Less than a week to go until my makeup course starts. So, so excited! My brushes have arrived and I'm loving their quality. Dying to trying them out but thought I'd be good and wait. My current brushes are sufficient for everyday use and I prefer to apply most of my makeup with fingers anyway.

As mentioned previously, I opted to source my own brushes instead of the ones recommended by the Academy of Makeup (AOM). There is no list of what makeup brushes are included in their set (for good reason) but you can probably find out from the individual brushes they have for sale at Gorgeous Cosmetics and compare that to the picture of their brush set.

For those who are interested, I'll list the 25 brushes in my set. It's a bit more than the recommended 23, but I'm sure I'll find a use for them all!

• Large powder brush - Squirreline
• Full-bodied blush brush - Squirreline
• Med-bodied blush brush - Squirreline
• Duo fiber bronzer/stipple brush - Squirreline, goat & white Taklon
• Large angle blush brush - Squirreline
• Small angle blush brush - Squirreline
• Large foundation brush - Multi-blend Taklon
• Concealer brush - Multi-blend Taklon
• Concealer lip brush - Multi-blend Taklon
• Crease/bullet brush - European red sable
• Short eyeshadow brush - European red sable
• Small eyeshadow brush - European red sable
• Medium eyeshadow brush - European red sable
• Large eyeshadow brush - European red sable
• XLarge eyeshadow brush - European red sable
• Eyeliner brush - Golden Taklon blend
• Angle eyeliner brush - Multi-blend Taklon
• Lip brush - European sable
• Detail lip brush - Golden Taklon
• Pointed liner brush - Golden Taklon
• Eyeiner brush - European red sable
• Fan brush - Raccoon
• Mascara brush - Nylon fibre
• Eyebrow comb/brush - Badger
• Sponge brush (with 3 spare sponge heads)

The Essential Tools & Consumables

Let's start off with all the little things that we never knew we needed until they're not there. These are the essential makeup tools and consumables. Most ladies should have these around the house, even if they're not a budding makeup artist (MUA).

The Academy of Makeup (AOM) does provide an Essential Toolkit ($49) consisting of:

• Makeup palette & mixing spatula
• Pencil sharpener
• Eyelash curler
• 1pk block of sponges
• 1pk of mascara wands
• Duo eyelash glue

Personally, fifty bucks is pricey for items that will just get used up. I sourced most of these from eBay for a couple of dollars each and figured better quality ones can be purchased once I'm out of the 'introduction' stage of the course.

AOM also advised to have the following before course commencement:

• Black mascara and disposable mascara wands
• Individual & bar false lashes
• Black & brown eyeliner pencil
• Tissues, Wet Ones, hand sanitizer, hand towels
• Makeup remover pads/wipes
• Cotton buds (Q-tips)
• Tweezers, scissors
• Brush cleaner
• Moisturiser, primer
• Headband/Sectioning Clips
• Protective (salon) cape

If you're like me, who prefers to apply makeup with fingers and use only the bare minimum of gadgets, then when you start out in makeup school, you'd need to drop at least a few grand on additional essentials. After all, it's probably more professional (and hygienic!) to use brushes on your clients.

Here's what my Diploma course required:

23pce Gorgeous Cosmetics brush kit

Brush roll
Although the Academy of Makeup (AOM) recommends their own 23 pce brush set ($399), I decided to get mine elsewhere. While I have a few brushes, a complete set is necessary to bring to class and every makeup artist will tell you investing in good brushes pays off in results.

Temptu Airbrush Kit

Airbrush kit
Another pricey addition ($600) available through the school via Hub Makeup. There was no way around this compulsory tool and I knew nothing about airbrushing so the recommended brand purchase was a necessity.

Misc. Tools & Consumables
You don't pay attention to these little bits until a list needs to be made. I'm talking about tissues, cotton buds, disposable mascara wands, and sponges. Again, AOM offers an 'essential kit' for $49, but between that or a trip to the local supermarket, there is no contest.

Hairstyling Kit
The Diploma course contains a section on hair styling, for which I'm thankful and excited to be doing. A makeup artist isn't just restricted to the face and may need to act as hairdresser and stylist to create a complete look. There are no kits from AOM for hairstyling tools, so I will have to amass them myself down the track. However, as this will be happening later in the course, I have deferred purchases for now.

Gorgeous Cosmetics Pro Makeup Kit

If you're wondering why I did not include cosmetics in this resources list, that's because AOM provides all cosmetics during classes. Any makeup kits purchased will only be used out of class for work experience or school-organized events. In the latter case, you can only participate if you own their brand, Gorgeous Cosmetics (after all, they're trying to use you to promote their brand). Again, I am going to wait and see whether dropping almost a grand (Pro Makeup Kit - $949; Essential Makeup Kit - $649) on their products is worth it. Depending on how much work experience opportunities the school organises.

xxEva

Ever had a career dream that's totally irrelevant to your current occupation? Well, don't give up your day job...yet. Work to fund your hobbies until you can get your hobbies to fund you!

Before I go further, here's the obligatory disclaimer:
I'm not being paid to give my opinions on anything in this blog and all products or services are purchased by me, unless otherwise stated.

A studio at the Academy of Makeup

Now then...

Given my busy day schedule, there's not a whole lot of choices for makeup schools in Brisbane that offers part-time evening courses. That's the main reason I picked Academy of Makeup (AOM). Not only do they offer Certificate II through to Diploma, they also had flexible classes. Plus, their exemplary customer service deserves a mention. I rang up to enquire and the helpful girl on the other end sent me an info pack and booked me in for their upcoming open day, all the while answering my barrage of questions. They also rang back a week afterwards to check I've received my pack, confirm open day attendance, and asked if I had any more questions that needed addressing. If I wasn't won over before, knowing I mattered enough for them to follow up is a great impression.

After eyeing AOM's Certificate IV and just missing the 2011 round, I settled on the Diploma. Whatever. I might as well go all in. Wherever the rabbit hole leads, right? So $8,500 later, I secured a place in their 2012 intake. Classes are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evenings, and all day Sundays. First half of next year is going to be one heck of a whirlwind period! But if it makes me feel I'm being productive, that's exactly how I like it! ^^

Stay gorgeous,
xxEva

For years I've been suppressing my secret dream to be a makeup artist. This was a path I've been hesitant to consider, as it has always been instilled upon me that the career was superficial and less prestigious than a white-collar profession.

What, you mean like being an accountant?
My day job is boring me out of my mind.

So in a moment of reflection - oh alright, more like a rebellious impulse fuelled by a realisation that my days have settled into a monotonous cycle - I signed up for makeup school.

To be more specific, for the next seven months of 2012 (January to July), I will be undertaking a Diploma of Makeup at the Academy of Makeup in Brisbane, Australia.

Have you ever wanted to go down the rabbit hole to Wonderland? Because here's where I'll lead you into a world of ever-changing fashion, colour, glitz, glamour, and enough lipstick to repaint the road to Emerald City.

Let's get beautiful!
xxEva