While most brides enlist the help of a professional makeup artist to help them look and feel their best on their wedding day, you can go the DIY route to achieve professional-level glam. Whether you’re super savvy with an eyeshadow palette, looking to scale back your budget, or just prefer the fate of your face in your own hands, DIY wedding makeup may be an option to explore. Doing your own makeup gives you total control over your look. There won’t be any disappointments or surprises on your wedding day. Being in charge of your beauty look will also save time and money. You won’t have to pay for salon services, coordinate appointment times with an artist, or go out of your way to attend trials. You can focus more time and energy on other aspects of wedding planning.
That being said, if you’re a novice who doesn’t know how or where to start, doing your makeup can potentially create more pressure and stress. If you are one of those who have their daily makeup routine down to a science, you still might be unsure how to prep your skin to properly soak up your products or lock in your look to make sure it lasts all evening. To help you take matters into your own hands, here are some must-know tips to simplify the process and maximize the results.
Do Your Research
If you aren’t sure what kind of look you want to achieve, start doing research. The Internet is loaded with beauty inspiration for your special day. You can look up your favorite celebrity’s latest red carpet-looks or check out a professional makeup artist’s Instagram page to browse photos of her clients. TikTok and YouTube are also full of makeup tutorials that you can watch and replicate.
Skip the Sun
You may be tempted to spend a little more time outside to achieve that perfectly sun-kissed look before you exchange vows, however you may you may want to reconsider your pre-wedding tanning goals. Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to sunburn, uneven skin pigmentation, and dryness. This trifecta can make applying makeup even more complicated and you may have to buy a different shade of foundation to match your new skin tone. If you heading on vacation or planning on a lot of outdoor activities before your wedding day, be sure to apply sunscreen every two hours.
Practice Frequently
Winging your makeup on the morning of your wedding day will most likely lead to mistakes and feelings of disappointment. To achieve a flawless look by the time you walk down the aisle, try practicing a few weeks up to a few months before you tie the knot. That way, you’ll be able to identify what works and what you’ll need to adjust. Having a few rehearsals under your belt will give you the confidence you need to create your look on the day of.
Prep Your Skin
You’ll need to prepare your skin properly if you want to optimize the effectiveness of your cosmetics. Well-prepped skin not only ensures that your makeup stays all day, but it helps determine how your makeup applies. Proper skin prep doesn’t just occur on the day of the wedding with a drop of primer. Say what? Yes, prepping your skin for your nuptials begins months before the big day. If your budget allows, you may want to visit your dermatologist to establish an at-home skincare routine, maintain a healthy diet, manage your stress, and get enough sleep at least a month before your wedding day.
Accentuate Your Lashes
Aside from flawless skin, the beauty priority of most brides is their eye makeup. They want their eyes to pop and stand out. Without a doubt, applying eyelashes will quickly and dramatically enhance your eyes. Applying your lashes can be a bit tricky, so you will want to have several practice sessions ahead of time.
Opt for Waterproof Eye Products
Waterproof mascara is an absolute must-have in your wedding day makeup bag. It’s a non-negotiable choice for ensuring that your mascara stays in place.
Whether it’s during your first look or while exchanging vows, most brides are bound to shed a tear or two, and the last thing you want is for your mascara to run. Consider using a waterproof mascara on your big day, even if tears of joy decide to make an appearance.
Spritz on the Setting Spray
Setting spray is the secret weapon for locking in your look and making sure your wedding makeup stays flawless from early morning preparations to the last dance at your reception. Once you’ve completed your look, finish it off with setting spray. This essential product will make your look last longer avoid any caked-on effect, and prevent your makeup from transferring onto your gown or your partner’s outfit.
For many brides, hiring a professional makeup artist is the way to go, but if you’re quite confident in your makeup application skills and want to have complete control over the products used and the overall look, it is worth doing your makeup yourself.