I was initially excited to work with Etoilly Artistry for my bridal makeup, as their Instagram and Facebook portfolios showcased stunning work. Although the price was quite high—$4...,000 for myself and three others—I believed the investment would be worth it for such an important day.
However, my experience fell short of expectations.
A week before my wedding, I had to adjust the start time from 8 AM to 9 AM, which resulted in an additional $95 charge, despite already covering the makeup artist’s hotel stay for an early trial run. While this seemed excessive, it was not the most disappointing part of the experience.
I worked directly with one of the company’s owners, who was my assigned artist for both the trial and the wedding. When I presented her with inspiration photos, she commented that they looked like "Halloween/drag makeup." I had also requested a red lip, which she dismissed immediately. When I explained that I didn't see many brides on their Instagram who resembled me (I am Mexican), she was insistent that they had worked with Latina women—though, after browsing their feed, it required considerable scrolling to find any examples.
The makeup trial left me feeling disappointed and unsettled. I had requested a bronzed look, winged eyeliner, and a brown smokey eye, but was given a heavy-handed application with black eyeshadow and no winged liner. The foundation didn't match my skin tone and felt overly thick, as though she was unsure of how to work with my complexion.
When I tried to express my concerns, the artist became defensive, claiming that I didn’t know what I wanted or how to properly describe it. I became overwhelmed and stepped away in tears. It was my mother who eventually stepped in to try to smooth things over. While the artist did attempt to redo some of the makeup, the results still left much to be desired.
On the day of the wedding, my bridesmaids kindly stepped in, purchasing products from Target so I could do my own makeup. While I asked the artist to still handle our hair and the bridal party's makeup, the situation was awkward and uncomfortable. I have included comparison photos below of my makeup and hers from the day prior.
While Etoilly Artistry's portfolio is impressive, my experience left me feeling disappointed, frustrated, and questioning their ability to work with diverse skin tones and styles. I am Latina btw.