Why spray-on foundations are the next generation of makeup.
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Back in 1959 on the set of Ben-Hur, when the large cast of extras needed touch-ups on their Roman tans, the film's makeup artists turned to airbrushing for the first time because it delivered a flawless makeup base fast.
These days on-set, celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Teri Hatcher insist on having their makeup misted on. "The rise of high-definition television [HDTV] has unleashed a hysteria in Hollywood," says BJ Gillian, a New York-based celebrity makeup artist. "Everyone over the age of 20 is panicking because HDTV magnifies every last line and defect." But while airbrushing might keep some stars' names off the online "10 HDTV Horribles" list, these professional-grade gadgets are expensive and a challenge to operate.
Spray like you mean it
Acting on the consumer demand for quick, effective and affordable makeup solutions, several beauty companies have recently launched spray-on foundations -- at-home airbrushing in palm-size, ozone-friendly aerosol cans. Composed mainly of water, colour pigment, silicone -- an emollient that keeps the product moist on the skin -- and propellant, spray-ons are applied from the forehead to the chin in a quick zigzag motion, with the canister held about 10 centimetres from the face. With each mist, tiny, pigment-wrapped water bubbles land on the skin and burst, delivering a hit of moisture that dries into the finish of your choice. Depending on the product and the number of mists, you can achieve everything from the look of a tinted moisturizer to camera-ready full coverage. "Four mists of my foundation can cover a tattoo," says Yolanda Halston, the founder of Classified Cosmetics, a company that specializes in spray-on technology.
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