Pin-Ups Makeup - Alice Sawdey

Update:
Alice did respond to my messages and issued a full refund accordingly. While my review remains the same given my experience, I do want to note that Alice is technically proficient, my issue is with the way she handled our business arrangement and communication practice.


Initial Review:
It makes me sad to write this review but I want others to be forewarned. Alice is a great makeup artist technically but her business practice and professionalism is horrendous. If I could give her less than a star, I would.

Alice did my makeup for my boudoir session and I booked her for my wedding coming up in May. We did a bridal trial before vamping for the boudoir and while I liked it then, I looked at pictures afterward and wanted some tweaking.

It took her two weeks to get back to me (in her defense she was sick but two weeks without an email or a response to my voice mails?) and we rescheduled a re-trial for January when I was back in SF.

The day of the re-trial, hours before, I get a message from her via email telling me she cannot make the trial, is going through a professional change and good luck with my wedding!

There was no mention of a refund of my deposit and if she was changing jobs, she found out five hours ahead of time?! After we booked the trial six weeks prior and I planned a trip back to SF around the trial? Sigh. Needless to say, I sent her a harsh email demanding my refund back and have yet to receive a reply.

Anyway, as I said, she is a decent artist but I would never, ever work with her again on any level. There are far better artists with far more professionalism and courtesy than Alice. I am just happy she showed her true colors in time for me to move on to someone else much better.

In short, keep looking.

Alice was FABULOUS!!! I cannot imagine my day being more beautiful. I found Alice by referral from another friend/bride of mine. She did my makeup for her wedding when I was a bridesmaid and I loved it! I loved it even more the day of my wedding (we went more dramatic look and she totally understood what I wanted:).

Also - she was FUN! So many of the other makeup artists can be sort of snobbish. Alice was energetic, positive and friendly (even to my mother-in-law who, bless her heart, is afraid of makeup).

All in all it was a fantastic experience. She is coming back this year to be the makeup artist for yet another one of my friends getting married in September.

I'll be sure to have my friend review her at that time, too. I was shocked to read the review below and have since discussed it with Alice. She explained the whole situation to me, which is what prompted me to write this review today. In my experience, she is AWESOME.

What a GREAT experience and wonderful job! I hired Alice, Pin-Ups Makeup, as s gift for my best friend's wedding. Not only did we all look beautiful but we had a very enjoyable and unforgettable time.

We had our initial rehersal appointment and the makeup turned out so great that Michelle, the bride, and I had to go out to dinner with our loved ones so that we could show off our pretty faces.

At the wedding Alice not only did our make-up but enhanced the atmosphere with her great personality and charm. There were four of us ladies in the wedding along with two flower girls and she made all of us glow. In fact, this was an early evening wedding and our make-up looked perfect ALL NIGHT!!

Alice was always prompt, responsive and professional every step of the way and as you know a wedding day is extremely important, especially to the bride, so be sure to check her out - WE LOVED HER!!!!

I have known Alice for over 11 years now and can't say enough about her as a make-up artist, vendor and business woman. Let me start by saying that I am a former fashion editor for a daily newspaper (the Contra Costa Times to be exact.) I also worked for various fashion and bridal magazines in the Bay Area. I have worked with dozens of make-up artists over the years, creating fashion spreads for magazines and getting references for product reviews and no one has been more efficient, courteous or professional than Alice Sawdey. I have even worked with the likes of Bobbi Brown and the creators of Benefit and she is on par with these ground-breaking creative artists. She has even done my make-up for publicity photos (I have the samples to prove it!) and in one instance drove for miles to help me at the last minute when a booked vendor cancelled. If I ever need make-up for television appearances or if I get married or know of anyone in need of a make-up artist for a wedding, she will be the first and ONLY person I call. And you should too!