Pro Kit Tips | #1 Consider Your Clientele

Starting your own professional makeup kit can seem like a hugely daunting task, especially when you see those currently established in the industry with their kit of the latest luxury makeup worth a few grand. Whilst I am still finding my own feet and I am far from an expert; I have picked up a handful of tips to help make establishing yourself a little easier. As I build my business, I want to share the experience and any tips I discover along the way; so here is the first instalment of the new series Pro Kit Tips. 

Tip #1 | Consider Your Clientele 

When starting out, you don't need to buy foundation and lipstick in every shade available; but rather base what you buy around the clients your initial clientele. For example, knowing my own immediate connections, starting out I am most likely to be working on lighter complexions and so I base my initial purchases on shades to suit this specific skin tone.

When choosing foundation for your kit, rather than buy every shade variation, buy 2-4 options in the colour range that you are most likely to be working on. Then, as you are asked to work on different skin tones, either buy a new shade when it is needed or you can even ask the model if she would be happy bringing her own foundation with her for a shoot. Don't be afraid to ask, as when starting out everyone is in the same position. As an up and coming artist in this industry, you need to keep your costs down as low as possible. If there is a chance of using a model's foundation rather than buying a new shade for £10-£20 that you are unlikely to use again, take it!

The same principle applies to lipstick; buy a nude and a dark lipstick to suit the skin tone you know you are most likely to be working with. As work comes in, buy lipstick shades when needed to suit the brief you have been given for that job. 

When choosing an eyeshadow palette for you kit, consider the type of work you are most likely to be doing. If you know you will probably start out exclusively doing bridal and beauty work then you don’t need to add a palette of dark or bright colours to your kit. Buy one good neutral, brown-toned palette that can allow you to create the variations you need and then buy more extravagant palettes as the work comes in and you are asked for these looks.

I hope you enjoyed this quick Pro Kit Tip and it helps anyone baffled by how to start out as a professional makeup artist. I am going to keep this series going, with a new post every week. I have a few tips I know I want to share but I would love to hear any specific questions you want answering! Comment down below or tweet me @DevonMartinMUA.

Devon

xoxo

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Makeup Hack #2 : Long Wearing Lips

This is the second instalment of a brand new feature on my blog; a series of posts dedicated to sharing the makeup hacks that I have learnt along the way so that you can become your own expert. Todays insider secret is all about how to keep your lipstick lasting for as long as possible. There is nothing worse than wearing a bold lip and having to worry about the colour fading or smudging out of your natural lip line.

First and foremost, always start by using a lip liner. I used to cringe at the thought of lining my lips as my mind was instantly flooded with images of outlined 90’s pouts; not a look I wish to return to anytime soon. When applied the right way, lip liners are not even noticeable but will make a massive difference to the wear and colour of your lipstick. For this look I like to use the Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in the shade 'Pleasure Me Red'.

I start by following my lip line and also carrying the colour into the centre of my lips. This means that as your lipstick wears away, you won’t be left with one lonely line of colour around the outside of your lips, but the colour will stay in place even as the lipstick on top fades.

My trick to keeping this in place is to now take a tissue and blot your lips. Press the tissue onto your lips so that you are taking off the excess product and staining your lips in the shade. When you are done, your lips should be the shade of the lip liner but if you rub your finger across them no colour will transfer off. For seriously long wearing lips, repeat this process another time!

I then use a matte lip crayon, like the Revlon Matte Balm in 'Standout', to further stain my lips. I swipe it on and then repeat the same process of blotting it off and pressing the colour into my lips with a tissue. Once this colour is permanently in place and my lips are stained, I then add a shine lipstick on top to prevent my lips from drying out. The Maybelline Color Sensational in 'Pleasure Me Red' adds the perfect layer of moisture to finish off this long-wearing crimson pout.

I hope you enjoyed this Makeup Hack instalment and that this helps you achieve the perfect bold, long-wearing pout. I would love to hear what you in the comments below, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Also be sure to check out the previous Makeup Hack #1 for how to achieve the perfect brows.

Devon

xoxo

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