“The name mineral oil by itself is imprecise, having been used to label many specific oils over the past few centuries. Other names, similarly imprecise, include white oil, liquid paraffin, and liquid petroleum. Most often, mineral oil is a liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum-based products from crude oil.

It is a lightweight inexpensive oil that is odorless and tasteless. One of the common concerns regarding the use of mineral oil is its presence on several lists of comedogenic substances.”

Source: Wikipedia / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil

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By “imprecise name” I would almost call it misleading more than anything. When I tell my clients about it, I often hear “Isn’t MINERAL Oil a healthy thing?” . The answer, unfortunately, is definitely “no”.

Mineral Oil is a by product of Petroleum distillation. After the distillation is complete, the residue left at the bottom of the container is then scooped up, processed and sold to cosmetics as an inexpensive ingredient to buff up the volume of a product.

Mineral Oil is considered a comedogenic substance. What it means is that the particles of Mineral Oil are BIGGER than our pores, therefore clogging them and preventing them from breathing and extracting toxins from our body, as they are meant to do.

It has been banned from products manufactured by the European Standards along with another 1,100 ingredients, compared to the very short list of banned ingredients in North America. Mineral Oil is an extremely common ingredient found in almost every consumable product in Canada. All you need to do is flip a few of your products and check out the ingredients list on the back.

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Here is an interesting experiment to try at home:

Take two clear bowls, place a cracker in each bowl and then fill one with water and one with Mineral Oil. Leave it standing for as long as you like (10 minutes, 10 hours or 10 days!) and share your results. What happened to the cracker?

After you try this, imagine the same results- just on your skin.

Our skin is meant to breathe and extract toxins, Mineral Oil clogs the pores and prevents a natural and very necessary process. Keep an eye out for it next time you are shopping for cosmetics and skin care, look for products that have AQUA in them instead.

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** Check out my next blog entry about “Parfum? It smells fishy” 

Here is the full article by Michelle Sherrow. Source: http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/tags/animal+testing/default.aspx

Avon, Mary Kay, Estée Lauder Paying for Tests on Animals-

Written by Michelle Sherrow

02-16-2012, 1:45 PM

Some of us might not think much of it, especially if we are not vegan or vegetarian ourselves. But here is why Vegan products are so important to keep in mind the next time your reach out for that cream/soap/product at your local store.

We are all familiar with our colorful recycling bins, the blue and the green…but how many of us are familiar with the red recycling bins? not as many as should be. Here is what you need to know:

“The majority of tissue processed comes from slaughterhouses, but also includes restaurant grease and butcher shop trimmings, expired meat from grocery stores, the carcasses of euthanized and dead animals from animal shelters, zoos and veterinarians. This material can include the fatty tissue, bones, and offal, as well as entire carcasses of animals condemned at slaughterhouses, and those that have died on farms, in transit, etc. The most common animal sources are beef, pork, sheep, and poultry. 

Rendering is a process that converts waste animal tissue into stable, value-added materials. Rendering can refer to any processing of animal products into more useful materials, or more narrowly to the rendering of whole animal fatty tissue into purified fats like lard or tallow. Rendering can be carried out on an industrial, farm, or kitchen scale.” 

Source: Wikipedia 

What does Animal Rendering have to do with your daily consumables? Because the Red Bin content is then boiled until a white foam forms, that foam is collected and sold off to Cosmetic companies in an attempt to reduce recycling costs. So to put it simply – When we apply our creams/ soaps/ cosmetics on, what we are also applying is recycled rendered animals directly on our skin, on a daily basis without being aware of the consequences.

As I mentioned in my last post, one significant phrase that I feel so important to share is: “What you put on your skin, goes into your body, through every major organ, ten times more than anything you put in your mouth”. So we just got to ask one thing: If something is too dangerous for me to eat….how can it be sold back to me for use on my skin?

This is where the importance of Vegan products comes into the picture. When buying products, it is so important to learn about the ingredients on the back and understand what has been put in and what we will be putting on. It goes without saying to also look for the “Animal Cruelty Free” / “Not Tested on Animals” symbol.

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What do we really put on when using every day consumables such as face wash, toner, moisturizer, shampoo, soap ect.? Do you know the answers? if you’re not sure, remember this and stay tuned to this blog section:

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“What we put on our skin, absorbs through every major organ in our body ten times more than what we put in our stomach.”

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Working as an international Makeup Artist for the past six years, my clients always ask me;  “Which product would you suggest for my skin?”  ”Which product is good?”  and the answers, of course, vary as the people who ask. But- a few basics remain the same- we all deserve product safety and benefits without harmful consequences.

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After attending some very inspiration expert lectures, I’ve decided to dedicated a blog section specifically for the subject of skin care and consumable product knowledge. I’ll also be regularly hosting FREE get-togethers for those who are interested to know more (including cosmetics) and also explore amazing work opportunities in my Health & Wellness business.

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** For a list of group session dates and/or to book your FREE one on one consultation with me, contact at olga@olgakirnos.com. SPACES AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT MAY, please RSVP**

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So here it is- the exciting news I’ve been waiting to share with everyone. I always make it a point to recommend products that I have a great experience working with, and after having worked with this new line of products, I’m very excited to Introduce Mixx Pro Cosmetics, a new Makeup line by Makeup Artists for Makeup artists.

Here’s the scoop:

Mixx Pro Makeup products are sold in Pro Kits which are available for certified Makeup Artists and working professional Makeup Artists. There are two Pro Kits, a Mixx Pro Foundation kit and a Mixx Pro Lip Gloss kit. Altogether, the Pro kits provide foundations, transformers, pigments, frosts and toners to create endless possibilities of foundation shades, bronzer intensities, concealer shades in various consistencies and lip glosses from long wear to sheer consistencies.With new products and pigments releasing on a monthly basis.

Why is this so awesome?

If the idea of mixing your own endless variety of shades and custom products isn’t exciting enough, just think how far you can run with this concept.

Makeup Artists that purchase these kits will be able to custom blend any variety of products to sell to their clients during shoots, demos, bridal bookings and/or kitty parties. Not only making 300% profit in retail sales but also build their own following of clients who will be able to get their exact favorite product every time they order back. This is an invaluable tool for freelance Makeup artists in many ways.

My review of the products:

With the foundation, a little product goes a long way and feels like air on your skin. It’s light, sheers and has excellent coverage. Most importantly it’s oil free, talc free, fragrance free and non-comedogenic which means your skin can breathe! Making it an especially good product for sensitive skin. The foundations also contains an SPF 8 and are 11% pigmented, compared to the average store bough foundations that are only 6-7% pigmented!

The pigment toners are also talc free and do not turn your foundation into a chalky dull shade. The illuminizer creates beautiful silky finish when added to a foundation, whether for a pearl-like effect or for creating your own custom blend bronzers. The lip glosses are very moisturizing and nursing and last up to 8 hours, which makes them a great choice for long-wear occasions.

What do you get in a pro kit?

The Pro Lip Gloss Kit includes:

Ten Lip gloss bases, seven shades of pigments and five shades of dye-free frosts.

Lips bases include three types: Long Wear Base, Gloss Base and High Shine Sheer Base. The Long Wear Base is made of a rich blend of nut oils (Caranuba & Candellia) as well as Shea butter and Aloe extract. The Gloss Base is made with a rich blend of nut oils (Macadamia) with a sheer “Patent leather” high shine finish. And the High Shine Sheer Base is made with a smooth blend of Jojoba seed oil, vitamin E and pear extract.

The Pro Foundation Kit includes:

Six foundation shades, one transformer toner, one pigment toner and one Illuminizer pigment toner.

There are many more additives and modifiers and extra shades available to keep expending your basic kit with, allowing you to mix a huge variety of foundation shades, concealers, pearlized foundations and amazing liquid bronzers! You can also purchase a unique thickener fluid that transforms your foundation mix into a concealer.

*All kits come with mixing tools and storage containers such as lip gloss wand tubes for the lip kit and foundation / bronzer bottles and concealer jars for the foundation kit. Both kits come with client cards and labels.

Some Extras!:

These products are currently not available in India but will be available exclusively through me in India during the months of January to April 2012 and then April onwards across Canada.

If you are interested in a makeup lesson (professional or personal Makeup), a trial or a booking during these months and for more information including a list of available products and pricing (Pro Kit or retail), contact me at olga@olgakirnos.com.

The first day of the event had a Red, White & Silver “Star” theme. A large star design on one side with a Glittering frame and contrasting eye shadows.

The second day had a Bright Green “Amazon Cat” theme. One side of the face was turned into a Leopard design with a touch of UV Glowing Make-Up for the Leopard Prints.

Check out the full album on my Facebook Fan Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150352816571928.392606.299882581927&type=1 

Writer Mariellen Ward has been running a wonderful Blog called “Breathe Dream Go”, writing about Spirituality, Yoga, Culture and Travel across India.

To mark the very special two year anniversary of her Blog project, we recently did a “Glam Bollywood Makeover” Photoshoot with Photographer Andrew Adams (Katha Images).

Make sure to check out her Blog and recent entry about the Photoshoot experience.

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“I wanted to find out what I would have to go through, and how I would look, after a “Bollywood” transformation. It all started…..” (read more)

http://breathedreamgo.com/2011/09/my-glam-bollywood-makeover/#comment-9521

A while back I got a call to do Make-Up & Hair for a unique Bridal Video Concept by Film Style Weddings – Wedding Cinematography + Photography.

The video was to be a surprise at the Reception event and tells the story of the couple and how they met through a composition of classical Bollywood songs.

There were 9 specific songs that were chosen according to the story they wanted to tell and we shot over a period of 5 days. Creating looks starting from Bollywood Cinema in the 1960′s to current looks. What made this project so special is the dedication and genuine charm the couple added to each of their performances, and that projected itself through the final visuals even more.

When the video was finally projected onto four large screens at their stunning Reception event, not even the couple got to see it before that very moment and the guests were cheering and clapping. When the video finished, the room went silent in anticipation and the newly married couple entered the room- talk about a grand entrance!

A unique and lovely idea for that very special day, check it out here:

 http://vimeo.com/27027140

http://www.maharaniweddings.com/2011/07/classic-bollywood-concept-film-by-film-style-weddings/

]]> http://www.olgakirnos.com/make_up/a-unique-bridal-video/feed/ 0 http://www.olgakirnos.com/bodyart/captain-america-body-art/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=captain-america-body-art http://www.olgakirnos.com/bodyart/captain-america-body-art/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:17:20 +0000 Olga Kirnos http://www.olgakirnos.com/?p=1512 Captain America Body Painting Photoshoot

This week I got to do one of the most fun Photoshoots I have done in awhile, a Body Painting shoot to mark the release of the highly anticipated movie “Captain America , The First Avenger” this Friday, July 22, 2011.

I started out as a traditional artist and my passion for painting evolved into Body Art and Make-Up artistry, so when I got the opportunity to work on this shoot, I was excited to pull out my painting gear. What made the project even better was the fact that all the Body Paint supplies were sponsored by one of my absolute favorite Make-Up companies, Make Up For Ever. (To me this is the equivalent of a kid allowed loose inside a candy store!)  

Working with reference is very important, both to plan out the execution of the application and to stay visually organized during the process and save time. I made a few sketches to draw ideas from both the Marvel Comic book version and the movie versions of Captain America. I took note of the elements and colors of the costume and planned out my final look.

I started out by outlining the shapes of the suit on the model, measuring the sizes and balancing out the placement of lines. After I got the outlines in place, I filled in the shapes with a base color layer using the Cream Color in pump form by Make Up For Ever. I used a combination of colors to create the right tones. The Make Up For Ever Cream Color applies very smoothly with one brush stroke and stays wet and workable for awhile which allows very easy blending without streaking or removing previous layers of color.

When the Cream Color dries, it’s still workable but it doesn’t stay too creamy and this allows going over it with other paints and creating highlights, shadows and shapes easily, without blending colors into the previous layer of paint.

Once the first color layers were in place, I started to create the 3d effect of the suit by highlighting and contouring the muscles and the elements of the suit. I used the Flash Color Pots by Make Up For Ever and different thickness brushes, I started to create elements of light and shadow. I started with thicker Royal & Langnickel Foundation brushes to create larger effects of 3d and then I went in with medium sized concealer brushes to create smaller more detailed effects of light and shadow and finally I touched up all the small details with fine liner brushes, creating thin hints of shadow and touches of light reflection across the suit.

If you haven’t tried them yet, I highly recommend trying Make Up For Ever‘s Body Painting materials available at Sephora stores.

Photographer: Nick Perks (www.visualvault.ca)

Body Art: Olga Kirnos

Model: Ed Isaac of Ford Models NY

Product Sponsor: Make Up For Ever

For my full gallery of Body Art, check out: http://www.olgakirnos.com/portfolio/body-art/

It’s out! Make-Up Artist Magazine May-June Issue #90 is finally here!

And I’m excited to share that my interview & article have been published in their annual Make-Up Around the World segment: “Destination Make-Up”.

Please check out my article written by Keith Loria on Page 44.

**Also take a quick look at my Body Art Image on the “Content Page”, left of Johnny and his Pirates of The Caribbean snap!

Body Art Image shot by Nick Perks / Visual Vault.

A copy of the article text below;

_____________________________

Olga Kirnos

Finding film and fashion work across India

Olga Kirnos was drawn to make-up artistry after watching a

live body-art painting performance in her native Canada.

“After researching make-up institutes and career options, it was

very clear to me that it was the perfect route to practice my love for

the creative,” she said. “I initially started out as a traditional artist

and also worked as a graphic illustrator. Becoming a professional

make-up artist was a process of evolvement from one field to another.”

Kirnos graduated from Complections International Makeup Academy

in Toronto, and took private classes in airbrush make-up and body art.

Initially she worked on various projects to round out her skills and help

her decide which direction to pursue.

“I really enjoy challenging transformation assignments when a

character has to be created or recreated using prosthetic and hair

appliances , from character design and preparation to the final

application process,” she said. “Placing and layering all the pieces

together, blending them out seamlessly and then applying colors

and texture to bring the character to life is definitely one of my

favorite make-up procedures.”

Nearly two years ago, Kirnos left Canada to work as a make-up

artist in India.

“I work mostly out of New Delhi and Mumbai and though there

are some differences between the overall working environment

of these cities, with New Delhi being more fashion-oriented and

Mumbai being more film-oriented, both are very fast-paced and

dynamic,” she said.

“There are many good work opportunities but you need to keep

a constant finger on the pulse and understand the industry before

starting out. Research and proper marketing are definitely key

factors in getting the right kind of work and exposure.”

Kirnos recently served as a personal make-up artist to the lead actor

in a Bollywood film project. She followed that with a photo shoot

for GQ, then returned to New Delhi to complete a shoot for Maxim.

“I love the versatility and the dynamic lifestyle that working as

an international make-up artist involves,” she said. “For the

past several years, I have been traveling often on international

assignments, working in different environments with casts and

crews from various backgrounds. It has been a rewarding

experience both professionally and personally.”

- Keith Loria