Fashion Features

Review: Z Palette will change your makeup storage routine

By April MacIntyre Nov 1, 2009, 17:23 GMT

Makeup color management and the art of storing product has usually been left to pre-packaged containers created by the cosmetic manufacturers, or retooled by companies who cater to the pros, like M.A.C. A stroke of genius occurred to a working makeup artist, tired of having to constantly open up or somehow identify by label the outside of her over-sized M.A.C. compacts to find the color needed in a hurry. And if you work in makeup professionally on a busy TV show or film, the pace of work is always breakneck and having to go on a recon mission to find that right shade is a maddening task.

A stroke of genius occurred to a working makeup artist, tired of having to constantly open up or somehow identify by label the outside of her over-sized M.A.C. compacts to find the color needed in a hurry. And if you work in makeup professionally on a busy TV show or film, the pace of work is always breakneck and having to go on a recon mission to find that right shade is a maddening task.For years, most I.A.T.S.E. Local 706 (LA) and Local 798 (NYC) makeup union pros had a stack of signature black empty cases in their kits that could warehouse a refillable array of shades, either from M.A.C., Prescriptives, Bobbie Brown and other cosmetic companies who made the same size pans. The slots are circular in shape, and come in an eyeshadow pan size or a cheek pan size. No odd shapes can fit these blank slate compacts.

Filled large Z Palette

A stroke of genius occurred to a working pro makeup artist, tired of having to constantly open up or somehow identify by label the outside of her over-sized M.A.C. compacts to find the color needed in a hurry. And if you work in makeup professionally on a busy TV show or film, the pace of work is always breakneck and having to go on a recon mission to find that right shade is a maddening task.A California girl by way of the Ukraine, Zena Shteysel is part of the Emmy award-winning "Dancing with the Stars" makeup team who continuously turns out the best in glamour makeup for the smallscreen. ABC's reality competition "Dancing with the Stars" is not just about mastering difficult ballroom dances; it is also about recreating looks from bygone eras to compliment music and wardrobe so the entire picture is authentic, helping each contestant get into character and nail that move.

Emmys in hand: Patti Ramsey Bertoli, Melanie Mills, Zena Shteysel, Nadege Schoenfeld.

Their makeup department often times works over 16 hours days, and is headed by Melanie Mills, along with her core group of Patti Ramsey Bertoli, Zena Shteysel, Angela Moos and Nadege Schoenfeld. These women are hardcore pros and creative geniuses who take mostly average looking attractive people and turn them into goddesses and gods, adorned with richly bronzed skin and perfect finishing touches, head to toe.

Small filled Z Palette

Zena has made their life a lot easier. She created the exclusive see-through cover-compact Z_Palette in two convenient sizes that gives a pro or average woman a time saving and excellent organizational tool to color code palettes in any customizable fashion.Recently I visited the team inside the "Dancing with the Stars" makeup trailer at CBS Television City, and had a chance to speak to Zena about these amazingly useful containers that I saw in use, and now am personally using and highly recommend to everyone. Zena, tell me about yourself. Where did it all start for you?Zena: I was born in Odessa, Ukraine but I was only a month old when my family left. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. I started in the film business in the accounting department and then moved into makeup. Since then I have been working as a Hollywood makeup artist for the past seven years. I have worked on several feature films and TV shows, and created glamorous looks for an ad campaign shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz. I have worked with celebrities including Laila Ali, Mel B, Kim Kardashian, and Brooke Burke. After eight seasons with Dancing with the Stars, I was recently honored with an Emmy award. When did you know you wanted to go into makeup? How did you get in professionally and become a member of Local 706 (MAHS Union)? Zena: I always loved makeup because my mom went to beauty school and I would see all her makeup supplies and play with them when she wasn’t around so I wouldn’t get in trouble. It was something I always enjoyed but I never really thought I could make a career out of it. It wasn’t until I was on movie sets doing accounting that I realized I could really do makeup and make a career out of it. That is when I followed my passion for makeup and made the jump from accounting to makeup. Once I made the decision that I was going to do makeup I researched thoroughly and spoke to makeup artists on the film sets I worked on. I started on the no pay to $50/day jobs until I started meeting people that helped lead me to the next level. It took me less than two years to get into the 706 union. I got in by working on three different films that turned union and I got my 30 days within a year’s time. How long have you worked with Melanie and Dancing with the Stars?Zena: I have been working on Dancing with the Stars since the first season. I met Melanie on season two and we have been working together ever since. How did you come up with the idea of the Z Palette? Zena: I am known by my peers as a very organized and neat makeup artist. It is something that comes natural to me and I have helped many artists downsize and organize their kits. As a result the Z Palette came to me out of a need to reorganize my kit and carry a lot less products and packaging. I started taking empty makeup palettes that were already on the market and ripping the dividers out so I could adjust them to fit all my shadows and blushes from all the brands I use.

Empty large Z Palette

Finally one day the light bulb idea came to me and I said I need to make a palette that comes like this! There is nothing like it on the market and makeup pros and lovers would love this! Tell me about the design process to this finished product that is so well-received? Zena: Once I made the decision to make a product I would love and thought others would love too I researched, researched, researched!

Empty small Z Palette

I found a manufacture that worked with me until I got the product exactly the way I wanted. Once it was ready my mission was and is to spread the word.Tell me who is using Z Palette?Zena: Since the Z Palette has come out many makeup artists and makeup lovers have started using the Z Palettes. They love the fact that it has a clear window, which you can actually see what’s inside without opening every palette and wasting time. The Z Palette is also not made out of plastic, which means there are no hinges, which have been the reason for many of my palettes to break in the past. This will not happen with the Z Palette.

At DWTS, a bay ready for a star: photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C

The entire Dancing with the Stars team has now converted all their old makeup palettes to the Z Palettes. They have also realized that since it features an open magnetic pan they can be used for far more than just eye shadows and blushes. They are using them for concealers, bronzers, and powders. You can save a lot of time when you have products to handle all type of skin tones in one palette. Most recently, I have organized my client Laila Ali’s makeup into the Z Palettes. When she was able to see all the makeup she had in front of her it was easy for her to see that she didn’t need to purchase the brown and eggplant shadows that she always found herself buying. When you can’t see what you have you forget and women tend to buy the same colors over and over again. Laila loves her new palettes and they are so easy for her to travel with. Will Z-Palette be expanding the product line beyond the small and large palettes? Zena: The Z Palettes will be expanding the product line very soon. The Z Palette will be available in 2 new colors as of mid-November. Please check back often to www.zpalette.com to see what’s new. Where can I buy Z Palettes? Zena: You can purchase Z Palettes online at www.zpalette.com. You can also find all retail store locations, online stores, and international stores that carry the Z Palettes on the website as well. CALIFORNIA: Cinema Secrets 4400 Riverside Dr Burbank, Ca 91505 TEL: (818) 846-0579  Website: www.cinemasecrets.comFrends Beauty Supply 5270 Laurel Canyon Blvd North Hollywood, Ca 91607 TEL: (818) 769-3834  Website: www.frendsbeautysupply.comImage Exclusive 8020 Melrose Ave West Hollywood, Ca 90046 TEL: (323) 651-4678  Website: www.imageexclusive.comNigel’s Beauty Emporium 11252 Magnolia Blvd North Hollywood, Ca 91601 TEL: (818) 760-3902  Website: www.nigelsbeautyemporium.comCOLORADO:Makeup Mania 4407 Lowell Blvd Denver, Co 80211 TEL: (303) 433-3400  TOLL FREE: (800) 711-7182  Website: www.makeupmania.com INDIANA:LeCosmetique 9941 Allisonville Rd Fishers, IN 46038 Website: www.lecosmetique.comNEW YORK:Alcone NYC 322 W. 49th St New York, NY 10019 TEL: (212) 757-3734  TOLL FREE: (800) 466-7446  Website: www.alconeco.comAlcone LLC 5-45 49th Ave Long Island City, NY 11101 TEL: (718) 361-8373  TOLL FREE: (800) 466-7446  Website: www.alconeco.comMakeup Mania 182 Allen St New York, NY 10002 TEL: (212) 533-5900  TOLL FREE: (800) 711-7182  Website: www.makeupmania.com Z Palettes can be also be found at any of the below online retailers: Camera Ready Cosmetics: www.camerareadycosmetics.comLeCosmetique: www.lecosmetique.comPaint and Powder Store: www.paintandpowderstore.com AustraliaInternational Locations:
Australia:ACMUSE Australian College of Makeup and Special Effects5 The CrescentAnnandale, NSW 2038TEL: (612) 9518 9000FAX: (612) 9518 9040Website: www.makeup4you.com.au Lehved Makeup Artist EssentialsOnline Store Website: www.lehved.com.au Canada: Hollynorth Production Supplies3735 East 1st AvenueBurnaby, BC V5C 3V6TEL: (604) 299-2000 TOLL FREE: (877) 299-2077 Website: www.hollynorth.com Netherlands: PROMAKEUPSTOREOnline Store Website: www.promakeupstore.com