The Bite Magazine - Summer 2019 - Issue 25

bite beauty Beauty Editor Giovanna Zac talks about one of her favourite brands and explains which essential tools that should be in a make-up artist’s kit as well as the pros and cons of being a freelancer. CROWN BRUSHES PRO MAKE-UP I f you’ve ever wondered how a make- up artist manages to create their amazing make-up looks and work with different skin tones, the answer is very simple. We all rely on brands and products that are created mostly for professionals in the industry that require high standard, high-quality tools at a reasonable price. To be a freelance make-up or hair artist means that you are in charge of your own work schedule, income and success. When working in a shop or department store for a brand, their rules and work ethics can help you learn how to sell and talk to customers. It is very useful for helping you obtain some make-up train- ing and start building up your make-up kit with staff discount which, for some begin- ners in this field, can be a great start to a career in make-up. On the other hand, it leaves you with very little time to dedi- cate to your personal growth, expanding your own experiences and creativity. It is sometimes hard to find the time and com- mitment especially when you’re working full-time. It’s like a catch-22 situation, making the choice between having a full-time job that gives you the budget but not the freedom, and freelancing that does ex- actly the opposite. In fact, it takes a bit of both. As a beginner in this career, having a full-time job in a make-up store is essen- tial to learning about client care, selling skills, make-up training, and products. This should be the starting point for artists who are making it on their own. Once you are feeling confident, and have a budget and some savings built up, it should be easier to move into a part-time position and start freelancing. This means that it becomes a business, where you’ll need to get images of your work, social media, advertising and all of that starting-up- know-how, which is another story. Focusing on kit building and tools, the emphasis is on the products. Regardless of it being for bridal, editorial or TV, clients want to see good quality, professional products, and lots of make-up. Because it takes a great number of products to suit various looks and skin tones, make- up kits can become very heavy to carry. The trick is to make sure you use ‘already made’ palettes rather than individual pieces. There are many brands that have made it heaven for pro make-up art- ists, and easier for make-up lovers. One favourite brand of mine is Crown Brush, manufacturers of make-up brushes and make-up. One of the best brush makers for over 35 years, Crown Brush’s popularity is world- wide because they specialise not only on high-quality brushes, but also anything related to the needs of the make-up art- istry, including products and accessories such as make-up bags, brushes belts, and disposable items such as sponges, puffs, palettes and much more. Their principle is not just on the good quality of their prod- ucts, but also on their low pricing system. In fact, when shopping at Crown Brush, you shop directly from the designer or the factory. They are normally found at inter- national beauty exhibitions, such as IMATS or Professional Beauty, and it is there I met them for the first time in 2004. I must admit I have a very soft spot for Crown Brush because, as a new make-up artist at the time, my budget was quite restricted, and thanks to them I was able to build up my make-up kit, especially with their brushes. I have always recom- mended their products to colleagues or students because I can see how well they have expanded on their products and kept in tune with the latest trends. What I love about them the most is the amount of choice available on their brushes: from natural to synthetic or vegan brushes, with different colour handles and make, to the shape, size, and usage on the array of make-up palettes, individual products, kits for colleges and pro-artist memberships. To visit them at these exhibitions is a must for any make-up artist, student or simply those who love everything make-up. Looking at their latest new collections, I selected some of the palettes I found most eye-catching and essential for any make-up application and kit, considering that they are full of colours, texture, and ultra-light to carry, and most of all, very pleasant to the eyes and well-loved by clients.