Makeup by Quis is a San Francisco based luxury beauty makeup and hair service company focusing on bridal beauty. Some of our East Meets Dress customers have even used them for their beautiful wedding day look. We sat down with cofounder, Christina Chen, to get her hot tips for getting your bridal makeup and hair done right. 

1: How did you get started doing makeup and hair?

My aunt was a makeup artist and growing up, I would watch her show us her new Mary Kay skincare and makeup.  I was very intrigued by the world of beauty as it looked so pampering and luxurious. 

I took up my first makeup and hair course right after high school and started assisting at weddings and tv shows.  I would do special events during college part-time, but then pursued it more after college with a school for special effects makeup in Hollywood. 

From there, I started working full time as a makeup artist on film sets, at a circus, in fashion shows, f/x labs, and photoshoots.  However, when I moved to San Francisco in 2010, I got my esthetics license and started focusing on beautifying brides!

2: What are some tips for doing makeup for Asian brides?

Photography: Jasmine Lee Photography

We believe knowing each person’s features is important.  Regardless of whether they are Asian or not, every person has their own unique features, and knowing how to enhance their natural beauty to me is very important.  It’s also important to understand their standard of beauty based on their cultural background.  Not everyone has the same sense of beauty and that’s very important when approaching makeup for Asian brides.

3: What do you think is the most impactful part of the makeup routine?

Photography: Jasmine Lee Photography

Most of my brides like to focus on their eyes, and lashes are my favorite item to add dimension and intensity with. 

I love lashes so much that I've custom developed lashes with another Korean makeup artist friend using extremely thin banned synthetic silk lashes that mimic lash extensions.  They open your eyes up without weighing your eyes down with heaviness.  They're also designed specifically to look good with Asian eye shapes and sizes.  They will be released later this year from our brand, Menu Beauty. 

4: What is the most popular style for bridal makeup for Asian brides?

Photography: Laurie W

My clients often ask for a romantic soft glam look which shows up on photos, but doesn’t overpower their delicate features in person.

5: Any makeup tips when wearing a red cheongsam dress?

Photography: The Goodness Photo

Most of the time I would suggest my brides wear a bolder lip color as to not look washed out with the red dress.  However, there are plenty of brides who do not feel comfortable with such bold colors, we can still make them look good with the dress by focusing a little tiny more on the eyes.

6: How should a bride go about finding the right MUA for them?

Photography: Jasmine Lee Photography

They should first make sure they like the makeup artist’s portfolio as that is a great indication that your aesthetics are aligned.  Everyone’s definition of ‘natural/dramatic’ is a bit different. 

Personality is a huge one for me.  You should find someone who you enjoy being around.  Your makeup artist is the first person you see on the wedding day, and their presence/work standards can really affect your mood.  

Someone with experience would probably be fairly important, especially for women who are particularly concerned about their specific ethnic backgrounds.  You want someone who can translate your inspirations into something that suits your features. 

Lastly, budget is an important part of any wedding day, so inquiring about all the associated cost (e.g. travel fees/early morning fees) can help you budget accordingly.   

7: What do you recommend an Asian bride tell their makeup artist to get the right look for their big day?

Photography: Vicki Grafton

I typically ask for visual inspiration references from my brides.  A picture is worth a thousand words. 

It’s also important for the bride to distinguish whether they like the MAKEUP on the picture or the person’s look in general.  That’s something many people cannot figure out. 

Know that each makeup look looks different on different features, just as the same wedding dress will not look the same on every body type.  Provide guidance if there are styles you absolutely love and hate, but trust your artist.

8: What are some hairstyles you recommend when wearing a cheongsam dress?

Most of my brides choose an updo for the cheongsam.  It shows off the beautiful neckline and keeps it clean so you can focus more on the dress.  However, many brides are also not comfortable with their hair up so I think it’s fine with any type of hairstyle as long as she feels beautiful.

9: What are the most popular bridal hairstyles for Asian brides?

Photography: Jasmine Lee Photography

Many of my brides now are loving their hair half down.  I think it looks great for a romantic look, and many times, my brides are concerned with their face looking too wide in photos.  This is a great way to help elongate the face.

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About Makeup by Quis

Makeup by Quis is a San Francisco based luxury beauty makeup and hair service company focusing on bridal beauty.

Instagram: @quissy

Website: makeupbyq.com

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