Welcome back to the Featured Supplier corner of my blog. I know I’m picky when it comes to suppliers that I feature on here, but I realise I’ve neglected this section a little lately, so I wanted to kick things off again with a Blossom Bride Bang! Let me introduce you to Anne Marie Doherty, a hugely talented makeup artist with 15 years experience painting brides faces for their big day, and let me start by saying, that every one of those years show! Not satisfied with just sitting down for a chat over coffee, I wanted to get the full bridal experience so I could give you a real insight to Anne Marie, the products she uses and the service she provides so {of course!} I visited her fab makeup room for what was essentially a bridal makeup trial; you know, for this wedding of mine I’m going to have, one day. The fact that I haven’t got a groom, or even a boyfriend yet is beside the point; that’s why I blog, as an excuse to do all this wedding stuff and people don’t think I’m just straight up strange! If you want to check out Anne Marie’s background, training and credentials, you can check out her website here, but let’s crack on with the makeup trial experience!
The Makeup Trial
Ideally your makeup trial should take place around 1 month before your wedding, this is to see what state your skin is going to be on your wedding day, with a small window of opportunity to correct any skin issues in time for your big day. Trials typically take 60-90 mins. Getting a makeup trial isn’t just about the makeup, it’s a chance for the makeup artist to get to know you as a person, your style, your wedding dress, your skin type/tone; find out who your hairdresser, photographer and cinematographer are for the day etc.
Anne Marie doesn’t recommend that brides get any facials done in the 3 weeks before the wedding, if anything, a good vitamin C facial such as this one from Image Skincare; she also recommends Lysine and B+ vitamins to fight any cold sores, which are second only to spots in every bride’s nightmares! Also, try to wear ivory, white or cream so you can get a better idea of what your bridal makeup will look like paired with your wedding dress; turning up in a mustard coloured high-neck shirt or a black jumper isn’t going to be the same.
So we all know that skincare is key when it comes to makeup and Anne Marie’s skincare prep products far exceeded my expectations! She began by using the Lotion/Toner/Mist from Yonka as a hydrating spray, Pure Hyaluronic Serum from Pestle & Mortar followed by Yonka’s Pamplemousse as a moisturiser. These luxurious, spa-like products and fragrances help to settle and calm brides which is something that is really important to Anne Marie as she wants all her brides to enjoy the morning of their wedding and the experience of having their makeup done.
After your makeup trial, Anne Marie contacts you shortly afterwards to see how you found it, how the makeup lasted on your skin, if there were any issues or anything you would like/need to change. Once everything has been finalised, you are then sent a small list of products you will need {and most brides like to keep} for any touch ups and re-applications throughout your wedding day, usually a lipstick, blush and setting powder.
The Morning Of
Anne Marie travels to your house or venue to do your bridal makeup, bridesmaids and MOTB. For venues, the bridal suite is generally always bright. If you’re not in the bridal suite just yet, then speak to the venue’s event manager or wedding planner about finding a bright room to do your makeup, a window with natural daylight is all that is needed. If at home, anywhere but the kitchen! This is the worst place to do makeup as in most homes, the kitchen is the hub of all the activity and all the hustle & bustle doesn’t lend itself well to the calming and relaxing experience Anne Marie is trying to give to her brides.
Also, drinking lemon infused water in the morning will give you a last minute skin detox. Timing is crucial on the morning of your wedding, especially that last hour; if you’re wedding is at 1pm, you need to be in your dress no later than 12pm. If you have tattoos that need covering up, you need to allow extra time for that too. Anne Marie stays with you right until you walk out the door, just in case there are any last minute emergency touch ups required, which I know {for me} will be such a huge relief to know that she is there until I’m absolutely 100% ready!
And finally, after your makeup and hair is done, DO NOT let the hairdresser spray hairspray all over your makeup when they’re spraying it on your hair! Cover your face as much as you can because as well as hairspray causing the dreaded white cast and flashback in images that photographers then have to spend ages Photoshopping out, but it also leaves a residue on your skin that you CANNOT touch up your makeup afterwards!
The Natural Glamour Look
The most requested look that brides go for is the image above, and the profile picture on Anne Marie’s Facebook page; her recreation of Rosanna Davison’s makeup for her own wedding day. We decided to go for something a little different for the first look Anne Marie created on me. This look is perfect for someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup and wants something natural, fresh and dewy looking. There would be no point getting my makeup done by a professional makeup artist for a blog post, to then use filters and Photoshop, so these images are exactly as they were taken on my Samsung S6 camera phone, although the lighting did change a little in between photos.
Headpiece is by Amanda Wyatt, from Belle Mariée Bridal, Athboy
Product List
Yonka Lotion/Toner/Mist, Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum, Yonka Pamplemousse, MAC Hydratant Lip Conditioner, Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, Nuxe Multi-Purpose Dry Oil with MAC Face & Body {for my neck and chest}, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk & Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundations, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger, Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Palette, Benefit Hello Flawless Powder, MAC Harmony Blush {to contour}, The Balm Bahama Mama, MAC Give Me Sun, NARS Orgasm & Bobbi Brown Nectar Blush, The Balm Mary Lou-maniser, MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot, MAC Eye Shadows: Vanilla, Saddle, Amber Lights, All That Glitters & Dance In The Dark, Benefit Matte Highbrow, MAC Hush Cream Base, Inglot 77 Gel Liner, MAC Mascara, Charlotte Tilbury Eye Cheat Eyeliner Pencil, Anastasia Brow Definer in Chocolate, Catrice Brow Gel, MAC Whirl Lip Liner, MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick, MAC Nymphette Lip Glass & Individual Lashes.
Prices for a bridal makeup trial start at €50, which includes complimentary lashes. For a typical bridal party of 4 people prices start at €250, depending on location and any extras required. You can check out Anne Marie on Instagram and Facebook.
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