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The Gazette
Published: Saturday.  July 22, 2006
Weekend Life

DAVE SIDAWAY THE GAZETTE Makeup artist Mindy Shear has her own line of products.

Weapon of choice: airbrush gun
Maxine Mendelssohn

Name: Mindy Shear, owner of Mindy Shear Studio, 1 Westmount Square, (514) 932-0002. www.mindyshear.com
I’ve been doing this for 22 years. I did an eight-week makeup course when I was a teenager. By 18, I had my own little makeup counter in a mall. Now I have this store, and another counter in Carte Blanche Coiffure on Sherbrooke St. W.
What types of services do you offer?
Airbrush makeup, semi-permanent eyelash application, manicures and airbrush tanning.
What’s airbrush makeup?
We use a compressor and an airbrush gun, the same way you would paint a car. It’s a water-based makeup that comes out in a fine mist. It gives you an all-over glow. An application runs between $100-$150.
Doesn’t it get messy with all those makeup particles floating around?
Not at all. The mist is so fine. And I control the air flow, so it’s very precise.
Does it get in your eyes?
I ask people to close them. And it’s also fabulous for covering up discoloration around eyes. It’s a good foundation, when I apply eye makeup, it helps to make it last longer.
Do people balk at paying $100 to $150 to get their makeup done?
No. I have clients who come every day, people who have social events and meetings. But it’s also for brides and special events. I do tons of weddings. I also do regular makeup application, that’s $60. But the airbrush is the leading technique in makeup. And people can’t airbrush themselves. Nobody has an airbrush gun at home.
If it’s water-based, don’t you risk sweating it off?
 No. It’s the opposite. Because it’s water-based it stays on the face on the surface of the skin and doesn’t get absorbed. Water based is really the best way to go. Anyway, oil-based products are for movies and special effects, it’s not for everyday makeup. I just airbrushed this woman who went to a wedding and she told me that she ran out of energy before her makeup did.
Do you like it when people come in with a picture of the makeup they want you to recreate on them?
I’d rather work with the person’s personality and facial features. Sometimes photo makeup is all about lighting and airbrushing, so it’s not even a realistic look. I love explaining and teaching my clients to replicate realistic and pretty looks at home. You don’t really get that interaction when you’re just copying a picture.
Can you eliminate streaking and dark orange splotches that sometimes happen with airbrush bronzing?
First of all, we custom blend each colour to your skin tone. We also take into consideration what shade of bronze they want to be. A full application is about $45. Streaking and splotches can be avoided with exfoliation. I’m working on adding a room where we’ll offer the exfoliation service, but for now we ask customer to exfoliate before coming in. The colour lasts up to a week. It’s stunning. The fact that we personally mix the shades makes all the difference. In other places they have two shades; beige and brown. Here you can go from a light glow to a Brazilian bronze and every shade in between. You get to choose.
What do you find women tend to mess up most in their makeup regimens?
We do free makeup consultations, so that helps a lot of women. Sometimes it’s just that they’re buying their makeup at the pharmacy and they’re not getting the right advice from the cosmetician, so they just look all wrong. But I think everyone could use a little makeup guidance from an objective professional. We tell women the truth here because we really want to help and make them look their best. Whether they have five minutes or an hour to spend on their face, the important thing is for women to commit to their makeup routine.
Tell me about the semi-permanent eyelash application.
They’re synthetic eyelashes that we weave into your lash line with a vegetable-based glue. The application is $120. That includes removal and one free touch-up. I put them in with tweezers. Regular fake lashes are just glued onto the skin. They tend to look, well, fake. But since these are woven in and the glue acts as a layer of mascara, it’s really a spectacular look. I’m looking into using those mink lashes that the celebrities are wearing, but I’m not sure they’re better. And they’re way more expensive.
What’s your busiest time of the year?
In April, the weddings and grads start, so that keeps me pretty busy. And when I launch the spring and fall collections of my makeup line it can get pretty crazy in here.
You have your own line of makeup?
Yes. I work with different manufacturers and I actually put out my own line twice a year. I’m an artist, so I’m particular in terms of quality, texture and ingredients. Like, for instance, I only work with products that have mica in them because it gives a velvety feel and it won’t clog pores. A lot of other brands just don’t bother with details like that.
If you could do any celebrity’s makeup whose would you do?
Probably Oprah. She’s accomplished so much I’d just like to hang out with her. I’ve seen her without makeup in pictures so I know that she goes through a major transformation when she’s made up.
Do you think people have realistic expectations when they sit in your chair?
Most do. I think it’s usually the opposite; they underestimate how good they can look. All of a sudden they look in the mirror and they’re like “wow.”
Do you get any men in here?
I do. More and more businessmen are wanting to look bronzed. They’re also slowly getting into skincare. They break out, look green and dreadful just like the rest of us. But it’s not as mainstream as in New York or Los Angeles, where every man is getting facials.
What’s your best summer makeup tip?
I say it’s hydrated skin. I love my Hydrating Mineral Sheer Tint with an SPF 20 in it. It gives you that beautiful glow with light coverage. This summer it’s all about a healthy glow and clear, fresh skin.
What’s the colour of summer for lips?
Lips are white hot this summer, literally. I sold out on it, but I had this gorgeous beige shimmer for lips and it just worked wonders on everyone.
What was your favourite makeup trend in recent memory?
The ’80s were so heavy; it was all about shallow vanity with way too much colour. Today, I think the strong eyebrow is interesting, because it brings a sophistication to the face. And I love the smoky eye; it’s timeless