I really don’t know where to begin this review. Uhhh okay, so let’s start with a question. I think this is a great way to lay down the tracks for this post.
Sooooo, let’s say you’re a Professional Makeup Artist. And you’ve been in the entertainment and beauty business for close to 30yrs.You’ve used every brand of makeup (unknown brands to designer brands) in your makeup kit for your clients in every medium from print to film. So, what kind of makeup do you wear personally? I mean do you even wear makeup?
Answer: Well, I have to say there are days that I wear makeup and days where I just simply don’t give a rip!! But when I do wear makeup you can be rest assured I hold no punches on the beat!!! Hahahaaa!!! I have to say I have a few staples that are in my personal makeup kit and one brand I totally stand by is YSL!!! Tried and true. I know exactly what I’m gonna get with this brand and its perfection!! And honestly for me it all started with the Touché EClat Pen. Can I tell you how that pen has always given my work life on set! And yes, I then started using it for myself as well.
Honestly in the early days of YSL they really did not have my color foundation available at the time but I would wear the mascara and the lipsticks (which I loved). For me like most women the packaging is a classic and this brand is definitely a classic upscale brand that exudes style and taste. Now when I say classic I mean more mature women but how would that classic translate to millennials? Well trust me it has translated well!!!! The brand has gotten some new chemists or something and definitely have awesome package designers and product developers.
Oh and YES THEY HAVE MY COLOR NOW!!! Thanks YSL my classic beauty brand on full display. http://www.yslbeautyus.com
Marc Jacobs Beauty |Review
Written by NZINGHA for ZFACEINC,nyc
Can I just tell you how much I’m loving the Marc Jacobs Beauty Collection!!! I was on a photo shoot yesterday and used the Marc Gele Foundation, conncealer and Gloss in both Heart Shaped and Over Protected. LOVED IT!!!
I love the overall packaging of the line. It’s pretty visually definable much like his clothing collection. The oval frosted bottles kinda remind me of Halston back in the 80’s…post disco chic!
My only 2 qualms (and this first one is major) about the line is the foundation color range…it excludes darker complexions! Are we still doing that exclusion thing really? It’s 2014 get with the program and consult some people of color about developing more colors. The second qualm I have is the names on the products are just too damned long!!! Like can we abbreviate some of those names?! C’mon already!!!
Marvelous Mousse Foundation
Price $55.00
I was shooting Kandace Springs (singer, songwriter, musician) for a beauty & hair book this past weekend. And I thought it would be great to introduce her to the brand as well. And yes, Kandace loved Marc’s line too!! I used the color “34 Beige Medium” (perfect on the spot!) I mixed the foundation with a little coconut oil for a really light dewy look.
TECHNIQUE: I mix a bit of the oil into the foundation on my mixing palette then used the BeautyBlender® to sponge it on.
Yes the coconut oil gives the foundation a light dew. If you want more of a slick dewy look baby oil gel will give a pure wet look.
Genius Gel Foundation Price $48.00
Here’s Lady Kandace Springs and I after the shoot for celebrity photographer Hosea Johnson’s upcoming coffee table book
My favourite concealers right now are ones that give good coverage yet feel light and are liquid yet dry to a beautiful creaseless finish. Here Marc has a concealer that has a similar feel to me as the Marvelous Mousse Foundation which are incredibly light feeling and can be sheer but give a good buildup if you want more coverage.
Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer Price $32.00
Remedy Concealer Pen Price $39.00
A model came in the salon on Saturday and was getting her hair done, I asked her to come in my chair because I wanted to try the concealer (because her eyes were puffy as if she’d been crying).
I used the “After Curfew #7”. In all actually wound up using it as her overall foundation!!!! The color was beautiful, perfect for her complexion.
Yes ladies I used the concealer as a foundation!!!
Later on that afternoon this is what happened; I also, had one in the fridge and then used it (yes chilled) on one woman’s eyes and trust me it’s anti puffiness! Why is it anti-puffiness, because of that metal tip applicator! That applicator tip is genius!!
I love the overall constriction of the Remedy Concealer Pen. Love the metal applicator tip, the clicker base, and the mini window (to see how much of the product you have left)…smart packaging! My most favourite color in the Remedy is the baby pink “Bright Idea”…great highlighter color and great for women who have those pesky blue veins under their eyes and for darker complexions that have gray/blue darkness.
Lust For Laquer Lip Vinyl-Sheer Price $28.00
The Vinyl Sheer Lip Glosses are great long wearing and no running glosses. The colors I chose are obviously sheer with a slight natural tint. My favourites are Clear and Heart Shaped.
Okay my final analysis of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Collection is…I love it accept for that one element that needs immediate alterations deeper tones in the foundations.
Max Factor born September 15, 1872 was of Polish Jewish decent who worked as a wigmaker and makeup artist for Russian stage productions in the late 1800s. Factor fled the east European pogroms and emigrated to the U.S. in 1902. He found himself in California 10 years later as the motion picture industry took root there.
Factor took work as a makeup and hair stylist for film stars, and in 1914 he invented “Supreme Grease Paint,” a face makeup that still exists today
Max Factor began his career as an apprentice to a wig maker. By the age of 20, he was running his own makeup shop. Before Max Factor, few women used cosmetics. Factor popularized both the word “makeup” and the use of the cosmetic repertoire.
Back in the 1930’s and 40’s, during the glory days of Hollywood, the world of movie make-up was dominated by Max Factor. Creating false eyelashes, the eyebrow pencil, lip gloss, and pancake makeup, Factor created a whole new language for big screen cosmetics.
Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, and virtually all of the major movie actresses were regular customers of the Max Factor beauty salon, located near Hollywood Boulevard.
Inevitably, once the actresses had been made to look so stylish on screen, they wanted to maintain the same effect in everyday life, so they wore the new Max Factor ‘makeup’ in personal appearances.
Soon, women unconnected with the theatre or the film industry were asking for the makeup, so that they too could look glamorous. It was in 1927 that Max Factor introduced his first cosmetics to be sold to non-theatrical consumers.
Max Factor specialized in transforming ordinary people into dazzling stars. Its glory days were with the golden age of the movie studios, when the stars used to provide product endorsements for as little as a dollar. Their glamour rubbed off on Max Factor, and vice versa.
Max Factor developed the celebrity endorsement concept, beginning with Clara Bow in the 1920s. Since then, stars including Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Jaclyn Smith and Denise Richards amongst numerous others have all represented the brand. Many of his celebrity clients also appeared in full-color magazine ads to promote his cosmetics.
The first Celebrity Makeup Ads began with Max Factor Cosmetics. The ads featured movie stars: Judy Garland, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, Dorothy Lamor, Susan Hayward and a host of others.
The advertising campaign claimed that every girl could look like a movie star by using Max Factor makeup.
Max Factor is credited with many cosmetic innovations. Some of his innovations were the first motion picture makeup in 1914, lip gloss in 1930, Pan-Cake Makeup, forerunner of all modern cake makeups in 1937, Pan-Stik Makeup in 1948, Erace, the original cover-up cosmetic in 1954, and the first “waterproof” makeup in 1971.
An abbreviated timeline of Max Factor:
1914: Created the first makeup made specifically for motion pictures, a thinner greasepaint made in 12 shades. It was in cream form and packaged in jars, as opposed to the thicker stick grease paints used for theatre.
1920: Developed the “Color Harmony” principles of makeup, which held that “certain combinations of a woman’s complexion, hair and eye coloring were most effectively complemented by specific makeup shades”.
1925: Introduces “Max Factor’s Supreme Nail Polish”, a metal pot of beige-colored powder that is sprinkled on the nails and buffed with a chamois buffer. It gives nails shine and some tint.
1927: Creates “Society Nail Tint”, a small porcelain pot containing rose colored cream. Applied to the nail and buffed, it gives a natural rose color. “Society Nail White” also hits the market. It is a tube of chalky white liquid that is applied under nail tips and left to dry. The end result resembles the modern French manicure.
1928: Developed makeup, made specifically for use in black-and-white films. Max Sr. was awarded an Oscar for this innovation.
1930: Invented Lip Gloss
1932: Developed a line of “Television Makeup”, specifically to meet the needs of television.
1934: Introduces Liquid Nail Enamel, forerunner of today’s nail enamels.
1935: Opened the unique Max Factor Makeup Salon in Los Angeles.
1937: Created PanCake, forerunner of modern cake makeup, originally developed for color films.
1938: Max Factor died at age 59. Max Factor Jr. expands the family run business internationally.
1940: Created Tru Color Lipstick, the first smear-proof lipstick.
1948: Developed PanStik makeup.
1954: Created Erace, the original concealer, and developed a line of cosmetics specifically for color television’s needs. (This line remains the standard for TV makeup.)
1971: Invented the first “waterproof” makeup. First African American Super Model to represent Max Factor Cosmetics | Beverley Johnson
Max Factor CC Creams
Thank You Max! — in Ode’ to Max Factor.
Book written about the life of Makeup Artist, Inventor, Innovator, CEO Max Factor written by Fred Basten
Written by NZINGHA for ZFACEINC,nyc
How do I begin with my day today…WHEW!!! Registering for Luxe Pack was a breeze and what a pleasure! Luxe even had a shuttle bus to pick up buyers (and return drop off) right in the heart of Columbus Circle here in New York. But I’ll tell you the truth the walk from Columbus Circle to the Pier 92 location is a straight up bummer!!! Yeah, I walked it!!! Apparently I didn’t get the memo!!! Although emails were sent out regarding shuttle transport. A WORD TO THE WISE…Honey Dumplin’ read your emails! Ugh!!
What I think I enjoyed most about this expo (this was my first time at this show) was there was no pushing and shoving, no extensive lines, totally glam yet ready for business! The beauty business!!! For those who are serious about building a brand of cosmetics and fragrances this is surely the place to be. I will make a conscious effort to return next year 2015.
At the entrance to Luxe Pack New York 2014
Something about New York business people, there’s just an air and style to the way we like things done. Mostly like it done well! Execution is the key to success in the NY market. New Yorkers are very intelligent, street smart, style conscious and savvy!
When you are at this show exhibitors are ready to assist you and whatever your cosmetic company needs are. Key phrases like turn key, minimum start ups, secondary packaging, PVC, hot stamping, hot liquid fill etc., etc., are words to remember and live by in the market place. The general minimum start up amount for individual items can begin at 2,000 to 10,000. Those are no small orders.
Here’s the bottle packaging for Nicki Minaj’s Signature Perfume line. I thought this was well executed! Bravo Qualpack!! It kind of reminded me of Gaultier’s Fragrance bottles with the frosted glass and metal embellishments. It was great designing happening here. Now I’m curious to smell the product!
So after walking the floors and seeing an endless sea a manufacturers, branders and suppliers, I’d just about laid out on the floor from sheer fatigue! But somehow I managed to run into my favorite beauty brand and the loveliest designers/ beauty moguls at ANISA International! Here I’m pictured with Designer/Brand Mogul and friend Lady Shana King.
We chatted on about all the latest coming out of the Anisa camp. Charcoal Bath Sponges and Mitts, Makeup Brush Purses (designed by Lady Karen exclusively for Anisa), makeup brushes with extraordinary handles in varied 3D textures, there were even rainbow holographic handled makeup brushes!! Incredible design and sheer artistry. BRAVO ANISA!!!!
Here’s the catalogue for the company Cosmopak the creators of the original Kevyn Aucoin Makeup Brushes. I have to say this catalogue is the most creative one I received at this show. It opens up like a book and then there are all these little perforated tabs you lift up. When you lift up the tabs you see all of the cosmetic brands they’ve designed for!! Luv it!! And it’s not just cosmetics it’s everything…bags, umbrellas, makeup brushes, perfume bottles, key chains, display boxes, containers, jars and more!!! Incredible!!
I will certainly be returning next year. Thanks to Luxe Pack for a great show!
The Glam Squad Files... 