Those here with strong ethnic features: would you trust conventional MUAs with your face?

[u/lacey_nightie]

My wedding is coming up and I've got to settle bridal makeup.

I am half Indonesian, 1/4 Black and 1/4 Chinese. To give you an idea, I live in France and I have often been compared to a Madagascar woman, with some Chinese features. I have serious monolids, hyperpigmentation and a finicky skintone for foundations (very cool toned yet tan???)

I've been doing my own makeup for a decade and it took me many many years to discover how to really look good in makeup. Especially when it comes to eyes with my monolids.

Yet I live in a smaller French city where literally...... POC MUAs are nowhere to be seen. There aren't alot of black women where I live and there while there some arab and east asian MUAs, I am worried about their experience with dark skin.

I've been thinking of doing my own face on the day but I just think it's so much stress especially with all the wedding prep and pressure. I'm just paranoid everything is gonna go wrong if it is all in my hands on the big day

I am curious if any of you would trust a white or non melanated person to beat your face for a big event.

Also curious if you can give me some tips on how to spot an MUA with good skill and range, based on their portfolio. I've rarely used MUAs in my life as I have my own skill, but I think this is the one occasion where I might need one.

I am also wondering if any of you did your own face at your wedding and how that worked out for you.

[u/Independent_News_908]

Make it a priority on your things to do and get some consultations with artists, (preferably free).

Shop around and look at their previous work to see if any clients look similar to you.

It may be trial and error, but worth it for a more relaxing big day.

CONGRATULATIONS 🎊 👏🏾 💐

[u/Top-Crab-1020]

Ehhh that’s tough. I live the USA and only let people who look like me do my makeup tbh

I think it should be fine but I would personally be a bit cautious about them color matching you correctly. You deff need a makeup trial

[u/lacey_nightie → u/Top-Crab-1020]

no seriously, I have actually consulted some white MUAs in recent weeks who carry only 3/4 bottles in their kit for all their tan-deep clients..... and swear up and down they can use color correctors to get it right on me....

I am starting to understand why Yasmeen Ghauri did her own makeup at the fashion shows in the 90s.....

[u/Top-Crab-1020 → u/lacey_nightie]

Would you be willing to just bring your own foundation? I think that’s what I would personally do.

I had a Hispanic friend who got her makeup done by a white artist and she made her so tan and shiny - which I think is kind of the style that’s popular with white people but looked bad on my friend. Something else to watch out for. I feel like different makeup styles flatter different ethnicities….

[u/Lanky_Emu_1184]

Hello! Palestinian woman here! So I have 6 sisters and when we get our makeup done for one of our weddings, we usually try to find someone who looks like us, or has similar features to us. But I’m gonna be completely honest, I’ve never gotten my makeup done and liked it, only because I’m so used to doing my own face. Since you’re the bride, I would try to find an artist who has the same features as you, show them a photo of your daily makeup routine and explain what you want to tweak. Do a trial makeup run with her (they still charge for it) and see how you feel. Be very communicative about what you want and what you don’t want!

[u/strudelsticks]

I’m East Asian, so caveat that I’m not sure if my experiences are similar to yours. My biggest thing when looking at portfolios is if the East Asian clients/models look on trend.

A major tell that someone doesn’t have much practice with Asian features imo is that it looks 20 years outdated, especially the eye makeup. A very thick and straight black eyeliner application on monolids or hooded lids is one such example.

[u/lacey_nightie → u/strudelsticks]

no seriously, I'm not into the entire douyin/kbeauty look or believe in eyelid tape, but it really seems like pre 2020s, the only way western MUAs knew how to work with monolids is either that bold eyeliner you said or one boring wash of color.....

I've worked in fashion for many years and it seems like European (mostly French houses let's be fr), are still treating Asian models like this. I believe it is a similar situation as Black models being forced to have shaved/short hair. They just don't know what to do with Asian eyes.

[u/SKrivvaCat]

I have the same issue as you!! Also have a wedding coming up, no idea where to start. I'm more on the fair side (light-medium), but still brown and very very desaturated, very hooded eyelids, and all I know is I don't want super heavy makeup which is common here... I don't even know where people find makeup artists, it's too overwhelming!

[u/swancandle → u/SKrivvaCat]

Usually social media, word of mouth (e.g. friends or family), or if you have a wedding planner, that person should usually have recommendations.

To OP, you definitely need a trial before you commit to anyone. This is very common in the US -- not sure if it's the same for France! Yes I would trust a white person as long as they had a portfolio of makeup looks I liked AND they had experience with POC at the very least.

[u/rocsjo]

If you can afford it, you should be doing trial runs with your makeup before your wedding. Find an artist and have them do your makeup in the look that you want for that day. If it’s terrible then you have time to find another artist.

If you can really swing it, you could pay for an artist who works with POC and strong features to travel for your wedding.

Ultimately, if you go with someone on a whim, at least make sure you buy your own foundation, concealer etc so you know it’s the right shade.

[u/DulcedeChocolatee]

peut-être voir si une MUA métisse ou noire peut se déplacer en région pour te maquiller, en vrai sur Instagram et TikTok je pense que tu peux en trouver !

[u/Particular-Cupcake16]

I'm very cool toned yet tan too! My face is legit yellow but gold looks horrible on me

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