What to bring to your bridal makeup trial
A trial goes better when you arrive with four or five specific things. Here's the short list, and the reasoning behind each one.
ReadBridal Makeup Artist · Lisbon, Portugal
Quietly
radiant.
Bridal makeup in Lisbon, made to last.
I'm Inés Santiago — a bridal makeup artist based in Lisbon, born in Guadalajara, Mexico. I create soft, luminous wedding looks that hold from the first look to the last dance — for brides marrying in Portugal, planning a destination wedding, or celebrating back home in Mexico.
Bridal est. 2016 Portfolio
01 — About
A decade of tender, lasting bridal beauty.
Born in Guadalajara, at home in Lisbon — working across Portugal's wedding coast and beyond, from intimate Sintra ceremonies to destination weddings in the Algarve, Europe and Mexico.
Makeup, to me, is a quiet act of care. I start with the skin you already love and add only what makes it sing — a softer cheek, a steadier brow, eyes that hold tears and still photograph beautifully at midnight.
I grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, and have called Lisbon home for the past ten years. In that decade I've done wedding makeup for brides from Porto to Puglia — alongside the photographers, planners and couture ateliers who trust me to be calm, prepared and unhurried. I bring a small, considered kit, a curated palette, and a steady hand.
Above all, I want my brides to feel exactly like themselves — only on the most luminous day of their lives.
Inés Santiago Founder & Artist · I.S Makeup · Lisbon
02 — Services
Wedding makeup services.
Every bridal booking includes a complimentary consultation and a trial session. Travel across Portugal and abroad quoted separately.
N° 01 — Signature
Bridal Day‑Of
A full bridal application — skin prep, lashes, and a long‑wear, camera‑proof finish built to last from morning preparations through the late reception. Includes one trial session.
From €450 · Trial included
N° 02
Bridal Party
Coordinated looks for mothers, sisters, and bridesmaids — softer, lighter, and tailored to complement the bride without competing.
From €120 / person
N° 03
Destination Weddings
Travel‑ready wedding makeup across Portugal — Sintra, Comporta, the Algarve — plus Europe and Mexico. Multi‑day support, on‑site touch‑ups, and a discreet presence throughout the celebration.
By quote · Worldwide
N° 04
Editorial & Events
Campaign, lookbook, and event work for brands and magazines — clean, camera‑ready, photographer‑approved.
From €350 / half‑day
N° 05
Private Lessons
A two‑hour one‑to‑one session in your own home, with your own products. You'll leave with a five‑step everyday routine you'll actually use.
€180 · 2 hours
N° 06
Special Occasions
Galas, christenings, anniversaries — single applications for the days that deserve a little more.
From €140
03 — Portfolio
Recent brides.
A small selection from the last two seasons — real brides in Lisbon, Sintra and along Portugal's coast.
04 — Process
From hello to "I do".
A simple, unhurried path — no surprises on the day.
01
Inquiry
Send your date, venue, and a few inspiration images. I reply within 48 hours with availability and a tailored quote.
02
Consultation
A relaxed call — or a coffee in Lisbon — to talk through your vision, your dress, and the look you want for the day.
03
Trial
A two‑hour session, usually six weeks before, to refine the look, test products on your skin, and photograph the result.
04
The Day
On time, a calm room, and a finish that lasts from the morning light to the last song.
“Inés made me feel like myself, only softer and sun‑warmed. The makeup looked exactly the same in the morning light as it did at 1 a.m.”
Mariana & Tomás — Quinta do Torneiro, Sintra · 2025
05 — Journal
Notes from the chair.
Practical bridal notes — what lasts, what to ask for, and what to expect on the day.
06 — FAQ
Questions, answered.
Everything brides usually ask before booking wedding makeup in Lisbon — and further afield.
How much does bridal makeup cost in Lisbon?
Bridal day‑of makeup starts at €450 and includes a full trial session, skin prep, lashes and a long‑wear finish. Bridal party makeup starts at €120 per person. Travel outside Lisbon is quoted separately with your proposal — no hidden extras.
Do you travel to weddings outside Lisbon — Sintra, Cascais, Comporta or the Algarve?
Yes. I work across Portugal's wedding regions — Sintra, Cascais, Comporta, the Douro Valley and the Algarve — as well as destination weddings elsewhere in Europe. Travel and, where needed, accommodation are quoted transparently with your proposal.
Do you take destination weddings in Mexico?
I do — Guadalajara is where I was born and learned to love this craft. I take a small number of weddings in Jalisco and across Mexico each year. Because of the travel involved, Mexican dates are best reserved well in advance.
How far in advance should I book my wedding makeup artist?
Bookings open 12 months ahead, and peak dates in Portugal — May to October weekends — usually go 9 to 12 months in advance. Weekday and off‑season dates are more flexible, and last‑minute enquiries are always welcome: if I'm free, I'm yours.
Is a makeup trial included — and what happens at the trial?
Every bridal day‑of booking includes one trial: a relaxed two‑hour session, usually about six weeks before the wedding, where we refine the look, test products on your skin, and photograph the result in different light so there are no surprises on the day.
Will the makeup really last all day — and through tears?
Yes. Every look is built with long‑wear, camera‑proof products and layering techniques that hold from morning preparations through the first look, the ceremony tears, and the last dance. You'll also receive a small touch‑up kit to keep close in the evening.
07 — Let's talk
Tell me about
your day.
Peak wedding dates in Portugal book 9–12 months ahead — spring and September weekends go first. Send your date and venue and I'll reply within 48 hours with availability and a tailored quote. Weekday and off‑season rates available. I take a small number of weddings each year — let's see if yours is one of them.