Be Picture-Perfect With Airbrush Makeup

Jan. 22, 2016

Makeup, whether it’s for daily wear, a wedding or stage, is usually applied with sponges and brushes. Another method of cosmetic application is called airbrush makeup, and it’s sweeping both the country and northern Michigan. The result is a flawless face — or even more.

ENTERTAINMENT ORIGINS

Airbrush makeup might sound new, but it’s actually been around for quite a long time. It was first used in 1959 on actors in the MGM Charlton Heston movie drama Ben Hur and has been used often since then, not only in film work, but also on stage and television.

Its fine application and longevity make it perfect for special effects work, as well as for long shoots, and it’s been especially popular since the advent of HDTV, as it doesn’t settle on the skin to reveal blemishes or wrinkles like traditional makeup often does.

So you can bet it’s become a favorite tool of Hollywood makeup artists, actors and newscasters alike.

Locally, it’s more often used for weddings and important functions.

HOW IT WORKS

Airbrush makeup is sprayed onto the skin with an applicator gun that uses a powered compressor, creating an even flow of diluted makeup through a small, usually medical-grade hose; essentially, it’s millions of tiny dots of makeup layered to make coverage that’s barely noticeable.

It can be shaded, highlighted and contoured; and for men, it can even mask light facial hair growth (five o’clock shadow.) Special effects can be painted freehand with the airbrush gun or stenciled — all without makeup artists ever having to touch your face.

“You can apply it heavily if you need to cover up discoloration or tattoos,” explained Christine Beynon, owner and sole stylist at La Bella Vida (labellavidatc.com), “or you can leave it very, very sheer, so you can still see the person’s skin underneath. Either way, it washes off easily later with soap and water or facial cleanser.”

PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENT

But before you run to the store to buy an airbrush makeup kit, you might want to consider a few things, the biggest of which is that — at least for now — airbrush makeup application is usually best left to the professionals. It takes skill for the application itself and the equipment isn’t cheap.

“I started doing airbrush makeup three years ago,” explained Beynon. “I saw it at a hair show, so I took a class and then purchased my kit, which was $300 with the compressor, but it’s not easy to apply on yourself.”

Emily Henning Woods, owner and stylist of Northern Waves (northernwavesbridal.com), also started using the airbrush makeup system three years ago; today, she primarily uses it on site with bridal clients.

“Nobody else up here was really offering it at the time,” she said. “It’s a good investment for special events, but I charge $75–120, so it’s really not something you’d do every day.”

There’s also the maintenance of the system itself to consider, Beynon said.

“It takes a lot of work to take apart, soak and clean the airbrush gun,” she pointed out, “and you have to do that after every application.”

LIGHTEN UP

On a lighter note — literally — the biggest benefit of airbrush makeup is probably how much better it makes most people look, with refined coverage, a smooth, even finish, and the way the makeup reacts with external light. It’s also water resistant by nature, with waterproof options available; many of the brands of makeup used with airbrush systems are also considered “clean,” meaning they have no parabens, silicone or gluten (check with your stylist.)

“It’s just so much better in photographs,” Beynon said. “It seems to reflect light better, so it photographs well. It’s more of a perfect porcelain doll look.”

“Photographers actually recommend it because it makes their job easier,” Woods agreed. “It means there will be less retouching of the photos later. The end result is an absolutely flawless finish.”