Makeup by Lucas brings big city glam to local brides

For Lucas Bowman, makeup is more than contour and color. It’s confidence, connection, and storytelling.

The Morganton/New York-based freelance artist behind Makeup by Lucas has spent the past 13 years transforming faces and lives through his artistry, offering services for headshots, special events, and personalized makeup lessons, with a primary focus on bridal makeup.

Bowman, a Burke County native, left Morganton at 18 and headed for the bright lights of New York City in search of better opportunities.

Bowman credits his teachers at Patton High School, who gave him the confidence to follow his dreams.

“My teachers were always so nice to me. They gave me that silver lining that there was hope. They taught me that I don’t have to be confined to what everyone thinks I should be doing,” Bowman said.

As a creative student in high school, Bowman loved painting, sculpting, and pottery, which helped with his decision to attend a four-month makeup program in New York. At that age, Bowman felt safe knowing that if makeup didn’t work out, he would at least be in a city where opportunities were endless.

“I knew that I needed to go find myself, do my own thing, and create my own future,” Bowman said. “That was really the goal without knowing how to put that in words at that age.”

Bowman went on to spend 13 years in the city, working in makeup retail stores and freelancing for high-profile companies like Glam Squad. He even had the chance to do Paris Hilton’s makeup twice.

Eventually, the high cost of living and the pull of family brought Bowman home to North Carolina.

“I believe that after all those years of freelancing with so many different types of people, I learned to cater to people’s thought processes and understand what they’re really asking for,” Bowman said.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL PAINTING

Makeup by Lucas offers tailored experiences for every client. His signature style? Enhancing natural beauty, not hiding it. A must-have item for Bowman is Dior’s Backstage Glow Highlighter — a multi-use favorite for eyes, cheeks, lips, and even shoulders.

Bowman’s secret to flawless makeup is to apply it in fine layers. He describes doing makeup as three-dimensional painting. Bowman shared his steps to a flawless face:

• Primer
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Setting Powder
• Contour/Blush/Bronzer
• Setting Spray
• Eyebrows
• Lashes
• Lips

“With the makeup style I do, I like building confidence and giving people a feeling, versus a mask. I don’t want them to look like something they’re not,” Bowman said. “I want them to feel like the best version of themselves.”

Standard makeup appointments start at $150, and he also offers two-hour one-on-one makeup lessons, teaching clients his makeup technique.

BRIDAL MAKEUP

During the pandemic, Bowman saw a silver lining when makeup demand dropped, giving him a chance to reflect. He shifted focus to bridal work, revamping his brand and website to reflect his passion for weddings.

He admitted that without a clear approach, it’s easy to get lost in the many aspects of makeup, something he’d experienced for a long time.

“When I was younger, I always idolized women as hero figures, and I think that’s what’s special about getting to work with weddings and be that person’s support,” Bowman said. “It’s nice to help them through that moment. I really want to see their happiness come out … It’s so special.”

Bridal packages at Makeup by Lucas start at $1,000, which includes the bride and three faces with six to eight hours of on-site touch-ups. Additional faces can be added for $150 each.

Bowman said he wished more people understood the importance of investing in professional bridal makeup for their wedding day.

“It’s a really special treat … and it might seem like another additional thing for a wedding, which might be so expensive these days, but it’s your face,” Bowman said. “You get to look back at those photos and see yourself in that moment forever.”

To book Makeup by Lucas for your next event or one-on-one lessons, visit www.makeupbylucas.com.