Back To School for Halloween

Even if I've been experimenting so much with special effects makeup in my makeup posts, I never really went to school for it, for the reason that it was more of something that I just want to do for myself and most of what I do is usually beauty and bridal. It was a very expensive course too to take on its own so I figured out I'd wait it out first and put my money on other things. However, when the time and opportunity came for me to attend a Basic Special Effects workshop at the Center for Aesthetic Studies last month, I decided to go and grab this time. Although I'm not doing makeup as much as I did before, I still couldn't say no to this seasonal skill. My heart, after all, beats for special effects.

Literally I stepped into this school 10 years ago when I first had my very basic makeup training. Right now, it's in a different location.

Back then, the Center for Aesthetic Studies (or CAS) used to be in Jupiter Street and I used to walk from de la Costa to Jupiter with my makeup bag to get to class. Now, it's located along Gamboa Street in Legaspi Village on the other side of Makati, a walking distance away from Greenbelt 1.

We now have director's chairs! I recall the time I would hoard monoblock chairs to stack them together so I have a relatively high chair.

BYS Philippines has a special FX line to cater to your Halloween looks

We just had to bring our brushes and some other tools which fit a way smaller and lighter makeup bag. Makeup products were provided by the school with their partner brand, BYS Cosmetics, even for their special effects line. Yes! BYS also has a special effects line now!

Thanks to my student/friend Moe who agreed to be my practice model for the day despite the fact he had little sleep the night before. This is his photo before the crazies happened.

We started out with an introduction to special effects. We would learn ageing, bruises, cuts, lacerations, and burns. Already with the outline and my heart was pumping like doing cardio. Making stuff like these is so much fun. Also, we would be doing the other end. If in beauty makeup we hide flaws, here, we enhance flaws and make flaws. It's like my mind did an inversion.

For every segment, there would be a demo. Here is Teacher Bo giving a demo on the model. He has worked in countless TV productions and horror films (including the iconic horror movie series Shake Rattle and Roll). He even has a page in IMDb! Yes, being the nerd that I am, I actually researched this.  Teacher Bo has been my forever teacher in CAS since he was my teacher in basic makeup before.

ageing using cream/powder shading, stippling, liquid latex, and white greasepaint.

One important tip I learned from him is less is more. It's better to layer on products and blend it evenly to make things look more realistic. This holds especially true in bruises where it's not supposed to be one mask of purple paint but there should be a gradation of colors and the skin underneath should show through. I also learned that it's not just showering a fake would with red makeup and fake blood. There's a bit of other colors thrown in as well. If you get a real bruise, take a good look at it and see the different colors.

Nose laceration created with scar wax

Scar wax was a tricky thing to work with especially with spirit gum. This gets really sticky sometimes.

In special effects, we use old brushes and paint brushes (yes, the ones we buy at National Bookstore). This also puts to good use our powder brushes and other brushes that have seen better days. The sponges we use in beauty makeup can still be put to good use. Just give them a good wash and use them to apply liquid latex or tear them to create texture. We can even use old mascara wands to create texture or brush color on brows and mustaches or so on.  This is a good take on upcycling and lessen the turnaround time for a lot of sponges and brushes to be thrown out. 

blisters and third-degree burn

I had the most fun in creating burns because it involves layering of products. If you are not that squeamish, you can search actual photos of burns and wounds to make your work more realistic. If you're like me who's a bit squeamish, just type "special fx burn makeup". The search engine will give you graphic images, but at least you know that these were made by other makeup artists using fx makeup and not medical cases, so less chances for the stomach to turn.

I must admit that doing special effects was longer than doing beauty makeup. I usually do like a full glam makeup in 20-30 minutes (excluding hair). However, for special effects, it usually takes me an hour or more. Sometimes it takes even two hours depending on the concept. I do love it still because of the challenge and also, each look has a story. Like for a burn, how did the character get burned? What kind of burn? Is it an acid burn like Harvey Dent in Batman or was he burned by an angry mob like Freddy Krueger? If it's a cut, what kind of a cut is it, who or what made it, and so on. There are different kinds of fake blood to use and I already wrote ways on how they are used.

Of course this would not be complete without a photo-op with my teacher!

He even gave tips on how we could fine-tune our skills and how to store products, like pre-prepped prosethetic gelatin. He also gave tips on special fx equipment shopping should we start building our kit, like what to look out for, what colors to buy, and so on.

If not doing special effects makeup for Halloween for movies/tv or for Halloween, there are ways where I can apply this:

Gorify a vintage-themed party with a sexy zombie pinup girl look.

• Christmas parties. I know of some people who would extend Halloween gore to their themed Christmas parties. I once did a makeup on a friend who went for a drowned zombie look for her under-the-sea themed office Christmas Party. They had a standout zombie with the mermaids and fish.
• Prenup shoot - Some couples get creative beyond the usual HH-WW photos by the beach or garden or the staple flower crown smiling photo with a flowy skirt. You can have a Doom, Call of Duty, Walking Dead, or Zombieland - themed prenup shoot. Get your entourage in the fun and transform them to zombies in a zombie apocalypse themed shoot. 
• Recitals and performances - My brain has gone somersaults with conceptualizing a look with my friend Ronnie during his pole competition looks. Just in case he would have a zombie-themed competition look going, I am fully equipped. 
• Plays  - doing special effects makeup for stage requires a bit more heavy hand and less blending so the look can be seen from afar. Last 2015, I did an ageing look on veteran actor Bembol Roco for his role in the play Arbol de Fuego. He had to look around 20 years older than his actual age.

This is a tad more crude and the lines less natural for stage purposes.

I have more special effects makeup looks on Instagram. You can search for them via the hashtag #bambidelacruzmakeup on IG. Have fun coz I did!


Image Directory

Center for Aesthetic Studies Facebook page (workshop poster and school demo photo)
facebook.com/centerforaestheticstudiesph/


Store Directory:

BYS Cosmetics
www.bysphilippines.com / facebook.com/BYSPhilippines; instagram.com/bysphilippines

Center for Aesthetic Studies
Unit 103 1st Midland Condominium Gamboa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City ; 897-0383 / 897-0307 / 0917-8970383 / 0918-8970383 ; www.cas.com.ph ; facebook.com/centerforaestheticstudies.ph ; instagram.com/centerforaestheticstudies

Makeup Artist Tips That We Haven't Talked Much About

Beauty is my yang while fitness is my yin. These are two total opposites but they both make up who I am. Being in fitness for 6 years and makeup for 10, I think that the latter part of these six years is what put the balance to my own being.

Normally, when we search for makeup artist tips in blogs and magazines, we come across technique-based tips to apply in our own techniques and refine our skills. In this post, I decided  to dedicate this post, still to makeup artist tricks, but not necessarily technique-based. Actually, these tips are not only applicable to makeup artists, but to everyone with different schedules and all. As we focus so much on our job, sometimes we forget the most important thing, which is ourselves. So I focus this tip more on the self, because after all, we are all literally hands-on in our job.

Maintaining my yin while on the job
Photo by Paulo Leonido

Do Not Forget To Eat

Makeup artistry is practically a physical job. We carry our gear. We stand up. We work with our hands. I actually find myself  hungrier after doing makeup than say training for two hours since it involves physical and mental work.  Food is fuel and if we don't eat, we might not be able to carry our work properly, and once hAnger strikes, (that's with an "A", yes, I typed it correctly), it's not very pretty and can cost you your job and reputation. I learned to eat a good breakfast before stepping out the door and to have food and water with me always when I'm on the road (I always have crackers and ginger sweets in my bag and my water bottle in the car). Bobbi Brown in her book Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual even mentions to pack energy bars and food in your kit because work hours tend to extend. When the client tells you to eat, please do so. Most importantly, as much as possible, try to eat clean. Bad fuel is still not good.

Leave Early

Manila traffic gets more predictable each time so better alot at least 2 hours travel time to beat traffic, find parking, get to the venue and set up. If you are unfamiliar with the place, do a dry run first so you don't get stressed out during the day finding the venue. You can pre-check out your route via Waze or Google Maps.

Learn To Say No

Newbie makeup artists tend to get bullied a lot, with regards to bargaining and their rates. If you know that the Php 1000 PF is not even enough to cover your cab fare, gas, parking, materials, and labor, then say no. Stick to rates that pay you right and people who make you feel better about yourself.

Jot Everything Down

To avoid missed appointments or botched bookings, I recommend jotting your schedule on a planner or since today is the modern-day smartphone era, in the scheduling app of your smartphone, the one that reminds you of your events and even pre-programs the venue in Waze so you know where to go. This will help you avoid confusion and double-bookings.

Have a Plan B

I've learned the hard way to keep a few basic hairstyling tools in my kit just in case a hairstylist doesn't show up. You don't have to bring everything but a few combs, a curling iron, a box of  pins and rubber bands, and hairspray would do. It works to be prepared when caught in the pickle when you have no hairstylist available.

Pace Yourself and Know Your Limits

While it's quite tempting to double-book, if in the end, you may shortchange your clients, the added income might not be worth the stress. Normally, I give my client 2-1/2 to 3 hours time to do makeup, so that the work is relaxed and not rushed. While I don't hire assistants, I get a hairstylist for a job that involves 2 or more heads to get to focus on makeup.

Inasmuch as we are passionate about our jobs, we should also learn to pace ourselves and to take care of ourselves. These tips may not be technique-based but they can really help us improving our game by having a better disposition and with better health, we can work better. Stay healthy, happy, and passionate!

Why Should You Have A Wedding Contract and What Are the Requirements

I learned that I should produce a wedding contract not from a supplier but from a bride. Since I was a newbie, then, I consulted my peers who had the same experience and they helped me come about with a good draft. Over the course of time, I have drafted and made revisions of my past contracts from my own experience as well as the advice of the veterans that I have worked with.

A contract isn't just a piece of paper with your signatures. Much like your contract when you sign up for employment, it states the agreement between the vendor and the client in black and white, in an organized way, so we don't have to dig up old texts or emails or recall phone conversations for added details. It states everything there who are the parties involved, what the event is, and every detail needed. It also serves as protection for both parties when something goes wrong.

I'm not a lawyer or did I graduate from a business degree but I wrote this post with all artists in mind and based on my own experience in dealing with clients, most especially weddings or big projects like TVCs, movies, production shoots, etc.  With the format, like I said earlier, there are formats and templates that can be found online or if you can ask your makeup artist or photographer friends to send you a draft and base it from there.

What projects are exempted from contracts?

For personal hair and makeup (hair and makeup for one head attending an event like a party or dinner), I usually don't request for a contract. However, for big events like bridal makeup, TV shoot, commercials, movies, or corporate accounts, that's when I bring out a contract. If you're dealing with corporate, chances are, the client would be the one drafting the contract apart from the non-disclosure agreements and clauses you would have to sign.

Also, even if the bride is your best friend, high school kabarkada, neighbor, daughter of your mom's friend, cousin, or even your sister, you still need a contract. Bridal makeup is still a business. You also need that contract to keep in file later on. Trust me, you will need it. I have had gigs that were contract-less because I went by with "she's a friend anyway, so no need" only for me to be cancelled too easily. Also, doing makeup for someone close to you often involves a discount and that discount should be stipulate as well.

Don't worry, there are ways for a contract to be less scary. You can fix the words (but of course still keep it formal), or in my case, I use colored paper and I have a fun logo. For fun, I sometimes make my contract scented or use purple ink.

So, what are included in the contract? These cover the basics. Of course, other suppliers may have other parts, but this is in the point of a makeup artist, and also from my own personal experience

The name of both parties

This includes you (identified as makeup artist. If you must have a team, you can indicate you and team), and the clients (bride and groom and/or client representative, if the couple is abroad and the person you are dealing with happens to be their close friend or relative). The email address and the contact information of both parties can be included as well. What I do is that I make them fill up a client information sheet which contains their full names and contact information as well as the contact information of their other suppliers like coordinator, photographer, videographer, etc.

Details of the event

What would the event be (i.e.) wedding. The exact place, date, and call time, If the couple would employ your services other than the wedding but related to that event (for example, a prenup shoot or boudoir shoot), it should also be included. Just in case, include the clause that should there be changes on the details of the event, the client should notify the makeup artist immediately. We don't want anyone knocking on the wrong hotel room in the wrong hotel that's on the other end of Metro Manila, right?

The total cost of the service.

This is what's important. Aside from noting the cost of your service, itemize what the package includes. If the package is airbrush for all or just for the bride, how many heads, etc. Note if it includes a second look before the reception or just until the hotel preps. Also, if they decide to include a few more people aside from the package, indicate the additional costs and when they should be paid. This also goes for additional costs for added hours of work, added service, out-of-town, etc.

Downpayments and Payment schedule

Wedding makeup artists are one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) wedding suppliers in a wedding. Still, their fees are big money and sometimes, plunking the entire thing hurts. So we give payment schedules. For most makeup artists and vendors, we require a 30-50% downpayment to seal the date. It's like telling us, "Okay, we're gonna get you. Here's a lot of money.  Block that date." Also, there are vendors that need the downpayment to be able to purchase materials, pay their staff, account for miscellaneous expenses, etc. In my case, I require a 50% downpayment to seal and block off the date completely, like a "I would totally show up in your wedding and make you so gorgeous" a month or two before the wedding, depends on when I was booked. For clients that book me a month before their wedding, two weeks. Also, include terms of payment, if you accept cash, credit, or check.

I'm very OC with payment schedules. and I really follow up on my downpayment. I know that the couple is serious in booking me so I should also do my part and show up and not take any more jobs that day. I definitely know that the couple will not flake on me because they just gave me big money, and a portion of it is still unused.  If I have not received the amount of the  downpayment required to block my date, that means you are not serious about getting my services and if there's another sure job for me that day, I will get that job. No downpayment, no MUA. Gets?

As a protection, suppliers make their downpayments nonrefundable. I have this policy as well. If you share the nonrefundable downpayment policy, indicate it in your contract.

In this part, include the payment schedule and the amount required. If the client has paid a portion of the package, note it in the contract and as to what date the payment has been made. Include a copy of the receipt as well. You will never know if you need to produce documentation so it pays to be OC.

Publication/Model Release

A bridal work is also part of our portfolio. The model release gives us permission to be able to use the bridal photos in our portfolio, blogs, and social media accounts, whether from the official photographer or from our own camera phones.  We're also proud of what we have done and we want to showcase that as well.

Cancellation Clause

I super duper hate clients that just disappear into mid-air. Those clients who say they will book you after trial makeup and then reserve you and then weeks before the wedding just disappear and not give you any updates.Although some say the client "disappearing" implies a cancellation, we are not mind readers and we still need something written, okay? Unless they were abducted by aliens,  fell into a coma, or got hit by a lightsaber, a written cancellation via email or print hand-delivered to the studio or SMS message is needed to formalize cancellation because we will not knock on all doors of the hotel to look for you only to find out that we were cancelled on. Some suppliers take your word up to the very date of your event.

I had a discussion on cancellation on how some brides prefer the line of least resistance to just pretend to be abducted by aliens or to pull the alibi of a generous relative with a surprise gift being a very popular. Uhm guys, just as brides have a network, we also do, and we're not stupid. Cancellation is not good news to us, but we would rather hear that you got someone else to do your makeup rather than not hearing from you at all and making us do the guesswork if we're pushing through or not.

At the same time, if it's the MUA's  turn to cancel because of an unforseen event, the cancellation clause would protect the bride as well from not having a MuA that day of her wedding as she stares blankly in shock wearing her robe as to where her MUA has gone. Should a good MUA cancel, they would even go to the extent of offering a very good referral at par with your standards so no need to search for directories or do random searches online. If no referral is available, we may refund the unused portion of your downpayment.

Basically, a cancellation clause implies one thing: No flaking. This is actually one of the basic principles of business right? I would actually write a post on cancellation and all that shnizz.  Saving that bitchiness for a later date.

Depending on the suppliers, they may also have an additional clauses, these pretty much sums up what most MUAs have. Some contracts may include an indemnity clause, which exampts the client for any injuries, damage, or whatever. Meaning, if I broke my wrist from blowdrying,  I can't put the blame on the client.

A contract isn't two pieces of paper stapled together with a string of words and signatures in it. It stats the agreement in black and white between two parties, which is a serious agreement. It protects both parties to make sure the business runs smoothly.

Oh, and keep two copies of your contract. One to be given to the client, one for you. And during the date of the event, bring all documents necessary.

Backstage Pass: The Real World of Makeup Artistry

So you want to be a makeup artist? Well congratulations! Makeup artistry is a very rewarding career. A lot have found love and success in this field, and the world is an absolutely beautiful world. It has been my home for almost a decade, probably the longest job I've had. Before you hand over your resignation letter to your boss and then start buying your stash (a fun part, believe me, it's like shopping for the prettiest office supplies in the planet), take a moment to read this first, Because I am about to talk about the reality of this kind of job. I'm not saying it's not a rewarding career because it is, and there are names to prove it. Yet it is not an easy job as most people think.

When I was still studying in makeup school, the older makeup artists said that going into the business is much easier now (i.e. the time I was studying) than before (when they were studying). I was enrolled in a makeup school based locally when they had to travel abroad because there were no makeup schools in Manila then. It was much easier to network and get your work out there since there was Multiply and Facebook (which was very very young at that time), which are free sites when you can't afford a dotcom yet. I can say that it is even much easier now. More affordable but good-quality brands of tools and gear are popping up in bazaars and social media. Social media and the Internet has even helped a lot of us get our work through. And also, there are so many local schools out there available for those who would want to study makeup. Heck there are even makeup artists who didn't get to go to makeup school at all but learned makeup by practice and watching online tutorials. The Internet is a wonderful tool after all.

The misconception of other people is that makeup artists have the easiest and funnest job on the earth. Again, we have the Internet for this. We are surrounded by beautiful people most of the time, have beautiful things as tools (A Naked Palette is much prettier than a stapler yes?), go wine and dine at fancy events and wear so many beautiful clothes and look beautiful most of the time in our Instagram photos. Hello our main job involves BEAUTY!  I'm sure you have heard of these expressions:

"Makeup is so easy! You just stand there and then after you get paid Php3,000!"

"You party every week! It's so fun!"

"Wow I saw your makeup haul post! You are so lucky to have all of that!"

That's what our social media accounts say. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. That's what most of you guys see. You do not see what goes behind that. That it's all not just parties and pretty things. Just like a day job, or any job for that matter, there is still hard work involved. Blood, sweat, and tears name it. It is not an easy money kind of job. I repeat. And I will be real as this lunch of sisig and sinigang I am having right now on my desk as I am typing this post.

Being a Makeup Artist is Hard Work and Here is Why.

You Have To Network

You may be super skilled at eyebrows or have the best HD skills ever. You may possess that enviable stash or that pretty makeup stand. If you do not know who to approach, it's gonna be hard. I had a really hard time with this even though my skills are awesome and I graduated makeup school at the top of my class (yeah, Nerd.). I didn't know anyone. Some of my batchmates worked in ad agencies, salons, or were designers who took this as a backup course. Then there are the fashion models transitioning to a different career path and the artistas. They already had their network. They're one step ahead. But then again, like I said, thank you Internet, networking is easier now. Get your work out there and make your presence known. Blog. Post. Add friends. Follow. Like. Comment. Repost. In person, befriend people in fashion shows and shoots. Hand out your calling cards. Oh, and get a really awesome person to make your calling cards. And that process doesn't stop when you've established yourself as a pro, it goes on.

Even if social media made networking much easier than before, it doesn't mean that it's still easy. Remember,  there's more competition. More accounts and Facebook pages will open, new talents will be discovered, more students will graduate from makeup school, You gotta know what to do and where to go and how to stand out and stay there.


It Takes a Toll In Your Body

What was the first thing I bought when I enrolled in makeup school? Compression stockings. I knew that I was going to stand for long periods of time. Makeup artistry is both a physical and mental job. MUAs carry heavy gear. Be prepared to carry because there won't be someone to carry things all the time. MUAs stand for prolonged hours, sometimes not in comfortable positions. They do not have OT but they have long work hours. 24-hour shoots actually exist. If you plan to do movies or TVCs, be prepared to be sleep-deprived on certain days yet still have the energy to be able to go to your next gig the following day. Some bridal work does not stop when you put your brush down when the bride's makeup is done. It still applies when you go to the reception to do her second look,

The solution to this: Take care of your body. Balance your work and know when to stop. Enroll and invest on a gym membership because this will make you stronger. Eat healthily and try to cook healthy food when you can. Also, please rest. Being coffee-powered with no hours of sleep will not do your body good. Take good care of yourself because that will make you do your job better.

It Is a Constant Learning Process

What separates a real makeup artist and a fake-up 1000-per-head  artist: education.  I'm not saying that I limit the definition to just makeup school, I know a lot of very talented real makeup artists who didn't undergo formal makeup training. Yet, it also took them years or practice, hard work, and networking before they established themselves. And up to now, even the most talented makeup artists are constantly learning and updating their knowledge by attending classes, master classes, workshops, taking courses, and even reading and researching.

It Is An INVESTMENT!

Makeup does not come cheap. How much is a bottle of Make Up For Ever HD Foundation? Php 2,800. A MAC Lipstick? Php 1,000 (Php 1,100 if limited edition packaging). A tube of L'Oreal mascara that won't budge? Php 599. How about Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil? Php 1,400. These are quality makeup brands that perform really well so your makeup lasts with minimal retouching up to the time you take it off, Also, a real makeup artist would never, ever buy fake makeup off of Ebay because the skin of her client's is her top priority. A real makeup artist buys original makeup on the makeup counter or reputable sellers and distributors. She knows what makeup to buy because she does her research. A real MUA will also know how to wash her brushes and take care of her gear because she spent good (hard-earned) money on it.

It Involves Patience

Waiting for your second look, waiting to be called for retouch, change look, waiting for your paycheck etc. Patience also involves dealing with clients (oh and please future MUAs, don't let these clients bully you. be patient but know when enough is enough. I shall write a future post on that later)

A MUA is Professional

Darling, it is a job. not a hobby. There are  BTS shenanigan photos which are fun and cute, and yes things like these are allowed. But know when 5 heads in the fashion show is supposed to be done in time for their tech run. Study the pegs, Know that 9-10 am is the time for the first character and by 9:45, you should be wrapping up in time to do makeup for the next one scheduled at 10-11. Arrive on time, do your paperwork, and keep all contracts, reservation forms,  and receipts. You are running your own business, not painting faces for the heck of it.

I am not writing this to discourage everyone to become a makeup artist. Like I said, it is a very fun and fulfilling legitimate job. But like any other job, it is not a walk in the park. Makeup artistry involves a lot of hard work,  Let's face it guys, there is no such thing as easy money, even though how fun this seems to be. There's the long hours, the back pain, the constant updates, those clients that you just want to give your right hook to but can't, the list goes on. If deep in your heart, you know that this is a career that you will fall in love and you are prepared for the hard work and time and monetary investment, then I say go ahead and take that leap. Despite the fact that it is a hard job, you still love where you are.  But if you would rather not the hours of training and work and if you just want to learn makeup to be able to put makeup flawlessly on yourself and your friends, then just go online and watch tutorials and just make it a fun bonding experience for you and your friends.

Shoots: Tanya, Priscilla, and Leslie

Unexpected serendipity when I received an SMS from a photographer I worked with asking if I would like to be a makeup artist for their shoot the next day. It came at a right time because I'd be meeting a friend also that day so it was a perfect way to maximize my day.

South traffic was the only hitch I got (the alternate route was pretty clogged as well) when I got there, plus the horrible weather. When I got to the place, I set up my station and proceded to work with my first model. I was given the freedom to do what look I wanted on her. I asked if I could take a look at her outfits first and if she had any preference. She just asked if she could wear her hair straight since she's always photographed in curls.

Here's Leslie When you look at her, you immediately get reminded of anime girls with her expressive eyes and high cheekbones. I gave her a cool, rosy scheme of pink and purple without looking too Barbie, since her clothes were a bit sexy. Again, the classic pastely pink lips were used. I know I'm a matte fan but here, since I wanted her to look healthy, I put a bit of sheer shimmer on the tops of her cheeks for a healthy highlight.

Tanya is a dancer. She told us that it's her first time to model ever, but from her pictures, she looks like she has been doing this all her life. Her expressive blue eyes and platinum blonde hair are the first two things I was drawn to. It made her look angelic but since I already had a pink scheme done, I wanted something warmer to bring out and intensify the blue eyes. I chose copper and amber for her eye color followed by peach on her lips. The stylist, Mes, wanted a clean look on her too, for very basic beauty shots. Actually, most of the looks I did here are bridal-inspired shots, since I plan to focus on weddings again for the rest of the year and next. For platinum blonde hair, it was quite tricky to know what brow color to use. I went for a light color on the brows like charcoal brown then used Girl Boy to soften it. I didn't bring my Sophisticated brow set with me that day. darn. But I guess it's time to get used to Girl Boy now. I'm glad I used peach and browns for Tanya because she wasn't a fan of pink. I like how the color palette warmed her skin quite nicely and brought out the blue in her eyes.

Priscilla is what I called classic Bobbi Brown beauty, the typical face for most of the Bobbi Brown looks, so I knew now what technique I'd use on her. Pink-brown, but I made it my own by emphasizing her facial contours. I love Priscilla's brows. It makes her overall look more expressive and youthful. I didn't have to do much but brush it with Girl Boy brow set to soften them. Her long and thick hair was curled for volumzing waves. I envy how long and thick her hair is! I even asked the brand of her shampoo. Hahaha.

Strong brows go with strong lips so I chose berry for her lip color. All these colors are from my Kryolan lip palette, which I didn't know looked amazing in photographs. Well, that's one lesson learned too!

How would I describe the shoot? Fun and fast! The photographers were a riot and they really made the models feel comfy with posing. I love the headshots they did - they were all very clean with minimal retouching. I like headshots with skin looking like skin.

I'm really glad I got to do shoots like these. Not only did I get to work with three faces, I get to practice more on beauty and bridal makeup, skills I should always tuck by my belt.

Next up... airbrush!

Credits:

models: Leslie, Tanya, and Priscilla

photographers: Ogie Abastillas and Chi Busque

stylist: Mes Yuson

location: Red Digital Studios

Legally Blonde Week 3 in Pictures

So as the musical that painted musical theater pink comes to a close, let me share to you a few snapshots of what happened backstage last week:
Here's Don helping out reshaping and grooming the wigs for the characters so the wigs still look soft and natural instead of ratty.Carlos does fantastic makeup for Ms. Jinky as she gets ready to wow audiences as Paulette. I so love Carlos's pink-and-platinum blonde mohawk.

I do Kaich's eye makeup as Jett gets a retouch from Crystal.

The makeup artists for Saturday's show. Great job guys! Jarwin, known for his fabulous play of colors in eye makeup does his magic on Alice, who plays Enid Hoops, one of Harvard's law students.

The two leading men of the show also had to look fabulous.


Here's Guji after I did his makeup.

and Nyoy with Cay, his MuA for that day's show.
I'm off there in a bit to do makeup . I'm really gonna miss this show. I had fun here and it's been great and I did love the show. Congratulations to the cast. Break a leg!

New Makeup Case! Wheeeeee!

For prolly a year, I've been carrying a silver makeup case that fits the basics. Now, I have an addition to the family, and this I use for bigger shoots where I would be needing more colors and more storage space. Don't get me wrong. I still love my old silver one. In fact, I use it when I do makeup that calls for male grooming or if I'm just having one client whose face I already know (i.e. gigs where I don't need to bring more stuff). Of course I needed more storage to fit my ever-growing makeup space.

Nix was selling this since she upgraded to a three-tier malette. She was selling it for a really low price so I really grabbed the chance. Yep, I get my malettes second hand, as the first one was second hand as well. Nix really did take care of it, and I got it on top condition, save for inevitable signs of usage.

Now officially, the malette takes my identity, with a tag that states that, IT'S MINE!



And yes, it's filled now with all my stuff.

It's still three-tiered like my old one, but since it's bigger, it holds more space at the bottom compartment. I can place my brush roll and my bigger palettes inside easily instead of squishing them in my backpack. Aside from the extra space to hold my brush roll and palettes, I could easily fit my little pouch of skin care. Two days ago, I did makeup for a TV show and all I had to bring was this. So it really saved me luggage space.

Now that I have an extra malette, I think I have more room to place these new babies in, 'no?

What Makes a Makeup Artist?

Makeup school and high-end products aside, there are some practices and key points that I'd love to share:

A makeup artist should be able to thrive with just the basics.
Take away the complicated brushes and practice with your hands - on yourself, of course. Make sure your hands are clean and clean them in between products. You will find out that your strokes will improve and so will your dexterity. A good makeup artist can apply makeup without the use of a sophisticated brush, especially on emergency cases. Try using both right and left hands.

A makeup artist is always early or on time.
I worked in a call center before and when they say that be there at 9 pm it meant be there at 8:30 so that you could set up your post. The same way it is with a shoot or a client. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the call time so that you could set up your station. Wash your hands, gargle mouthwash, and make sure everything is clean. Retouch your own makeup if you must, so that when the model/client comes, you're all set and ready.

A makeup artist can work with various brands and could mix and match.
This is what I loved about my makeup school, because they exposed us to various brands. Various brands have different techniques on how their products can be optimized. Whenever we have activities, there would be a brand sponsor, which required us to use their stuff, and this helped us understand more about their products and how they're supposed to be used. I'm proud to say that I can work with brands A to Z and some 1, 2, and 3. We were taught how to manipulate our Kryolans while we discover around how to maximize our MACs and Paul and Joes. Use high end products. Use cheap brands. Use even China brands found in Divisoria. Practice, practice, and practice.

A makeup artist is up-to-date
The digital age shows what are the trends to follow. Don't keep your style stagnant. Learn new things by researching online, reading books, or asking around your network. There's always the Internet and magazines. You can always pick up a new thing or two from another makeup artist. Ask counters to alert you when they have workshops conducted by their makeup artists. And if you can, enroll in a class. On your own, practice.

A makeup artist is professional.
This means always being early, knowing where you should stand, and doing your job well. When a client inquires with another makeup artist, do not contact the client and offer your services for free or for a big discount. Wait for the client to contact you. Walang agawan at sulutan ng raket please. Walang bastusan ng kapwa makeup artist.

A makeup artist is wise.
Makeup artists should know their rights. Makeup artists should also know what gigs to accept and where to do pro-bono. Do not just do pro bono or else your services can be abused. Don't also keep hoarding makeup stuff. Think 5x before buying an item, especially if it's out of whim.

A makeup artist is a perfectionist.
"You are your worst critic." This is what my makeup teacher, Bo, would tell us. Never settle for "pwede na" (It's okay). Always aim for perfection. Check color harmony, color matching, contouring, and most of all, BLENDING. Blend like your life depended on it.

A makeup artist should have passion for what he or she does.
Again, if you think makeup artistry is the fast track to a very rich lifestyle, I have to tell you this, "Are you kidding me?" If you don't have the passion, patience, perseverance, and time to practice for it, you will not survive in this industry. The industry is a tough one, it really is, and the people who have thrived well here are those who have really passion for their jobs, not just the pay. Of course, we do love the pay when it pays, but the point is, whether it be makeup artistry or another, if you don't have the passion for it, better not.