Ellwed Talks with Irene Kyranis International Chanel Bridal Makeup and Beauty Expert
Bridal Makeup Artist & Beauty Expert offering diversity and on-site luxury bridal services for destination weddings in Greece and beyond.
Irene has been creating makeup magic for over 18 years. She has successfully established herself as an international destination wedding makeup artist and bridal expert. With her client list spanning through Europe and North America. Moreover, she offers luxury customized bridal services for all ethnicities from the Exotic Maldives to the jet set Greek islands. With over 500 weddings under her belt she continues to deliver first class results.
Being Greek/Canadian, with extensive experience working and living in a multi-cultural country, has provided her with the knowledge to perfect her craft when it comes to brides of different ethnicities. Her path led her to work for many leading luxury brands.
Recruited by Chanel while working for Charlotte Tilbury London, in Toronto, Irene specialises in offering brides of colour the confidence to feel that they are in the best hands when it comes to their bridal makeup.
Her niche as a makeup artist for destination weddings in Greece is embracing diversity. Which we will be covering in this podcast. So let’s hear Irene’s advice and her story.
Tell us a bit about your story, what lead you to your current career path?
My love for art lead me to a Bachelor of Arts in Art History. From a young age I was drawn to the magic of transformation through makeup. My passion for all things beautiful led me to find my true calling. Therefore, I followed my dreams to the UK where I received my diploma in Makeup Artistry. After starting my makeup career working in Film and T.V., gave me a wonderful opportunity to travel the world. Later, I went on to represent leading global cosmetic brands.
The first global brand I worked for was MAC Cosmetics. Within my 10-year tenure I achieved extensive experience in the importance of bridging the Art of Commerce with Artistry. My key accomplishments consist of Artist Training and Development, leader & driving force in the development of a new makeup service program that established the brand as the leading authority in paid makeup services. Certainly a key artist for various industry retail events within North America & Award Shows.
I later moved into management with Charlotte Tilbury London as manager of her first flagship store in Toronto, Canada. I was later recruited to join CHANEL where I earned the privileged position of Pro Artist and makeup educator. Throughout my journey working for leading luxury brands, I was honoured to be distinguished by my high-level professionalism and success, resulting in the opportunity to work with celebrated fashion designers Zac Posen, & Oscar de la Renta, just to name a few.
After my 18 year extensive career working for global cosmetic brands, I wanted to be my own boss. To take all my knowledge I acquired as makeup artist and manager and start my own business. While living in Canada, I would visit Greece for my summer vacation each year and I would always get asked to do bridal makeup while on vacation. I saw a demand for destination weddings in Greece. As I was also getting a lot of requests from my clients from abroad.
It just made sense to take this opportunity. And to be honest it was certainly always my goal to return to Greece at some point. So, I seized the opportunity, and made the transition. I now offer on-site luxury bridal services and exceptional customer service for any bride for her destination wedding in Greece. I specialize in brides of colour and ethnic weddings.
What inspires you in the business and daily life?
It has been truly inspiring for me to watch my clients transform into the best versions of themselves. Since I consider myself “a hopeless romantic” my creative passion and desire to create beautifully flawless and timeless makeup drew me to all things bridal. I have always been captivated by the romance and beauty of weddings. The sheer joy of such an occasion and all the beauty preparation that goes into each moment is the driving force behind what I do.
Every moment I share with my brides is a incredible experience. From the moment we meet, to the moment she looks in the mirror after I apply the the final touches. Until the moment she is ready to walk down the aisle. It is my honour and the most rewarding part of my job as a bridal makeup artist to go above and beyond so that I offer her the trust and confidence she deserves.
Purpose and Contribution play a huge part in my life. Therefore I strive to give purpose to what I do by consciously contributing to the collective. One of my deep passions is giving back. I offer my knowledge to aspiring MUA’s who also what to grow their craft, giving them helpful insight and training through masterclasses and online tutorials.
Overall, I also dedicate time to volunteering.
It has been a gift to be able to share my skills with women who battle cancer. And that is why I help women learn to feel and look beautiful again after battling chemotherapy. On top, I am also a huge animal lover. It is a joy to contribute my time to help stray animals in Greece. I am an active member of Save a Greek Stray and volunteer my time when possible.
I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to live in Greece and to provide an elevated level of service to all brides that choose to get married in this magical place. As a wedding professional it is my mission to provide the best possible service. Which will create everlasting memories that echo the eternal beauty of this land.
What was your best experience as a Bridal Makeup and Beauty Expert? What do you like about weddings in Greece?
My best experience as a bridal makeup artist is creating beauty that goes beyond a face. It is about emotion, passion and capturing the unique essence of each woman on one of the most important days in her life Best of all, I get to spread beauty and joy through the art of makeup!
Although this may sound cliché, Greece is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I have been fortunate enough to travel the world for many weddings, yet Greece holds a magical energy, weddings set in the pristine beauty of the Greek Islands never fail to capture the scene for timeless romance and immaculate beauty. Sunsets that illuminate the skies and beaches sparkling with specks of gold across sun kissed sands, embracing seas of multi shaded emerald blues. These captivating colours inspire me to perfect bridal looks that add a touch of magic to every bride’s unique vision.
As I like to tell my brides. “Give me the honour of unveiling your inner goddess”
What advice do you have for brides getting married in Greece?
There are some especially important questions to consider when selecting your Bridal Makeup and Beauty Expert as a bride of colour for your destination wedding in Greece.
My Advice
- Make sure you have open channels of communication with your Bridal Makeup and Beauty Expert. What works best for my brides and I are Skype Calls. This allows us to build a trusting relationship and share concerns when it comes to creating the best makeup looks. This is second best to an actual makeup trial as a bridal trial might not be possible before the wedding day.
- Always ask for photos that showcase weddings from different ethnicities. So that you get a good idea of their experience with diversity.
- Ask about what products your Bridal Makeup artist will be using from their kit. Any cosmetic brands that cater to darker skin tones?
- Ask your MUA to make suggestions on colour schemes for shadows and lip colours so that you get a clear understanding of what works with your skin tone. This is a great way to recognize if you have selected the right MUA. Colour theory is important.
What trend do you see picking up in the world of weddings?
With the current global situation due to COVID 19 I foresee elopements being quite popular as well as smaller more intimate weddings. I also see a trend of brides seeking advice from Bridal Makeup and Beauty Expert for online bridal makeup courses such as “how to create your own bridal makeup for your elopement or destination wedding”
Is there one question that almost every client asks you about their wedding in Greece? What is it and what is your answer?
The most popular question I always get asked is about the longevity of the makeup due to the hot climate here in Greece. It is crucial for me to assure my brides that all the products I use are of the highest quality. This will provide them a “bullet proof” results. Sweat proof, waterproof and lasting up to 24 hours.
Which is your favourite location for a destination wedding in Greece and why?
Wow! Hard question to answer. Greece is a magical place; every location holds its own unique beauty. I would have to admit though my all-time favourite is the island of Milos. It is absolutely breathe taking and I admire that it is still untouched and rustic.
Tell us a bit more about what you are currently working on?
I am currently working online makeup courses for brides who prefer to do their own makeup for their elopement or destination wedding.
As a destination wedding makeup artist, I pride myself as a makeup artist that is diverse. And therefore I strive to give my brides of colour the reassurance that they will receive the most appropriate results for their skin tone. I make sure that I am informed with a variety of customs and traditions associated with ethnic weddings.
And for the last question, what advice would you give to all couples who want to get married in Greece? What is that one important thing your brides should know or pay attention to before coming to Greece?
Creating open channels of communication with your wedding professionals so that you feel at ease knowing you are taken care. We are all here to offer you the much-needed support in these changing times.
To all my future brides of colour I stress keep the conversation open with your Bridal Makeup and Beauty Expert, build that trusting relationship over skype calls so that you feel comfortable when it comes to your concerns regarding your makeup. Share photos of yourself and of makeup looks that you love.
If someone wants to get in touch with you, where can they find you?
Instagram: @bridalmakeupgreece
Website: www.irenekyranis.com
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This episode is sponsored by Dexamens Seaside Hotel
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Visit dexamenes.com or call +30 697 252 1806
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