How to Choose a Bridal Makeup Artist for Your Wedding Day

One of the things I hear from brides when they are first looking around for a wedding makeup artist is "I've never done this before, so I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do bourjois foundation ." This is true! The majority of brides have never planned a wedding, and many have never hired a professional makeup artist. It can be confusing and overwhelming! I'm writing this as an insider in the industry, to help walk all of you inquiring brides-to-be through the process and to make it as easy and stress-free as possible bourjois foundation .

"How do I find makeup artists in my area?"

The first step is to find the artists who service your area and make a list of ones you'd like to look into. Referrals from your venue, wedding planner or photographer are worth their weight in GOLD. They do weddings all the time, have worked with hundreds of other vendors, and know who is good bourjois foundation . Most venues and planners have a "Recommended Vendor List" that they are happy to hand out to their booked brides. Photographers are always happy to make recommendations for reputable, talented makeup artists because the great ones make their jobs easier! (Less Photoshop and time spent editing? Oh yes!) Friends who have recently been married can also be a good source of referrals. Ask them who they used and if they'd use them again. And of course, the internet has made this a much easier task than in years past, and a simple internet search of "makeup artists in (insert town here)" should bring up a list of them. So now you have some potential artists chosen...

"How do I choose the right makeup artist for me?"

There are 5 key things to look for when making this decision.

1. Their website and portfolio - Reputable bridal makeup artists will have a professional-looking website that showcases images of their work. Beware of websites that use stock images or overly edited photos. Also, keep in mind that a tacky looking website is often a sign of tacky taste - and most likely poor taste in makeup. Online portfolios should show a range of different looks, from barely-there natural makeup, to more dramatic evening looks. If only one makeup look is featured on their website, chances are pretty good it's the only look they know how to do, and it's the look you and everyone in your bridal party is going to get bourjois foundation .


2. Style - Does the makeup represented on the makeup artist's website represent the style of makeup you are looking for? If you are into romantic makeup looks paired with dewy skin, you'll want to stay away from the artists who prefer the heavy contour, Instagram-type looks. And vice versa - if you like the heavier Kim Kardashian makeup look, then the artists who showcase more natural makeup looks aren't going to be the right choice for you bourjois foundation .


3. Reviews - There are so many places online for consumers to leave and find reviews. Use them! For wedding vendors, sites like The Knot, WeddingWire and Yelp are fantastic resources. Check out the reviews for each makeup artist you are considering, but keep some things in mind. First, it's become increasingly easier for businesses to set up fake reviews for themselves. If you are scrolling through their reviews and see dozens of 5-star ones all within a few days, that business probably paid people to leave those reviews for them. This is usually done to counteract previous negative reviews, as it boosts up their overall rating. I recommend searching through a businesses reviews by "lowest rating" whenever possible. Second, it's normal for a business to have one or two less than 5-star reviews. Everybody is different and people appreciate different things. 3-stars under value could mean that client didn't value their amazing $100 makeup application as much as they valued their $2000 pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. Also sometimes bad reviews can be left in retaliation if a client was unhappy about not getting their way about something. I wouldn't fret about one or two less than perfect reviews, but if you see a significant number of them, that should be cause for concern bourjois foundation .


4. Personality and Connection - Something that a lot of people don't put much weight on is the personality of a makeup artist and the personal connection you have with them. Their makeup skills are amazing? Fantastic! Their personality not so golden? It's more important than you think. You'll be spending hours with this artist on one of the most important days of your life. You should like them, and want to have them around. Whether it be through email, over the phone, or in person, make sure this makeup artist makes you feel good! Past reviews can be great for this. Look for key phrases like "I felt like I've known her forever!" or "she was so soothing and calming during such a stressful time". Some people are just naturally "people" people. Those are the ones you'll want to hire bourjois foundation .


5. Price - Price is something I have to mention, because it can be such an important deciding factor for so many brides. You'll need to choose a makeup artist who fits into your wedding budget, but keep in mind that in this aspect, you truly do get what you pay for. Makeup artists at the higher end of the price scale are there for a reason: they use high-end quality products, they've paid for special training, they practice proper sanitation (all those disposables and sanitizing products can get expensive!), and they have skills and experience that lesser priced artists usually can't match. For that perfect bridal look you've envisioned, and flawless wedding photos to boot, choose an artist at the top of your price range bourjois foundation .

"I know who I want to book, now what?"

The first step, if you haven't already done so, is to confirm availability with the makeup artist of your choice. The best artists book up to a year and a half in advance. That doesn't mean your top choice in artist won't have your date available if it's closer than that, but it's best to reach out as soon as possible. (Those wedding timelines that state to book hair and makeup two months prior to your wedding? So wrong!)

Once availability is confirmed, you'll need to determine if you want to book your artist immediately to reserve your date with them, or schedule a trial run prior to booking. Be aware that scheduling a trial run with your artist prior to booking will not guarantee your date will still be available. Most brides book their dates first and schedule a trial run closer to their wedding - and the early bird gets the worm. Of course, if any part of you is unsure about your decision to hire a particular makeup artist, then a trial run prior to booking is advisable. In this situation I recommend doing one as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of your date being booked by another bride. For all others, book that date!! If they've passed all 5 of the above qualifiers, that's the magic combination.

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What You Didn't Know About Airbrush Makeup Vs Traditional Makeup

1. Airbrush makeup applied properly is 'invisible' through a camera and on digital/print view bourjois foundation .

Reason being that airbrush makeup is sprayed in hundreds of 'dots'.

Similarly, a camera picks up light and displays it in pixels on your computer screen or the LCD screen. Pixels are tiny, tiny dots as well.

Airbrush makeup is applied the same way a camera reads what is infront of it, which is tiny dots of color, which is why it is extremely easy to have 'invisible' makeup with airbrush makeup!

2. Airbrush makeup isn't always the most natural way of doing makeup bourjois foundation .

Every skin and person is unique and an experienced makeup artist is able to use different mediums to produce the most 'natural' result for you.

For example, when a person has very dry, parched skin, sometimes using a gel based foundation will work better than airbrush because it will 'tone' and hydrate the skin better than an airbrush makeup will. (depending on the formula and brand)

For example, I look and treat the skin first, then I determine which medium will produce the healthiest look of skin for them that similarly reflects the same skin throughout their body, as if it was at it's optimal, healthiest state.

3. You can achieve the 'airbrush' makeup look with traditional makeup bourjois foundation !

Yes an experienced makeup artist with the right layering technique can produce an invisible effect as well.

It just takes more blending and knowledge of deceiving the way light is picked up on the camera. Powder helps this because it is also tiny, tiny dots, similar to airbrushing. It comes out 'softer' looking.

Airbrushing has it's way of having the edges already blended but with traditional makeup, the blending is manual with your brushes.

4. Airbrush makeup doesn't mean it's longer lasting either bourjois foundation .

It depends how it is set and the prep of the skin, and treatment of the skin before the makeup is applied.

40% of the makeup application is in the skincare prep and moisturizing ritual.

If you don't prep the skin well enough, most likely your makeup will oxidize faster, slide, or sweat off in a worse case scenario!

5. Airbrush makeup isn't for fine lines and the elderly and mature skin bourjois foundation !

You need a brush to get into the crevices so it all depends on the medium of the artist once again.

For skin that has fine lines, ideally you require a brush to make sure that it can get into the folds for optimal results.

For example, when that face starts to move, you don't want gaps of makeup and areas with no makeup when the skin stretches!

After, make sure that you set it with powder so that it prevents creasing.

6. Airbrush makeup is great for covering blemishes, especially ones that are patchy bourjois foundation !

If you go in with a brush and makeup, you need to blend out the edges to make sure that the concealed area is blended well.

With an airbrush gun, it delivers the already blended area immediately and all you are required to do after, is to powder the concealed blemish.

It also prevents you having to go in with a brush that disturbs any patchy, flaky skin otherwise. You can avoid it with a patting motion but most cases, it's easier and can be faster to apply with an airbrush gun.

In Summary,

A lot of people like to 'hype' up airbrush makeup but truth is, it is just a tool and an option to make some applications easier to apply versus traditional makeup.

It's skill over the tool, and the purpose of why it is used, not just the tool itself.
(For example if I gave a 10 year old an airbrush and a paint brush with some paint, it doesn't mean airbrush would be 'better'.)

It does give a different look to your makeup that is unlike any other finish because it's sprayed on, but improperly applied it can look even worse than if you applied your own foundation traditionally!

If you're looking at this in hopes to see if you should invest in an airbrush machine, I would advise to skip it. The idea seems more promising than the reality where you have to close your eyes to 'guess' where you spray your makeup. Not to mention the difficult steps to cleaning your airbrush gun and machine too. It always has to be clean and properly taken care of or it will clog!

If you're trying to decide airbrush vs traditional makeup with an artist, look at their work on the difference.

The best way to indicate if the artist is good for you is if you were to look at their before and afters without the use of professional photography and post editing in Photoshop. You can determine their skill level and work if they're able to deliver that result to you that you wish for that way, rather than judging if they are an airbrush artist or not.

In this industry, I've met fantastic artists that choose not to use airbrush makeup as a medium because they're extremely skilled with traditional makeup.

Good luck on your search bourjois foundation !

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Makeup Storage: Tips For A Perfectly Organised Collection

Makeup is very important for your daily use as well as for special events. For ease of access of the makeup, you should always keep it well organized and at a location that is easy to view bourjois foundation . Some people have a lot of makeup but due their mode of keeping, they end up never using all of it. When you keep your collection organized, you are going to find what you are looking for whenever you need or want it. The following are the 5 steps to a perfect organized collection of makeup bourjois foundation .

Makeup Storage Area Should Give Priority to Your Daily Wear

When storing your makeup, you will need to take time, find a large area that you can spread all your makeup and then go through it to determine what you wear on daily basis and what you don't. Makeup that you use every day should be stored at a close and easily accessible place compared to that used only for special events. Gather the makeups into piles according to the frequency of their usage bourjois foundation .

Makeup Storage Piles

When creating makeup storage piles, you can for instance have a pile for daily wear that consists of the makeup with the basic colors that match almost any attire you put on with the coordinating lipstick. Make sure to keep it simple. You could also have a pile of the makeup you use for skin care. This will include things such as moisturizers, sunscreens, makeup removers, serums and acne treatments. Q-tips and cotton balls can also be included among the skin care products. Makeup removal may be necessary on daily basis especially if you travel much, you are a sports person or you just don't like being covered in makeup all day. To save makeup storage space, purchase a package of pre-moistened cleaning clothes to help you with makeup remova bourjois foundation l.

Another makeup storage pile you can create for ease of access is the one that contains makeup that you only use for special events. This collection will include the makeup that you bought to match only special kinds of outfits, dramatic colors, false eyelashes, wild colors like those used for Halloween, shimmer powder that you can wear when going to clubs and any other makeup that you wear infrequently. You might also create a pile for seasonal makeup. If you are the kind of person that tans, your skin tone is likely to vary from season to season. You can therefore have different foundation as well as powder shades to use during summertime. Darker summer colors of makeup may also be important if you tan during summers.

Anything That Is Old, Broken or Causes Irritation Should Not Take Up Makeup Storage Space

When sampling your makeup for storage, if you come across one that is too old, be sure to dispose it so that it won't take up more space. Old makeup may flake off or collect bacteria that will make your collection untidy. You therefore need to know how long every makeup needs to be kept before it is disposed. Products such as liquid eyeliners and mascara need to be disposed after three months. Eye creams, eye foundations, eye bases, cream eye shadows and any other cream or gel-based item that is meant to be used on eyes should not be used after six months. Some products may be used even for a year and over, so you will just need to be cautious about the expiry dates and dispose makeup that you won't be using anymore to create more space bourjois foundation .

Get Makeup Storage Bags or Kits from a Local Beauty Store

Makeup storage bags will help you to store your makeup in an organized and easily accessible manner. A good makeup bag will be the one that can be able to store everything you have. The bags vary in the way they are designed but most of them usually have an interior wall that can be wiped clean as well as a zip that can be closed to avoid spillage. They also have a quilted or padded exterior that offers extra protection. An alternative to the makeup storage bags will be small tackle boxes that are bit larger, cheaper and also quite great when it comes to organizing a wide range of makeup. The tackle boxes are especially excellent for makeup meant for special events since you can easily see what is available. If you do not often carry your makeup around or you mostly apply it when you are at home, a basket or drawer will also be suitable for storing your daily makeup bourjois foundation .

Check Out You Makeup Storage Location to See the Status of the Application Tools

You will need to check out your makeup storage location and see if the application tools you have are sufficient, they have become dirty or they are just floating around in the bottom of the bag or drawer. If the application tools are not clean, bacteria may accumulate in your storage location, so you will need to get rid of them. Dispose any sponge application tools that came with the makeup and purchase good, washable brushes that will not make the storage space look untidy. Any powder puffs as well as dirty foundation sponges that are not clean should also be disposed. When you use clean brushes as well as other application tools, you will be prolonging the life of the makeup by eliminating bacteria and oils that are introduced to it.

Enjoy Easy Access to Your Makeup with Organized Makeup Storage

Once you are through with organizing your makeup storage very well, you will be able to see all that you have, and you will also be able to utilize it very well. You will enjoy being on a less stressful as well as efficient makeup routine since everything will be orderly. Whether you want to access your daily use makeup or the makeup you use for special events or any other, when the makeup storage is organized, you are going to locate it instantly without shuffling around to look for it bourjois foundation .

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