For a long time now it has been common practice for freelance makeup artists to consolidate their makeup kits for no other reason than to lighten the load they have to lug around and to have everything as neat and organized as possible.

Those cute packages that may draw our eye to a particular product  may look harmless, but many of them grouped together give off some considerable weight, and ounces can seem like pounds when hauling a makeup kit. This is where magnetic palettes come in. There have been a number of palettes put on the market geared towards makeup artists that serve the purpose but skimp on the style department, but now UNII Cosmetics have come out with their own fun version for consumers and artists alike.

UNII Palette in Twilight

Is that an empty palette you ask? Why yes, it is! Not only is it empty, but it is magnetic, and it’s purpose is to cling on to the metal pans that lie within those pretty packages. This method is known as “depotting”. The metal pans that contain the makeup have a glue backing which adheres the product to the outer casing. Using techniques to warm up that glue loosen the pan, and voilà, the pan pops out and can then be stored onto a magnetic palette! The amount of product you can store in one palette depends on the size of the pan and palette itself, but there is no question…palettes are a great for consolidating your many products into one slim, easy to carry case.

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Quick Tutorial on Depotting: I had made a video a while back showing one of the processes I use to depot. I warn you, this version is pretty hard core in comparison to some who use the oven and a cookie sheet to warm and loosen packaging glue. UNII’s palettes has a beautiful outside packaging that instructs on another method of heating up the bottom of the pan with a blow-dryer to loosen up the pan. I’m impatient, I go all out or nothing. When I start to depot I mean business, so here is my way to tear up and destroy some packaging while keeping my makeup intact!  Be careful when trying this at home!

In playing around with the UNII Cosmetic palettes I noticed some unique features that it had in comparison to other pro counterparts. UNII first offers many different colors which is great for color coding. If you have ever grabbed for a palette and found yourself opening the wrong one because they all look alike, this is a helpful feature for you. I love that all of the options coordinate with my bright turquoise Tutto case! It comes in Pomegranate, Twilight, Lemongrass, Eggplant, and Snow. Each colored palette is covered by a clear coating making it easy to maintain and clean!

UNII colors/ my Tutto makeup case

Another unique feature is the rubber strip on the inside of the palette which helps to create a seal and the clasp on the outside which keeps that seal air tight and budge proof. In the event that any product did happen to fall out of place inside the palette, you could rest assure the palette would not open and get that product into your purse/kit and all over your things.

I think consumers will really appreciate that the UNII Palettes are also very light in weight and has a magnetic “thumb grip” which can be moved anywhere within the palette to help you balance it while applying your makeup. A wide mirror comes in every palette making it easy to apply your makeup anywhere! If you take a look at UNII Cosmetics website you will see different ways people are using their UNII’s for work and home. Many brands automatically cling onto the magnetic bottom but for those that don’t there are magnet strips with sticky backings provided. These palettes run slightly smaller than other palettes on the market but have lots of features the others don’t. I love this in my purse to tote around while keeping others in my set bag or setting up one for talent whose makeup tends to stay the same for continuity on set.

Extra information for UNII users…

FUN CONTEST GIVEAWAY!

Makeup Is Art Beauty Blog has only been re-launched for a matter of weeks and has such a growth in readership! I want to show my appreciation by offering one of these sweet UNII Cosmetic palettes, in the color of your choice, as my current beauty giveaway!

All you have to do is leave a comment sharing your feedback on the Makeup is Art Beauty Blog thus far or what you would like to see more from it in the future. I will choose a random winner from Random.org on Friday, January 22nd, and let you know of the winner right here on this blog by 5 p.m.  that day. This contest is open to any of my readers so comment away and I can’t wait to get one of these fun palettes in some ones hands!

Tags: consolidating, depot eyeshadow, depotting, magnetic palette, makeup artist, makeup kit, palettes, UNII, you tube tutorial

Lots has happened since my last string of posts on my beloved blog, so I have a lot of catching you up to do! One great opportunity my husband, Luis Aragon, and I had was to do a beauty lip story for The Powder Group’s “On Makeup Magazine”.  Here is a behind the scenes look at what went down at Studio 400 in Washington D.C. for this shoot.

On Makeup Magazine Behind the Scenes from Kat Aragon on Vimeo.

Tags: "How-to" Makeup, beauty, Kathy Aragon, lips, luis aragon, on makeup magazine

I have been so far behind in posting but I definitely did want to get my readers what was promised and put up footage and photos. In this case I felt  pictures speak louder than words! Join me in a look at the backstage fun at ChoCheng @ Bryant Park for his A/W ‘09 showing.

Key Makeup Artist, Lottie, created a look of neutral toned shadows with doll pink cheeks, beautiful skin and lush lashes. It  is one that I have already adopted since the show and used on many different types of girls and I swear it looks good on every single person I try it on, including myself! 

The makeup team was sponsored by Face Atelier.

I hope you enjoy!

Tags: "How-to" Makeup, Bryant Park, ChoCheng, hair, Inside the tents, Kathy Aragon, lottie, New York Fashion Week, NYFW