The short answer, Yes! My job as a Bridal Makeup Artist is to not only make sure you look and feel beautiful on your wedding day but to also ensure your makeup lasts all hours of the night. The last thing you want is to not look as fresh for all your photos come the end of the night. Generally speaking my makeup lasts at least 12 hours, some of my clients tell me that it lasts perfectly until the very next morning!
2. How long will it take to complete my Bridal makeup on the day?
Professional makeup has many steps involved, more steps then you are probably used to. As a general rule of thumb my Bridal makeup takes just over an hour, as it’s not just a standard makeup. Bridal makeup is very detailed for all those close up photos and to ensure its sweat proof, smudge proof and of course kiss proof! Also, with Bridal makeup I like to take the makeup down to the décolletage for those low cut or strapless Bridal dresses.
YES! A trial eliminates any worry, risk and gives you peace of mind. Trials are great as it gives you an opportunity to speak with me about exactly what you are after. Even if your wedding is a small and reasonably relaxed day for you, through my experience there will always be a lot happening on the morning of your wedding day. The last thing you want to do is to try out Bridal looks when there are last minute preparations and phone calls going on.
4. What products will be used on the day?
I use a mixture of professional, photographic makeup products, which are hypoallergenic, have a fantastic finish and are long lasting. One of the major differences between Makeup Artists are the products they use. When it comes to professional makeup I do not sacrifice quality for cheap less expensive brands. Some of my brands I use include; Chanel, MAC, Urban Decay, Too Faced, YSL, Kett Cosmetics, NARS, Makeup Geek and Anastasia Beverly Hills.
This is an excellent question. Ideally it should be at least 6 months in advance. However, if you are getting married in the popular seasons/months of Autumn (March – May) or Spring (September – November) then I highly recommend you book in for your trial as soon as you can. If you are getting married during these months in particular then booking in your trial can never be too early. I am generally booked out 8 months to 1 year in advance for these popular months. To ensure you secure your wedding day spot with me it is never too early to book in for your trial, especially for peace of mind.
6. What makeup looks do you recommend for Bridal?
When you walk down the aisle it is important that your ‘husband-to-be’ recognises his bride! The two most common requests I hear are; ‘I would like to try something a bit different’ and ‘I don’t usually wear much makeup’. If you usually opt for a more natural look, you may need to wear a little more than you normally would to avoid looking underdone and lifeless in your photos. Especially as photography will always wash you out a little. If you want to try something different then you can, however, smokey eyes and red lips on a makeup virgin is probably not recommended. A more glamorous, bridal version of yourself is what you are trying to achieve, not a different person.
My rule of thumb is if you want to start a new skin regime please do not do it short of 2 months from your wedding day. Your natural skin cycle is every 28 days, meaning your new skin cells that are forming underneath all your skin layers will not be exposed to the outside world for another 28 days. In saying that I wouldn’t recommend trying anything new on the skin, including facials, if your wedding is less than 2 months away. If your skin is going to react to new products or treatments then you want to ensure that it does so a couple months before your big day, as it will allow your skin enough time to recover from it. Most of the time you might experience anything from a small breakout to a slight irritation on the skin when using any new products. If you are a skin care minimalist then I would advise looking into using at least a cleanser (not soap), a moisturise and an exfoliator 2 months consistently before your wedding. Generally speaking you should cleanse 1-2 times a day, moisturise every day and exfoliate 1-2 times per week. Just this small routine will do wonders for the way your makeup will sit on the day. If you are highly sensitive or have serious concerns then please see a Dermatologist. I am not a Dermatologist, but I am a qualified Beauty Therapist (a non practicing one that is) so I am able to give you further personalised skin recommendations if you would like.
8. How should I arrive the morning of my appointment?
Arrive with a fresh clean face, only have moisturiser on. It is a great idea to also have a picture with you of the type of makeup you would like to try. Being an Artist I am a very visual person, so pictures will definitely help translate what look you want in your Bridal makeup.
The only makeup that I recommend you bring with you on the day is a compact powder and the lipstick you will be wearing. As mentioned above, your makeup will last all night, however depending on how much you sweat on the dance floor, how frequently you eat on the day or how big your ‘You may now kiss the bride’ kiss is, you may want to touch up your lippy or powder your nose a couple of times throughout the night. On the day of your trial we will decide on your lipstick colour and if you would like me to, I can recommend some quality brands for you to purchase from.
10. Do you provide me with a running sheet for the day?
I generally do not provide a running sheet, however if you have one then I am happy to follow yours. Generally speaking each person takes 1 hour give or take (the Bride slightly longer). I highly recommend the Bride going second last for hair and very last for her makeup. I always save the best till last but more than that, having the Bride go last for makeup will ensure your Bridal makeup will be the freshest when we are all done.
Booking in a Bridal Trial is very personal and can be a little stressful. As such these are the questions I get asked from my Brides on a daily basis. If there is a question I have not answered please feel free to contact me directly. I am here to help you on your special day and to put your mind at ease. My priority is to make sure you look and feel like the beautiful bride you are.
Alondra For Makeup
Perth’s best makeup and beauty guru, with over 20 years in the industry.