Wedding Makeup That Feels Like You: Tips From An All Star Makeup Artist {MY INTERVIEW WITH LOVEPOP}

Wedding Makeup That Feels Like You: Tips From An All Star Makeup Artist

Written by Sarah Lessire

Bridal makeup everything! We were thrilled to interview makeup artist Claire Balest on her superpowers, the big names she’s worked with and her views on what makes women beautiful. Claire is on a mission to make all of us realize just how gorgeous we really are and, well, it’s working.

Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get into makeup?

As a 4 year old I was obsessed with all these magical things my mother had on her bathroom dresser - lots of shiny, black palettes and these gorgeous mulberry colored lipsticks. I told everyone I was going to be a “lipstick seller” when I grew up. I believed that if everyone loved lipstick as much as I did, I could sell hundreds of lipsticks a day standing on a street corner. While I didn’t actually end up selling lipstick on a street corner, I think it’s so incredible that my 4 year old self knew the path she wanted to pursue!

Any superpower you are known for?

That’s quite a label! But I would say I am gifted at highlighting a woman’s natural beauty. I have a considerable number of clients who are actually afraid of makeup and want a really natural look. (Everyone has had that one horrible makeup experience that makes them forever fearful of having someone do their makeup.)

As an artist it can be challenging to hold yourself back from what YOU think would make someone look beautiful and instead choose what would actually make HER feel beautiful. I always tell my brides, you want people to say, 'She looks gorgeous!' NOT 'Look how gorgeous her makeup looks!' That’s a fine line to walk, and I think it’s a gift of mine to walk it well.

What are some of your favorite looks to create, and why? Nude & natural, full-blown glam diva, classic, retro?

For brides I enjoy doing the natural and classic looks a lot, but then it can be really fun to have that client that wants to do the unexpected, which is inspiring and fuels your creativity beyond the ordinary. I had one bride who had this Great Gatsby styled wedding, and we did this bold 20’s makeup look for it and it was just so much fun to see it all come together.

We love what you say on your website about your time at Bobbi Brown and how the brand “teaches women to celebrate and play up what they love about themselves, instead of focusing on hiding what they don't”. How are you continuing to instill this message in women?

Working for Bobbi Brown was incredibly influential to me. Bobbi completely redefined the way I see women, the way I see myself. I would say this has become my platform, so to speak. I can’t touch a woman’s face and not communicate some part of this message to her while she’s in my chair. I am constantly pointing out to my clients what is beautiful about them, which is the opposite of what they’re in the habit of doing, of course. No one focuses on what they love about themselves, they focus on what they don’t love, right?

You can’t see beauty and be critical of yourself in the same moment. You choose one or the other. No matter her age, every client who sat in my chair would begin pointing out what was “wrong” with her, what she needed to have “fixed.”

When I realized how very much time is wasted on disliking ourselves, on speaking negatively to ourselves about our appearances, I couldn’t stay silent anymore. It’s like the Beauty Gospel. I have to spread the word. So instead of camouflaging what they DON’T like, I teach women to play up what they LOVE about themselves! If you think your lips are too thin, wear lighter lipstick and play up your eyes. You tell people where to look with makeup. And if you highlight what you love about yourself, others will see it too.

What is the one product that you put on all of your brides?

I’m known for the lashes I do on my clients. I only use individual lashes, never strips. It drives me crazy when I can see a bride has on a strip of lashes, it looks so unnatural to me. Individual lashes look like you just have incredible lashes, and they make everyone feel really beautiful. I also always use a waterproof, long-wear cream shadow base on the eyelids of all my brides. This makes everything I layer on top of it long-wearing as well. Brides need their makeup to last a LONG time, so I make sure that what I put on their faces is going to take them from the first look to the dance floor into the morning hours!

What's your favorite wedding makeup you've ever done and why?

That really is terribly difficult to pick a favorite! But if I have to... It was a November wedding. She wanted very simple, understated makeup, but wanted to make a statement at the same time. I kept her skin clean and fresh and used this winterberry lip color on her lips and cheeks, that made her look as if she had just come in from the cold. And her eyes are just stunning: they stand out but you don’t really notice the makeup, you notice the bride. My favorite kind of makeup. Soft definition on the eyes and lots of lashes. I think this look is just perfectly timeless.

You’ve also done a lot of makeup for TV and theater... Did that work influence the way you go about bridal makeup?

Not so much... The bride is my client when I am doing bridal makeup, but on set I answer to the directors and producers. That being said, I think all of my experiences have informed how I relate to my bridal clients. It can be a very vulnerable place, being the center of attention, having so much pressure on you, so many eyes on you, it makes a lot of women extremely self conscious. I suppose in that regard, the talent on set and brides have somewhat similar struggles. I feel like my job is to put my clients at ease and make them feel their best, so that they can do their job (whatever it is that day) well. Depending on how I care for my clients when they’re in my chair, I believe it can affect how the rest of their day plays out - either their performance or their confidence and experience of their wedding day. It’s a great responsibility to touch someone on their wedding day. I don’t take that lightly.

What do you think the next big bridal makeup trend will look like?

I would love to see bridal makeup trends swing back to the basics : clean, gorgeous skin, and a more natural look all around. As I said before, people need to see the bride, not the makeup! Softer, less sculpted eyebrows. A movement away from heavy contouring. I think the rise of makeup tutorials flooding the internet has caused trends of heavier makeup altogether. The fact that contouring has become something every woman thinks she is supposed to be doing on a daily basis is just insane to me. Subtle contour is great for sharpening softer features, but I just don’t care for the mask-like makeup trend. Bring back natural beauty! I’ll help usher it in.

Find out more about Claire Balest:
Website:  http://www.clairebalest.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/clairebalest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairebalestmua/

Head over to Lovepop blog to see the interview and more at Lovepop, Wedding Makeup That Feels Like You

Anne & Philip - Blackberry Farm Winter Mountain Wedding

Anne and Philip's wedding, recently featured on Style Me Pretty, was one of my favorite weddings at Blackberry Farm - a place which, no matter the season, is an undeniably perfect spot for a destination wedding! This stunning, rustic Tennessee wedding, planned by Jennifer Laraia, showcased the winter mountain landscape combined with the bride's color palette of gorgeous neutral colors. Anne was such an incredibly happy and radiant bride, which is truly reflected in her photographs by Natalie Watson Photography. She loved makeup - and liked the idea of playing up her striking brown eyes, so I really brought the focus to her eyes with rich browns and long, black eyelashes. I allowed the cold winter season to inspire her lip and cheek color, using deep winterberry colors to finish her classic bridal look. 

Her Romona Keveza dress was so elegant, and so perfect for a winter wedding in the mountains! (And her Jimmy Choo shoes were out of this world!) One of my favorite elements of the wedding were the bridesmaids wearing Monique Lhuillier dresses wrapped in fur stoles, gifts from the bride to wear to the wedding. Such a perfect bridesmaid gift for the ultimate destination wedding! (and such a luxe detail to complement a cold, winter wedding!)

Anne and Philip - who truly looked like Prince Charming! - were such a delightful bride and groom, and the day could not have been more perfect with their sweet families surrounding them at the wedding! I loved some of the special moments captured : Anne's sister touching up the bride's makeup, Anne with her mother and sisters, and little moments between the bride and groom. This luxury winter wedding was full of fresh mountain air, warm fires, and stunning, unforgettable details!

Photography: Natalie Watson Planning: Jennifer Laraia Venue: Blackberry Farm Hair: Bangs and Blush Gown: Romona Keveza Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier Flowers: Whimsical Gatherings

RELATED POST: 3 TIPS FOR BRIDES WHO DON'T LIKE MAKEUP

3 Bridal Makeup Tips for Brides Who Don't Like Makeup

Photo Credit: Natalie Watson

I often have brides contact me about their wedding who confess that they’re “not into makeup” but know that they need to wear it for their wedding.  They experience a lot of apprehension about the process and are nervous about not looking like themselves.  My advice to you natural ladies : stay calm!  There is a makeup look for everyone. Here are my 3 wedding makeup tips for women who aren’t into makeup, and honestly, even those who are :

1. You need to wear makeup.

It’s your wedding day.  I know you say you don’t wear eyeliner on a daily basis, but this isn’t your usual day!  You’ve bought a stunning wedding dress and you're having your hair done; your makeup needs to look as special as the rest of you.

This doesn’t mean you have to be unrecognizable.  Lightly playing up your features will elevate your look from ordinary to extraordinary.  Adding some radiance to your skin and evening out skin tone will make you look flawless and dewey in pictures. Making sure your eyes stand out with a little eyeliner and mascara is so important; if you can be convinced to wear individual lashes, your eyes will be spectacular!  Framing your eyes by filling in your eyebrows will make a huge difference.  And a pop of blush on the cheeks and a soft, natural pink lip color will make you glow in pictures.

You hired a photographer to capture every special moment, you need to make sure your features are accentuated in them and that you feel gorgeous in the photographs - and it takes a little bit of all of the above to make that happen!

2. Make sure you have a makeup trial.

Doing a trial ensures that you and your makeup artist are on the same page and that you both know exactly what makes you feel beautiful - and what doesn't.  If you have makeup inspiration pictures or pictures of your dress, now is the time to share them.  This is where you consult, discuss options, where she gets to know you better and has the opportunity to show you what she thinks would be a good look for you based on all this information.

You want to be comfortable and feel like yourself, but now is also the time to experiment and allow her to maybe take you a little outside your comfort zone and try things you wouldn’t normally try.  Clients often end up surprised at how gorgeous they feel in something they might never have attempted on their own.

But generally speaking, your artist needs to listen to your likes and dislikes and make sure that the makeup is an authentic representation of who you are.  As I often tell my clients, I might think a red lip would be stunning on you, but if your idea of makeup is tinted chapstick, chances are a red lip isn’t going to make you feel beautiful.  So this is REALLY important : your wedding day isn’t about what your makeup artist thinks would be best for you, it’s about making you feel like the best version of yourself.  That being said...

3. Make sure you hire a makeup artist who listens to you and understands your style.

There should be dialogue about how much makeup you usually wear, what you like, particularly what you dislike, and just your overall thoughts about the wedding day look. If your artist is focused on you, she will take all these things into consideration.  Her job is to take your everyday look and elevate it to the most beautiful version of yourself.  This doesn’t mean there has to be an over-the-top amount of makeup involved.

The important thing is that you speak up when you don’t like something so she can adjust it.  If you don’t tell her, she won’t know!  It’s an easy fix.  Remember, it’s about you, not the makeup artist, so your voice needs to be heard!  This is why hiring someone who's makeup you like and who's work you identify with and gravitate towards is so important.  

So, don't be afraid to be a little picky! It's your day to feel the most beautiful, and your makeup artist should understand that and be willing to do everything in her power to make you feel that way. Check out some of my favorite bridal looks here in my portfolio, I'm always taking on new clients and would love to hear from you! Visit my contact page to get in touch with me, or leave a comment below!

RELATED POST: BLACKBERRY FARM WEDDING FEATURED IN MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS

Larkin & Eric - Blackberry Farm Wedding featured in Martha Stewart Weddings

Being a makeup artist is a dream job. Having your work featured in Martha Stewart Weddings is a dream...and this past fall I was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings! Larkin and Eric's absolutely stunning wedding at Blackberry Farms was featured in an 8-page spread in the November 2016 issue of Martha Weddings. And let me tell you, Martha picked an amazing one to feature.

This wedding was the perfect marriage of bridal simplicity and luxe detail. It was like a fairytale wedding hidden in the woods at Blackberry Farm. Everything about it felt just perfectly exquisite and celestial. Even Larkin's makeup - she wanted her makeup to be "ethereal," like a "woodland fairy." 

The flowers were magical. I don't know any other way to describe them. Amy Osaba made them just come to LIFE. 

One of the most breathtaking moments of the day was when I saw Larkin step out in her dress, designed by Pnina Tornai. I remember actually catching my breath when I saw her in it. It was positively the most striking wedding dress I had ever laid eyes on. The exquisite beading and the plunging back with its dramatic detail...it was otherworldly.

One of my favorite things about working on weddings at Blackberry Farm is how so many of the brides that come there hire the most talented creatives. They hire us to do what we do best, which means they don't usually control too much of the process, so everyone's creativity is just flowing and it all culminates in this incredible event. I love that. And Blackberry Farm itself is such a stunning venue, from the natural landscape to the animals meandering around on the farm, to every detail being top notch...it's the ultimate luxury mountain venue. 

Enjoy this peek into the wedding!

Photography: Natalie Watson Planning: Jennifer Laraia Venue: Blackberry Farm Flowers: Amy Osaba  Gown: Pnina Tornai, bought at Kleinfeld Bridal NYC Hair: Bangs and Blush Cakes: Magpies Bakery Bride's Head Piece: Maria Elena Bridesmaids: BHLDN Wedding Dresses Stationary: Ceci New York Calligraphy: Nicole Black Bouquet Ribbon: Froufrou Chic Table Ribbon: Silk & Willow Rentals: All Occasion Event Rentals Lighting: Bandit Lites

tending to the details{musings from a makeup artist to the bride}

Makeup is never one of the first items thought about when one becomes engaged.  The venue, the caterer, the photographer...these get checked off first.  Makeup tends to be a bit farther down the list when it comes to tending to details.  As a makeup artist, I've collected a somewhat random list of beauty odds and ends I think are important for brides to address as they're considering their wedding makeup.

The first item {generally remembered in a panic at the eleventh hour} is skin.  Brides need to think early on about a skincare plan.  Your makeup artist may be brilliant, but if they aren’t working with a smooth canvas, it's difficult to achieve a flawless finish.  Commit to a skincare regime months before the wedding day.  The one thing I desperately want my brides to be doing before we meet is EXFOLIATING {and hydrating...ok, that's two things}.  Whether it’s an at - home regime* or {my personal favorite} microdermabrasion treatments from a spa, brides really need to focus on smoothing and hydrating their skin long before a makeup artist shows up.  Not only will you absolutely love the way your skin looks and feels, but the makeup application will be flawless.  *{My personal favorite at - home treatments are Bobbi Brown's Buffing Grains + Balm Rinse {mixed together} and Philosophy's Microdelivery Peel.  They both leave your skin feeling deliciously soft and smooth.}

The next item on my list : LASHES.  I truly believe that every bride - whether she considers her makeup style to be 'natural' or 'dramatic' - should opt for lashes to maximize and amplify her look.  My go - to lash for weddings are individual lashes.  They look like real lashes {erase visions of drag makeup} but add polish and intensity without being over the top.  A few individual lashes on the outside of the eye will take your look from the everyday to the very special.  

Also - there needs to be someone designated to carry your lipstick / lip gloss who will actually remind you to use it when she sees you need freshening {the task generally falls to someone in your wedding party}.  I have to admit it makes me a little crazy when I see a bride in photographs who's makeup looks beautiful but who's lipstick is long gone.  It just doesn't look right - and of all days, this is the day a bride wants to look perfect - from the start of the ceremony to the final dance at the reception.  My personal recommendation is to designate a married friend this awesome responsibility.  My reasoning is this : other women who have been through the insanity of wedding planning and the craziness of the wedding day know and understand firsthand what goes into it, and tend to be a bit more locked on to the bride's needs than her single friends {no disrespect intended for the single gals, but y'all are going to be worrying about your own lipstick}.  So married friends are always my preference for delegating tasks that you don't want to be forgotten - and lipstick is definitely one of them.

Another important detail that is often forgotten : include a makeup artist in the rehearsal dinner preparations.  Remember that the entire weekend is special, not just the wedding day.  Even if your photographer isn't coming to the rehearsal {or especially if they are}, there will be many cameras flashing through the evening, and you'll want to look your absolute best as the spotlight will most certainly be on you the entire night.  Including a makeup artist will ensure you're camera ready for every photo, not just the ones taken on your wedding day.

Finally, the wedding day tends to be particularly stressful for the mother of the bride {especially} and the mother of the groom.  They’re wanting to look their best, but I sometimes notice {and am often told} they don't always feel important enough to put the focus on or pamper themselves.  That being said, having their makeup done always takes them from nervous and self-conscious to calm and confident, every time.  It's a gift I so love to give a mother : the ability to face such a big day with the confidence, polish, and assuredness that she looks and feels her absolute best.  Make sure you insist your mothers are included in the makeup lineup.  They'll thank you for it - especially when they see the photographs!  

It's all in the details, ladies.  Spend some time talking with your makeup artist about what you envision for your wedding weekend and {please!} remember to give your skin some attention long before the big day.  Follow these cues and you'll be flawless walking down the aisle...and thrilled every time you see a photograph from your wedding.