Thank you to our Guest Contributor Sophia Smith for this wonderful article…
oing your own makeup for the big day can be a great idea. That wedding look you’ve been dreaming about isn’t something that an artist can easily recreate even if they’re exceptionally skilled, and if you have any skill with the brush you’re likely to enjoy applying it yourself.
Not to mention that after the wedding dress, groom’s attire, venue, catering service, photographer, reception music, cake, florist, hairstylist, invitations, and a multitude of other expensive things your wallet is practically crying. This will give it some respite.
But how do you make sure you get professional results at home? Get ready to take notes because we’re about to tell you.
Find your colours by trying out several looks
Here are some wedding-friendly, natural-looking colours: soft brown, rose, blush pink, champagne, taupe, pale bronze, peach, and beige. Of course, you can pick statement colours like emerald green, but we really don’t recommend it unless you know how to work with tougher colours and it truly suits your style.
We recommend that you don’t make too many assumptions about what will look good and what won’t – simply try different things and figure out what really works for your complexion, and what matches your wedding dress.
Practice at home
Once you’ve chosen your wedding look, start practising until you get it perfect. And we don’t mean to just do it once or twice before the wedding – we mean to do the look at least ten times and make small adjustments as you go along. This way you’ll be able to do it quickly and efficiently when the day comes, and it will look perfect.
Use only quality products
You don’t want your mascara to smear in the middle of the reception or your foundation to look orange in photos. You can find luxury brands in a makeup online shop if you like, so pick brands that you know can deliver good ingredients, lasting power, and a natural finish to your makeup. Of course, there are good drugstore products out there as well, but only grab them if you’re certain about their quality.
Choose the right primer and foundation
In general, it’s a good idea to choose a more matte or a satin-finish foundation for your wedding. You need something that will last all day, and dewy foundations tend to break apart quicker and make your face look a little greasy in photos. However, the primer is a whole different matter – you should choose it based on your skin type. If you’re oily, go for something matte and oil-controlling, and if you’re dry, pick a hydrating product.
Bronzer, contour, blush
While you can certainly skip contouring products, we do recommend that you wear some blush and bronzer. Since flash photography tends to wash people out and give them a flat look, it’s a good idea to counter that by adding a little bit of warmth and depth. If you want a more natural finish, consider cream products that can be blended into your foundation seamlessly.
Do several all-day wear tests
This is an absolute necessity, especially if you don’t generally wear much makeup and don’t know how your products will perform. To ensure your foundation really does last all day, that your mascara won’t smear, and that your blush won’t fade after two hours, do several wear test before the big day. And don’t just lounge at home either – go about the town, finish chores, and even do a light workout.
Does the workout idea seem a little extreme? Hear us out: you’ll most likely spend your wedding day dancing and running around, and it’s likely you chose a warm day of the year for the wedding date. There’s every chance you’ll sweat, and it’s important to know your makeup can last through that.
Focus on either the lips or the eyes
If you plan to wear a darker eyeshadow and a lot of eyeliner, then choose a more natural lipstick shade. Similarly, if your eyes only have a little shimmer and mascara, then feel free to go with a bold red lip. It’s all about balance, and focusing on one feature of your face will ensure your makeup doesn’t look too heavy and clown-like.
Avoid SPF in your makeup
By all means, use a moisturizer with a good sun protection, but avoid foundations with SPF in them. Why? Because they’ll make you look like a greasy ghost in flash photography. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide tend to cause severe flashback that will give you a shiny white cast if these ingredients are found in your foundation.
Take photos with flash
Speaking of flashback, take a few pictures of your wedding makeup before the actual wedding. This way you can test out how it all looks in photographs and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Now that you’ve got all these wedding makeup hacks, it’s time to put them to good use. Keep practicing until you get your dream look just right!