Advice: When You Get Your Makeup Done

Posted by Tamara in opinion, suggestion | 8 comments

When it comes to having your makeup done, many people have concerns about how things will turn out.  These suggestions are a combination of personal experience with feedback and stories from makeup artists.

Taking the time to consider these points will help you get the most out of your makeup experience.

Photo courtesy of Bieduo.

1. Please make sure you have a clean, exfoliated face.
   Not everyone is blessed with smooth, clear skin and that’s fine, but coming to an appointment with dry, flaky and/or dirty skin puts you at a disadvantage.  It’s a makeup appointment, so while you can expect skin prep – a facial and microdermabrasion is usually not part of the deal. You’re paying to have the makeup applied, but if you present a poor canvas the makeup artist can only do so much. It’s makeup, not magic.
2. Do some research and know what sort of look you want.
   General terms are just that, general.  If you want a smokey eye, do your best to explain it or if you want to try a bold lip, explain what colours you consider to be bright.  It may seem a bit obvious, but consider who you’re speaking to. What a makeup artist considers to be natural, dramatic or smokey could be very different from what you envision, especially if you wear little to no makeup on a regular basis. Ideally, a few photos will give the makeup artist a basic idea and you can explain what it is you like/don’t like to help customize your look.
3. Communication, communication, communication!
   It’s very common for people have concerns about makeup application, especially if it is their first time or for a special event. Many people have felt intimidated by makeup artists, and feel like they can’t or shouldn’t speak up. Most makeup artists will gladly answer questions and explain any ideas, concepts or products you may be unfamiliar with. Your satisfaction with their work is important.


She wanted a touch up to intensify her smokey eye & touch up her gloss.

4. Keep your expectations realistic.
   To my way of thinking, most people can pull off most looks so long as features and skin tone are taken into consideration. Often, people will ask for a celebrity look, which is great and gives the makeup artist a good idea of what you want (provided they are familiar with said celebrity – remember what I said about bringing a photo?). However, if you look nothing like your celebrity of choice, please bear in mind that the image you had in mind may differ from reality.
5. Accept responsibility for your contributions or lack thereof.
   Many makeup artists can attest to hearing someone say “I don’t know, just do whatever you think will look best, you’re the expert.” Most times, it works out for the best, but individual preferences for style could be completely different. Giving someone artistic license over your face may expose you to a new favourite style or colour, or you could end up hating it. Just remember, if you didn’t give any guidelines or suggestions, that’s on you*.

*This isn’t to be confused with poor application. If the job isn’t done well that’s one thing, but a great job in colours or a style you don’t like is something completely different.