When it comes to special occasion makeup, you have options. Yes, there’s your traditional makeup that’s manually applied by non-automatic brushes. Then there’s airbrush makeup, and it’s a whole other animal. We’re not saying one is necessarily better than the other — like most things, they each have their pros and cons — but, we thought we’d give you a little airbrush education to fill you in on this method that leaves you looking like a celebrity.
To get your mug HDTV-approved for your in-person occasions, be prepared to experience an air-jet wand that sprays a very fine mist of evenly distributed foundation. This technique diminishes any imperfections like blemishes, scars, and lines on your face resulting in skin that appears poreless yet natural.
Typically, you’ll want to cover yourself with a smock so you don’t get any residual foundation on your body or clothes. Despite what you may think, if executed properly, your face will feel weightless and unsaturated. Remember, the idea behind airbrushing is natural, natural, natural!
While it’s likely you’ll have a makeup artist on hand for your wedding day, you still can look forward to other special events requiring extra special makeup like engagement parties, showers, and bachelorette blowouts. These are great times to experiment with airbrushing either with a professional or by yourself. Yes, you can airbrush yourself! They are not cheap, but they are available if your wallet has deep pockets! You can purchase them at Sephora and they usually start at about $200. Fancy shmancy add-ons and accessories can cost you more, but if you’re a makeup junkie, this may be small potatoes to you. When it comes to self-airbrushing, though, don’t expect overnight miracles. If you are one of those gals who can apply false lashes in the blink of an eye or you can perfectly swipe lipstick on without a mirror, you may just be able to find you’re a self-airbrushing pro.
Like your regular makeup routine that you can basically do with your eyes closed while you’re still half-asleep in the morning, airbrushing takes practice. First you’ll need to mix your foundation liquids in order to achieve the right color for your skin tone. This alone takes skill, but once you know how to mix your cocktail, you should be good to go in that department. While holding the airbrush wand six to eight inches from your face, you’ll need to spray in circular motions to avoid streaking and achieve even coverage. Your instinct may be to squint or purse your lips due to the air spray sensation, but you want to make sure your face remains relaxed. Simply close your eyes and keep your mouth in a neutral position. You don’t want to miss your natural creases on your face or create new ones.
And unlike your manual brushes and makeup, you can’t rush out the door when you’ve accomplished your look. You have to clean your airbrush tools as soon as you’re finished so that your materials don’t dry or clog.
If you’re not sure you have the patience or ability to tackle this marvelous method, you should definitely ask your makeup artist if she performs this technique of makeup application. You can always compare airbrush to traditional makeup at your trial to see what looks best for you. We like airbrushing because of the way it leaves your skin looking like porcelain which is ideal for wedding photos. However, traditional makeup may offer more control for a light or heavy-handed artist. It’s really a preference you and your makeup artist should discuss together.
No matter what you choose — air or no air — on your wedding day, you’ll be walking on air!
