Because I'm a beauty writer, every bride I know ends up asking me the same question: How can I find a wedding makeup artist who won't overdo my face?
Don't let a heavy-handed makeup pro bring you down on your big day!
Truth is, this question stumps even me. Wedding makeup artists do have something of a bad rap. We associate them with mask-like foundation, overly airbrushed-looking blush and too-dramatic eye makeup. That said, many brides view wedding makeup artists as a necessary evil--because let's face it, perfectly executing your makeup when seriously frazzled on the morning of your wedding can be a daunting prospect.
Thankfully, there are tons of great wedding makeup artists out there who realize that you want to still look like
you
when you walk down the aisle. So where do you find them? I asked two highly rated ones to give us some pointers.
1. Do some Facebook stalking.
Click through the wedding photos of friends, friends of friends, and heck, even old frenemies from high school. See whose makeup you absolutely love, and then find out who did it. And put the word out among acquaintances that you're looking for a really great makeup artist--hopefully someone will know a recent bride who'll have a rave review to share. "The best method is to use the network around you, versus blindly searching for someone through listings," says New York makeup artist Jessica Liebeskind, a highly sought-after wedding-day pro.
2. Hit the local mall.
"Most department stores have makeup artists you can hire out for your wedding day," notes Nars makeup artist James Boehmer, who's in-demand among chic NYC-area brides. Finding them there is efficient because you can meet and try out several at once, and free of trial charges (just be sure to tip and/or buy a product after they spend a good deal of time working with you).
