Wedding Makeup Tutorial: Kim Katunas

Kim Katunis has been doing wedding makeup in Las Vegas since she started college 28 years ago. Every look she creates is special, and she thinks makeup is as important to consider as the dress when it comes to planning your special day.

“I hear this from brides all the time that they’re hugging people, kissing people, they didn’t even get a chance to eat. Everything’s going so quickly that what you are going to remember are the photos and the videos,” Katunis says. “You’re going to look back at those and that’s what’s going to bring back your memories of that evening. So, you want to look at those and say, ‘wow I looked amazing that day.’”

How to Create the Perfect Look

Katunis says creating the perfect look involves chatting with the bride long before the big day.

“I usually ask the bride for a couple inspiration pictures, it doesn’t have to be all that same look,” she says. “I usually ask the bride for inspiration pictures. A couple inspiration pictures, it doesn’t have to be all that same look.”

She says there are four main makeup styles: natural, soft glam, glam and drama. She usually recommends brides stay in the soft glam category.

“It’s important that you wear enough to stand out but not too much to where you don’t look like yourself,” she says.

Picking Photo-Friendly Foundation is Key

Picking the right foundation is imperative. Brides should pick one that is photo friendly and looks good in natural light.

“I think it’s important to have a great foundation, make sure it’s photo friendly,” she says. “Some of the foundations you would want to avoid for photography would be anything with a lot of minerals in it, sunscreen. They tend to leave a white cast on the face, which in the makeup world we call flashback.”

Go for Glossy Lips

Katunis says going glossy with the lips is also important.

“I like glossy lips. I feel like if your lipstick is too dry, it can translate in photos. That’s something hard for photographers to retouch,” she says. “So I think as long as it’s a creamy matte or a gloss, it’s good.”

Another lip tip? Don’t use glitter.

“One thing I have learned over the years is make sure that the lip gloss has no glitter in it. If the bride kisses her groom and she gets glitter on his face, glitter actually multiplies and it is really hard to get off so he will have glitter for the whole rest of the night,” she says.

Tips for DIY Makeup

Not everyone can afford a wedding makeup artist, so Katunis says some tips she gives for DIY makeup include doing what you normally do for a night out, but enhancing it. To be safe, and happy with the results, she says it is important to not do anything that is too far removed from your usual style.

“Wear your favorite lipstick, she says. “You know, maybe put on a fake eyelash if you’re able to. If that’s something you’re not able to do, just a little extra mascara. I think highlighter is really pretty, just a little bit on the cheekbones makes a huge difference. Make sure your products are waterproof, stay proof. And just make sure that you don’t do anything isn’t really your style.”