The Infamous "Kit"

In this town that I live in that wants to be hot shit and isn't, (read: I live in neither Manhattan nor LA) the aspiring artists all ask each other, "What's in YOUR kit?" It's like those horrible Capital One credit card ads that used to be on TV all the time.

Well, what IS in your kit? What should and definately should NOT be in your kit? How should it be put together? What kind of case should you use? I know many people who want to have multiple train cases for their kit. For people who do this, I'm so glad that you have an army of servants and infinite amounts of space, both in your home to store everything, but also on the sets your working on. The most practical thing I've seen is a large soft suitcase on wheels. Everything inside is separated in clear vinyl bags which are labeled in Sharpie and thrown away when they get yucky.

No, this is not what I have. I personally have a three section metal Stanley toolbox on wheels, which I had purchased as a roll-about during cosmetology school before dropping out. And I am considering very seriously the vinyl bag option instead of the weird drawer divider things I picked up at the office store. I'm tired of all my lip and eye pencils taking up the same section, and the lip-glosses spilling over into it.

But nobody really cares about the case. What are the things you would absolutely never go on set without? These are my top items.

1) MD Skincare Alpha/Beta Daily Face Peel. ($75)
Um. Not makeup. I know. But before you even think of matching them for a foundation, you've got to know that their skin is smooth and clean. This does both in two simple very effective steps. Even the best foundations will look cakey and gross over uneven, rough, dry, patchy skin.

2) Dr Perricone's Face Finishing Moisturizer. ($55)
Excellent all-purpose moisturizer. Unlike most Perricone products, does not smell like fish.

3) Lorac AquaPrime. ($30)
You know I had a male model tell me once that he didn't drink or eat for two days before a shoot to make his muscles stand out more? That's great man, but at twenty-four years old your wrinkles now look like the Grand Canyon instead of a creek bed. This primer contains Hyaluronic Acid which helps bind moisture to the skin, and can dramatically decrease the appearance of lines if the cause is extreme dryness. Still need spackle?

4) Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer (To Go Version in squeeze tube, $15.50)
Contains dimethicone and silicone to help fill in fine lines and pores. Helps keep face from eating makeup, or vice-versa, i.e. makes makeup stay on longer.

5) Smashbox Anti-Shine. ($27)
A godsend for the chronically shiny. And it's a simple thing to dab a bit onto a sponge, run up to someone, blot them, and dash away. Careful: a little goes a long way, especially on deep-toned skin. It's clear.... mostly.

6) Smashbox Browtech Wax ($20)
I don't care what product you prefer to use to structure, fill in, or reshape someone's eyebrows; this will make whatever that is go on smoother, stick better, and be absolutely waterproof. If you rub them, they will still smudge, but if you get a bucket of water dropped over your head the eyebrows will still be in place. To create brows which were nonexistent stipple wax on first, and then press brow powder or appropriate eyeshadow over top.

7) Shiseido Mascara Base. ($22)
Best mascara primer ever. Prevents any mascara no matter how crappy from flaking, smudging, etc. This is one of those things where I have one for me, and one for my kit.

8) Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. ($18)
This is should be a no-brainer. Although to be honest, I do like the Sephora eyelash curler just as well.... ($16)

9) MakeUp ForEver Mist and Fix ($27)
Does exactly what it says. You mist it on, and it freezes everything in place without feeling like you just blasted your face with AquaNet. And you can apply makeup right over top of it if you need to! Common to use this at various stages to prevent certain things from creasing (like concealer, ugh).

10) Shiseido Cotton. ($8)
Best cotton ever. Excellent for makeup removers and toners.

11) Duo Eyelash Adhesive. ($6?)
Industry Standard.

12) MakeUp ForEver lashes. ($14-ish)
But throw away the glue. It's horrible. See (11.


I could keep going, but everything else is of lesser importance. Good shopping list, no? And now what you've all be waiting for: What should never ever be in a kit that is used for anything that requires your model to be seen in anything other pure darkness: Mineral Makeup. Of any kind. Liquid, pressed, loose, I don't care. My hatred of mineral makeup knows no bounds. However, I think that is a subject for another post.