Airbrush Reality

Airbrush makeup is all the rage right now, but does it really live up to the hype? Yes and no. All airbrush products are not created equal, and none of them will give great results without the skilled application of a trained professional. Let’s look at some of the ballyhoo vs. reality.

Claim: Flawless coverage for every skin type!

Truth? Sort of. It depends almost entirely on the products used. Airbrush delivers a superfine mist of foundation, which does give even, uniform coverage. If the surface isn’t already smooth, though, the wrong product will settle into fine lines and large pores regardless of application method. The right primer and foundation formula are vital to a flawless finish. A skilled and experienced makeup artist can achieve as close to a perfect result as possible with either airbrush or traditional makeup - the difference is really only noticeable in HD photos or video.

Claim: Lasts 12-24 hours!

Truth? Maybe. Again, it’s all about the primer, foundation formula, and finishing spray used.

Claim: Faster application!

Truth? Not really. It can be rushed more easily, perhaps, but you won’t get the best possible results that way.

Claim: Easy, perfect contouring!

Truth? Nope. No machine is going to do what you can do skill for skill. If you can't contour with traditional makeup, you don't deserve a damned machine. And it wouldn’t do you any good anyway.

Claim: You can airbrush eyeshadow, too!

Truth? While it’s technically possible and the products exist, forcefully blowing makeup directly at your eye just isn’t a great idea. Most looks will come out better done by an artist’s hand anyway.

The bottom line is that airbrush is only worth the higher price tag for certain applications. You really need a skilled professional makeup artist to help you determine if it’s right for you, and to choose the right products and apply them if it is - no machine can replace that knowledge and training. And investing in an airbrush machine is definitely not worthwhile unless you have professional training on how to use it, and are either a professional makeup artist or a model doing regular HD work.