Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • August 28, 2013 Professional makeup artists can add a lot to weddings Have you ever had your makeup profes- sionally applied? Apart from a trial applica- tion at a department store makeup counter, many women likely have no experience with professional makeup artists. While one may not hire a makeup artist for everyday events, a wedding is an occasion that often warrants the expertise of a professional. Many brides-to-be and their attendants book the services of a hairstylist to achieve beautiful wedding day hair but may not find it necessary to enlist the services of a makeup artist, figuring they can apply makeup effectively enough. However, a makeup artist has a wealth of information in makeup application, and knowledge of what looks best under the lights and flashes of a camera. For those spending several thousand dollars on professional photogra- phy, an investment in a makeup artist can help ensure the faces smiling back from the photos look their best. Hiring a professional who understands how makeup reads in a photograph and how it looks in everyday light can help any bride put her best face forward. It also takes away some of the stress of readying for the wedding day. Many do-it-yourself brides do not use the right products and can end up looking washed out in photographs. Brides, especially those who typically do not wear a lot of makeup, may not know how much to apply, resulting in a lackluster finished product. Here are a few reasons a makeup artist can prove invaluable. He or she can pinpoint your best fea- tures and highlight them. As an unbiased observer, the makeup artist will not see your flaws, but rather will look at your best assets. A makeup artist knows that the bride wants to see herself and not the makeup. The professional is creating the best version of the bride. Makeup artists use tricks of the trade to enhance or camouflage certain features. They have an intimate knowledge of high- lighting and shading, and can “sculpt” the face by applying makeup. A professional will know the products available and be familiar with which for- mulations work best on all types of skin. A makeup artist will have many products and tools at the ready, reducing the need for the bride to shop for all the makeup essentials. There will be a trial run with a makeup artist. The bride and the professional will have the opportunity to try a few differ- ent looks and decide on one. Do-it-yourself brides sometimes leave makeup decisions to the last minute and really do not have a game plan the day of the wedding. A professional can advise on the right tone. A common mistake made by do-it- yourselfers is choosing the wrong shade of foundation. Brides may end up looking like a pasty vampire or someone who has spent too much time in the sun. A makeup artist can help find the right shade and blend it in so there are no apparent lines from the face to the neck and décolletage. A makeup artist can get those tricky false lashes to look natural. Lush, full lashes really get eyes noticed, but many women are unsure of just how to apply false lashes. Lashes may be part of the makeup artist’s insider tricks, and he or she can apply them so no one knows they are not real.