Makeup Artistry 101: Makeup Kit & Client Hygiene is VERY IMPORTANT!!!

     As a makeup artist, I have the skills and abilities to make you look how you wish, and how you don't wish. Whether that is glamorous and ready for the spotlight, or gruesome and ready to scare someone it is all up to you and what we discuss and plan out together. If you are also a makeup artist, you probably already know this, so that is nothing new, but there is one very essential thing you must NEVER forget when working with clients, and that is one very vital thing...HYGIENE IS CRUCIAL FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR CLIENT!!!

     I am taking the time to give you this lesson so to protect you and your future clients (paid & not paid). So please, heed this wisdom, it will be very useful to you.

     Never is it okay or in any way a valid excuse to use your own personal makeup products and brushes on a client, whether that person is paying you or not it doesn't matter, NEVER use your own makeup and/or makeup brushes. There is a very specific reason that girls do not share makeup with each other, this includes everything from makeup brushes to mascara, and why makeup artists have a separate kit for their clients apart from their own personal makeup kit, and that reason is BACTERIA.
     Yes, that's right. As gross and horrifying as it may sound, there are thousands upon thousands of little, tiny, microscopic bacteria all over your makeup products. Do you know how many mites (microscopic little "bugs") live on your eyelashes? Or how many bacteria are in your eye alone? You reapply it day after day, and why doesn't it harm you, you may ask? Because it's all bacteria from YOU! But take those same bacteria-infested products and put them on someone else and that can be very harmful; anything from rash to infection can spread out on your client's face all from just one application of your own personal makeup.

    This is one very important reason why we makeup artists disinfect and sanitize all the products in our clients' makeup kit after EVERY SINGLE use. It doesn't take long, and it is not an expensive process, but this is an extremely crucial step to keep both you and your clients safe. Now this isn't to say that you need to personalize a makeup kit for every single client, that's going overboard; that's why we sanitize everything after every session, to make it clean and safe for the next client we use it on. Also especially be careful and cautious when using mascara. NEVER double dip the same mascara wand into a tube of mascara. If you do, plan on giving it to your client at the end of the session, or throwing it out. This is why we use disposable mascara wands, and get a new one for every time we need a new pump of mascara.
     Never use you hands and fingers directly on the client's face. That is what makeup sponges, brushes, powder puffs, mascara wands, and cotton swabs are for. Just because you wash your hands before beginning a session does not mean there is no bacteria on your hands. There is still bacteria that creeps back onto your hands, and there are still the natural oils on your hands and fingers that will dirty your client's face, and effect the application of makeup if you touch their face with your bare hands.

     So, please, please, please, PLEASE practice good hygiene and sanitation habits for the betterment of your career as a makeup artist. You will thank me.

I will talk to you all again soon!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Men's Commercial Makeup: It's Finally Done!

     Wow, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a guy that is willing for you to patch his face up, and make minor corrections so that the close-up looks as best it can! Honestly, even after you promise them that they will not look like a drag queen, and that they can wipe it off immediately after you're done with the assignment, they're STILL reluctant.

     With that said, after all this time, I finally completed that assignment, and just like I told my model after, he did NOT look like a drag queen! This was the quickest assignment ever, only took about 10 minutes. Unfortunately, do to touchy issues with "man card" reason, I had to promise I would not publicly post pictures of the before and after project. Only my instructor is able to view those handsome pictures. I'm very sorry for the stubbornness of men, but what can you do?
     I can tell you that it went well, and that it was some of the best makeup I've ever done. :) Yes, definitely building my confidence. So, thank you to my male model who shall remain annonymous. You're assistance, was much appreciated, and needed.

I will talked to you all soon. New tutorial coming up!

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

It Just Keeps Growing and Gro...Oh Wait, It's Not For Me?: Beginning a Client's Makeup Kit

     So, the time has finally come when I have begun to build a makeup kit for client's. Isn't that great? Yes, yes, I do love makeup, but now I am giving back and sharing my talents. See? I can be selfless (yay me!).
     The reason I had to begin a kit is, because up until this point all my projects have been for female models, which I have more likely than not done on myself, but now I must conquer the feat of men's photography makeup. Honestly, it's not really that hard, very simple. More simple than women's photography makeup, really. So, I built a little kit.

     And the best place to start a kit? Ulta, of course! I walked into Ulta, and it was great, because this time I got to grab one of their shopping bags! Yes! I was truly on a haul today. :) Now this being my first kit, and not many client's yet, I was looking for quality and affordable. I tapped one of the beauty advisers on the shoulder and asked her what she recommended. When her first response was "NYX" I was surprised, and not so much so at the same time. I've heard great things about NYX, and have tried some of their products myself, and loved them. I just didn't think that would be the first thing one would say when you tell them you're building a client kit. Hey, if it's good quality, I'm all for it. I've seen some of my favorite beauty gurus use NYX too, and yes, I recommend it myself. :)
     Since the friend of mine who agreed to help me is dark-skinned, I focused my attention in that area when it came to foundation and concealer; and since he is my very first "client", if you will, I wasn't about to splurge and get everything my kit could possible ever need or want all at one time. Better to built from where you are, and add on as you go. When it comes to clients, don't buy more than you need, or actually have use for. For example, if most of your clients are fair-skinned, chances are you're not going to have need for many dark shades of foundation in your kit, if any at all.

     I promise I stuck to my list, and actually many of my products were NYX, and of course, I couldn't forget beauty applicator essentials like makeup wedges, powder puffs, and disposal mascara wands. Even in all that care, my total still came out to over $100. I know, I know, but I promise I won't be going back for awhile. That was my splurge for the month.
     Hey, look at it this way. If I hadn't stuck to my list, and tried to put my entire kit together my total could have come to well over $300! Or something around there, maybe a little less than, but who knows. But that is exactly why I stuck to my list. See? I'm smart. :)

Check out the video below to see what I got!
Talk to you soon!
Loves,
   Jessica Ashley