Why Should I Prepare?
While your makeup artist has a kit full of goodies that can help conceal under-eye circles, blemishes, and make your eyes pop like there is no tomorrow, you should still always remember the golden rule (okay, not THE golden rule, but it is one of mine).
"Your makeup can only look as good as what is underneath."
There are a couple of things that I want you to remember when reading that. First, you are beautiful. Second, when I say “what is underneath” I mean the canvas, AKA your skin. Now go back and read it again.
Preparing your skin for makeup is the key to a flawless, smooth, long-lasting application. If you are unsure about how exactly to do that, keep reading. I broke it down into what you should do the week before, the day before and on the day of.
What Should I Do the Week Before?
Believe it or not but how you treat your skin even a month before your appointment can affect its condition on the day of your appointment. So bare with me for just a week, okay?
Here is what you should do during the week leading up to your appointment:
Exfoliate two to three times per week. This is something I recommend to do regularly, and you can read all about that in my blog, “Skincare 101 - Exfoliating.” This will make sure that any dead skin that is on the surface is removed so your makeup goes on baby smooth.
Moisturize, moisturize and, for the love of soft skin please moisturize. As I work out of primarily Alberta, that means you are probably from here too. If that is correct, you KNOW that it’s dry here even on the most humid day in mid-July. Hydrated skin means cake-free long-lasting makeup. Moisturize your skin twice a day, after cleansing.
Drink your water friend. Lots of water is good for you in general, but it can help keep your skin hydrated and plump! Who doesn’t want that? It can also help reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles and puffiness on the face.
Refrain from using any products that might cause you to break out. You might be asking, why would I purposely do that? However, I know there are some of you out there who have a favourite foundation or other product that messes your skin up but you know it makes you look hella good at the moment. It’s tempting but just don’t do it!
Don’t overdo it. This might seem like a great time to break out every single mask and skincare product you own, but it actually isn’t! My theory with all things makeup and skincare is that less is more! Yes, 20-step skincare routines can work wonders for some people, but for others, it becomes a mess of clogged pores and negative results. Especially if your skin isn’t used to it, using more products than usual can leave your skin in worse condition than before.
Lastly, if you have a preference for specific products make sure you have them with you for your appointment. I often ask clients if they have a lipstick they prefer or want to purchase so they can do touch-us throughout the day. I also have a Treat Yourself Add-on available which has all kinds of goodies to keep your makeup fresh - including lipstick and powder.
What Should I Do the Day Before?
If you are just reading this and your appointment is tomorrow, don’t worry you can start here! Include the following things in your list of things to do today, and your makeup artist will thank you tomorrow.
Moisturize your skin! Moisturized skin is again, the key to a smooth, long-lasting makeup application. Do this twice on the day before your appointment, morning and night.
I recommended above to exfoliate two to three times throughout the week leading up to your appointment. One of those days is best to be the day before! This way, your skin is fresh and smooth when you wake up!
Do NOT sleep in your makeup. This can cause new breakouts, puffiness, and dryness. Do yourself and your makeup artist a favour and remove that makeup, and wash your face (and moisturize hehe).
What Should I do on the Day of?
Today is the day. Are you excited? I know your makeup artist is! Follow these steps before your appointment and let your makeup artist do the rest.
Wash your face. This is important to get rid of any makeup, oil, or eye boogers that might be left on your skin from the night before. I personally would like to say please, if nothing else, please wash your face.
Apply a moisturizer and sunscreen. Your makeup artist will apply moisturizer before application if your skin feels dry. However, you should apply in the least sun protection for yourself before-hand.
Put your contacts in if you wear them. To save time before your makeup artist arrives, it is best for contact lens wearers to put their lenses in. Putting them in after the makeup application can put you at risk of getting unwanted particles in your eye. Also, I love to chat and show you along the way so i is best if you can see!
Brush your teeth. If it is early morning, I understand wanting to get breakfast and at least one cup of coffee before you brush your teeth. However, it can be difficult not to ruin your makeup trying to do it afterward.
Wear a loose-fitting, button-up, or zip-up shirt so you don’t smudge your face taking it off. Alternatively, you can wear what you are wearing for the event or photos and we can cover you with a towel (unless it is a wedding dress, we don’t want to risk that one).
If you find this helpful, please feel free to share it with friends and family who might feel the same! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, I would love to chat!