One of the most common questions I get from brides, is “should I get airbrush for my wedding?” The answer is always, it depends! Let’s break this down so you can make the most informed decision based on your needs.
What IS Airbrush?
Airbrush is a special spray tool which sprays a thin formula of makeup onto the face. It creates a flawless, blended-as-you-go look. Cameras capture photos and break them down into square pixels. Airbrush sprays in little dots. This means the camera can’t catch any lines in the makeup, creating a flawless, filtered-looking, blurred skin effect in photos.
There are three main types of formulas similar to traditional makeup: water based, silicone, and alcohol based. Its thin nature allows you to build the makeup up to the desired level of coverage, from very thin, to full(ish) coverage (more on that later). Water-based tends to be the least lasting, as tears can cause streaking which I definitely wouldn’t recommend for weddings. Silicone tends to have fantastic longevity, and gives a beautiful second-skin finish. It comes in both a matte, and more dewy formula depending on your needs and preferences. Alcohol is the longest lasting, but can be harsh, especially on dry skin. It’s great for body coverage/tattoo coverage as it is the most transfer-proof, water-proof and sweat-proof formula.
Who’s it is and isn’t for
Airbrush looks amazing if you already have pretty decent skin and just want a light-medium second-skin like finish. I’ve found with most airbrush formulas, when built up to full coverage they have a tendency to look cakey, which is personally not my vibe. My goal is to not only make you look amazing in photos, but flawless in person too!
To get a full coverage look while still getting that airbrushed finish, I might suggest combining both traditional and airbrush. Using traditional foundation/concealer to get the desired coverage where it’s needed, while topping off with airbrush for that extra flawless, filtered skin effect.
How to get the most out of your airbrush makeup
Like with any makeup application, having a good skincare routine is the foundation for how well the makeup will sit on your skin. Being consistent is KEY. Making sure you’re cleansing, moisturizing, getting that SPF on EVERY DAY, and exfoliating a couple times a week. Getting a good, gentle exfoliation in the day before your airbrush application will make it sit so much more smoothly, and give your skin that amazing glow.
I want to preface this by saying that talking about facial hair can be an awkward, sensitive conversation for some, and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with having peach fuzz! It’s perfectly normal, natural and acceptable. (This is coming from me who has more than peach fuzz – a bit of a lady beard that I shave daily due to PCOS.) The last thing I want to do is unlock an insecurity that doesn’t need to be there in my clients. However, I also want you to love your results and get the most out of your airbrush.
Because airbrush is spraying pigment directly on your face, the foundation will first hit and cling to excessive peach fuzz, emphasizing it, and making the foundation sit less smooth and flawless. With traditional makeup, you’re able to smooth over and flatten the peach fuzz with brushes and sponges – keeping it looking like its natural state. I highly recommend anyone wanting airbrush who has excessive peach fuzz to get a derma-planing facial prior to (please test this at least 2 months in advance of your wedding to ensure you don’t have any adverse reactions). You can also purchase a gentle peach fuzz shaver like this one: https://a.co/d/aeIDWE6
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Gives a blurred, filtered effect in photos
- Has amazing longevity
- Provides that extra pampering experience
- Amazing for body/tattoo coverage
- Is extra sanitary as no brushes or sponges are touching the face.
Cons:
- Can look cakey with full coverage
- Makes peach fuzz stand out
- Tends to cost more
- Can sometimes have issues spraying and need to be cleaned or adjusted midway through services.
In Conclusion
Now you have a little more knowledge of airbrush and I hope this helps you make your decision. If you’re still not sure, it’s definitely something I’m happy to explore with you during your wedding makeup trial, or schedule a makeup lesson with me and I’d be happy to teach your how to use it.
Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion only, having worked with multiple types of airbrush formulas. I have not worked with ever single formula out there, and other people are entitled to their own opinion based on their experiences.