How to Get the Best from Your Lipstick with Mineral Air
Michael Bondi, Director of Education and Lead Instructor at the Blush School of Makeup in San Francisco, shares some of his favorite lipstick tricks. Photo courtesy of FaceWest, San Francisco. Photo courtesy of FaceWest, San Francisco.
Mineral Air is a lot more versatile than you may realize. Our friend Michael Bondi who teaches professional makeup artists at a school in San Francisco quite likes to use Mineral Air to perfect lipstick application and longevity.
First we start with some of Michael’s basic lipstick truths:
Inexpensive isn’t always bad.
Says Michael, "(Select) inexpensive lipsticks can be just as good as the break-the-budget stuff though you do need to shop carefully. I’ve got the whole gamut of prices in my kit from the drugstore brands like Melani and Maybelline to luxe brands like the $90 bullets from Christian Louboutin."
Lipstick and blush should coordinate.
“Color families count here, particularly if you’re wearing intense shades,” advises Michael. “If you’re working reds, then keep your blush on the pink side. If you’re wearing very warm reds or oranges, then a peach-toned blush will look best. And if you’re going for plum, then cool pink will work. Nudes are a little trickier since everyone’s nude is different. Generally, the deeper the skin pigment, the brighter the blush you can use and still look natural.”
Take a break from matte liquid lipsticks now and then
“Liquid, painted on lipsticks can really deliver a long-lasting look with a lot of impact that doesn’t budge. But no matter how great the formula or moisturizing claims it may make, liquid lip paints can be drying,” Michael says. “Try going a few days wearing lightly tinted glosses every once in a while and treat your lips at night with some moisturizing too.“
Exfoliate as needed
“It’s true for painting a window sill and it’s true for painting your lips,” observes Michael. “The smoother the surface underneath, the better the application on top.” Now onto Michael’s lip tips using Mineral Air:
Getting nude even for women of color
Michael points out that many women of color have a darker lower lip. “For a sheer or nude lip on deeper complexions, what I do is mist the Mineral Air over both lips to create a consistent color base before applying any lip pencil or lipstick. The key to making this work to that you must give the Mineral Air time to first before applying lipstick. Mist it on and give it a good 5 minutes to dry and you’re good to go.”
Getting the best out of your red
Mineral Air misted over the lips and surrounding area also offers the added advantages of providing a great base to help the color last longer and to help prevent feathering beyond the vermillion border. Here’s Michael Bondi’s step by step for a stellar red smile:
1. Mist Mineral Air lightly over the lips and surrounding area. Let it dry for at least 5 minutes.
2. Using a lip pencil, line your lips along the vermillion border.
3. Using a lip brush, apply 2 to 3 coats of lipstick depending on how intense you want it.
4. Put a tissue over your lips and powder through it to set the color.
5. Using the lip brush again, apply another coat of color.
“The key to making this work to that you must give the Mineral Air time to set first before applying lipstick. Mist it on and give it a good 5 minutes to dry and you’re good to go.”
Michael Bondi
Director of Education and Leader Instructor
Blush School of Makeup
W blushschoolofmakeup
IG @blushschoolofmakeup
