The Nest

It's time to put on make-up

Posted Monday, July 23, 2007 7:15 PM

I'm not a fan of ill-preparedness. I always like to have maps when I'm driving somewhere I don't know; I make a batch of a new recipe days before I need to bring it to someone's house; and before going on vacation I research and create lists upon lists. So why should my wedding day make-up be any different?

I knew I was going to need a make up trial run before the big day, so at five months out I arranged a meeting with a make-up artist named J – a fellow bride I met via the Knot, whose wedding was last fall and who didn't live too far from me.

The trial gives the make up artist a chance to figure pout what works best on the bride. If they first meet on the day of the wedding, there is little room for error.

However, I am not a make-up gal. My daily regiment usually consists of some foundation and my favorite lipstick, Frostbite by Bioelements, or lip gloss, Kiss Me by Benefit.

So when I entered J's make-up room (the vanity area outside the bathroom in her apartment) – my eyes widened at the sheer amount of make-up. I had received a makeover before, but that was usually at a counter at the department store. But this was different – J wasn't pushing a product and I wasn't searching for an eye pencil.

I told J that I just wanted to enhance my features, she said it was nice to hear, as some brides want cat eyes or elaborate lips – so they didn't look anything like themselves. I said I wanted to look bridal, to glow – not look like I was ready to strut down Hollywood Boulevard.

I sat in the director's chair and put my hair up. J put a white smock around me and I heard a whirring sound, reminiscent of a fan.

"That's for the air brushing," I was told.

Apparently the new advance in make up application is air brushing, which keeps foundation on far longer than before, and does so without having to smooth out any areas mushed over by a sponge.

First J tested some colors against my very pale skin. Then she took the color and poured it into the contraption. When she started spraying it on me it was nice and cool – a great treat for a bride.

As we continued, there were powders and creams, several layers of eye shadow, blushes and lip liner. Since I was sitting perpendicular to the mirror, I could only see one side of my face – but it looked pretty darn good.

Then we came to the hard part: the lipstick.

I have a very acute sense of smell, and the waxy chemicals in lipsticks tend to make me a bit queasy (it was really hard doing plays in high school). Luckily, I showed my Frostbite (which smells like rose water) to J, who blended it with a pink lipstick to add a bit of color. Over that she put my Kiss Me; then to that she added a bit of shimmer.

She had me get off the chair and look in the mirror. It was amazing – it was me, but it wasn't. Just the look I was going for. It's amazing all the work that goes into to achieving a "natural" look.