MUA Must-Have Products That You Need
BY JENNY JUNG
Here are all the products that I’ve sworn allegiance to after many trials and errors.
29 DEC - 2023
Priceless insights for the beauty lovers.
A little over one year ago, my good friend, Weiting, and I decided to take a chance on ourselves and begin our freelancing journey as makeup artists. Since then, we have been testing so many other products for our kit to get to where it is today.
Understanding different skin types and spotting all the little crevices and angles of each given face is definitely a skill I am still trying to master. However, there are certain techniques and products that make this process a lot easier. Here are our favourite products that we always take around and use on most, if not all, appointments.
Trinny London Makeup Stacks
At first glance, the Trinny London Makeup Stacks were a little confusing to me as the texture of the cream pots had a distinctly balmy feel. While some of the shades seemed appropriate to use on the cheeks or lips, some of them were bronze, or burgundy. This gave me the impression that particular shades were made for the eyes. However, with such a slick formula, I could not comprehend how these products would perform throughout the day. This was until I had the opportunity to whip them out for the runway and photography.
As soon as I saw the Trinny London creams glisten from the lights, I knew that we had something very special in our kit. If you love a glass-like glow to the skin, or you are looking for high-shine cream eyeshadows with a buildable formula, Trinny London is the place to go.
Keep in mind, glossy products are not long-lasting. However, for a photoshoot or runway, the Trinny London formula cannot be beat. They have a solid formula that you can easily break down with the warmth of your fingers. On days where I don’t use them on the complexion, they make great lipglosses!
Trinny London, Fresh Face Stack, $118 NZD.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur
As a makeup artist, it’s our job to know what product to use for different skin-types. When we are faced with a client who is hard to figure out, we have some fail-proof base products that always work like magic, no matter what. One of them being the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur.
While the original Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder works wonders on oily skin-types, this formula does not bode well on dry or textured skin. If you are looking for a smoothing powder with a great mattifying touch that won’t dry you out, give the Blur rendition a try.
When you take a look at this product in store, you may notice the pearly or shimmery particles within this powder. However, you can be rest assured that these do not translate on the complexion whatsoever. I promise.
Laura Mercier, Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur, $87 NZD.
M.A.C Studio Fix Powder
It would be a dream come true to be able to own all the shades of the M.A.C Studio Fix Powders. While there are many ways to employ this product, we love to use it as a final touch with a small brush or disposable sponge to lightly stamp under the eyes, centre of forehead, and around the mouth. This powder is extremely creamy which leads many to believe that this powder is cakey or chalky. However, with a light touch, this powder can erase texture, perfect shapes, and add coverage in the areas you need it. It is an absolute must.
M.A.C Studio Fix Powder, $71 NZD.
M.A.C Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette
The M.A.C Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette goes everywhere with us. This six-pan palette is available in six different shade varieties. The shade that we carry is called “Medium Deep” and it has the perfect array of yellow, orange, and other medium/deep colours that we dip in and out of.
I know this might sound weird, but I feel weirdly assured when we take this palette with us on location. We often use it to mix into foundations to get the perfect shade, as an eyeshadow base, contour, and colour corrector. She works very hard for us, you see. The M.A.C Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette is incredibly versatile and it’s worth checking out.
M.A.C, Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette, $89 NZD.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette
The ABH Soft Glam Palette is a great example of how some products will never go out of style. This neutral number will remain as a classic for years to come and it’s all down to its ingenious colour story. Soft Glam is full of essential mattes, a satin ivory, a matte black, an array of shimmers and sophisticated glitters.
The only downside is the velvet casing which can get very messy, very quickly. However, as long as you are keeping the inside sanitised and clean, I can’t imagine anybody complaining about it. On that note, people are privy to point out the fall-out of these eyeshadows but life is all about give and take. With a powdery formula, you get an incredible blend that is soft and smooth. On the other hand, harder formulas may not create as much of a mess but they require more attention when blending or placing shadows. Plus, you can use setting sprays or water to wet your brush before dipping into a shadow to create a concentrated liner or an ultra shimmery lid.
Anastasia Beverly Hills, Soft Glam Palette, $78 NZD.
Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Mechanical Gel Liner
The Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Mechanical Gel Liner is the only eyeliner that will not budge from the tight line or waterline. Point, blank, period.
One time, I had a client come in the morning where I tightlined her eyes with the Hourglass Voyeur Liner. Four hours later, she came back to change looks, and the liner had not smudged or moved around in the slightest capacity. It was completely intact. Ever since, I have sworn allegiance to the Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Mechanical Gel Liner. We suggest picking up the shades “Obsidian” and “Cave” for a timeless black and dark brown duo - perfect for any given occasion.
Hourglass, Voyeur Waterproof Mechanical Gel Liner, $51 NZD.
Colourpop!
Whether you are just starting to build your kit, or you are a professional who is looking to expand colour stories without breaking the bank, Colourpop is your best friend.
As you may know, Colourpop offers great value packs of everything: eyes, lips, and face. Currently, we are loving our lipliner vault from Colourpop that has a great range of nude, pink, and reds. They also have colour specific value sets where you can get tailored items that suit your needs as a makeup artist.
Colourpop Blush Range.
Conclusion
The past year has been an incredible experience pursuing my passions, building a community and strengthening my relationship with my business partner. It has been a pleasure to meet people within the industry as well as our valued clients!
I hope you enjoyed reading about some of our favourite products for flawless makeup looks, everytime.
RELATED STORIES
GIVEAWAY
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to Chatty Chum's mailing list to receive the latest in beauty and lifestyle news, giveaways and the launch of our Editor's Collection boxes.