Makeup Forever
DIY wedding-day makeup: Kate did it. Should you? Six prominent Seattle makeup artists sound off.
Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 04, 2011 at 07:00AM
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SLIDESHOW Seattle makeup artists share some of their favorite editorial and real-world wedding looks. Here, makeup artist Shannon Mercil and hair stylist Karen Vogt, both of I Love Blush, get to work.
View Slideshow »This Seattle bride’s makeup was created by I Love Blush artist Alysha Abrams; hair by I Love Blush’s Allie LIvengood. I Love Blush’s head blusher, Shannon Mercil reveals her favorite wedding day look for 2011: "The almost Victorian-era look; natural fresh eyes, soft rosy cheeks, and a gently stained natural lip (in various shades from pink and peach to berry). This look is definitely made more modern with a slight glow to the cheek and an emphasis on lashes. When it comes to false lashes I prefer the individuals as they are build-able can be applied just to the edges for a slight flare or built up to create a more ‘doe’ eyed look.
View Slideshow »Makeup for this Seattle bride was created by I Love Blush’s Shannon Mercil. Says Mercil, “In the era of modern and (extremely) unforgiving hi-definition videography and photography, hiring a professional makeup artist is an almost essential wedding day investment. Since not every bride has ‘Kate’ perfect skin. airbrushing is a great skill our professionals and many other makeup artists use to take the illusion of flawless skin to a whole new level.”
View Slideshow »A perfectly blushing Seattle bride; makeup by I Love Blush’s Shannon Mercil. If you’re in a pinch, Mercil says, “For help purchasing great makeup products for your big day visit Alyx Bisler (by appointment only) at the downtown Sephora. He is the store’s personal shopper and can help you with all your wedding day cosmetic needs. He Rocks!.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:Hair and makeup artist Lindsey Watkins at work on a client. “For brides my favorite eye shape is the classic winged eyeliner at the lash line,” says Watkins. “It’s versatile, meaning a bride can choose a very thin line with or short wing, or she can go bold with a thicker line and longer wing to evoke a mod look. If you really look at your eye shape and where to kick the wing up and how long to make it this eyeliner technique flatters all brides. This type of eyeliner is also great for camouflaging false lashes,”
View Slideshow »Hair and makeup artist Lindsey Watkins created this wedding-day look. She has these tips for those that want to do their own makeup for the grand event: “I would highly recommend investing most in foundation and a brush with which to apply it. Really take the time to get some samples or buy a few kinds and see how they hold up during the course of an 18 hour day. Brides need to get a lot of mileage out of their makeup on their big day and their skin is the one thing that needs to look most natural and flawless. If you have oily skin consider a powder or silicone based foundation; if you have dry or mature skin consider a more hydrating liquid foundation. I recommend color matching foundations outside in sunlight because that is the most unforgiving light, and always apply with a brush, never your hands or a sponge.”
View Slideshow »Lindsey Watkins, the makeup artist responsible for this very pretty face, on how and where to shop for makeup. “Hands down, my favorite place to buy makeup is the MAC (Makeup Art Cosmetics) store at University Village. All the artists there know their products and if you really talk to them about your skin and your skills they can be a wealth of knowledge. U Village gets a little busy on the weekends, so I recommend an early morning weekday visit if you can manage that. Candice is one of my favorite gals there, she’s got a great attitude and is passionate about makeup, that goes a long way in my book.”
View Slideshow »Makeup artist Jenny Bowker helped make this bride extra happy. “Be sure that your foundation is your perfect shade and that it not only looks good in person but also in photos,” says the makeup artist. “Try Makeup Forever HD Foundation, it is designed to give you an airbrushed effect at all times. Be sure to also give yourself a healthy dose of blush, which can get washed out in photos. NARS Deep Throat gives every skin tone a soft romantic glow that still has a punch.”
View Slideshow »Wedding day makeup by Jenny Bowker. When it comes to makeup shopping, Bowker recommends “Marina at Barney’s; she’s incredibly talented and truly helpful, no matter what you are looking for.”
View Slideshow »Another wedding-day look by Jenny Bowker. Says the Seattle makeup artist: “This summer my favorite look for brides is a softly smokey chocolate eye, glowing peach cheeks, and a soft coral or apricot gloss on the lips.”
View Slideshow »Hair and makeup artist Erin Skipley created this look for an editorial shoot for Junebug Weddings. Says the good-looks guru, “Don’t forget the eyelash curler and use a waterproof mascara in the blackest black! If you’re not skilled in eyelash application, consider doing eyelash extensions to increase the length and volume of your lashes.”
View Slideshow »Another editorial wedding look created by hair and makeup artist Erin Skipley. Some free advice from Skipley: “Considering how much is spent on hiring the best photographer, it’s best to hire a professional makeup artist who’s invested thousands of dollars in building a kit. They know what works on camera and what doesn’t.”
View Slideshow »Makeup pro Jenny Verador, the artist behind this bride’s stunning but natural look, says, “I love making the skin look flawless. The key to this is blend, blend, blend! I use either a foundation sponge or a foundation brush to blend the foundation into the skin.”
View Slideshow »A gorgeous Seattle bride; makeup by Jenny Verador.
View Slideshow »Jenny Verador worked with this bride on her wedding day. “If you’re thinking about doing your own makeup,” says the artist, “I recommend picking up a good foundation like Laura Mercier’s from the downtown Seattle counter.”
View Slideshow »Says Suresh, the makeup artist who created this editorial bridal look, “I love a delicate smokey lash line—so chic, beautiful and timeless.”
View Slideshow »Another view of that delicately smokey eye by Suresh; he recommends that you see Micah at the La Prairie counter at the downtown Nordstrom if you’re shopping for beauty products.
First, let’s get one thing straight: I don’t intend to talk about the royal wedding forever. I mean, I won’t be talking about it forever. Will not. I promise you that. But when I read that the former Miss Middleton did her own makeup for her big (really big) day, I figured we had better talk this one out with some Seattle-based wedding and fashion makeup pros.
Here, six such local professionals not only dish on what they think about DIY makeup (okay, okay, you can totally guess what they’re going to say about that), they also allow for those who are adamant about applying their own eye-liner and generously offer tips on shopping for blush and spreading on foundation. Great gals these are—and one great guy, too!
Also! In the huge and gorgeous slideshow here you’ll see more of each artist’s work and get even more tips on key summer looks and the best wedding day trends.
This Wedding Wednesday is a regular beauty bonanza.
Erin Skipley
‘For the DIY bride, it’s important to invest in good quality products that have low or no SPF and avoid mineral foundations that have a high Mica content (produces glare on the skin). Use a neutral color palette that will accentuate your natural beauty, and avoid trendy colors/metallic textures with a lot of sparkle.’
Skipley, a frequent contributor to SMBG shoots, also offers this list of easy to use makeup kit essentials (I will refrain from commenting on the product names):
Primed and Poreless by Too Faced
Strobe cream by M.A.C.
Fix + by M.A.C.
Diorskin Airflash foundation (apply w/ brush)
Dior Skinflash under eye brightener
NARS bronzer in Laguna
NARS blush in Orgasm or Sex Appeal
Stila all over shimmer duo in Kitten
Stila convertible color in Peony
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Shannon Mercil from I Love Blush
‘If you are having a destination wedding and absolutely have to do the Kate thing, invest in a makeup lesson. (Rumor has is that was Kate had two professional lessons before her Royal Reveal.) For smudge-free eyes one of my favorite tricks is to apply Too Faced cosmetic’s Shadow Insurance before all other eye makeup. This product allows your makeup to stay put ALL night though dancing, sweat and (those much anticipated) tears.’
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Jenny Bowker
‘There are so many factors that go into your wedding day, adding the stress of doing your own makeup can go wrong quickly. If you make a mistake with delicate techniques such as false eyelashes, contouring the face or achieving a golden glow you may find yourself in a panic with no way to fix it. There are also tricky techniques for high def quality makeup that ensure you look perfect in both professional photos and regular old flash shots.’
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Suresh
‘A real pro understands how the camera sees you, not just the human eye. New digital cameras are invasive and expose everything on your face. There is a major difference between “everyday makeup” and “photo-ready makeup.” The makeup techniques I use are tested from the photo sets I work on so my brides look impeccable on their wedding day.’
In offering a tip for those who absolutely have to do what the former commoner is said to have done, the one-name artist has this: ‘Use good makeup brushes and blend products well. A well blended face looks professional and photographs better. Avoid harsh lines around the eye and don’t contour your cheekbone with pink (like Kate did). It’s a major makeup faux pas.’
(To be honest, I wasn’t crazy about those cheekbones myself.)
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Jenny Verador
‘As professionals, our job is to make you look your best. We know what to highlight on the face; for example, a highlighting pen in the inner corner of the eyes, bridge of the nose, and above the cheekbones to give you a fresh and glowing look.’
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Lindsey Watkins
‘I believe that it pays to have a professional do makeup because we can ride that fine line between making sure the bride looks beautiful in person but also reads well in photographs. You never want a bride to look washed out in her photos. Also, a makeup artist knows how to match and blend foundation expertly to the bride’s skin tone and will know what colors overall will compliment the bride’s skin, eye, and hair color.’
Click on the slideshow for more tips and images.
Tags: Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Gown, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Photography, The Royal Wedding, Seattle Wedding Hair and Makeup
