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Recently, I went to get a makeup trial done. On the advice of my hairstylist, I went to see her cousin who works at ULTA but also has done bridal makeup for years. I talked to her cousin on the phone and she was super polite and upbeat, so I had a good vibe.
I made an appointment for a trial during an event they were having. That seemed like the easy, affordable way to go, but wasn’t the best idea in the end. Each makeup artists was only allotted 30 minutes per customer, so it felt kinda rushed. Plus, we weren’t really supposed to be talking about bridal makeup…it was a covert operation. So I couldn’t really go into too much about what I wanted, which is really something like this:
Carrie Underwood / Image via Zimbio
When all was said and done, I liked the foundation fine, and the blush was OK, and the lips were good…but the eyes were bad. My immediate thought was, “I look like a zombie.”
The Walking Dead Season 2 image via Backseat Cuddler
Now, to be fair, I’m not used to wearing a ton of eye makeup…in fact, these days, I rarely wear any makeup at all, because it’s hotter than a nanny goat in a pepper patch outside. But, when I go out, I wear brown eyeliner, some neutral eye shadow (cream, brown, green), and some brown black mascara. I think I look pretty good.
This is me with day old makeup. I look very much like, well, me!
But these eyes were intense. She used grey eye liner and pinks for the eye shadow. I feel like the pink eye shadow contributed to the blood thirsty zombie look, because I’m not really tan (I don’t do that anymore, I wised up about five years ago, sunscreen FTW!), so the paleness and pink made me look…scary.
personal photo from my iPhone
I swear it was scarier in real life. I know, I know, you need more makeup for photos blah blah blah. I’m not into it. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Mr. M. He came home from work and said “Whoa.” And not like “Hot damn, whoa,” more like, “Ew. Whoa.” I was trying to be positive and said, “I got my makeup trial done today!” and he said, “I can see that.” A few minutes later he said “You look scary.” And probably the absolute last thing I want to do on the wedding day is scare my groom. I mean, I’m just sayin’…
So, my MUA had texted me to see if I liked it, and I responded that I liked the foundation and lips, but wanted to tweak the eyes. It’s been a week, and no response back.
Do I:
What would you do?
I’d find someone different. I think it’s too much of a risk to leave it to someone you are unsure of. You’ll have your wedding pics FOREVER! I went for my trial recently and I loved mine. Too bad you don’t live in the Boston area or I send you her info! Good luck!
I would try and contact her again, and if you don’t hear back, I wouldn’t be afraid of just doing the makeup yourself! I’m opting to do my own makeup, because well, I want to look like ME on my wedding day. And I’d rather spend the money that I would be spending on a makeup artist at Sephora, buying myself makeup that I can wear long after the wedding 
Find a new one or do it yourself. It’s okay she didn’t do exactly what you wanted since you didn’t have much time to explain, but now she’s ignoring you and that isn’t right. Find someone new, or practice on yourself until you’re happy with the end result! Where you don’t look scary according to Mr. M!
Oh I am so sorry! It doesn’t look bad in the picture, but you want to look good in pics AND in real life. I think pink is a scary color on the eyes as well. Maybe go with taupes fro eyeshadow? If it seems like she is willing to work with you outside of her workplace and on the changes then I would go back. But, if she doesn’t get back to you in another week then I would look for someone else!
Same thing happened to me, same respone from my fiancee. I ended up doing another trial with a different makeup artist, and she did a fantastic job. I booked her on the spot, and now I am much happier. In my opinion, I would find someone else. Makeup artists who specialize in bridal makeup are excellent at what they do and you shouldn’t have to explain to them why you don’t want to look like a zombie
I’d just text her again - maybe she just got busy? Then if she doesn’t respond go with someone else.
As for the makeup - I don’t wear a ton of makeup on a normal basis either and I felt pretty much the same as you after my trial - loved the face but was unsure about the eyes (also, she put a REALLY dark lipstick on me, which I thought I maybe just didn’t like because I wasn’t used to it, but 4 hrs later I still hated it). Anyways, when I went back wedding morning, I told her the face was great and that I’d like to back off on the eyes a little and go very natural with the lips. She was totally fine with that and everything turned out great. (Also, I asked her not to do my mascara because hers was very clumpy and it turned out to be really good because then I got to have my photog take the “finishing makeup touches” pictures when I got home. Hadn’t thought about that before, but: YAY!).
In the end, I was REALLY happy that I had a professional makeup artist do my makeup - it stayed on and looked great all day, I didn’t have to worry about messing any of it up or not having it match perfectly or missing something. It was also kind of relaxing to just be able to chill out and let others do stuff for you. Though I DIY’ed EVERYTHING else for the wedding (including flowers and the cake(s)!) I really think getting your makeup done professionally is the way to go.
I always think looking like you is a good idea And yay! zombie reference!
Psh, it’s going to take a lot more than some heavy eye make-up to make YOU look anything short of gorgeous, Magic! But anyhow! What’s important is that you feel comfortable (and that your groom doesn’t find you to be frightening)…so I understand wanting to make some tweaks. I’d contact the MUA one last time—no prompt response? I’d take it as a sign and move on!
Non-responsive vendors make me so nervous! Mr. P and I just switched caterers a month out because the ones we originally booked didn’t respond to emails or phone calls for about three weeks! Anyway, my vote is to do your makeup yourself. You sound like you know what you like best, so day-of, there won’t be any surprises. And you’re gorgeous when you do your own makeup! (To be fair, I think your trial is a far cry from scary.)
I did my own make-up, and in person, I thought I looked a little drag queen-y. In even the amateur photos I’ve seen though, totally worth the RuPaul resemblance. I’d say you pinpoint a specific aspect of the eye makeup (color? application? sparkle? eyeliner?) that pushes you over the edge and try to rework that aspect and just that aspect to see if that softens the overall look enough for your taste
I think you are better off going into Sephora and ask for advice on how to do a natural eye. They will give you advice on what colors to wear with your complexion and based on what is natural to you, show you how to recreate it and won’t allow you to leave until you like it. I’m a freelance professional makeup artist and have many friends who work at Sephora. IF you are a fair girl and wanting to go with pink, try a more dusty rose with brown in the color. Its a bit more complimentary to a fair skin tone and also has a romantic feel when applied. My advice for key products. Smashbox primer (will hold your foundation, fill in fine lines and pores, and control oil/shine, a universal setting powder by Makeup Forever or Tarte, and Urban Decay Setting spray for touchups (adds 16 hour wear to your makeup) Also, when applying blush and/or bronzer, use a little more than normal for photography. Good luck, my dear!
Love the walking dead reference! I would probably follow up one more time. I went through a couple of MUAs before booking for the wedding.
Lol!!! What area are you in?!? I’m an experienced makeup artist that’s does airbrushing etc.. My specialty is eyes! And I promise not to make you look like a zombie!!
Lmcerimeli@yahoo.com is my email! Hope this helps
I think you look great in both pictures…
If you haven’t heard from her I would just move on. I don’t go out of my way for anyone to get second chances when I’m paying for a service. Especially if it is already overpriced - but it sounds like she was just doing you a favor.
Oh my goodness, you have such a beautiful face - way too beautiful for all that makeup. While the photo doesn’t look that bad, I can see why you weren’t happy. I had a lot of trouble trying to get someone to do my makeup the way I wanted it. I ended up just doing it myself and my now-husband made the comment that he loved that I looked like me. Good luck to you!
I think you still look gorgeous, but I understand feeling too overdone. I would try to contact her again and if you can’t get her you should move on. I think your makeup looks great and would be great for your wedding.
OK so first, you’re totally hot. But I’d say either 2 or 3. Depends on how comfortable you are with doing your own makeup. I’m OK with it, but I suck at eyes and I have oily skin and blemishes and I just think a professional will do a better job than me. But I definitely wouldn’t go with her - she made Mr. Magic scared, AND was unresponsive? Blah.
The SAME thing happened to me. My MUA gave me eggplants liner and dark ass eyes, I hated everything about it and when FI saw it he screwed his face up and told me the wedding was off if I looked like that the day of. I seriously look like I had two black eyes. But because my MUA is my hair lady too I talked to her and explained that I basically wanted it to look like I was wearing nothing on my eyes but mascara, aka soft light shadow, a little liner (not that eggplant shit) and mascara. I also told her I want to be ready an hour before the ceremony starts so basically if she doesn’t get it right she’s going to redo it for the money I’m spending.
Definatley find someone else….you have the time still. If she hasnt gotten back to you she either really doesnt care, was insulted or brushed it off completely.
Save yourself the discomfort of going back to her and the fear of having the “zombie” return…I would be getting it done elsewhere no question.
Good Luck, you are beautiful regardless!
Go online and look up some tutorials, see if you can do it yourself, and then decide!!
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Mrs. Magic, Chapel Hill, NC Age and Occupation: 30, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Researcher Engagement Date: December 1, 2009 Wedding Date: October 2011 Venue: Barn at Valhalla About Me: I’m a tall drink of water (5’10”!) and a Southern bride with an enormous appetite for Mexican food, good deals, anything French, and all things wedding! By day I am lucky enough to work with individuals with autism and their families. By night, I’m even luckier to be able to spend time hanging out with awesome friends, crafting, shopping, thinking about exercising, and kicking it with Mr. Magic and our two cats. I tend to have sudden, intense cravings that will not be denied (seafood enchiladas! new jeans!) and I’m prone to being a disorganized mess of anxiety and stress. After waiting (and waiting!) to get engaged, I am finally planning the colorful, fun, fabulously awesome Fall wedding of our dreams. In an effort to share the fun and craziness that is wedding planning, I’m gonna blog about it for y’all---the good, the bad, and the pretty!
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