Which 18th birthday makeup to choose
Your 18th birthday is a good moment to allow yourself more than every day, but the most beautiful makeup is the kind in which you can still see yourself. Most often I suggest one of four directions:
- Glow. Glowing, light skin, a peach or pink blush, shimmering eyelids and lip gloss. It looks fresh and youthful, and suits pastels and light dresses.
- Glam. Eyeliner, individual false lashes, sculpted cheekbones and lips in a nude or pink shade. Striking evening makeup that looks great in photos.
- A soft, smoky eye. Browns or plum blended with no harsh edges and calm lips. It suits black and simple, plain dresses.
- A pop of colour. Coloured eyeliner, a shimmer in the inner corner of the eye or sparkles matched to the theme of the party. A good choice if you love fashion and want something less obvious.
Bring photos of makeup looks you like, and even better, of ones you do not like. That is the quickest way for us to find your style together.
Young skin: less foundation, more freshness
At eighteen, the skin rarely needs a thick layer of foundation. Makeup that is too heavy adds years and looks like a mask up close. That is why I work in thin layers: I even out the skin tone and cover imperfections with concealer only where needed, instead of covering the whole face.
Young skin often shines in the T-zone and can be prone to breakouts. I mattify the forehead, nose and chin, and keep the glow only where it looks nice: on the tops of the cheekbones and above the upper lip. If you are being treated for acne or use cosmetics prescribed by a dermatologist, tell me before the makeup. The skin can be sensitive and dry then, so I will choose gentler products for it.
Your first makeup with a makeup artist
For many birthday girls, an 18th is their first time in a makeup artist’s chair. You do not need to know the names of techniques or products. We start with a short chat: about your outfit, what you like about your face and how strong you imagine the makeup to be. Then I do the makeup, and at any moment you can say that something should be softer or more defined.
It is worth setting aside about an hour for the makeup. Come with a washed face, apply just a light moisturiser, and pin your hair back so that it does not fall onto your face. If you are also going to the hairdresser, let us set the times so that you can get to both appointments without rushing. At the end I will show you how to touch up your lips and mattify your skin during the party.
Brows, lashes and skin: what to do in advance
A few simple steps in the days before your 18th give the best result:
- shape your brows two or three days in advance, so that any redness has time to fade,
- have brow tinting or a brow lamination a few days before the party, never for the first time on the day of your 18th,
- if you have lash extensions, tell me, because then I do not use oily products around the eyes,
- do not squeeze spots, because redness and a scab are harder to conceal than the spot itself,
- do not test new creams, masks or peels in the week before the party,
- drink more water and try to get enough sleep, because tiredness shows most under the eyes.
If you are having your nails done, choose a colour that goes with your outfit and lip makeup. In photos with the cake and a glass, your hands are visible more often than you might think.
Makeup for your dress and the party theme
Your outfit suggests the makeup colours. A few tried and tested combinations:
- Pastels and white. Glow, a peach blush, lip gloss or pink lips.
- Black. The most freedom: a smoky eye, a bold line of eyeliner or red lips.
- Red. Lips in the same tone as the dress, or neutral lips and stronger eyes.
- Silver and gold sequins. Metallic eyeshadows in the shade of your accessories and calmer lips.
- A jumpsuit or a suit. Clean skin, a defined line of eyeliner and lips that give the whole look an evening character.
If your 18th has a theme, for example glamour, the 1920s or a two-colour dress code, tell me when you book. I will match the makeup to the theme so that it does not look like a costume.
Restaurant, home or club: light changes makeup
Where your 18th takes place matters for the makeup. In a restaurant or a banqueting hall the light is usually warm and dim. It warms up the complexion and softens colours, so the makeup can be slightly more defined than in daytime, especially the eyes and lips.
At a party at home or in a rented house, the guests are close and the light is often mixed: lamps, fairy lights and candles. Makeup that is polished up close, with soft transitions and natural-looking skin, works best here.
In a club or a venue with coloured lighting, the face changes colour every few seconds, and soft shades simply disappear. A bold line of eyeliner, more defined lashes and lips that do not get lost in the dim light look better then. Tell me where the party will be when you book, and I will match the intensity of the makeup to the place.
The cake, sparklers and phone photos
At an 18th, photos are taken all evening: with the cake, with every guest, in the photo booth and with phones in a dark venue, often with flash. This kind of light flattens the features and weakens colours, and any shine on the skin looks like a greasy patch in a photo. That is why:
- I mattify the T-zone and use a powder that does not create a pale cast with flash,
- I slightly intensify the brows, lashes and lip colour, so that the face does not disappear in phone photos,
- I apply highlighter only in specific spots, because too much of it looks like sweat in photos,
- I make sure the face and neck are the same shade, because with flash the difference shows immediately.
When blowing out the candles and with sparklers on the cake, you lean over a flame. Keep hair that is heavily set with hairspray and false lashes away from the fire.
Dancing until morning: how to make makeup last
An 18th usually lasts several hours, in a warm venue, with dancing, hugs and toasts. To keep the makeup looking good at midnight too:
- I choose a primer for your skin type and set the makeup in layers and with a setting spray,
- I choose waterproof mascara, because with the wishes and emotions you never know,
- I use a long-wear lipstick or put a tint underneath it, so that the colour survives dinner and toasts,
- I apply individual lashes with a glue that holds until the end of the party.
Take the lipstick from your makeup, blotting papers and a small powder compact with a mirror in your bag. A minute in the bathroom is enough to look fresh again after dancing.
A photo shoot before the party
More and more birthday girls have a short photo shoot before their 18th: at home with balloons in the shape of the number 18, or outdoors. In Giżycko, good backdrops are the waterfront on Lake Niegocin, the walls of Boyen Fortress and the area around the swing bridge on the Łuczański Canal.
When planning an outdoor session, check the time of sunset. In December the sun sets in Giżycko as early as around 3:10 pm, and in June only after 9 pm. In winter the shoot is best done in the early afternoon, in summer during the golden hour before sunset. If the shoot is a few hours before the party, I will do the makeup so that it lasts through both parts of the day. You can read more about makeup for photos in the article Photo shoot makeup.
Makeup for your mum and friends
At an 18th, it is not only the birthday girl who wants to look beautiful. I often do makeup for her mum, sister or friends at the same time. I match the mum’s makeup to her features and outfit; it is usually more classic and elegant. Friends can have makeup with a similar feel, so that photos together look consistent.
With several people, I set the order so that the birthday girl has her makeup done last and has the freshest makeup at the start of the party.
Your date and booking
18th birthday parties most often take place on Fridays and Saturdays, so it is worth booking makeup a few weeks in advance. Giżycko is my main place of work. If you are getting ready at home or in a venue outside Giżycko, tell me where: I agree on travel individually.
In your message, give the date and the start time of the party, where you will be getting ready, the number of people who need makeup and, if you have them, a photo of your outfit and your inspiration. I will check my availability and prepare a quote; I set prices individually. I book the date once I confirm it by email or text message, and I do not take any deposit. You can read more about makeup for different occasions on the occasion makeup page.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book 18th birthday makeup?
Ideally a few weeks in advance, especially if the party is on a Friday or Saturday. Then it is easier to get a time that fits your hairdresser’s appointment and the start of the party.
Won’t the makeup be too strong for an eighteen-year-old?
Not if you do not want it to be. I match the intensity to you: from glowing, light makeup to striking evening makeup. During the makeup you can always say that something should be softer.
Will 18th birthday makeup last until morning?
Yes. I choose a primer for your skin type, set the makeup in layers and use waterproof mascara. For touch-ups, a lipstick, blotting papers and powder are enough.
Can you also do makeup for my mum and friends?
Yes. Tell me how many people are getting ready, and I will plan the timings so that the birthday girl has her makeup done last.
Do you take a deposit?
No. I book the date once I confirm it by email or text message, with no deposit.
See also my portfolio and the article Prom makeup.