I Heart Airbrushing Makeup

Cleaning an Airbrush Makeup Gun vs Cleaning Makeup Brushes

If you don’t clean an airbrush makeup gun, it will stop working. The makeup will dry out and clog the needle and instead of a fine mist you’ll be spraying chunks all over yourself. If you don’t clean a makeup brush or sponge it will fill up with oils and bacteria so when you use them you run the risk of clogging pores and breaking out.

So… if you want to put makeup on your face you have to maintain your tools whichever ones you use! Many see airbrush makeup systems as a pain because you basically have to clean them after every use whereas brushes and sponges only have to be cleaned every two or three weeks.

To clean my brushes I usually use a makeup brush cleanser like Japonesque Parian Spirit which is a citrus-based cleaner. Sephora also sells a travel sized anti bacterial spray which can be sprayed on your brushes daily after use - this works well as a disinfectant but won’t wash out oils and makeup-buildup. The best product for this is the BareMinerals Well-cared for Brush Conditioning Shampoo. It’s incredibly cheap on Amazon at the moment and is kind of like a shampoo and conditioner for your brushes.

Ok - but what about airbrush makeup? Well, an airbrush makeup gun doesn’t need any disinfecting because it never comes into contact with your skin or will harbor evil bacteria. Basically all you need to do is flush it out - preferably with distilled water which does not contain any trace minerals that would build up in the airgun components.

Water-based airbrush makeup is easier to clean out. Most companies who produce a silicone-based makeup will also sell a slightly more powerful compressor which is required to flush out the thicker makeup. You can use soap to clean the airbrush but this may also build up over time so a non-soap makeup cleaner is better in the long run. Most brands sell one and Temptu has released theirs for use with silicone-based airbrush makeup.

Just water is fine for flushing out the cup and needle in your airbrush gun between makeup colors. Do this with the ‘back-bubbling’ technique. The best way to ensure your airbrush makeup system stays clean is simply to soak it in a cup of water or ‘docking jar’. Some companies sell these which are designed specifically for their airbrush gun. You can also create your own quite easily but you’ll need to make sure the trigger is held open so water can soak through. Basically, soaking your airbrush ensures that the makeup never dries and will never clog! Simple!

For more information on airbrush makeup visit www.airbrushmakeupsalon.com which is the home of everything to do with airbrush makeup including special articles, how-to guides, videos, an artist directory as well as regularly updated product and airbrush makeup kit reviews.

The Truth About Airbrush Makeup

All too often products come out in the beauty industry that make wild claims. They might promise to make you look 10 years younger or make wrinkles disappear in days. There’s always so much hype and advertising that it’s no wonder people often ask, ‘Does airbrushing makeup really work?’.

I can safely assure you that it does. Airbrush makeup is simply an alternative to traditional makeup in which you would normally apply your makeup with a brush, sponge, or perhaps your fingers. Airbrushing for the beauty industry developed out of Hollywood and the theater and fashion industries as a quick way to create long-lasting makeup with flawless coverage. In the early days they simply used body paint mixed with an acrylic in order to fix the makeup to the skin.

Luckily modern airbrush makeup is much better quality and is often hypoallergenic. The mineral pigments in airbrush makeup are very fine and you’ll notice that the makeup itself is more watery than traditional makeup. Most brands use either water or silicone as a base and they will create a different look. For example, the ‘moist and dewy’ look is often associated with Temptu which is silicone based, whereas Dinair tends to look more sheer as it is water-based. However, the strength of airbrushed makeup is that it can be layered–the more passes you do, the more coverage you create.

There is really no mystery about airbrush makeup. In fact, most professional makeup artists use a combination of airbrushing as well as traditional makeup tools in order to create their best looks. I’ve heard criticisms like: ‘Airbrush makeup looks fake and overdone.’ This is entirely untrue. Sure, like any makeup, some people just like to create a strong, beauty-look with lots of coverage. However, many people use airbrushing to create a very subtle and natural look where you could hardly notice there was any makeup being worn at all. It’s all down to taste and technique.

Airbrush makeup systems are designed to mix air with makeup which creates a fine mist of micro-particles. In the same way that you would build layers of color when you are airbrushing a fine work of art, when airbrushing your makeup you are spraying small dots of color which blend naturally with the tones of your skin. With just a few short busts of a makeup gun you can cover acne scars or fine lines flawlessly. Because you are not wiping or smearing the makeup on, it gently sits on top of the skin instead of being rubbed in. And, it is for this reason that airbrush makeup artists can create such a flawless look.

Just speak to any photographers or videographers who work with high-definition cameras. Any flaws in a model’s skin or the application of makeup will show up relentlessly in HD and that is exactly why professional makeup artists turn to airbrushing. Because, with the right technique, they can produce truly glowing, beautiful looking skin in a very short time.

Many people who use airbrush makeup choose to do so because it is much more hygienic than rubbing makeup on with an old brush or sponge. When you airbrush you never touch your skin. If you aren’t touching your skin then you aren’t causing any irritation. The water-based makeups used by many brands are also non-comedogenic and rarely cause the wearer to break out in acne or a rash.

If you are considering using airbrush makeup I highly recommend looking at before-and-after photos or perhaps going into an airbrush makeup salon to see what they can do. Buying an airbrush makeup kit will change the way you put on your makeup and will open you up to a new world of makeup artistry. You will appreciate the versatility of a system that not only allows you to put on foundation, blush, contour and highlighting in 5 minutes flat, but can also be used to create amazing effects - either for costume or the beauty industry. Airbrush makeup is used to cover birthmarks seamlessly as well as scarring, tattoos and hyperpigmentation. You can even create amazing stencil work or temporary tattoos plus do your tanning in an airbrush makeup kit.

So, airbrush makeup is really all that it is cracked up to be! It’s not just marketing hype (though there is plenty of that there). It’s a reality–airbrush makeup is only limited to what you want to do with it and it is only those who are negative about airbrushing who will miss out on this amazing tool.

Find out more about the brands of airbrush makeup by reading airbrush makeup reviews and learn how to use airbrush makeup by visiting www.airbrushmakeupsalon today!

What is Airbrush Makeup?

Airbrush makeup is the key to those stunning, glowing, beautiful model shoots that we see in glamor magazines every day. Airbrush makeup is how Hollywood celebrities look like they have flawless skin. Airbrush makeup is what professional makeup artists use but it’s also fast becoming a consumer product that is revolutionizing how we put on makeup at home and how we wear makeup outside the home.

The biggest difference between airbrush makeup and traditional makeup (apart from how it looks) is the way it is applied. We get that HD look with airbrush makeup by spraying it on through an airbrush gun. Basically there’s no difference between the airbrushes used for painting and industrial use and those used for makeup. Instead of rubbing, brushing and patting the makeup onto your skin, airbrush makeup is applied by spraying a fine mist of makeup onto the surface of your skin which results in perfect coverage. Since airbrush makeup sits on the surface of your skin it will not clog pores or cause an allergic reaction. Blemishes are concealed and your skin tones will glow.

The makeup used in airbrush makeup systems is very different from traditional makeup. You cannot use traditional makeup in an airbrush makeup system. Rather, the airbrush makeup is liquid makeup. Airbrush makeup also has a finer pigment size than most other makeup. Airbrush makeup can be either water-based or silicone-based. Personally I prefer the look of silicone-based airbrush makeup but water-based is non-comedogenic and will not irritate your skin. Because airbrush makeup is fast drying (it tends to dry upon impact) it will last the entire day on your skin without smudging. It doesn’t even rub off on your clothes!

There are many brands selling airbrush makeup kits on the market – the most well-known being Dinair, Temptu and Luminess. They all have their positive and negative points so be sure to get some personal experience with them by visiting a makeup salon, Sephora or a friend. And be sure to check out airbrush makeup kit reviews before purchasing an airbrush makeup kit!

Airbrush makeup is extremely versatile with many applications. You can use airbrush makeup to do a quick and simple application of foundation and blush. You can do contouring and highlighting with amazing results. You can also cover blemishes or tattoos by airbrushing makeup - so perfectly, in fact, that no one will be able to spot the difference. You can also create temporary tattoos or do stencil effects as well as tanning. Airbrush makeup can also be used to create amazing special effects for costumes that are perfect for Halloween. That’s why all makeup artists and special effects artists use airbrush makeup in Hollywood.

An airbrush makeup system is comprised of a compressor, hose and airbrush makeup gun. Basically, the compressor supplies the makeup gun with air through the hose and the speed at which air comes out of the compressor (or, PSI) can be varied. You do not need a lot of air pressure when using airbrush makeup, especially when working with finer areas. The makeup is best applied with continuing, circular movement - the airbrushing technique. You do not need to use a lot, but simply layer the makeup to get more coverage. The key is to watch the result and not the actual makeup itself. When you watch the result, you will know exactly when to stop - that is, when you have achieved the desired skin tone. For more tips you should visit the airbrush makeup tips section of www.airbrushmakeupsalon.com or perhaps you might want to visit their ‘how to airbrush makeup’ guide.

Remember, always have fun when airbrushing makeup. The kits can be expensive but you will save in the long run since you only need a few drops of makeup to get complete coverage for your face. There are ways to turn ordinary makeup into airbrush-gun suitable makeup, but be careful not to void the warranty. Try different brands and watch lots of videos and tutorials (most airbrush makeup kits come with a tutorial DVD). You might also want to enroll in an airbrush makeup course if you have a little extra time and money.

Happy airbrushing!

Michelle - www.airbrushmakeupsalon.com