Cosmoprof is back in Bologna, Italy, and once again I was first in line and searching this massive, 4 day event for anything new concerning airbrushing in makeup and beauty.
Of course the focus of my wandering had to be once again Halls 29 and 30, dubbed for the occasion the "International Pavillions", where I had the pleasure of meeting up once again with our friends from leading professional UK brand Mistair. The company's reputation is growing fast on the British scene, where promotional liasons with popular TV programmes are making its quality silicone based line more and more well known in the industry. This year I also had a chance to try out their amazing MistFX line, which I can honestly say is the best, most pigmented body painting product I have ever seen. Given its reach texture and its resistance to water I could hardly believe that this product was in fact water based and seeing these amazingly brilliant colours in person was enough to make me want to go back to body painting very soon.
Not very far in the USA section of Hall 30 I was very happy to meet the brilliant international team of Make-up Designory, who very recently opened a Studio in Milan. MUD enjoys a reputation for being one of the very best makeup schools in the world, and also produces an equally acclaimed makeup range that includes a line of high quality silicone based products. The MUD stand was one of the most happening and interesting places in the whole exhibition. I shall say no more about them for now, because I will have the pleasure of visiting their New York branch very soon, and I will follow up with an in-depth review.
A similar relationship between education and product creation is reflected in the history of Cazcarra Image Group, a big company from Spain that started as a professional school and is now producing an extensive range of makeup catering to anyone from teenage girls to the most skilled FX professionals. Cazcarra produces a very interesting aibrush makeup line which we will be happy to review very soon. One of their leading makeup artists, Jordi Justribó, was there once again demonstrating amazing looks to an awestruck audience. We will soon interview Jordi for a new series on international airbrush makeup artists profiles.
This year I was surprised to see airbrushes also involved in unusual application, from pure oxygen skin therapy to hair reconstruction treatments. While some of these disciplines might leave one slightly perplexed at times, one thing is certain: airbrushing in the cosmetic industry is here to stay.