Expert Tips for Looking Picture Perfect on your Big Day

Are you a millennial bride-to-be, or someone who’s recently become engaged and is looking for expert tips on how to look picture perfect for your big day? Then you’ve come to the right place. Your wedding day will be one of the most important moments of your life captured in countless photos and videos-make sure it’s also one of the most beautiful! Whether this is your first time preparing for such an occasion or if you're a seasoned pro at getting ready for events, there are valuable insights to make sure every detail looks flawless in pictures. Here we offer some expert advice when it comes to planning your bridal beauty. So sit back and relax -there's no need for any pre-wedding jitters when we have all the bridal beauty secrets here!

1. It's important to find an artist or stylist whose bridal hair and makeup styles you gravitate towards, as you want to feel beautiful and relaxed the morning of the wedding. To do this, browse bridal hair and make up looks on Instagram or websites like Pinterest. Pay attention not just to their artistry, but also their communication style - for instance do they respond quickly and professionally? Do you feel a good energy when interacting with them? An experienced makeup artist that can create stunning airbrushed bridal looks might be just what you’re looking for!

2. During the wedding planning process, it is important to book bridal hair and makeup appointments as soon as possible. Depending on the popularity of weddings in your area, dates can fill up quickly; sometimes brides even book their hair and makeup teams a year in advance! Seek out professionals that specialize in bridal makeup - there are many talented stylists out there who offer airbrush makeup and hair styling services of all kinds. Don't worry, finding the perfect artist for bridal looks is easier than you think - communicate what you’re looking for, trust them, and they will work their magic!

3. Schedule a spray tan trial for 1-2 days before your bridal makeup trial. This will allow you to accurately assess how the tan looks with your makeup on. While spray tans are definitely popular for achieving that sun kissed glow, brides who prefer a natural look may choose not to apply them for their wedding day - and that's OK! It all depends on your individual preference and how you want to look in your bridal photos.

4. While it is natural to want to bring bridesmaids or family members along to your bridal trial appointment, there are several reasons why it might be beneficial to go solo. If you come alone you will be more focused on connecting with your artist and making decisions that reflect your true preferences without any pressure or influence from guests. Once you have chosen the perfect bridal look, then you can always ask for valuable opinions afterwards and if necessary request another bridal trial for a different look. Going solo will enable you to make a well thought out decision about your appearance and ensure you look beautiful on your wedding day.

5. Having skin in tiptop shape is essential to any brides' beauty plan. With regular facials and a skincare routine recommended by an experienced esthetician, you can whip your skin into the perfect condition for applying flawless bridal makeup or airbrush makeup for your wedding day. The better you take care of your skin leading up to the big day, the less makeup you’ll need and the more beautiful your bridal look will be. Make skincare part of your wedding planning process – it’s worth it!

6. When deciding on hair color, brides may want to keep their current look or make a change. It's also important to consider whether a desired style will require the use of hair extensions or not. These things should be decided with your hair stylist at least 2 months prior to the wedding day. 

Now that you know all the secrets to looking great in wedding photos, it’s time to put them into action! We understand how important your big day is, and we want to help make sure everything goes smoothly. That’s why we offer complimentary phone consultations where our team can answer any questions you have about preparing for your wedding. We’ll work with you to figure out a beauty game plan so that on your big day, all you have to worry about is saying “I do.” Contact us today to book your consultation- we can’t wait to chat with you about making your wedding dreams come true!

Photo Credit: Luckybird Photography

Soft Natural Airbrush Bridal Makeup and Down Hairstyle with Curls.

Makeup Sanitation & Safety

Here at Makeup by Amy Lewis & Co., makeup artists have one job that is more important than anything else. That is to keep you, our client, healthy and safe. With the recent concern of COVID-19, proper sanitation is more important now than ever once we’re able to get back to work! That being said, we know there are many artists out there that do not have correct sanitation processes in place (we’ve witnessed it or heard about it from clients and gagged!). Artists perform very personal services on many people and if we don’t follow certain protocols, we could easily contaminate our kit with bacteria and spread communicable diseases. Not something you want to risk especially during a global pandemic!

To give you peace of mind during this uncertain time, we wanted to let you know that our professional makeup kits and our workstations were and are ALWAYS clean and disinfected, even before this pandemic. While we have always practiced these safety precautions on a regular basis, we are, however, being more mindful than ever before. We thought you should be aware of our cleaning practices to give you peace of mind. Not just now, but in the future. 

Here are some things we do to keep you safe as our client: 

1. We wipe down all surfaces with 70% alcohol or disinfectant wipes before we set up our makeup stations. 

2. We wash our hands for 30 seconds before we begin your services. 

3. In addition, we use hand sanitizer as an extra step before we start services and in between clients. 

4. We use new, clean brushes on every client that have been washed in soap and hot water. No brush is used on more than one person.

5. We never double-dip directly into beauty products to avoid contamination. 

6. We always scrape, scoop, and dip products to a clean, disinfected metal palette or paper towel (one per client). 

7. We never apply mascara or lipstick/gloss on you right out of the tube.

8. When applying mascara or lipstick/gloss, we will always use new, disposable mascara or lip wands for each application, and we never double-dip. 

9. We sanitize all our tools, from tweezers to lash curlers, and wipe down all products before we pack our kit and after we complete a job. This keeps from cross-contaminating other products inside our kits. 

10. We regularly clean surface objects in the studio with a disposable disinfectant, as well as objects that are frequently used, such as phones, chairs, toilets, door handles, tables, counter tops, and cabinets. 

11. After every client, whether in the studio or at your location, we clean the working surface and always prepare a new, clean area to work on. 

12. From now until further notice, as a COVID-19 safety precaution all artists will wear a mask during services and we will limit the number of people permitted in our work area.

13. We will practice these same guidelines no matter where your service takes place.

In addition to these everyday steps, we are also being extra diligent to ensure that if team members are exhibiting any signs or symptoms of illness, we will remain home. Likewise, if you have an upcoming appointment with us and aren’t feeling your best, we will not be able to perform your service. Please email us at makeupbyamylewis@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to reschedule your appointment. We are waiving our 48 hour cancellation fee policy until further notice in an effort to do our part in the community. 

Finally, hair/makeup services have been banned until further notice so we will continue to closely monitor this developing situation and make necessary adjustments to our calendar according to state and federal guidelines. Thank you for your continued trust in Makeup by Amy Lewis & Co., and we look forward to seeing you very soon to help you look and feel your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email us.

Stay healthy and safe!

The Most Common Questions Brides Ask Makeup Artists

If you’ve never had your makeup professionally done before, you probably feel really overwhelmed by the process of searching for an artist you love and figuring out what questions to ask before booking your date. Here are the questions brides ask us most frequently!

What is airbrush makeup and why is it best for weddings?

If you haven’t tried airbrush makeup before, you’ve probably at least heard of it. What is airbrush and why is it BETTER? It is foundation sprayed through a handheld airbrush gun and applied to your face in tiny dots, which results in a beautiful effect. Airbrush foundation is not thick or heavy like traditional makeup can be and you won’t have any brush lines or cakeyness whatsoever. The formula feels virtually weightless and holds up well in heat and humidity with little to no touch ups for up to 18 hours, which is why our brides love it.

It’s important to know that not all airbrush makeup is created equal. There are different formulas, brands, equipment and techniques - so the quality and results can vary from artist to artist. For over 6 years, we’ve used a silicone-based formula that is water-resistant, tear-resistant, and sweat-resistant. The finish looks just like skin, so if you prefer more of a matte look with no shine whatsoever, it may not be best choice for you (don’t worry, we offer traditional makeup as well). Most of our clients choose airbrush makeup due to how long it lasts and how natural it looks both in person and on camera. Plus it feels really lovely when it gets sprayed on!

I don’t wear much makeup. can you still work with me?

We completely understand that you probably aren’t used to wearing makeup on a daily basis and might be a little anxious about choosing a look for your wedding. I personally don’t wear a lot of makeup myself but I know I need it for pictures, so what I like to do is create makeup looks that are fresh and polished but not too “done-up”. We will tailor the look to your own personal style by building light layers and soft tones. The goal is the bring out the best version of you, highlighting your best features while still letting YOU shine through - nothing too over the top. We want you to feel comfortable and confident!

How long does it take to do everyone’s makeup? 

Every artist is different, but we typically like to plan 30-45 minutes for each bridesmaid or mother and 1 hour with the bride for makeup. Timing could change based on the party’s makeup style, but very rarely do we ever run overtime. We also build in 15 minutes for setup and 15 minutes for tear down. Depending on the size of your bridal party and what time you need to be ready by, you may want several artists working at the same time. There is an additional fee to add a second artist or assistant, but this will expedite your service time significantly which is perfect for brides with larger bridal parties or only a short amount of time to get ready.

Do you travel onsite? 

One of the main benefits of hiring a makeup artist is the luxury of having them travel to you. You’ll save yourself and your bridal party so much time and stress by having a beauty team come to you instead of rushing all over town the morning of. Especially if it’s raining on your day (we sure hope not!)

When should I book you for my wedding?

Wedding dates are first come first serve and we tend to book out as early as 8-12 months in advance, especially during popular months of May through November. Dates can only be secured with a signed contract and 50% retainer. We recommend booking as soon as possible to have the best opportunity to secure your date.

What if some of my bridesmaids may not want their makeup done? 

We’re going to be 100% real with you - it’s YOUR day and they’re YOUR photos that you will share with your family years from now. If all of your bridesmaids have similar dresses and bouquets, doesn’t it make sense that their makeup and hair should look similar as well? What it usually comes down to is not that someone doesn’t want their makeup done (because who doesn’t want to look #flawless?) - there’s usually a budget issue involved. Alternatively, there may be someone in your party who thinks they’re great at makeup and doesn’t need a pro artist. The fact is, even if someone is very good at doing their own makeup on a daily basis, it may not photograph and last the way that it should throughout such a long emotional day. Plus, it’s a fun experience getting all dolled up with a group of girls!

The goal is for all eyes to be on YOU - not your cousin who decided today was the perfect day to wear her favorite dark purple lipstick. Makeup for photography has different requirements that makeup artists are trained to understand and manipulate. If the bridesmaids budget is the main issue for them sitting out on makeup, perhaps you might wish to gift them a portion of their makeup service? Many brides do this instead of giving a physical bridesmaids gift, and end up very happy with their photos.

We hope we’ve helped answer some of your questions! If there’s anything we missed, feel free to let us know in the comments or better yet- schedule a quick phone call with us. We’d love to hear about your vision and discuss how we can help create the perfect wedding look just for you.

XOXO,

Makeup by Amy Lewis & Co.

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Photo: Beth Joy Photography

Skin Goals: How To Get Pretty Skin For Your Event

Photo: Laur Nash

You want to look your best for a wedding or special event. That’s understandable! A lot of eyes will be on you, and you want to look incredible and feel confident. Of course makeup plays a big part in that, but makeup can only do so much. It all starts with great skin. The better your skin looks and feels, the better your makeup will look and wear. 

So how do you get the best skin ever in time for your event? Like most things in life, getting gorgeous, glowing skin takes some time and effort. I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the top skincare professionals in Toledo, Jody Light, who is a licensed esthetician and owner of the Skin Studio. She allowed me to experience derma planing and an O2 lift treatment and I’ve got to say- my skin has never looked better! 

Here are some of the questions I asked Jody and my takeaways from our time together. 

1. How soon should I start a skincare routine before my event? The sooner the better. 9 months to a year in advance would be the best case scenario. But if you don’t have that much time, it’s okay. Just start good skincare habits as soon as possible and make an appointment with an esthetician (a skincare pro that will assess your personalized skin needs). 

2. What do you wish more people knew about taking care of their skin? Three things. First, the little steps you do now will make a big difference in how your skin ages. Prevention is much easier than correction. What you do at home accounts for 75% of your skin health. Second, starting a skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive! Third, SPF is a must. The sun is the #1 thing that ages our skin. Use SPF daily mixed into your moisturizer to protect your skin.

3. What is dermaplaning and why do I need it? Dermaplaning is a treatment where a small scalpel is used to gently remove dead skin cells and facial hair (I call it peach fuzz!). I got to experience this myself in Jody’s studio and was really surprised by how much of a difference it made! The result is instant and I saw smoother skin texture and tone right away. I also noticed the fine lines on my forehead diminished. After dermaplaning, my skincare products and makeup went on much smoother too! If you’ve never had dermaplaning done before, you should try it about a week before your event. If you have tried it before, the ideal time to get it done before your event is 1-2 days. 

4. What if I don’t have a skincare routine? What products do I need? Four basic things: a cleanser (use it for 60 seconds rubbing your face with your fingers), a serum (customized for your skin type - ask your esthetician what your skin needs), a daily moisturizer with SPF, and an eye cream. 

5. What are your best skincare tips? Use SPF. Drink a lot of water. Never go to bed with makeup on - even one time will make a difference. Get a treatment 2-3 days before your event. Use a sheet mask the night before your event to wake up with fresh, hydrated skin. 

There you have it! Some of the best ways to get flawless skin and help your makeup look extra gorgeous for a wedding, prom, gala, party, etc.

For more information on how to reach your skin goals, reach out to Jody Light for an appointment as soon as possible- her calendar fills up fast! To make an appointment, call or text 567-225-0216 or visit theskinstudiotoledo.com . 

Toledo Makeup Artist Is Voted The Knot Best of Weddings Winner!

(Toledo, Ohio. January 1, 2017)—  We are pleased to announce that Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company has been selected as a 2017 ­­winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, an award representing the highest-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, the leading wedding brand and marketplace. 

In 2017, only 2% of the 300,000 local wedding professionals listed on TheKnot.com have received this distinguished accolade. These winners represent the best of the best for wedding professionals that a bride or groom would want to consider in planning their wedding. 

“We are thrilled to have been selected as The Knot Best of Weddings for 2017! It's been an incredible year and we are so honored to receive this stamp of approval that only the top 2% of Knot vendors receive. We feel so blessed to have such a great team and we’d like to thank each and every one of our makeup artists, as well as all of our wonderful brides. We truly couldn’t have done this without you! We promise to continue striving each and every day to provide our brides with the best luxury bridal makeup in Toledo!”- Amy Lewis, owner of Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company. 

Cheers to our best year yet!!

We Won An Award for Bridal Makeup in Toledo! Hooray!

Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company Wins

WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award for 2017!

Photo: Adore Wedding Photography

(http://adoreweddingphotography.com/)

                        Toledo, Ohio – January 11, 2017–  WeddingWire, the leading global online marketplace for the wedding and event industry, announced Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company as a winner of the esteemed 2017 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® for Makeup in Toledo!    

                        The Couples’ Choice Awards recognize the top five percent of wedding professionals on WeddingWire who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. The prestigious awards are given to the top local wedding professionals across more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their professional achievements from the previous year. 

                        The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients.

                        “The Couples’ Choice Awards’ ninth year features one of the most impressive groups of dedicated and acclaimed wedding professionals yet,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “It is our honor to work with high-caliber merchants, such as Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company, who not only make a couple's big day possible, but also contribute to the more than 2.5 million U.S. reviews represented on WeddingWire.  We congratulate all of this year's winners on their achievements.”                        

                        Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company is thrilled to be one of the top Makeup Artists in Toledo on WeddingWire. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We truly value all of our clients and appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn a 2017 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award. Thank you to each and every one of you who made last year amazing. We’re thrilled to be your top choice for Bridal Makeup in Toledo! 

To learn more about the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®, please visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.

Product Review: YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain

As a professional makeup artist, you can probably guess how picky I am about my lip products. I have tested a lot of them and yet there are still new ones launching every day. In fact, for my own wedding I must have tried at least 40 lipsticks, glosses, and liners! For the big day, everything has to be PERFECT. Brides want a great lip color that won’t disappear after a few smooches. The old favorite I settled on 3 years ago was one of YSL’s glossy lip stains in a peachy shade. The texture was absolutely divine, and I was obsessed. So when I found out that YSL was sending me their new Vinyl Cream lip stain to test out, my heart did a happy dance! 

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The lip stain comes in a gold box and when I pulled the lip stain out, I noticed that the packaging is a bit different from their other lip stains. The others typically have a gold top and black bottom with a clear strip showing the color inside and of course the iconic YSL logo on one side. This particular stain is entirely black with a clear strip and the YSL logo which I think is very sleek and sexy. 

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Application: 

When I first applied the lip stain, I noticed how creamy it is. As with YSL’s other formulas, it is a very wet application so I had to be careful not to accidentally overdraw my lip line. I loved how saturated the lip color was though! The stain is buildable, but you really don’t need more than 1 coat because it is so pigmented. 

Experience On Lips: 

The thing I love most about this lip stain is the way it makes my lips feel! The texture is decadent. Hydrated and bouncy. Tacky, not sticky. Since its called Vinyl, I expected more of a high-shine finish but this is just a regular glossy finish not unlike the YSL Glossy Stains. Since I love those, I’m not complaining. 

Wear: 

I was pleasantly surprised by the durability of this stuff! While it is not advertised as kiss-proof, it certainly is. I tested it out on my husband and while he did get just a little bit of clear “gloss” on him, absolutely no color transferred to him whatsoever. I wore this for 6 hours and it didn’t budge. When I went to remove it with a makeup wipe before bed, it left a little bit of color stained on my lips which I actually enjoyed. Long wear that doesn’t dry out lips? Vinyl Cream Lip Stain rocks!

(excuse my sad, fuzzy cell phone photos- they don't do this color justice)

Overall I give this product TWO THUMBS UP! The price point is kinda high at $36 a pop, but considering how decadent YSL’s lip products are and how long they last, it’s worth it to me. I will probably go buy a couple more of them for my kit. Plus the packaging itself just makes you feel fancy putting it on :)

I received this product complimentary for testing purposes. I assure you that my opinion is honest and was not influenced by the free gift. 

Until next time beauties!

XOXO,

-A.L.

Romantic Makeup for A Styled Shoot at the Toledo Museum of Art

We had so much fun at this romantic styled bridal shoot with some of our favorite wedding vendor friends! Photographers: Adore Wedding Photography, Bridal Gown & Accessories Boutique: Belle Amour Bridal, Florals: Ann Strickland for Bartz Viviano, Model Raynisha Nicole, and hairstylist Candy Summerskill all rounded out a rockstar creative team. All photos are from Adore Wedding Photography unless otherwise noted. 

So what happens at a styled shoot you ask? 

First, the team met in downtown Toledo, Ohio at Belle Amour Bridal. The owner, Michelle McCaulla expertly chose a stunning Allure Romance gown for our model Raynisha Nicole. Then, the makeup process began (because it does take some time to look effortlessly beautiful of course). 

Photo: Amy Lewis. A pretty mess. Toledo Bridal Makeup courtesy of Makeup by Amy Lewis & Company (Amy, assisted by Emily). 

Amy started with a rose water toner, and lots of moisturizer to hydrate Raynisha's skin. Then she applied some shimmery cream shadows in various mocha and gold tones, followed by smudging some deeper brown shadows in the crease and blending the edges to create a seamless effect. She ran a black liquid liner along the waterline to define the eyes, and added a full wispy false lash to really bring out Raynisha's eyes. Amy then moved on to some color correction, and custom blended the perfect concealer and foundation for her skin tone. A vibrant pink blush and just a touch of the ultra indulgent Pat McGrath Skin Fetish highlighter stick in gold on the cheek bones helped achieve a pretty, dewy finish. Amy selectively powdered as needed and touched up Raynisha's brows with a brow powder and pencil. She pressed a pink lipstick into the lips, added a swipe of mascara and sprayed the entire face with a setting spray. Emily helped keep everything organized and clean throughout the beauty process. 

Raynisha was ready to get her hair done by hairstylist Candy Summerskill. Candy carefully weaved in a gorgeous hairpiece from Belle Amour Bridal, and braided the rest of the hair into a lovely fishtail braid. We loved how great Candy's Oribe hair products smelled as they filled the room! 

Not to mention the intoxicating aroma from the bouquet Ann Strickland of Bartz Viviano designed for us! Those flowers smelled SO good, and they looked even more amazing. The anemones stole our hearts. 

Our blushing "bride" was ready for her close up with the expertly talented duo of Adore Wedding Photography (Loren & Mary Beth). We started shooting after a rainstorm had passed through the area, so everything around the museum was very wet and lush looking as the sun started to set. The light was absolutely dreamy! 

There you have it! We hope you enjoyed these photos as much as we did. Another big thanks to everyone who contributed to this shoot! If you like what you see here, please go show them some love. Until next time!

- XOXO Amy