Friday, January 29, 2010

Glamming Up With GlamBox Airbrush Cosmetics

I was invited to a blogger's event by GlamBox Airbrush cosmetics last week. I already chanced upon the product while I was browsing through the Rockwell sale a week prior to this and of course, I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. I wanted an airbrush set, with airbrush becoming in demand for makeup artists who do weddings and fashion shows. I'm reviving the former this year and I've done the latter a lot. So in this case, I think it's time I should include airbrush makeup in my roster of skills.

So anyway, after my shoot, from Greenmeadows, I went to Rockwell to meet fellow bloggers and check out this new baby that I have been obsessing for days that Mike and Nix are already growing tired of hearing me say, "I want an airbrush kit!"

The event was held at Astralis at Powerplant Mall, with a little corner reserved for bloggers. I had a chat with Valerie, who I met previously before and she gave me a lowdown on the airbrush kit. Plus an overview on how it works. So this is how the airbrush device looks like:

So this is the compressor. Unlike traditional airbrush compressors, this one is very compact and it weighs approximately less than 1 kg. The weight and size alone makes it perfect for travelling, so it's a plus for makeup artists who would want to maximize luggage space. Also, this device is user-friendly. All we have to worry about is the on/off switch, the plug (of course), and three settings - low, medium, and high. No need to compute and adjust for PSI settings. This makes airbrush makeup accessible to most of us, even to those who didn't go to airbrush makeup school and for makeup artists who don't like math :P. The low setting is for doing eyebrows or for hard-to reach areas. The medium setting is for blush and foundation. The high setting is for the body, like if you're doing body makeup (which I'll show you later).

So that's the compressor. Now, here's where the foundation comes out: the airbrush gun:

It connects to the compressor with a hose and that cup thing there is where you put the foundation. According to Valerie, 10 drops is good for sheer, everyday coverage. For weddings and special occasions, however, we might have to layer in more. That little knob behind the cup is what controlls the foundation. When you turn on the compressor, the only thing that comes out of the gun is air. For the foundation to come out, pull the little knob 1/4 or 1/2 of the way and not fully, so the foundation is deposited in one steady stream.

Speaking of foundation, here they are:

GlamBox has 4 shades of silicone-based airbrush foundation, three in yellow undertones and one in a reddish undertone. Aside from foundation, they also have two shades of blush and one water-based luminizer. These are formulated for airbrush makeup use. Airbrush foundation is different from the traditional foundation we use with a brush or sponge since they are thinner and watery. Traditional foundation would just clog up the gun (and we wouldn't want that, right?). Take a look at the swatches:

From L-R: St. Tropez, Cannes, and Florence (all yellow undertone)

Blush colors: Malibu (light pink), and Cancun (dark rose pink)

As you can see, these are watery and thinner as compared to our traditional foundation that we buy in our favorite makeup counters. These go through the airbrush gun without clogging.

So after we were introduced to the product, we were given a chance to try out the airbrush foundation for ourselves. We had a willing model, Jane. Without makeup, Jane already has flawless skin, with minimal pores and lines. She removed her makeup with wipes while Nikki primed up her face with makeup primer. According to Sophie, it's adviseable to use makeup primer with airbrush makeup because it does hit the pores.

Jane all primed up and ready for a makeover. :)

Sophie proceded to do airbrush foundation on Jane. Airbrush makeup was done in circular motion and making sure to hit all areas evenly. To further fine-tune the makeup, a concealer brush is used to blend the makeup to make it look like "second skin".

Before setting the makeup, I tried putting blush on Jane. Putting blush was trickier, as I had to make sure both cheeks were even and the blush ends up on where blush is supposed to end up. Now why airbrush blush before powder? Because airbrush blush is also liquid, and if I set the makeup with powder, makeup is bound to cake. After blending the airbrush blush, I couldn't let Jane leave like that so I completed her makeup. Doing makeovers make me happy too after all. :) I just did a simple look on her, just to make her look fresh. After that.... I wanted to up the amp by adding some Luminizer on her neck and arms, since she had an event to go to after.




And that's me, airbrushing Jane. See? The airbrush gun and I are already friends for the first time I used it. And that's without reading any manuals. GlamBox took away my fear from airbrush devices. BAMBI WANT! WANT! WANT! :P

So here's Jane all glammed up:

According to Jane, the makeup didn't feel too heavy or cakey on her. I like the fact that it looked like skin instead of makeup, and she looked glowing afterwards.

For those interested to order, GlamBox Airbrush Cosmetics is available at their website at http://glamboxcosmetics.multiply.com or you could check the product at the Suesh Showroom and Studio, 2F 34 Wilson St. Greenhills, San Juan, MM.

1 comment:

Vera Liane Rea said...

Hi, I stumbled upon your blog and i must say. I am inlove. :) I love reading various things and well in this case your post on airbrush makeup made me go "oooh.."

The result was indeed WOW, she does look beautiful and it doesn't look at all cakey. :)

Can't wait to read more of your posts. :)