Review: Luminess Air

I try to attend as many trade shows as possible, and there seems to be a vendor in every row selling an airbrush machine by demonstrating how easy it is to use for the everyday consumer.  The two that I see on the consumer market the most are the Luminess Air and the TEMPTU Airbrush Makeup System, you’ll find that neither one of them is exactly inexpensive!  When I finally had a chance to try one out for myself, I was really happy to satisfy my curiosity once and for all with the Luminess Air.

I want to put this out there in the universe that I am not being financially compensated by Luminess Air to provide this review, but I was sent one in order test drive it.  Let’s face it–at a starting price of $169.95 plus shipping and handling (depending on the model), it’s not a cheap date!  Is airbrushing as easy as everyone says?

Right out of the box, Luminess Air is a functional unit and requires no assembly.  You do need to place the A/C plug into the unit, but I hardly consider that “assembly”!  I received an instructional DVD along with the stylus and compressor which was enclosed in a silver clutch.  I highly recommend taking about 10 minutes to watch the “Getting Started” DVD despite how excited you may be to put your Luminess Air to use immediately.  After I watched the video, I tested my foundation colors as instructed as there were four enclosed, but since I’m so fair I was automatically the lightest one which made it easy.  The foundation formula is available in both matte and satin finishes, I wore the matte.  This one comes with a little bit of a learning curve, it took me three times to finally get my foundation application right–I was either applying too much or not enough at the beginning.  I was so tempted to pull back on the trigger full throttle, but really with the Luminess Air I found that slow & steady wins the race.  I had finally achieved desirable medium coverage by pressing the trigger back just slightly and layering it in small sections using small circular motions.  The blush and bronzer that was included is a whole different story!  To this day, I can’t seem to get the blush or bronzer right–it’s very pigmented and perhaps I need to dilute it with some distilled water, it’s going to take more practice!  One of the things I do enjoy applying after the foundation however is the airbrush luminizer, it helps to contour and adds a little bit of a glow since my foundation looks so smooth it can look a little “flat” without anything over it.

In all honestly, I don’t think airbrushing techniques are for the masses.  If you’re looking for an out-the-door look and don’t consider yourself to be confident about makeup application, you’re the only person who can decide if this will be a worthwhile purchase for yourself.  The Luminess Air will not take the place of my everyday foundation, but it is nice to have for a few reasons:

1. Seamless blending that can also be used on your neck and body
2. You can control the coverage and it wears well without migrating
   
3. It’s hygienic–no brushes, sponges, or fingertips touch your face
4. Since the foundation actually was misted on top of my skin, it minimized the look of my pores
5. Great for special occasion makeup or photography

But it’s not without fault either:

1. I had to use more than 8 drops of foundation in the stylus for my coverage and will need to replenish more frequently.
2. While the silver case is GREAT and convenient to have, I don’t think it’s as travel-friendly as it seems.  It’s a little bulky, even for just 1.5 pounds.
3. It will take PRACTICE!
4. Pricing–please examine the terms of the offers on TV and on the Luminess Air website closely.  If those terms are not acceptable to you, consider purchasing it from another authorized retailer.  Do your homework!

The bottom line: You’ll need to invest money for the equipment, and patience to perfect unless you’re an experienced airbrush artist to get this technique down.  You could be a natural right out of the box, or be prepared to practice.  You’ll need to purchase foundation refills from Luminess Air which are an additional investment to consider.  You’ll have the responsibility to properly clean and maintain your stylus in order to ensure it’s performance, so keep that in mind.  To be perfectly honest, airbrushing is a professional technique that won’t come overnight for most.  That’s why you won’t see me on any movie sets anytime in the near future airbrushing A-list celebs!