Bill Tracy wrote:
Ok, cool.
I think I get it now.
It makes perfect sense that different brands are better for different aspects of makeup.

I only named MAC because they're the only name I've heard of in the modeling world (remember I'm a photographer please - lol!)

So I guess no professionals use Cover Girl or Maybelline ?

Pros use whatever works.  Occasionally, that's a surprisingly cheap drug store product.

MAC trained make-up artists are trained to sell MAC make-up, not to do proper make up for film.  I'm sure there are MAC employees that are truly skilled, but it's not really part of their job with MAC.

theda wrote:
MAC trained make-up artists are trained to sell MAC make-up, not to do proper make up for film.  I'm sure there are MAC employees that are truly skilled, but it's not really part of their job with MAC.

yeah that is the point that i was trying to make. its not just a mac thing, its a counter thing in general. its more about selling make-up than anything else. but there are a lot of pro muas that take freelance jobs for product and money, but for the most part they are just lifers.

theda wrote:
Pros use whatever works.  Occasionally, that's a surprisingly cheap drug store product.

MAC trained make-up artists are trained to sell MAC make-up, not to do proper make up for film.  I'm sure there are MAC employees that are truly skilled, but it's not really part of their job with MAC.

thank you.

Do you know what MAC pays their employees?  its more then a fast food resteraunt but not by all that much.  Do you think a really talented artist would work for counter pay?  ummmm.  No. 

I am not saying that a few of their artists are not talented but then why are they at MAC?  building their portfolio and trying to get the hell out is what they're doing. 

Why would a photographer work at Olen Mill or the Sears portrait studio?  that would be the equivilent of a real artist working at a makeup counter...some do it when they are not yet established but that would be your newer artists.

As for makeup, I love professional makeup, RCMA, Cinema Secrets, etc....I do have a few MAC pencils and lip colors but thats because I am using them up to get rid of them. Makeup doesnt have to be expensive to be good but it has to perform well and be high pigment, most drug store brands are not.

just saw the above post, Kryolan is also good, its a professional high pigment product....and Since we are doing blatant plugs  www.CameraReadyCosmetics.com  LOL!

Mary wrote:

thank you.

Do you know what MAC pays their employees?  t more then a fast food but not by all that much.  Do you think a really talented artist would work for counter pay?  ummmm.  No. 

I am not saying that a few of their artists are not talented but then why are they at MAC?  building their portfolio and trying to get the hell out is what they're doing.

Yeah, at one point I needed some extra money and thought about going to MAC. I did their interviews, but they were put off by the fact that I was actually a working artist. They like to seem super professional, but they are actually pretty intimidated by noncounter MUAs.

Ashley Hutchings wrote:
A Make Up Artist should be able to make any product work no matter how crappy or how good, that is if you are a good MUA.

I have found that Laura Mercier is an amazing foundation. The coverage is unbelievable! I mean flawless and even better when through an airbrush.( try it if you haven't)

MAC has some great products and also some really crappy ones. I mean I'd have to say I'm not really a fan of their concealers, but when it comes to vibrant colors they've done their homework. If you go to almost any fashion show around the world most likely they are using MAC products.

I think to be a good MUA you need a little bit of everything. You need some high end brands like Ysl or Chanel because people know there stuff these days and are impressed when you pull out brands like these. However there are always staples in your kit like cinema secrets concealer I think I would die with out it.

All in all it really doesn't matter what you use because the make up doesn't make the artist, the artist makes the make up!!!!!!

the reason why they use MAC at most the fashion shows is because they get the product and the artists free.  Its a deal MAC has made and its a sweet one for everyone except freelance artists.

I agree that a good artist can make just about anything look good except foundation.  If you are using a foundation with Titanium Dioxide, Its not going to look good on print.  It's always going to look unatural.