! They will make you an incredibly healthy salad for lunch or a juicy, greasy, hamburger. All you have to do is ask.

So, in order for me to not be overcome by cravings, this Pro likes to take a mineral supplement before each meal. I find that this controls overeating and helps me say “no thank you” when Crafty passes through the set with a tray of ice cream. 

I turn to Dr. Garland’s Naturopathic Therapies to help my body regain its health while building my immune system. In my life, this Pro feels that proper diet and exercise are absolutely necessary, but I find that I do not always have the energy or the time, so I take the following minerals:

Dr. Garland’s Life Transfusion Liquid Mineral Complex – this product contains minerals that we should be getting from our food, but in a liquid form. Per the instructions, I pour ½ teaspoon into a small glass of orange juice daily. Drinking these minerals in a juice will cut the taste. I have also used this product in bath water to absorb the mineral through my skin. It has helped relieve my tired, aching muscles after a long day.

Dr. Garland’s Fast Start – this Pro is finding that as I get older I am having trouble loosing weight and it doesn’t help that I have cravings for sweets everyday. This product helps boost my metabolism using green tea, vitamins and minerals. Taking this product with meals, as well as stretching and exercising daily has helped me to drop weight and control my feelings of hunger or cravings under stress.

Dr. Garland also has a great website called Ask Dr. Garland www.askdrgarland.com, where he addresses most health related issues plaguing the world today. You can purchase products directly off his website, read testimonials and Dr. Garland is available for personal consultation.

Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Energy Shot – these little guys really help when the Pros have night shoots. They contain totally organic super food extracts that give you energy without the jitters and they have no controversial stimulant compounds or ephedrine. I prefer the Lemon or the Lime Tangerine flavor to the Chocolate Raspberry. One shot is usually all I need for a boost that helps recharge me when I run out of steam! This Pro buys them at Whole Foods, but I have also seen them at many grocery store chains in their organic or vitamin section.

Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Greener Green Tea – the Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of drinking green tea for thousands of years and studies have shown that green tea may be helpful for those who suffer from high cholesterol, diabetes, liver disease and it can promote weight loss and boost your immune system. You can sip this tea hot or cold and feel good knowing that you are helping your body instead of drinking something that is bad for you!

Kushyfoot Lace Foot Covers – this product line is amazing! Not only is Kushyfoot available at most major retail stores, but this Pro just learned that Reflexology experts helped design the massaging cushions that are in all of their products. When I wear cute ballet flats to work I have to face the fact that my shoes are not exactly comfortable for long periods of time, so I wear the Kushyfoot Lace Foot Covers inside my flats and they provide padding that flat shoes don’t have. This helps to relieve tension and fatigue in my back, legs and ankles and I go home after 12 hours without sore muscles or cramping calves!

Kushyfoot Flats to Go – have you ever been in a situation where you find yourself wearing a pair of really cute shoes that are the most uncomfortable and painful pair you have ever owned? Well, this Pro just had that happen! I purchased an incredible pair of boots and decided to wear them for the first time on a shoot and I could feel the blisters forming on my toes and backs of my heels! I remembered that I had a pair of these black folded flats in my emergency wardrobe bag and pulled them out just in time! My feet cried in relief and I was able to finish my long shoot day without a major blister burst. These flats slip easily into any handbag and are great for travel plus, they come in a variety of colors like black, gold, silver, snake print, zebra print or alligator so you can be totally stylish and comfortable at the same time!

Luminosity Designs – this Pro is in love with candles and I burn them regularly in the trailer or makeup room to help create a soothing atmosphere for my actors and for myself! My very good friend owns her own candle company and makes some cute designs, plus she takes custom orders so if you need candles for a special occasion, then I suggest giving her a call. Her candles are affordable, long burning and the fragrances are not overwhelming. She can also take your company logo and put it on the candle containers for a classy added touch! If you want to be like this Pro and create a calm, relaxing, spa-like feel, then you will want to order the fragrance called Melissa’s Nag Champa. Yes! I have my very own fragrance, which is an exotic bouquet of sandalwood, champa flowers, violet and clove blended with sensual amber, ylang ylang, patchouli and musk! These candles really help me to relax during hectic times!

Now…onto the beauty products:

Talika Instant Beauty Tightening Gel – let’s face it, when you are tired from lack of sleep, you feel like everything is sagging! Talika, one of my favorite French skincare lines, invented a gel that tightens the skin to help minimize the severity of wrinkles. It also helps to restore a healthy radiance and make the skin appear younger looking. I use this product when I know that my skin is under extreme distress from lack of sleep, dehydration and improper diet.

Votre Vu Bebe Duette – another favorite French beauty company makes the best 2-in-1 hand cream and lip balm that this Pro carries in both my personal handbag and my set bag! The moisturizing lip balm is perfect for rehydrating my lips when they feel dry and cracked and the hand cream protects and heals my skin. Both have UV protection too and are the perfect size for travel!

Smashbox Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss – if there is one thing that I find I never have the time to do while I am working, it is touch up my own makeup! I know, I know, it’s hard to believe, but it is true! This lip gloss from the geniuses at Smashbox is incredible because it really does last! I have found that I am able to wear it without reapplying for about 3-4 hours! Yes! You heard me…I said hours! Now, if you are the type of person that likes to lick or bite your lips a lot then you probably won’t get the same results and if you have a issues with thicker glosses, then this might not be the product for you, but for me, this product is amazing! I recommend the following colors: For Keeps, Limitless, 24/7 and Boundless.

Lise Waiter Waterproof Eyeliner – another staple in both my personal and professional arsenal is this eyeliner because it stays put and doesn’t budge! When I have zero time to check out my own face, this eyeliner never fails me and will not fade, even on my water line! It glides on smoothly and gives ample smudge time before setting. Comes in a variety of gorgeous colors too, but this Pro is partial to black, because I embrace my inner rock-n-roll chick who worships black, smudgy liner!

Chic and Shine Stick Foundation by Madina Milano – I fell head over heels in love with this product when I found it at a small boutique in Italy. I only purchased one and I now covet this product until my return to Italy in 2012 where I will promptly purchase several more! Simply put, it is the best highlighting product I have ever used and it is the perfect shade of delicate, shimmering pink. It gives just the right amount of light to every skin tone. Use on your brow bone, cheekbone, down the center of the nose, on the cupid’s bow or on the chin. It blends effortlessly and when your skin is looking tired from long work hours, you can perk up your face and create the illusion of luminosity!

The Pros hope that you have found this post useful and remember; these products are things that we use to help relieve our tired minds, skin and bodies. Not all products mentioned in this post will have the same effect on you so if you have any doubt, do your research and check with your doctor prior to purchasing.