Personal Perspective: Why I Said Yes To Mortuary Makeup

I received a call from a dear friend and client about providing makeup services or her grandmother who had just passed.  I immediately went into mental "helping mode".  I advised her that I had never performed this service before but if she wanted me to do it, I would.  With no hesitation, I found myself placing calls and getting the how-to's on getting the job done.  I am thankful to DivaLisa and Maria Barreda for sharing their experiences with me.  Both artists gave me tips on what to expect and things to consider.  

Why I said yes:
It's very simple, we want our loved ones to look like themselves when we prepare their transition.  I knew that simply because my friend asked me to do it, she trusted that I had the ability to do so.  The servant in me had no other choice but to stand at attention and respond.  So, with an unsure mind and nervous hands, I said yes.

What I used:
Skin Base: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (any grocery brand)
Foundation: Black Opal Stick
Powder: Iman Semi Loose Powder
Cheeks: Lipstick (blended mauve and berry shades)
Lips: Lipstick (blended berry and taupe shades)
Brows: Brown pencil, Iman Semi Loose Powder and Black Mascara
Large sectional paper plate
Q-tips
Disposable Mascara Wands
Disposable Sponges
Water
Alcohol
Spatula
Palette
Art Brushes

I stored makeup in plastic jars, separated from my regular kit.  I used art brushes to apply lipstick and powder to delicate areas of the face like eyes.  All tools used were disposed up after the appointment.

Condition of the skin: I would describe the skin as to feeling like leather.  It was cold and tight, yet you could still move it.  I was able to move the skin on areas like the eyes and cheeks.  In my honest opinion, the application isn't really different.  The skin prep seems to be the most important of all.  

Step by Step: 

• Applied the skin base using my fingers and pressed the oil into the skin using a damp sponge.
• Using a damp sponge, I applied the foundation starting on the forehead and working my way down the center of the face and outward.  Followed by lightly pressing powder onto the skin using a dry sponge.
• With a damp sponge, I applied blush color to the cheeks.
• Using art brush, I applied color to the lips.
• The eyes looked dark, so I lightly pressed the powder over the eyes.
• I filled the brows in with a brown pencil.  They initially didn't look natural, so I covered with the same setting powder give texture.  To make them look more natural, I lightly brushed mascara into the brown using a mascara wand to give hair-like appearance.  This worked very well. 

Overall, I was pleased.  She looked like herself.  I was very nervous about making sure I did a great job.  Most of all,  I wanted this beautiful mother to look like herself.  I wanted this grandmother to look like she was going to church.  With a very full heart, I completed my job.  This is not a new pursuit that I am going after.  However, if a family comes to me with the same request, I will say yes.  

I hope that me sharing my personal perspective will help you in some way.  

Frances