Some brides warn me at the trial, almost apologising: they cry easily and they are certain to cry at the ceremony. It is the most natural thing in the world, and the makeup is prepared precisely with that in mind.
Which makeup runs first when you cry
A tear starts in the eye and runs down the cheek, so the first things it meets are the mascara, the eyeliner and the under-eye area. That is where unprepared makeup runs and leaves a mark. Then, if you dry your face with your hand or a tissue, what comes away is a little base from the cheek.
Waterproof mascara and eyeliner made to resist tears
Every product I use is waterproof, and the eyes are where that shows most. Mascara and eyeliner withstand water without running, so a tear passing over the lashes does not drag the colour down the cheek.
A base prepared and sealed to withstand emotion
The other half of the work is in the skin. Throughout the service I prepare it thoroughly so the makeup grips it, and then I seal and set it with a process designed precisely for moments like these. A well-sealed base can take a tear running over it, and the skin is still in place when the ceremony ends.
Why waterproof makeup is not completely cry-proof
There is one nuance, though, that I prefer to explain from the start. A waterproof product is designed to resist water, and tears are not just water: they also contain sodium, that is, salt. So waterproof makeup holds up remarkably well, but it is not completely tear-proof, and nobody can guarantee that nothing will show after a very emotional ceremony.
The touch-up after the ceremony
If something does show after the ceremony, it is almost always a small detail: a little shine or some colour that has lost intensity. That is what the touch-up kit is for, with your blush, your lipstick and blotting papers, and with it you restore your makeup in a couple of minutes, before the photos with the guests.
