Why I am Cruelty Free and Vegan Friendly

A few months ago I was invited to write a blog for The wedding bubble - a luxury wedding wedding planner based in the Midlands about the reasons I am a cruelty free and vegan friendly MUA, I hope you like it!

When I came into the makeup industry six years ago at the age of 31, I had no idea it would end up being my career but I did know that it was going to be the start of something very special and potentially life-changing. Makeup has always played a big part in my life from a very young age as I struggled with cystic acne so often turned to makeup to mask my severe imperfections. Going into my 30’s and becoming more confident in my own skin, I naturally gravitated towards wanting to help people who have encountered similar problems. I never realised how many people are so self-deprecating and self-conscious about their skin and appearance until I came into this industry, which is why I feel so grateful I can help people shift their way of thinking and feel amazing about themselves, especially on one of the most important days of their life.

In 2016 I turned vegetarian and eventually went Vegan two years later. My first love in life has always and will always be animals so it felt right and a totally natural transition. I had been in the industry for a few years, working with big names brands like Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder and MAC. I’ve always been an “all or nothing” person and post going Vegan, it was incredibly important to me that I aligned my personal beliefs with my professional ones. I knew that the company that I was working for didn’t have the right ethical stance and something just started to sit uncomfortable with me about being part of the organisation. My decision to leave felt like it had come at the right time as I wanted to grow and develop my wedding business which I would have complete creative control over and grow a brand which encapsulated all that I believed about modern makeup whilst delivering an ethical message.

I not only wanted to create a unique wedding business offering a high end service to clients who are seeking a more natural and modern approach to their wedding makeup, but also to educate and show people just how easy it is to switch to good ethically aware brands. Cruelty free makeup means that at no stage in the production has the product or ingredients been tested on animals, nor have they paid a third party to do this on their behalf.  Animal exploitation in the beauty industry is continuously being exposed as time goes on, however I found that a lot of people are still not aware of what makes a brand not cruelty free, as the confusion lies with the fact that animal testing has been banned in UK and Europe for many years. The grey area is that although this may be the case, brands (such as Estee Lauder, MAC, Chanel, YSL, NARS to name a few!) can choose to sell in countries like China, whereby law it is mandatory to test on animals before selling the products to the public. I have carried out a lot of research and really invested some time looking into brands and products to be able to offer the best advice and be an ambassador for companies which I personally believe have the right principles.

There are some AMAZING companies out there all flying the flag for cruelty free and vegan friendly as times are evolving with more and more people becoming conscious of what they are eating, looking after the environment and being more ethical with their choices. It’s wonderful to see these businesses thriving and creating a positive name for themselves however It’s important to mention that unfortunately there are companies like Unilever, Loreal and Estee Lauder who are exploiting the growing trend and are claiming that some of their products are “Vegan friendly”  to entice customers even though their company is anything but ethical. If in doubt there are some great websites I trust such as Cruelty Free Kitty and Ethical Elephant where you can do a quick check!

The rise of Vegan friendly makeup has been huge but the question I get asked the most is “Do the products last?”. There are many preconceptions about vegan makeup, some fear that they will be lacking in something or just not have any longevity, but in my opinion the truth is that the performance of the product is in no way compromised but actually improved. The biggest selling point of makeup and the key benefits which has no animal derived ingredients is that not only are they less harmful but in most cases are Paraben, gluten free and Talc free which is great if you have sensitive skin, eczema, roseacha, acne or if you are celiac.

The brands I absolutely swear by are not only mainstream brands but are great quality and my clients absolutely LOVE them! I get asked time and time again what I used so I believe the quality speaks for itself.  It's heart-warming to find so many brands choose to not test their products or ingredients on animals and a handful of those brands are 100% vegan too. These and many more are all integral to making a change in the future of makeup production and below are a few companies both high end and high street which I personally love!

Charlotte Tilbury, Bare Minerals, Urban Decay, Hourglass, Tarte Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverley Hills, Becca, Morphe, Too Faced and Revolution

I am super proud to be one of the only Cruelty Free makeup artists in the West Midlands and I do feel a sense of joy when clients connect with that side of my business! The wedding industry is forever evolving and changing for the better as more and more suppliers who are driven by positive changes and principles are becoming increasingly on the map. I regularly get contacted by ethical planners and suppliers who reach out because they are searching for companies who are actively being eco-friendly, sustainable and cruelty free. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a part of forward thinking and evolving industry.

I always wanted a company which felt right ethically but also ensuring that it doesn’t alienate anyone as I truly want to help people regardless to what they believe. I thrive on being a positive soul, super helpful and making people feel comfortable and confident. I’m lucky to have some incredible testimonials from brides who have had the best experience with me. I truly love what I do and I feel eternally grateful to be able to call this my job!

10 ways to make the most of your bridal makeup trial

J S Coates Wedding Photography

As a Bridal makeup specialist, I have spoken to many brides (as you can imagine!) and you won’t be surprised how many times I hear the same re-accruing concerns at the trial stage. For most this is a completely new experience and naturally won’t know what is to be expected and how to best prepare for getting the most out of the trial stage. It’s also not uncommon for me to speak to brides who have already had a trial and found the experience uncomfortable leaving them feeling underwhelmed and misunderstood by their artist. Knowing what to expect at a trial and what you know about your makeup artist is equally important as the big day itself so I wanted to compile a list of ways for you to get the absolute most out of the experience and talk you through how I do things so you know what to expect!

1)  Lets Talk!

I know, it’s one of those things where some dread conversations over the phone, but for me scheduling a time to talk properly before anything else is an absolute prerequisite. It’s very likely when you initially make an enquiry it will be roughly 6 months to a year (or sometimes more!) before you are getting married so having that initial conversation is paramount to feeling confident with the process ahead of you. Exchanging emails doesn’t always lead to an open and honest discussion about how you feel about having your makeup done so first things first, lets talk! You will quickly find that I am an easy going, laid back and an understanding person and I appreciate that this is all new to you, so no question is a silly one for me. This is the perfect time to be completely honest about how you are feeling about your wedding day makeup, what your concerns are, where you feel you may need more information and more importantly, to have a conversation where you are going to feel completely confident, more relaxed and feel like you have been listened to.

2)  How close to the wedding day should I have my trial?

I have tried and tested many timescales in my time as a Bridal Makeup artist and I have found that 3-4 months before your wedding day is the ideal time to have your trial. There are a number of reasons why, for example around that stage you’re more than likely going to have most of the details of the wedding ticked off like bridesmaids dresses, flower consultations, location where you will be getting ready, hair stylists and photographer and most importantly, the wedding dress! This is all going to help you create an image in your mind of how you want your wedding makeup to look. You are also less likely to forget what your wedding makeup looked like if you have it closer to the time which is key with final dress fittings etc.

3)  What time of day is best to have the trial?

I always recommend doing your trial in the morning between 9.30am – 11am. It seems early but there is method to my madness. I recommend you wear it for as long as possible as I heavily rely on your feedback as to how the makeup wears throughout the day. It must last from morning through to the late-night dancing AND still look just as fresh as what it did when first applied. Makeup also looks different in various times of the day and lighting and when it has had a chance to settle into the skin so I prefer to try and replicate the same time as you would potentially have your wedding makeup done on your wedding day.

4)  Have someone at the trial who you trust!

I ALWAYS recommend having a close friend or family member or your bridesmaids at your trial. It will not only help you feel comfortable and relaxed, but they will be the most honest with you about how you look and be able to give constructive feedback if they feel something isn’t right but equally keep you feeling reassured throughout the process. Personally, for me I love having others there at the trial. It helps to create a fun atmosphere and gives me the chance to meet your nearest and dearest who are likely to be there on your big day.

5)  Bring anyone who isn’t sure about having their makeup done.

This on links to the last point but I often find that there may be reservations within a couple of the Bridal party including Mothers of Brides which can make it hard for the bride to decide what is best and whether to include everyone or not. If there are one or two who really don’t know/feel comfortable with having their makeup done, then meeting me and watching me apply the makeup can often put their mind at ease as they will quickly realise that I don’t trowel on the makeup making them feel a lot more comfortable with making the decision!

6)  Come to your trial with your makeup on.

I know that a lot of people feel that coming with a bare face will save time however there is plenty of time to take off makeup and cleanse the skin which I do anyway before any appointment begins. For me, seeing you with your daily makeup is the most important part of visualising and creating your perfect wedding makeup. As you will know, my passion is to be able to deliver a natural Bridal look which still looks like you but at your absolute best. Your wedding makeup will always be more than your everyday makeup but to see how much you wear is absolutely paramount for me to understand what your comfort zones are and what “natural” means to you which I can guarantee is completely different from one person to the next.

7)  What information to have ready for your trial.

As it will have been a while before since having the initial phone conversation, a lot of the details may have been altered or changed and if so, these will be the things we shall discuss so together we can build a picture of what your morning will look like.

-          You “getting ready” location

-          The time you’ll be allowed into the dressing area if it’s at a venue

-          Your time of ceremony

-          Photographer

-          Have pictures of your wedding dress (the most important!)

-          Swatches/photos of your colour scheme

-          Pictures of your bridesmaids’ dresses

-          Images of what your flowers may look like.

Having this information will really help me get an understanding of the overall look and theme of the wedding which is imperative to creating wedding makeup which will compliment your dress and the feel of the day. This is also key as I will be discussing your bridesmaids’ makeup look too so having an idea of the colour they are wearing makes this easier to decide what will look the best.

8)  Stay true to your style.

Inspirational Images are great to give you some ideas about wedding makeup looks but ultimately really think about if what you are looking at will suit you. I have mentioned in previous posts that a lot of images are highly edited and photo-shopped and that makes them less than ideal as realistically they are misleading. However, they are great to know what colours you like and for hair inspiration too, so I still recommend looking, but just remember to stay true to your own style! I have said before, but it is incredibly important to keep reiterating that there is no right or wrong to how you should look on your wedding day except to look and feel like you! This about how much makeup you wear, the things you like doing and the things you don’t, for example, do you wear mascara on your bottom lashes? If no then don’t be talked into it by anyone that you must on your big day!

9)  Try and get your wedding hair appointment on the same day

Now, this isn’t always an easy thing to arrange so if you can’t do this then it’s not a deal-breaker but often it’s useful to see your hair and makeup look done on the same day. Trials can sometimes be a little overwhelming especially with makeup because it will always be more than you wear on a daily basis so having your hair done too can instantly put you in a different frame of mind, help you to imagine how it would look on the big day and help you to see if there are any changes you would like to make.

10)  Don’t worry if you change your mind!

I make sure we discuss it all properly before we do your makeup, but you won’t know until you have it done. My job is to get it right and that means tweaking things which you weren’t sure about at your trial. Often after wearing the makeup for a day and seeing it in different lights you’ll have a better idea if it’s right for you or not and if there are any changes you would like to make.  Depending on your feedback I will always make sure that it’s listened to and make the necessary changes to help you feel confident. It’s your big day and your opinion matters so if you change your mind about anything it’s not like having a bad haircut where you can’t change it, there is a solution to everything!

This service is all about you so for more advice or for further questions please don’t hesitate to contact me!