As a Bridal Makeup Artist In London, What Are The Most Common Questions I Get Asked By My Brides

Q - How long does the makeup take on the day?

Answer - Bridal makeup takes approximately 75 minutes for the bride and an hour for each of the bridesmaids. The mother of the bride takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. 

Typically if I am doing the makeup for 5 in the bridal party, I allow approximately 5 ½ hours. 

If there are 7 in the wedding party, it is normally a later wedding in the day so it is feasible to fit all the makeovers in.

I will also touch up each of the bridal party after I have completed all the makeovers as they will be set to go and look pristine for the wedding!

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Q - What time do you arrive on the day?

Answer  - I always arrive 20 minutes before the first makeover is due to start so that I can set up and allow plenty of time.  Brides can get a little nervous and flustered on the day and this time tends to relax the atmosphere and make the bride feel comfortable that everything is running to schedule.

Q - The bride often asks  “my mum isn't used to having much makeup so how do we make her look natural?”

Answer - For the mother of the bride or groom, I always use a skin tint

concealer and with a light coverage. I go very light on bronzer and blusher and I like them to feel that the makeup is skincare on their skin and they still feel like themselves. 

For mothers of the bride / groom that don’t wear too much makeup normally, they don’t like full coverage so going light is always the best option. If they decide they want more coverage after the initial makeover is done, adding this can easily be catered for.

By avoiding eyeliner (which can turn a makeup look into glam look) this also keeps in with the more natural look.

Neutral colours like beige and light brown tones also work really well for those that like the natural look as well as using light mascara and nude colour lips.

Q - Do you do hair styling as well?

Answer - Generally the answer to this is NO as if I have the bride, possibly three bridesmaids as well as the brides mother to do makeovers for, it is unrealistic to do hairstyling as well as the time would not allow.  

I have a dedicated hair stylist that can be doing hair at the same time as I'm doing the makeup so that the whole morning can go unflustered and to plan with no time constraints.

Also, when all makeovers are complete, I always ‘top up’ the brides and bridesmaids and mother of bride/groom hence it would be impossible to do hair styling and top up hair as well! Time would not allow.

Q - How should I prep my skin before the day (a few weeks leading up to it)

Answer - I always tell my brides to stick to a good skincare routine starting at least a month before the big day. Good skincare is to cleanse, tone moisturise morning, noon and night. Also to invest in a quality night moisturiser to leave on at night and soak into the skin leaving it supple.

I also suggest a good facial leading up to the big day and suggest they go to a skin specialist if they have any concerns about their skin eczema and rashes etc. There are creams to eliminate all sorts of skin conditions including eczema.

I also suggest to the bride that she wears a sheet mask such as Garnier before makeup application the night before the wedding.

These sheet masks add lots of hydration into the skin. Garnier Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Face Sheet Mask is a great one to use.

Q - How would you do a more natural look?

Answer - When achieving a natural look I always suggest to clients to have no eyeliner as this instantly adds more of a full glam makeover. I will also use individual lashes instead of strip lashes as these give a very natural look.

For skin I will use a skin tint  and a light coverage concealer. I like to keep the skin very light and fresh. For lips I will always stick with a nude lipstick and finish off with a lip gloss.

Q - How would you do a more glam look?

Answer - For a full glam look I always like to go with a winged liner, apply lashes and a brown smoky eye for the eyeshadow.

For skin I will go for a full coverage foundation, full coverage concealer and after this I will go ahead and apply bronzer , blusher and highlighter. 

For the lips I will use a strong lip liner to outline the lips and add a lipstick a few shades lighter than the lipliner . Also naturally I will then finish off with a lip gloss.

Q - Will my makeup last all day?

Answer - Yes your makeup will last all day! Makeup that lasts all day is all about what products you are applying on your face and how you are applying it. Makeup appointments duration are 1 hour and this is because makeup is about layering the products correctly to give an all day lasting effect and this can take time.

 

Q - Would you recommend a lashes extension at a salon before the makeover on the day?

Answer - Most of the time I will recommend the lashes I use in my kit as sometimes with lash extensions in a salon they tend to fall out when you are applying the eye makeup as depending how heavy they are sometimes they can get in the way when blending eyeshadow and applying eyeliner.

Q - Should I get a lash lift or can you stick lashes on?

Answer - For clients that don’t want false lashes or individual lashes, a lash lift is a great alternative as it adds something to the lashes but is still very natural. They can get this done a few days before in a beauty salon.

For clients that want lashes stuck on a lash lift is not advised as lash lifts curl your lashes to a point where you cannot stick lashes on.