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Has this happened to you? (I know it's happened to me)...

You stare blankly at brand after brand, aisle after aisle of makeup.
Your senses are assaulted with thousands of mesmerizing colors, formulas, textures and finishes.  Your head swims with seemingly endless options.  You're overwhelmed, stressed-out and eventually ...
Total confusion and massive frustration set in.

"Should I use a moisturizer or makeup primer...or both?"

"What type of foundation for Photo...Film...HDV?"

"Loose powder, pressed powder...do I need powder?"

"Cream Blush, Powder Blush, Bronzer...eeeeck!"

"Who makes GREAT lipstick ...gloss...for real?"

OK...REALITY CHECK.

 Many major cosmetic companies spend millions (billions) of dollars on eye catching packaging, exotic ingredients, luxuriously beautiful bottles and sleek stylish compacts. They make bold statements with innovative and provocative advertising and commercials.  They buy "unbiased" editorial coverage by giving magazine publishers BIG advertising dollars.  The buy the devotion of beauty editors by showering them with free products and expensive gifts.  A certain cosmetic giant has gotten so obsessed, they've gone to extreme (sometimes unethical) lengths to make sure that their name and products are featured or credited everywhere.

BY THE WAY...
if you were wondering who foots the bill for all of this...LOOK IN THE MIRROR

PAINFUL FACTS: Even though a cosmetic company may be able to throw their weight around and buy favors to insure their name is always in your face...

  1. Lots of press coverage DOES NOT guarantee a professional quality product.
  2. REAL Professional Makeup Artists DO NOT use products because of the name printed on the packaging.
  3. REAL Professional Makeup Artists DO NOT use the hype surrounding a brand as a buying guide.
  4. REAL Professional Makeup Artists DO use products that get the job done efficiently, meet the highest requirements of their media format (Film, Video, Print) and make their work look it's best for as long as the shoot requires.
On this website you'll find descriptions and pictures of many products professional make-up artist's REALLY have in their kits. 
This information has been compiled by polling many of the busiest and most respected makeup artists working in Film, Television and Photography around the world.  We've compared notes in person, by phone, by email or on industry forums and only products that stand up to the demands of our jobs make the list.

I'm letting the industry's best kept secrets out of the (makeup) bag.
Everything from moisturizer to mascara, lipstick to lipgloss, drugstore to specialty store.  This is your 'hook-up' to the hottest trends, newest cosmetic technology  and a reminder that some all-time favorites are still the best in their category.
So, come back for monthly updates and have fun playing...IN MY KIT!

EXTRA! EXTRA! - Most of the companies featured offer generous Professional Makeup Artist discounts when you present the correct credentials.

VERY IMPORTANT:
No Compensation or Sponsored Advertising is accepted from any company that manufactures or distributes the products featured on this website.
Product placement on this website is based solely on the quality, reliability and actual performance of each item under professional conditions.  Any brand that changes formulation in a way that compromises any of these criteria will be removed from the IN MY KIT website.

Coming in Fall 2008 - Hair Products, Tools of the Trade (makeup and hair), The Hall Of Fame.