There are several professionals who do makeup come Carnival, I chose this particular one because she did a friend’s face last year and she also had an online portfolio that I could peruse and see what kind of job she did and what faces I liked or did not like. I made an appointment for 6:00AM on Carnival Tuesday, and along with Mystique and her friend we got to the location just after 6:00, late yes, but we were met with several masqueraders already waiting!!! The appointment system just went out the door. After we took our numbers we had nothing to do BUT wait, it was not like we could just say forget it as none of us walked with any makeup to do the job ourselves.
During the waiting period some of us had breakfast that was provided, others finished dressing and we even made a trip to TRIBE’s mas camp (looking for our backpacks). After a long wait, and resigned to the fact that we were indeed going to miss the band leaving Stanmore Avenue, we eventually got called. The system was like an assembly line, and another makeup artist showed up to do colour, so the line started moving a bit faster but not by much. Upon entering the room I had foundation applied first, I walked with my own so the makeup artist used Revlon Colorstay, then her own products for concealer and powder. I also have to add that my face was already primed with Milk of Magnesia, the one tip I was given that worked wonders for Carnival!
Next it was off to get the eyes done at a another station, I liked that they asked what I wanted done and I was able to say I want it dramatic, with glitter and where I wanted my face decoration. The eye shadow application on the eyes was fabulous! I even wanted more lashes to the individual extensions I was wearing so they added strip lashes which were ridiculously ostentatious; I mean it WAS for Carnival right! After my eyes were done they added face jewels, lipstick and fix it spray; I was VERY pleased with the end results. One thing I do not like about some makeup artist is when they use contouring to shade the nose and this was not done at all. The makeup looked outstanding but the face still looked natural and not as if product was caked on.
The cost of $200.00TT included the lashes, face decoration, breakfast and even a little gift bag that included some goodies like Dior perfume samples, Dove face wash, eye shadow and lip-gloss; to me the price (and long wait) was worth it; if I had to purchase the lashes and face decoration myself it would easily cost $100.00TT. In addition if you wanted your face painted or individual face jewels added they were doing that as well.Interestingly enough there were many ladies playing with Harts getting their faces done along with many from TRIBE and even one guy! I also recognized some faces from the beauty pageant arena such as Nasma Mohammed and Lorca Gatcliffe. And after the long wait we did not miss the band, meeting TRIBE on South Quay with a few minutes to spare before my section crossed the stage
As for how the makeup held up on the road, my face decoration stayed on all day, they were not individual stones but rather the ones that come in a pack; my nose and bindi stick-ons did fall off however! The eye makeup lasted for the entire day as well, and since I used Colorstay foundation my makeup was not sliding off my face either, at the end of the day my face was still “on”. Of course I used blotting sheets to absorb the excess oil and reapplied powder at the lunch stop.
The difference with the professional makeup and doing it on your own is not with the product but the application; you rely on the makeup artist’s skill to choose the right colours for your skin tone and the ability to accentuate your features. I would definitely use this same makeup artist for Carnival 2009, but I am not going to reveal who she is in fear of having an even LONGER wait next year!! I hope all of you who chose to go with a professional were pleased with the results, and feel free to share your experience and the makeup artist you used (if you feel like sharing the identity) by leaving a comment.
Ladies whose faces were also done by the makeup artist I used:
Can you tell which one had her face professionally done?
PHOTO SOURCE:
www.carnivalscene.com
www.toronto-lime.com
www.watever.com
