Spotlight: Chella Skincare

The Pros at IMPO have our favorites! Favorite makeup, hair products, brushes, disposables and of course, skincare! In the past, we have posted on this blog and put up on YouTube a video about Melissa’s favorite skincare but today, it’s Cathi’s turn!

As professional makeup artists and bloggers, we are sent many products yearly to test out. Plus, we purchase products for our kits and our personal use several times during the year too!

We test everything before we add it to our kits or write blog post reviews, however testing several different lines monthly can wreak havoc on your skin. Even though we test all products on our clients, as well as ourselves, the IMPO team takes the brunt of the skincare testing because we do not want to risk our actors having breakouts or creating skin issues!

Cathi is the “baby” of the IMPO family and she has sensitive skin that has a tendency to be dry. She’s getting ready to turn the big 3-0 this year and because her skin changes depending on the seasons, as well as stress levels and with the typical signs of aging, Cathi finally found an amazing skincare line that has regulated her skin.

Here’s her review:

“Fight aging that is seen and unseen for undeniable, tangible results.”

Chella Skin Care is a cutting edge line that combines science and skin care to produce a product that targets the aging process, how to slow it down and minimize the results while maintaining healthy vibrant skin. Because of Chella you don’t have to become a mad scientist to fight fine lines and dull skin.

Anti-Fatigue Eye Masks: Do you have 20 minutes to look like you’ve slept a full 8 hours? Thought so! This mask is packed with collagen and peptides that de-puff, firm and smooth fine lines around the entire eye by 15%. In other words, look well rested, hydrated, and bright eyed with these magical patches. Repeat the process once a week for four weeks for lasting results.

It also diminishes redness and swelling that are common due to stress, caffeine, and lack of sleep. Both Melissa and I were lucky enough to try these masks at a recent skincare event. The eye masks are cooling, and very soothing on the skin. It felt like a spa treatment with the convenience of being travel friendly.

Hydrating Cleanser Lush Balm: I have to say I first fell in love with this product because of its appearance. How shallow, I know! It is a beautiful coral creamy balm with an invigorating citrus scent, reminiscent of a Summer-type candle. I had never used such a thick balm on my skin, but with winter weighing heavy on me, my skin needed the hydration.

I applied as instructed, first going on dry skin, then adding warm water. This balm rocks! It not only rids my skin of dirt and bacteria, it also removes my makeup, including my mascara and red matte lipstick (not an easy feat).

Instantly I thought of this balm for my Pro makeup kit as it is applied dry, then rinsed with warm water, making it extremely easy to clean or prep skin while in the makeup chair. And it’s not something that will tip over and spill in my kit! Bonus!

I have found this cleanser to be universal for all skin types, but especially those that are more on the dry side. The balm contains olive oil, which leaves skin feeling smooth and supple after rinsing.

Exfoliating Cleanser Micro Bead Purifier: I use every three days as an exfoliator. It is made especially for “challenged skin.” With the changing climate and because I am in new locations everyday with work, it’s easy for my skin to lash out. Using this cleanser has helped bring balance to my skin tone and reduce breakouts significantly. It is by far the best smelling exfoliator I have ever used- a refreshing cucumber scent that makes it seem almost edible.

It contains jojoba beads that gently cleanse pores without drying or tearing at your skin. What makes this product unique is its encapsulated beta hydroxy acids, called MultiSal 20. It delivers time-released salicylic acid to help rid your skin of bacteria and excess oils.

Most items with salicylic acid can be very drying, especially in the T Zone. I have not had any drying or irritation while using this product, yet my skin is smoother, more balanced and not as oily later in the day, during that magic 4 o‘clock hour where my energy and makeup are both put to the tested.

Resurfacing Matrix Enzyme and Lactic Treatment: Once a week I use this product to rid my skin of the week’s build up, bacteria, and dead skin cells. The lactic acid helps aid in cellular regeneration and contributes to giving a glow to the skin. The enzymes make this mini-peel just strong enough to smooth texture and create a more even balanced tone. Even sensitive skin types can use this weekly without redness or irritation.

Brow Kit-Auburn: I recently colored my hair to an auburn red color. Going from a natural blonde to red caused not only a total re-haul of my makeup regimen, but it also slightly changed my skin tone. I do not color my eyebrows, therefore I began the hunt for the perfect brow pencil. Enter Chella Brow Kit in Awesome Auburn. The kit comes with a brow pencil, highlighter pencil, clear brow gel and sharpener. It is the trifecta of perfect Auburn brows! It is a creamy pencil with just the right hue of warmth and not orange. It’s very blendable and the highlighter pencil is a fantastic pick-me-up for those early morning call times. Just a small sweep under the brows and in the inner eye corner, blend and then I head to craft service for a large coffee!

The Brow Kit also comes in Beautiful Blonde, Luscious Light Brown and Dazzling Dark Brown and retails for only $45.

Check out this great and informative video on the Chella product line: 

For more information on Chella Skin Care and to order products, visit their website http://chella.com.

Spotlight: Yaby Cosmetics

Probably the best perk of working in the film and television industry as a makeup artist is meeting other professionals in your field. You bond over being a freelancer, seeking advice on upcoming projects, products that work and don't and you share techniques and tips that improve your current skill level.

A few years ago, this Pro was lucky enough to meet a lady I had admired for a very long time. I had known of her reputation for being an outstandingly talented MUA through colleagues and because I had seen her published work. What I didn't know was that she was a kind, generous and compassionate person who would always be available to help bounce around creative ideas or provide advice on a shoot.

Liz Yu with world renowned makeup artist, Roshar and his model at IMATS NYC

Liz Yu became a makeup artist because of her obsession with flawless skin and naturally, that became her trademark. Basing out of Toronto, Canada, Liz has worked on many beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and film and television projects. I learned quickly after meeting Liz that we would become good friends. She is also an amazing effects artist and somehow she found the time during her career to make and manufacture a professional cosmetic line that is a staple in most professional kits.

Her product line is called Yaby Cosmetics and she launched her range in 2007. With an extensive color line for the eyes, lips, cheeks and face, this product is so highly pigmented you will appreciate the immediate pay off without having to reload your makeup brush. Her colors blend evenly and are so finely milled that they work into the skin with very little effort.

Yaby Cosmetics blew me away because at first, I doubted that a little tiny pan of eye shadow could provide me with such amazing quality. O ye of little faith! I should have trusted the fact that, as a professional, Liz knows exactly what products we need to have in our kits and the fact that those products need to work! She spent so much time, money and effort on this line in order to bring it to professionals, as well as consumers that I almost wanted to argue with her over the insanely affordable price!

This Pro has a huge range of products from Yaby Cosmetics in both my HDTV/Film beauty kit and my FX kit. Just one of Yaby's pre-filled eye shadows palettes contains 40 colors and I love her lip palettes because they contain 20 of the most wearable colors around and you can easily mix the colors together for a custom look.

Liz even made it easy to depot your collection of tube lipstick and put them into empty pans, which she sells and then pop them into an empty Yaby palette. No longer do we need to carry around tons of tubes in our kits and the palettes make it easy to coordinate colors for quicker application. You won't be digging around your kit, pulling off caps trying to find the lipstick color you need for that big shoot!

Same goes for eye shadows, cheek colors, powder foundations and concealers. All of these products come in pre-filled Yaby palettes or you can make your own! Plus, this line's foundations, cream and liquid, are beautiful. They blend smoothly and won't cake on the skin for a natural appearance or confidently build up the coverage with several applications if you need without the worry of a “heavy” makeup look!

Yaby Cosmetics also has a line of skin correctors and concealers, brow colors and cake liners, which this Pro uses on every single shoot. My team of makeup artists also carry an extensive array of Yaby in their kits! We wouldn't be caught dead without them on set! This line is completely customizable and the palettes are magnetic, which keeps our kits diverse and filled with color, while keeping volume to a minimum!

Yaby also makes it easy to keep a beautiful range of color in my personal makeup bag too, which means I can easily change up my look from day to night without lugging a bunch of makeup with me in my handbag!

Below are a few pictures from Yaby's color line, as well as a YouTube video from IMATS Toronto 2011 posted by MakeupTalk.com.

You can purchase Yaby directly from their website at www.YabyCosmetics.com or online from Camera Ready Cosmetics at www.camerareadycosmetics.com.

For more info on Yaby Cosmetics visit their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/yabycosmetics featuring more photos from magazine shoots, adverts and gorgeous makeups by Roshar!

All photos courtesy of: Yaby Cosmetics.

To the Rescue...by Pro Cathi Singh

Halloween is right around the corner and the Pros at IMPO have been trying to figure out a good post to write without boring our readers with the same old "how-to" information! Seriously, how many times can we write about Vampire, Zombie and Witch makeup and keep our savvy audience interested? 

Pro MUA Cathi Singh, remembered a cool makeup/costume challenge she was given on a recent shoot and thought that our readers would not only get a kick out of some behind-the-scenes views, but that maybe someone one out there needed an idea for a costume that is totally unique and original! So, if you waited until the very last minute and now all the cool Halloween costume ideas are gone, then read on and let the Pros help you discover your inner Superhero!

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Sometimes in the makeup world, we are not given alot of time to research and prepare for a project, and have to think on our feet for a quick solution. Such was the case for me a few weeks ago. One of my long-time corporate clients called with a big idea that involved hair, makeup and costuming; only thing was, we had a day and a half to accomplish it before the print deadline!

They needed a superhero custom made for their company. 

Initially they wanted to purchase a superhero costume and make simple tweeks. But at the end of the day, it still felt like we were playing dress up. There is a fine line between corny and cool and we were walking it.

I called around and researched some body suits, and came across a costume shop with a large inventory. After picking their brains via phone the idea for liquid latex was suggested.  Knowing that my creative director loves to push the envelope visually, I quickly presented the idea (and the pros and cons). He jumped at the idea and I purchased the kit and paint sight unseen. Now, I normally would not do this, for obvious reasons - needing to test it on camera, get to know the product, etc, but I was on location for another project and could not get to the store due to distance. I did extensive research online and with the costume shop owner, who was very familiar with the product. I did bring some costumes with me as a back up if the latex did not present well. 

A few key things to remember before starting a latex paint project: 

1. Make sure your model is not allergic to latex or ammonia or aloe vera gel. All of these things will be painted directly onto their skin and will need to be worn for at least 5 hrs (the amount of time it takes to paint the body).
2. Get permission beforehand from the agent, model and company you are working for. The model needs to be ok with shaving their ENTIRE body and standing for at least 5 hrs. The latex paint also has a strong odor and you will need ample space and air circulation to work in. 
3. Get a tarp, wear something you don’t care about ruining (latex stains clothing)

As a base coat, you need to apply an aloe vera gel or moisturizer to the entire painting surface. The latex will seem tight at first, but as the body naturally warms to it, it will become pliable and move with the model.

Note: Once you apply the aloe vera gel, also check that your model is wearing an anti-perspirent. As we learned, too much condensed moisture under the latex causes it to stay very tacky, catch on itself, and potentially make holes in that area. 

I did not wear gloves, but you can if you wish. We started with the chest, and did one full coat from shoulder to waist. The first layer is very light and had streaks from the brush. Don’t worry about those, they will disappear with the next few coats. 

I then moved to this sides and then his back and painted those while the chest dried. After each layer, it is imperative that you completely dry the latex with a blow dryer before applying the next layer. 

After his midsection had two coats on it, I moved to his arms. Its important while the latex is wet that the model not bend their arms or torso, as the latex will stick to itself. 

I let the second coat dry completely before applying 3 more coats. The instruction say to get a truly opaque color, 3-5 coats is needed. Because the lighting of our shot involved some extremely bright spotlights, we applied 5 coats so it would be a very bold, dark finish. My paint kit came with a specialized foam brush pack for $10. I highly recommend buying two, as I went through 4 different brushes, two of them the small body rollers.

Once dry, closely inspect the entire surface. This is the time for final corrections, layers, etc. This would also be a good time to apply any decals, logos or designs in a different color.

The last step is to apply the Shine Seal Spray. This product dulls the tacky finish latex has and allows for smooth movement. It also adds a dramatic and glossy finish that makes it look like skin. Because this product contains silicone, once applied, you cannot paint latex over it. It is your final seal. We tried to add more to a small area of his arm, and it dulled the black to a matte gray finish, and made the texture visibly rougher. 

We equipped our superhero with gloves, boots, and knee braces. I also painted a mask on his face using waterproof liner. He was able to bend, jump, and move like a superhero without any difficultly. The latex stretched like a second skin.

For removal, it’s best to rinse with warm water and soap. Our model had some baby hairs that he did not shave and it made the removal process more difficult and slightly painful. The latex will peel in small sections off the skin. If it gets into the hair, remove with baby oil. (Do not remove like the photo below is showing - that was just for fun behind-the-scenes photos).

The end result was a huge success, and the images were very heroic. Best of all, I was able to produce the exact idea my client wanted, and in record time!

This taught me that you can find tools and unique items in unexpected places. Think outside the box, and venture beyond the makeup store to a costume shop, art supply or craft store.

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There are several brands of Liquid Latex Body Makeup on the market. Brand X and Graftobian make them as well as other manufacturers. Do your research and call around to various stores before purchasing.

Remember, this idea is not just for Halloween, you could also wear it to show team spirit at a sporting event, during Mardi Gras or another fun event like a parade or Burning Man! Any place where you want to show off your own originality! Plus, it's expensive to rent, make or purchase a full costume, but using a product like Liquid Latex Body Makeup makes your dreams way more affordable!

The Pros hope this information was useful and we wish everyone a very Safe and Happy Halloween!