Sephora for wedding day makeup

I'm getting my makeup done there on Saturday for my engagement pics. You have to buy $50 of products or get a $50 gift card. You have no idea who you would get or if you'll like it so I think this is super risky. You could go once and then request that artist again but then you're already paying $100 so you might as well get it done by a salon...

eta: missed the part about living far away... idk I guess my response is that it's risky.

I wouldn't. You never know what you're going to get from Sephora- some of the people who work there are incredible with makeup and some can't even color match for foundation using the computer program. I don't think they are really set up to do this level of work.

I have heard of people using MAC for their wedding day makeup, so that may be an option if one is available in the mall near you. I would just look on WW or yelp and try to find someone. Would also highly suggest a trial. I had a trial somewhere that I thought would do amazing and it was just blah.

Eek. I would give yourself enough time to wash it off and redo it if you go that route. Seems too stressful to me to chance it. That being said, I live in a small town so I only have a sephora in JC Penney's. Everyone working there admits the lighting is terrible and they have had a very hard time matching me.

You could always call and see if anyone who works there is actually a professional MUA. If I were getting married locally I would have hired the woman who works in my sephora. She's amazing, when she has proper lighting. Good luck!

Oh and I've heard MAC is amazing but I don't have one of those anywhere close.

Can you not visit san antonio at least once at any time during the next year to have a trial?

I wouldn't. I saw a bridal party getting their makeup down at Sephora once when I was there and they all looked wayyyyy overdone. Not saying it's the case everywhere, but I would rather trust a professional who has been able to make an actual career out of makeup, not someone who just adores it.

The point about it being a legit MUA is important. I'm getting my makeup done at 11am for my 6pm engagment pics for fun. I want to buy new makeup anyway but I'll take it off if I don't like it. I wouldn't consider Sephora for my wedding day.

I got my makeup done at Sephora when I was in college and attending my cousin's wedding (which I had to travel to). The only makeup I owned at the time was some mascara; I just didn't like wearing makeup. My dad's family is fancy schmancy, and I wanted to make sure I looked the part (it was a black-tie $100k wedding in 2003) without spending a bundle. Sephora did a great job for me. For my own wedding, I wanted my MUA to come to me. The MUA I used also was the MUA for my friend's wedding three years ago, so I knew her work. Bonus is that this is a more of a hobby for her, and she donates the money she makes to Crones research (as she suffers from the disease). But I would not have had a problem using Sephora as long as I could do a trial run.

I'd suggest MAc or another dept store counter. Clinique can be good and Lancome. I LOVE Lancome's eye shadows! Ulta also does makeup. Again it's risky cuz you don't know what skill level your getting. The people at the makeup counters in dept stores might be able to give you samples also, like foundations.

I worked as a MUA at Sephora for 8 years (and I was/am licensed though that's not the norm)...the first thing is, they'll basically let anyone who is not busy touch your face, so on a day like you're wedding, I'm sure you'd rather have a little more guarantee and assurance that you won't walk out of there with blue eye shadow up to your brows loads of highlighter making you look like the tin man. If you have a MAC store or counter, I would definitely try there first.

If you do go the Sephora route, make sure you've called and scheduled ahead of time, tell them it's a wedding trial, not actually wedding makeup or they'll hate that--and ask for someone who is experienced and specializes in event makeup since it's applied differently than an every day look. Be prepared to spend money since they have a $50 in on products.

Another thought, is to call both MAC and Sephora (DO NOT DO ULTA), and see if they have artists that freelance and can put you in touch with them. This is what I did and booked a lot of weddings/proms/events, from people calling. This help because the artists make money (as they should, it's a service and they're spending their time on you), and frees up actual store/counter employees to do what they're supposed to...sell, sell, sell.

I didn't realize Sephora doesn't require its artists to be MUA. MAC is a great suggestion, I'm sure SA has several locations for me to try

I wouldn't. With the tight time frame of a wedding day, the last thing you want to do is go sit at a makeup counter so some random person can do your face.

Honestly, the difference between 'a lot of money' and a little money in this area of purchasing is minimal.

Get someone in to do your face at your location.

You don't know who you will get. If your not too picky , laid back, and a low maintenance I would say go for it!

Both Ulta and Sephora employ sales associates that learn as they go different brands and products. Sephora is a larger money maker for brands, so they spend more time, energy and money educating the associates. Sephora as a whole, invests much more a time, money and resources into training their employees and offer different levels of training and company certifications. Ulta doesn't really have that and mostly relies on training from brand representatives.

I did a trial at sephora yesterday and hated it. The girl did say that a lot of people there do event make up on their own time for extra money, so you can always ask for someone who does that and hire them if you like it.

But like it said, I went yesterday and hated it- the girl wasn't listening and/ or didn't care when I said I wanted a really natural look and she caaaaked on the make up. This picture doesn't even do it justice. I asked for "very natural, light makeup".

I wouldn't go to Sephora for any kind of formal makeup. They can't even color match the right foundation (at least in my experience) I would look for a professional who has a portfolio in Bridal makeup...you definitely have a little time you just need to find him or her ASAP

PS...No metter if you go to Sephora, MAC (only counter I would recommend), or wherever, make sure you bring a few pictures for reference. Make sure the pictures are of the same eye and skin coloring as your own so the artist can get a better visualization and has something to work off of rather than just stating "I want something natural..."

I'm getting my makeup done at MAC in the city I'm getting married in. I'm getting married 100 miles away.

If they're not licensed MUA's, I wouldn't do it on my wedding day.

I would suggest finding a local SA Facebook wedding group and ask for recommendations of some freelance MUA and look at their portfolios. Even being licensed doesn't guarantee good results. I went to 3 before I found one I liked. I would also suggest bringing our own foundation if you aren't doing a trial so you get a perfect match.

I would not

I agree with @el10717 I've had my make-up done at Sephora and it was a mess. I have a weird skin tone with tricky undertones since I'm mixed. The girl also really filled in my eyebrows unevenly. I adored when I had my makeup done at MAC. I had it done for a gala event for my husband's work and it was worth the extra trip. I ended up spending wayyyy more on makeup than anyone should but it was worth it!