Makeup Tips and Tricks

That being said, there’s a simple solution to BOTH of these dilemmas. In this two-part series, we’ll take a look at both issues, as well as how to work around them. Today, in Part 1, let’s start by talking about the dreaded ‘maskne’!

What is ‘Maskne’?

Basically, it’s the acne breakout that many of us have been experiencing since we started wearing our masks. Thanks to the fabric of the mask constantly rubbing against our face, we’re getting micro-tears on our skin’s surface. These tiny little tears allow for dirt and bacteria to enter and clog up our pores.

Plus, consider the fact that it’s already a billion degrees outside in a lot of places right now – and then we’re going and adding more heat and moisture when we breathe. The lower half of our face is essentially living in a sauna. The result is that our skin is being bombarded with an excessive amount of oil, sweat, and potential germs – with no place to run and hide!

Note: I should probably point out that I am 100% pro-mask, and am in no way trying to knock it or dissuade anyone from following PPE protocols. I’m merely a little birdy pointing out the facts. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s move on.

How Can We Prevent Maskne?

A few months back, we discussed why the importance of your skincare routine is of utmost importance during the pandemic. So, that’s a good place to start! In general, you can’t expect to have happy, healthy skin if you aren’t properly taking care of it.

Skincare knowledge is critical for makeup artists – but as a human being, it’s also just as valuable. Do some research online, look into different products, and learn about safe ingredients. If you’re feeling extra ambitious and really want to become a skincare expert, you have everything to gain by taking a course!

All I’m saying is, knowledge is power.

Once you’ve got the basics down, you’ll then be ready to take it a step further. The specific issues that cause maskne need to be combatted in equally specific ways. For example, I just mentioned that clogged pores are a major cause of the problem. So, should you opt for thick, heavy skincare products?

Probably not.

Rather, you should adapt your skincare routine and approach it with the following in mind:

• Try to use lightweight, water-based products as much as possible. Your skin will be able to breathe easier!
• Don’t get stingy with your moisturizer! If you go with a lighter-weight product, you can pack on a bit more onto your skin, in order to give it extra protection!
• Give your skin some extra love on a regular basis. Exfoliate your skin once in a while, deep-cleanse the crap out of it here and there – you get it. A little extra love never hurt anyone.

While you’re at it, it wouldn’t hurt to do a bit of research and learn more about your specific skin type. That can have a big impact on the types of skincare products you should be using on your face, as well as how you should be approaching your personalized skincare regimen.

For instance, if you have oily skin and/or already deal with acne (like myself), you may need a stronger game plan than someone with dry skin and the complexion of a newborn baby.

I’m not saying that professional skincare training is the best way to learn this info – but I’m also not not saying that. 😉

The Benefits of a Skincare Course

You mean, aside from becoming a skincare wizard (which would be downright awesome)?

Well, for starters, it’s a great addition to your makeup business! Incorporating skincare services can attract more clients, increase your profits, and transform you into an even stronger MUA. It’s always important to find ways to stand out from the competition, and this is definitely one of the best!

Then you can add in the fact that, as a makeup artist, you’re always on the hunt for new and exciting knowledge. You’ll get a better understanding of the beauty industry as a whole, as well as an even better mastery of makeup. After all, if you don’t understand skin, how can you possibly hope to apply makeup to it properly?

(If you want an idea of the type of information you’d learn from expert training, check out the course breakdown of QC Makeup Academy’s accredited Skincare Course!)

Now, I know that some of you out there may not be makeup artists, or have no interested in becoming one. I respect that. But what about becoming a certified skincare consultant and starting up your very own business? Or building your reputation through a stellar skincare blog? Or using your expertise to represent a major cosmetics brand?

There are tons of potential career paths out there, and the right Skincare Course can make all of this possible for you!

See? I told you that proper training is the best way to become a pro!

Masks aren’t the only thing wreaking havoc on our skin. The sun is a culprit, too! Keep your skin looking and feeling its best this summer with these 8 handy tips!

Spring is finally here, which means it’s that time of the year again for a good ole’ spring cleaning! Today, let’s focus on your professional makeup kit. Given that so many of us are hanging out at home anyways, this is the perfect opportunity to do something productive.

After all, when life eventually goes back to normal, you’re not going to want to waste any time! You’ll want to hit the ground running and start booking clients again. Spring cleaning your makeup kit now means you won’t need to do it from the ground up later.

And hey, if nothing else, it’ll give you a good project to work on, and keep you busy for at least an hour or two!

When it comes to decluttering and sanitizing your products, we just so happen to have a handy guide for your reference:

Let’s take a closer look at each individual step, shall we?

Step 1: Ditch the duds

It’s important that you always pay attention to the expiration date on your makeup products. Once it’s expired, it absolutely should NOT be used anymore!

Expired makeup products can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other unwanted germs. The last thing you want to do is give yourself (or your client) an infection. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

As a general rule of thumb, certain products tend to have a specific shelf-life. For instance:

• Mascara and liquid eyeliner are typically good for up to 3-6 months
• Concealer and foundation are typically good for up to 6-12 months
• Lipstick, lip gloss, and eyeshadow are typically good for up to 1-2 years

That being said, there are always exceptions to every rule. So, make sure to check each of your product’s expiration dates. Once that deadline arrives, toss it out!

Step 2: Quality over quantity

Plenty of us are guilty of going a little over the top sometimes when it comes to makeup. By that I mean, getting overly excited when stocking up, and buying way more products than we realistically need!

Chances are, there’s at least 1 product in your professional makeup kit that you rarely (or never) use. If that’s the case, all it’s doing is taking up unnecessary room. So, go through all of your products, and objectively ask yourself: “Do I need this in my kit?”

If you know the answer is truly no, it’s probably safe for you to remove it. Your professional makeup kit should be orderly, and filled only with products relevant to your job.

This doesn’t mean you need to throw the product out altogether, though! After all, you did pay valuable money for it. But maybe it would be better off in your personal makeup kit. Perhaps you can even refurbish it into a makeup product you’ll be more likely to use in the future!

Step 3: Bye-bye bacteria

Now that you’ve narrowed down which makeup products you want to keep, it’s time to clean them! As a makeup artist, you probably already do this on a regular basis (and if you aren’t, you should be). But since you’re spring cleaning, now’s a great time to do it again.

Sanitary makeup products are absolutely mandatory for your career. It’s never an option to use dirty products on your client’s skin! Doing so can risk infection, allergic reactions, sickness, and all sorts of other bad surprises that can really tank your reputation as an artist.

Here are a few quick tips for cleaning your products:

• Spray 99% isopropyl alcohol onto your brushes, and then brush them gently until all makeup residue has been removed.
• Sharpen all eyeliner pencils, lip liners, and other pencil products until the outer layer has been completely removed.
• Wipe away the top layer of your eye shadow – as well as all other powders / palettes – and then spritz with the 99% isopropyl alcohol

For a more in-depth look at proper cleaning techniques for your makeup tools, you can keep reading here!

Step 4: Re-organize and re-strategize

Sometimes, it can become easy for your professional makeup kit to get a little messy. Especially when working on a client, you’re naturally focused on the job. It’s understandable that keeping your kit neat and orderly can sometimes be a second priority.

However, a clean kit is a happy kit – and it definitely makes your job much easier!

Sort through your makeup products, and group together everything that falls under similar categories (i.e. lip products, eyeshadows, liners, mascaras and lashes, etc.). Alternately, you can group your products together by brand, by size, etc. It’s YOUR kit, so find whichever way works best for you!

Once everything is grouped together the way you want, then you can assign them their proper spots within the kit itself. Keeping things organized like this will save you time during a job, and increase your overall efficiency!

Plus, organization is always aesthetically pleasing, so it’ll definitely impress the client and make you look super professional!

Step 5: Delicate displays

When on the job, you may wish to pull out all the tools you intend to use for the client’s look, rather than grabbing them from the kit one-by-one. Instead of laying them out on a table, why not group them together in something practical and cute?

Mason jars, acrylic containers, and self-made boxes are great ways to not only organize your products, but showcase your high-quality tools for others to see! Not to mention, you can get really creative with decorating these displays by adding your business logo in plain sight. (Hello, branding!)

If you’re not a professional MUA, and are using these tips to spring clean your personal makeup kit, these delicate displays can be used throughout your room, or on your makeup vanity! If you happen to be a beauty vlogger and/or a YouTuber, you can always subtly slip them into your videos, too.

A little positive self-publicity can go a long way!

Pro tip: You can always sprinkle coffee beans into the bottom of your containers. In addition to keeping your makeup products straight and upright, it’ll also emit a deliciously inviting smell! Seriously, who doesn’t love the smell of coffee?

Spread the word!

Now more than ever, it’s important to keep things clean and safe! You may have friends, family, or even clients who might benefit from the knowledge shared QC’s spring cleaning guide.

So why not share it, raise awareness, and motivate others to spring clean their own makeup kits?

Here’s the link you can use to share the image on your own website:

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<p><strong>Please include attribution to htpp://qcmakeupacademy.com with this graphic.</strong></p>

<p><a href=’https://www.qcmakeupacademy.com/2020/04/5-steps-for-spri…keup-kit-in-2020/’><img src=’https://www.qcmakeupacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/spring_cleaninginfographic-1.jpg’ alt=’5 Step Makeup Spring Cleaning Routine’ width=’1000px’ border=’0′ /></a></p>

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Got any more useful tips for spring cleaning your professional makeup kit? Let us know in the comments!

Want to turn your passion for makeup into a successful career? Enroll in QC’s leading online Master Makeup Artistry Course, and earn your professional certification in as little as 3-6 months!

Interested in some fun St. Patrick’s Day makeup looks that are still wearable AND glamorous? We’ve got you covered! Put your makeup artist training to use on more than just your clients – give yourself a well-deserved, festive makeover.

Don’t have professional makeup artist training? Don’t worry, this article is just as much for you, too! While the best way to become an expert MUA is to take courses offered by accredited makeup schools, you can still have some serious fun with these looks!

Who knows? Maybe you’ll get inspired to take the next step and make a career out of your passion!

1. Smoky green eyeshadow

The best thing about this option is that there are SO many ways you can play with it. You could go for a a nice, emerald hue over your lid, blended out from the crease with a dark black. In fact, the color(s) you choose to add with this green smoky eye are endless! Violets, grays, and browns are also killer accent colors. But there’s plenty of room to get creative, so feel free to play with other colors, too!

Pro tip: If you’re trying to go for a more St. Patrick’s Day-inspired look, a great color you can pair with the green is gold. Gold liquid eyeliner would look absolutely fierce on a green smoky eye!

But maybe you want green to be front and center; the star of the show. This can also be just as wearable, if you’re wanting an everyday look. Playing with different green pigments can create a beautiful, harmonious look – without being too much.

If you want to be a little extra with it? Add some glitter to your lids, and finish off the look with a killer set of falsies! Smoky green eye makeup can be as drastic or as subtle as you want it to be. That’s what’s so awesome about it! It’s flexible; able to match whatever vibe you’re trying to achieve.

For a more wearable look, a seriously gorgeous tutorial that we recommend is Manny Mua’s olive green smoky eye. If you want something that focuses more heavily on an all-green result, this tutorial by cflowermakeup may be more up your alley!

2. Green eyeliner

You can incorporate green into your eye makeup without going crazy with the eyeshadow. Green eyeliner is another, more subtle way to have a festive, wearable St. Patrick’s Day look that still offers some POP!

There’s also plenty of room to play around with the look you want. If that’s something simple, it can be as easy as a liquid green cat eye with a natural set of falsies (or even just mascara). If you want to be a little more dramatic, you can also first use black liner and then outline the liner on the upper eyelids with a green liner.

Another possibility is working the green into your lower lash line. A nice, natural lid on top (with a subtle peach or light brown eyeshadow blended into the crease), topped with dark lashes and a soft, shimmery green along the bottom lash line can make for a killer look!

A great tutorial that demonstrates this type of look can be found here, on Indigo Moon Artists’s YouTube channel.

3. Green mascara

Most of us tend to stick with the classic brown and black mascaras. But a whole new world can be opened up to you once you start playing around with different colors! Shiseido, for example, offers an emerald green mascara that will leave you absolutely shook.

Of course, adding a green mascara to green eye makeup will take your St. Patrick’s Day look to the next level. But you can even just frame your eyes by applying green mascara to your lashes, and then call it a day! It wouldn’t be competing with any other makeup, so it’d still be the focus. But it would also be subtle enough to not be overpowering.

Green mascara can be a quick and effortless way to have a wearable look that still gives a nod the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.

4. Green lips

If you REALLY want to embody the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, try pairing a bold green lip with a golden-based eye look. The eye makeup here can be as simple as a gold eyeliner or cat-eye. It can also become bolder with a regal, golden smoky eye.

But green lips can also be the focus of the whole look, too! You can strike a quirky balance of natural-meets-festive if you keep your eye makeup simple. Even just going over your lashes with a few coats of mascara and leaving it at that can look very pretty in contrast to a bold green lip.

You can make the look as drastic as you want, though. When in doubt, adding glitter is always a sure-fire solution!

Here is a stunning every-day green lip look by Evelina Forsell. If you’re planning to hit up a St. Patrick’s Day party and your motto is “go big or go home”, then maybe Terrika Jahniece’s tutorial will be more to your liking!

The best way to hone your makeup skills is…

Like we said before: proper makeup artist training from legit makeup schools! There may be some of you reading this who love the ideas these recommendations are giving you, but have no idea how to actually execute them.

Yes, practicing regularly is definitely going to help you improve. There’s no reason why you can’t get started on that right away!

But if you love makeup and are considering making a career out of it, your single greatest option is to learn the foundation of makeup from a trained, working professional. They’ll be able to teach you not just how to apply makeup, but also makeup theory, which equally as important.

Then you’ll be able to look at tips like the ones above, and know exactly how to flawlessly bring them to life on both yourself and clients. There’s no better time to start than now!

Use the luck of the Irish to your full advantage, and start your path to become a certified MUA today!

Get the most out of your makeup training by enrolling in QC’s leading Master Makeup Artistry course, taught by experienced celebrity MUA, Nathan Johnson!