As makeup
artists we get asked our favorite products all of the time. And I'm going to be
honest. Makeup is a lot like looking at art, reading a book or eating a meal.
What one considers beautiful, entertaining, or delicious another may not. So
these are my opinions. My tips. What I've tried on myself and use on my
clients.
Feel free
to leave your own comments if you've tried a product. Or let me know if there
is something you are curious about.
The first
product I want to blog about is a true miracle in a jar. My main requirement in
a product is I must love it. It needs to do its job and do it well. I'm not a
follower. There are a ton of "popular" products you won't see in my
kit. They don't meet my expectations. Now when a product is made by a fellow
artist AND made here in the USA. That's a bonus. THAT is Whip Hand Cosmetics.www.whiphandcosmetics.com
The owner/creator
is Riese Lauriet, a makeup artist in Detroit, MI. We're in a mutual Makeup
Artist group and a few other artists were raving about her makeup primer, Set
the Stage.
I know. I
know.
There are
a gazillion primers.... What makes hers so special? Well, I've tried a lot of
primers. Found some great and some not so great. But Set the Stage works on a
multitude of clients. It helps reduce shine from oily skin, yet it hydrates
enough to be perfect for dry skin as well.
It creates a smooth surface for your other face products to glide over
and stay put.
As I have
ventured to the over 40 yr old club I noticed a new concern: larger pores! Set
The Stage makes that issue disappear! I actually threw on my makeup just to run
to the craft store and book store. I didn't use the primer. I didn't run into
anyone I knew, and I'm glad. I felt naked without the primer! What a
difference!
The
biggest mistake I feel people make with primers is applying too much. Set the
Stage is no exception. A little goes a LONG way. I apply most products with a brush, but not
this. The warmth of your fingers is going to emulsify the product and allow it
to glide over the skin.
When you
first see the size of the container you might be concerned the cost vs. the quantity.
At $39 it is a bargain. And it’s made in Detroit by real
people, not a huge factory. It’s a company that not only
makes a great product, but also a company that wants to bring jobs to its
community. To make their city a better place. Not too many makeup lines can
boast that. I will admit, it is a reason I have ordered more products from them. I wish more companies would think like this.(gets off soapbox and stops waving the America flag)
So check
out Whip Hand Cosmetics and the Set the Stage primer. And as a side note, they
have amazing customer service! Matt was answering my questions by email in
minutes and offering additional tips on product use.
They won
me over!
I also
bought a few other Whip Hand products, so stay tuned for some more recommendations,
because it was all great!
**** a BIG foot note. I purchased the product. And even if a company sends me something gratis to try(& on occasion they do), you can be assured I will only give honest feedback.(* and state it was sent as gratis in the review) If something isn't to my liking, I. will give the company my honest feedback and will not blog about the product. Many times an artist is sent things to give their feedback on performance the the brand will make adjustments to the ingredients or packaging based on artists feedback.
