Robert Wagner -- A groovy day in the life of an MUA.......

It was a Groovy Day Baby!!! BlackEye Studios was shooting a commercial for Mercedes Benz of Escondido down in San Diego and needed a make-up artist for Mr. Robert Wagner. Mr. Wagner is a wonderful person and an incredible talent. The crew from BlackEye Studios was amazing and extremely accomplished in the world of commercial television. I have to admit that the theme song from Austin Powers was in my head the entire time I was on this set, but what a great way to spend the day!




Bob Sloan Productions -- A day at the ball park for an MUA...

Got a call from a local production company in San Diego, Bob Sloan Video Productions. Bob Sloan needed a make-up artist for a PSA shoot with baseball legend Ozzie Smith. The PSA was for Aflac Insurance based out of Georgia. The entire crew on this shoot was a pleasure to work with and extremely professional.

Bob Sloan's clients include ABC Sports, ESPN, CNN, Fox News/Sports, CBS News/Sports, TBS Sports and Showtime, just to name a few. Working with Ozzie Smith was a highlight and since I am a baseball fan, I remembered Ozzie doing back flips across the field when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres!

Special Effects -- A day in the life of a MUA....

These pictures are a series of shots from a shoot for Digital Outpost. Digital Outpost is an extremely professional production company founded in 1996 and provides complete digital media services to clients across the country.

This was a 4-day shoot for the Police Commission which they will use as a training video on how to handle a crisis situation and even though the subject matter of this project was very serious, I had such a blast working with the cast and crew on this production.

I also met an incredible photographer, Masen Larsen. He has been shooting photography for the past 16 years and took all of the shots below. This was an amazing way to spend 4 days!





Tools of the Trade

It is very important to have the right tools for the flawless application of make-up. Whether you are a professional or a make-up maven at home, the right brushes make all the difference. Here is what I use:

BRUSHES: I love the brushes that Tricia Sawyer has designed. She is a professional make-up artist with clients such as Sharon Stone, Brittany Murphy, Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, Geena Davis, Lindsay Lohan and Kate Beckingsale. Her foundation brush and powder brush are imperative for me to have on every shoot.

My most recent purchase has been from Adesign brushes. I purchased their entire brush collection and was amazed at the high quality and amazing design of these tools. Shana Marshall, founder of Adesign, has designed a brush line that is quickly becoming an industry favorite.

MORE IMPORTANT TOOLS: Uma Shumera Eye Lash Curler, Cinema Secrets Sponges and Orange Puffs, Orange Wood Sticks, Toothpicks, Q-tips.

It is very important that if you are a professional you disinfect and clean your brushes daily with some type of brush cleaner. I recommend Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner. Also, you should shampoo your brushes after each shoot to really clean all of the bristles/hair. Make sure to reshape your brush after you clean and before you lay it down flat to dry. If you are using your personal brushes at home and not on clients I recommend cleaning your brushes once a week.

Brushes will be the most expensive investment that you make as a make-up artist, so choose wisely and take good care of them. Brushes should last you 10 years or more with proper care.


Tricia Sawyer Foundation Brush


Tricia Sawyer Powder Brush



Adesign Master Brush Collection

In My Make-Up Kit



FOUNDATIONS: Tricia Sawyer Full Potential Foundation. MAC Studio Fix. Nars Powder Foundation. Cinema Secrets Cream Foundation. Visiora Cream and Powder Foundation. Bobbi Brown Cream Foundation. Classified Cosmetic's ERA Spray Foundation.

CONCEALORS: Laura Mercier. Cinema Secrets. Ben Nye Special Yellow Highlight. Kryolan concealor palette in Light.

POWDER: Tricia Sawyer The Powder. MAC Blot Powder (all the colors) and Loose Powder (translucent). Cinema Secrets Translucent Powder.

BLUSH: La Femme Palette. Tricia Sawyer Palettes in Regina, Sharon, Brittany, Scarlett, Kate, Essentials, Essential Pretty. Tricia Sawyer Starlets in Skinny, Naked, Ambitious. Tricia Sawyer Creme Blush in Scarlett. Nars Blush in Orgasm, Zen, Passion, Sin. Benefit 10 Bronzer.

EYE SHADOW: Tricia Sawyer Icon Palettes (same as above). Custom MAC Palette containing various colors like Kid, Romp, Woodwinked, Cork, Omega, Bamboo, Naked Lunch, All That Glitters, Espresso, Greensmoke, and Beauty Marked. Kryolan creme eyeshadow wheels.

EYE PENCILS: MAC -- Ebony, Taupe, Indigo, Coffee and Uniform.

GEL LINER: Bobbi Brown -- Black, Espresso and Sepia

CREME LINER: Tricia Sawyer -- Calm Drama, Intense Drama

LIP PENCILS: Tricia Sawyer in Girl. MAC -- Spice, Oak, Brick, Berry, Shirl, Stone, Soar, Dervish, Cedar and Plum.

MASCARA: Great Lash in Black. Diorshow in Kohl. La Femme cake mascara in Black and Brown.

LIPS: Tricia Sawyer Essential Gloss in Natural, Peach and Pink. Smashbox Palette. Cinema Secrets Palettes in Red, Coral and Summer. Nars lip glosses in Sandpiper, Striptease, Chihuahua, Pillow Talk, Orgasm, Sunset Strip, Stella. Kiehls lip balm in clear. Bobbi Brown Lip Palette in Bobbi's Favorites.

SKIN CARE: Kiehls Moisturizer. MAC Prep and Prime. Smashbox Primer. MAC make-up remover cloths. MAC pre-moistened Q-tips. NeoCutis (moisturizer, eye cream, serum) -- this is the absolute best skin care line available!

TRICKS OF THE TRADE: Tricia Sawyer Smoke & Mirrors -- the ultimate smokey eye. Tricia Sawyer Eye Slept -- not a concealor, it is an eye brightner to be used under or over make-up. MAC Mixing Medium (Eyeliner) -- gel form used to turn powder eye shadow into a creme liner. Tricia Sawyer Alive -- moisturizer enhancer. Cinema Secrets Sponges and Orange Puffs. Orange Wood Sticks. Toothpicks. Uma Shumera False Eyelashes. Duo Eyelash Glue. Smashbox Eyebrow Palette (ordered off QVC/3 shades + wax). MAC Brow Gel (clear). Disposable lip wands and mascara wands (sanitary reasons -- must have!). Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner. MAC Cleansing wipes and q-tips. Stain remover. Deodorant. Breath mints. Floss. Rubbing Alcohol. Advil. Tissue. Clean, white towels. Cotton balls.

NOTES: Most of my make-up is in a palette form -- that way I don't have to carry a bazillion products in individual containers. The best palettes are:

1. Tricia Sawyer Icon and Essential Palettes -- go to www.triciasawyer.com to view and order product. My favorite palette is called Essential Pretty palette, but I also recommend her Brittany, Sharon, Kate, Scarlett and Regina Palettes. Tricia makes my favorite blush color called Voluptuous. Her palettes are incredible.

2. Tricia Sawyer also makes a palette called The Essentials -- this is a must have for any professional make-up artist. It is a quad palette with 4 colors that can be used for blush, eyeshadow, contouring, browshaping.....the list is endless. This is a must also!!!

3. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss palette in Bobbi's Favorite colors -- go to www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com to view and order product.

4. Smashbox Lip Palette (ordered off QVC).

I also have two more kits built entirely for Special Effects and Light Hair application. These kits contain many products by Kryolan, Ben Nye, Make-Up Forever, Sebastian, Nick Chavez, blow dryers, flat irons and a host of other "trix" of the trade!!
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