I often come across more mature women (brides and mothers-of-the-bride) who are reluctant to have their makeup done due to past “bad experiences” and they are worried that I will cake them in makeup and make them look older.

I am forever reassuring them that I adopt the motto “Less is Best” – and that they will feel comfortable with the soft, natural look I aim to give them.

Mature skin usually has wrinkles, smile lines, and discolouration. It can also be quite dry. These features can be emphasised with heavy makeup. So……….”Less is Best”.

Here are a few tips for mature women who are wearing makeup:

• Use light concealer under the eyes, on the eyelid, and around the nose area. Sometimes a green neutraliser is required for areas that are quite red;
• Apply a good, light foundation – being sure to match the skin tone perfectly (as darker foundation can age the skin);
• Use only a light dusting of powder, particularly around the eyes;
• Remember that it is easier to ADD than to take away makeup, so start with a little, and gradually build it up;
• Keep away from shimmers and sparkly eyeshadows. Be careful using browns, pinks and burgundies as they can make the eyes look fatigued. Colours like grey, sage green, navy blue, look lovely on mature skin;
• Steer away from dark, smokey eyes. A softer smokey eye with some definition under the bottom lashes will look glamorous;
• Don’t go overboard with mascara;
• Blushes give a lovely colour to the skin – so apply soft colours to give your skin that extra ‘life’;
• Matte lipsticks are best. Do not use glossy colours or anything with a shimmer. Do not use darker lip-liners than the lipstick. Colours like peach, coral, plums and rose look great on mature skin.

I hope these tips have helped!

Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

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

Your wedding day is one of the single most important days of your life. Your photos will last forever, so it’s important to look “picture perfect” on your special day!

A huge contribution to looking “perfect” is your makeup. Makeup enhances your features and is important for that finishing touch.

Here are a few pointers to ensure you look extra beautiful on your wedding day.

Use a professional makeup artist

It is extremely important to use a professional makeup artist, like myself, on your wedding day. Choose one that specialises in bridal makeup or who at least has had training in bridal makeup.

Using a professional is important as we usually know the ‘tricks of the trade’ – for example, that pink tones are accentuated in flash photography, so it is better to use a yellow-based foundation.

I use professional photographic makeup to ensure that your makeup stays on all day and night, as well as ensuring you look radiant in photos. It’s so important that your makeup artist doesn’t use everyday makeup – your wedding is NOT an everyday event! It’s not every day that you are being photographed constantly!

Organise your makeup trial to take place well in advance of your wedding. It’s a good idea to bring with you some magazine cut outs of makeup ideas you have in mind. Perhaps you could even have your hair styled in the same or similar way that you will have it on your wedding day – although I know this is not always possible. It is important to bring with you a fabric swatch of your wedding dress, or at least a photograph of it, so that colours can be finalised. Your makeup colours can often depend on the colour of your dress. Bringing a swatch of your bridesmaids dresses is also suggested, so that the colours for their makeup can be finalised as well, especially if you want their makeup to somehow tie in with your look.

Keeping it simple

You don’t want to look ‘overdone’ on your wedding day… so keep it simple and natural-looking. If you’re not comfortable wearing heavy shadows, then don’t. Heavy shadows and liners can make your eyes look smaller, so if your eyes are already small your makeup artist will most likely use lighter colours and special blending techniques to make your eyes appear larger.

A smokey eye is breathtaking for night weddings to give that dramatic, striking look.

For a day wedding, natural, neutral tones are appropriate. Makeup artists like myself will know which colours suit you.

It is so important that you leave your makeup trial completely happy with your look – it’s called a ‘trial’ for a reason… if you want something changed, then ask!! I know that I am more than happy to make changes when a client requests it. They are paying for my service and need to be 100% satisfied. It’s also so much better and less stressful to get the desired look right at the trial, so that things can run smoothly on the wedding day.

False lashes are a glamorous way to bring out your eyes. I use individual lashes, and natural human hair strip lashes in various styles. These are usually applied with a latex glue that is extremely easy to remove (or latex-free if you have an allergy). False lashes make SUCH a difference – which is why I include them free of charge to my clients – I just don’t want anyone to miss out!

Neutral, beige and pale lip colours tend to make you look washed out in photographs, so I would recommend choosing a lipstick that’s one to two shades brighter than what you normally wear (even if you hate wearing lipstick). Pinks, roses and plums are great choices for brides.

It is also important to remember that you must place the emphasis on either the eyes OR the lips (never both). So if you are going for a smokey eye look, choose a pale lipstick, like a light pink or rose gloss. If you have chosen a red lipstick, go for a natural light eye with defined liner and accentuated lashes.

Weddings are emotional and sensitive days for all involved, especially the bride. This is why I will ensure that your makeup is waterproof and smudge-proof, including your mascara. This is particularly important for the mother of the bride or groom – where tears often start before they’ve left the house!

Keep in mind that your makeup on your wedding day will always be a tad heavier than your everyday makeup. It is your wedding day, you don’t want to look ‘everyday’! Also, it is important to have ‘that little bit extra’ for photographs (which will last forever). It is often said that photography takes away 50% of your makeup – so expect to wear a little more than usual. Also, once your makeup is applied, give it an hour or two to ‘set’. Bear this in mind if you get a little surprised at how much makeup you have on!

What to pack in your handbag

I highly recommend you take a touch-up lipstick with you for re-application throughout the day. Weddings are long days, and no lipstick will stay on for 12 hours plus! Usually, the lipstick colour is decided at the trial, and I can purchase the touch-up lipstick on your behalf.

It might also be an idea to reapply powder throughout the day, to reduce unwanted shine – especially for summer/spring weddings. Pack a small retractable travel brush filled with translucent powder (I can provide these at a small cost), or instead you can purchase a powder compact (I can also purchase these on your behalf).

Photographs

Take a photo of yourself in different lighting after your makeup trial. This will help you get an idea of how your makeup will look in your wedding photos. Have a look at your makeup indoors, as well as outside in the sunshine.

I make a habit of bringing my camera to all my client’s makeup trials to ensure photos are taken. The photos will then be emailed to the client for them to refer to.

I hope these makeup tips have assisted you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me on info@makeupbyrebekah.com.au

Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au