Weddingbee Blog

When looking through my makeup bag, you’d find all of the latest brands from an exclusive boutique located down the street from me. Maybe you’ve heard of it?

Image courtesy, Target Stores, Inc.

Yes, that’s right — I’m a drugstore beauty bride. I prefer Carmex to MAC gloss; L’Oreal to Lancome. So, you see… when I started pricing day-of makeup services for w-day, I had to get used to the idea of paying *a lot* more than my usual $15 for foundation. I’m pretty frugal when it comes to beauty products, but I know that I want something outstanding for the day of our wedding. Which is why I scheduled a trial with a makeup artist and tried airbrushed makeup this weekend for the first time.

I thought I wanted smoky eyes and something fairly dramatic going into the trial, but when the time came, well… the artist kind of steered me in a different direction. You see, I don’t wear tons of eye makeup on an everyday basis. Foundation, blush, a bit of shadow, some liner and mascara and I’m pretty much done. And, on our wedding, I want to look like myself, only a bit fancier and more polished.

Since I have pretty good skin (not too oily/dry, and few blemishes), my MUA felt that airbrushed makeup was my best option. It would stay on longer and feel lighter than regular foundation. Sold! She said she would do smoky eyes if that’s what I wanted, but that I might feel it was a tad too much. I had a brief flashback to a sorority formal where I told the department store makeup girl that I wanted smoky eyes and walked out looking like a raccoon… and quickly decided to take her word for the “polished natural” look.

Letmetellyou… airbrushed makeup is awesome! It seriously felt like I had nothing on my face. Nada! Zilch! Zero! Ok, you get the point. But seriously, I felt like I wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup (very odd, but very neat at the same time!) She did my eyes, cheeks, and brows, and let me pick either gloss or lipstick. Since I’m a Carmex girl, I chose the gloss. You want to see the results? Ok, hive… here’s my before, sans makeup… be nice! (Sorry about the bathroom picture and bad lighting!)

Annnd…here’s the subtle, polished after (I apologize for the camera in the shot… I suck at self-portraits).

What do you think? Overall, I like it. I think it looked better in person (something about crappy bathroom lighting and self-portraiture will do that to you), but I might have her play my eyes up a bit more on w-day. I love, love, love the gloss she used on me, though — I might have to get the brand/color info from her and incorporate it into my look post-wedding!

Did you schedule a trial for your wedding day makeup? How did it go?