It’s really important to discuss with your make-up artist about how much make-up you usually wear. Yes, we want you to look absolutely breathtakingly stunning on your wedding day but we still need you to feel like yourself and for your friends and family to recognise you! If you prefer, you can come to the trial with your day-to-day make-up on so that I can see how much you usually wear. This is also a good way to see what you consider ‘natural’ as to what maybe I might consider ‘natural’. If I can then see that normally you wear a very light BB cream and a few coats of mascara, I won’t waste time applying a full coverage foundation with cream contour and enormous fluttering lashes. We need to find a happy medium between you still feeling like yourself and still wearing enough make-up that you wont look washed out in photos.
We also need to discuss any problem areas. This can include anything from previous reactions you’ve had from make-up, any brands that don’t agree with your skin. Any scarring or pigmentation that you may have or want to cover. (Please reschedule your trial if you have a stye or cold sore as I cannot risk further infection.) Discuss at your trial any areas you want to conceal for example dark under eye circles that bother you or dry skin that you struggle with. Explain any previous problems you may have had with applying your own make-up such as oily skin, make-up not lasting all day or creasing under the eye as this can help me understand your skin more and know what to apply to avoid this.
Use your trial to get some tips. Feel free to ask any questions about brands, products or methods being used during your trial. I’m happy to show you what I’m doing and explain why. Some people refrain from asking as they might think it’s “cheeky” but I’ve no problem with taking you through step by step so that you can feel more at ease. Some people like to know details of what’s going on their skin which I completely understand so just ask away. Please feel free at any time to look in the mirror too.
Tell me what you like. Spend some time looking on Pinterest at what you do like and focus on buzz words that describe your favourite looks. Mine would be ‘high coverage, glowy, fluffy lashes, dramatic eyes, nude lip’. Look at my instagram @olivialucymakeup at previous clients and brides and find looks that you really like and tell me why. Bring a range of pictures so I can grasp your concept rather than focusing on one particular image.
Tell when what you don’t like. Sometimes it’s good to define what you don’t like. For example, too much eyeliner, too much highlighter… thick foundation. If there is a particular make-up trend that you don’t like or someones make up you’ve seen or a wedding you’ve been to and you picked up on something you didn’t like then pass that on. It doesn’t have to be negative about someone else’s work, simply that it’s not for you.
Prep your skin. Don’t try any new skin care regimes before the wedding. If you want to start taking care of your skin and achieve real results start as early as possible. If you try a new skincare range weeks before your wedding in a desperate attempt to balance your oil or get rid of spots then you could end up in a nasty break out. If you want to try something new speak to a professional, get a skin analysis and the right products and start at least 6 months before your wedding. Cleanse, tone, moisturise. Face mask and exfoliate no more than once a week is a good place to start. The Ordinary are a great brand for beginners and very reasonably priced.
Book a trial spray tan in the same week as your trial if you’re planning on having one for your wedding. What better time to trial a spray tan than the same time you are having make-up done. This means you can trial the spray tan company at the same time as you trial your make-up look. You can test the shade of tan you want, how long is the right time to leave before showering, if any areas went patchy, how long it took to fade and check it didn’t go orange.
The trial is a great time to talk about the finer details of your wedding morning. As a must, I need the full address of the wedding venue/where you are getting ready but some places are difficult to find, have tricky parking spots or don’t show up on a SATNAV so now is the perfect time to explain exactly how to get there so I don’t waste any time on the day trying to find you and end up being late. Car park tickets, road works, no parking are all aspects that can add time on the day so if they can be avoided will save us both the hassle. Stairs and depending how far the venue is from the parking all add time and help if I can plan ahead. I have lots of things to carry so want to be efficient as possible. If there is no signal where you are getting ready please let me know in advance how I can reach you.
Discuss your bridal party and what make-up you have in mind for them, if anyone has any preferences (vegan make-up, skin condition, redness, allergies) its better to know about it before. Anyone who is particularly anxious about having their make-up done is more than welcome to book in for a trial or at no cost can have a phone consultation to discuss their needs and the look and products we would go for. If any of your bridal party don’t like having their photos taken please tell me in advance so I can remember not to ask.
Think about and discuss running order of the day. Bride is usually second from last. Discuss whether you want me to stay until you are in your dress or happy for me to leave once everyone has finished their make-up. A lot of people ask for ‘touch-ups’ before they leave, but truly once I have finished your make-up there really is no need for touch-ups half an hour later or I wouldn’t be a very good make-up artist! I supply all my brides with a lipstick pot and applicator for touch ups they can apply themselves and would recommend a translucent pressed powder with a puff for any touch-ups after crying or sweating throughout the day.
Be honest if you like the make-up or not. It is only make-up and can be changed or removed in an instance. If you’re not happy about something I won’t take offence if you tell me it’s not what you had in mind. The trial is all about getting it right and if there isn’t open and honest communication between us then we’re not going to get it right. As much as you trust me to tell you what wouldn’t work and if I don’t think it looks right, I trust you to tell me what you feel comfortable in and what you really think. Too many times I’ve left the hairdressers myself hating what they’ve done and not said anything but this is your wedding make-up and there’s no room to be polite for my sake.
Showing me your wedding plans and Pinterest board can actually help get a feel for the make-up that would suit it best. If you have lots of boho vibes then we can go for something really natural and beachy whereas if you’re having a primed and proper up-do with a bedazzled wedding reception we can give you the ultimate girly glam make-up to match.
Don’t bring your own make-up to a trial. I work with my own products day in and day out and I know that they layer well together. If you throw your own foundation into the mix that I’ve never used before, it might not sit right with my powders for whatever reason. You’re paying to use my make-up so sit back and let me work my magic. Every product I have chosen has been chosen for a reason. I know how they work and how best to use them and will make the perfect bridal look.
Wear something elegant. White, preferably, or black. Make an effort with your hair - a loose, messy bun or some curls. Bring your veil if you have one. Wear some delicate diamond earrings and your favourite perfume. It’s all part of the look and the more effort you make the more amazing you’ll feel and be able to picture the make-up on your wedding day. Jeans and a hoody with bridal make-up just won’t give the same ‘Wow’ moment at the end. Treat yourself to a day of feeling like a princess by making that bit of effort on your part.
Lastly, remember to enjoy yourself. It should be a relaxing experience and one you feel pampered in. Get a babysitter for the kids and book a nice meal out with the girls that evening. Make the most of looking glam. If you can book your hair trial on the same day (preferably before) then do so! If you don’t want your fiance to see you in your wedding make-up I am more than happy to change it to something else before you leave and I never post trial photos on my website until after the wedding in order to keep everything a surprise.
E-mail olivialucymakeup@gmail.com to book your trial now!
CoVid-19
Coronavirus is something none of us expected to hit the UK, let alone the whole world.
As I approached my busiest summer to date, with my two children finally both at an age I could go to work all day without worrying about them needing me and rushing home. I’d planned to finally embrace being a part of each and every clients wedding, staying for the dress, taking more photos of them and me. Being more present - leaving business cards and sorting goodie bags for brides. Getting a new personalised uniform and getting more into skincare, offering facials and a more in-depth skin prep. Not to mention meeting and getting to know so many new people. I had big plans for this summer!
We were also set to start our first summer as an events company with the flower wall I made over Christmas and gold sequin wall which has now been stored away. I feel fortunate to have this business as social distancing can 100% be applied for the event industry. But will there be any events allowed in the first place?
My messages have never been busier. But not with new weddings and excited brides-to-be but with existing bookings telling me of their plans to rearrange and book in with a new date. Some of which who have clashing dates and after never before having to let clients down, I’m finding myself running a first come first serve basis and now no longer a part of sadly, a few brides on their big day.
I see hairstylists and nail artists writing statuses about how they can’t wait to be back open and will have their doors wide open once the lockdown is lifted. Sadly I don’t think it will be that easy.
I try to cater my services to people who find make up daunting and are anxious about taking their make up off and being bare faced in-front of a stranger. But how do we cater for people now riddled with anxiety of catching coronavirus. Myself included. How do we have small talk about make-up and the weather when we’re both 30cm from one another wondering if the other has symptoms. Will we trust that artist to be washing their tools, brushes and not sharing products. Will we trust that everything will be clean, that everyone will be healthy, that the room won’t be too crowded.
Does Grandma still get her hair and make up done at the wedding and will the hotel allow groups of people to bundle into the bridal suite? These questions and so many more I simply don’t have the answer for.
In an industry where our time and money is spent trying to get more people to come to our salons and book bigger groups and take pride in back to back clients. Getting excited looking at a diary full of clients suddenly seems a list of people to take precautions with, question marks and possible cancellations.
On the other hand, maybe this is the time when make-up gets a step up in professionalism. Not just anyone will be able to do make up from their bedroom without qualifications. Will there be standard procedures and certifications needed finally and some regulation? Will people finally start seeing make up prices for their worth and be willing to pay the same as say, a dentist and see their work equally as professional. Much like we saw lip fillers now needing a medical background, maybe make-up will head in a similar direction. Maybe clients will start paying attention to the cleanliness of their make-up artists kit, those who apply concealer straight from the applicator, don’t use disposable mascara wands and don’t wash their hands between clients. (Myself not included)
I’m interested to see how this affects the industry and I’m equally as gutted for the brides affected. This could be the start of something great for bridal make-up and streamline the industry. Maybe big weddings be a thing of the past and the next few years see only intimate weddings. And in doing so, be glad they don’t have to invite their neighbours-parents-once removed’s cousin to the wedding just because they felt they had to.
With any luck it won’t be affected too much and we will all be able to return to ‘normal’ one day. I think it’s better to be prepared and think the worst than to naively expect that Coronavirus was a blip in the matrix and we just have to sit patiently for it to ‘end’.
I hope moving forwards clients appreciate the new efforts that the beauty industry will have to take both in PPE, social distancing and minimising clients. I’m excited and apprehensive to return to work and hope everyone can respect boundaries and approach this with understanding and patience.
