Laurel Nelson, Professional Makeup Artist

I tried out Laurel on Sat. with my mother. We had a wedding to attend, and have a history of bad luck when it comes to makeup people not listening, and turning you into a mac zombie no matter how much you iterate that you want an elegant, sophisticated look. Laurel was AMAZING. AMAZING. If you want to go to someone who listens, takes her time, is creative and very talented, she is your person. I will def. go to her and only her from now on. She took our best features, highlighted and accentuated them, she made my mom look like a teenager~!! I couldn’t believe it. So happy to at last find a real artist. Very professional, approachable, talented woman.

Laurel is awesome! I had an event in Newport Beach and found her by other Unilocal reviewers. You can find her at the Chanel Counter in Neiman’s Fashion Island. I have had my makeup done multiple times by various artists and she is hands down one of the best. She took her time, used all Chanel makeup (I actually brought my own false eyelashes but I believe they sell them there as well) and was excellent with color. She gave me a natural skin look with very dramatic eyes and a paler lip. She was mindful of «layering” — starting out lighter and working her way to a more dramatic look (for those of you who might be afraid of looking overdone). I looked fantastic if I do say so myself! I had my makeup done in Neimans but I know she will come to you. You can’t go wrong!!!

I went to three make up artists and paid $ 100 each which was a waste of money!!! Found Laurel by calling around and OMFG!!! she was amazing! My make up was perfect-​it wasn’t caked on… or clown like and it was just perfect. She also had someone do my hair and I loved it as well! My wedding day was perfect with her help! Highly recommend!

I second Kirstie G’s review, having had my make-​up done on the same day. Better than how she made me look though was the phenomenal job she did with Kirs. Her make-​up was flawless and beautiful, understated and radiant all day (well, only part of that was make-​up, I imagine…)
Laurel was professional and friendly, worked quickly and efficiently and was very easy-​going and accommodating.
Proof’s in the proofs though, as Kirs said — the photos are just amazing.
Several people told me that day how beautiful her make-​up looked specifically which is really a testament to how talented Laurel is.

The wedding day was fast approaching and I needed a makeup artist. So one of my bridesmaids and I made appointments at the Bobbi Brown counter at Nordstrom in South Coast Plaza. When I explained that I needed someone to do my makeup for my wedding, they put me in the capable hands of Laurel Nelson.
Laurel, I found out, used to live in New York, where she worked directly under makeup artist Trish McEvoy. Lucky for me she left the east coast for California and now lives and works in Orange County. In addition to her current gig at Bobbi Brown, she regularly does makeup for weddings (and other events as well, I presume).
Before she got started on my makeup, Laurel asked what kind of look I was going for and we tossed around some ideas. Then she went to work, noting down what products and colors she used as she went. The result was perfect. Pretty and polished, but not overdone.
There was no pressure to make a decision on the spot; Laurel just told me to try out the look for the rest of the day and then get back to her if I wanted to book her for the big day. I decided I did, emailed her the next day, sent a deposit and that was that.
The day of the wedding, Laurel showed up at the hotel with her makeup kit (loaded with so many products it was like a mini Sephora store) and even one of those tall director’s chairs for each girl to sit in while she did our makeup. So smart! In addition to my makeup, she did two of my bridesmaids’ makeup (even squeezing one of them in on request at the last minute). We were all thrilled with how everything turned out, and my hairdresser even liked Laurel’s work so much that they exchanged cards so they could work together in the future.
Not only did I feel gorgeous, but the makeup stood the test of a twelve-​hour day (much of it in hot, humid weather outdoors) and still looked perfect at the end of the night. Of course, the real test of wedding makeup is how it looks in the photographs, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.
Laurel is extremely professional, her prices are reasonable and her work is flawless. And on top of all that, she’s a real sweetheart! If you’re looking for a makeup artist in the area, email her at BeautyByLaurel (at)
. You’ll be glad you did.