Anyone else hear ‘bridal makeup’ & get nervous? I don’t blame ya! It can be pretty overwhelming to pick a look for your wedding day.
So that’s why I’ve called on an expert in everything makeup. Jenna is the owner and artist behind Makeup by Jenna. She is your go-to woman for feelin’ yourself and does so without compromising your natural beauty. I was lucky enough to capture Jenna in her element at Lake Affect Studios in Cleveland, OH. In this series we will walk you through 4 different makeup looks with women who have unique face shapes, skin tones, skin types, makeup preferences and style.
The truth is: every person should feel beautiful on their wedding day. In this interview you can learn a little more about the makeup process, Jenna’s artistry, what makes the ladies feel most like themselves and how to prepare for your day of celebrations!
Let’s get to it! In the article below Jenna answers some of the most popular questions about event day makeup.
How should you prepare you skin for your wedding day? I cannot stress skin preparation enough!! A face mask or treatment a couple nights before or even a facial is crucial in order to get your skin looking it’s best before a full face makeup application! -Jenna
Lisa Before & After
When I asked Lisa what she loves most about makeup: “I’ve worked with a lot of artists (as a photographer) and I can appreciate the simpleness of makeup but I LOVE glam. I could sit and watch people do makeup all day.” -Lisa
When I asked Lisa what look she was going for she explained to me that she wanted a soft natural glam with a lip color that would just enhance her natural lip color. We did a beautiful bronze eye with false lashes to bring out her brown eyes. -Jenna
What exactly is a makeup trial run? How can you prepare for it? A Trial Run is a date you & I pick no later than 1 month before the big day! We will go over multiple things – The look you are wanting to achieve, making sure the makeup works well with your skin type, pin pointing exact areas you want to enhance or diminish. It is best to pick the trial date around an event you have planned (bachelorette party, bridal shower, date night, engagement shoot etc.) to exactly see how the makeup lasts throughout the day. -Jenna
What are some questions I should prepare for in the trial session? Some questions I may ask are – What are the wedding colors? Will you be spray tanning/tanning? What do you want to emphasize & what do you want to diminish? -Jenna
Millie Before & After
Have you ever had a bad makeup experience? I don’t wear much makeup on a daily basis. But, I usually get glam for modeling. Models of color deal with incorrect makeup tones. Sometimes artists don’t know that mismatched tones can wash you out. But, I am usually honest and will give them feedback if it needs to be adjusted. -Millie
When do you feel the most beautiful? Wearing sweats, eating a big plate of food, hanging with friends or with my boyfriend. -Millie
Before starting Millie’s makeup application I immediately noticed her beautiful big eyes. She explained to me she loves the natural look but wanted to go a little bit more glam for a very special day! We did a brown smokey eye with a pop of pink on the lips as well as false lashes. -Jenna
Does bridal makeup have to look a certain way? ABSOLUTELY NOT! It is your special day, you choose the way you want to look and I will make it happen! -Jenna
Maggie Before & After
What makeup look makes you feel the most confident? I love playing around with different eyeshadow pallets these days. I went through a goth phase in high school…it just wasn’t good. -Maggie
Maggie has such a natural radiance to her skin, I knew I wanted to keep that glow! She told me she wanted all glam for her special day. Her beautiful prominent cheek bones made the rosy pink blush pop. She has nice full brows so all we used was a tinted brow gel! We did a neutral brown / gold smokey eye to enhance her gorgeous brown eyes! – Jenna
What products should I have on hand to touch up? Definitely your lip product of choice. I like to go over lipstick options during the Trial, that way you can go out and purchase your lipstick choice to keep in your clutch. You will be eating, drinking & talking all night long, make sure to re apply! Also, eyelash glue (if wearing fake eyelashes) might be nice to have handy since some happy tears might make an appearance. -Jenna
What is a big makeup no-no for wedding days? A big Makeup No-No in my opinion is people forget to listen to their skin first. If your skin type is oily and you go with a glowy foundation, the end result of wearing a glowy foundation on top of oily skin for 14+ hours is that it will almost melt off…not kidding haha! I also feel that keeping in mind you will not only be wearing this makeup all day long, but also for pictures. Please test your makeup in all different lightings, angles & flash photography! -Jenna
Tayler Before & After
How do you practice some self-care? Each day I say to myself three things I am grateful for. I also journal a lot. -Tayler
Should I bring a Pinterest board to a trial run? I don’t exactly ask for “Pinterest boards” , but a photo for reference is nice to have to get an idea of what you’re going for. -Jenna
Why are you so passionate about makeup? Because it’s a beautiful art form. For me, every “canvas” or person I put makeup on is different. No one has the same face shape, eye shape, skin color etc: so I like to challenge myself and see how I can transform or enhance your own natural beauty. Don’t take makeup too seriously!!! At the end of the day it washes right off. -Jenna
For anyone who says that makeup is just used to impress other people, what would you say to them? Girl BYE! Makeup is not only a form of expression, but it’s an art form. Life is way too short to be worrying about why Becky draws on her eyebrows too dark and wears purple lipstick. Stop worrying about how other people dress, do their makeup or hair! Be yourself. -Jenna
What has been your favorite part about working with brides? Ahh! I absolutely love my brides!! Your wedding day is such a special day and I can’t believe I have the opportunity to be a part of it. It also keeps me excited for my special day sometime in the future. -Jenna
Thank you to our incredible, beautiful, strong models: Tayler, Lisa & Maggie (& Millie!)
You can find more information on Jenna & her services at Makeup By Jenna
& a special thanks to Lisa for all our behind the scenes footage!
Venue: Lake Affect Studios
