Way back before I had a computer, I actually talked face to face with people and interesting topics would pop up in conversations. Once, I met a theater major who was really into cosmetics. I asked her what type of cosmetics she used.
Check out: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Joe Blasco Ultrabase Foundations
I asked because she was a bit heavy handed in her real life application. She mentioned brands that I never heard of-William Tuttle, RCMA, and Joe something or other. I commented, "You mean you don't use Christian Dior, Borghese, Chanel?" "No," she replied, "because I am a thespian." She really put an emphasis on the last word to the point where I knew her cosmetic world and mine were totally different. I was not a thespian, therefore I didn't know the brands she used, making me unworthy!
Eventually, I became familiar with the cosmetics of William Tuttle, RCMA, and the Joe something or other was Joe Blasco. Funny, the last part stuck in my mind even though I didn't catch the complete name. When I ran into the line years after being dissed as a potential cosmetic friend due to my lack of pro cosmetic knowledge, I bought some stuff and to tell you the truth I went back to my cosmetic counter stuff. Why? Because I didn't understand it. It didn't have the pan appeal, and the lighting in the theatrical store didn't wow me like the department store lighting. Boy, was I dumb! I should have paid more attention to the thespian!
This is what I didn't know back then. A quality product doesn't need fancy packaging because people who use the products are true pros that work in the industry (film and television). The products are specifically designed for an industry that is highly sensitive to the pigments of products which can make or break a movie or someone's career whether it be the actor or makeup artist. These are the reasons why Joe Blasco Cosmetics is a line to explore! He calculates someone's skin tone and divides that into blood, melanin, and fat to create a skin color. I know this sounds gross but in special fx this is where the gore comes from! Aside from sounding like a horror movie, a human has all these too and this is what sets aside a cosmetic line for film and TV to all the other lines out there. Also, the quality control is rigid, what you get now and what you buy months from now will be the same. There are no seasonal colors or limited edition ones. The same colors will be there months later (continuity in a film is important). You also get a product that isn't outsourced. Yes, it is made in the good old US of A!
Joe Blasco Cosmetics does not include that "I-don't-know-what-to-do-with" faux suede pouch or leaflet that tells you where and how to apply for the civilian or for that matter the makeup artist. No, it is a line that relies on application techniques and usage of color. Color that looks darker in the pan due to the high concentration of pigments without the manipulation of them with murky fillers. With Joe Blasco Cosmetics, you get the highest grade pigments mixed with filtered ingredients which provide not only a smooth application but color that won't oxidize on the skin after long hours of wear, and this is with or without a primer. This is why the line is very friendly for mature skin and, of course, any age skin.
In the next couple of posts, I will introduce you to some products that everyone should try.
Joe Blasco Eyeshadows
These eyeshadows come in a flip top or a screw top container housing the average sized small pan (26mm) of pure color. If you had problems finding the right browns or browns that may have "turned" on you, Joe Blasco browns are one to try. These are hard pressed shadows and are meant to be used wet and dry. Wet, they provide a much more saturated color when used to draw lines (example: the crease) and still buffs and blends easily to soften the lines. Yes, they can be used as eyeliners which are long lasting using just water alone. Dry, they are very pigmented yet can be softly applied depending on the brush used. With a filbert you get the shadow and color, with a fluff you get a the color in a much softer tone. Either method you get long-wearing true colors; what you see in the pan is what you get on your skin.
For a basic neutral look, I suggest the following colors for most skin tones: Cream, Isis, Taupe, and True Brown.
I have the following matte colors (m) for a basic neutral eye. The shimmer colors (s) can be used as shimmer highlighters on the face also. Isis is a soft fleshtone pink (warm pink with a tinge of peach) . Taupe is unlike all the other taupe colors out there, it is the perfect midtone and skin tone brown that never looks ashy or to fake on the skin; gives the eye the natural definition needed for a natural look. True Brown is what it says, a true dark brown, nothing too warm or cool just true. Fair Strawberry is a soft pink yet not quite all pink, more of a milky shimmery pink warmed up just a touch to work with skin to make it look alive. Great shimmer highlighter for the cheeks, great color for the ghost white to fairest skin tones. Copper is a shimmery red brown, nothing too wild; just enough of a jewel tone to enhance any colored eyes. Great shimmer for the darkest of skin tones for the cheeks.
You may have noticed that I don't have the usual highlighting eyeshadow color even though I suggested the Cream eyeshadow as one; that will be explained in my next post. One of the most awesome highlighters that works on any skin type of any age. Stay tuned!
Joe Blasco Eyeshadow Ingredients
Joe Blasco Eyeshadow Ingredients:
Talc, isostearyl neopentanoate, magnesium stearate, boron nitride, mica, silica, ascorbyl palmitate, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, propylparaben. May contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides, ultramarine blue, manganese violet, fd&c 40 al lake, ferric ammonium ferrocyanide, chromium oxide, carmine, tin oxide.
*PR samples.
