About + Disclosure
Hello Hello!
Thank you for visiting Makeup To Go!
Makeup to Go is the brainchild of media makeup artist Tania D. Russell. It was started in 2003 as a way to provide consumers with access to the services, tricks and tips of a working media makeup artist as well as mentoring for those wanting to become professional makeup artists themselves.
Thus in addition to providing information on our services, this Blog will focus on the fun of makeup and of the Beauty Biz from the standpoint of a working makeup artist. Designed to be informative for everyone from the Aspiring Artist to the makeup newbie, our hope is that Makeup to Go will provide you with loads of inside information into the Beauty Biz as a whole from products to working to cool events and happenings. About Tania
1. So Who Are You and What Are Your Qualifications? 2. How did you get into doing makeup? 3. You keep saying you’re a media makeup artist. What does that mean? About the Makeup to Go! Blog
4. Why the name ‘Makeup to Go!’? 5. Are all these pictures on your site your work? 6. Do you accept sponsored articles or article submissions? 7. Your reviews seem different from other blogs… You don’t do swatches or review all of the latest products? 8. What items do you review? How do you obtain the products you review? As of this writing (7/6/2012) none of my reviews have been sponsored reviews. Not one. This policy is unlikely to change. All of my reviews have been of products I – or my guest writer – actually use and we write about these products because we like (or love) them. Most items have been purchased by the author of the blog post, however as professional makeup artists all contributors to this blog are eligible to receive product gratis in exchange for Editorial Credit for our work in magazines and in some cases on productions and/or tours. Also as of this writing, some links may be affiliate links of a recommended product. I do earn a small commission if you decide to purchase a product by clicking on such a link.
9. Do you accept items for review? If so what items do you accept for review and what are your policies? 10. Do you ever do give-aways? About Makeup to Go! Services
11. What do you mean by “Makeup Concierge Service”? 12. Do your classes offer certifications? I am just paid to make people look pretty and I can teach you to do the same
I am a career makeup artist of over 10 years, 7 years as a paid professional ( click here to see website ). I began my career in films (student films, indies, etc.) and soon realized that the film world was not for me. After taking some time off to re-assess what I wanted to do, I came back as a makeup artist for print and video (i.e. – commercials, music videos, magazines, advertising, catalogs, etc.), and since that time I have amassed an extensive professional resume.
Well, I went to UCLA and at the time I had a lot of friends who were film students. After a while they started asking me to do makeup for their projects and then when they started to land their first paying jobs they hired me for my first paying jobs. The rest, as they say, is history.
By “media makeup artist” I mean that I am an on-set artist for Print, Video and Film as opposed to working in a salon or on weddings, etc. I would also classify myself as saying I provide makeup services for the Entertainment and Advertising Industries.
I wanted a fun, frivolous name that sounds accessible – not highfalutin – and that would take the seriousness out of how makeup is usually discussed. In my world, makeup is all about having fun, being pampered, looking good and feeling great. 
Unless otherwise indicated, Absolutely! Some articles may have a generic makeup stock image as the opening image (a pan of eyeshadow, or a swipe of lipstick) and I have PAID for those images through authorized stock image vendors. Any images of a face/bodypart with makeup on it is from my gallery of work and is used for promotional consideration only with the permission of the photographer. My work is not free stock and unauthorized usage will be prosecuted.
Sorry. Absolutely not. I would not even consider allowing someone to post an article in exchange for payment, nor will I ever consider random, off-topic articles. The majority of the content on Makeup to Go! is written by myself (Tania D. Russell) and all guest content is provided by fellow makeup artists whom I know personally. The content of Makeup to Go! is very selective and highly curated to provide the best content of the highest integrity possible.
Yes my reviews are different, no I do not do swatches or review products as they come out. I try a loooooot of product and I get to try product on a lot of different kinds of faces. What I review here is a distillation of what I like best and/or noteworthy products that are trending among makeup artists. I also definitely have favorite brands that I keep a close eye on so occasionally I will do a post of products I’m looking forward to, but I will then do a follow-up review once I’ve had a chance to actually use it. Overall I’m more interested in long-term usage than what’s the latest greatest thing. Besides, there are already a plethora of great blogs out there announcing all the great new products and doing trials and swatches. We at Makeup to Go! are just taking a slightly different approach.
Makeup to Go! is specific to the review of cosmetics items and makeup tools and implements as that is our area of expertise. On the occasion I may also review a hair styling product and/or nail polish. Makeup to Go’s area of focus is narrow and is based upon what we use on a regular basis as working makeup artists. As Makeup to Go! is not a lifestyle blog, we do not go into reviews of clothing, housewares, etc. even though I personally love those things.
Makeup to Go! is happy to accept items for review. I particularly love finding out about independent and/or niche brands. Please contact us via the form on our Contact + Booking page and select “Product Reviews” as the subject matter. Cosmetics are the item of choice followed by makeup-related implements and tools. We are not a generic health and beauty site so we do not review things such as dietary aides, herbs and vitamins, etc. We can accept hair styling products (gels, pomades, etc.) but not shampoos and conditioners as those would not likely be used on a photo-shoot. PLEASE NOTE: Any item submitted for review will be held to the same standard as any other item I would review. All of our reviews are honest assessments of a products’ performance after being used in a “real world” application. Therefore – while we are not into scathing, negative reviews – we cannot guarantee a product will receive a positive review. We can guarantee the product will receive a fair assessment by trained professionals who can get products we like into the hands of makeup consumers, other makeup artists and potentially models and celebrities.
To date Makeup to Go! has not done give aways via the Blog (I did do one via Twitter), although we would be open to doing so. If you have an item that would make a good giveaway for our Blog, please contact us via our form on the Contact + Bookings page and let’s see what’s possible! 
A Concierge over history has been defined as everything from a custodian to a doorkeeper to a janitor. We’re employing the modern usage of the word as someone who provides/facilitates/coordinates services to make someone else’s life easier. We bring the Beauty Biz to you.
No they do not. I am happy to write a letter of recommendation for a Lessons for Aspiring Artists™ student but otherwise certifications are utterly meaningless unless issued by an accredited institution. Makeup to Go! is not a school, we just offer short-term workshops. Neither I, nor Makeup to Go, have any authority by which to offer any sort of Certification. We would just be printing you a piece of paper with your name on it. The only issuing body for meaningful certification in the state of California is the Department of Consumer Affairs – Board of Barbering and Cosmetology which is where one gets a Cosmetology license (necessary for any type of salon job and some personal services jobs in California). Individuals/workshops cannot offer the training necessary for a Cosmetology license, you have to go to a State licensed school.
Updated 7/6/2012
