DC Wedding Makeup Artist | Bridal Beauty: Before and After 101

I had the honor and pleasure of working with a beautiful Bride this weekend in Arlington! It's amazing how just 5 months can make you feel as if you have known them forever. Bridal makeup gives a personal peek into the lives of the Bride, because doing some one's face is often a 'private' space. This is someone that is trusting you with their face, and most times your judgement. So, I take so much pride in building relationships with my Brides, as well as giving them the ultimate treatment in makeup.

Here are a few pictures of my Bride this weekend (her before and after). I will also give you a rundown of the products I used

FACE

Foundation/Powder:

Black Opal Foundation Sticks

(I can never go wrong with these sticks, I always find my shade)

MAC Blot Powder

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish for contouring

EYES

Eyebrows; 3 different MAC eyeshadows and Cappacino and Medium Brown pencil

(set with MAC Clear Eyebrow Gel)

Eyeshadow; Face Atelier eyeshadow in peach color and bone, Yaby Cosmetics eyeshadows in crease

Lined with Bobbi Brown Eye Gel in Black; lashes, and tons of Waterproof Mascara

CHEEKS

My favorite go-to's MAC Blush in Slave-to-Love, and Raizen, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Blush for highlight

LIPS

MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl, and a cappacino penicl, Sheer burgandy lip gloss on top

(the key was to make her lips neutral so touchups could be a breeze)

When I tell you she was flawless. She was flawless, the pictures doesn't do justice.. She said she had been getting microdermabrasionso her skin was very smooth. It made a huge difference with the application, and the foundation went on ultra smooth.She had the most beautiful weather I have seen for a Bride, and I know her Wedding Day was spectacular!

Kelley Epps-Woods, Beauty Writer

Beauty Before & After...

I've been gone way too long! When I thought things wouldn't get busier it did... Between photoshoots, consultations, and events, time just flew past me. I have to admit I'm still catching up from the inauguration. :/

Nevertheless, because of some recent request of before and afters, I wanted to share one I did for the BET Honors a few weeks ago.

I can't say how much I enjoyed doing her face, because as a makeup artist we love the perfect symmetry of a face. Especially for contouring, and highlighting.

For her face I used alot of some of my newest addictions I have shared with you before... like My MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powders.. I used 4 different kinds on her to highlight in the areas I wanted to stand out, and the darker powders for the contouring, and a color close to her complexion, buffed in to perfection to give her a healthy glow.

For her eyes, I kept it neutral, and added 2 sets of Ardell Lashes. I used a pair of full lashes that was close to the length of her natural lashes, and then I used a pair of flaired side lashes to elongate her eyes...
To highlight her eyes and brow bone, I used YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Highlighter, my new fav.

Even though it took me like an hour to do her face, it was so well worth it!

DC Wedding Makeup Artist | My weekend of Consultations..

Hello Guys, I so apologize.. it has been really hectic over the past weekend, and the week. I had several Wedding Consultations for next years Weddings and just have been swamped with Beauty Reviews.
I'm also in the midst of revamping my site, and I cannot wait! I use to get so many request and rave reviews for my before and afters... and I actually will post on my new site..

Here are a few from my weekend Consultations. They are glowing!!

(My focus for her: her pearly whites ;-); blue-toned mahogany lipstick made her teeth even whiter! Will be great for her Wedding photographs)

Another Before and After for 09' Bride

(My focus for her: her beautiful eyes;-); I used a Vanilla shadow just on the insides of her eye to start the lengthening process. A bit of shimmer was placed in the inside corner's of the eye. Then I used a medium brown shadow, starting in the middle of her crease and blending to the outer end of the crease; and last I used a darker burgundy/brown just on the outer edge of the crease and down under her eyes. This gave her elongated beautiful defined eyes!)

"...For every Bride that sits in my chair, I take a minute to scope their face, and see what qualities and features are their best. Once I know that, I build around their best feature, whether it's their eyes, lips, or great cheeks. Every Bride has something special. And the key to my makeup application is to enhance their look, not take away. There is something special about working with Brides. There is always something different, never a face the same ;-) "

Source: All makeup and pictures by FaceModeBrides

Kelley D. Epps-Woods