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10 Makeup Tips from Professional Makeup Artists

Are your models picture perfect and ready for their close-ups? A few makeup tips from professionals can make all the difference.

Flawless makeup sets the stage for a successful shoot. Makeup artists hone their crafts, learning how to make their talent look fresh and gorgeous in photo after photo. You can do the same when you adopt their techniques and strategies.

Check out these fine-tuned makeup tips from expert some of the industry’s best artists.

1. Makeup Tips for Model Preparation

Nobody likes a “cake-face”. Your model’s makeup should never resemble icing on a cake, and the way to avoid this problem is to properly prep your client’s skin. Some makeup pros instruct their models to use face masks the night before a shoot. Others opt for peel pads. Either way, moisturizing is key. If the canvas is clear-toned and moisturized, you’re in business.

2. Mirrors and Lighting

Professional makeup artists swear by good mirrors and lighting. If the lighting is poor, the colors and blending could be all wrong, leading to unsatisfactory results from your shoot. You’ll get the best results when you use a fully lit prepping station like the ones found on our luxury buses. Keep a couple of smaller mirrors on hand during your shoot as well; you’ll appreciate the ability to look at your work from many different angles.

3. Eye Makeup First

The application of eye makeup inevitably results in some fallout: eye shadow specks on the cheeks, liner mishaps, and so forth. Don’t risk messing up your work on the rest of the face by saving the eyes for last. Start with the eyes, and you can clean everything up before proceeding.

Also, consider going heavy on the eyeliner for outdoor photoshoots. Some makeup pros apply as many as five layers of eyeliner for photoshoots in order to avoid spotty coverage. Layer black on brown, and top it all off with a liquid liner for a crisp, clean look.

4. Trend Advice

Contouring is hot right now and all it really is is the sculpting of the face

5. Foundation Tips

Start with a perfect foundation. How? Before you start applying any makeup, use a creamy moisturizer that sets the stage for a dewy, natural look. The moisturizer will prevent the rest of the makeup from looking cakey when you’re all done. A transparent BB cream will also help to plump up the skin and prepare it to receive the color you’re about to apply.

Next, use concealer to hide flaws, and then use a powder with a warm undertone that matches the skin tone as closely as possible. With a light hand, carefully brush the powder on, smoothing out all the edges around the hairline and neck. Be aware that HD powders can create white splotches on the face when a flash is used during a photo shoot, so avoid these products.

6. Lip Magic Makeup Tips

Before you do anything else, scrub the lips with a toothbrush to remove dead skin cells that result in a dry, cracked look. Use a lipliner that is just darker than the lipstick you plan to use. Whether you choose liquid or cream lipstick, pick a color that works well with the clothes your model will be wearing during the shoot. You may need to coordinate ahead of time with wardrobe.

7. Application

We gathered several helpful application tips from professional makeup artists:

• Rest your elbow on a hard surface for flawless cat eyes. A steady hand is your secret weapon.
• Wash only a brushes bristles when you clean it. If you get the handles wet, over time the glue inside begins to loosen, and the bristles wiggle too much while you work, giving you less-than-perfect results.
• Reverse contour on darker skin tones for a fresh, bright look in photos.
• Use a puff to apply the finishing touches of powder. It will minimize the appearance of shine in photos, especially when flash is being used.
• Clean your makeup brushes with baby shampoo and tea tree oil. The baby shampoo is mild enough to protect your brushes, and the tea tree oil disinfects them between clients.

8.Makeup Tips: Enhancing Natural Assets

Your talent is already good looking. All you have to do is enhance their natural beauty. Keep this principle in mind, and you’ll avoid the artificial, fake appearance that we sometimes come across in images.

9. Perfect Mascara

For the longest lashes, start by applying mascara on the top lashes, and be sure to coat the entire lash. For a natural look, apply just one or two coats, but if you’re going for a bold look, apply a third. Bottom lashes only need one coat, regardless of how many coats you apply to the top.

10. Seal and Send Off

For a photo shoot, your makeup job needs to last and last, so seal it carefully before sending your model off. A final dusting of translucent powder will seal in the foundation and prevent excess sheen.

These makeup tips from professional makeup artists can help you to up your game and get incredible results.