Cost Difference Between DIY Makeup and Hiring MUA

The total cost of buying all the makeup and following/practicing with a professional makeup artist on youtube/tutorials/lessons is approx. $485.00 and that includes EVERYTHING. Down to the often expensive brushes.

My MUA is driving an hour and a half to do only my makeup. I don't see why they'd say no to only doing the brides makeup. IMO this is something to leave to a professional. I did my own makeup for a friend's wedding recently and about half way through the night my oil made an appearance and my mascara started smudging! When I had my trial with my MUA, it lasted more than 24 hours AND I was outside in 103°s for 5 hours doing our engagement pictures. I wouldn't risk it on the day of your wedding.

Have you done a lot of research for artists in the area? That seems extremely high for makeup costs. $350 per person is outrageous. I'm paying $40 per bridesmaid so I really think you should look around a little more. Maybe see if you have a beauty school in your area. Students usually charge a fraction of the pros and are just as good.

I personally am against doing your own hair and make up for a wedding unless you're a pro yourself. I think it's just too much stress. Those photos will be around forever. And $500 is also a lot to put into make up for you to do yourself. I just don't believe there's no cheaper option.

I had MUA in Connecticut, and bride should be $150 tops! And bridesmaids should be about $55-65 per girl. See if you can find a team that does hair/makeup so that you can bundle. If not, then maybe go to a local salon with your girls the morning of the wedding. I was in another wedding in CT, and they opened early for us, we could bring mimosas and breakfast. They didn't even charge us for opening early because they make so much money off bridal parties!

Keep shopping I'd say , those prices are crazy!!

I don't know what makeup artist you are researching but all of those prices are outrageous and not normal. I would definitely keep looking around. Doing your own makeup will definitely be cheaper but that is the last thing I wanted to worry about doing on my wedding day.

Your MUA and DIY prices both seem really high. You don't need ridiculously expensive brushes to do your own make-up. Nor do you need brand-name products. You just have to find the ones that work for your skin type and tone. This could even mean *gasp* using drug store brand products. If you're trying to save money, I'd say that you're being way too extravagent. I DIY'd my make-up and while I had a bunch of products already, most of them were drug store brand or Mary Kay, and I I spent definitely less than $200 from primer to eye liner. (New stuff I actually bought cost me less than $75). That probably included nail polish and top coat, too.

Yup this is the cost of the products from the makeup tutorial from soup to nuts. As for doing more research on hiring a MUA, I will take everyone's advice! So far, this has been what I have found in my dealings with initial telephone calls to Makeup Artists who travel. I have use of the bridal suite at my ceremony and reception venue for 2 hours before the actual ceremony begins. I am just bored and panicking on my 1st day of unemployment and looking for ways to compare. I hear you all on it though ... doing my own makeup on my wedding day is not something I ever dreamed of. A lot can change in the new year. Hopefully, I won't have to go this route. It almost isn't worth it! With the cost of the products (by going along with the youtube tutorial) is a lot, and by the way, most of the products on the list are relatively inexpensive, its just she uses a LOT OF PRODUCT - different products to achieve the look. I have to relax and stay positive. I will have a makeup artist.

I scored some amazing make up brushes for only $55 for the set...id shop around if i were you. as for the products, im sure she uses a lot in the tutorial but that may be for her face and skin type....you may not need every last detail that you saw in the video. take the summary of the look and choose the products you'll need, not the products she needed. most tutorials show concealers, foundations, powders, liners etc that you dont need to use to achieve a damn near similar look.

I couldn't find one for cheaper than a few hundred either, so I'm opting to do my own. I had most of the products already though, and just needed to get a few extras, like primers, setting spray, better mascara... I may have used this as an excuse to just get really nice makeup haha! I spent about $100, but I also bought a Naked pallet which I didn't really need, but really wanted.

I've never had my makeup professionally done, and while it would be nice to be pampered, I can do a full face (eyeliner, shadow, mascara, primer, concealer, foundation, powder) in about five minutes, so I'm really not stressed about it.

My girl friend is obsessed with make up so she is doing ours and has all the stuff necessary. We just need to get my color of foundation. Also, I just did my own make up for my boudoir pics and showed my BFF, she asked me where I went to get my make up done!

$350 + for makeup is crazy!! I found someone who would travel to me, and do makeup for $80 a person, including me, and the trial is only $54. So for 4 people on the day of and my trial, and tax and gratuity my make up is only going to be ~$460. I think you can definitely find someone cheaper. Also, $485 seems crazy for all of the supplies. You can get smaller make up sets for under $70 of professional primer, foundation and setting powder. Also, have you thought about getting birchbox or ipsy or something similar to get higher end samples that you could potentially use?

Lots of makeup artists will do only one person at a time. I would ask your venue who they recommend as they might know someone who is in that area and doesn't need to travel. As far as the bridal party I would get a count now of who is interested in getting makeup/hair done and have them pay for themselves if they want the service.

First of all, sorry that you are unemployed, I know how it is.

On to the makeup. I agree that doing your own makeup and hair on your wedding day is not ideal. Its a special day, so it should be special. Not only can a Pro's makeup last longer, the lash extensions will drive you crazy if you did it yourself!

If you do want to save money, I suggest going to Sephora or MAC and getting a makeover and then just buying a few items.

As far as MUA goes, that's prety unheard of that they won't drive unless there's more than one face to do. My MUA would be perfectly fine with travelling just for me.... . I'd keep looking for a MUA . Also, there is nothing in the rule book that says you have to pay for your bridesmaid's makeup. Of course if you're not going to be paying for it, you do need to give them notice and tell them, AND you have to be okay with them doing their own. That is exactly what I'm doing.

It's $65 for bridesmaid's makeup or $110 for both their hair/makeup (my artist does both) , with 5 'maids thats an additional estimated $500, which I don't have... I just let them know the costs and told them I am perfectly fine if they do their own makeup/hair. 3 of my girls decided to go with my makeup artist, 2 will do their own (well one 1 is getting her hair done by someone else). You shouldn't feel like you have to pay for your bridesmaids' makeup/hair. However, if they MUST use your girl, then you do have to pay... if that makes sense..

If you do want highend makeup, check out motivescosmetics.com/socialmall Professional quality at MAC or lower costs. Plenty of sets available to save money on the individual stuff..

I'm doing my own makeup, so the cost is Free 99. Also, ELF cosmetics has decent brushes and they are very inexpensive. They often run a special on them, I think I got mine for $3 for a set of brushes when they were having a big sale, it came with the carrying bag and everything. I have a few MAC brushes, but would never spend that type of money again, as I've found comparable brushes for way less.

Since I do not have any BMs, it's just going to be me getting my hair & makeup done. I found a salon that has a package for hair & makeup & trials for 270, which doesn't seem too much. On-site MUA seem to demand more then one person, so you may have to travel to a salon to get it done. Good Luck!

Where in MA are you? I found a couple of good MUA that are reasonable prices that I can send you

I agree with LadyMonk, Silan & ThefutureMRSZ. I did my own makeup with my own over the counter products. I just really couldn't justify spending a ton of money on makeup, but to each their own, it just wasn't that important for me. I had a makeup trial and it cost a ton and I just hated how long it took and how little coverage the airbrush gave me. The pictures are just of my bridesmaid pretending to put makeup on me, because my photographer wanted to get these shots, but in the video you see me doing it myself. http://vimeo.com/110931938

There are some amazing beauty gurus on youtube that will show you bridal looks using drugstore makeup. The makeup is also something you will be able to use for other events and for everyday use at work. Glamlifeguru is getting married this year and is vlogging her wedding planning. She shows high end and drug store looks.

Do you already wear makeup? I am doing my own, and am using mostly my own stuff (which are brands I know work for me) but plugging in a couple of specialty things like waterproof liner. Luckily I already wear Smashbox primers, powder and bronzer, so it's made for photos.

Eco tools brushes are cheap and awesome.