Just in case...The Best Pro Makeup Cases

                                           

One thing that every aspiring makeup artist and certainly every single working makeup artist needs is a brilliant makeup case. You will need one that is large enough to fit all your essentials, brushes, palettes, pots and sticks and have a little extra room to fit in the extras too. A good case is sturdy, compact and still will have enough compartments to keep everything organised also. Its so important as an artist to purchase the right case for your needs as this will not only help you look prepared and professional but it will help you to avoid any embarrassment in front of a client. a good quality makeup case needn't be super expensive if you know how to shop smartly. One of our favourite online stores for fabulous makeup cases for all needs and tastes is Yazmo.com who stock an excellent collection of cases in all sizes, colours and even have pop up portable studio stations at great prices. Here are some of our favourite professional makeup cases.

The Black Aluminium Makeup Train Case from the Pro Makeup Case range at Yazmo is absolutely perfect for beginners and new artists. It has a high quality aluminium finish and reinforced steel corners with plenty of space for all your cosmetic products. The adjustable dividers are brilliant as they allow you to customize the compartments to fit your needs and the case comes with a strap for easier carrying. We love the overall look of the case and at $49.95/£31.48 (plus shipping) it is an absolute bargain! It is also avaiable in a silver aluminium finish and a baby pink or baby blue snakeskin finish. We love the black though.

This soft sided Barbie pink roll top case from Yazmo is absolutely to die for. the colour is gorgeous and will prove to be  must-have among the most fashion and glam conscious artists for sure. With comfortable rolled handles and a detachable shoulder strap, this lightweight case is much easier to carry around than some of the other hard cases. the interior design is super luxe and it has a good amount of space for your brushes and products. It is reasonably priced at $79.95/£50.39 (plus shipping) and would make an absolutely fabulous statement or trademark case for working artists. We're absolutely in love with this case however it does have a downside in that the tray dividers are not adjustable. It is, however, still a fabulous buy and comes in cheaper than most soft cases which usually retail at about $90/$100 (£56.72/$63.02) and in our opinion, the hot pink finish makes it well worth the sacrifice. Also available in Black.

This case is our absolute favourite!! Again from online retailer Yazmo for $119.95/£75.58 (plus shipping) Its an absolutely wonderful case for a busy professional working artist who needs a case that is built to withstand travel and the mountains of products needed on professional jobs. The finish is a stunning black diamond effect with a gold trim that adds 100 points of Glam factor. It has a total of 8 trays and a deep centre compartment. The dividers are adjustable and allow you to organize your products and tools perfectly. It has wheels attached and comes with a detachable long  pull-handle for easy transportation.It really is an absolute must-have case for any artist who wants a case that will stand out whilst being reliable, efficient and stylish -THIS is the one for you. We absolutely adore it!! Definitely a worthy investment.

All the cases here and more an be purchased at http://www.yazmo.com/

<3

(PLEASE NOTE: Glam Angel LTD have not been paid to feature any products in this post)

Sweet Like Chocolate!!

Back in the day, before makeup for the masses was as highly versatile, varied and developed as it is today, colours were limited and catered to few in terms of skin tones and different races. While paler girls were able to find an array of gorgeous colours and makeup shades to suit their skin tones brown skinned girls were left with little to no shades that suited them. Fast forward to 2011 and that is no longer a problem. The makeup giants now have literally hundreds of different shades of brown, tan, sand, caramel and many more to suit every and every shade available. And if one company doesn't do your particular shade there are at least three or four more that stock it in abundance guaranteed. The late 80's and early 90's saw the uprising of cosmetic companies like IMAN and Sleek that were tailored to suit darker skin tones and opened up an adventure of colour, elegance and vibrancy to darker skinned beauties of all backgrounds from asia to africa and back again.

There are still many myths and misconceptions about creating looks for darker skin and a lot of girls still aren't sure how to make the best of their gorgeous dark skin. Enjoy our little guide on catering to chocolate tones and we've thrown in a few inspiration looks plus a tutorial by YouTube artist lilpumpkinpie05 on how to create a great looks with dark skin.

 Important Rule #1 DO NOT BE AFRAID OF COLOUR!!!

Just as a gorgeous bright pink or green pops on a pale complexion, same goes for a darker complexion. You have to remember that when it comes to bright colours standing out the contrasting effect is very similar to that on paler complexions except for the fact that it is on the other end of the spectrum. Brighter matte colours tend to compliment darker skin tones. Sleek's Acid i-Divine Palette has a selection of amazingly vibrant eyeshadow colours that will help create looks that are vibrant and expressive against a dark complexion.

Important Rule #2 PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR UNDERTONES

Are you in need of a warm ,neutral or cool tone foundation? Are you aware of how to make the best of your tone using complimenting colours? Just because your skin is brown it doesn't automatically make you a warm tone. Pay attention to the undertones of your skin, are they yellow? red? Not sure? One way to figure out whether you are cool or warm is to imagine your skin as tracing paper once you look past the main hue try to see the colours that are present underneath. If you still can't figure it out ask a retail artist to help you. (I highly suggest visiting a MAC or Bobbi Brown concession or store as their makeup artists will certainly be able to show you how to know your undertones.) This is important because it helps you to know which shades of colour will compliment your skin - though this rule applies generally for all skin tones and colours it is especially important for darker skinned ladies as picking the wrong shade of eyeshadow or lipstick for your tone can be especially disastrous as you already have a strong presence of tone. You want the colours you wear to accentuate and compliment your wonderful dark skin not clash with it.

Important Rule #3 HIGHLIGHT & GLOW!!

One of the biggest advantages of dark skin is its natural glow. You should always aim to make the most of this as it will allow you to add depth and warmth to your skin. Highlighting your cheekbones, brow and the bridge of your nose will create gorgeous angles and help frame your face and enhance your complexion wonderfully. MAC's Iridescent Loose Powder in Golden Bronze is a gorgeous multi-use powder that can be mixed into cream or foundations to create an amazing iridescent effect without being to brassy.It can also be used (sparingly) on its own to further enhance your facial bone structure.

Here are some gorgeous inspirational looks for dark skin - tutorial after the jump =)

One for The Aspiring...What Makes a Great Makeup Artist?

Here at Glam Angel LTD we believe that the making of a great, successful makeup artist is like the makimg of a beautiful cake. This may sound odd but it is very true in that the qualities, components or ingredients if you will, of what and who makes a great makeup artist need to all be present and work together in order to be successful just in the way the ingredients of a cake all come together deliciously!

If you are studying to become an artist or interested in becoming one, I'm sure you have asked yourself if you have what it takes to be successful at it. What we can't do is give you a secret formula that will make you a millionaire makeup artist over night, however, what we can do is give you a list of key qualities every makeup artist should have if they want to venture into and do well in this highly competitive industry.

1. Creativity

Like painting an oil canvass or designing a fabulous gown, this is an ART and therefore requires you to be artistic and creative in nature. You need to be able to enjoy and appreciate different colours and looks and have a flair for coming up with different ideas using different colour schemes and artistic themes as each client will have their own tastes, preferences and features like skin tone, bone structure etc. Whenever I talk to someone or am in a situation where I am around people, especially when they have a blank face I often look at them and see tons of different ways I can make their face. I analyse their bone structure and colouring and try to figure out their personality and create looks imaginatively, with hundreds of different colours going through my mind. A creative mind is a flexible mind in that it will be able to take a few colours and a blank face and turn it into something beautiful.

2. Passion

There is an amazing quote by Hardy D.Jackson that says “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” This applies to all career and life goals and paths and certainly reigns true for becoming a makeup artist. Becoming a makeup artist takes a lot of hard work and if you aren't passionate about it, all the money, time and effort you put in will eventually go to waste. You need to have the drive to want to be the best in your field and love this industry enough to have the will to always be learning more and constantly be striving to improve and perfect your craft. Plus nothing is worse than hiring someone who doesn't really care for their job so its very important to keep that in mind.

3. Dedication

Dedication and Passion go hand in hand. When starting out in this industry, chances are that you will be putting in long hours for little to no money. Even artists that manage to clinch a deal working for Vogue magazine may not get paid but will instead do the shoot to gain credit in the industry. This is why you absolutely must be dedicated to your craft and to your career path in order to succeed. It is important that you are able to have an end goal in sight and be willing to put your time, energy, blood, sweat and tears into making it there (okay maybe not blood and sweat but you catch my drift =)) Dedication to your personal and professional growth and success is key. 

4. Personality

As you will be working with people on a daily basis you must be friendly, warm, open, helpful and work well under pressure. One day you may be working with a teary, stressed out bride and the next your working for a spoilt top model who doesn't want anyone to look her directly in the eyes ( -_- ) . You will need to be able to deal with so many different characters and be sociable, smiley, calm and friendly no matter what the situation is. If you have a bad attitude or go off in a strop on the job the simple fact is that nobody will want to hire you again regardless of how brilliant you are as an artist. The only person who is allowed to be a diva in the room while you are working is the client!

5. Organisation

You absolutely must be organised!! We can't stress just how important this is!! You need to be organised with your time, tools and products. You will be booking clients who will be paying you and no client will appreciate you turning up late, without the right colours or without your brushes. Time is money and if you stay organised it will save you alot of time and help you earn good money. Keep your palettes labelled and tidy and keep your brushes organised. Make sure to have a diary or planner (electronic is best recommended) and make notes before the job so you will know if you need to bring anything extra. Go through your kit often and make note of what is running low so you aren't caught out on the job. Staying organised will help you appear professional and keep you from embarrassing yourself in front of a client.

6. Professionalism

See numbers 4 and 5 =)

Professionalism encompasses how you carry yourself on the job, how you present your business and ultimately how existing clients or potential clients will view you as a whole. As you are working as a makeup artist there is a big emphasis on appearance. This does not mean you will need to go to every job with a full face of makeup in fact it leans towards the opposite. Your clients need to see that you are there to work and just like you wouldn't dress like Jordan to go to a business meeting in a finance company you will need to apply the same rules to your business as a makeup artist. Make sure your hands are kept neat and polished as they will be near your clients face and I'm certain no one wants to look at grubby nails all day. Keep your kit neat ,coordinated and organised so when you need something, your client will not be sitting and waiting for ages while you dig out every eyeshadow or lipstick you own to find the primer at the bottom. Keep your hair neat and dress in clothing that allows you to move and is not distracting or over complicated. Always have your businesses image in mind and be professional in your behaviour and appearance wherever you go as you never know when a potential client might turn up.

7. Business Savvy

This one is so important as it applies to absolutely EVERYONE even if you aren't an aspiring artist (I should have put this at the top but never mind =))

You must be able to make good decisions, know how to prioritise and be savvy financially. There is no use spending incredible amounts of money on expensive brushes and palettes when your just starting out when you can get fantastic professional, good quality products at low cost. There are fabulous companies like BDellium Tools  Crown Brush and BH Cosmetics and many more who supply fabulous brushes and makeup palettes for brilliant prices.

Know your budgets and capabilities and you'll save yourself alot of hassle in the long run. If your starting your own freelance business as a makeup artist, it might be a good idea to take a short course in business start ups so you put yourself in the best position to make educated choices. Educate yourself on marketing for small businesses and managing finance, read up and research as much as possible. Its all about acquiring the best tools and knowledge to avoid the pitfalls that cause many stumble and fail.

9. Believe in Yourself

I dedicated a whole post to self belief last year just as we first launched that you can read here. I decided to write it early on because it is so incredibly important for everyone in every walk of life. Self belief brings hope, happiness and success to millions all over the world every day, every hour, every minute and its something that remains incredibly important across the board from when you are first starting out right up to the veteran artists that so many look up to. Realise you have been given talents and passions for a reason and recognize where your abilities lie. Lean on every positive aspect of even the most difficult of experiences, take every experience as a lesson and take these lessons through life, be thankful for them and draw inspiration from others. The only thing stopping your dreams come true is you. Once you truly believe in yourself you will realise doors opening and recognize opportunities where you might have missed them had you still been wallowing in self doubt. If you believe you are able to achieve great things only then you will achieve them.

<3