Your wedding day is the most important day of your life. Every bride wants to look and feel like a princess, and your makeup plays a very important role.
Makeup is important to your overall look on your wedding day. It is important when considering your photos – which you will have as a memory for the rest of your life.
Here is a TOP TEN list of what I believe are the most important things to consider when choosing your Makeup Artist (MUA):
1. Is he/she available exclusively on your wedding day? There’s no use getting involved if the MUA is already booked on your wedding day. I would also ask if he/she takes multiple bookings – you want someone who will be available for your wedding ONLY, and not have to rush to make another job afterwards. If the makeup artist does have other bookings, make sure those times are flexible. You want someone who is reliable and isn’t going to substitute herself with a colleague at the last minute, or leave without doing touch-ups, etc because she has to rush to another client.
2. Is he/she friendly, approachable and flexible? Personality is important. Your MUA will be with you for the majority of the morning that you are preparing for your wedding. You don’t want someone you can’t get along with. You want to have someone who is fun to be around, warm and friendly. Someone who is willing to go that extra step to make things run smoothly. Above all, you want someone who is not only passionate about makeup, but about weddings!
3. Does he/she use professional makeup? It is important that the MUA uses high quality products to ensure the makeup will stay on all day. You don’t want makeup that will fade and rub off in only a few hours. Your makeup has to last all day and night, often without touching up. Things like lipstick are expected to wear off (unless you’re not going to eat or kiss for 18 hours!!!) but other than touching up lipstick and a brief dab of powder to ward off shine, you shouldn’t have to re-apply anything. Waterproof makeup is so important, and is why I only use professional makeup like Atelier Paris, MAC and Cinema Secrets. This is why it’s a good idea to have your makeup trial in the morning or early afternoon before you go out for the evening – it’s the best test for staying power! If your makeup is still intact at 2am after a big night out, then it will definitely last on your wedding day!
4. Is he/she trained specifically in bridal and photographic makeup? You want a MUA whose main clientele are brides. Having a MUA who is trained in photographic makeup is a bonus as they know exactly how to highlight certain features so that they stand out in photographs (which will be with you forever). Wedding makeup is not just about how you look on the day, it is just as imperative that you look gorgeous in your photos.
5. Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene!!! This is probably one of the most important but most overlooked aspect of makeup artistry. At your makeup trial, take note of how your MUA applies your makeup. It is so important that disposable mascara wands are used. Mascara wands are a haven for bacteria, and you don’t want to be given conjunctivitis or any other nasty illness because your MUA hasn’t bothered to use a disposable wand.
Check that he/she isn’t “double-dipping” without first sterilising the brush. You don’t want your liquid eyeliner to be applied after the brush has been used on someone elses eyes. This is why I use a strong brush cleaner between clients – so strong that the brush dries within about 5 seconds. It takes a little more time, but at least I know my clients are being treated with sterile equipment.
Check that the makeup doesn’t go straight from palette to face. I use an intermediary – a ceramic tile – whereby the foundation or concealer is placed onto the tile, then from the tile to the face. The tile is sterilised between clients.
Also check that foundation sponges are clean, and that lipstick is NEVER applied directly from the stick but from stick to tile, then tile to face using a lip brush (which is sterilised between clients). The last thing you want is a cold sore on your wedding day!
6. Is your makeup artist listening to you? Even though MUA’s are trained professionals, the client comes first. It is important that your MUA takes on board your needs and wants, as well as offering their opinion. A pushy know-it-all MUA is not recommended. However, it is also important that the client is flexible enough to take on board the advice of the MUA. After all, he/she is the professional!
This is why a trial is so important – it’s an opportunity to openly discuss your needs and wants. A good makeup artist will not leave the trial with an unsatisfied client. I always make sure the client is happy with the result, even if it means staying a few hours, and trying a few different styles and colours. You want to know exactly what you will look like on your wedding day.
7. Is your makeup artist asking questions about your wedding day? It is important for MUA’s to know what the colour and style is of the dress you are wearing, as well as your bridesmaids dresses, flowers, theme of the wedding, venue, etc. This will help to decide on what makeup would suit your theme.
8. Is your Makeup Artist a professional? You don’t want a MUA who does makeup only as a hobby. Things to look for are business cards, an A.B.N, and most importantly a website. Ask to look at his/her portfolio – these days, the photos are usually available on the website and on facebook. Remember also that a lot of makeup salespeople at counters in department stores are just that – sales people. If you are looking for a MUA for your wedding, it’s best to go with a freelance MUA or a professional company.
9. Punctuality. It’s so important that you engage a MUA who is on time. The makeup trial is a good way to test this! You don't want your MUA running late on your wedding day – this will effect the running of everything else on your big day!
10. And last, but not least, is the Makeup Artist taking note of what makeup is being used? It is important for the MUA writes down the makeup and colours used at your trial so that in the event he/she is booked for your wedding, the look is recorded and can be reinvented on the wedding day. I always take photos of the bride once her makeup is completed at her makeup trial, as a record for the big day. The photos are then emailed to the client the next day. It’s also a good way to see how her makeup will look in photographs (even though it’s not a professional photograph). I also use a face chart app on my iPad to record the look on various parts of the face so that it can be referred to on the wedding day.
I hope these tips have helped you!
Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au
