You have an event coming up, you’ve booked your makeup, and then comes the question: what makeup look should I choose?
For some people, the answer is easy. They already know exactly what they like. For others, it can be a little confusing. You might have saved a few inspiration photos, love the eyes in one, the skin in another, and then wonder if any of those looks will actually work for you.
The good news is, you don’t need to have it all figured out before your appointment.
Start with how you normally wear your makeup
One of the things I like to know when a client sits in my chair is how she normally wears her makeup.
Do you wear very little day to day? Do you love makeup and feel comfortable with more definition? Is there something you always wear, like eyeliner or a particular lip colour? And just as importantly, is there something you really don’t like?
This gives me a starting point, but it doesn’t mean we have to stay there.
An event is an opportunity to do something a little more special. You may want more definition around the eyes, glowing skin, a stronger lip, or a little more glamour than you would normally wear. The idea is to find the right balance for you and for the occasion.
Using Inspiration Photos As A Starting Point
I love when clients bring inspiration photos. They’re a great way for me to understand what catches your eye.
But I don’t think the goal should be to copy someone else’s makeup exactly.
Different features, skin, colouring and face shapes can completely change how the same makeup looks from one person to another. Instead, I look at what you love about the image. Maybe it’s the softness of the skin, the shape of the eye makeup, the colour, or simply the overall mood.
From there, I can take that inspiration and make it work for you.
Think about the whole look, not just the makeup
This is a big part of how I work.
Your makeup doesn’t exist on its own. I like to consider what you’re wearing, how your hair will be styled, the type of event you’re attending and the overall look we’re creating.
Sometimes an updo calls for a little more definition in the makeup. Glam waves might work perfectly with something softer. A simple outfit may give us room to have a little more fun with the eyes or lips.
There isn’t one formula. It’s about looking at everything together and finding the balance.
This is also why I like building makeup gradually rather than deciding from the beginning that we’re doing a particular “type” of makeup. I can add definition, adjust the intensity and see how each element works with the rest of the look as we go.
You don’t have to choose between “natural” and “glam”
Makeup doesn’t have to fit neatly into a category.
You can have luminous skin with a more defined eye. You can wear a smokier eye without the makeup feeling heavy. You can have polished makeup that still looks fresh. And you can absolutely wear more makeup than you normally would while still recognising yourself when you look in the mirror.
This is one of the reasons I don’t like putting every look into a box.
What matters to me is that the makeup works for the person wearing it.
Trust your artist, but speak up too
Your makeup appointment should be a collaboration.
I bring my experience, my eye and my knowledge of products, colour, proportion and technique. You bring something equally important: you know yourself.
Tell me what you love. Tell me if there’s something you’re unsure about. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing lipstick or you always like a little more colour in your cheeks, those things are useful for me to know.
But this is also your time to relax and enjoy the experience. You don’t need to have every detail worked out before we start. I’ll guide you through the process, and you can always give me your point of view along the way. We can adjust things as we go until the whole look comes together.
Sometimes my clients give me a very clear idea of what they want. Other times, they show me a few photos, tell me what they like and leave the rest to me. Both are completely fine.
The right makeup look is different for everyone
After more than 20 years working as a makeup artist, one thing I know for sure is that there isn’t one makeup look that works for everyone.
I love beautiful skin, definition in the right places and makeup that looks polished and modern. But for me, the most important part is looking at the person sitting in front of me and working from there.
The goal isn’t to turn you into someone else. It’s to bring out what is already beautiful, while creating a complete look that works for you, what you’re wearing and the occasion.
So if you have an event coming up and you’re not quite sure what makeup look to choose, don’t worry about having all the answers before you arrive.
That’s something we can work out together.