Goldilocks and the Three Makeup Trials
July 7th, 2008 @ 3:15 pm by Mrs. Tiramisu
When I booked the salon that was to do my hair and makeup for the wedding, I really didn’t put too much into my decision. Since the town I’m getting married in in Maine is about 45 minutes from my hometown, I didn’t know of any hair salons in the area. I searched The Knot for a few recommendations, called one up, and booked them for me, my mom, and my bridal party. I figured it would be just fine. I showed up for my hair and makeup trial totally excited- I couldn’t wait to see what they would come up with. The hair will be a different story for a different day- I’m here to talk about the makeup, or should I say, lack thereof.
Here’s the picture I brought to the makeup artist. It’s of my gorgeous MOH Carolyn. I know, I know- she’s beautiful. I wasn’t looking to be turned into her carbon copy, I just like the softness of the pinks, how natural the rest is, and how she actually looks like herself. Now I did tell the makeup artist that I wanted the eyes to pop a bit more. I wear makeup every day, and I’m not afraid of looking like I’m wearing it.
I should have known better when I heard her response to this photo though. She said, “I can try, but she is beautiful.” Ouch.
Here’s a no-makeup Miss Tiramisu for your viewing pleasure (eek).
And here I am approximately 8 minutes and $45 later:
I didn’t screw up the pictures there- that is in fact the after photo. I tried expressing my concerns, but the very in-a-big-rush makeup lady just assured me that we could make any changes I’d like on the day of the wedding. Needless to say I wasn’t thrilled. The kicker though was that on the way home from the trial, my face started to itch. I must be the only person on the planet that doesn’t like mineral-y makeup, both for the way it looks and the way it feels on. This was Aveda, which is supposed to be great, but my skin was not having it- even the tiny amount that I had on.
After a minor freak-out that I was destined to hate the way I looked on my wedding day, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I grabbed what I had available, and came up with this- which I actually think is better than the look I paid good money for. (Although I am incapable of taking a self-portrait without making a totally bizarre deer-in-headlights face.)
With a little bit of confidence that maybe, just maybe, I could do my makeup on my own, I headed to the MAC counter for some professional tutelage. The makeup artist there was great, but you guessed it, here is where the too much chapter of the story comes in. I don’t have any pictures that show the lipstick, because I rubbed it all off before I got home. And it turns out, I hate false eyelashes. I can’t stand the whole thing, but here are the eyes- and please note: this photo was taken after I had rubbed a ton of black eyeliner off.
Too little, too much, and now I am hoping for just right at makeup trial #3, which is scheduled for this Thursday. At an alarming NINE days before the wedding, I am really hoping that this woman turns out to be my fairy godmother (wrong fairytale, I know).
Any advice (PLEASE!) for making trial #3 a go?
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30 Responses to “Goldilocks and the Three Makeup Trials”
I do like the false eyelashes… I know they can be annoying, but really, your eyes look really nice!
Off topic — I came across this cute cardigan that reminded me of your wedding…
I think you should do your own makeup. You did a great job, you know what you like… why not make it easy on yourself and do your own? YOU know your face better than any make up artist, so you’re going to know what’s right for you.
I too had an awful makeup trial (think purple eyeliner and shadow) and ended up with great wedding day makeup. First, I would recommend ditching the makeup artist you saw the first time…it sounds like you have incompatible goals. Try and find someone new, as hard as that might be in 9 days! I would either bring the artist a picture of you in your everyday makeup or go to your next trial in the makeup you normally wear so they can see what your style is. I felt like once my makeup artist saw my everyday style she could better understand what my wedding style might be.
Side note…you might want to check out “Clear Makeup” by Philosophy. You can get it at Sephora and it is perfect for those of us who don’t love heavy foundations but like a finished look. It is kind of expensive but lasts a long time!
Good luck! I am sure you will look beautiful on your wedding day.
You look SO beautiful in the DIY pic (and also w/o makeup:-P)! I’m all about DIY makeup, as long as you can find stuff that will last long enough. I second Make Up For Ever… it’s awesome! I don’t know if you’re able to get to a Sephora before your wedding (are there any in ME?), but I agree that it would be a great place to go. I think there are a few places around the Old Port in Portland that have a bunch of makeup options.
Good luck with your trial this Thursday - let us know how it goes! As noted in previous posts, I’d go the DIY route if the next trial doesn’t work out.
And I totally laughed out loud at what she said about your friend Carolyn - ouch is right - since you’re so beautiful already! Jeeeeez.
OMG! Your photos are so funny! You’re too cute!…and I feel your pain..what a rip off…what you did yourself look way better.
Good luck with #3!
Your first make- up artist was so rude. I can’t believe she said that. You look beautiful in all your photos. I hope your trial on Thursday goes much better
Hey-
You look beautiful, but some advice on the eyelashes. They should use the individual lashes in the corners, not the strips, and they NEED to curl your eyelashes beforehand so you don’t get that weird separation in the picture between your natural lash and fake lash.
As an alternative I highly recommend getting your eyelashes permed and tinted. I do it regularly (check Japanese salons, they often do it) and it means way less eyemakeup for a pretty eye! Good luck and make sure you get exactly what makes you happy!!
I think you should do it yourself. It looks the best. Besides, that way you don’t have to waste more money and time. You won’t have to worry about having to go somewhere, someone putting you off schedule the day of, someone being unreliable, not doing the job you thought they would, etc.
You did a great job. Save yourself the agony and money. You look beautiful in the photo!
I say do it yourself!! I had a destination wedding, and didn’t want to risk it, so I had a trial with Laura Mercier, bought their fabo foundation primer and the shadow she used.
I did it myself on the wedding day, and it was fabulous. You did a perfect job yourself, so why add another stresser - you look gorgeous, it is exactly what you want, and you wont have to stress about giving your face over to someone else.
Your complexion/foundation in the DIY photo is perfect! I wouldn’t change any part of that.
EYES: I would try a grey or brown eyeliner instead of black, and just use it on the top lid. You have such gorgeous big eyes that just having a bold eyeliner on top (a la Angelina Jolie) is all you need to make them really stand out.
CHEEKS: This is my fool proof blush trick. First apply a pink just to the apples. Then apply a peach under and sweep up the cheekbone to the hairline, blending with the pink as you go. The color combo is so pretty and gives you that glowing effect.
LIPS: I would use a brighter/bolder lipgloss. Your MOH has a rosier shade and it stands out more and ties the look all together.
I did my own and it was great!! I put on the primer (bought a $16 trial size from ulta - the smashbox is the best!). Foundation and other items from Clinique as I HATE the smell of some make ups, they make me sick. And I did it under the price they wanted to charge me for! Everyone loved my makeup, and I say that it’s very possible you can do it on your own!
Sorry, one more piece of advice to recreate your MOH’s look. Her lips and cheeks could be recreated with Benefit’s Benetint. It’s a liquid made from distilled rose petals that provides a rosy stain. Or Smashbox’s OGlow intitive lipgloss and blush.
Oh and I second the endorsement of Smashbox’s primer- get the Photofinish in clear and your makeup will be matte and stay all day! Also get Urban Decay’s primer potion for eyemakeup that won’t migrate. (Sorry, I’m a cosmetic junkie!)
False lashes are fun and dramatic, but I don’t think they fool anyone if you want to look natural.
I ended up doing my own makeup - just very simple stuff I was comfortable with and no foundation - after I found my makeup trial to be too much. My cousin/MOH decided to still use her. I’d shown her the photos and she thought is was skillful, just heavy handed, and was confident that with the right direction, she’d do a fine job with her face, and she did. I just told the makeup artist my groom liked how I did my own makeup better and gave her a fat tip.
Your second trial seems a lot better than the first. Sorry she took your $45. I think you should try doing it yourself as you did a good job.
Macys makeup counter will do free trials for you and so will Sephora associates. Just tell them you are a bride and you are looking for a bridal look 
Do you have to pay her each time????
Mineral make-up makes my face itch when I sweat. I could only wear it in the winter when I lived in Florida. Bummer because I used to get a lot of compliments when I used it.
Are you wearing false eyelashes in that last post? If so, they REALLY accentuate your pretty eyes! If not, you are one lucky long-eyelash-toting gal!
I agree that you could do it yourself- but speaking as someone who has done makeup for others before- I myself wouldn’t want to do my own that day- there’s too much else to worry about. I would recommend being straightforward with you makeup artist- this is YOUR face and YOUR day, and if at the end of the trial you’re not satisfied, ask her to change it! This truly is not a bridezilla thing to do, I’ve had many girls tell me they wanted more of this or less of that- as long as they ended up happy, I was too. Just make sure you’re getting what you want, and really- don’t be afraid to ask for it- a professional should be just fine with you asking to change things (DURING the trial- after all- that’s the whole point OF a trial!)
When you go for trial #3 - tell her from the start about the other attempts and what you didn’t like about them. Be upfront about it. Even though their title might read “makeup artist” they are being paid for a service!! They aren’t Picasso! If you don’t like it - don’t pay for it. Ask them to do it again, the way you asked them to. If they are busy - too bad.
I hope Thursday goes a lot better for you! Make sure you’re really clear on what you think is too much, ie. no black eyeliner, but maybe some brown or plum. I would suggest that you avoid lipstick altogether though; if you really feel you need something, go for lipliner in a neutral shade- gloss on top. Lipstick is a nightmare to reapply constantly for photos and you want to be able to just kick back and forget about it!
I think the DIY version looks fantastic! It seems like you have the same issue I have with eyebrows going every which way when everything else is obeying. I’d suggest trying out some clear mascara on those puppies, if you don’t use it already - I think it really helps define the brows. But even if you didn’t, I’d say no matter what, you’ll look great! What if you took your DIY picture to a makeup artist and see if she can recreate it? That way you can weigh which is better for you - doing your own make up or trusting someone else. Good luck!!
You could definitely do it yourself. I would go to a higher end department store with the brand you like. Find a girl at the counter who is wearing makeup that is well done and ask her to give you pointers and put on a full face. I did that for my sister’s wedding and the photos turned out great. I have a touch complexion to deal with too (uneven and asian…uck) and it worked out.
You have to be sort of a pain in the ass sometimes if you feel you’re not being listened to! When I get my hair done I’m a total b*tch! haha!
That 1st makeup artist sounds just AWFUL! She only spent 8 minutes on you then rushed you out??
I do makeup for a living and I’d much rather spend an hour trying different things than have someone leave unhappy and unsure.
Good luck on your trial!
Say NOOOO to the mineral make-up.
I read in a bridal tips book that mineral make-up is not recommended for brides. I have a REALLY bad memory so I can’t remember specifically why buuut all I remember is that they were pretty adamant about not using mineral based products.
Now about your pics: I think in pic one, you look really cute for daily. In pic two you look pretty much the same (that crazy, mean make-up lady needs me to kick her butt-hehe). I really like pic three. MAC has some serious staying power and they’re usually really good about applying in layers so u can say “I want more” of whatever along the way.
The lashes look good to but I would do a full strip. Also, be sure to leave them on as a trial for several hours to make sure u won’t be allergic to the glue. That would be worse than the that crazy, mean make-up lady any day.
Hope I helped at least a little.
Err….I wouldn’t do a full strip of lashes is what I meant to say.
[...] you all for your suggestions on my makeup trials! I was fully prepared to be doing my own makeup on the big day, but now I am so relieved to have [...]
“Say NOOOO to the mineral make-up.
I read in a bridal tips book that mineral make-up is not recommended for brides. I have a REALLY bad memory so I can’t remember specifically why buuut all I remember is that they were pretty adamant about not using mineral based products” - Shasha
Mineral makeup’s top ingredient is Talc. Talc is reflective…this makes for super white faced ghost brides in any photo where a flash is involved.
That’s makeup?
Mrs. Tiramisu, Annapolis, MD/Maine
Age and Occupation: 26, Eye Doctor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Project Manager/Real Estate Management grad student
Engagement Date: May 15, 2007
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Blogging Since: March 4, 2008
Venue: Oceanfront lawn and tent
About Me: I was born and raised in Maine, now living in Annapolis, Maryland and planning a hometown wedding from afar. I’m nothing short of obsessed with wedding planning, and am loving the do-it-yourself madness that has now taken over my life! As for me, I’m a craft-loving, martini-drinking, girly-girl who loves traveling, photography, my schnauzer, and above all, spending time with Mr. Tiramisu.
maybe try a sephora so they can try LOTS of different brands? I personally cannot wear mineral makeup (I itch too) and found my MU artist thru my wedding planner. He was the head makeup dude at sephora and did a fabulous job. I will recommend Make Up Forever brand and Giorgio Armani for foundations (they always seem to be ranked highly on make up boards for “real” looking skin AND they photograph well). Just make sure NONE of your makeup has zinc oxide in it - you’ll look whiter than the rest of your body w/ a flash. Ok - sorry for my short novel.