Bridal Beauty Diary: Finding Your Makeup Artist

Guest post by glo employee and bride-to-be, Amy Foster.

As my wedding day quickly approaches, I am definitely in full on wedding planning mode! It seems like everyday there is a new deadline that needs to be met or decision that needs to be made. For many, an important thing to cross off the to-do list is finding the right makeup artist to will help you feel like a million bucks on your big day. I am so lucky that Janeena, Glo Skin Beauty's Sr. Global Makeup Artist and Educator, a dear friend, is available to do my wedding and engagement photo makeup! Even though I didn’t have to go through the process of finding the right artist for me, Janeena was kind enough to share a list of things all brides should consider before picking their makeup artist. And having worked on over 100 brides in her career she definitely knows what she is talking about!

1. Narrow down your bridal look before you start searching for an artist. For example, some brides simply want to look like an enhanced version of themselves whereas other brides want a dramatic transformation. This will dictate whether you look for an artist with a light touch versus a more heavy handed approach.
2. Find an artist who specializes in bridal makeup, not just events and editorial makeup. This will ensure that the artist has experience with how makeup photographs both indoors and outdoors.
3. Ask to see portfolios with the artist’s most recent work. Then ask yourself if you can see yourself in the looks she created. You might think her work is beautiful but it’s also important to make sure it’s what you have envisioned and will work on YOU.
4. Ask for before and afters to see how far the artist likes to take their clients. If you are looking for a dramatic transformation this is especially important.
5. Always ask for a makeup trial before you book with the artist. It might be awkward if you say no after the trial, but it’s better to know ahead of time that the artist isn’t a good fit rather than after you’ve paid a deposit.
6. Before the trial, be sure the artist offers to have an in-person consultation. The artist should ask questions about your bridal look but it’s also important that they understand the overall look and feel of the wedding. This is the time to share your theme, colors, setting, flowers, dress, etc. All of these things should factor into the look they create.
7. Bring photos of yourself to the consultation: one of you without makeup and one of you done up. This will give the artist a better idea of how your features look in photographs.
8. Bring inspirational photos as well. This is where all of those boards on Pinterest come in handy!
9. During the trial, bring a white blouse or sheet to drape across your chest. This will mimic a  wedding dress and ensure that the look will work with the color of your dress. It’s also helpful to bring your veil for the complete picture.
10. Ask your makeup artist for two looks during the trial - a more natural application and then a “bumped up” version. This will ensure that you are both on the same page. It also helps to take photos of each to help you decide which you like better.
11. Take photos of the trial makeup and make sure all products and steps are documented.

I hope these tips help you find the perfect makeup artist! If you have any additional questions or ideas that worked for you, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. To find a local makeup artist who uses Glo Skin Beauty please call 1-800-232-0398.