EDUCATION AT CAMERA READY

The fine line between finishing powder and setting powder is frustratingly blurry. The industry now seems to market these products as one and the same, making the actual uses and benefits of each unclear. If you’re feeling confused and unsure of which powder is right for you, worry no more! We’re breaking down the differences between the two so you can feel more comfortable and educated before making a purchase. We’ve even linked to a few of the best setting and finishing powders that are perfect for any makeup bag or kit. Happy powder shopping, beauties!   What is Setting Powder? Designed to “set” or hold foundation in place, setting powders prevent base makeup from rubbing off and reduce shine for a long-lasting, flawless complexion. There are different types of setting powders that you can pick from depending on your needs, as well as options between translucent powder or slightly tinted to match your skin tone. Types of Setting Powders: Loose powder Pressed powder Translucent powder Tinted powder Choosing the best form of setting powder is purely a matter of preference. Pressed powders are semi-solid, easy to use, and great for taking on the go. Loose powders are finer in consistency and don’t transport well – they’re messy! But they do offer great lightweight coverage and work well for those prone to oily skin or who prefer wearing liquid foundations. Setting powder also serves as the perfect weapon against excess oil buildup - hello, mid-day touchups! For those in search of a more sheer look, apply setting powder in place of foundation for lightweight, natural coverage.  5 Best Setting Powders Our makeup artist community has voted, and these are the five best setting powders, according to them: RCMA - No Color Powder Ben Nye - Neutral Set Danessa Myricks Beauty - Evolution Powder Laura Mercier - Translucent Loose Setting Powder Mehron - UltraFine Setting Powder   RCMA’s No Color Powder: Loved amongst celebrities and makeup artists, this beauty favorite sets foundation without changing the color. The formula delivers a smooth translucent powder veil without adding unwanted texture or creating a "caked on" look. This setting powder keeps shine at bay and disappears completely for an invisible hold.  Ben Nye’s Neutral Set: This colorless powder formula blends with every skin tone without diminishing the complexion’s natural glow. Ben Nye's only non-translucent powder that contains a bright white pigment is good for very fair shades. This setting powder controls perspiration for high-energy performers. Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Evolution Powder: This setting powder provides a silky smooth, invisible finish. This light-diffusing, weightless, translucent powder can be used over and under foundation. The product mimics perfect skin with professionally tested, vegan, and cruelty free ingredients. It’s also available in four tinted shades to match fair to deep skin tones. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder: This cult classic blends seamlessly, setting makeup in place for long lasting results.  It’s also incredibly lightweight and offers a flawless, 16 hour mattifying finish you can count on. Mehron’s UltraFine Setting Powder: Finish off your look with this finely processed, clump-free setting powder with a built-in antiperspirant. Specially designed to retain the smoothness of your makeup, the product comes in a user-friendly, convenient "shaker" container.   How is Finishing Powder Different from Setting Powder? As the name suggests, finishing powders are designed for use after a makeup look is complete. While this product is not recommended for daily use, it’s a great option when you’ll be in front of bright lights and cameras.  Most commonly sold in loose form, finishing powders blur fine lines, conceal pores, and leave a flawless, camera ready finish. Blend the product well to avoid a dry, cakey appearance and also to eliminate white flashback on camera. 3 Most Popular Finishing Powders These top three finishing powders have been vetted by the pros to help you select the best options for all your makeup needs: Ben Nye – Banana Powder Mehron – Celebre Pro HD Loose Mineral Finishing Powder RCMA – Over Powder   Ben Nye’s Banana Powder: This silky-fine, mattifying translucent powder delivers a hint of color without casting a white glare in your photos. Available in four luxurious tints, this finishing powder offers a beautiful shade for every skin tone. Mehron’s Celebré Pro HD Loose Mineral Finishing Powder: This Mehron product is a luxurious matte finishing powder that comes in three versatile shades to perfectly complement every skin tone. Made of transparent French delaminated talc, it keeps your colors bright and true. This ultra-fine powder is made with a multi-mineral complex to promote skin’s vigor and moisturization, keeping skin soft and hydrated. RCMA’s Over Powder: This lightweight finishing powder adds a soft sheen effect. These powders are gorgeous when layered over blush or any of the high points of the face and perfect for achieving an ethereal effect all over the body. Dust it onto collarbones, shoulders, cheekbones, and the cupid's bow for a subtle, light-catching highlight.  Now that we’re all squared up with the differences between setting powders and finishing powders, you’re ready to get to work creating flawless makeup looks and setting and finishing them like a pro. Which finishing and setting powders do you think are the best? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to tag us on Instagram in your completed looks.   About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by a professional makeup artist. With over 20 years serving the pro community, Camera Ready Cosmetics prioritizes quality and value with the artist in mind.  Our team of experts understands what makeup essentials an artist needs.  

"When I started my career as a makeup artist, Joe Blasco’s cosmetics line was a mainstay in most artists’ kits. Joe was well-known for his prestigious makeup schools, revolutionary formulations, and decades of Hollywood clout," recants Mary Erickson, founder of Camera Ready Cosmetics and professional makeup artist.  "I deemed his Ultrabase Foundation (and still do) to be one of the very best cream foundations on the market." Even today, the biggest names in film and television use this iconic product, including Kim Kardashian and Angelina Jolie. Enjoy our guide on how to apply cream foundation, which will have you applying like a pro. Why I love Joe Blasco’s Ultrabase Foundation This creamy, weatherproof, ultra-lightweight foundation is packed with pigment to effortlessly conceal stubborn hyperpigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tones without caking or looking heavy. A little goes a long way and will last throughout the day with just a slight dusting of translucent setting powder. The superior coverage of this product is unparalleled. With over 38 shades to choose from, it’s impossible not to find the perfect shade of makeup cream for your skin tone. How To Apply Cream Foundation The natural, clean, barely-there makeup look is today’s hottest trend. Most people believe you need a liquid foundation to achieve this “no makeup” look. That’s a myth. Cream foundations can provide excellent coverage from light to full. Read on to learn about the best way to apply cream foundations. How to Apply Cream Foundation for Light Coverage (To Even Skin Tone): Generously apply moisturizer. (Your face should be very moist before you apply the cream foundation.) Apply dots of Ultrabase Foundation cream on the face - one on each cheek, the forehead, and chin. Blend the cream foundation with a Kabuki brush in circular motions to achieve a beautiful, sheer glow. For areas needing more coverage, pat cream foundation into the skin with your fingertips. For areas that need less coverage, blend lightly with the Kabuki brush. Set a cream formula foundation with translucent setting powder for a matte look. Not a fan of the matte finish? Skip the powder. Ultrabase Cream Foundation does not have to be powdered because of its pigment-packed formula. How to Put on Foundation for Extra-Sheer Coverage: Put a dime-sized amount of moisturizer in the palm of your hand. Using a stainless steel makeup spatula and palette set, mix half of the moisturizer with a small amount of Ultrabase Cream Foundation. Apply the creamy formula with your fingers, a sponge, or brush.  How to Apply Cream Foundation for Full Coverage (To Conceal Imperfections): Apply moisturizer to your face and allow it to absorb into the skin for several minutes. Once your face is dry, apply Ultrabase Cream Foundation with a sponge or foundation brush. Blend well! __________________________________________________________________________ 3 Best Kabuki Brushes for Blending Cream Foundation   Sigma: 3DHD Kabuki, $25 Bdellium Tools: Slanted Kabuki #954, $20 Bdellium Tools: Precision Kabuki #957GT, $23 __________________________________________________________________________ PRO TIP #1: Blend the foundation onto your neck as far down as possible. Also, lightly apply leftover product from the brush onto your ears to ensure all exposed skin matches your face. Don’t forget the sides of your neck, the collarbone and chest, and the tops of your shoulders if they are visible.  PRO TIP #2: Before applying powder, lightly blot your face with a flat folded tissue to remove any excess sheen. This “blotting” helps to set and stabilize your foundation before applying a setting powder. Blotting also prevents powder from looking blotchy and creates a smooth, flawless complexion. PRO TIP #3: Never apply powder heavily. Only apply enough to produce a beautiful matte finish. If you can see the powder, you have applied too much. Lightly brush it off.  For extra sheer coverage:  Put a dime-sized amount of moisturizer in the palm of your hand. Using a stainless steel makeup spatula and palette set, mix half of the moisturizer with a small amount of Ultrabase Foundation. Apply with your fingers, a sponge or brush. For full coverage (to conceal imperfections): Apply moisturizer on your face, and allow it to absorb into the skin for several minutes. Once your face is dry, apply Ultrabase Foundation with a sponge or foundation brush. Blend well! How To Choose Your Joe Blasco Ultrabase Foundation Shade Find the color category of your skin tone at the top of the chart below. On the color match guide, you’ll see foundation cream color names listed below each color category. Every foundation color shown in the box will work well on your skin tone. When there are 3-4 cream foundation colors to choose from, they are all in the same “value” (lightest to darkest). All of the options listed in that category will work on your skin tone. It’s just a matter of experimentation and preference. If you're unsure, you may purchase samples.   After trying our suggestions for the bests way to apply cream foundation, tag us in your Joe Blasco Ultrabase Foundation looks on Instagram and Facebook. For more questions on how to apply cream foundation or recommended products, comment below or email to connect with a Customer Experience Specialist. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional-grade products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans works together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay...come in and play! Our store is your playground.

Major cities are shutting down. Weddings and large events are cancelled. Businesses and corporations are adopting work-from-home policies. The worldwide outbreak of the Coronavirus has a majority of our population “self-quarantined,” meaning people are voluntarily avoiding crowds and staying home. But as a self-employed makeup artist, there is no such thing as working from home. And if you are still working, it’s impossible to distance yourself from a client. The job of a pro makeup artist requires you to stand in very close proximity to clients for long periods of time. Should you be doing this kind of work right now? Unfortunately, these circumstances are out of your control. Clients will inevitably choose to cancel events, weddings and productions. As an independent contractor, how do you offset the reality of cancelled engagements and no income? How The Coronavirus Outbreak Affects You Camera Ready Cosmetics founder and professional makeup artist, Mary Erickson, believes there are precautions and formalities all makeup artists should be following during these unprecedented times. “If a bride postpones her wedding because of the Coronavirus, I would allow a date change without penalty,” Mary said. “If I couldn’t accommodate the client’s new wedding date, I would refund her in full.” In these extreme circumstances, every makeup artist will have to make their own decisions about what is “the right thing to do.” In the wedding example, it’s important to remember the couple is also losing a lot of money. In most cases, they will need to order updated invitations, make changes (if possible) with every vendor - the wedding venue, bakery, florist, clergy, etc. “My suggestion is to exercise compassion and be flexible,” Mary said. What about the commercial client who has shut down a campaign shoot? This is temporary. Don’t panic. In 90 days, most shoots will be back on. “Almost everyone is losing money right now, and we’re all stressed over the uncertainty of where this situation is headed,” Mary said. “In reality these are postponements, not cancellations.” It’s also important to note this will not last forever, but your business reputation will. Remember to be flexible, accommodating and kind to each of your clients. They’ll remember the way you handled yourself professionally during these uncertain times. What to do with all this time spent at home? Prepare yourself to be very busy a month from now. Everything that has been canceled or postponed in the last few weeks will be back on. Mary suggests using this time for updating and creating new marketing materials and to spruce up your professional website. You can also use this time to organize your home office and/or continue your makeup artistry education by watching tutorials to master a new technique. But most importantly, use this time to sanitize your makeup kit. In general, sanitation practices should not be something you’re just starting now; you should always follow the basic rules of sanitization with every client. Keep in mind that with many viruses, people are contagious before they show symptoms. The only safe way to work, now and always, is to assume everyone has a contagious virus. A Few Top Sanitation Practices NEVER put lashes on a client if they have been worn by another person. You cannot sanitize eyelashes. Never double dip. Always use disposable sponges and mascara wands. Sanitize everything with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol. If you have EVER double dipped into a product, throw it away now to play it safe. Use disposable brushes if you can’t properly sanitize between clients. Carry hand sanitizer in your kit. Wash your hands with soap and water between clients. This is more effective than using hand sanitizer only. Never use lipstick from the tube on clients. Scrape a bit with your spatula onto a palette and use a brush or disposable lip brushes. For more in-depth cleaning tips, give these articles a read: Basic Rules of Sanitation for Every Makeup Artist Makeup Artist Sanitation Parian Spirit A powerful brush cleaner that doubles as a hand sanitizer. Mix with citrus oil for scent! Buy Now - $7 Cinema Secrets A makeup sanitizing spray that kills germs and bacteria on powders and creams. Buy Now - $9 Rebels & Outlaws A quick-dry, spray-on brush sanitizer for cleaning brushes between clients. Buy Now - $15 About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay...come in and play! Our store is your playground. Mary Erickson Founder of Camera Ready Cosmetics & Professional Makeup Artist

Laura Mercier, pioneer of the “Flawless Face”, is a world-renowned makeup artist and creator of the eponymous cosmetics brand that has won countless awards and become a mainstay in makeup artists’ kits worldwide. Laura is the innovative force behind the beauty industry’s most iconic products, French aesthetic and artistry techniques. Founded in 1996, Laura’s vision was to encourage artists and consumers alike to embrace the beauty of individuality and adopt the four-part technique that made her famous. Prime for an ideal canvas, even out skin tone with foundation, camouflage with concealer, and set for perfection. Easy as 1, 2, 3 … 4! Keep reading for a detailed step-by-step of how Laura’s technique works. Step 1: PRIME Just as an artist primes a canvas, set the stage for smooth makeup application with a skin-nourishing primer. Look for ingredients that lock in moisture, without being overly greasy or oil-inducing. For oily skin types, look for formulations that control oil buildup. Allow the primer to set in place before applying the rest of your makeup look. Remember: this step does not exclude the eyes! Create an even base by applying a soothing eye primer like Laura’s Eye Basics Primer. This unique, versatile cream primes eyelids to provide the perfect canvas for any eye look. Wear under powder eye shadow to create a uniform base, help prevent creasing, extend color wear and enhance the intensity of eye shadow on the lids. Or wear alone to camouflage imperfections for a classic nude eye. Eye Basics Primer6 Shades -- $28 Get a flawless, no-makeup makeup look. Shades for all skin tones. Step 2: COVER Instead of using foundation as a means to cover the skin, train your brain to apply it as a skin enhancer. Even full-coverage formulas should be used only to even out discoloration. Your goal in applying foundation should be a natural finish that feels and looks like a second skin. Flawless Lumière RadiancePerfecting Foundation23 Shades -- $48 Flawless coverage, any way you like it. Shades for all skin tones. Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Foundation17 Shades -- $48 Step 3: CONCEAL For Laura, concealer is key. (And when Laura speaks, we listen!) Camouflage darkness, tone down redness, and conceal blemishes or other imperfections with a formula that is packed with powerful, lightweight coverage. The beauty of concealer is that you can easily build coverage as needed without overdoing it. Secret Camouflage8 Shades -- $35 Expertly conceal discoloration, blemishes & more! Secret Concealer11 Shades -- $27 Step 4: SET IN PLACE Once you’ve completed your flawless base, lock everything in place before finishing off the eyes and lips with whatever technique or style you desire! Choose a transparent setting powder that will add dimension and eliminate any flashback. Translucent Loose$39 Invisible Loose$39 Translucent Pressed$39 Bonus Tip If you’re looking for super light coverage, opt for a tinted moisturizer in place of foundation. The multi-tasking blend of skincare and makeup blurs imperfections with just a sheer tint of coverage and delivers a hydrated, no-makeup finish. For oily skin types, choose an oil-free formula or prep the skin with a mattifying primer. Tinted Moisturizer20 Shades -- $47 BEFORE & AFTER Learn More Shop these Laura Mercier flawless face essentials and more online and in-store at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Discounts apply for pro artist members. Which Laura Mercier products are your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay...come in and play! Our store is your playground. Mallory Hatten Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics

This Halloween season, we’re teaming up with talented makeup artists to bring you a series of exclusive SFX makeup tutorials every week through Halloween. In our seventh and final release of the series, PRO artist Samantha Jaymes creates a Glam Gore Halloween Queen makeup look featuring a collection of Ben Nye products from Camera Ready Cosmetics. Follow along as Samantha walks you through each step of creating this look! Shop The Look Ben NyeEssential Eye Palette$58 Ben NyeCake Eye Liner$12   Ben NyeStage BloodStarting at $3.50 These are the products she used: Ben Nye Olive-Brown Matte HD Foundation Palette – $64 Ben Nye 8-Color Essential Eye Shadow Palette – $58 Ben Nye Cake Eye Liner in Black EL1 – $12 Ben Nye Stage Blood, 1oz – $5 Total Cost: $139 Get the look for less! Opt for smaller palette options or individual shades, and use a black gel or cake eyeliner that you already have on hand: RCMA Makeup 4-Color Foundation Palette – $27 Make-Up Atelier 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette in T20 Smoke Variation – $36 Ben Nye Stage Blood, 1oz – $3.50 Total Cost: $66.50 Step 1: Highlight your brows. Using the lightest shade from the Ben Nye Matte HD Foundation Palette, highlight above and below your brow and blend out. Step 2: Create a dark lid and smokey eye. Using the darkest shade from the Ben Nye Matte HD Foundation Palette, create a dark eyelid base and smudge out with a shadow blending brush. Next, dip into the eyeshadow palette and create a deep, chocolate brown smokey eye. Use the excess shadow from your brush to extend the smokey effect across the lower lash line.  Finish your eye look with the Ben Nye Cake Liner and a thin liner brush. Create a thin line along the upper lash line, extending out beyond the corners of each eye. For an even more dramatic effect, draw a thick triangular outline from each corner of the eye and fill in with the black liner.  Apply long, voluminous false lashes for extra glam. Step 3: Contour and shape your face. Using a bronze shade from the Ben Nye 8-Color Essential Eye Shadow Palette, or any other eye palette with bronzy and gold shades, start creating depth around the face. Contour below the cheekbones, around the temples, across the forehead and along the jawline and neck.  Step 4: Create "stitched-up" details lines across the face. Using a light foundation shade, trace the outline of your face stitches. Samantha starts in the top middle of her forehead, traces down the bridge of her nose, and starts from the middle bridge of her nose across the tops of her cheeks and down to the her jawline and neck. Once you've finished the outline, dip into a slightly darker foundation shade to trace an outline around your faintly traced lines. Dip back into the Ben Nye Cake Liner or another black eyeliner you have on hand, and create thin lines down the middle of your traced lines. Then create "stitches" across all of the lines, as well as on the ends of your brow. Step 5: Create a glossy nude lip. Using a nude lipliner, trace the outline of your lips. Fill in with a matte lipstick in a similar nude shade, and top with a nude or clear lip gloss for a bold, glam lip look. Step 6: Create the look of dripping blood from some of your stitches. Add a small amount of Ben Nye Stage Blood to the end of a thin makeup brush and apply thin, dripping strokes from various places on the face - from stitches, the top of the forehead, and the corners of your mouth. Anywhere you think needs a touch of Halloween gore! Visit our YouTube channel for more step-by-step SFX tutorials. A special thank you to artist Samantha Jaymes (@samanthajaymes_) for bringing this Glam Gore Halloween Queen to life. Check out CRC's other SFX Tutorials: Comic Book Pop Art by Kelly Tull CATS with a Twist by Andie Piazza The Nun by Janet Cake Glam-Gore Witch by Rachel Quattlebaum Halloween Clown by Kelly Tull Butterfly Face Paint by Angie Lum Need something specific to create your SFX looks? Shop Camera Ready’s extensive collection of top special effects brands here. Also, explore our limited edition, exclusive collaboration with SFX artist Freakmo, a.k.a. Kiana Jones. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact our Customer Experience Team for a comparable alternative, or to see if we can order the exact product you need. Mallory Hatten Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics

The Camera Ready team is flooded year round with requests to try new products, up-and-coming brands, and "miracle-working" cult favorites. While we have a blast testing each and every product, the challenge of juggling the hundreds of products that enter our doors can become a little overwhelming.  That's why we have an extra spring in our step come Fall, once Allure releases their Best of Beauty awards. Over a period of several months, the Allure team distributes thousands of beauty products to five-person testing teams around the world and tracks their results. They even take it a step further by  consulting shade-swatching panels, contacting cosmetic chemists, estheticians, makeup artists, beauty professionals and more to discover the products they can't live without. Once their research is complete, Allure announces the winners of their coveted red stamp of approval. And this year, Camera Ready has a record-breaking 12 products featured on the list across all categories - from hair and skincare to makeup and beauty tools. We're excited, honored and rushing to the Camera Ready showroom to add all of these star products to our personal beauty collections! Keep reading for a list of the game-changing, Allure-approved products you need, right now! Best of ... HAIR, BODY and SKINCARE Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, $38 This luxuriously light oil absorbs instantly to restore hair to its prime. Infused with a rich blend of jasmine, edelweiss flower, lychee, sandalwood, cassis, bergamot, and argan extracts, each protective drop penetrates the hair to deeply condition, strengthen and smooth — imparting intense nourishment and incredible shine. Works wonders on dry, damaged and color-treated hair.  St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, $30 Achieve a natural-looking golden tan that lasts for days, with just one application. This tropically scented formula is infused with 100% natural tanning agents to deliver an ultra-lightweight, vegan clear mist that doesn't need to be rinsed off. Apply regularly under or over make-up. OribeGold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil$38 St. TropezSelf Tan Purity Face Mist$30 St. Tropez Self Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse, $44 For your deepest, darkest tan yet, this lightweight mousse tailors to your individual skin tone and gives a longest-lasting tan with just one application.  The streak-free formula is easy to apply with a beautiful, mood-boosting fragrance. And the best part? It dries quickly with no transfer. For best results, apply using the St. Tropez Applicator Mitt. In long sweeping motions, start at the ankles and work your way up. For your back, turn the mitt back to front and apply in the same way. Ensure all areas are covered before lightly gliding any excess tan from the mitt over your hands and feet.  Kiehl's Since 1851 Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil, $34 Indulge your skin with the most luxurious, nourishing moisture treatment you've ever experienced. With a delicate aroma of vanilla and almond, this lightweight dry oil leaves skin velvety smooth to the touch with a soft, supple texture. We're obsessed! St. TropezSelf Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse$44 Kiehl'sCreme de Corps Nourishing Body Oil$34 Best of .... MAKEUP Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face, $32 Meet the bridge between highlighting and skincare. This universal, lightweight formula creates youthful-looking, well-hydrated skin with a glassy finish. The multi-purpose gel can be used on the face and body and leaves skin clearer, more radiant and seemingly transparent. Use alone for a fresh look, or add it to your existing routine for an added glass effect. Make Up For Ever Artist Color Eyeshadows, $17 These cult favorite PRO makeup eyeshadows deliver immediate, long-lasting color payoff that lasts up to 12 hours. Designed with unique fabrication technology, the texture offers high blendability and a truly custom shade range. Express yourself with 5 different finishes, including: Matte, Metallic, Diamond, Satin and Iridescent. Kevyn AucoinGlass Glow Face$32 Make Up For EverArtist Color Eye Shadows$17 BECCA Ultimate Love Lipstick in shade Maroon, $24 While the entire Ultimate Lipstick Love collection is critically acclaimed for its ultra-creamy, silky satin, 8-hour-long wear, the shade Maroon is a clear standout and receives the Allure stamp of approval. This cool deep plum shade is the perfect color to carry you through the chilly Fall and Winter seasons. Plus, it's infused with hyaluronic acid, avocado oil and olive oil to hydrate and smooth the appearance of lips.  Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter, $32 Bouncy to the touch, these radiance-enhancing highlighters melt into skin for a barely-there feel. Ultra-fine, light diffusing particles deliver a soft, natural-looking glow. Blend onto the cheeks, eyes and body with a sponge, synthetic brush or fingers. Best on bare skin or over foundation. Available in three stunning shades: Kitten: Stila's iconic shimmering, nude-pink brightens and illuminates. Transcendence: an opalescent pink for a bolder, ethereal glow. Bronze: creates a radiant, sun-kissed glow. BECCAUltimate Love Lipstick in Maroon$24 StilaHeaven's Hue Highlighter$32 Best of ... BEAUTY TOOLS Sigma Beauty F64 Soft Blend Concealer Brush, $22 Specially designed with Sigma's exclusive Sigmax synthetic filament, this brush applies cream, powder and liquid concealers with a smooth, streak-free finish and doesn't absorb product into the bristles. Created in height, shape and density to meet every shape of the face. Beautyblender The Original Makeup Sponge, $20 Access hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. The suede texture is sensual to the touch and features unique curves that fit the contours of your face, leaving make up dazzling and undetectable. Ideal for applying foundation, powder, BB + CC cream, cream blush, and powder. For best results, wet the sponge before applying makeup. SigmaF64 Soft Blend Concealer Brush$22 BeautyblenderThe Original Makeup Sponge$20 Real Techniques Setting Brush, $8 This 100% cruelty-free micro setting brush is the key to completing any look, allowing a perfectly controlled dusting of product. Ideal for setting powders or highlighting powders/creams. Plus, it's a steal at only $8. Tweezerman Classic Slant Tweezer, $23 Famous for its precision, the Slant Tweezer is consistently acclaimed as setting the standard for excellence and quality. With perfectly aligned, hand-finished tips that grab the hair every time, these stainless steel tweezers have been the choice of make-up artists, celebrities and beauty professionals for over 30 years. Real TechniquesSetting Brush$8 TweezermanClassic Slant Tweezer$23 About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground.  Mallory Hatten  Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics

This Halloween season, we’re teaming up with talented special effects makeup artists to bring you a series of exclusive SFX makeup tutorials. In our sixth release of the series, PRO artist Angie Lum creates a vibrant, luminescent butterfly face painting look featuring a collection of cult-favorite SFX makeup products from Camera Ready Cosmetics. Follow along as Angie walks you through the step-by-step butterfly face paint tutorial for this popular Halloween butterfly makeup look! Shop The Look Make Up For Ever12 Flash Color Palette$99 Cozzette BeautyInfinite Matte Shadow$12   Cozzette BeautyStylist Creme Liner$18 These are the products she used:  Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Sealer – Starting at $10 Ben Nye Lip Colour Pencil – Nude (LP127), $12 Ben Nye Lipstick – Cotton Candy (LS41), $16 Cozzette Stylist Creme Eyeliner – Jet Black, $18 Cozzette Infinite Matte Eyeshadow – In shades Gratitude, Jack, and Jet, $13 each Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate – Starting at $16 Eye Kandy Glitter Sprinkles – Marshmallow, $7.50  Kryolan Professional Make-Up Hydro Spirit Gum – Starting at $6.90 Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case Palette – Flash (MO5210), $99 NYX Epic Ink Liner – Black, $9 Mehron Pencil Liner – Dark Brown, $3.95 Lashes in a Box – N°23, $8 NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – Milk, $4.50 Total Cost: $249.85 Get the makeup butterfly look for less! Use a moisturizer, setting spray, nude lipstick, lipliner, and black eyeliner that you already have on hand for your butterfly face painting. Or opt for individual cream paints instead of the full Make Up For Ever Palette: La Femme Eye Shadow Pans Refills – In shades Icy Blue, Navy Blue, and Black, $4.50 each   Eye Kandy Glitter Sprinkles – Marshmallow, $7.50 Kryolan Professional Make-Up Hydro Spirit Gum – Starting at $6.90 Lashes in a Box – N°23, $8 NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – Milk, $4.50 Mehron Paradise Cake Makeup AQ, Singles – In shades Sky, Dark Blue, and White, $5.95 each Total Cost: $58.25   Butterfly Tutorial: How to Create Your Makeup Butterfly Face Paint Design in 10 Easy Steps Step 1: Prep Step 2: Map out and fill in Step 3: Shade wings Step 4: Set and define Step 5: Outline and set Step 6: Line the eyes Step 7: Add detail to the wings Step 8: Outline in white Step 9: Get out the glitter Step 10: Lashes and lips   Step 1: Prep skin for butterfly face painting and cover up your brows. Angie preps her skin with the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrate and follows up with a full-coverage foundation base. Then she applies water-based the Kryolan Professional Make-Up Hydro Spirit Gum over her eyebrows to hold them down before applying white creme makeup to conceal them. Step 2: Map out and fill in your butterfly makeup design. Using a dark brown artist pencil, outline the shape of butterfly wings on both sides of the face. Create faint lines so you can easily cover up your tracing in the following steps. Fill in your outline with a light blue creme makeup. Step 3: Apply shading to the tops and bottoms of your butterfly face paint wing outline. Using a dark blue creme makeup, apply shading to the tops and bottoms of the makeup butterfly wings. Slowly fade the color in towards the inner parts of the face, almost like an ombre effect. Step 4: Set creme makeup in place with matte eyeshadows. Define shading. Lock the creme makeup in place using matte eyeshadows of the same color for easy butterfly eye makeup. You’ll be using two different shades to cover the different blue colors. As you’re setting the butterfly makeup, accentuate the shading inside the wing design by applying more of the eyeshadow color to the tops and bottoms. Step 5: Outline your butterfly makeup design & set in place. Apply a black creme or gel eyeliner to the outer border of the butterfly face paint design, creating thicker lines towards the top and bottom rounded edges of the wings. Once you’ve outlined the full design, go back over the outline with a matte black eyeshadow to set the lines in place. Step 6: Line your eyes! Using a black liquid eyeliner, line the upper and lower lash lines of your eyes. Create a winged outer corner for a dramatic butterfly makeup effect. Step 7: Create delicate detailing inside the makeup butterfly wings. Dip back into the creme eyeliner from the previous steps and create thin, delicate lines inside the wings. These are the veins of the butterfly wings. There is no right or wrong way to draw these lines but follows Angie’s butterfly face painting tutorial video above to see how she completed this step. Step 8: Outline the butterfly wings again, this time in white. Using a white creme pencil, outline the wings again for more definition. Do not go over the black outline; simply trace the outside edges of the black. Step 9: Apply glitter inside the butterfly wings. Time to get that iridescent, ethereal sparkle! Angie uses Eye Kandy Glitter Sprinkles in shade Marshmallow to create this effect. Apply all over the inside of the butterfly wings. Step 10: Complete the butterfly makeup look with false lashes and a nude lip! Finish your butterfly face painting with voluminous false lashes and a pretty, nude lip. Angie uses Ben Nye lip liner and lipstick for her classic lip look shown below. Her lashes of choice were Lashes in a Box style #23. Visit our YouTube channel for more step-by-step SFX tutorials. A special thank you to artist Angie Lum (@angielum) and Lei V Artist Agency for bringing this Butterfly Face Painting vision to life.   For More Like Our Butterfly Face Painting Guide, Check Out Our Other SFX Tutorials: Comic Book Pop Art by Kelly Tull CATS with a Twist by Andie Piazza The Nun by Janet Cake Glam-Gore Scary Witch by Rachel Quattlebaum Glam Halloween Clown Makeup by Kelly Tull Need something specific to create your SFX Halloween looks? Shop Camera Ready’s extensive collection of top special effects brands. Also, check out these Top 10 SFX products loved by PROs. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact our Customer Experience Team for a comparable alternative or to see if we can order the exact product you need.

This Halloween season, we’re teaming up with talented makeup artists to bring you a series of exclusive SFX makeup tutorials every week through Halloween. In our fifth release of the series, PRO artist Kelly Tull re-creates a Creepy Glam Halloween Clown featuring a collection of products from Camera Ready Cosmetics that makes for the perfect clown makeup look for girls (or guys!). Follow along as Kelly walks you through each step of creating this clown makeup look with her makeup painting tutorial! SFX Clown Makeup Look Must-Haves Mehron30-Well Paradise Palette$129.95 RCMA MakeupNo Color Powder$14 These are the special effects makeup products she used to create her clown makeup look: Mehron Paradise Palette – $129.95 Ben Nye Studio Color Eye & Cheek Rainbow Palette – $58 RCMA No Color Powder – $14 NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator– $7.50 Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick – Berry Me, $19 NYX Slim Lipliner Pencil – Currant, $5 Total Cost: $233.45 You can also get this clown makeup look for less! Use individual refill shades versus the full size palettes and choose a lip color you already have on hand: Camera Ready Gel Eye Liner - Black Out, $10.99 La Femme Blush Rouge REFILL - Flamingo Pink, $7.90 Mehron Paradise Cake Makeup REFILLS - Various Colors, $7.95 NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator - Various Colors, $7.50 Total Cost: $34+ How to Apply This Clown Makeup Look in 8 Easy Steps - A Clown Makeup Tutorial Our eight-step glam-scary clown makeup tutorial will walk you through this perfect clown makeup look for girls or guys from foundation to the final shimmer so you can learn how to apply scary clown makeup for Halloween like a pro. Get ready; get set; SCARE! (But make it glam.)   Step 1: Foundation Step 2: Eyes and brows Step 3: Lips Step 4: Cheeks Step 5: Mouth Step 6: Finishing eye touches Step 7: Neck ruffle Step 8: Glow, baby!   Step 1: Set foundation in place. Kelly uses the RCMA No Color Powder to lock her foundation in place. This sets a flawless, full-coverage base for the rest of your clown makeup for Halloween application. Step 2: Create exaggerated brows and detailing around the eyes. Using a fine detail brush, dip into a black gel liner or aqua-paint to fill in your eyebrows. For the inward portion of your brows (facing the nose) extend lines outward and up towards the forehead. Using the same black makeup, create clown-like detailing above the brows and around the eye area. Follow the video above to watch how Kelly accomplishes this, or follow your own style to create your perfect clown makeup look for Halloween! While you're waiting for this clown makeup to dry, continue with steps 3 thru 5. Step 3: Line and fill-in your lips. Choose a dark purple or mauve color to line the full perimeter of your lips. When lining the lips, extend the corners of your mouth slightly outward for a wider, more exaggerated clown makeup lip effect. Find a similar liquid lipstick color in a matte finish to fill in your clown lips since clown makeup often features overdrawn lips. Step 4: Create bright pink clown cheeks. Choose a rosy or light pink powder blush color and apply in a circular motion to the apples of your cheeks. You'll be left with round, cartoonish, clown-like cheeks - which is essential for any great clown makeup look. Go back over the blush with a bright pink aqua-paint to really make your cheeks pop. Step 5: Create a cartoon clown makeup mouth. Dip into a brown face paint to draw a large, cartoonish outline of a mouth around your lips. Start just between the bottom of your nose and upper lip, drawing the line out towards the bottom of your cheeks and down towards your chin. Follow the video above to watch how Kelly completes this portion of her clown makeup look. Once you have your outline, fill-in the lines with a white face paint. Do not paint over your lipstick from the previous step. Step 6: Complete your clown makeup eye design. Now that your eyes have had time to dry, fill in the shapes you created earlier with the same black gel liner and finish off the look by gluing sequins or gems in certain parts of the eye design for a dramatic, glam effect. Go ahead and be creative! No two clown makeup looks are alike, so express yourself with unique shapes! Step 7: Paint a colorful neck ruffle to bring your clown makeup look to life. The iconic clown ruffle is a must to complete this clown makeup look! But no worries, you don't need to go buy one; just paint one! Choosing bright, vibrant cake makeup colors, created thing blocks of color from the top of the neck to the top of your chest, finishing them off in a pointed fashion. Alternate colors as you go until the full neck is filled in. Add white circles to the end of each pointed color line, and then outline everything in black (the circles and the individual color strips). You now have a bright collar that’s an excellent addition to your clown makeup for Halloween without any extra accessories. Step 8: Add some serious glow! Apply a shimmering body illuminator, like NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator, to the shoulders and chest (just below your painted neck ruffle). Also, add it to the forehead and T-zone. This adds an extra element of glam! If you want to transform this clown makeup look into a scary clown makeup look, simply add some special effects blood. Visit our YouTube channel for more step-by-step SFX tutorials. A special thank you to artist Kelly Tull (@kellytull_) for bringing this Creepy-Glam Halloween Clown to life. Check out CRC's other SFX Tutorials: Comic Book Pop Art by Kelly Tull CATS with a Twist by Andie Piazza The Nun by Janet Cake Glam-Gore Witch by Rachel Quattlebaum We’re accepting your videos as part of our SFX tutorial series! Send submissions to marketing@crcmakeup.com for consideration. Need something specific to create your SFX Halloween looks or want to find other unique makeup products to embellish your clown makeup look? Shop Camera Ready’s extensive collection of top special effects brands here. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact our Customer Experience Team for a comparable alternative, or to see if we can order the exact product you need to create your perfect clown makeup for Halloween.

Special effects makeup isn’t reserved only for the Halloween lovers. Although, it’s this time of year that really gets us excited about the creative, endless possibilities in the world of SFX makeup. Whether you’re curious to know what the professionals are using, building your own SFX makeup kit, or simply have no idea what any of the special effects talk is all about, take a peek at our best SFX makeup products for Halloween.   10 Best SFX Makeup Products for Halloween: These bestsellers consistently make the list year after year, and for good reason – they’re best in class for their respective product categories. Add a few (or all) to your SFX makeup kit or at-home makeup collection, and be sure to tag us in your Halloween makeup creations on Instagram and Facebook!  Skin Illustrator On Set FX Palette Graftobian Stipple Sponge Ben Nye Magicake Aqua Paint Pros-Aide “Original” Adhesive Mehron Rigid Collodion Kryolan Professional Make-Up Eye Blood Ben Nye Clown White Ben Nye Fresh Scab Bdellium Tools SFX Brushes 1. Read all the way through to see our #1 bestselling SFX Halloween makeup product! 10: Skin Illustrator On Set FX Palette, $60.50 This compact, pocket-sized palette contains 10 of the most popular Halloween SFX makeup colors from Skin Illustrator’s line of pigments. Designed to mimic just about any injury or illness imaginable, this palette simulates burns, cuts, scrapes, scabs, bruises, and more. Each color must be activated with 99% alcohol or activator. Spray or dab the solvent onto the desired color, swirl for 30 seconds, and apply with a brush, sponge, or mascara wand.  Purchase Skin Illustrator On Set FX Palette 9: Graftobian Stipple Sponge, starting at $1 Meet one of the best SFX makeup tools there ever was! Graftobian’s classic stipple sponge is used for a variety of SFX makeup looks, like the five o’clock shadow and broken blood vessels. The charcoal-colored web matrix sponge allows for uneven, splotchy makeup application that’s so common in Halloween makeup creations, like demons, old-age, monsters, and more. Also available in a pack of 12 for cost savings. Purchase Graftobian Stipple Sponge 8: Ben Nye Magicake Aqua Paint, $8 These water-activated pigments by Ben Nye are smudge-proof and transfer-resistant once dry. Incredible for face or body art of any kind, especially Halloween SFX makeup looks, Magicake delivers intense color that will not fade. The opaque formula is not waterproof, so you must use a water-resistant setting spray to ensure long-lasting wear in conditions near water, humidity, or moisture. Purchase Ben Nye Magicake 7: Pros-Aide "Original" Adhesive, $18.20 If you’re looking for a non-irritating, heavy-duty adhesive for prosthetic application or other Halloween makeup needs, Pros-Aide stands out as one of our best SFX makeup staples. This water-based formula is often used for medical prosthetic applications, as well as by makeup artists for adhering appliances and other makeup components to the skin. It is safe to use on sensitive areas and boasts water-resistant, non-toxic properties. Purchase Pros-Aide “Original” Adhesive 6: Mehron Rigid Collodion (Scarring Liquid), $7.95 Develop realistic scar makeup effects with ease. Mehron’s clear solution wrinkles the skin as it dries to quickly develop a scarred look. Build dimension and deepen scars by building thin layers until you’ve reached the desired scar makeup effect. Because this product is so easy to use, it’s recommended for both seasoned artists and those new to SFX makeup. To remove the scar makeup, simply peel off. Purchase Mehron Rigid Collodion Shop SFX Makeup Bestsellers Pros-Aide"Original" Adhesive$18.20 MehronRigid Collodion$7.95 KryolanEye Blood$26.50 Shop All SFX Makeup 5: Kryolan Eye Blood, $26.50 Cry tears of *fake* blood! This gel-like formula delivers life-like bloody eyes and tears without impairing vision or irritating the eye. This Halloween SFX makeup is safe for use on sensitive eyes and for those who wear contact lenses. Discard product one month after first opening. Purchase Kryolan Professional Make-Up Eye Blood 4: Ben Nye Clown White, starting at $6 The preferred choice by artists worldwide, Clown White boasts an ultra-creamy texture and brilliant white finish for any drag, cosplay, or Halloween SFX makeup needs. The formula goes on smooth and opaque, so you don’t need a ton of product to achieve the desired look. For best results, apply a setting powder on top of the product to eliminate transfer and lock makeup in place. Purchase Ben Nye Clown White Makeup 3: Ben Nye Fresh Scab, starting at $10 Create natural-looking scabbed over wounds with ease! Fresh Scab by Ben Nye maintains a jelly-like consistency for realistic blood clotting effects. The naturally tinted, corn-syrup-based formula is peppermint flavored and safe to use in and around the mouth. This fake blood easily washes out of most fabrics and surfaces. Purchase Ben Nye Fresh Scab 2: Bdellium Tools SFX Brushes, starting at $10 These high-quality, eco-friendly SFX makeup brushes by Bdellium Tools were specifically manufactured to withstand strong dyes, solvents, and brush-cleaning solutions. Each brush is fabricated with sustainable bamboo handles and vegan synthetic bristles shaped in a variety of styles for flawless, reality-defying Halloween makeup looks. Purchase Bdellium Tools SFX Brushes 1: Ben Nye Nose & Scar Wax, starting at $7 Coming in at #1, our best SFX makeup can help you manipulate the appearance of real skin distortions – broken nose, witch’s chin, bullet holes, and more. The moldable yet firm scar makeup wax comes in three flesh-tone shades with a translucent finish. For best SFX makeup results, apply on top of a thin film of spirit gum adhesive and seal in place with a durable liquid latex. Purchase Ben Nye Nose & Scar Wax Which of these best SFX makeup products are you loving for Halloween makeup looks? Comment below with your favorites.  Need something specific to create your Halloween makeup looks? Shop Camera Ready’s extensive collection of the best SFX makeup brands. Don’t see the SFX makeup you’re looking for? Contact our Customer Experience Team for a comparable alternative or to see if we can order the exact product you need. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional-grade products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans works together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground. 

This Halloween season, we’re teaming up with talented makeup artists across the United States to bring you a series of exclusive SFX makeup tutorials. In our fourth release of the series, PRO artist Rachel Quattlebaum re-creates a Glam vs Gore Scary Witch featuring a collection of products from Camera Ready Cosmetics. Follow along as Rachel walks you through each step of creating the look! Shop The Look MehronStage Blood$7.95 InglotAMC Eyeliner Gel #77$16 Mehron3-D Gel Effects$8.95 These are the products she used: Dose of Colors Blushing Berries Eyeshadow Palette – $34 Eye Kandy Glitter Sprinkles – Jawbreaker, $8.50 Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel #77 – $24 Ardell Double Up Demi Wispies – $6.50 Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ – Amazon Green, $11.95 Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ – Dark Green, $11.95 Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ – White, $11.95 Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick – Beso, $24 Mehron 3-D Gelatin Effects – 2oz Clear, $8.95 Mehron Stage Blood – 1oz Bright Arterial, $5.95 Total Cost: $147.75 Get the look for less! Use eye palettes, liners and a red lipstick you already have on hand, and purchase individual refill shades versus the full sizes: Mehron Paradise Glitter – Silver, $5.95 Ardell Double Up Demi Wispies – $6.50 Mehron Paradise Makeup REFILL – Amazon Green, $7.95 Mehron Paradise Makeup REFILL – Dark Green, $7.95 Mehron Paradise Makeup REFILL – White, $7.95 Mehron 3-D Gelatin Effects – 2oz Clear, $8.95 Mehron Stage Blood – 0.5oz Bright Arterial, $4.95 Total Cost: $50.20 Step 1: Start with an extravagant, shimmering smokey eye. Rachel creates a deep purple smokey eye using the Dose of Colors Blushing Berries palette. If you’re not a fan of purple, get creative with any palette you have on hand. Choose a bold color theme that will complement the green paint you’ll apply all over the face in future steps. Apply a silver eye glitter like, Jawbreaker from Eye Kandy, across the lid for an extra element of glam. Step 2: Add dramatic eyeliner and voluminous false lashes. Using a thin eyeliner brush, apply a thick black line of gel liner across the upper and lower lash lines. Wing it out past the corner of the eye. Finish your eye look with long faux lashes from any brand. You can use Ardell's Double Up Demi Wispies. Step 3: Begin creating the base of your green witch face. Before you apply green makeup all over your face, start creating a highlighted base. Using a Beautyblender or makeup sponge, apply Mehron Paradise White Makeup under the eyes, across the upper cheeks, down the sides of the nose, and on the chin. Step 4: Apply green makeup all over the face and neck. Starting with the Mehron Paradise Makeup in shade Amazon Green, use a brush to apply the green face paint over the areas under the eye painted in white. Cover the rest of your face in the same green shade using a wet makeup sponge. Extend the color down your neck. Step 5: Highlight and contour. For Highlighting: Go back over the undereye areas with white face paint and blend into the green. Do the same just above your lip (cupids bow) and on top of the chin. Your goal is to create highlighted areas to soften the harshness of the all-over green. For Contouring: Dip into the Mehron Dark Green shade and apply just under the cheekbones to create shaded definition. Step 6: Add bold color to your lips. Nothing says glam quite like a bold, red lip. Rachel uses Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in shade Beso to fill in her lips. Step 7: Begin the gorey detailing. Now the fun starts! Using a black gel liner and detail brush, create a curvy, jagged line down your face. Start at the top of your forehead and draw a line down your nose, off to the side and down along the bottom side of your face. This forms the foundation of your bloody gash. Once you’ve finished the outline, take a flat shadow brush and smudge the lines along the bottom of your face, as if you’re almost filling them in. Step 8: Create the appearance of dripping blood down your face. Using Mehron 3-D Gel, start at the top of the face and apply the gel formula along the outline you previously created. It’s okay if this is messy and not perfect; that’s the point. Add thicker chunks of gel in some spots, allowing the product to coagulate and clump together. Use your finger to move the gel around if it starts to run off your face. Before the product dries, but while it’s still wet and tacky, apply Mehron Stage Blood with a brush to the bottom part of your face where you smudged out the outline. Start by filling in the outlines and creating a dark red base. Take a small shadow brush and apply a liberal amount of Stage Blood (enough to wear it drips) and start applying on top of the red base you’ve just created. Allow the blood to drip and run down the face in parts. Continue this process everywhere you applied the 3-D Gel until the bloody gash is completed. Step 9: Add detail to your hair. For hair that’s parted towards the side of your face without the gash, make sure it’s curled and voluminous (the glam side) Apply baby powder or some other white loose powder and rub it in to create a gray, witch-like cast. For the other side of your hair (the gory side of your face), spritz water into your hair to create a wet, greasy look. Visit our YouTube channel for more step-by-step SFX tutorials. A special thank you to artist Rachel Quattlebaum (@rachel_suzanne_) for bringing this Glam Gore Witch vision to life. Check out CRC's other SFX Tutorials: Comic Book Pop Art by Kelly Tull CATS with a Twist by Andie Piazza The Nun by Janet Cake We’re accepting your videos as part of our SFX tutorial series! Send submissions to marketing@crcmakeup.com for consideration. Need something specific to create your SFX Halloween looks? Shop Camera Ready’s extensive collection of top special effects brands here. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact our Customer Experience Team for a comparable alternative, or to see if we can order the exact product you need. Mallory Hatten Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics

Our secret is out... After months of color swatching and testing, we’re excited to announce the official launch of Viseart’s exclusive Camera Ready Cosmetics 12-Color Pro ArtistPalette! Introducing 12 perfectly saturated shades, inspired by the hardworking nature of pro makeup artists worldwide. Each highly-micronized pigment is created with Viseart’s signature butter formulation and designed for smooth, even application. This exclusive palette features classic hues with cool undertones, and a range of complementary matte and shimmer shades in soft pinks, rich purples, and everyday neutrals. Colors were personally hand-selected by industry veteran and CRC founder Mary Erickson. Learn more about our limited edition Viseart exclusive and the brilliant, creative purpose behind its design. Behind The Design, Created by Pro MUA Mary Erickson What makes this palette stand out from others on the market? Mary: The quality of this palette is unparalleled and perfect for a makeup artist. The colors are personally chosen for an artist’s kit, by an artist. The CRC x Viseart palette is designed for every single shade to be useful, no matter the look you’re creating. No colors go to waste in this palette! Explain your vision behind the color combinations you chose for this palette. Mary: I was looking for colors that would normally be used in my kit for commercial and bridal work - colors that work on the everyday woman and models. I didn’t include any wasted space on a color that would get ignored or used seldomly. What makes Viseart’s eyeshadow formula a popular choice for pro makeup artists? Mary: The formula is smooth and spreadable, like butter. You won’t see any fallout like many shadows on the market. The high pigment gives you a great color pay off – a little goes a long way! More About Mary: Beauty Visionary & Founder of Camera Ready Cosmetics Life as a Southern California makeup artist during the 1990s was no walk in the park. Artists struggled to find the makeup products they needed. Most pro makeup stores at the time had poor websites, bad customer service, and a lack of respect for customers. Mary Erickson was enjoying a thriving career in the fashion and commercial beauty space – a dream that was 20+ years in the making. Her success included a roster of jobs with every major television network, numerous national magazine spreads, and transformations of the Hollywood elite. Yet, the need for a better makeup shopping experience was always in the back of her mind. So Mary did what any super-woman would do – rolled up her sleeves and got to work building Camera Ready Cosmetics. “I never set out to have a big supply store or popular website,” Mary said. “My goal at the time was to carry a few popular pro products for artists outside of Los Angeles and New York City.” What started as a small side hustle in Mary’s tiny living room, has quickly grown into a shopping experience loved by hundreds-of-thousands of customers from around the world. Camera Ready Cosmetics exists today as the world’s largest online professional makeup store. “My #1 piece of advice for anyone working towards a career in beauty: always be willing to learn, and stay open to change,” Mary said. “You must adapt quickly to ever-changing circumstances in a fast-paced industry.” Shop the exclusive CRC X Viseart Eyeshadow Palette online and in-store at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Discounts apply for pro artist members. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground. Mallory Hatten Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics

As pro artists and wearers of makeup, we’re in daily contact with makeup brushes. The team at Camera Ready is frequently asked to identify the “golden rule” of how often, what method, and with what tools we wash and dry our makeup brushes.  For starters, there doesn’t seem to be one steadfast rule everyone follows. So we’ve narrowed down a simple, 3-step brush cleaning routine that takes minimal time and effort for maximum results – better makeup application, longer lasting brushes, and a more sanitary makeup kit. The Importance of Proper Brush Care Every swipe of a brush across the face leaves product (and possibly bacteria) on top of the skin. The longer you wait to clean your brushes, the more buildup of bacteria you allow, which leads to breakouts, irritation, and – in extreme cases – infection.  The vast array of brush soaps and cleansing tools on the market today leaves little excuse not to practice routine brush maintenance. As a general rule of thumb, every two weeks is the very least you should clean a personal brush collection. Once a week is ideal.  For use on clients, we suggest cleaning makeup brushes after each job, or at least once a week.  Crazy Merman Brush Soap"Guava Fig" Sigma BeautySigMagic Brushampoo Cinema SecretsPro Brush Cleaner Kit How To Wash Makeup Brushes In 3 Easy Steps   Protect your investment in makeup brushes with this simple, super-fast cleansing routine that will prolong the lifespan of your bristles: Step 1: Wet the makeup brush, and apply a sanitizing brush soap. For sensitive skin, choose a natural brush soap with skin-nourishing, organic or vegan ingredients. Step 2: Swirl your brush in circular motions on a cleansing mat until a foamy lather forms. Add more soap, as needed. Keep swirling until the soap is rinsed out completely and water runs clear. Step 3: Gently squeeze the brush with your hands to remove excess water, and hang brushes bristle-side down from a drying tower* for 6-8 hours or until fully dry. *If you don’t have access to a drying tower, use a hair-tie or rubber band to fasten brushes to a rack or bar to dry. Shop our collection of high-quality, pro-artist-approved brush cleaners, cleansing tools, and makeup brushes – online and in-store. Discounts apply for pro artist members. Which brush cleaning products and tools do you love? Comment below!      About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists.  You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground.

As professional makeup artists, we know there are countless, often unpublicized, non-makeup products that support our work. Without these holy grail kit staples we couldn’t do our jobs. Well, we probably could…but it would be an added, unnecessary level of challenge. Since no two kits are alike, we asked YOU which non-makeup beauty essentials you relied on for flawless, effortless makeup application. From breath mints and phone chargers to fragrance sprays and can't-live-without tools, discover the non-makeup beauty essentials found inside every pro artist kit. BECCA Backlight Priming Filter Image: BECCA Cosmetics Scott Barnes Body Bling Image: Scott Barnes Embryolisse Miracle Cream  Image: Embryolisse SKIN PREP & SET Erica Ages, Georgia Makeup Artist “The BECCA Backlight Priming Filter is a staple in my kit because I can use it with a wide range of skin tones. It is great on skin by itself, but you can also use it under, mixed with, or on top of foundation to give a soft skin-like glow.” Gia McCloud, Dallas Makeup Artist “I have been using Ben Nye Final Seal for years on my clients, especially in the hot and humid summer weather. A few sprays will leave my applications locked in all day. This matte finishing spray also provides an awesome waterproof coat on eyeshadow looks, too!” Doris Torres-Collins, Florida Makeup Artist “Scott Barnes has been a staple in my pro kit for years, with his original launch years ago. Body Bling is my go-to when I work with models and fashion shows. Scott Barnes has been a friend, a mentor, and an inspiration, so it's great to have products I can use that are professional grade and red carpet ready!” Ana Sanchez-Burdette, Dallas Makeup Artist “Aside from actually training with Maurice Stein (the creator of Cinema Secrets), I love how smooth Cinema Secrets Primer makes foundation and/or correctors glide on. My applications are seamless and blend well. No “pooling” into the pores. It’s great for HD work.” Ruth M., Canadian Makeup Artist “I keep Danessa Myricks Beauty Oil in my kit because it makes everyone look like they have a flawless, glowing complexion, regardless of age or skin type. It absorbs and hydrates skin without an oily feel. It also mixes with foundation and moisturizer perfectly, particularly the Vision Cream Cover. The glow is natural, never overdone.” Samantha Navarro, Maryland Makeup Artist “Embryolisse Lait Crème is an absolute kit essential! Absorbs quickly, but provides a glowing, moisturized finish to the skin. Great for nearly all skin types and textures!” Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard wearing Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Eye Gels Image: Skyn Iceland Mehron Barrier Spray Image: Mehron Cosmetics Patchology Sheet Masks Image: Patchology Katelynn Stuckey, Southern California Makeup Artist “Mehron Barrier Spray never leaves my kit because it not only creates a water proof/sweat proof barrier, but also is such a versatile product. I sometimes will mix with pigment to create a budge proof look. Weather it’s bridal makeup or special effects, it’s a must have!” Laura Cotterill, United Kingdom Makeup Artist “Sheet masks are my go-to product for hydration in my makeup kit. I love using masks that contain vitamin C for the ultimate skin drink to boost energy and hydration. Masks help hydrate before makeup application, and teamed with eye sheets, everything just looks flawless!” Keisha Kerr, Canadian Makeup Artist “Skyn Iceland’s cooling eye patches [are a must-have], and they double as shadow shields.” Heather Hawkins, North Carolina Makeup Artist “Sunscreen is ALWAYS a staple in my kit. It not only gives protection to keep all the bad UVs away, but it also can act as a primer, a moisturizer and give a youthful glow - depending on the sunscreen. I love multi-purpose products! Saves space & weight when carrying a mobile salon!” Conture Hair Remover Image: Conture Paw Palette In Action Image: Dani Rivera MUA Temptu Air PRO Image: Temptu TOOLS TO INVEST IN Candice Ennis, Virginia Makeup Artist “Color theory is a necessary fundamental for any make-up artist. It’s an essential technique when understood, but can be a challenge to master. I always keep a color wheel in my kit for custom undertone foundation mixing and creative body art color designs.” Gayla Gastler, Chicago Makeup Artist “[I always have] a small battery-operated facial trimmer to remove facial fuzz.” Naomi Blakeslee, California Makeup Artist "I use BeautyBlenders for a few reasons: 1) A damp beauty blender gives me a flawless dewy finish. 2) They make it easier to reach awkward areas that many brushes can’t reach, like around the nose and around the eyes. 3) Many people believe BeautyBlenders are for application only, however, they work just as good for removing makeup!" Kirsty Smit-Wingfield, Virginia Makeup Artist “I love the Paw Palettes! They are so unique, keep my kit looking neat and my products clean.” Amber Preston, Ohio Makeup Artist “I’m OBSESSED with the Temptu Airbrush Compressor for so many reasons: 1) It’s lightweight & compact, saving room in my kit. 2) It’s cordless! You won’t always have an outlet in the space you’re working. 3) Long battery life! It’s quiet, but mighty spraying capabilities include three different speed settings. It truly is the best compressor I’ve ever tried, and I’ve gone through many in my career.” Julie Fischer, Philadelphia Makeup Artist “Vueset has become invaluable in my kit. They help condense my products, and I can easily see what I have with their space-saving, transparent design. Since starting to use Vueset cases, I feel I work more quickly and efficiently on the job. I use them for necessities such as lipsticks, false eyelashes, prep products, disposables and more!” The Smithfolio Brush Case Image: Smith Cosmetics The Makeup Light In Action Image: Hanna Claire Linder MUA Tuscany Pro Makeup Chair Image: Tuscany Pro Chairs EQUIPMENT ESSENTIALS Estrella Lopez, Miami Makeup Artist “[I prefer using a] brushfolio to keep my brushes organized and easily accessible.” Glynnis Garcia, Nashville Makeup Artist “The Makeup Light is the only light anyone needs for makeup. I weigh 95 lbs. Do you really seeing me lugging a hair kit, a makeup kit, AND a ring light?! Heck no. I can attach it on a mirror, curtains, the tripod, on a chair, anywhere! TML all the way.” Dana Hall, New York Makeup Artist “Many times I would go on location, and there wasn’t a chair high enough. I would have to bend over, squat, or put myself in very awkward positions to work on a client's face. Now, no matter where I go for a makeup job, my Tuscany Pro Makeup Chair comes with me. The attached strap allows me to carry it on my shoulder, and off I go!” Jessi Pagel, Texas Makeup Artist “The Zuca Sport Artist Rolling Kit is my absolute favorite for multiple reasons:  1) I can alternate from each job to have exactly what I need when I need it.  2) The organizational options are endless! 3) It travels with ease and is so portable! For celebrity makeup/hair jobs, I like the Zuca Artist Backpack. It has the ability to serve as a hair kit alone.  An additional bonus is that it fits right on top of the rolling Zuca or you can wear it as a backpack.” Jilladair Carlson, Missouri Makeup Artist “Everybody is going through something. Getting your makeup done whether for a film, commercial or wedding can be stressful for clients, which can make my job more difficult. When someone sits in my chair, they get a "Soul" package to soothe their soul.  My Soul Kits include: 1) Hershey Kisses (Who doesn't need a kiss?) 2) Lifesaver Mints (We all feel better with fresh breath.) 3) A tea bag  4) An instant latte packet 5) A protein bar 6) An empty paper cup (They can drop all of their woes.) It never fails to put a smile on my client’s face, which helps them relax so we can both enjoy the ride.” Crazy Merman Brush Soap  Image: Crazy Merman Sigma Beauty Eye Primers  Image: Sigma Beauty Inglot Duraline Image: Inglot Cosmetics MISCELLANEOUS MUST-HAVES Pam Jean, Kentucky Makeup Artist Aromatherapy: “As a makeup artist I began using essential oils to help me when working. They provide a sense of calm and focus that is crucial to provide my clients with an energetic, balanced, yet calm experience. Take your bride from frazzled to dazzled with a travel diffuser, roller baller, neck wrap for the therapeutic benefits to elevate their bridal beauty experience.” Camera Ready Cosmetics Brush Cleaner: Crazy Merman's handmade brush soaps begin with a cruelty-free, vegan base of natural ingredients and essential oils. Their fusion of coconut and olive oil removes makeup from natural and synthetic brushes, leaving them luxuriously soft, clean and conditioned. Because of their lack of harsh chemicals, Crazy Merman soaps are also perfect for cleaning beauty sponges and other tools. Eloise Reed, United Kingdom Makeup Artist A Diary: “[Helps me] know exactly when and where my next client will be, and I can easily see where I have free time to book new clients.” Cameron Carson, Virginia Makeup Artist Duraline by Inglot: “A must-have for mixing into eyeshadows! Duraline helps with smudging liner on clients with hooded lids who have trouble with excessive creasing. Delivers no-crease, all-day wear!” Glynn Renee Bryant, New York Makeup Artist Phone Charger: “I’ve been on jobs where no one has a phone charger, so I carry an industrial size USB charging box for up to six phones at a time. I also carry an all-natural bug repellent. Some makeup trailers I’ve worked in have mosquitos. Basically, I try to be a walking CVS.” Camera Ready Cosmetics Eyeshadow Primer: The Smashbox Photo Finish 24-hr Shadow Primer keeps shadow in place, not all over your face for 24 hours. It’s a fade-proof, sheer, colorless formula that intensifies color and finish to ensure your eye looks survive workouts, nights out and big days. Felicia Yvette, Maryland Makeup Artist Magnifying Glass: “Sam Fine or Lottie Tomlinson (one of them!) taught me to keep a magnifying glass [in my kit] so I can always see those tiny little details, especially for beauty work.” Tracy Saunders, Seattle Makeup Artist Nail Polish: “Always carry nail polish. I’m surprised at how many clients’ nails look terrible!” Janet Richardson, International Makeup Artist Spatulas: “I must have my Graftobian Spatula! I use it for so many things, especially to scrape foundation to prevent cross contamination.” Philip B. Jet Set Hairspray Image: Philip B. Botanicals Winky Lux Matcha Blotting PaperImage: Sigma Beauty Bioderma Micellar Water Image: Bioderma USA ADDITIONAL KIT FAVORITES See more of the most mentioned kit essentials every artist uses: 99% Rubbing Alcohol Baby Wipes Bandaids Basic Hair Styling Tools Battery-powered Fan Blotting Paper Bobby Pins Body Lotion Brow Blade Business Cards Cotton Pads Cough Drops Deodorant Disposable Tools Double-sided Tape Dr. PAWPAW Balm Dry Shampoo Empty Palettes Exfoliating Serum Eye Depuffer Eye Drops Extension Cord Facial Hair Trimmer Facial Roller First Aid Kit Gum or Mints Hair Clips Hairspray Hand Sanitizer Hand Towels Handheld Mirror Heated Eyelash Curler Individual Lashes Lash Glue Lash Scissors Lint Roller Lip Applicators Lip Balm Makeup Remover Wipes Makeup Sanitizer Mascara Disposables Micellar Water Nail File Palette Knives Palette Paper Paper Towels Protein Power Bars Q-tips Razor Rose Water Safety Pins Sewing Kit Sharpeners (small & large) Sponges Straws Sugar Lip Scrub Tampons Tissues Tylenol Tweezers BONUS PRO TIP Francia Cohen, Special Effects Makeup Artist “Always have a clean kit!! Clean brushes. Clean makeup. Clean tools. Clean hands. Clean everything!” Which non-makeup beauty favorites do you keep stocked in your kit? Comment below!  About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay...come in and play! Our store is your playground.

As makeup artists, we appreciate the beauty, creativity, and artistry behind tattoos, but concealing tattoos? That’s an art all on its own!  Whether you’re covering tattoos for a bride’s big day or transforming a client’s body into a tattoo-less character for film, tv, or modeling – cover up makeup for tattoos takes time, lots of practice, and high-quality makeup.  We surveyed our network of makeup artists to discover the tried-and-true tattoo covering makeup products that get the job done. If you’re in the market for easy, flawless tattoo cover up makeup, these pro-approved products are the best place to start!   Top 9 Brands of Makeup for Covering Up Tattoos: Ben Nye Cinema Secrets Danessa Myricks Beauty European Body Art Joe Blasco Kryolan Professional Make-Up Mehron Reel Creations Skin Illustrator CONCEALING TATTOOS WITH BEN NYE Gary Parson, Kim Dawson Agency - Dallas, TX “[Once I've applied color for tattoo coverage,] I stipple from a Ben Nye Essential HD Matte Foundation Palette to mimic skin tone and texture. I also use a dab of matte powder or cream blush and/or bronzer to replicate the color of the skin in a more realistic way." TATTOO COVERING WITH CINEMA SECRETS Pauline Griffiths-Gough, Former MUA - Chester, United Kingdom “When I was still doing makeup, I only ever used Cinema Secrets Foundation for tattoo coverage. It also doubled as flawless coverage for the face. I had clients come in with bad acne, saying nothing had ever covered their problem areas like that foundation did.” DANESSA MYRICKS BEAUTY MAKES GREAT MAKEUP FOR TATTOOS Mary Erickson, Former MUA & Owner of Camera Ready Cosmetics “The Vision Cream Cover is an all-in-one foundation & concealer that covers everything, including hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and, yes, tattoos. It’s formulated with texture-minimizing properties to create perfect complexion on camera and HD film.” EUROPEAN BODY ART COVER UP MAKEUP Chris Milone, Christopher Milone Makeup - New York City “I use EBA Airbrush for most large tattoo coverage. I barely need to color correct first because it's so opaque. It leaves a matte finish and holds up well on a long day of shooting.” Mandy Danielle Benton, TV and Film Makeup Artist - Dallas, TX “To knock out the tattoo, first use the Coral Adjustor mixed with their skin tone from EBA Endura, then go over it with their skin tone color. Because of the highly pigmented, alcohol-based formula, Endura has just the right amount of skin-like sheen and won’t transfer. Plus, I love EBA's skin tone colors! For darker skin, you often just need to use the skin tone match without mixing an adjustor.” Elizabeth Rist, Elizabeth Rist Makeup Artistry - Dallas, TX “My go-to for skin-like coverage is EBA’s alcohol-based Endura Airbrush line. It offers great coverage and doesn’t fade or transfer.” JOE BLASCO MAKEUP FOR COVERING TATTOOS Mary Erickson, Former MUA & Owner of Camera Ready Cosmetics “The Blue Neutralizer is easy to use and works like magic to cover dark tattoos. The entire Joe Blasco Tattoo Cover collection features a variety of shades, each named after the pigmentation it corrects. They also double as high-pigment, concentrated concealers that hide rosacea, acne, and other skin conditions.” KRYOLAN PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP FOR CONCEALING TATTOOS Doria Miyata-Murphy, Doria Murphy Makeup - Boston Massachusetts “My go-to in general is Kryolan Professional Make-Up’s Dermacolor Camouflage Creme. It offers enough coverage to completely camouflage a tattoo without compromising the final desired effect -- the appearance of real, healthy skin!” TATTOO COVERING WITH MEHRON Brandy Page, Brandy Page Makeup Artistry - Richmond, VA “I love the Tattoo Covering Wheel because of the array of colors you can mix and match to get the perfect skin tone for your client. The creamy, waterproof formula covers even the darkest tattoos, birthmarks, and skin discolorations. And because it doesn't budge, it's also amazing for weddings!” REEL CREATIONS COVER UP MAKEUP FOR TATTOOS Missy Nyberg, Forbidden Makeup “Over the years, I’ve relied on the Flesh Tone Palette for tattoo coverage. I love that Reel Creations has the best color match of flesh tones compared to any other product. It’s always in my set bag. I set the makeup with RCMA No Color Powder, then spray twice with Reel Creations Blue Aqua Sealer.” CONCEALING TATTOOS WITH SKIN ILLUSTRATOR BY PPI Trevor Thompson, Trevor Thompson Makeup - Louisville, KY “For quick, durable on-set tattoo coverage, I use the Skin Illustrator Flesh Tone Palette with a splatter brush to lay down a nice base color, and then I go in with several different adjuster tones from the Skin Illustrator Complexion Palette to break up the coverage and blend out the edges. These are my tried-and-true go-to’s because they're highly pigmented, last all day on-set, and look phenomenal on camera!” Kat DeJesus, Kat D Makeup - Denver, CO “I love the Skin Illustrator On Set FX Palette. I use it for color correction before applying airbrush on top. I also use it to fleck the skin for a natural finish afterward. Being able to work in sheer layers and not have to worry about it moving all day makes this palette ideal for anything on location or when it needs to be completely waterproof.” Elizabeth Rist, Elizabeth Rist Makeup Artistry - Dallas, TX “The On Set Flesh Tone Palette is one of my top products for tattoo coverage. It makes neutralizing easy while offering great cover. It won’t melt with body heat or transfer. Great for everything from bridal to film!” Shop these tattoo cover up makeup favorites and more online and in-store at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Discounts apply for pro artist members. Which professional-grade makeup products do you rely on for concealing tattoos? Let us know in the comments below! About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by makeup artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional-grade products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans works together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground.

When the first shipment of Kiehl’s products arrived at Camera Ready, our hallways became a magical celebration of high fives and joyous cheer. Kiehl’s world-renowned skincare staples and award-winning formulas are worth getting excited about. If you don’t understand why, allow us to explain. The mecca of all wellness brands got its start in 1851 as a dedicated apothecary for the citizens of New York City. Decades later, pharmacist John Kiehl and his apprentice, Irving Morse, transitioned the business into a full-service pharmacy, stocking teas, herbs and the first-ever Kiehl’s brand products. Kiehl’s went on to implement many “firsts” for the wellness industry: the first to offer a robust “try before you buy” sampling program, the first to list ingredients on its product labels, the first to supply the U.S. government with a special aloe cream for radiation burns, and so much more. Many of today’s bestselling products were first created in the 1960s. More than 103 Kiehl’s products have been inducted into the permanent collection of the Division of Medicine and Science at the Smithsonian National Museum. Pro makeup artists love Kiehl’s for its award-winning, natural formulations and the nourishing benefits they provide. Keep reading for a collection of Kiehl’s cult favorite found inside makeup artist kits worldwide. Pro Artist Cult Favorites Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, $30 Gently clean away dirt and oil for a fresh, revitalized face. Infused with Calendula, this creamy gel formula activates with water to create a dense foam that doesn’t dry out or strip the skin. The healing properties of Calendula date back to the 12 th century – a popular ingredient in Chinese medicine. Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub, $28 Rejuvenate dull skin with natural exfoliants like Luffa Cylindrica Fruit and Apricot Seed Powder for a smoother, softer face. Dab a small amount of scrub onto clean, damp skin and gently massage in upward circular motions. Rinse clean with water. Great for all skin types! Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment, $28 Awaken fatigued and dull skin with Kiehl’s facial moisturizer for men. Formulated with Chestnut Extract, Soy, Vitamin C and Vitamin E to revitalize and energize skin for a healthy, youthful appearance. Instant Renewal Concentrate Mask, $32 Hydrate like never before with Amazonian Oil infused sheet masks. This two-piece hydrogel mask comfortably fits all face shapes. Innovatively formed with biocellulose to replenish skin and reinforce its natural protective barrier. Treat yourself to a radiant glow and refined, smooth skin texture. Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask, $45 Reduce signs of stress with the hydrating, soothing benefits of Calendula and Aloe Vera. This lightweight gel mask bursts into a cooling sensation that leaves you feeling refreshed. Formulated with handpicked Calendula flower petals (a known skin-calming ingredient), you’ll experience a healthier looking complexion over time. Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner, $35 Gently cleanse and refresh skin with this bestselling toner made for every skin type. This cult-classic formula features hand-picked Calendula flower petals and Great Burdock Root Extract to soothe and improve skin over time. Ultra Facial Toner, $16 A best-selling formula since the 1960s, this gentle alcohol-free facial toner works to tone, soothe and hydrate tired skin. Squalene, Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil and Vitamin E help balance pH levels without stripping skin of natural oils. Prepare skin for moisture and refine texture with this miracle-working formula. Ultra Facial Cream, $30 With its unique lightweight texture, this bestselling facial cream provides 24-hour hydration for soft, smooth, healthier-looking skin. Formulated with Glacial Glycoprotein and olive-derived Squalane, this non-greasy moisturizer instantly leaves skin 2.3X more hydrated, even in your driest areas. Ultra Facial Moisturizer, $29.50 Kiehl’s original Ultra Facial Moisturizer was first offered in the early 1970s. Since then, loyal patrons have relied on this classic moisturizer’s superb hydration benefits. This iconic formula inspired the entire Ultra Facial Collection, including the best-selling Ultra Facial Cream. Creme de Corps, $18 Cocoa Butter and Beta-Carotene moisturize dry skin for a soft, elegant feel. The non-greasy formula is perfect for all skin types, particularly dry skin. Gently massage after a bath or shower, allowing it to absorb for several minutes before dressing. Midnight Recovery Concentrate, $49 This top-rated nighttime facial oil is formulated with distilled botanicals (Lavender Essential Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Squalane) to replenish skin, reduce fine lines, refine texture and restore a youthful appearance. Wake to visibly radiant skin after just one use. Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum, $48 Visibly lift, firm and smooth the eye area with the ultimate anti-aging serum for eyes. The potent formula visibly reduces the appearance of crow’s feet, dark circles and under-eye wrinkles. Apply by itself or with an eye cream. Clinically-tested to help restore a youthful shape to the eyes after just four days of use. Creamy Eye Treatment w/ Avocado, $30 Nourish the under eye area with the creamy, hydrating benefits of Avocado Oil and Shea Butter. This gentle, uniquely-concentrated formulated does not migrate into eyes and is safe for all skin types. Treat your eyes day or night to a quick burst of hydration. Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, $52 Minimize the appearance of dark spots caused by age and sun exposure with this highly-efficacious corrector. Peony Extract, White Birch Extract and Activated C work to brighten the skin for increased radiance and clarity. Lip Balm #1, $9.50 Nourish and soothe dry lips with this Kiehl’s classic since the 1960s! Apply liberally day and night. Formulated with Squalane, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin E. Available in cranberry, mint, pear or mango scents, as well as the original unscented formula. Facial Fuel No Shine Lip Balm, $9 This popular, no-shine formula provides all the lip-nourishing benefits of the original Lip Balm, with a matte finish. Refuel and smooth your lips on the go with Shea Butter and Squalene. Shop these Kiehl’s favorites and more online and in-store at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Discounts apply for pro artist members. Which Kiehl’s products are your favorite? Don’t see a particular product available at CRC? Let us know in the comments below! About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. Mallory Hatten Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics

‘Best of Beauty’ at Camera Ready: Pro Artist Favorites Featured In Allure Allure's Makeup Editor, Sable Young, said it best. "A great look starts from the ground up." When we heard Allure ’s 2018 Best of Beauty Awards focused on holy grail staples for a flawless complexion, we grabbed our notepads and tuned in to see which CRC products made the list. We're happy to report CRC represents in all categories - from skincare and makeup to hair and body. As a leading industry publication for over two decades, we appreciate Allure's team for putting in the work to test and rank our beloved beauty brands. Keep reading for a compilation of CRC’s bestselling products with an official Allure stamp of approval! SKINCARE Patchology  FlashPatch: Rejuvenating Eye Gels (5 Pack),  $15   Patchology eye gels feature caffeine and hydrolyzed collagen to combat puffiness, fatigue and dryness for a well-slept appearance. Proven to be more effective than topical creams or serums, the patch technology accelerates the delivery of essential ingredients while the hydrogels stay put -- so you get cooling, smoothing, refreshing benefits where you need them most.                                   MAKEUP BECCA  Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder,  $38 Formulated with 50% water and glycerin, Hydra-Mist Powder creates a mist-like sensation on the skin for a smooth finish and barely-there feel. The ultra-fine, light-reflecting formula blurs fine lines and imperfections. Reapply as needed to keep makeup looking fresh all day. Make Up For Ever  Artist Color Eye Shadow,  $17 The Make Up For Ever Artist Color collection features highly blendable pigments with intense color payoff that lasts up to 12 hours. Select your favorite individual shades to create a custom palette all your own. Choose from five shade ranges in matte, satin, iridescent, metallic and diamond finishes.                       Stila  Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow,  $24 Glitter & Glow sparkle eye shadow combines the perfect mix of pearl and glitter for lustrous, shimmering eye looks. The lightweight, water-infused formula glides on effortlessly, then dries down smooth, to lock in maximum sparkle with minimal fallout. Available in 16 color varieties, including metallic duo chrome shades. Smashbox  Always On Liquid Liner,  $22 This ergonomic liquid eyeliner pen gives you total control and ultimate precision. Easily line and define with Smashbox’s high-pigment, waterproof formula that lasts up to 24 hours. The sharp-point marker eliminates skipping, tugging, flaking and smudging for perfectly lined eyes that won’t fade. NYX  Worth The Hype Mascara,  $8 This volumizing and lengthening mascara creates darker, fuller, gorgeous lashes that last all day. Brush, build and lengthen even the tiniest inner corner lashes with the tapered brush tip. The buildable formula is easy to apply and comfortable to wear, making this a perfect staple for any artist or makeup lover.          HAIR & BODY Living Proof  Perfect Hair Day Body Builder,  $29   Create instant, buildable body with this customizable hairspray – turn the nozzle left for more body or right for less. Great for most hair types, Perfect Hair Day delivers airiness, movement and light hold for any hair style creations. Not recommended for coily hair types. St. Tropez One-Minute Gradual Tan Pre-Shower Mousse,  $20 The world’s first one-minute, pre-shower tanning mousse! Discover a more convenient way to achieve sun kissed skin. Apply directly to dry skin using an applicator mitt , and shower off after just one minute for a subtle, golden glow (leave on longer for deeper color). Reapply daily.   TOOLS Real Techniques  Miracle Complexion Sponge,  $5.99 Create a flawless appearance with Real Technique’s 3-in-1 miracle sponge, designed to blend, smooth and enhance all areas of the face! Blend foundation with the rounded sides. Cover blemishes and imperfections with the precision tip. Contour around the eyes and nose with the flat edge.   Sigma  #F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter Brush,  $20 Hit the high points with this fluffy but firm Sigmax® fiber brush! Apply cream, powder or liquid highlighter without absorbing product into the bristles. Specially designed in height, shape and density to deliver a smooth finish for every face shape. Beautyblender  Original Pink,  $20 The original pink Beautyblender is ideal for applying foundation, cream blush, loose powder and BB + CC creams. Apply in hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. The suede texture is sensual to the touch and its unique curves fit the contours of your face, leaving makeup dazzling and undetectable.                                                                                Tweezerman  Slant Tweezer Classic,  $23 Famous for its precision, the Slant Tweezer is consistently acclaimed as setting the standard for excellence and quality. With perfectly aligned hand-finished tips that grab the hair every time, the stainless steel Slant has been the No. 1 choice for make-up artists, celebrities and beauty professionals for over 30 years.   Easily shop all CRC’s Allure winners here . Which CRC award-winning products are your favorite? Love an Allure Beauty Award winner that’s not available at CRC? Let us know in the comments below!   About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay...come in and play! Our store is your playground. Looking for a product we don’t sell? That’s because we have something better. Just ask! Mallory Hatten Beauty Editor / Camera Ready Cosmetics 

Bodypaint is having a big moment in the world of makeup artistry. A craft that once saw short-lived moments of fame during Halloween and festival season has now transitioned into a globally renowned art form. We’re not talking simple face paint techniques. We’re talking over-the-top, insanely brilliant art. From optical illusionists to UV masterminds, we admire these bodypaint artists for the creativity they inspire. Follow their Instagram accounts for daily inspiration, amazement, and totally mind-blowing body art. Shop Our Bestselling Body Paint Products ProAiirWaterproof Body Paint $18 Mehron 30-Well Makeup Palette $99.95 Kryolan Aquacolor Body Paint$8 Shop All Mimi Choi Instagram: @mimles Followers: 916,000 A quick scroll through Mimi Choi’s Instagram will leave you in a state of wonder and confusion. Born in China, the talented makeup artist made her way to Canada where she now shares her unique artistic style with students of Blanche Macdonald, in addition to leading masterclasses around the world. Mimi draws inspiration from the patterns, shapes and textures around her, surrealist paintings, and hallucinations she sees during bouts of sleep paralysis. Mimi prefers not to view the work of modern-day makeup artists in an effort to protect her creativity. Instead, she references past works to track her growth as an artist. Learn more about Mimi’s work here. Alexa Meade Instagram: @alexameadeart Followers: 191,000 At first glance, Alexa Meade’s work looks like a beautiful, museum-worthy painting. Look a little closer, and you’ll notice she’s created something even more impressive. The visionary artist brings 2D and 3D together to create living, breathing portraits. Alexa has made a name for herself through art, completing hundreds of unbelievable projects around the globe. More recently, you may have noticed her work in the “God Is A Woman” music video. Alexa painted Ariana Grande’s body for the project. Learn more about Alexa’s work here. Natalie Fletcher Instagram: @nataliefletcherart Followers: 73,800 Artist Natalie Fletcher discovered a passion for bodypainting at just 15 years old – the early beginnings of a successful career ahead. Fast forward years later, Natalie is the winner of GSN’s reality television series Skin Wars and author of Oh Beautiful, a bodypainting project that resulted in 102 body art paintings in locations across the United States. Natalie’s work incorporates patterns, landscapes and optical illusions that truly amaze. Learn more about Natalie’s work here. Trina Merry Instagram: @trinamerry Followers: 9,500 Bodypainter Trina Merry takes her unique, artistic interests (human form, architecture, landscapes) and fuses them together as inspiration for her work. Her work has been featured in locations all around the world, as well as notable publications like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME and more. Learn more about Trina’s work here. Johannes Stötter Instagram: @johannesstoetter Followers: 3,500 Italian artist Johannes Stötter leaped into fame in 2013 with his viral bodypaint creation of tropical frogs, featuring five models. His Italian roots have instilled a deep appreciation for nature, landscape and culture, which noticeably influences his work. Johannes’ work has been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS and numerous other television programs and media publications. Learn more about Johannes’ work here. John Allen Poppleton Instagram: @underblacklight Followers: 2,500 Professional artist John Allen Poppleton calls himself a Fine Art UV Body Paint and Photography Artist. But a simpler way to classify this world-renowned mastermind is: Brilliant Visionary. John mixes a passion for black lit photography with his talent for UV bodypainting to create unique pieces of art, painted directly on the human body. Learn more about John’s work here. Andy Golub Instagram: @andygolub Followers: 2,200 World-renowned body paint artist Andy Golub not only changed New York City nudity laws through his work but also paved the way for artistic free expression. As founder of Human Connection Arts - an international non-profit - and supporter of public art, Andy’s work is frequently showcased around the world. Learn more about Andy’s work here. Emma Fay Instagram: @emmafayofficial Followers: 1,800 Accomplished bodypainting artist Emma Fay focuses on artworks that challenge visual perception. Her manipulation of the human form is heavily inspired by evolution, surrealism and symbolic expressionism. Her viral series Marvels of Nature featured painted images of animal forms that were heavily distorted through contortionism. Her work has been featured worldwide in top publications that include The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Huffington Post. Learn more about Emma’s work here. Where To Buy Body Paint Makeup Camera Ready Cosmetics offers a variety of body paint makeup, including UV formulas. Get creative and share your body paint creations with us on Instagram using the hashtag #CRCbodypaint. For more articles like this one, visit our blog. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by pro makeup artist Mary Erickson. An industry veteran for more than 30 years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set.

Rot and decay, bleeding gums, a toothless grin. Transform your mouth into a foul, repulsive creation this Halloween with these go-to products loved by SFX artists everywhere. We surveyed our community of pro makeup artists to discover which FX teeth products they can’t (and won’t) live without. Keep reading to see which five products topped our list, learn how to use them and click the links below to easily add one (or all) to your kit. Photo: Tiffany Kyees / Makeup: Mike Mekash and Eryn Krueger Mekash / Inspired By: Rick Baker PPI Necessary Evil Mouth FX These temporary tooth colors were designed to safely and effectively transform the inside of your mouth. Available in eight colors, Mouth FX contains a sweet vanilla-mint flavor that is made entirely of FDA food grade ingredients that are vegan, gluten-free, peanut-free, sugar-free and cruelty-free. Added bonus: it removes easily by simply brushing your teeth. Don’t use if you plan on eating or drinking immediately after application, as the product will wear off. CRC customer Christina B. rated the product five stars, saying, “This product is easy to use and fantastic!” Photo: Ben Nye Makeup / Makeup: Thomas Surprenant Ben Nye Tooth Color   Create a grotesque, long-lasting smile without staining or damaging your teeth. Apply Ben Nye Tooth Color in Black for instantly chipped teeth, or brush on Nicotine, Decay or Zombie Rot for a repulsive, realistic look. Temporarily brighten your smile with the color White. Apply to dry teeth and allow to dry; lasts for hours! May be reapplied as needed. To remove, simply use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol or brush off with toothpaste. This product is safe to use on denture material. CRC customer Nina A. rated the product five stars, saying, “From complete blackouts to decay, whatever I need to create on set, this stuff is the best.” Photo & Makeup: Kristan Osoria Mehron Tooth FX   Add the finishing touches to your grotesque look with Mehron’s Tooth FX , available in six colors. In just a few minutes, create a smoker's mouth, a gangster's gold tooth, a bloody grin, spinach in your teeth, or a chipped smile. A little bit goes a long way with this product, and each shade comes with instructions for easy application and removal.  CRC customer Pablo D. rated the product five stars, saying, “Amazing product. If you dry your teeth and then apply the product, it lasts a long time. I even ate after applying, LOL!” Photo & Makeup: Craig Lindberg EBA Venom Tooth Palette Available in two color collections (SFX and Decay), create temporary, waterproof mouth creations that are sure to scare. The special bonding agent used in the Venom Tooth Palettes is similar to the resin used in temporary dental adhesives, providing temporary adhesion of color to the teeth that dries instantly. All Venom tooth colors have been stain tested on regular teeth, as well as different veneers and crown materials. Color removes easily with toothpaste and a toothbrush. CRC customer Christophe G. rated the product five stars, saying, “Very satisfied! I own several of the EBA palettes and have been a big fan of them.” Photo & Makeup: Kryolan Professional Makeup Kryolan Tooth Enamel Ideal for theatrical and SFX makeup, Kryolan Tooth Enamel is a go-to when creating rotten teeth, a toothless smile, a zombie-esque grin and many other looks. Available in four colors, each bottle comes with a brush for easy application. Thoroughly dry the tooth before application, and let it dry before closing your mouth. This product is easily removed with toothpaste or alcohol. CRC customer Sandra A. rated the product five stars, saying, “Just what I needed. Easy to apply and lasts a very long time!” Shop The Products All the products mentioned in this article are conveniently linked down below! PPI Mouth FX Ben Nye Tooth Color Mehron Tooth FX European Body Art Venom Tooth Palette Kryolan Tooth Enamel Stock Up On SFX Makeup A curated selection of the best special effects makeup, all in one place? That’s the beauty of shopping with Camera Ready Cosmetics!  Whether you’re new to SFX makeup or an experienced guru, our customer service team is prepared to help stock your kit with the products you want and need. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we have a fabulous alternative – just ask us! Don’t forget to tag us in your SFX makeup creations on Instagram using the hashtag #CRCsfxmakeup. For more articles like this one, visit our blog . About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by pro makeup artist Mary Erickson. An industry veteran for more than 30 years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set.

With Halloween around the corner, the question on everyone’s mind is which costumes and characters will reign most popular. Our team turned to Google Trends for a quick preview of the most-searched makeup tutorials in these early weeks leading up to October 31st. The results may surprise you! A cult classic icon. An artsy comic book character. An infamous Disney villain. Three very different, but very recognizable, faces. Keep reading to see which trending Halloween costumes made our list, and follow the step-by-step guides (suggested makeup products included) to create these iconic faces. Beetlejuice It’s been 30 years since the 1988 release of Tim Burton’s cult-classic Beetlejuice. (Crazy, right?!) Fans are feeling nostalgic. “Beetlejuice makeup tutorial” ranked as Google’s third most-searched phrase for Halloween 2018. To accompany your makeup look, we recommend purchasing a Beetlejuice wig. To create the look: Step 1: Apply Ben Nye Clown White Makeup all over the face, neck and forehead. Leave the area around your eyes uncovered. Step 2: Apply Mehron Celebré Pro HD Cream Foundation in “Black” to the chin and upper lip using a Graftobian Stipple Sponge to create the appearance of stubble. Step 3: Fill in the eye socket with Kryolan Aquacolor #276. Then apply Kryolan Aquacolor #416 to the eyelids and underneath the lower lash line. Step 4: Blend out the outer edges of the purple makeup around the eyes using the Bdellium Tools Face Blending Brush #940. Step 5: Create a dark, arched eyebrow using Graftobian HD Brow Powder in “Charcoal Smoke”. Step 6: Tear small bits off a Ben Nye Foam Sponge to create texture. Use the torn sponge to apply light and dark green blotches on the corner of your mouth, temples, sideburns, and anywhere else you want to create patchiness. We prefer Graftobian ProPaints in “Mint Green” and “Mantis Green”. Step 7: Use the Bdellium Tools Maestro Series Eyeliner Brush #710 and Sugarpill’s Pressed Eyeshadow in “The Inventor” to fill-in and define your forehead creases. Use that same eyeshadow Step 8: Apply the same Sugarpill eyeshadow to the eyelids and lower lash line to create a bit more grunge. Step 9: Apply PPI Mouth FX in “Down Brown” to your teeth for a rotted look. And that’s it! Short, sweet and simple. Shop the products you’ll need: - Ben Nye Clown White Makeup - Mehron Celebré Pro HD Cream Foundation in “Black” - Graftobian Stipple Sponge - Kryolan Aquacolor #276 - Kryolan Aquacolor #416 - Bdellium Tools Face Blending Brush #940 - Graftobian HD Brow Powder in “Charcoal Smoke” - Ben Nye Foam Sponges - Graftobian ProPaint in “Mint Green” - Graftobian ProPaint in “Mantis Green” - Bdellium Tools Maestro Series Eyeliner Brush #710 - Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow in “The Inventor” - PPI Mouth FX in “Down Brown” Follow this video tutorial for a visual step-by-step guide, if needed. Pop Art Character T he second most-searched phrase for Halloween 2018 was “pop art makeup”. There are kits you can buy that include the basic products you’ll need to create this colorful look. But for those who prefer a more DIY, creative approach, we’ll walk you through a few easy steps to be pop-art ready on October 31 st. If you’re just looking for an all-in-one kit, Kryolan’s Pop Art Gal comes with the basic products you’ll need. You can purchase the kit here. For a DIY pop art look, follow these steps: Step 1: Apply a heavy layer of blush to the cheeks. We love La Femme Blush Rouge in “Flamingo Pink”. Step 2: Apply the Mehron Color Cup in “Yellow” to the eyelid, brow bone and inner corners of the eye. Step 3: Create an exaggerated wing-tip look using Ben Nye’s Crème Color in “Black”, then brighten the eyes by applying La Femme Eye Shadow in “White” to the brow bones. Step 4: Apply Ben Nye Liquid Eye Liner in “White” to the lower lash line, then create a fake lower lash line below your natural lash line using Inglot Liquid Eyeliner in #25. Use the Sigma Chrome Brush #E05 to create the illusion of lashes extending from the fake lash line you just created. Step 5: Create an exaggerated, defined eyebrow using a L.A. Girl Brow Pomade in “Soft Black”. Then apply NYX Worth the Hype Mascara. We recommend applying several layers to create a more dramatic look. Step 6: Line your lips with Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil #100, and fill in the lips with 1920 Besame Red Lipstick. Step 7: Use Ben Nye Crème Color in “White” and the Bdellium Tools Golden Triangle Brush #937GT to apply small dots all over the face. Step 8: Use Inglot Liquid Eyeliner in #25 to draw defining lines on the cheekbones and nose. Voila! You’ll look like you’ve stepped from the pages of a comic book. Shop the products you’ll need: - La Femme Blush Rouge in “Flamingo Pink” - Mehron Color Cups in “Yellow (CCC-Y)” - Ben Nye Crème Color in “Black” - La Femme Eye Shadow in “White” - Ben Nye Liquid Eye Liner in “White” - Inglot Liquid Eyeliner in #25 - Sigma Chrome Brush #E05 - L.A. Girl Brow Pomade in “Soft Black” - NYX Worth the Hype Mascara - Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil #100 - 1920 Besame Red Lipstick - Ben Nye Crème Color in “White” - Bdellium Tools Golden Triangle #937GT Here is a great video tutorial for visual guidance. Maleficent Disney’s most memorable villain, Maleficent - most recently portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the 2014 feature film of the same name - is making her comeback. In a few simple steps, you can easily transform yourself into Google’s No. 1 most-searched makeup tutorial for Halloween 2018. Here’s how to create this eerie, porcelain-skinned character: Step 1: Apply Kevyn Aucoin’s Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting to the entire face using a Cozzette Rounded Foundation Brush #P340. Step 2: Apply Kevyn Aucoin’s Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation with the same brush as before, using a stippling motion to create an ethereal look. Step 3: Use a Ben Nye Eyebrow Pencil to create a high-arching, rounded brow shape. Extend the length past your natural brow for a more dramatic finish. Fill in with the same eyebrow pencil and coat with NYX Eyebrow Gel. Step 4: It’s all about the eyes! Cover the eyelid in La Femme Eye Shadow in “Frostee Beige” using the Sigma Chrome Brush #E35. Next, layer the Ben Nye Shimmer Crayon in “Gold Shimmer” across the lids. Finish with La Femme Eye Shadow in “Dark Brown” in the outer corners. Smudge the taupe and chocolate brown shadows across the lower lash line using a Ben Nye Fine Detail Brush #FDB-85. This adds depth and definition to your final look. Step 5: Apply a thin layer of Inglot Liquid Eyeliner in #25 across the top lash line and to the center of the lower lash line. Slightly wing out the liner on each end. Step 6: Apply NYX Worth the Hype Mascara to the top and bottom lashes, before applying falsies to the upper lash line. We prefer Ardell Mega Flare Individuals (Knot-Free, Long Black). Step 7: Carve out your jawline and add shading to your hairline using the Smashbox Contour Kit for an exaggerated chiseled bone structure. Step 8: Illuminate your face by applying SUVA Beauty Liquid Chrome Drops in “Imperial” to the outer corners of the eyes, tops of the cheek bones, middle of the chin, cupid’s bow, and bridge of the nose. Step 9: Line your lips with Ben Nye Lip Colour Pencil in “Cherry Pop” just slightly outside of your natural lip line to create a widened pout appearance. Fill in the lines with a vibrant red, matte liquid lipstick, like Ben Nye’s Cherryberry. Top with Mehron Glosstone PRO in “Clear” for sheen. Step 10: Finish your look with green contact lenses. We recommend these Nemesis Contacts from Demon SFX. Shop the products you’ll need: - Kevyn Aucoin – The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting - Cozzette Rounded Foundation Brush #P340 - Kevyn Aucoin – The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation - Ben Nye Eyebrow Pencil - NYX Eyebrow Gel - La Femme Eye Shadow in “Frostee Beige” - Sigma Chrome Brush #E35 - Ben Nye Shimmer Crayon in “Gold Shimmer” - La Femme Eye Shadow in “Dark Brown” - Ben Nye Fine Detail Brush #FDB-85 - Inglot Liquid Eyeliner in #25 - NYX Worth the Hype Mascara - Ardell Mega Flare Individuals (Knot-Free, Long Black) - Smashbox Contour Kit - SUVA Beauty Liquid Chrome Illuminating Drops in “Imperial” - Ben Nye Lip Colour Pencil in “Cherry Pop” - Ben Nye Lipstick in “Cherryberry” - Mehron Glosstone PRO in “Clear” For a visual guide, we recommend this great video tutorial. Show Off Your Halloween Style Purchase everything you need from one place! CRC’s customer service team is standing by to help you find the products and tools needed to transform into your favorite characters. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we have a fabulous alternative – just ask! Don’t forget to tag us in your creative Halloween looks on Instagram using the hashtag #CRChalloween. For more articles like this one, visit our blog . About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by pro makeup artist Mary Erickson. An industry veteran for more than 30 years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set. If you don’t find the product you’re looking for on our site, that’s because we have something better. Just ask us!

Makeup artists ask us all the time which foundations we recommend, especially when it comes to choosing a pre-filled palette. Investing hard-earned cash into a product you’ve never tried is scary, and we totally understand. So instead of taking our word for it, we surveyed our trusted community of Pro Makeup Artists to determine which holy grail foundation sets they always have in their kits. We received tons of feedback from artists of all experience levels and backgrounds, but there were five foundation sets that consistently came up again and again. Uncover our customers’ favorites and consider adding one (or all) of these top-rated products to your professional makeup kit! Maqpro 6-Color Fard Creme Palette With color packed to the punch, the Maqpro Fard Creme Palette affords you the luxury of having twice the color for a fraction of the price. The ultimate space-saver for your makeup kit, the compact palette comes in eight shade range variations with six creamy foundation shades in each. The highly-pigmented, long-lasting formula is easy to blend for a perfect color match. Camera Ready customer Aysheh S. says, “I have used this product for about six years. It works great on people of all skin tones, especially those who have oily skin (once you set with powder.) It wears well in all environments.” RCMA VK Palette This professional, highly-pigmented and blendable cream-based formula has no perfumes, mineral oils or lanolin, making it an ideal choice for photography, film and anywhere else HD quality is needed. With a finish that feels light enough for everyday wear, the RCMA VK Palette is a favorite for those who seek a versatile all-in-one foundation set that lasts all day without feeling heavy on the client’s face.  Once you’ve run out of a color, you can purchase Pro Palette Replaceable Godets to customize your palette for life. Considered a top choice by professionals worldwide, the VK Palette is a staple in many artist kits. Camera Ready customer Alexandra B. says, “I absolutely love the RCMA VK Palette. I first bought this for my freelance kit, and now I use it on all my clients (and even myself!) It's my go-to foundation for a natural finish look .” Cinema Secrets 5-IN-1 Pro Palette Available in six universal shade ranges, these industry-coveted, silicone-based foundation palettes provide expert-level customization to match any skin tone with effortless ease. You can also use the 5-IN-1 PRO Palettes to color correct, contour and highlight. The sheer-to-full coverage leaves a natural matte finish, and the water-resistant, long-wearing formula is suitable for even the most sensitive skin.  Camera Ready customer Melanie B. says, “As a pro, I've been using Cinema Secrets from the time I began building my kit. These give great coverage while still looking like skin!”  Graftobian Hi-Def Super Palette The High-Def Glamour Crème Super Palettes are artist-friendly and convenient for travel. Available in three different shade range options, each of these 18-shade palettes include a combination of top-selling Graftobian crème foundations that are easily blendable and perfect for all skin types. Achieve full coverage with a finished look that still appears natural. The gorgeous, creamy foundations are super easy to work with and make the skin look like velvet. It’s a great product for any new makeup artist to add to their collection and continues to be a bestselling option for veteran Pros worldwide. Camera Ready customer Carmen A. says, “I love this palette because it has so many different shades that work for almost every skin tone. The coverage is amazing and it completely hides any skin imperfections so it's definitely worth the price. I use it on myself and my clients. It lasts all day, and a little goes a long way!” Ben Nye HD Matte Palette Bring out the best in any skin tone with Ben Nye's Essential HD Matte Foundation Palette! Twelve shades deliver just the right amount of coverage, packaged neatly in a portable tin casing. At just $60, you’ll get HD quality without the HD price. (Plus, you can purchase refills of each color for just $8!)  Each shade is a versatile blend of high pigmentation and natural-looking color that leaves the skin with a flawless, smooth texture. This palette is ideal for combination to oily skin types.  Camera Ready customer Lats A. says, “I have really oily skin and have tried everything. This makeup palette is a must for MUAs! Your clients will love you.” Shop The Foundation Palettes Try one of these artist-selected foundation palettes for yourself! All products mentioned in this article are linked down below. 1) Maqpro Fard Creme Palette  2) RCMA VK Palette 3) Cinema Secrets Ultimate 5-IN-1 PRO Palette 4) Graftobian HiDef Glamour Creme Super Palette 5) Ben Nye Essential HD Matte Palette Visit our blog for more articles like this one. Interested in contributing content to our website? Email your topic suggestions for consideration. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by pro makeup artist Mary Erickson. An industry veteran for more than 30 years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set. If you don’t find the product you’re looking for on our site, that’s because we have something better. Just ask us!

Let’s pretend you’re on set. You’ve just completed a full-face makeup application on a client, and now she’s ready for lights, camera, action. As she enters the spotlight, you admire the finished look and think to yourself, “nice work, me!” But then you see them - those dreaded dark spots - beaming through underneath the makeup masterpiece you spent an hour perfecting. As professional makeup artists, we’ve all been there. Covering dark spots caused by scars, skin damage, beauty marks, pigmentation or lack of sleep is challenging for even the most experienced artists. Choosing a quality pro concealer can make all the difference. We put the concealers in our store to the test, and narrowed down our top five picks for effortlessly covering dark spots. The products we chose left behind smooth, blemish-free skin and no trace of pesky discolorations. 1) Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer This oil-free, waterproof concealer provides a long-lasting matte finish that blends into the skin for a natural, skin-like appearance. The formula is so full coverage that many artists use this as a go-to tattoo coverup. We love the Full Cover Concealer for its ability to even out skin tones of any color and camouflage even the most stubborn of blemishes. Another bonus? It’s extremely pigmented, yet light and creamy, making it the perfect multi-purpose product for both the face and body. Available in a range of 12 shades, it’s easy to create a perfect skin match. Shop the product here, and add one to your makeup kit to see the exceptional quality for yourself.   2) Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Cream Cover This one is good, you guys. So good it gives us chills just thinking about it. Every product from Danessa Myricks Beauty is outstanding, and perfect, and smart, and we can’t find a single negative thing to say about this professional cosmetics line. When we first got our hands on the Vision Cream Cover, we were awestruck. The concealer-foundation hybrid is lightweight while providing the silkiest, smoothest, most flawless coverage you’ve ever seen. The formula’s texture-minimizing properties conceal hyper-pigmentation, uneven discolorations, and other skin blemishes, leaving behind a gorgeous, perfect complexion. It even includes low-density, hydrating ingredients to create the appearance of glowing, radiant skin. Did we mention it’s also 100% vegan and cruelty-free? We’ll stop right now before the gushing goes overboard. There are 24 shades to shop right here, and we can’t wait for you to fall in love as hard as we have. 3) RCMA Ultimate Complexion Palette This incredible complexion palette is pricier than the other products on our list, but it packs loads of value and will quickly become the handy essential you reach for time and time again. RCMA designed the palette in partnership with Emmy Award-winning makeup artist and educator, Kevin James Bennett, who is well-known in the industry for creating impeccable complexions across all media formats. The Ultimate Complexion Palette features all of Bennett’s favorite RCMA foundations, five single pigment colors, and one clear mixing medium to correct any skin discolorations and conceal the face with a smooth, texture-free finish. This is the perfect solution for makeup artists who can’t afford to fill their kits with full-sized products, but need a wide range of shades. Shop the palette here. 4) Cinema Secrets 5-IN-1 PRO Palette The creamy, pigment-rich correctors in this multi-purpose palette do more than just conceal skin conditions and blemishes. Use the 5-in-1 power to the Corrector Pro Palette to correct unwanted undertones, highlight, contour and adjust foundation colors. Cancel out purples undertones with the peachy coral shades, and neutralize with the olive green shades to create the flawless skin of your dreams. Available in two palette variations, No. 1 and No. 2 both include light red, medium red, med-deep red, light blue and med-deep blue neutralizers in slightly different color combinations. Add this palette to your shopping cart for a skin correcting experience unlike any other. 5) Kryolan Concealer Circle This concealer compact is small, yet mighty. It’s best used for covering small discolorations of the skin, but it does so with minimal product application and lots of coverage power. Available in seven compacts, each with six shade variations, and one neutralizing compact, the cream-based formulas are highly pigmented and require minimal amounts of product for each use. It’s also important to note that most of these colors aren’t meant to mimic exact skin colors, so being skilled in color mixing is a must. Shop the different shade options here to find the perfect wheel for your kit. Shop The Products All five of the concealers listed above are available at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Stock your kit with these dark-circle-erasing tubes of awesomeness, and transform clients into the flawless beauties that they are. 1) Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer 2) Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Cream Cover 3) RCMA Kevin James Bennett Complexion Palette 4) Cinema Secrets Ultimate Corrector 5-IN-1 PRO Palette 5) Kryolan Concealer Circle Comment below to let us know which pro concealers you’re loving, and tag us on Instagram for a chance to be reposted. Visit our blog for more articles like this one! Interested in contributing content to our website? Email topic suggestions to marketing@crcmakeup.com for consideration! About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by pro makeup artist Mary Erickson. An industry veteran for more than 30 years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set. If you don’t find the product you’re looking for on our site, that’s because we have something better. Just ask us!

We are fascinated by the creative talent of professional makeup artists for film and television, especially those who specialize in special effects makeup. The ability to transform human faces into out-of-this-world creatures or bloody, gore-covered victims takes a level of artistry and focus that can take years to perfect. With so many greats who paved the way before us, we felt inspired to round up our 10 favorite SFX makeup artists of all time. Keep reading to learn more about the people who created our favorite characters on the big and small screens. Ben Nye Professional makeup artist Ben Nye, Sr. got his start in the music department of Fox Studios in Los Angeles. After three years of working in what he deemed a boring position, Nye sought an apprenticeship in the Fox Studios makeup department under head makeup artist Monte Westmore. Ben Nye Makeup Best Sellers Ben NyeBanana PowderStarting $13.50 Ben NyeFinal SealStarting at $9 Ben NyeCreme Color$8 Under the direction of Westmore, Nye gained experience working on set of various A-List films like In Old Chicago and Jesse James, but it was his experience on set of Gone With The Wind that inspired Nye to branch out and create products of his own, specifically for women of color. So he began to experiment, mixing and blending the products he already used to get inspired. Shortly after, Nye ventured solo as a freelance makeup artist for Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers before going back to Fox Studios as the head makeup artist. Over the next decade, Nye made a name for himself in the industry. His use of prosthetics in feature films garnered him worldwide acclaim, and each major feature film inspired him to experiment and create professional-grade products to revolutionize film and television makeup. After retiring in the 1960s, Nye opened his own professional makeup company named Ben Nye Cosmetics, which is still wildly popular today. Popular products include Ben Nye’s Banana Powder (thanks to celebrity endorsements from the likes of Kim Kardashian), Neutral Set Powder, Liquid Latex, Nose & Scar Wax, Bruise Wheel, Stage Blood and so many more. Click here to shop the Ben Nye collection at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Stan Winston Makeup legend Stan Winston had a childhood fascination with puppetry and mask-making, which evolved into a passion for special effects makeup artistry later in life. After moving from Richmond, VA to Hollywood in 1969, Winston worked underneath head makeup artist, Robert J. Schiffer, for Disney Studios where he perfected his talent and worked his way up the makeup industry ladder. Winston led teams for more than 40 years to create some of the most iconic, modern-day characters and creatures in such films as Alien vs Predator, The Terminator, Jurassic Park, Iron Man, and Avatar. Shop Stan Winston Digital Courses Stan WinstonTattoo Makeup$64.99 Stan WinstonMaking Fake Teeth$59.99 Stan WinstonMake A Latex Mask$59.99 Winston has received 10 Academy Award nominations - winning four - and is one of only three SFX makeup artists to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s also won two Emmy Awards out of six nominations, as well as three BAFTA awards out of five nominations. To learn more about Stan Winston, visit the Stan Winston School of Character Arts website. Eryn Krueger Mekash Makeup artist Eryn Krueger Mekash got her start in special effects makeup while working in shops throughout Los Angeles. After years of perfecting her skills, she dove into a career in makeup artistry that has spanned nearly three decades. Her vast experience in the film and television industry has allowed Mekash to master the art of beauty, special effects makeup and design - a triple threat, if you ask us. Her work has been Emmy-nominated 35 times, and she’s won six awards - the most wins for a female makeup artist ever. She currently serves as head of the makeup department for FX's American Horror Story. Shop These SFX Favorites Skin IllustratorFX Palette$80 GraftobianSpatula + Sculpting Tool$7.20 Pros-AideThe "Original" Adhesive$13 Mekash’s use of prosthetics has earned her notoriety amongst industry veterans, who seek her out for creative insights on various projects. Some of her most notable work has been featured in Star Trek: Into The Darkness; Glee; Eat, Pray, Love; Alpha Dog; Everybody Loves Raymond; and Alien Nation. Visit ErynKruegerMekash.com to learn more about her career and to see a full list of work credits. Joe Blasco Credited for the invention of popular horror movie makeup effects like the bladder technique, bulging blisters, and rashes on the skin, pro makeup artist Joe Blasco is a legend in his own right. After serving as the personal makeup artist to icons like Orson Welles, Olivia Newton-John, Bette Midler and Carol Burnett, Blasco sought out to revolutionize film and television makeup like never before. Blasco’s industry experience has spanned more than 50 years, and his credits include The Newlywed Game, General Hospital, Good Morning America, The Carol Burnett Show, Leonardo da Vinci, Ilsa She Wolf of the SS, The Werewolf of Woodstock and Shivers, to name a few. Joe Blasco Best Sellers Joe BlascoUltrabase Foundation$26 Joe BlascoSublime Liquid Blush$32 Joe BlascoUltra Fine Setting Powder$24 Aside from his artistry, Blasco’s passion for education led him to open his Make-Up Training Centers in Hollywood and Orlando, FL, as well as create his own high-performance cosmetics line, Joe Blasco Hollywood, that has gained worldwide popularity. Popular products from his line include the Ultrabase Foundations, Dermaceals, Ultamattes, and Neutralizers. Click here to shop the Joe Blasco collection at Camera Ready Cosmetics. Matthew Mungle   A former student of Joe Blasco’s Make-up Center, Matthew Mungle has worked his way up to become one of Hollywood’s premier special effects artists. Regarded as a master of makeup illusions, Mungle’s fascination with horror makeup started at a young age after seeing iconic films like Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy. Shop These SFX Favorites Ben NyeFresh ScabStarting at $8 Ben NyeLiquid LatexStarting at $6 Rubber WearEvil Forehead Foam Latex$28.95 Mungle grew up experimenting with face casts and prosthetics on family members and friends until he was old enough to pursue artistry as a career. After graduating school, he worked on set of several low-budget films where he learned to be resourceful and think quickly. Mungle’s experience led him to oversee teams on set of Edward Scissorhands, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (which he won his first Oscar for), Congo, Primal Fear and Ghosts of Mississippi (which earned him an Oscar nomination), and more. Mungle has gone on to create a wide range of film characters using prosthetics for film, television, and Broadway. His full biography can be found here. Dick Smith   Academy Award-winning makeup artist Dick Smith is most famous for creating SFX application methods that became the standard for Hollywood film and television, like fake blood, layered prosthetics and foam latex for an aging face. Some of his most notable credits include The Godfather, The Exorcist, and Taxi Driver. The makeup revolutionist found his love for performance makeup while browsing the library at Yale University, his alma mater, an stumbling upon performance makeup books. A list of awards, decades-long career and two published books later, Smith is revered as one of Hollywood’s great artists of our time. Click here for a full list of Smith’s film credits. Kevin Yagher   The creator of Freddy Krueger’s makeup and the infamous Chucky doll, artist Kevin Yagher has a long-standing special effects career that dates back to the early 1980s. His expertise with prosthetics has led to some of pop culture’s most eerily memorable characters, and his contributions on A Nightmare on Elm Street, Bones, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Mission: Impossible have earned him industry acclaim. Another notable achievement was Yagher’s work on set of The Master of Disguise, featuring Dana Carvey, where he created 15-20 different disguises to transform the actor’s character throughout the film. Yagher now leads teams at Kevin Yagher Productions Inc. to “create effects that far surpass peoples’ exceptions and to provide producers and directors with the highest quality effects imaginable.” View a full list of Kevin Yagher’s credits here. Ve Neill   When we asked our Pro Artist network which female SFX artists they most admired, Ve Neill topped the list. As one of the most award-winning, living makeup artists (she’s won three Oscars, two Emmys, one BAFTA, four Saturn Awards, and a lifetime achievement award from the MUA Guild) Neill is loved and respected amongst industry veterans and newbies alike. Neill has worked with a long list of A-List stars including Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lawrence, and her film and television credits are just as recognizable: The Hunger Games, The Amazing Spider-Man, Sweeney Todd, Pirates of the Caribbean, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Batman & Robin, Edward Scissorhands, Star Trek, and the list goes on. The guru spends her free time advocating for the makeup artistry profession, helping to build awareness in the general public about the craft of creating movie creatures. Learn more about Ve Neill and her work credits here. Bud Westmore Credited on more than 450 movies and television shows, makeup artist Bud Westmore comes from the prominent Hollywood makeup artist family with the same name. Some of his most well-known works include Man of a Thousand Faces, The Andromeda Strain, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Following the death of his famous makeup artist father, George Westmore, Bud became head of the makeup department at Universal Studios in Hollywood where he scored credits for major horror, sci-fi and fantasy films of the late 1940s. His career spanned over the next two decades until the 1970s when he completed his last project on set of MGM’s Soylent Green. His legacy marks an iconic era of the giant bud-headed creatures made famous in the 40s and 50s. For a full list of film credits, click here. Rick Baker Special effects artist Rick Baker, well-known for his work on Men In Black, An American Werewolf in London, The Nutty Professor and The Wolfman, has won seven Oscars over the span of his 40+ year career. Baker has been outspoken about the shifting nature of film and television makeup. Announcing his retirement in 2015, the acclaimed artist said, “The business is crazy right now. I like to do things right, and they wanted cheap and fast.” His statement was in reference to computer effects, which are taking the place of makeup artist jobs and eliminating the artistic nature of the craft. While on set of Maleficent, featuring A-List star Angelina Jolie, Baker says the use of CG effects in the film reduced his work so much that he “could’ve done it in a garage basically.” Learn more about Rick Baker’s career and film credits here. For related articles, visit our blog here. Be sure to stock up on SFX makeup products here, and tag us on Instagram in your special effects makeup creations for a chance to be reposted! About Camera Ready Cosmetics   Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude. Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists.  You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts. If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground.

We LOVE makeup palettes. For professional artists and beauty enthusiasts alike - palettes are convenient, easy to tote around, and provide flexibility when creating different makeup looks. But with hundreds, if not thousands, of options on the market, which makeup palettes are worth the splurge? We read through hundreds of customer reviews and crunched the numbers to determine which makeup artist palettes our customers deemed holy grail status for their kits and makeup bags. What did we find? Keep reading for the 10 best professional makeup artist palettes, all of which you can purchase by clicking the links below. Happy palette shopping! RCMA: 5-Part Series Cream Blush Palette Available in two color variations - a pink-coral collection and a mauve-brown collection - the RCMA 5-Part Series Cream Blush Palette is a professional makeup artist go-to. The palette not only saves room in your kit but also includes five gorgeous, high-definition shades that work well with any skin tone. Use the colors individually or blend for a custom look. The versatile palette can even double as lip color. Camera Ready customer Lindsey says, “These are the longest-lasting blushes I’ve ever used, plus a little goes a long way. Love, love love! Blending is super easy and flawless.” NYX: Highlight & Contour Pro Palette For budget-conscious shoppers, the NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette comes at a great price point (less than $25!) without sacrificing high-performance. It’s also refillable! You’ll get eight highlighting and contouring shades to work within one, compact case. Flawlessly emphasizing your favorite features for any skin tone has never been easier, or more affordable. Camera Ready customer Felipe says, “Extremely easy to use. Great variety and impressive blending.” Make Up For Ever: 12 Flash Color Neutral Palette The Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Neutral Palette offers limitless possibilities for the eyes, lips, face and body. It’s quickly become a staple in professional makeup artist kits worldwide, and it’s no wonder why. Convenient and travel-friendly, this 12-in-one palette includes multi-use cream colors that work just as easily for everyday wear as they do for more dramatic makeup looks. The Neutral Palette includes shades: Grey, Neutral Brown, Purple Grey, Rosewood, Dark Antique Pink, Ivory, Livid, Kaki, Pink Brown, Fresh Pink, Sienna and Rusty Brown Camera Ready customer Maria says, “Super versatile, really easy to work with. Creates very beautiful natural makeup looks on any skin tone.” Violet Voss: Ride or Die Eye Shadow Palette Just as the name suggests, the Violet Voss Ride or Die Eye Shadow Palette is truly a ride-or-die product for makeup artists at every career level. Just like a trusted best friend, you’ll never want this palette to leave your side (or makeup kit, that is). Formulated with the highest quality ingredients, each of the 42 shades blend together smoothly to create a flawless, sexy look for any occasion. The palette is complete with full-sized mattes, metals and satins. Camera Ready customer Amy says, “This palette has it all! I do stage makeup, and this palette is my go-to. It also has soft colors for bridal makeup! Colors are true and rich and build very well.”  Kryolan: 6-Color Creme Palette The Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage 6-Color Creme Palette comes in five color combinations for a highly pigmented, full-coverage look. The creme-based, long-lasting formulas are designed to correct and conceal skin disfigurements, discolorations and tattoos on the face or neck. Finish your look with a translucent setting spray and Kryolan’s Fixing Spray for a waterproof finish. If set properly, this makeup will stand up to extreme conditions like swimming, heat and physical strain. Camera Ready customer Jessica says, “I am fully enjoying this product for my makeup kit. It is taking my makeup applications to the next level.” Viseart: Eye Shadow Palette in Neutral Matte This top-selling palette includes all of Viseart’s most popular neutral shades in one. The 12-Color Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Matte does everything from brows and eyes to contouring and hair color touchups. Makeup artists love the quality and color density, as well as the easily blendable color shades to create subtle natural looks or even sexy smokey eyes. The palette is not tested on animals and contains no parabens, silicone or mineral oils. Camera Ready customer Bridget says, “I can’t get over how easy these blend and how almost silky they feel. 100% the best eyeshadows I’ve ever owned/bought. Completely in love.” La Femme: Blush Palette Exclusive to Camera Ready Cosmetics, the La Femme Blush Palette is a rose-colored dream. The 12 stunning, richly-pigmented shades is the perfect combination of cool and warm tones, suitable for any skin tone. The palette even doubles as eyeshadows. A makeup artist staple, this palette creates flawless, matte looks that will make heads turn. Camera Ready customer Keshona says, “Absolutely love this palette, the pigment is insane!! It works for all skin tones!! A must-have for a professional artist or a girl who loves blush!!!” Senna: Brow Book Palette No makeup artist kit is complete without the Senna Brow Book Palette. This super skinny, refillable, magnetic palette is the ultimate tool for mastering the perfect brows. The palette includes nine highly-pigmented, natural-looking brow powders for a natural, long-wearing finish. The shades match every brow color and skin tone, as well as two Browlite colors for a softened, yet-defined brow line and a Brow Pomade for texture and fullness. Camera Ready customer Patricia says, “Game changer! This palette is able to pull together any eye look. There’s a shade there for everyone.” Ben Nye: Natural Lip Colour Palette The Natural Lip Colour Palette makes it easier than ever to find the right lipstick shade for not only yourself but clients, too. Plus, it’s refillable! Buy the palette at full-price just once, and stock up on affordable refills as needed. The palette includes six ultra-creamy shades perfect for everyday wear, or you can blend colors to create a custom look. For those on-the-go moments, a compact lip brush is included with purchase to make application easier during crunch time. Camera Ready customer Sarah says, “This lip palette does not disappoint. Beautiful colors and a smooth, long-wearing finish. Highly recommend!” OFRA: On The Glow Palette The On The Glow Palette includes all of OFRA’s best-selling highlighter and bronzing shades in one, making it the ultimate tool for a natural, sun-kissed look. Each of the palette’s shades can also be used as eyeshadows to create a radiant smokey eye. OFRA’s use of high-grade pearls and liquid-to-baked technology provides unparalleled pigment payoff and illuminating sheen you just won’t find anywhere else. Highlighting colors include: Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and Blissful Bronzing colors include: California Dream, 3D Egyptian Clay and Americano Camera Ready customer Abeer says, “[This] OFRA palette is amazing and fantastic!” Shop The Palettes It’s time to stock your kit with one (or all) of the professional makeup artist palettes listed above. To make it even easier, we’ve linked them down below: 1) RCMA: 5-Part Series Cream Blush Palette 2) NYX: Highlight & Contour Pro Palette 3) Make Up For Ever: 12 Flash Color Palette 4) Violet Voss: Ride or Die Eye Shadow Palette 5) Kryolan: Dermacolor Camouflage 6-Color Creme Palette 6) Viseart: Eye Shadow Palette in Neutral Matte 7) La Femme: Blush Palette 8) Senna: Brow Book Palette 9) Ben Nye: Natural Lip Colour Palette 10) Ofra: On The Glow Palette Tag us on Instagram and Facebook in your creative looks using the palettes above, and use the hashtag #crcmakeup for a chance to get reposted! Comment below with questions or feedback regarding one of the makeup palettes mentioned in this article. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. Having been in the makeup artist industry for 30+ years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set. If you don’t find the product you’re looking for at Camera Ready Cosmetics, that’s because we have something better. Just ask us!

  Here at Camera Ready Cosmetics, we have promoted, sold and loved Joe Blasco cosmetics for years. When clients walk through our doors looking for highly pigmented, high-performance makeup for film, television or the stage, the Joe Blasco collection is one of our first go-to recommendations. Known worldwide for his decades-long career as a leading makeup artist in Hollywood, highly sought-after film and television makeup visionary, first ever creator of government-approved makeup education centers, and the inventor of a 45-year-old+ successful cosmetics line, Joe Blasco has made his mark on the world of makeup artistry and education like no one before him. We had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Blasco and discuss his start in the industry, his passion for teaching, and his secret to making one of the highest-performing makeup lines for film and television. Not into reading? Watch the full video interview here. Camera Ready Cosmetics: What inspired you to pave the way for makeup education? Joe Blasco: I realized that I wanted to teach, more than anything, when I felt that by teaching I was also learning, and the more I taught others the more I was able to experiment. When I was at ABC Television, they would come to me and say, “How do you do that? Why [do your foundations] look the way they do? How are you highlighting and shading the way you do?” And I realized most of the makeup artists didn’t really have as keen an understanding of highlighting and shading as I was taught by Ben Nye, and Kiva Hoffman, and some of the other artists that I studied under. So I thought, “OK. I’m going to take all of my understanding of corrective makeup and I’m going to create a class.” So I started with small classes, and gradually, more and more people wanted the instruction. I got calls - tons and tons of calls. And suddenly I went from just being this journeyman makeup artist at ABC also to having these big classes at night. So I thought, “Wait a minute. This is really interesting. This is going somewhere.” CRC: What were some of the industry challenges you faced early on? JB: [After my classes started gaining popularity, ABC] came to me and said, “Conflict of interest! You’re teaching, and we can’t allow you to advertise that you’re a makeup artist [while] working for ABC.” So I said, “OK, well, I’m out.” So I left ABC, and I went completely into being an independent makeup artist and to teaching. There were very few women in the industry. There just weren’t any, they weren’t makeup artists. The makeup artists were all men. When I opened my doors to students who wanted to be makeup artists, gradually more and more women came to the forefront. I’m proud to have been able to be a catalyst for allowing women into the profession…and gays…and various races. [They] were not, originally back then - 40 years ago - permitted into [the industry]. It was primarily a white man’s job. Not anymore. CRC: What has been the most rewarding moment as a makeup instructor? JB: My proudest moment as a makeup instructor had to be when I saw Matthew Mungle receive an Academy Award. He was my first graduate to receive an Academy Award. Since then Bill Corso has also received an Academy Award. I’m proud to have been influential in their success. But there have been many, you know. Every time I look at the credits roll by and see someone’s name that I know that I taught, it’s a good feeling - a real feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. CRC: When did you realize you wanted to create your own makeup line? JB: I loved being involved in monster makeup and horror makeup in the very early portion of my career. What I did was simply to be as creative as I could possibly be, follow the script that I was given, come up with whatever the writer envisioned and the director wanted. After working in the industry for quite a few years, I saw that the products we were using - and they were excellent products, Max Factor, Ben Nye, RCMA - I would do a lot of mixing. And I thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice not to do all that mixing?” So that’s when I came up with our base tone related neutralizers. CRC: How and where did you learn to create makeup? JB: I learned how to make makeup in two different places - one was at the Max Factor company, and the other was the Ben Nye company. I learned more from Ben Nye than from anyone. However, I was always wanted to change things. If you use an oil that will break the makeup down after the body temperature starts to rise then your makeup isn’t really going to serve a professional purpose. It’s going to require more work. It’s going to slow production time down. So I thought, “What can I do to make makeup better?” CRC: What’s the difference between Joe Blasco products and other high-performance brands? JB: The amount of pigment that we put into the product is a puzzlement to other cosmetics companies. They’ll try this, and they’ll say “how do you get all this pigment into the product.” And that’s the secret. The secret is to put the pigment in with the waxes and with the oils in a conventional manner, and then process it - very much like you’d process fine chocolate - so that it removes the excess vehicle, the excess oils and waxes, leaving behind a higher percentage of pigment. And how we do that, I can’t discuss. CRC: What is your favorite product from the Joe Blasco collection? JB: All of the Ultrabases are amazing. You can put it on with a dry sponge. You can put it on with a wet sea sponge. There are no other professional makeups, that are oil-based makeups, that will go on as successfully as mine with a wet sea sponge. Mine goes on because there’s so much pigment, and we’ve all that vehicle. When you put it on, it goes on very evenly and it covers. I think most popular are the neutralizers and then the Dermaceals and Ultamattes™. Oh, here we go we’re just going to name everything, aren’t we? [Laughs] The Ultamattes™ are extremely, highly-pigmented makeups, and I’ll tell you how I came about this. Ben Nye had a product that I helped him make, and it was the beard stipple product. It was a dark, dark black makeup that we put a lot of pigment into. I looked at it and thought “wow, there’s a lot of pigment in this,” unlike any of the other products in the line. And I started using it for eyeliner. Years later when I made my own line, I thought back and remembered that and I thought “let me make a line that has a tremendous amount of pigment.” But not just black. I made them in taupe, and brown, and warm brown, and then lighter colors that would be the same as the neutralizers. The highlighting colors became the Dermaceals, and the darker colors - the browns and the taupes and the blacks - became the Ultamattes™. So that concept split off into two different categories. The Ultamattes™ for eye makeup, and the Dermaceals for corrective makeup and concealing. So it’s all a matter of working with a product that has more pigment. That’s the secret. CRC: What is next for Joe Blasco cosmetics? JB: I just turned 71, and I’m really looking forward to continuing to work and to teach and to inspired other - inspiring young people to go into the profession in a manner that is sophisticated and well represents them as artists and also serves the profession well. CRC: What advice would you give to anyone interested in getting into the industry or following in your footsteps? JB: I don’t know that anyone really needs to follow in anyone’s footsteps. I think that what one needs to do is to create their own footstep template and to keep making that template grow and to do makeup artistry as they envision it - to be creative, to create their own style and to learn as much as they can from as many people as possible, but never try to copy any other people. You can emulate, you can be inspired by, but to copy is not being artistic. Be inspired, and create your own style. Have passion, and by all means, practice, practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better you’re going to be, and that’s the secret. Meet Rudy Blasco Following our interview, Joe introduced us to his dearest friend - and Joe Blasco cosmetics mascot - Rudy, an adorable pup that accompanies Joe on his many travels.  Watch the full video interview here, and comment below with your favorite Joe Blasco product. About Camera Ready Cosmetics Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. Having been in the makeup artist industry for 30+ years, Mary knows quality and value and understands what an artist needs. Mary is the buyer for Camera Ready Cosmetics and chooses only what she would use on set. If you don’t find the product you’re looking for at Camera Ready Cosmetics, that’s because we have something better. Just ask us!

Written by: Mary Erickson, CRC Founder and Professional MUA   Mary Erickson is NOT a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Please contact a CPA before making any tax decisions or for detailed questions regarding filing taxes. The information below is not intended as a guide for filing your taxes. ___________________________________________________ When it comes to filing taxes as a makeup artist, I hear the following statements from my freelance friends all the time: “I’ve never been audited. I don't make enough money to be noticed.”  “I’m a small fry. The IRS doesn’t care about me.” And, most common: “I keep all of my receipts so I’m good.” All three of those statements are false. If you've never been audited, congratulations. You managed to get lucky. Did you know working as a freelancer or making lower income is one reason you may be audited? The IRS doesn’t exclusively audit the wealthy. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on our economy and personal finances, the federal government has extended the tax filing deadline to July 15 without putting you at risk of interest or penalties. The typical tax deadline is April 15, so take a moment to celebrate and breathe a sigh of relief.  If you owe money to the IRS, this extension gives you until the July 15 deadline to make a payment. So even if you file today, you won't say goodbye to that money until whichever scheduled date you choose up to July 15. This extension automatically applies to all taxpayers; there is nothing special you need to do. File as you normally would. ___________________________________________________ NOTE: This extension only applies to federal income taxes. State income tax varies by state. While most states have matched the federal government's tax deadline of July 15, others have created their own guidelines. Visit your state or local government website to learn more about alternative state tax filing guidelines that may apply to you. ___________________________________________________ How To File Taxes As A Freelance Makeup Artist Maybe you've never filed taxes as a freelance makeup artist, or maybe you have but never seem to quite understand what you're doing. Follow my list of DO's and DON'TS to protect yourself from an IRS audit and ensure you're getting the maximum return or minimum amount owed.  DON’T lie to the IRS! This is the #1 most important thing you’ll read all day. Real cases go like this: You’re a freelance makeup artist, but you only dabble in it while living with your friend/roommate. You claim $20,000 in income for the year from various freelance jobs because that’s what appears on your 1099 forms. You claim $15,000 in expenses with gas, office supplies, phone, etc. So you will owe taxes on only $5,000 in income for the year. Now enter the IRS. Your rent is $600 per month. Your car payment is $200 a month. Your expenses (not including food, utilities, etc.) are $800 a month. Are you ready for this question from the IRS:  “How did you pay rent and car payments on $5,000 for the year?” This is not the time to make up falsehoods about loans family gave you or money you found in the garage. That won’t work. The IRS employs intelligent people who have seen and heard everything. When it comes to tax dodging, you are not smarter than the IRS. Maybe you can tell them you made it babysitting? That would mean you failed to report income to the IRS, which would be a crime in the USA. If you like your own bed, and steel bars don’t appeal to you, do not lie to the IRS.   DO keep a mileage log and gas receipts. (The real receipts, not just a bank statement.) In the event of an audit, this will make your case a much stronger one. Mileage is something they almost always look at in an audit, so don’t fudge this. It’s not worth the few dollars you may save. Document every address you go to, if claiming it as travel. There are numerous free apps for this that can help you. DON’T say to yourself “I’ll worry about an audit if/when the time comes.” That time will probably come one day, and you need to be prepared. Self-employed individuals are a target and for good reason. It’s easier to lie about pay and expenses when you’re self-employed.  DO hire a CPA to handle your taxes. I know this is expensive, but the few hundred dollars you will spend every year can save you thousands of dollars in an audit and a lot of valuable time. The fines for an error, even a small one, will pay the CPA fees for years. You can use Quicken and TurboTax or other tax software, which is cheaper, but research every expense you’re taking. Don't assume anything. DON'T take cash from anyone and assume there isn’t a paper trail. An audit of your client who paid in cash for your services can lead to you as the source of his/her expenses. Also, a bank deposit of cash can lead to questions as to where you got the cash. I know it’s none of their business, but sometimes they make it their business.  DO claim dinner out with clients as an expense. Put the name of the client on the receipt. If you are wining and dining for business, you should get the write-off. If you’re questioned about it, you may be asked for that client’s information. DON'T write-off makeup you buy for your personal use. Keep receipts so you can show the IRS that you do buy makeup for yourself, and you don’t write it off. DO write-off every penny of makeup that you purchase for your kit. It’s all a tax write-off. Makeup for your kit is a legitimate business expense for an artist. DON'T try to write-off clothing, jewelry, hair stylists, plastic surgery or Botox. I know you must look good as a makeup artist, but the IRS won’t buy these expenses. I know, it sucks.  DO write-off your home office, but only if there is NOTHING else that you do in that room. There are two options for filing home office deductions. 1) Simplified Option This option allows a standard deduction of $5 per square foot of home used exclusively for business. If using this formula, you may not calculate more than 300 square feet of space, and the maximum deduction is capped at $1,500. To learn more, read the IRS rules here. 2) Regular Method This option requires you to calculate the actual expenses of your home office. These expenses may include mortgage interest, insurance, utilities, repairs and depreciation. Deductions for a home office are based on the percentage of your home devoted to business use. So, if you use a whole room or part of a room for conducting business, you need to figure out the percentage of your home devoted to your business activities. Your room can’t double as a guest room and an office. Take the measurements of the room, and calculate its percentage of your home's total square footage. This will be necessary to write-off utilities and rent for that space. Example: If your 10x10 office is 100 sq. ft. and your home is 1000 sq. ft., you can write-off 10% of your rent and utilities. DON'T use your personal account for business. Your business should be a separate bank account. All expenses should go through that account, and all income should be placed into that account. DO start doing this now if you have not been doing this in the past. The sooner you start doing the appropriate things the better off you will be when you are audited. DON'T decide not to file taxes. This is a huge mistake! If you don’t file, the IRS will calculate what you owe. In my best Liam Neeson voice: “They will find you, and you will pay.” The first time you get a job that requires your social security number, they will send a notice to your employer demanding a wage garnishment for past due taxes. I have seen this happen with 3 of my past makeup assistants who failed to claim the income I paid them. They will hunt you down forever, and the amount you owe will grow with fines. Think about 5 or 10 years down the line when you go to buy a house. They pull up your SSN only to find a tax lien for past due taxes. A few thousand in past due taxes can turn into $20,000 with penalties and fines very quickly. Please make sure to pass along these tips to a makeup artist you know. 

Makeup & text by Jamie Fawn Whether you’re creating a makeup zombie face for a Halloween costume, SFX character look, or just for fun, this helpful guide is sure to come in handy as you work on all the details. From bruise makeup and knife wounds to fake blood and more, your realistic zombie makeup look is sure to spook! Read on to learn the five steps for how to do your own makeup for zombie look like a pro.   5 Steps for Creating a Zombie Face with Makeup: Step 1: Clean, prep, and prime Step 2: Apply base color, bruises, and sunken eyes Step 3: Add wounds and blood Step 4: Contour and add details Step 5: Create dry, cracked lips   STEP 1 Makeup For Zombie Step 1: Clean, Prep, and Prime the Face A fresh, clean, primed face is essential to creating a long-lasting zombie face makeup look. For cleansing, we like to use Bioderma Sensibio H2O, especially on set. Since it's rinse free, there's no need for water. This will clean and remove any makeup from the face and eyes. Simply soak a cotton round and wipe away makeup.   Next, apply a thin layer of Embryolisse Emulsion Hydra-Mat moisturizer and give it a few minutes to soak in completely. Then, using the Bdellium Tools’ Maestro 947 Small Foundation Brush, apply Mehron Skin Prep Pro to the face. Skin Prep Pro will help your zombie face last longer as it protects your work from heat and moisture, like sweat and humidity. Wait 5 minutes for this to dry before you apply your makeup for zombie.   Makeup for Zombie Step 2: Apply Base Color and Add Bruise Makeup and Sunken Eyes Effect   Some bruise makeup and sunken eyes on a pale base are just what you need to create that gruesome zombie face. For foundation, use RCMA KJB Complexion Palette and mix a small amount of white with the lighter colors to make your zombie face look very pale. Apply it with the Bdellium Tools 948 Foundation Brush. Add bruise makeup to the neck, collarbone, and eye areas to simulate the effects of having been attacked. To complete the look, add bruise makeup to the parts of the skin that are peeking out of the T-shirt. To create this bruise effect, use the Mehron Pro Color Ring - Bruise, focusing on the colors: Maize Yellow, Spanish Olive, Burnt Maroon, and Bloody Rose. You’ll also want to include the brightest purple from the Ben Nye FX Color Wheel.     Apply the bruise makeup with a Graftobian Stipple Sponge for a more natural look, and blend out the edges with the Sigma E28 Detail Buffer Brush. When making makeup bruises, you'll want to determine the stage of injury your character is in and match the age of the bruise to it. In this makeup for zombie look, you will see the stages of bruise makeup coloring, beginning with a bright red fresh bruise to an older bruise with a more faded yellow. To create the sunken eyes, use the Ben Nye Professional FX Wheel in Death Pro Effects, specifically using the grey, brown, muted yellow, and green colors. Add the brown into the crease of the eye for a sunken look. Then, add greys for an aged, dehydrated look. Add greys, greens, and yellows underneath the eyes in a random pattern. Apply with the MYKITCO Shade and Shadow Brush. Makeup for Zombie Step 3: Add Knife Wounds and Blood Fake knife wounds and fake blood really up the terror ante and drive the SFX zombie makeup look home. To create knife wounds for your zombie face look, use 3rd Degree Silicone Modeling Compound in Light flesh tone.   It is extremely important not to cross-contaminate any modeling compound from jar A with jar B. This will cause the product to set and be unusable. Mix products on a separate surface. Try using the Graftobian metal palette and metal spatula. Mix the two components with a 1:1 ratio creating enough product to make a small slash wound. You will have about 10 minutes to play with the product. After mixing, transfer the product directly onto the skin and create the desired shape of your fake cut for your zombie face. Use a cotton swab dipped into TEMPTU Pro Alcohol 99 to smooth out the edges so that it is seamless.     Once the product has set, use Skin Illustrator’s Zombie Palette and PPI’s Skin Illustrator Slow Activator. In the deepest parts of the fake wound, you will apply the Black from the Zombie Palette to add depth. Because this makeup for zombie look is slightly aged, we added the color Aged Blood along the rest of the inside of the wound and then around the edges with the Ben Nye FDB-6 Petite Filbert Brush.     Next, add Mehron Coagulated Blood Gel with a brush to the fake slash, allowing it to drip down for an oozing effect. We also used the Coagulated Blood Gel to smear on our zombie's shirt. To give the larger or deeper wounds a more agitated look, add Ben Nye Thick Blood into the deepest areas of the neck, chest, and cheek wounds using a metal spatula to scoop out and place in wounds.   Makeup for Zombie Step 4: Add Details Around Knife Wounds and Add Contouring Add contouring to the zombie face to give a more sunken appearance. To achieve this, use the grey and taupe-toned eye shadows from the Ben Nye Glam Palette at the hollow of the cheeks, the temples, the bridge of the nose, sockets of the eyes, and jaw line. Use the Bdellium Tools’ 556GT Slanted Precision Kabuki brush and 940GT Face Blending brush to contour the large and small areas of the face.     Add some purple under the eye from the Ben Nye Professional FX Wheel to create more makeup bruises. Next, add details around the fake wounds to give the effects of infection, puss, or bruising using the same color wheels to make the bruising. Apply the details using the Mehron Color Wheel with the Ben Nye Petite Filbert brush.       Makeup for Zombie Step 5: Add Drying Cracked Effects to the Lips To finish the zombie face, add Ben Nye’s Grime FX Powder in Ash to the lips for a dehydrated cracked look, using the Cozzette Infinite Power Blending Brush. Complete your makeup for zombie look by applying a fake scab to the lips with a small piece of the Ben Nye Thick Blood paste using a metal spatula.   With these simple steps, you can apply your makeup for zombie look like a pro. When you’ve finished your SFX makeup work, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show off your frightening character creation!   The Products We Used to Create This Makeup for Zombie Look:   Bioderma Sensibio H2O Embryolisse Emulsion Hydra-Mat Bdellium Tools’ Maestro 947 Small Foundation Brush Mehron Skin Prep Pro RCMA KJB Complexion Palette Bdellium Tools 948 Foundation Brush Mehron Pro Color Ring - Bruise

When starting a career in makeup, one of the first opportunities to take advantage of is an assisting position. Whether you live in a small area or a large metroplex, reaching out to a respected artist and inquiring about assisting is a great way to get noticed in the makeup community. Here are five best practices to keep in mind when assisting a makeup artist. 1. Become your key’s best hand. An assistant ’s job is to do whatever it takes to make the key makeup artist look good. Help with whatever he or she needs, watch to see if your key has everything in line. Forecast what the artist could need before he or she even asks. 2. Never show up late to a job. As a rule of thumb show up 20 minutes early to every job. This way, if there is trouble on the way, you will still be on time. This is the least you can do to show that you are invested in the job and is a sign of respect towards your hiring makeup artist and to the production team you’ll be working with. 3. Don’t overstep your boundaries. Never hand out your card, or make buddies with the art director or production staff. Doing so will undoubtedly ensure that you will not work with the artist who hired you again. It’s understandable to look for future work, however, it would serve you well to make sure to network on your own time. it’s best not to try and take an opportunity from someone who was nice enough to get work for you. 4. Ensure you are being productive There is always something that needs to be done. If you’re not directed to do anything, it is your job to busy yourself and find something to do. If you are sitting relaxing while the key makeup artist is working there is a problem. Unless the key artist asked you to take a break you should be working as hard as he or she is, if not harder. 5. Invest in a kit Have all the supplies you need to work on your own. If you are lacking supplies you will always be an assist; no one will want to refer you for a job if you do not have the supplies. A photographer would never show up without her camera. Ensure you’re taken seriously if you have not invested in your career at least this much.   For more advice on business practices and finding work, portfolio development, products, and techniques, check out themakeupartist.com. Join Facebook Group Makeup Artist Chat: Hosted by Pro Makeup Artists. Learn, grow, share and network.