Getting the most out of your Engagement Makeup!

You’re engaged, so now what?! Once you have your venue, dress and most likely photographer booked, you are going to want to reach out to your makeup and hair team for your wedding day. But,  even before you ‘BOOK’ your talented artists for your special day…an engagement photoshoot may be on the near horizon. Take this opportunity to make Makeup and Hair trial appointments to see how it translates on camera. You can always modify your look so it still can be a surprise for your fiance’ and your guests on the day of but book ending these services for an engagement shoot is a great idea!! I have been glamming Brides for over 2 decades, I will always recommend doing a run through for an engagement photoshoot or if this isn’t possible then doing it for a Bridal Shower is a great option.

Here are some tips for choosing an artist for your engagement makeup.  Always ask your friends and family for makeup referrals. This by far is the best way to start your search. If this isn’t available to you then so some research with the venue and photographer or hair person you have chosen if applicable. Going to Instagram to do this research is a great way to see who has worked with these venues, photographers and hair artists before. It’s a great resource to visually get an idea of who would be a good fit for you on your special day. 

Once you book your engagement makeup session, bring makeup looks that you would like to possibly try. Make sure you choose someone that really wants your voice to be heard and that doesn’t make you feel nervous about speaking up. The ‘Bridal’ beauty process is a collaboration and you should feel like you have a say in what your wedding day beauty should be. If you have any special concerns like skin sensitivities or tattoo coverage concerns, make sure your artist knows about this ahead of time so they are aware and can accommodate accordingly. 

Make sure you vibe with your makeup artist. Make sure that they are personable and professional. Make sure their tools are clean and they are on time. Also, it’s important that they will help set the tone for the day as this makeup artist will most likely be the first person you see on your wedding day. 

To recap…try and reach out at least 6-9 months ahead of time to start looking for your bridal makeup artist…make sure your artist is a good fit with the vibe you are going for….make sure you have seen their work and you like it…make sure they are willing to modify your makeup if you would like without getting offended…and make sure after you see your engagement photos that you look how you want to look with the makeup applied. You can always change it up a bit for your wedding day but see how it photographs and how it held up throughout the day. When booking your makeup artist…make sure if you give a deposit or retainer for your day that if for some reason you change your mind then you have an option to do just that. 

I hope this helped you. Due to Covid, if you feel more comfortable doing the makeup yourself and would like help in achieving your engagement makeup and/or wedding day makeup look…I offer that option too! Set up a Discovery Call with me and we can speak to how my DIY Virtual Bridal class can work for you!! 

Makeup for MEN!

When I speak to male grooming…I understand that it can be a touchy subject depending on who the audience may be. I would love to debunk any myth that says it’s emasculating for men to even think about wearing a little makeup every now and again, especially for special occasions like getting married or being on camera!

Think of all the times men have gone and treated themselves to a professional shave or a spa day before an event. Men get their nails and toes done, get messages, get facials and sometimes get waxed and get hair cuts. These all fall under the self care rituals that women do, just add a makeup application and men and women are basically the same….haha, NOT!! But, when you look at it from this perspective…makeup can be just another layer of the ‘FEEL GOOD’ process! 

When grooming is done right on men…it’s like a wake up call! Men look fresh and polished. A little touch up even can go a long way. Like I always say, skincare is paramount. Hydrating the skin, applying an eye cream, grooming the brows(a big one in my opinion) and keeping your beard or mustache in check really can make a 7, a 10!! Evening out the skin tone, applying concealer and possibly taking some shine down can really make a difference in photographs or on film. If a man is bald…sometimes it creates a glare or bounce of light when photographed or filmed so taking that sheen down is welcomed. 

Now a days if I talk to a groom before a wedding…we talk about shaving and if they have sensitive skin. There are so many products out now that can really help with any issues. Even if a groom doesn’t wish to see me on the big day…I am always happy to give advice if they get a blemish, cut themselves shaving or get red bumps afterwards. But, it’s also a nice luxury to have a makeup artist take away any of these worries literally and figuratively on a special day. 5 o’clock shadows are a thing as well and some men just don’t wish to have this when being photographed. It would be my job to come in and use color correcting to help cancel this out. When all of these grooming elements come into play, I come in to save the day! 

I try to make the time in the makeup chair, short and sweet and fun of course! It really is amazing what a little male grooming can do. So, yes makeup for men is a thing and a thing that’s here to stay! 

If you are a groom or know someone who you might think could benefit from this post, please share. If you are in need of a male groomer for any on camera professional events like a self taping or interview, please schedule a Discovery Call with me and we can discuss how I may be of service to you! 

How to choose your Wedding Makeup Look!

I have been a makeup artist doing weddings for over 20 years and choosing your makeup look for your wedding is a very personal experience. After all, all eyes will be on the bride, right?!! Some brides want to go all GLAM and some want a natural look. Both can be very beautiful. In this blog post, I will discuss which ‘Bridal Beauty’ look could be right for YOU!!

The Au Natural Bridal Makeup Look…this ‘bride to be’ doesn’t wear alot of makeup on a daily basis and wants to look like an enhanced version of themselves walking down the aisle. This is my most requested LOOK as a bridal makeup artist. This makeup application would always start out with a great skincare routine that is nourishing and hydrating. The makeup will enhance eye color and shape with the addition of lashes (most likely). Brows are subtle and not over done. Foundation is a tinted moisturizer or is lightweight to medium coverage. Cheeks are subtle and lip color is similar to the natural lip tint. Not alot of highlight and soft contour on the face. This overall take on a natural makeup application can be altered depending on the person and what they may want more or less of. Every look is customized for each BRIDE always. 

The all GLAM Bridal Makeup Look…this ‘bride to be’ wears makeup on a daily basis and isn’t shy about it. She most likely wears lashes especially if she is going out for a special occasion. This makeup application would always start out with a great skincare routine that is very hydrating. This makeup will have a medium to opaque base coverage on the face, highlight, liner, lashes, contour, bolder brows along with a bolder lip. She wants to be seen, if you will. Of course, this look is customizable to every Bride as well. Some may want the GLAMMED out eyes but would like everything else softer and more natural. Bold and beautiful!

The Bronzed Bridal Look…this ‘bride to be’ is on the more natural side I would say. Loves a bohemian vibe, the beach and being outdoors. This makeup look starts out with a serum enriched skincare routine. Then we add bronzed shadows to the eyes, bronzed warmth to the face with a beautiful dewy foundation, gilded or matte bronzer and either a bold lip or lipgloss that balances out the overall look. Brows are manicured but maybe not overdone and lashes are most likely added. Once again, this look can be customized to fit the beauty look that is desired. 

A Romantic Bridal Look…this is a classic ‘bride to be’. She likes makeup and wears it often but would like to feel and look her most beautiful as every bride does. This makeup application would start with a very good skincare routine as with every look. I would concentrate on using a softer eyeshadow palette that compliments the eye color and shape, a softer eyeliner look, the foundation would be a natural finish, a soft highlight and not alot of contour, a pink pout and wispy lashes with a soft filled in brow. Of course, this look can be customized too! 

Every BRIDE and every wedding is different. The wedding dress style may often dictate the BEAUTY vibe one would like to achieve. There is no right or wrong. There is only YOUR Beauty, YOUR Way, YOUR wedding day!!

Other makeup looks that may interest you are :

An overall DEWY Makeup Look

A Shimmery Bridal Makeup Look

A Bold Lip Makeup Look

An Earthy Toned Makeup Look

A Monochromatic Makeup Look

A Smokey Eye Makeup Look 

A Soft Glam Makeup Look -Similar to the ‘Au Natural’ Bride/also my most requested look.

A Vintage Makeup Look 

A Lashes and Lips Makeup Look 

If you are getting married or know someone that is, please forward this to them! Set up a Discovery Call with me to speak to your beauty wishes on your wedding day at my CALENDLY LINK here. Thank YOU!!

How to find a Bridal Makeup Artist!

So now that you are engaged, now what? How to find your Bridal Makeup Artist and then some!

1. How do you find a Bridal Makeup Artist and how long in advance should you be booking a makeup artist for your wedding?

The search to book your makeup artist should start 6-9 months before your wedding date. It takes a bit of time to do your research, ask friends and family for referrals, reach out to artists to make sure they are available AND to schedule a makeup consultation before you commit. Here are a couple of creative search ideas…for Instagram or Google look up hashtags that are wedding makeup related -for eg. #makeupthebride #naturalbridalmakeup #bridalglamlosangeles #weddingdaymakeuplosangeles #(venue)makeupartist #(area)makeupartist etc. If you have a wedding coordinator or wedding photographer-you may ask them for their referrals. There are also Facebook groups that are wedding-centric that you can reach out and ask for people’s feedback and referrals like Something Borrowed, Something Blue!

2. Should you always schedule a makeup consultation before your wedding day?

YES! You should always have a makeup consultation before your wedding day so you can really see the makeup and how it looks in real life, wear it out and about to see if you would like any modifications done or if you perhaps had any reactions to anything. Any changes should be expressed to your artist in advance so that everyone can be on the same page for your wedding day beauty.

3. How do you prep for a Bridal Makeup Consultation?

Please have inspiration photos available for your makeup artist so that they can get a visual on what makeup styles and looks you gravitate to. Tell your artist what your wedding vibe is, what your wedding dress style is, what your sensibility is when it comes to beauty so that the makeup artist can ‘marry’ all the elements together in person. A few more helpful tools is to come to your consultation wearing white, off white etc. to mimic the color of your dress….try to schedule a hair consultation the same day if possible…and try to schedule a dress fitting in the same day as well! In a perfect world this can happen and I understand that this is not always available to us and our busy schedules! But, good information to have in your pocket. Another reason why looking for your artist within the 6-9 month timeframe is important.

4. What if you have a large bridal party? How will that work in respect to makeup?

If you should have a large bridal party and in need of a couple makeup artists to accommodate, your KEY makeup artist should have a few assistants that they can call on to help with your size group requiring makeup services. If there are any specific instructions for the assistant, the KEY makeup artist will communicate that to them (for example, if the Bride wanted a consistent look with everyone’s makeup-then this would need to be spoken to before a wedding day). Any payment or other fees like travel for assistant would be communicated through the KEY makeup artist. The KEY makeup artist will also discuss and breakdown payment for assistant or co-artist and will pay them for their help directly on the day of event unless otherwise discussed. Here is another important reason the 6-9 month timeline is important to acquire a makeup artist…they have to be able to reach out to an assistant if need be to put them on hold for that day so they don’t book anything else. Wedding season is busy so you want to make sure you give enough time to individuals to schedule accordingly.

5. The contract and questions you should make sure to ask before you sign and commit to your Bridal Makeup Artist.

You should sign the contract to secure the day and date of your wedding at the time of the makeup consultation. You should have the exact number of makeup services needed at least 30 days or more out from your wedding date so timeline can be created and the assistant can be informed of how many services they will be responsible for and their timeline for that day if applicable. Everyone needs to be flexible and understand that when it comes to weddings and scheduling…modifications may have to happen even after timeline has been created to ensure best results. Make sure there is a clause in your contract for any type of cancellations, postponements or any natural disasters or pandemics. Make sure everyone is aware of what is expected financially at time of booking and signing the contract to what is expected closer to the wedding date or on actual wedding day. Make sure the type of payment that you would like to give is accepted. Make sure travel fee or holiday fees are included. Make sure that if you would like your makeup artist to be there during photos and possibly after ceremony for any touch ups, that this is also represented in contract. All of these facts should be reflected in your makeup contract.

6. What you are paying for when you BOOK your Bridal Makeup Artist.

When you book your makeup artist, you are purchasing a luxury service that you can rely on! Here are some key elements to think about when breaking down cost. -Committed hours of service which includes early arrival to set up and travel to and from location -Experience and Expertise -Reliability and Adaptabillity -Sweat Equity (emailing, phone calls, communicating with coordinators and photographer and venues if applicable, cleaning and sanitizing makeup kits, purchasing disposable items for cleanliness, creating touch up kits, travel time and any trouble shooting that may occur, and being covid compliant) -Covid Safe Certifications -Organizational Skills -Professional Gear -For eg., Director’s Chair and Professional Makeup Light that is needed for proper lighting -Doing and going above and beyond to ensure client’s happiness

FAQ PAGE

7. How do you book a virtual makeup class with me?

Go to Calendly and see which class works best for you!

Covid Engagement Ideas!

This past year has been a DOOZY to say the least right?! For me personally, my Bridal and Special Event business has slowed down tremendously of course…but I started to think about Covid and how people creatively did their proposals. I know that February is always a staple for wedding engagements because of Valentine’s Day so I wanted to share with you some fun and creative ways I found that people have gotten engaged over the past year during Covid-19. There is an underlying sense of pressure when you want to propose but add a layer of a "‘Pandemic” and then what? Well, lets check out the cute proposal ideas that came to be!

Think the first one is pretty brilliant and sweet. A great way to get your family involved. Yes, you guessed it, ZOOM! Send everyone in your family a large piece of paper or cardstock with the words “Will You Marry Me’ and surprise your significant other on a family Zoom call. Pop the question with a virtual twist! Each screen/family member(s) will hold up the paper at the right time and there ya have it….The distance and the safety of all is uncompromised!! Love it!

Here is another twist to this scenario. Have your family members take a picture of themselves holding up one of the letters from the ‘Will You Marry Me?’ and line them up to surprise your significant other as well! It’s simple, sweet and easy to do! One can get pretty original with this and each person’s letter or word.

Obviously proposing at home has been common place but elevating the idea is always of interest. If you were planning on getting engaged on holiday then bring the holiday to you! Create a romantic getaway in your own house. Use decor, flowers, wine, romantic lighting to set the mood and tone from the place you were supposed to be. The thought and time that it took to show your LOVE that YOU didn’t want to wait will be swoon-worthy!

Turning a picnic or a hike into a romantic rendezvous is also incredibly thoughtful and safe! Also, proposing with a mask, a face shield in a full body suit can also be fun(ny)!! Maybe hiding the ring in a roll of toilet paper or in a jar of anti-bacterial gel?? Whatever or however you choose to propose during this crazy time….let it speak to the beautiful life you are going to make together! It will most definitely be a story for the ages just because Covid is the backdrop so have fun with it, get creative and share your engagement story with me! Let me know in the comments!