Suesh Portable Make-Up Studio

Make-up gigs are usually done in Hotels where the lights are yellow or warm, which is a nightmare for make up artists. Yellow lights can be flattering and the client may love what she's seeing on the mirror but we need to see the actual colors we are putting on her, as seen on broad daylight. She needs to look beautiful even when she goes out of the hotel room, when the camera flashes, or when she's exposed to strong lights.  Yellow light will yield the following effect on the colors we are applying: turns red into white, fades away yellow, darkens green, turns blue into purple, and violet into pink.

Here is where the makeup trolley with lights come in, to solve the problem of yellow illumination on our work space.  Ironically, they are sold with free yellow lights which defeats the purpose, but you can always replace them with white bulbs.  Like how a surgeon needs bright lights at the operating table, a make-up artist needs all the light she can get to achieve polished, precise, and perfect look for her client.

I purchased the Make Up Station/Portable Studio from Suesh about a year ago but wasn't able to write a review on it. I was debating with myself whether it was a good buy or one of those products I bought on a whim just because other makeup artists were using it. After giving it much thought, here is my take on the Makeup Trolley with lights:

Rule In:

• I need bright, white lights on gigs. The makeup station provides it.


• It's a standard tool for most professional make up artists


• I have my own working area even if the hotel doesn't have a vanity table (or if their available table is swamped with bags and things of the whole bridal entourage)


• It has an additional socket that can be used for hair dryer, curling iron, etc.


• It has its own legs. I can either put it on top of a table or spread its legs so it can stand on its own.


• The wheels make it easy to bring along


• It's convenient to use at home for trial makeups because I can fold it up afterwards a la Transformers, which means no need for space-occupying dressers

Rule Out:

• Heavy! (how does 15 kgs sound to you?)


• The process of making it stand on its own legs needs superpowers (you will need a strong assistant, preferably Superman or Darna)


• Making it stand on its legs will take up huge floor space- not suitable for small hotel rooms


• I find it difficult to tug along on uneven grounds and stairs


• Not practical to bring on flights since this is already 15 kgs, the maximum limit for baggages, without any makeup inside yet


• I always need an extra makeup bag since not all makeup products fit inside the case


• My makeup rates are too low for this expensive tool (hah!)

Cost: Php15000 plus Php1300 for shipping from Manila to CDO
Dimensions: 570x440x210 mm
Where to Buy: Suesh- http://suesh.multiply.com (they now offer payment through paypal!)

There were times when I thought of selling it because of its weight discouraging me from bringing it to gigs, but lately, I appreciated its use especially during events where I had to put up with yellow lights because there was no sun even if we open the windows. This is also a winner when doing trial makeups at home. I  just wish I bought a smaller variety with wheels, like the one used by John Lapus on "Here Comes the Bride" but I couldn't find an online vendor who sells that kind. I've decided on not letting this go because I still think this is a good investment for professional makeup artists.

For those who are just starting out, bring a study lamp with white lights to get a better view of what you're working on. That's what I do when I don't have an assistant to bring the trolley around, or I take pictures with flash to check if the makeup is even. If you really want a portable studio, choose the smaller cases or the ones with fluorescent lights, they are cheaper but serve the same purpose. Upgrade to this bigger kind once you can afford to hire Captain Barbell to bring it for you.

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