Sideshow IPA Palettes by The AFX Company

The Allied FX company is widely known for their professional-grade IPA (Isopropyl alcohol activated) palettes under the name Bluebird FX and their latest addition to the family: Sideshow, an affordable, quirky, high-grade palette that since its launch in February has in short order become a go-to for makeup artists across the spectrum of the creative fields.

“With a clever mix of old favorites and brand new colors, the sideshow palettes are stealing the show for their cost-effective quirkiness. “

Currently, a range consisting of 7 palettes (with other elements being added soon) each with its own unique color set and vintage style cover image, the palettes are designed carefully to suit a particular requirement and has the savvy of a team who are working artists themselves looking to make not just their jobs a little simpler but also a little more fun, beyond the quirks you can see what is a genius move for the Allied FX Company, opening the door to a whole host of new clients from students to professionals the Festival range is perfect for those working in the low to mid-range budgets of film and TV (with the increasing use of internet services such as HOD TV, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Streamlette, this will be a welcome addition to a makeup kit) and carries over the larger, high scale budget productions, a professional palette that transcends its price range of $59.10 in Australia (in the UK £36) and puts a whole new slant on character work and development.

• Body art: designed for body art and tattoo creation.

• Bruiser: a unique and carefully structured palette suited to its name, bruising.

• Dark Ride: a series of day glow shades that come to life under blue light.

• Dead-Alive: Perfect for zombies and illness, the death pallor look of haunted houses and Halloween.

• Gore: for the creation of scratches, cuts, and wound filling a box of tricks that is worthy of note.

• Gothic: aethereal and suited to those deeper, more cool tones looks (think vampire).

• Rouge: designed for breaking down and creating crusty characters and drunks.

For us at the lost creatives, yes we can see a use for the whole set but standing tall in this are 2 in particular that we are adding to our working kit via creative director and head of makeup JamesC, to match the work and styles of shoots we have planned for TV and print: Bruiser and Gore, which will be perfect additions to our work and will see multiple uses with the possibilities of this range being endless and others coming into play with projects in development (early stages of scripting).

In what is a market-led move, the Allied FX Lab are tackling and offering up quality products at a lower price point without compromise, the AFX company are amongst an elite of the profession and are pushing the boundaries of the makeup world giving us what we need to create the most realistic (and surreal when required) and putting the prosumer at the heart of their thinking.

The Festival range fits perfectly with a wide array of requirements and situations including:

• Students.

• Film and TV production professionals.

• Haunted House.

• Halloween artists.

• Cosplay.

To learn more about the range or to purchase see:

The Allied FX company website.

The Allied FX company Instagram.

The Allied FX company Facebook.

Lord and Berry Touch Up Blotting Powder

When it comes to makeup for fashion Lord and Berry has set a benchmark that is hard to beat, the range is a staple of various fashion weeks and additions like the Lord and Berry Touch Up Blotting Powder add not only to a professional backstage kit for LFW but to that of the working artist such as our creative director JamesC whose eye for commercial detail is drawn to the brand for its credentials, quality, and an array of savvy products designed for fashion and available to the world.

From a purely practical stance, JamesC prefers pressed powders for their convenience: you can slip them easily into a working kit box/bag, they take up less space, and in the form of the Lord and Berry touch up powders they offer a simplistic solution to minimizing your kit without losing quality. The 3 shades are ideal for a working artist kit and offer a multifaceted and cross-gender solution to finishing a look for print or video.

• TRANSLUCENT: it is a white-toned powder meant for just about every skin tone because it turns invisible when applied to the skin.

• BANANA: it is a yellow-toned powder which works its magic to offset any redness, illuminate the skin, neutralizes dark under-eye circles, and set makeup – and the best part is that it works on any skin tone.

• JUST PEACH: it is a peach-toned powder designed to give brightness to a dull complexion, to neutralize blue tones and set makeup. It works on any skin tone.

On a purely practical stance, these 3 powders have been tested at various fashion weeks making them perfect for a downsized kit and suitable for a working professional who needs quick solutions to on shoot problems. *Well worth noting that a pro discount is available making this an even more appealing brand for the professional arena including those in bridal, film, TV, and fashion (from live events to print).

To learn more about the range see:

Lord and Berry Website.

Lord and Berry Instagram.

Lord and Berry Facebook.

Lord and Berry Twitter.

Wolfskin London Mens Grooming Kit for Makeup Artists

As the makeup industry landscape changes to meet new standards and we see the need for new techniques and methods, especially for TV presenters, Wolfskin London offers a simple solution that allows men to look smart, well-groomed, and professional in any setting.

Increasingly people are required to work from home using software setups for digital meetings and the full HD screens are opening up our faces to closer scrutiny and the need for a clean, fresh, groomed look as we work from home is becoming a must and in a media format, this can also mean that for male presenters who are often used to having a makeup artist on set, they will now need to do their own makeup which is where Wolfskin London becomes integral to the media business.

For the Lost team, the reason we are looking to Wolfskin London is fairly straight forward, it is designed to suit men and is simple enough that it is suitable for most situations and we can (if required) teach our male talent to do their own makeup with minimal fuss and will be something we reach for when we cover events such as fashion shows.

Pushing forward in the make-up realm having a range that is designed for men both professionally and personally will be something we work with more in line with not only the projects we have in development but for the future of the company overall.

To learn more about the Wolfskin London range or to purchase see:

Wolfskin London Shop.

Wolfskin London Instagram.

Wolfskin London Facebook.

Wolfskin London Twitter.

Depixym paints in the new media sphere

As we move into a whole new world for makeup artists, influencers, and creatives in general, many people are having to rethink how they work within the beauty industry.  Starting out of the blocks and ahead of the game in terms of packaging and are starting to think long term with their clients to ensure that they are working safely.  Developed as a brand for experimentation and fun that translated across genres from theatrical makeup to film and television. 

Depixym is going to be a game-changer as the rules and potential guidance long term for how makeup staff can work on set, the products we use creatively will need to change to meet a whole host of new needs and dynamics.  The advantages of having a product that is: 

• Longwear 

• Non-transfer 

• Vegan

• Cruelty-free

• Matte, 

• Blendable

• Mixable 

• Waterproof

Those working in fashion and editorial or even the film/TV industry will be able to minimize their kit and get creative without losing the edgy, beauty styles that are often needed or even put together a simple clean makeup look for a more commercial shoot, and with the Depixym emulsions being long wear, it is possible to minimize touch-ups on set as the product itself is designed to be long wear which in the future will be a major consideration when choosing products.  *0194 black emulsion is a multi-tasker (like all the colors) which for liner and mascara should be seen as a potential staple for all artists who need to be able to maximize their output with minimal items for speed.  

Creativity is at the heart of the brand and it is easy to see that but from a pro stance, Depixym has the hallmarks of a kit staple that in the coming months is going to be a game-changer and powerhouse in the cosmetics field as we have to work smarter.   *They also stock brush and sponge soap to ensure you can keep your kit clean which is an important aspect of working today.

To learn more about the brand or to purchase see:

Depixym Emulsions Website.

Depixym Emusions Instagram.

Depixym Emulsions Facebook.

Editorial Makeup Submission Featuring World Fashion Media News

Frustration is really kicking in for a lot of the creative talent out there (understandably) and it is gratifying to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those who are returning to salons and for the photographic community this also means we can push forward with plans and marketing strategies with fresh, exclusive content for the digital market. The online magazine and long-standing supporter of the Lost Concept, World Fashion Media News has been hard at work creating new avenues for creative talents and revamping the website to better showcase artistic work from catwalks to individuals. Submitting your work has become a much easier prospect in the last few years and we (like many others) are getting our work collated ready to submit, promote and showcase our inhouse creative talents such as creative director JamesC.

While we are going down the exclusive route there are options to have editorials, covers, and tears with magazine logos that can be used to create not only a stellar portfolio of work at a low cost but a chance to experiment with new ideas and stretch your artistic muscles.

Our primary focus is going to be about exclusive content and will be shown across websites and as you can imagine with our ties to the HOD TV team, Horror concepts will be played alongside some other fashion portraits and of course we will be doing a full series of images and conceptual work with exclusive to our websites in amongst this.

In our capacity as a creative team and with the support of our partners in Nepal Film Production, we are structuring this to be a wider campaign based concept with a series of long and short term goals to be met over the next 12 months.

*To learn more about submitting to World Fashion Media News Click here.

Project Planning With Nepal Productions

We really do owe a debt of gratitude to our team in Nepal especially Digbijaya Bharati from the Nepal Film Production team, who has been patient during the lockdown and happy to continue working via Whatsapp so we can as a team which gets our work moving forward, not just with media but other elements and promotional avenues we are exploring. As our regular readers will be aware our plans are geared toward Intenet TV, in particular, the horror and Thriller genres with a sideline in the editorial market to boost marketing via social accounts and strategic placement of ads.

For us, it has become planning and strategy that allows us to focus our energies in new areas of business and develop further as a business although at heart we still love makeup work and our creative director JamesC is part and parcel of the ongoing plans, we are all on board with changes being made to the business and have some smaller elements such as the facecharts being brought back in (the JamesC facechart will be available again via his site soon).

We already have several scripts in play for development in the realm of TV and will be working on a range of new images and behind the scenes work while the weather is good and allows us flexibility, the new guidelines for production work will be a big part of how we move forward ensuring everyone involved is safe and the work is handled carefully.

As our previous blog has stated we are going to also look at skills development for our in-house team to allow us to multitask and keep the crew requirements to a minimum and safe.

*Change in how the media and fashion industry will be massive and we are doing all we can to ensure that our staff is safe, the team (both the UK and South Asian) are up to date on the latest changes.

Creative and Editorial Research Featuring Lola Makeup

Over the last few weeks, we have been working quietly on new content designs and running not just our various blogs but also some research into styling for planned shoots (suggested by our media partners Nepal Film Production and coordinated by our creative director JamesC), focusing our energies on commercial concepts and the behind the scenes elements that will be showcased as part of the planned expansion of The Lost Concept, more on this later. What has really hit the right marker for us and our partners in style terms is the look of the Lola Makeup channel on youtube where whose campaign videos are a stellar example of how it should be done to showcase not just the cosmetics but the minds behind the work. A leading light of the Euro scene for both fashion and media, Lola Makeup is a brand that has captured artists' attention, designed to meet the needs of the consumer with the attention to the details that draw in makeup artists of all stripes.

For us, as a creative team, we are working on new editorials and do have some work to be edited and will be using both the still images and behind the scenes as a part of our upcoming marketing alongside our partners at Nepal Film Production.

We will be working on more designs over the next few weeks that will incorporate different elements of beauty and editorial from a commercial stance and nodding to more creative concepts that will push the boundaries a little more and take us away from the simple and clean into the more fashion show look (the Lola cream shadow pencils will feature heavily in this).

At the moment for simplicity and ease, we can work with smaller teams on editorial concepts, we are focused on fashion but we do have other projects in the works and as we push forward behind the scenes is going to become a larger part of our work which we are really excited about.

To learn more about the Lola Makeup range and why we are using them see:

Lola Makeup Website.

Lola Makeup Youtube.

Lola Makeup Facebook.

Lola makeup Instagram.

Future-Proofing Your Pro Mua Kit Featuring Mykitco

As we move closer to returning the salons, TV studios and film sets, this is a good time to start thinking about your working kit and how you can ensure your client’s comfort in the makeup chair. Something that our creative director JamesC is keen to look at is brushes and storage, especially minimizing the kit he carries around and the team behind the British brand Mykitco are on the top of their game when it comes to this and their new releases (8 brushes) show the thought they are putting into working artist kits and how working styles are evolving.

Starting with the basics, the brushes (which are what Mykitco has become famous for), are growing to meet the needs of artists and the new launches are a marker of the care taken and this show’s a development pattern that works with the target audience and as professionals will give you a better working kit to better serve your customers.

*It has always been smart to have multiples in brushes and now planning is going to be even more important with people becoming savvier to what is and isn’t acceptable, it’s better to have a minimal plan of action before you go into a client space. For example, setting up brush tubes or pouches with specific kits for each person may be a little bulky but will give your client a little assurance that you have their health and safety in mind so with a booking or 4 clients you can carry enough kit and plan around that with backups in your bag should you need and the chances of cross-contamination are lowered with individual sets. Multitasking brushes slipped into your kit will also make a big difference to individual applications.

Storing and transporting your makeup will also be a consideration and Mykitco has a wide array of bags big and small to suit your needs. JamesC owns the Mykitco Essential Buddy and loves it for small to medium size gigs where space is at a premium and the Travel Buddy is also a good option *depending on your own personal style and needs.

As the co-founder James Molloy (premier makeup artist) is on the pulse of what’s happening in the industry and leading the way with teaching through his Instagram using the Mykitco face charts and giving advice and tips to move us forward as creatives.

Working with Mykitco products is about more than just having a professional quality kit, its about a sense of community and artistry.

To learn more or shop with Mykitco (See the Faq’s for pro discount details and terms) see:

Mykitco Website.

Mykitco Facebook.

Mykitco Instagram.

Mykitco Twitter.

Lost In The Horror

We are in the midst of what would (and most likely will be) the source of many new thriller and horror film and TV plots, the lockdown is the start of a refresh of the industry which we will be taking full advantage of and have been in all honesty planning around for a long time as Horror is the genre of choice for us both artistically and commercially, more than ever with the support of the HOD TV team (submit your films here).

For us and our partners, Horror has all the potential we need to feel fulfilled as an artist: our actors can play the character and develop the narrative, the writers are loving the scope of the human mind for fear, for our creative director JamesC, it’s about the makeup and of course our remote teams it’s all about the locations (our Nepal production contacts are delighted with this idea). There is something in this for each of us to get our teeth into and we have room to work together as a collective to push an agenda that suits us and it does also open up other potential aspects that could be realistically deemed vanity projects with a slight commercial twist.

With many magazines and film festivals dedicated to the Horror and Thriller genres, we can easily utilize different suppliers and resources to keep the costs down while maintaining the gore and chills.

Talking of Keeping the costs down, it is fairly straightforward and can be augmented by companies like Monster Fx or the supply house Red Carpet FX (who stock our favorite IPA palettes from Ripper FX).

The future is in our hands and we are taking our own direction on this with plans in motion to do both editorial/print work in this darker style and of course TV projects that will be at the heart of the work, a commercially driven but still artistically driven venture.

Keeping The Creative Flow Going

While many are rethinking their place in the industry and how to progress, ranging from selfies to blogs, we at The Lost Creatives are working hard behind the scenes and taking time to reevaluate (as you will guess by our previous blog). A complete overhaul is underway and along with our partners in Nepal, this is pushing us to think about how we want to be seen in the market.

As you can imagine, social media plays a heavy part in this and it is really exciting to see Nepal film Productions opening a new account with Instagram which is a step forward as we see the restrictions being lifted and people slowly returning to normal and business becoming a part of their thinking again.

We are also putting the social media plan into action and will be reviewing our work and creative plans, led by our creative director JamesC, with a view to pushing forward which as we have previously stated means we will be looking at investment into editorial marketing with tears and covers which we are excited about and have to admit the design process alone is worth it to help clear our collective headspace.

Our film and TV plans are on standby and we are extremely grateful that we have HOD TV on our side with their platform for horror and thriller distribution. Which we fully intend to make use of and recommend those who have projects they want to sell check the link here for submissions.

As time moves forward we are going to push to show more of a commercial stance and stay away from more theatrical styles as we just feel it doesn’t suit the working look we want to create. From the portfolio plans to the film and TV projects we have in mind our goals are strong and we are pushing forward progressively and with mutual support from our remote partners.