My Kit: as it is April 2011! [Image Heavy]

I've always enjoyed seeing how other makeup artists pack their kit and recently there was a request on a forum to see specifically a ZUCA kit...so here is mine! ;) with captions! I bought the ZUCA Pro at the MAC PRO store my first year, and I decided to do that because it was the same price as the regular ZUC A, just that I had to pay shipping on top of the sales price and sales tax...so it's just annoying that there's a "MAC" logo on it, but I bought the ZUCA Pro backpack at LA IMATS in 2009, and there was a *small* discount and FREE shipping and I found out that they are based in Los Gatos, which is here in the BAY! I snapped these photos as I was unpacking my kit from a shoot~

Crammed in there is my hair kit, makeup brushes & hair brush, extension cords, and MISC. items like extension cords, body lotion/hand lotion/oil, extra ziplock bags! Hair dryer has a nook there to hang ~

My brush roll - from the sigma kit~ I keep face brushes here!

And..other brushes in my Jane Iredale (discontinued) hard brush case, and all my bobbypins/hair ties

Tissues/disposables, hair products, polish remover, brushes

Top left pocket: hair sprays, altoids (!?) and mirror

Lower left pocket: Mousse, dry shampoo, and...magnifying glass~ ^.~   

Right pocket (with the heat protected pocket): Hair straghtener, 1inch curling iron, Heat protecting matt

and in the inner pocket, teasing brushes/rat tail combs

On to the outside of the rolling case..I use the outer pocket to put my "SOILED" ziplock, tape to tape up trash bags, and plastic bags for my trash if there is no trash bin~

Main inner pocket: makeup cape, disposable palettes, and palettes

Upper pocket: Transforming gel, loose pigments~ so if it spills, at least it would be in this pocket 

lower pocket: alcohol sprays, brush cleaner etc.

4 of the clear cases, and the top one is the smaller one from the Zuca artist backpack!

Hiding on the mesh top is my Nail polish kit!

Nail polish!

All laid out~ my other curling iron was hiding on the side~  there's also room to put a brush roll if you wish~

Prep & Prime materials~ and yes, my favorite PCA Anti-redness serum!  Also in here are highlighting cream/gels, and HD blush

Face - foundations, concealers, powder, blush~ 

Eyeliner, mascaras, brows, eyeshadows

my yaby pink foundations, lip gloss, lipstick palettes, lip liners, MUFE flash colors also live here

...and voila~ restored into their rightful places in my studio! 

Another view! 

I do need space to lay out the clear bags, but I don't need to remove every product out of them. I unzip them all the way, or half way, depending on the space, and I stack it on top of one another, and move it to the one I need~ and only grab the products I need - but I can place them right back in there when I'm done, so packing is literally unzipping everything, and stuffing it back to the case.  The hair kit/backpack contains most of the materials I have to completely remove out of the cases, so there is a bit of 'tetris' involved in that one~ But I'm getting more and more used to my set up! I think the most work is involved replacing it back into my studio, or moving it from my studio to my kit for cleaning or having clients at my studio...unfortunately I don't have $$ to have 2 setups and never have to move it~! 

I hope the photos were helpful and/or interesting! 

IMATS Pasadena 2010 Kit Investment [Part I]

This was my first IMATS or any sort of makeup trade show so I was very excited to visit the booths and test out the products in person! Unfortunately because it was very busy at the Yaby Cosmetics booth, I didn't have as much time as I would like to just to browse around and I was more ON A MISSION type of browsing!  I know this is silly, but I felt special wearing my Exhibitor's Pass! hehehe~! But! Thank goodness I'm not a make up junkie or else I'd be so broke buying everything that's enticing! :) Onwards with my "investment" pieces....!

Before attending the show, I knew I wanted to check out the Hakuhodo brushes - the high quality Japanese hand-made brushes!  I thought about investing in one or two...but when I finally got a chance to feel it, it was hard to decide WHICH ones to buy. These are definitely long lasting INVESTMENT pieces in my career as an artist - the nice Japanese man explained to me the glue is applied all the way along the ferrule (seen in the darker color portion of the brush below) and so if you wanted to dry your brushes upright, you CAN because the glue won't breakdown easily.  I held up the goat and squirrel blush brush (not this one) side by side and at first I could not feel the subtle difference in softness~ I asked the nice Japanese man, and his reaction was: "Ehhhh? Please feel again!" and then I noticed it! From what I noticed, the series are separated by the handle type and length as well as the grade of the hair.

 Blue squirrel fur is slightly softer, but I decided to go with the goat and synthetic blend of the Kokutan Finishing Brush (shown on the left).   I was tempted to get the blue squirrel Kokutan Fan Brush, but I prefer a longer handle, and I just really like the shape of the brush. It's great for powder, highlight and contouring as well!  I've been testing it out since my return and using it on my clients, and I have to say I love this brush and will treasure it. The softness makes it great for blending~ and I'm a fond of the natural look to begin with so...it suits me very well!

After deciding on the Finishing Brush, I was like: "Shoot I've already reached my budget for brushes...but I really ....need..." ....So I am perfectly fine with my current pencil brushes - except when I need to get to the outer V and closer to the eye area in a tight smokey eye look, I notice the bristles of my MAC pencil brush might irritate my clients - which led me to purchase the Kokutan Eye Shadow Brush T.  The softness of the brush is the most gentle and comforting  pencil or fine-point applicator for the eye-area.  The trade-off is lighter application and it's harder to pickup the pigment.  I mean, this is the trade-off for softer brushes in general - but the rubbing of the coarser brushes can create microscopic tears and can also scratch and irritate the skin. This is best for clients with very sensitive skin. I do take great care in applying products to the eye area, but a great tool can make it easier and more comfortable for my clients.

Lastly, I actually bought a Kokutan Pointed Powder Brush that has a smaller brush area and of course the wooden handle. The photo on the left is not the one I bought (For some reason I cannot find it on the website! Perhaps it's a newer product...?) and from the S series...So my brush is shorter (sorry I didn't take a photo of this...maybe next time! It's drying now after its weekly deep cleansing!!! ^^) with the wooden handle but the surface area it covers is smaller. I was drawn to the shape of the brush immediately and noticed how much EASIER it would be for me to use it to highlight.  Usually I use a separate brush for cheek/forehead/chin and another for nose/cupid's bow.  But now, I can just stick to ONE. 

It was hard for me to reach for my wallet to buy all 3 brushes~ ! I was definitely a bit sweaty from stress! (lol...~ and I received sympathetic glances and also comforting words from the nice Japanese ladies processing my purchase! thank you, it was comforting!) One of the ladies told me: "It's OK! Work hard and come back next year for a few more!" And I was like: "I don't think I can afford to come back next year! *laughs nervously*" 

While I was looking at the brushes, there were 2 girls looking and feeling all the brushes and saying: "omg this is sooo expensive!! I can't believe it!" And I said: "Well...this is really top of the line stuff!!" as the nice Japanese man nods fervently in agreement! These were 3 brushes I had NO regrets buying. I also bought 3 little brushes and a Kabuki brush and a $10 dollar brush roll (a steal!!!) from Royal brushes but I haven't used them much but I'm also very happy with those purchases! :) All in all, I'm happy I refrained from impulse buys in the 'tools' department, given how little time I had to shop (a little over an hour over the 2 day period~!) so I'm very happy! Until next time~~~ Have a great week!