Written by Mimi Nikolova, a professional makeup artist and beauty educator based in Buffalo, NY.
People usually already know which one they want before they ask me. They just want someone to confirm it. So here's the honest breakdown of what actually separates the two, beyond the obvious fact that one involves more people in the room.
For the full 1.5 hours, I'm only watching your face. If you blend unevenly on the first try, I catch it before it sets. If a question feels too basic to ask in front of friends, there's nobody to feel that way in front of. This is the format for someone who wants to walk out with a routine built entirely around their own skin.
Bring three friends to a bridal shower and something different happens. You're doing it together, laughing at each other's first attempts at winged liner, comparing what actually looks good under real light instead of a filtered photo. Group sessions work because the shared experience is the point as much as the skill is.
Brides prepping for their own wedding morning tend to book one-on-one, since the goal is usually a specific, repeatable look for one very important day. Bridesmaids planning a shower, or a group of friends who just want a fun night that isn't dinner and drinks again, go group almost every time.
One-on-one runs a flat $250 for 1.5 hours. Group pricing depends on your headcount, so I put together a custom quote once I know how many people are coming. For the full breakdown, see my makeup lessons pricing guide.
Think about what you actually want out of the session. Maybe it's a routine you can repeat on your own every morning. Maybe it's an afternoon your friends still bring up a year from now. Both are good reasons to book. Reach out and tell me which one sounds like you, and I'll take it from there.
