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Hi everyone. Im moving to a new spot. You can sign up and join me at http://www.Gretchendavismakeup.com or http://www.Gretchendavismakeup.wordpress.com

There is also a Tab for artists like yourself to contribute information makeup tips etc.

Hope to see you over there. Gretchen Davis

Top 4 Spray Sunscreens

Makeup artists often talk about sunscreens. That is because it is so important to always protect your actors while on set. Another reason is what products work well under Makeup.
Consumer Reports has a list of Spray Water Resistance Sunscreens that work efficiently.What you would want to do is test them also under the Makeup brands you are using. Apply Sunscreens under makeup in the trailer and every two hours after that. There is no such thing as waterproof. Sprays can be efficient for the body and on set. But watch for winds that would make this technique useless. Never spray near camera or other sensitive equipment. Do not spray directly on an actors face unless it is requested. Don't assume it is OK. Here is the Top four products Consumer Reports recommends:

UP & UP Sport Continuous (Target)
Walgreens Sport Continuous
Banana Boat Sport Performance
Aveeno Continuous Protection

The next group Consumer Reports recommends is:

Coppertone UltraGuard Continuous
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist with Helioplex

Melanoma Risks With Tanning Booths

Although weak to link Melanoma with Tanning indoors a controlled study showed using Tanning booths increased the chance of Melanoma. The International Agency for Research on Cancer added indoor tanning to its list of carcinogens. To read more go to www.aacrjournals.org

Body Makeup, Varicose Veins

Summer is here for most of us. I'm in San Francisco so we wear coats to the beach until Fall. That is the true hot weather. But regardless, as a makeup artist you will be asked to refine and enhance that buffed beautiful actor or actress for a shoot. I only cover what is exposed or what might be exposed. Therefore check with wardrobe to see what you actually will need to do. Less work I always say!!!!!!!
All kinds of situations come up when working on a body. Common ones are bruises, acne, and lovely body art. Oh on tattoos, body art, etc will be another blog but be sure you know where all the art work is located on the actor and what you would do to cover it before that day they are shooting a love scene with bare bodies. Not a good time to figure out. Today we will give you a few tips on how to cover and then create Varicose veins.

Varicose Veins: Weak vein walls which can no longer move blood effectively towards the heart. Symptoms can be swelling, pain, bulging,spider veins and heaviness in the legs. There are treatments.A drug called Asclera will be available in the states in June.(Catherine Saint Louis, New York Times, New Help to Free Legs From a Web).

Makeup Artist Steven Anderson's Makeup Tip:

Coverage: I would approach covering veins like tattoo's or a bruise. I would use an Airbrush.An Airbrush can lay down multiple thin layers of makeup without a lot of touching to the skin.Start with an Illustrator color that can remove blue. Lightly airbrush over the area to cover. Make several passes until you get the coverage you want. Follow with a flesh tone Silicon Makeup to blend your work into the surrounding areas of the body. If you have several Airbrushes on hand quick release the one you used for Illustrate and attache a different Airbrush for the Silicon Makeup. Both products are long lasting and should hold up with minimal touch ups.

Create:
I again would use an Airbrush. My Fav for this is the Iwata HP Hiline. Start with Illustrator Capillary. Dilute the color 20% with 99% Alcohol. Spray random snake like patterns, with a low pressure staying close to the skin.The color and pattern will come out pixilated and translucent. Follow with Illustrators Vein tone at full strength turning up the PSI to full to limit the trigger pull back.(That's the knob at the back end of the Hiline). Remove the forward crown cap(That's at the front) to create a very fine line over the capillary color. Match the patterns yet vary the density of the vein width. Take a clean orange stipple sponge slightly dampen with 99% alcohol, randomly daub over the top of your work to lift a little bit of the paint, helping to make the vein pattern not look so regular. Lastly spray a hazing coat of an appropriate skin tone.

As Steven has demonstrated painting skills goes a long way. Whether to cover or apply painting skills come up on a daily basis.

Sun Protection

Sun Protection is so important on a set. Not just the actors but for crew also. There have been to many times when we are working outdoors and no one on the crew thinks about sun protection. By mid day you start to see the sunburns appear.
Also you are partly responsible for your actors safety outdoors. I do believe production and the medics should be aware of the welfare for the actors and crew but when no one is paying attention you should be doing everything in your power to keep the actors safe.Here are a few suggestions on sun protection at the work place.

1. Use a SPF of 15 or higher. Sprays are great for covering exposed areas of the body. I also use sunscreens for the face that works well with airbrushing or under cream foundations. I liked Coppertone SPF 50 or 75 . Dermalogica SPF 30 in a spray.
2. Better to have long sleeves and hats with flaps to cover the back of the neck and ears. There are also umbrellas, hats, and shirts with sun protection materials. Find a good brand to bring with you to set in case you need it or your actor needs it. Most often props will provide umbrellas but don't count on it.
3. Everyone should be wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes.Children should also have sunglasses.
4. Drink lots of water. Have enough water on hand for your actors between takes. A straw also if requested.
5. Small portable fans that run on batteries for you and the actors.
6. Your Makeup crew should take turns to rest and get out of the sun.
7. Re apply sunscreens when needed. Once is not enough. Also remind the actors between takes to get into a shaded area.

Tattoo Inks

Tattoo Inks as we all know are used all the time. Since a big part of my job was watching set after everyone was done I had to travel light. Even though I have every palette ever made (they are addictive)you can not take them all to set. Keep your makeup bag light. Plus you find even in the trailer you start to use a color here and there from the different palettes. I started to buy my favorite ones in liquid form. Pour the liquid Tattoo colors of choice into empty plastic containers. Leave the lids open and in a few days the colors will turn into solids. Now you have custom Tattoo ink palettes. I used those plastic empty pill containers that have 7-day compartments. After filling four of those with my preferred colors I could easily take better options with me to set. A few of my favorite palettes are Temptu Grease and Grime,Temptu Burn, Temptu Trauma, Skin Illustrator Fleshtones, Skin Illustrator Grunge. Have fun mixing your own colors!