Joey James Makeup Artistry

Is it even my birthday if i don’t share it with you?!?! When have you met a Leo that doesn’t love a birthday post?!?! 💛💛💛

Another trip around the sun and so many things haven’t changed: I’m still BEAUTY OBSESSED, still addicted to soaking up the summer sun, still in a coma after Lolla, + still chasing the next round of laughs with my dearest friends. 💛

But some things feel a little different this year: I’m feeling more empowered than ever to SHARE in this space. I have loved creating and sharing within this social space…whether it’s bridal beauty, makeup + skin faves, or just more about me & the way that I approach this work!!! And that is because of YOU 🫶🏼 your comments and conversation, your shares, your recommendations - have made all of this sharing feel so fun and special. TYSM for hanging out with me here. 💛

I’m REALLY excited for another year - to continue learning - to be older and wiser - and to keep trying new things. OKkk I’m supposed to be dressed and ready for dinner in 5 minutes 👀😩 lemme stop blabbing - CHEERS to all my fellow August baddiesssss 🥂😘
Photography Bradley Moss | Chicago & NYC Wedding Photographer 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

Chicago makeup artist | bridal makeup | makeup tutorial | beauty makeup recommendations | wedding MUA

Bridal trials are completely a collaborative effort between the artist + the bride! I have MANYYYY QUESTIONS that I love to ask my brides, along with a Clean kit. Stocked kit. Good vibes.

BUT the way that a bride shows up to her trial matters more than you think! Here are a few key ways to get the most out of your makeup trial :) I promise that the results will only be enhanced by a little bit of prep work 🤘🏼🤘🏼

Artists - SHARE. letting your clients know the best way to show up is so important :) Brides/clients - go ahead and give this a SAVE so you can check back when it gets closer to your next makeup appointment 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

Bridal makeup trial | wedding day makeup | bridal makeup tutorial | wedding day makeup tips | beauty inspo | skin care | makeup artist community

Hair pictured Erin Graham / makeup J O E Y

We’ve all done makeup (on ourselves - or with a client) + get to that moment where - the brush just ain’t hittin. These are the brushes that take me where I wanna go 🙌🏼🤘🏼🙌🏼🤘🏼🙌🏼 and don’t p**s me off 🫶🏼

Buying new brushes is often something that we put lower on the list. It’s not as exciting as a juicy new lip combo - or a necessary as when we run out of our favorite skin tint…..but I’d like to argue that the brushes we use DO make a big difference in the end result of our glam. When you’re ready to update your roster, all brushes are 🔗 linked in my SHOPMY in bio! I hope this helps those that have been asking me for a BRUSH BREAKDOWN 🫶🏼🫶🏼 I truly love using all of these brushes over and over again.

Swipe thru for my most used brushes —> SAVE this post for yourself or SHARE with that person YOU KNOOWWWWWW is overdue for a brush update 🫣🥰🥰🥰

Chicago makeup artist | makeup tutorial | makeup brushes favorite | bridal makeup artist | wedding day makeup | makeup on set | blush bronzer skin

So multipurpose: I love all of these brushes for foundation, cream bronzer, cream contour, and liquid/cream blushes. Definitely my most used category overall: I think I purchased 5 of those yellow Morphe when they came out 🙌🏼

For any smaller areas / details in cream or liquid formulas.

I could live with just these powder brushes forever. Definitely have to have that large 150s from M·A·C Cosmetics - it’s the perfect large fluffy brush to blend everything together at the end.

I like to stay pretty edited with my eye brushes - and then purchase duplicates. I used to carry a huge collection of various eye/detail brushes, which in the end - only made it take longer to find the few that i keep looking for!

Let me know below 👇🏼 if you have any questions on brushes and tools! Or if you have any must-have brushes you think I should try 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🥰

If I hear any of these, I know it’s a job well done 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
But maybe the best is simply “I FEEL SO BEAUTIFUL” 🥹

Working with makeup + beauty is also working with:
Personal insecurities
MAKEUP TRAUMA
Nervous or anxious energy
Family dynamics 🫶🏼
A lot of hopes and expectations…..
These are some of the best compliments to hear in the end ❣️

Artists, what do you hear + you know - OH I DEF HIT THE MARK?!

Chicago makeup artist | wedding makeup | bridal makeup artist | wedding makeup inspo | makeup artist community | makeup tutorial