[00:00:00]
Welcome back to the artists to artists. Artist's podcast today. We're talking about a pretty important step in your makeup application. And that is skin prep. I used to find skin prep, a little overwhelming. Coming when I was first getting started, I can't even imagine learning. About skin prep for makeup application now where there's so many. Tutorials. Tick talks, advertisements happening what I'm hoping to do today with this episode is. Is give you a very clear breakdown of how I approach skin prep. And what works for me.
And then you can take this information, refine your own. Methods to suit whatever your style is, the job you're on the market. You're working. In and the products that you have in your kit now, I do want to be clear that anytime I'm talking. Talking about anything application related, including skin prep, what works for me? Me may not work exactly the same for you. Skin prep is one of those. Things that's unique to each artist and of course, each client.
So as. As I share my process. I definitely want to encourage you to experiment. Merriment and adjust your skin prep process to fit your own methods. Or [00:01:00] style or products.
One thing. I want to emphasize right off the bat is that I like to keep things simple. I have. Found that over complicating skin prep can be a big problem for me during. During the makeup application, it can interfere with the makeup and it can also make. The whole process take longer than necessary when I don't have a lot of time to begin. Been with my goal is to always make sure that the makeup goes on as close to. The skin as possible without too many layers of product in between. That's something about my style as an artist that is important. I like my makeup to look like a second skin.
There are exceptions to every rule, of course. And I'm always. Always learning new things and trying new things, but generally speaking, I'm keeping. Things simple and I'm making sure there's not a lot of heavy products. It's sitting on top of the skin or creating too much of a barrier between my. Client's skin and my makeup. I think over prepping, the skin can be just as problematic as under prepping. The skin, if you use too many layers of product, especially things like richer creams. Teams [00:02:00] oils, serums, primers. The skin can absorb. Everything. And this can lead to issues like products sitting on the surface of the skin. Skin which will interfere with the makeup application.
It will break your makeup down. Over time, you might notice more shine or what looks like oil production, particular. Early on oily or combination skin types. And ultimately it's going to shorten. Shorten the longevity of the makeup. So less for me is more. When it comes to skin prep, I want the skin to be balanced and hydrated, but not. Overwhelmed.
One. One other thing that I want to make clear is that skin prep and skincare. Are not the same thing as makeup artists, we are focused on prepping the skin. In the short term, how the skin looks and feels on the day of. The job, if you're on a longer term project, like a TV show or a movie. You're going to be balancing both skin prep and skincare. Care to make sure your talent skin is in good condition over time. Time, but most of the time for the rest of us, we're really just playing the short game.
When we're prepping the skin. You want [00:03:00] to be quick and efficient? You want the products that you're putting on the skin. Skin to do what they need to do, but you also don't want to overlook things on the skin. Like a patch of dry skin that may cause problems later. So. Be efficient, but also pay attention to the skin prep. Process and with all of this stuff, the more experience you gain. Gain the more you'll develop an intuition for what's going to work. And what won't on certain skin types and skin conditions.
I wanted to just walk you through my basic. Skin prep process when a client or talent sits in my chair, the first thing I do. Do is gather information. And I don't mean just looking at their skin. When I use Q and a, so I'll ask some questions. I do take a. I look at their skin under good lighting and I touch their skin to get. The full picture of what's going on. I start by asking if they have any allergies. That's what I do with every single person, every single time, even if I've been working. With this person. For a long period of time.
It's the same thing I ask each. Each time, cause you just [00:04:00] never know. And also that just helps me avoid any. The products that could possibly cause a reaction. Then I also ask what products. They've applied on their skin on that day. Some clients will tell you they've done. Nothing others will tell you they have a 30 step skincare routine. Going on. And some people will tell you they've applied. A certain product when it actually is something completely different.
So you do. I have to dig a little, to find out what's happening on their skin so you can make informed decisions. About your skin prep and your makeup application.
Once I asked them if they. Have any allergies and what products they've used on their skin. I do a quick. Visual scan to see if I can identify any skin conditions or. Or skin type indicators. Things like large. Large pores.
If I can see oil on the surface of their skin dryness. And then I go in and do a touch test. And I usually touch with the back of my hand because. You would be surprised at how much you can learn about someone's skin by just touching. Looking it, sometimes the skin may look one way, but feel [00:05:00] complete. Completely different.
For example, someone might tell me they have combination skin. But when I go and touch their cheeks, I might find out that their skin is super. We're dehydrated. They may have some dry patches on the cheeks and. Need a lot of moisture in that area. So that step. I can actually make a huge difference in how your makeup turns out.
Once. Once I've gathered all the information I need. Ideally, I like to start with a clean slate. And this usually means removing any superficial product. That's sitting on the skin off and I'll do that with a missile or water. And if they have absolute. Absolutely nothing. I'll use a toner.
And this just clears away any products or oils that might interfere. With the performance of my makeup specifically, if they've indicated that they have a. A serum on that they've already applied. I will use a Meisler water and remove. That right away, because serums and oils are the kiss of death for your makeup application.
As I said, there are exceptions to every. The rule. So if I know my client or talent, well, or I'm in a rush. I may [00:06:00] skip this step, especially if their skin looks good and they've. Prepped it properly already. And it's something I know I won't redo. The skin prep to extend the amount of time that I have them in my chair.
Once I go through that, I look at any skin conditions that. That are on the skin now skin type and skin conditions are two different things. Skin. Skin type is a more permanent thing. It's how your client's skin. Typically behaves like being oily or dry or combination skin. Conditions on the other hand are usually temporary and they're things like. Dry patches breakouts something like chap lips or. Dermatitis or some irritation on the skin.
You do want to make sure you. Are dealing with the specific skin conditions in your makeup application. And you're not just treating the whole face . As a skin type. For example, if your client has really dry skin, Again, on their lips, you're going to want to apply a lip treatment way early on. In the skin prep process.
So that lip treatment has time to work. Before you apply [00:07:00] the makeup, the same goes for dry patches on the skin. If you've got dry patches around the nose or in the eyebrows or somewhere on the face. You want to make sure you're applying a good moisturizer or even a moisturizer? and a barrier cream. And give that time to sink in before you apply. Your makeup.
Basically. With each client and talent, I'm addressing skin conditions. and I'm also focusing on skin type and then in addition to that, I'm thinking about the makeup look that I'm trying to. Achieve, I cannot give you a one size fits all solution here because every. Every client is different, but what I want to do is just give you a couple of things to think about for. For example. You want to think about the products that. You have in your kit and what they can do to make your life easier.
And this is with skin prep. And also with makeup application, for example, if we're doing a dewy. Glowy look. And maybe the skin doesn't need a lot of hydration. I will use Mac strobe cream or the L'Oreal Lumi cream. To give hydration and also help me with that Glossier base.
[00:08:00] So that's what I mean when you're taking into consideration skin. Type skin conditions and the makeup look that you're doing. Secondly. I also will tell you to not be afraid to sort. Zone out your skin prep. If your client has combination skin. Then you may just want to use an oil control product or primer in the T zone.
And. Something more nourishing or moisturizing on the dry areas. A one size fits all. Moisturizer is not going to work in these cases. And it can cause issues later on, you. I don't address this in your makeup application. I see things online where other artists will say, oh, I just use embryo lease on everybody. Everybody.
It's the one thing I use that might be fine for makeup. Um, application for the short term, but if you're working on a set for any length, Of time, if you put embryo lease on an oil, your skin type, and it's just the original. And release moisturizer. That skin is going to start looking so. So shiny because it's too heavy for a combo or oily skin. I hope that makes sense. So try to avoid doing the one size. Fits all approach [00:09:00] for your skin prep.
The last thing you want to consider is the environment that you're working in.
Will your client or talent be sweating. Should you. You use an antiperspirant on the skin, would a setting spray just be enough to keep. The makeup in place. These are all of the things that you need to think about and kind of. Pieced together and problem solve for, and when you approach skin. Skin prep like this.
It's actually going to save you a lot of headaches down the road.
When you have addressed skin prep proper. Properly. There's going to be no surprises when you do your makeup application and there's. Is going to be nothing that creeps up three hours later, six hours later. Eight hours later.
Approaching skin prep in this way where you're thinking. About skin type skin conditions and the environment that you're working in.
When you consider all of. These things, your makeup looks will apply more smoothly. They will stay on longer. Longer and your makeup will just look better overall and especially over time. If you've taken the time to prep the skin properly.
Skin prep. Prep is really all about setting yourself up for success
and the attention you pay to it [00:10:00] upfront will. I'll pay off throughout your application and the rest of the day.
The other thing you can think. About is how the skin type and some of the skin condition. and the environment that you're working in is going to affect your. Your makeup application and help you choose the right products for your application. Application as well.
I'm not going to be able to list every possible combination. But things like if you have a client with mature, dry skin, Been heavy products that may move and migrate and settle into. Fine lines are not going to work.
For dryer skin using cream products like. Bronzer. Blush. Choosing foundations that are self setting. Setting that don't require a lot of powder to set are also going to be better for those drier skin types.
For oily or skin types. Types, you may want to choose modifying foundations. You don't want to use those. Heavy creamier formulas, especially if the look has to. Matt for a long period of time for combination skin, you want to use powder. Strategically, you [00:11:00] only want to use powder in the areas that you need it.
So maybe your. You're powdering in the T zone with an oil absorbing powder where your client or talent gets. Oily. And you're using little to no powder on the rest of the face. So these are all things that you need to think about.
I know this is a shorter episode and I'm sure you're going to have follow up questions. So. Like I tell you every week, put your follow-up questions in the YouTube comments of this. Episode, I'm happy to do a Q and a about skin prep. I know there's always. A lot of questions every week when I do my Instagram, Q and A's, there's always questions about skin. Skin prep, because there's just so many combinations of skin prepping that you can do. I do. There was a couple things that I wanted to mention to you before we wrap up this episode as well. Well, first thing I wanted to be clear about is that in terms of the work that I do. Even with my bridal clients and personal clients, it is not expected. Good for me to do a steam massage and all this crazy. Extra stuff for skin prep.
I generally keep my skin prep very. The simple it's very cost-effective and it has to be easy for me to access. I'm not using Lemaire or luxury [00:12:00] products in my, in my skin prep kit. Because that's just not expected in the work that I'm doing. There are going to be markets that you're in. Or jobs that you're doing, where it's going to be expected, that you have that. So you do have to pay attention to that and. Then of course adjust your kid accordingly.
If you're working with celebrities, there might be. A different expectation for skin prep. I know what the expectation is. But because I'm not working regularly with these types of clients, it's not something I need to. Concern myself with or spend money on, like I'm not buying a facial steamer. If all I'm doing are like e-commerce shoots and weddings and things like. That and for my bridal clients, this is not part of the service that. I offer. I'm not saying you shouldn't do these things. I'm just telling you a lot of how I do things is a reflection. Uh, of what the norm is in the market that I'm working in.
And of course, every artist. Artist has their unique approach. And for your bridal clients, if you do want to do something. More luxury and you want to up sell certain things? Sure. A skin prep, steam mask. Whatever you can do all of that. You should go for it. [00:13:00] But for me, that's not. Not the approach that I have.
My clients want me to give them a specific look in a very. Very short amount of time and something has to give, so I can't do a 20. Minutes sheet mask or steam, their face or massage. When all I have is 45 minutes to. An hour to do their makeup. So I just want to be clear about that just because I do. Things a certain way.
Doesn't mean you have to copy me. Exactly. So always. Pay attention to what's going on in your market and think about the experience that your. Clients are having. If you're in bridal, the rate that you're charging. Do you want to do something with skin prep? That's a little more luxurious. If you do, you can. I just wanted to get that out there and be clear about that as well. What I will do for you as well in the show notes is share a list of the products. And my kids. So you can get an idea for what I have there. Again, affordable, accessible. Nothing crazy.
Nothing should be that shocking to you and any follow-up questions you can leave. Leave them in the comments on YouTube. Thank you so much for listening. If you like, what. I'm doing here, please subscribe to the podcast. Subscribe to my YouTube channel. Make sure you're. Following me on the artist, start his [00:14:00] podcast
and that is everything for this. This week, I will talk to you next week. Bye.
