📢📢📢ATTN ALL MUAS: Is it that important to have name brand makeup products??📢📢📢

Apr 3, 2014

Brittany J.

I have a question for all MUA's whether your just starting out like myself or your a professional with years of experience...is it that important to have brand name makeup products like NARS, Smashbox, MAC??

Apr 3, 2014

Amanda W.

This can be a controversial topic. I definitely don't think every item has to high-end but I think a predominant amount should be. Firstly quality is obviously the most important and even though drug store brands have really improved, generally higher end brands have better pigmentation and results. Another reason is clients are paying for not only your skills but the products your using. Clients may be disappointed to see a kit with the same makeup that's at a drug store. Name brands are not everything. Your every day client won't know brands like Graftobian, Makeup Atelier, RCMA, etc.
sorry this is not a black and white answer but just remember in the end it's all about the product quality.

Apr 3, 2014

Alma M.

I believe it's the skill that matter's and how you apply what is wanted.Brand names come in to play as an artist because you have to explore all ends of cosmetics for not only yourself but for client's needs.It all builds up slowly and in time you do notice the difference in makeup products and how it performs to certain skin types. To me it's important to supply what is best and works for all :)

Apr 3, 2014

Mercedes B.

Not at all, there's brands out there that work equally as well as high end makeup... for example my favorite affordable makeup is E.L.F, it's super cheap and is as good as any other brand, but of course high end makeup is sometimes a little more pigmented or the customer might want a variety to choose from etc. it's really up to you, but honestly I don't think it's really important or a must.

Apr 3, 2014

Shelley W.

I've been watching my daughter build her kit and seeing her work on clients (she's a minor so I take her to all her appointments) and I must say a majority of her kit is high-end. She only has a few drugstore items (mascaras, clear lip gloss, and a few eye pencils). She's she wants to give them a luxury experience because many of them don't even own any high-end products. She did the makeup for a young girls sweet 16 party recently and the look on her face when she saw all the products was priceless. She felt so special to have Tom Ford applied to her lips and Marc Jacobs on her eyes. I look at it from the client prospective...if I'm going to drop money down for an artist I want not only skill of course but I want to feel special in that chair so I'd lean towards a lil more high-end for core products (foundation, concealer, eyeshadow).

Apr 3, 2014

Danielle B.

I absolutely don't think its necessary to have all high end products. Some of my clients are elated to see that the drug store products that I do use on them work so well- its an attainable goal for them and they love a good deal just as much as the rest of us. However, if you are concerned that they will judge you skills by the drug store products that you use (even though you know its a good product) then put it in a refillable container. They won't know what brand it is and it won't matter to them once they see how gorgeous they look.

Apr 3, 2014

Mercedes B.

Oh nice advice Danielle! I like that idea.

Apr 3, 2014

Hibz MUA A.

I think it's up to you. I get a lot of clients because of the products I use. I don't use cheap labels on clients because I feel wrong to charge my clients high rates for products they can buy themselves. I believe in my technique and I the amount I charge will help me build my kit. So if my price is high so should the price of my makeup.

I am not judging anyone. I'm just saying how I feel.

Apr 4, 2014

Meagan B.

^ Jacqueline, this post is everything!! You're always so elegantly detailed and articulate in your break down of things. Make so much sense! I appreciate you and your knowledge!

Apr 4, 2014

Elizabeth F.

Hi, Brittany!

In answer to your question, I would say: Heck, no!

There are many high-end makeup products that are no more effective, pigmented, or long-lasting than their drugstore counterparts! In fact, there is a veritable laundry list of expensive skin care and makeup products with fancy labels that are actually Worse for your skin than products you could buy for a quarter of the price down at your local drugstore!

I kid you not.

The cosmetics industry is actually very loosely regulated in most countries. High levels of potentially toxic minerals and known irritants can be found in a number of products--even those made by "reputable" companies!

Check-out the toxicology reports on http://www.ewg.org/skindeep and http://www.beautypedia.com to see what I'm talking about!

The only way to know whether or not the product you are considering buying is worth your hard-earned cash is to:

1. Stay informed! Learn as much as you can from reputable sources about skin care. There are many "miracle" products for sale that amount to little more than water, glycerin, and trace amounts of an exotic-sounding ingrediant. Know what has been proven to work by actual, skin care researchers, and what has not.

2. Try it for yourself. When all has been said and done, nothing beats giving a product a shot. There are any number of makeup and skin care products that may work great for your friends and be terrible for you. Any time I'm looking at buying something that costs more than $50, I Always ask for a sample to try first. No one who is legitimately interested in making certain that you gets the products that will actually work for you should ever object to giving you a sample or--at least--a free demonstration.

Apr 4, 2014

Roz X.

Well said, Jacqueline.

Apr 4, 2014

Elizabeth F.

Oh, good. I seem to have missed an important part of the topic. Even when it was capitalized. And repeatedly stated. xD Well, there's my moment of public embarrassment for the week. Sorry, everyone!

Apr 4, 2014

Danielle B.

If my client were to ask, I would absolutely tell them what the product is. My philosophy is if I'm ashamed to be using it, then I shouldn't be using it. The reason I still put some things in the refillable containers is so that I don't automatically get judged based on using certain brand names even when I believe in them and have extensively tested and found them to be worthy of using in my kit. That and I'm kind of OCD in wanting everything to look the same-ish. Generally, when/if they do ask its because they are hoping they can go get that product and have a similar result on their own.

Apr 4, 2014

Katie C.

I think it's all about a good mix... it really is about the product not the packaging so to say. for instance I'm not going to go using a concealer that wears off within an hour just because it's by MAC. x

Apr 5, 2014

Sonja B.

I have a mix of both. For example a black pencil that stays wonderfully on the waterliner and is dirt cheap (the prestige one) is always in my kit.

Apr 6, 2014

Amber Does Nails x.

High end products with recognizable names will put your clients at ease and help you command a proper wage.
I usually depot/repackage my lower end favs. I put all shadows and blushes in MAC pallets and transfer creams into label less bead case and vials (which also makes for easy organized travel).

If you want to be taken serious you must present yourself as such.

Think of it this way, would you feel comfortable going to a salon that uses V05 products or a restaurant who serves hamburger helper? Would you want to be driven to your wedding in a Camry?

Apr 20, 2014

Katie C.

Fair enough but if say a Mac foundation looks awful on a client but a rimmel one looks flawless... which one do you think they'd prefer? I choose products for quality not the label. x