The Dreaded Makeup Overdose: Don’t Let It Happen to You

For those of you who have never participated in theater or made any appearances on television — and therefore missed out on the glorious opportunity to experience layers of pore-clogging makeup caked on your face — a wedding might be one of your first opportunities to have your makeup professionally done. Like a spa day, an hourlong massage or drinking a giant pitcher of beer to stay warm at the Winter Classic (sorry, hockey fans), it’s a fun indulgence that should be, well, indulged once in a while.  You feel glamorous, or possibly just like you’re playing dress-up, but at the least like you deserve an invitation to the Golden Globes. Who doesn’t want to hang out with Channing Tatum while looking entirely fabulous? But I digress. The point is, as anyone who has ever visited a MAC counter knows, makeup makeovers can be lots of fun!

Better to look like your normal self than try to hide your “dramatic” blue eyeliner in the shadows.

HOWEVER. The thing to remember about makeup artists is that, unlike butchers or salad bars, you are not paying them by the ounce. You probably already have a flat fee with them for the day, so there’s no need to let them talk you into trying extra fake eyelashes or this new really fabulous bronzer. Your wedding day is probably not the best time to be a foundation guinea pig — unless you’re marrying one of the contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, in which there’s no chance you’ll be the most heavily made-up person in attendance.

The point is, you know yourself better than your makeup artist (unless it’s your mom). If sparkles aren’t your thing, say so. If you absolutely hate how lipstick looks on you, say so. If this is the first time you’ve worn makeup since your college graduation, there’s no need to start guessing which colors of eyeshadow will work best on you. Stick with what you know, and don’t let a stranger with professional familiarity with color palettes take over your entire face. Yes, he or she may be an expert in makeup application, but you’re an expert in your face, and that’s the most important thing here. You do want people to be able to recognize you in your photos, don’t you?

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