My husband restores old cars as a hobby. One of the things I’ve learned is that the paint jobs for cars can run from expensive to outrageously expensive depending on the kind of result you want. The process involves a lot of sanding and the use of expensive high-speed air guns. No one who desired good results would ever paint their car with a brush.

It looks like make-up application is going in that direction now. Recently I saw an infomerical for an airspray kit for makeup foundation. I’d heard for years about magazine models being “airbrushed” but I thought it referred to the photographic process. They are actually sprayed with foundation by artists using the smae kind of tools tee shirts are airbrushed with.

 Now the process is open to the general public–if the general public is independently wealthy, that is. These kits are mighty costly–running about $400.

I know about make-up sponges are recommended by make-up artists as well. They add a smoother appearance than you can get by using your fingers to blend. But I always found that process to be time-consuming and the results can be uneven unless you’re patient and know what you’re doing.

So what’s a girl to do when I’d like that painted-on look but I’m not about to fork over $400 for it? I got my answer the other day when I was walking through the makeup aisle at Walgreens. There, on a shelf by itself, was a new makeup by Loreal. (I’d already become a fan of the Loreal True Match foundation because of its coverage and the fact that one of the shades perfectly matches my own.)

But this foundation? Had a roller applicator?! How cool is that? There’s this teeny little roller (about two inches wide) that looks just like the one you used to paint your house walls. You just roll that little thing over the creamy foundation, then over your face. The coverage is uniform, it evens out your skin tone, and covers all those little flaws. Plus, it’s not as tediously time-consuming as using a little sponge wedge or your fingers.

 I’m still hoping that the price comes down on the foundation airbrush kits, but until then the little paint roller is a good compromise.