Melissa's No-Makeup Wedding Makeup at Rust Manor Farm

Melissa knew exactly what she was looking for when it came to wedding makeup. In short, she wanted makeup that was natural, glowy, and something that would make her feel like her best version.

-Hi there! I'm Olivia and I help brides feel like their best self in the most comfortable way. My hair and makeup style is natural, authentic, and inspired by soft glam. I'm located in Baltimore and Connecticut, and serve the East Coast from Virginia to Massachusetts.

What Melissa Requested

Melissa said that she wasn't the best at putting on makeup everyday- and this is why she was drawn to my style! Additionally, she shared, "everyone [on your page] just looks so natural ... they all look different but you do a good job highlighting everyone's features without it looking like there is a ton of stuff on."

From my understanding, Melissa appreciated the natural looks of most of my brides in my portfolio: lightweight foundation to cover any blemishes but still look amazing in photos, gentle eyeshadow, natural strip or individual lashes, gloss, etc.

What Does Natural Makeup Actually Mean?

Many of my brides come in saying they are looking for some sort of "natural makeup." However, natural makeup can mean a variety of different things. For example, I had one bride recently who loves a full glam eye but dislikes the feeling of foundation on her face. We ended up tightlining her eyes with a black eyeliner- I know- a lot, right?!! But I promise you it looked amazing :))

At the preview, I created a classic natural wedding look for Melissa. Lightweight foundation that still covered any blemishes. Light contouring and a well-balanced blush to look great in photos and in person. Natural, fluffy lashes that would enhance her green eyes.

On the right is a photo of her makeup preview!

To me and many brides, this look is considered natural. To some brides, it might not even be enough makeup!

Throughout the preview, I always encourage feedback. Melissa and I talked more about her look and she shared that she wanted something even more natural. She shared that "less is more" is what she was going for. Less foundation, less eye shadow, less lashes, less lip pigment.

As we talked more about her look, I was coming to understand that she was really looking for "no-makeup makeup."

The Wedding Day

On her wedding day, we had a thorough conversation before starting any makeup application. I assured her that I would start very lightly and we could always add more pigment if she wanted. I also gave her the mirror to hold so she could reference and provide feedback as needed.

Her wedding day makeup was still natural, just a different version of "natural"! I applied products with a very gentle hand and at the end, I was able to convince her to do some individual lashes. The finished look is below!

The Wedding Photos

One of my favorite parts of the bridal process is seeing the hair and makeup in photo sneak peeks after the wedding! What goes through my mind during this is, "I hope she liked her look... will her makeup look good and showcase well in photos? Did the hair stay put all day?... I hope the wind wasn't too intense..."

Below are some photos from Melissa's special day. I think Melissa looked stunning but what made her even more beautiful was that she was happy and completely comfortable in her look all day! She just looks so effortlessly glowy!

Natural Makeup Key Takeaways

My intention with this blog post is to encourage you to go for a no-makeup makeup look if you are already thinking of it! Don't let anyone convince you otherwise! Other takeaways:

• "You need more makeup for it to show up in photos," is the biggest myth ever

• You can have makeup that feels comfortable, looks like you in person, and shows up great in photos

• The right makeup artist can enhance your features in a way that is lightweight yet still show definition in photos

• Clarify and talk through with your artist whether you'd like a no-makeup or natural makeup look

For more validation, here is Melissa's thoughtful review that she left for me just a few days after her wedding:

As someone who never wears make up, Olivia did an AMAZING JOB at making me feel 100% confident and like myself on my wedding day. We did a hair and makeup trial and tweaked things from there on the day of - she knew how important it was that I still recognized myself. It was a humid day and so even through the heat and dancing all we all looked great at the end of the night; couldn’t recommend her enough!

All in all, communication and collaboration are key to looking and feeling your best so I invite you to view this blog to read more about that. If you are thinking of a natural or no-makeup makeup look, I encourage you to inquire so we can chat and brainstorm together!

Vendor Credits

Planning: Leigh and Co Events

Venue: Rust Manor Farm

Photography: Alyssa Rae Photography

Dress Shop: Mary's Bridal Shop in Annapolis

Hair and Makeup: Olivia Lo Makeup Hair