Airbrush Makeup Vs Traditional Makeup: Which One Suits You Better?

The main difference between the two methods is how the makeup is applied to the skin. Traditional makeup requires tools to touch the face, while airbrush makeup uses air to apply the product.

Key Features of Airbrush Makeup

Because airbrush makeup uses air to deliver very fine particles of color to the skin, it has some unique characteristics:

● Quick Drying: The tiny particles stick to the skin and dry immediately, allowing for multiple layers without feeling heavy or uneven.
● Long-Lasting: Makeup applied with an airbrush tends to last longer than traditional methods because of the way it adheres to the skin.
● Even Distribution: The fine particles spread evenly across the skin without filling in every pore, allowing for beautiful layering and blending of colors. For example, mixing yellow and blue eyeshadow to create a vibrant green is much easier with an airbrush than with traditional techniques.
● Lightweight Finish: Airbrush makeup can create a very light and natural look, with a soft, flawless finish and subtle color gradients.

Important Considerations

However, using an airbrush correctly is crucial. If not used properly, the benefits of airbrush makeup can be lost, and it can even look worse than traditional makeup.

Overspray happens when too much product is sprayed in one area due to poor control. This can lead to uneven, heavy makeup that may flake off and can also increase the risk of inhaling particles, which is harmful.

To avoid these issues, it's essential to practice on paper to master the control and pressure needed for effective airbrush application.

2. Makeup Products Used

Airbrush Makeup: The makeup used in airbrush guns needs to be finely processed because the gun's nozzle is small and the pressure isn't high. Therefore, makeup designed for airbrushing has specific requirements for its texture and fineness.

Traditional Makeup: However, this doesn't mean that products designed for airbrushing are always finer than traditional products. Many traditional products have pigments that are as fine as those used in airbrush makeup, or even finer. Traditional products are made to be applied with hands, brushes, or sponges, so they might include ingredients like sticky polymers (common in foundations and eyeliners) that could clog or stick to airbrushes, or they might be pressed into compacts, making them unsuitable for airbrushing (such as pressed powders or eyeshadows).

Do You Need to Buy Specialized Makeup for Airbrush Makeup?

You don't necessarily have to buy expensive specialized products for your airbrush. Loose powder eyeshadows or blushes can be mixed with water or a special blending liquid to turn them into a liquid that can be used with an airbrush. Additionally, many silicone-based or oil-based liquid foundations can be thinned with a diluting liquid designed for this purpose.

However, because these foundations often contain polymers, cleaning the airbrush afterward can be quite difficult.

Are Airbrush Specialized Makeup Products Suitable for Traditional Makeup?

Some might wonder if products made specifically for airbrushing can also be applied using hands, brushes, or sponges. Of course! But if you plan to apply makeup traditionally, there's no need to spend extra money on products made specifically for airbrushing. The key advantage of airbrush makeup lies in using an airbrush, not necessarily in using products designed exclusively for it. Using products made for airbrushing in traditional ways won't give you the benefits of airbrushing; it might just end up being a waste of money.

Classification and Characteristics of Airbrush Makeup Products

If we classify airbrush makeup products based on their base ingredients, they can be divided into water-based, silicone-based, and alcohol-based products. There are some other types of bases, but they are rarely used, so we won't discuss them here.

● Alcohol-based products are mainly used for long-lasting special effects makeup in the film industry. They are not commonly used in regular makeup because of their unpleasant odor and slight toxicity.
● Water-based products use water as the solvent. Their key features are oil resistance, less water resistance, and a powdery, matte finish (unless they contain pearlescent pigments, which will give a shimmery finish).
● Silicone-based products use silicone oil as the solvent. They are water-resistant, less oil-resistant, and have an oil-based, luminous finish.

Why do we say "less water-resistant" or "less oil-resistant"? It's because if you traditionally use them, they will become less water or oil-resistant. However, when applied with an airbrush, the airbrush technology itself enhances their water and oil resistance.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional Makeup

Advantages

● Lower Cost and Easy Access: Traditional makeup products are generally more affordable and readily available in drugstores and beauty shops.
● Wide Selection: There are many brands to choose from, along with a variety of colors and effects (e.g., matte finish, oil control, intense hydration).
● User-Friendly: Many find traditional makeup easier to apply compared to airbrush makeup.
● Easy to Fix: If a mistake is made with traditional makeup, it can be easily corrected with a cotton swab, clean sponge, makeup remover, and concealer. In contrast, airbrush makeup requires complete removal for corrections.
● Portable: Traditional makeup products are generally lighter and more compact than the equipment needed for airbrush makeup.
● No Electricity Required: Traditional makeup doesn't need power, while airbrush makeup relies on electricity for the air compressor.

Disadvantages

● Skin Contact and Potential Irritation: Traditional makeup involves direct contact with the skin, which can irritate sensitive skin. If someone has very sensitive skin that turns red or even stings and breaks into cuts with just a light touch, they aren't suitable for using traditional makeup methods. Such a situation rarely exists.
● Time-Consuming for Smoky Looks: Creating smokey eye makeup with traditional methods takes longer compared to using an airbrush, which can be faster and cleaner.
● Less Longevity: Traditional makeup tends to last shorter than airbrush makeup when using the same products.
● Limited Effectiveness for Pore Coverage: While there are products to fill pores, they may not work well with traditional application methods. Airbrush makeup can effectively cover pores without pushing the filler out of place.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Airbrush Makeup

Advantages

● No Skin Contact or Pulling: Airbrush makeup does not touch or pull at the skin, which is beneficial for extremely sensitive skin. This reduces the risk of wrinkles and aging caused by tugging. However, if you are rough when washing your face or applying skincare, it can still lead to skin issues.
● Quick Smoky Eye Application: Airbrush makeup allows you to create a smokey eye makeup look very quickly, almost in the blink of an eye, provided you have good technique.
● Long-Lasting: Airbrush makeup is known for its durability.
● Flawless Finish: It can achieve a perfect, skin-like finish or a very lightweight look that feels almost like no makeup at all. While traditional methods can also achieve good results, airbrush makeup generally performs better.
● Beautiful Blending: Airbrush makeup can create a soft, flawless gradient and subtle color transitions better than traditional methods.
● Detailed Patterns and Designs: With the use of stencils, airbrush makeup can easily create intricate patterns or designs, such as lace or flags.

Disadvantages

● High Cost and Accessibility: Airbrush equipment, including a compressor and gun, can be expensive, while quality traditional brushes are much cheaper. Additionally, airbrush-specific products are also more expensive and harder to find.
● Limited Selection: There are fewer brands and products available for airbrush makeup.
● Difficult to Master: Airbrush makeup is generally harder to apply than traditional makeup, especially when doing your own makeup. It can also cause finger cramps or slight deformities with prolonged use, although this does not affect overall appearance.
● Difficult to Correct Mistakes: Once a mistake is made with airbrush makeup, it can be challenging or even impossible to fix due to the high adhesion of the particles, which contributes to its durability.
● Hard to Carry: Even small compressors take up more space and are heavier than just a sponge and foundation.
● Requires Electricity: Airbrush makeup needs power to operate, so it cannot be used without electricity.
● Not Suitable for Large Pores or Aging Skin: Airbrush makeup may not work well on skin with large pores or visible static wrinkles. The particles tend to settle more on raised areas like the nose or cheekbones, leading to uneven coverage. Additionally, airbrush products often lack the moisture needed for mature skin, making them unsuitable for older individuals. And they may not be effective for very deep scars.

Controversies in Airbrush Makeup VS Traditional Makeup

Is Airbrush Makeup Application Faster?

Many argue that airbrush makeup is much quicker than traditional methods, but it depends on the products you use and how many airbrush guns you have. When using an airbrush, if you want to switch between different types of foundations, you need to thoroughly clean the gun each time. For instance, after using a water-based foundation, cleaning can take around 10 minutes. Similarly, if you switch to a silicone-based blush after using a water-based contour, it's the same process—lots of cleaning.

Changing products means extensive cleaning, as some residue may remain in the gun. If you want to use one airbrush for all your makeup, you'll find yourself spending a lot of time cleaning, which can make traditional methods faster, or even much slower. Even if you have multiple airbrush guns, you'll need a large air compressor and many air hoses to use them simultaneously. Otherwise, you'll find yourself constantly repeating the process of removing and reinstalling the gun from the air hose, which is tedious and time-consuming.

Is Airbrush Makeup Better Than Traditional?

This depends on the occasion, the type of makeup needed, the desired effect, and how long the makeup needs to last.

Airbrush makeup isn't always superior. For example, in standard photography (like with a regular camera), an airbrush foundation might not be ideal because it requires a certain thickness to make the skin look perfect. Achieving this with an airbrush can take more time, and mistakes may require redoing the makeup. Similarly, on a runway, models don't need to maintain their makeup for long periods—they simply walk a show. Additionally, dealing with multiple models of different skin tones can be time-consuming due to the need for frequent gun cleaning between color changes.

While there are situations where airbrush makeup shines (such as with HD cameras or makeup that needs to last a very long time), it's important to note that airbrush makeup isn't inherently superior, versatile, or better in all circumstances.