Ask the Expert...Carissa Passerella

Every bride wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day. We asked our 'go-to' beauty expert, Carissa Passerella with Carissa Beauty for a few of her wedding day make-up tips. Carissa is the master mind behind the incredible blog Hooked on Beauty and is also the Beauty Expert for WalMart. Carissa is on the cutting edge of all trends, is a leader in her field and is an all around fantastic person to spend time with! We love her and know you will too!

1. What is your best tip for finding a wedding day make-up artist?

Investigate them the same way you would any other vendor. Make sure they offer a trial run and see what they’re using, especially for foundations. If they’re using lines like MAC or Bobbi Brown, move on. I use lines that are truly for professionals, stuff you’ve never heard of like Kett, Kryolan, Koh Gen Do, Eve Pearl, Graftobian, and two different lines for airbrush makeup too. Lines like this are made for photography and offer the best looking coverage. Foundations aren’t the only important part, but it’s a good barometer to see what the rest of their kit offers.

2. How should brides get gorgeous pre-wedding skin?

Plenty of water and watch the alcohol intake especially on rehearsal night. I’ve met with so many girls who have zero dark circles and perfect skin which is all shot after too many cocktails the night before the wedding- and looking fresh isn’t something makeup can help. Get a facial if your skin looks congested, but you can probably just get by with being faithful to a good exfoliant. Sloughing off old skin clears the way for new vibrant skin which will look gorgeous in pictures.

3. Why should brides hire a professional make-up artist?

For the same reason you hire a hair stylist, you probably can do it yourself but the professional result is so much better. Girls who don’t wear makeup especially need a Makeup Artist because they don’t know the tricks to ‘no-makeup makeup’ so they either completely over-do it thinking they need ‘more color’ or they wind up looking pale because they didn’t use enough. More than amount used though, it’s the products themselves that makes it all worth the fraction of your budget to hire an artist.

4. What is your tried and true go-to product?

La Femme eye shadows

5. False eyelashes – yes or no?

Absolutely. I have an arsenal of lashes that fit all eye shapes and lash lengths. What I use isn’t detectable in person and most grooms can’t even tell. It’s the best way to dress up your eyes without adding color, they’re the natural girl’s best friend.