We all know that doing your own wedding makeup is the last thing you want to worry about on your special day right?
But....who really knows how your ideal makeup look is besides you?
Achieving the right wedding look on your own will save you cash and ensure your wedding makeup is done exactly to your expectations.
Practice Until You Get It Right
Don’t leave your wedding day makeup for the last minute. Start a month before by practicing frequently until you get your makeup just right. Remember that flash photography tends to wash people out. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go heavy-handed, just make sure to wear a primer, some colored foundation, and to choose shades that will flatter you on film.
Having the right toolset of brushes, sponges, Q-tips, oil-absorbing sheets, and baby wipes is essential for applying makeup correctly. You can purchase most of these items at your local drugstore, or splurge on nicer tools if you think you’ll use them again. Remember, a painter is only as good as his paint brush.
Start with a Clean Canvas
Exfoliating twice a week the month of your wedding will even out your skin tone and create a smoother canvas to work from. When you’re ready to apply makeup, prep your face first with an oil-free moisturizer, and then apply a light layer of primer. Primer is great as it refines the look of pores and acts as a bond between your skin and the rest of your makeup. Make sure to select a quality foundation as it will set your makeup for the long day ahead. Begin by squeezing out a dime size amount, dabbing a sponge into the color, and then lightly dabbing the foundation over your T-zone (forehead, sides of nose, chin).
From the T-zone, work the foundation out towards the rest of your face. If you prefer lighter coverage, go for a tinted moisturizer and apply in the same way as foundation. In case you have spots that you’re unable to hide with the foundation, use a concealer to blot out any remaining redness. Next, dust your forehead, nose, and chin with a translucent powder to set the makeup.
Play Up Your Eyes
A subtle smoky eye will create a soft romantic look without going overboard. When selecting your eye makeup, always choose waterproof and long-wearing when possible. Start by combing your brows into place and filling in patchy areas with a pencil by making short, quick strokes in the direction of hair growth. Blend lightly with a brush and set your full brow with a Q-tip dipped in hairspray.
Move onto your eyelids by dabbing a primer, and then a neutral shade of color from lash to crease. Next, apply your eye shadow by making a V-shape along your lash line, leaving the center of your lid empty. Work the color from the outer part of your lids to the inner part, and finish with a shimmer shadow in the center of your lid.
Next, apply mascara by lifting your upper lashes slightly off the lid and brushing mascara from root to tip. For a more dramatic look, wiggle the wand at the base of the lashes. Repeat until you achieve the desired look on top and bottom lashes, and finish by giving lashes the perfect flip with an eyelash curler. To apply eyeliner, go for a liquid liner with a felt tip end for easy application and a clean look. Start by tracing the outer corners of your lids and connecting the lines in the middle. Use a touch of white, shimmery eye shadow in the inner corners of your eyes to add shimmer and make you look more awake; apply a light touch of the same eye shadow to the outer parts of your lid, directly beneath your eyebrow, and work the color inward.
Finish with Natural Rosy Hues
Complete your makeup with a warm blush and lip color. Lightly sweep on bronzer under your cheekbones, making a light brush stroke towards your ears; a touch on the temples, forehead, chin, down the neck, and the bridge of your nose will add even more depth. Next, dab on some cream brush on the apples of your cheeks, and follow with a powder blush to set.
For your pout, select a lip pencil the same color as your lips. Start by lining your lips and gradually working in the color to fill in the rest. Apply lip color directly from tube, and with a tissue. Make sure to use the “forefinger-fish lips” trick to remove any color that might have gotten on the inside of your lip (the last thing you want is to have lipstick on your teeth when you’re talking to guests).
During the wedding, make sure to have your lip color, translucent powder, and oil-blotting sheets on hand to refresh your makeup throughout the day. Most importantly, rest assured that with a month of practice, your wedding day makeup will look great.
