Photo Credit: Pinterest
The following information and images have kindly been supplied by Bridal Make-up by Janet Curry
Being the bride, you and your wedding party will be at the very centre of attention all day. It is therefore important that everyone look at their very best, not just for the ceremony but all day and evening long. A good makeup artist will use makeup and techniques that will ensure your makeup lasts throughout the entire day and evening, looking picture perfect for even the latest of photographs.
A makeup artist will be able to help you decide on the best look for you, whether you want to be a 'natural rose' or a full on 'glamourous bride'. It is important however that you don't use your makeup artist to give you a complete 'new you makeover'. It is crucial that you still look like you! No groom wants to see his bride that usually wears very little makeup walking down the aisle sporting some over glamorous smokey look! Your makeup should simply emphasise you at your most beautiful with flawless skin, defined beautiful eyes and sweet, kissable lips!
With regards to flawless skin, one of the big worries many brides, bridesmaids and mothers have is about existing blemishes or having one appear just when you don't want one on your big day. Other common concerns are for rosacea, redness, scars and tattoos. Once again, this is something a good makeup artist will be able to handle with ease. Whilst an artist won't be able to remove the 'volume' of a blemish, they should be able to colour match and cover blemishes or rosacea to last all day and be unnoticeable in photographs. If you have a tattoo or scar that you would like covered, you should enquire with your makeup artist first to make sure they stock and are experienced with using camouflage makeup. Camouflage makeup is different to normal concealer and applied correctly will make tattoos completely invisible whilst being fully waterproof (and perspiration proof).
Of course, looking gorgeous isn't just limited to the bride. It is important that the bridesmaids and mothers look beautiful too. It is crucial that the makeup worn by the others in the bridal party complement the brides look and are not in competition with it. A makeup artist will therefore work with the bride to design a complete and cohesive look for all where everyone looks at their most beautiful and with the entire bridal party's look working in harmony in the photographs.
Not all makeup artists are the same and choosing the right one might seem daunting but by knowing what to ask and to look out for will help ensure the collaboration is a successful one. If you don't know anyone who can give you a high personal recommendation for a makeup artist, you'll have to search around and using Guides for Brides and the Internet is the perfect way to get started!
Most makeup artists will have a website so the first step would be to look over them and check out their portfolio / gallery. Always try to look for artists who have pictures of 'real brides' not just stunning models in studios. It will give you a much better feeling for how they might be able to make you look.
Always book a trial first. Most makeup artists will insist on one but it's most important as it is not only an opportunity to meet your artist and decide on your look but to also ensure you don't have any sensitivities to the products used. Whilst it is necessary for all brides to have a trial, it is normally a matter of individual preference as to whether the bridesmaids and mothers wish to have a trial as well.
During your search you will find makeup artists that specialise in makeup alone or hair and makeup artists that can offer a dual service. Both options clearly have their advantages and disadvantages. One area to consider here though is timings. In general a makeup artist will take about 1 hour per person to apply makeup and depending on the complexity of the hair requirement, a hairdresser may need anything from 30-90 minutes. Therefore if you have several people who need hair and makeup, it would almost certainly be better to employ a makeup artist and hair stylist separately to work along side each other. Either way, it is important to discuss timings with your makeup artist and hair stylist and ensure specific timings are agreed in advance for when each person will be made up.
A very important area that unfortunately all too often gets overlooked is safety and insurance. Horrid infections, like conjunctivitis or impetigo can easily be passed to clients when makeup artists fail to take simple precautions like using disposable mascara wands or lip brushes and cleaning non-disposable brushes between clients. It is therefore absolutely crucial that when looking for an artist you ask them if they use disposables and to explain what they do to ensure the cleanliness of their kit. Contracting conjunctivitis in time for your honeymoon would be just miserable and a good makeup artist will be pleased you've asked and will be happy to explain what they do to protect you from such infections. Ideally they might also be a member of the Safe Beauty Association which is an independent body that promotes good practise within the industry and whose members are bound by a strict code of conduct including the necessity for maintaining suitable Public Liability Insurance.
Like the safety aspect, insurance is another area many people fail to confirm with a prospective makeup artist and with a perceived lack of concern from clients, some makeup artists have been known to forgo this crucial protection . Put simply a makeup artist has a duty of care to their clients and should be able to provide you with full information regarding their Public Liability Insurance which protects you and your home in case of an accident. It's a question that is rarely asked of makeup artists but is of crucial importance when looking for a suitable supplier. Many couples nowadays choose to marry abroad and whilst some makeup artists will agree to travel with you to apply your makeup, it may be that you would prefer to apply the makeup yourself. You may therefore want to consider employing a professional makeup artist to give you makeup tuition before you leave so you can apply your own makeup on the day with confidence. Many makeup artists offer this service so even if it's not listed on their website, it worth asking just in case.
When applying your own makeup, don't be tempted to pile the makeup on thickly believing it will last longer. Often the opposite is true. When makeup is applied heavily, not only can it look obvious but it can actually 'slide off' easier. The trick is to use a primer and then apply your makeup in thin layers. Not only will it last longer but your skin can shine through making you look more natural and radiant.
Nowadays there is no reason for brides to have to constantly retouch their lipstick. Try using one of the many long lasting lip colours on the market. They tend to be dual ended so you apply the colour first and then allow it to dry fully before applying a clear gloss. Depending on the brand the lipstick can last around 12 hours and only needs the gloss reapplying occasionally to give that luscious juicy lip look!
Be wary of using makeup with light reflective pigments or glitter in. There is a very popular product on the market that instead of being a typical concealer is designed to brighten the under eye area using light reflective pigments. Whilst it is a fantastic product for every day use, it isn't ideal for use when you know you are going to be photographed as if a flash needs to be used the flash will pick up on those light reflective pigments and give you the opposite of panda eyes! The same can be said for glitter eye shadows. Try using shimmer or satin shadows instead.
Finally...waterproof mascara. A wedding necessity for all in the bridal party. Need I say more!