Ever gotten your makeup done, only to think “Who the hell is that?!”

Because wtf, I have! It was the kind of makeup look where I wanted to go home and wash off. Let’s just say I haven’t had the best luck with other people doing my makeup for the past decade.

Whether the makeup artist misunderstood what I meant by the natural look or just plain assumed I needed a fuller lip, I was not impressed. This time around, I was determined to break the cycle of mediocre makeup applications.

Here are some mistakes I’ve made when hiring makeup artists (so you don’t have to repeat them!):

1. Basing Who You Hire On Their Portfolio Alone

There are a lot of beautiful makeup portfolios out there but ask your potential makeup artist (MUA) this: Do you have experience working with Asian features?

MUAs are typically trained in Western makeup application first. They have to take additional courses to learn how to effectively apply makeup to Asian features (e.g., double eyelid tape, anyone?).

I learned this from talking to my MUA! When I looked at her portfolio, I focused more on her pictures of Asian brides. This was how I gauged if her makeup style was something I can see myself wearing.

2. Not Asking About The Products They Use

MUAs are not your local Sephora. They have specific go-to products that they’ve used on clients and loved. This is what forms their makeup arsenal.

You need to ask what these products are, because the last thing you want is an allergic reaction!

MUAs who have experience with Asian clients will tend to incorporate Asian-made products into their makeup kit. Call me bias, but I find that K-beauty/ K-makeup work better on me than say… MAC, which consistently breaks me out.

3. Following Trends And Ignoring Your Natural Features

"Trendy is the last stage before tacky." - Karl Lagerfeld

You want your wedding makeup and hair to look timeless, not dated. Opt for a style that flatters your natural, Asian features!

Don’t be one of those girls my MUA talks about who goes for a style that ages them or doesn’t suit them, just because it’s trending.

4. Just Asking For The “Natural Look”

This one actually took me a long time to figure out. I kept asking these MUAs to give me a slightly elevated version of my day-to-day makeup and none of the looks were working for me.

Turns out a natural, defined look by a Western MUA is very different from an Asian MUA. (I’m not going to go into too much details but differences in eyebrow shape and eye makeup/ blush/ lipstick application do exist!)

So instead of just asking for that natural look, here’s where a picture is worth a thousand words. Share your Pinterest Wedding Makeup Board with your MUA and get specific! Discuss the photos of Asian brides with similar facial features as yours, and make sure she/he sees what you're seeing.

5. Forgetting About Makeup For Outfit Changes

Traditionally, Asian brides will wear their qipao for the tea ceremony and change into their white dress for the ceremony and reception.

Let your MUA know about any outfit changes! This gives her/him a chance to change up your makeup to complement the wedding outfits, or you can decide together on a versatile look that will go with all your outfits.

(I’m keeping my eye makeup fairly simple and only switching up my lipstick for the tea ceremony.)

6. Skipping The Makeup Trial

For your peace of mind, do not skip the makeup trial.

Trials give you an opportunity to try before you commit! If you don’t like how something is applied, this is your chance to to make changes before your wedding day. Make the small investment now to avoid unpleasant surprises later.

7. Skipping Your Skin/ Hair Prep

Makeup is not magic! Uneven texture is really tricky to cover up. You need to pull your weight too!

Have a smooth and hydrated base for your MUA to work with by drinking water, keeping your skin hydrated (throw in a few face masks weekly), and exfoliating 2-3 days before your makeup appointment.

My skin is less prone to flaky, dry skin ever since I switched over to Korean skincare products. You can read more about my skincare routine here.

8. Forgetting Bridal Accessories At Your Trial

My MUA encouraged me to dress up, and bring my favourite makeup products & hair accessories to the trial.

I’m glad I did! This gave me a better picture of how my bridal look would come together before the actual wedding day.

9. Having Too Many Moving Parts

Consider hiring an artist who can do both your makeup and hair.

It’s likely that you are already coordinating, scheduling, and juggling other wedding vendors. Why not do yourself a favour by narrowing down the number of people you have to manage? #morepeoplemoreproblems

10. Wasting Your Makeup Trial

Seriously, go take photos afterwards.

Whether you have an engagement shoot scheduled after your trial or you’re just taking a few pictures for IG, don’t skip this step. Sometimes you’ll love how your makeup looks like in person and not so much in photos!

Hope this Bridal MUA cheat sheet helped! Finding a MUA who you vibe with can make getting ready really fun!

Drop me a comment if your bridal makeup causes your future hubby to go into minor shock when he sees how amazing you look! Subscribe for more wedding content and as always -

Happy planning!