DIY COLOURFUL SNOWFLAKE WREATH
HOW TO DIY YOUR OWN WEDDING DAY MAKEUP!
So how many of you are doing your own makeup for your wedding? Well, whilst some of you might remain sceptical, DIY wedding makeup is becoming increasingly popular, so we thought now would be a good time to invite professional makeup artist Mel England to share her top tips for DIY’ing your way to natural and radiant beauty on your wedding day.
“Doing your own make-up on your wedding day can feel a bit daunting but with just a few subtle changes to your normal makeup routine, you can enhance your natural beauty and look truly radiant on your wedding day. Your wedding day isn’t the time to experiment with make-up, so if you never wear a smoky eye, this wouldn’t be the day to wear one. You should look like the best version of yourself, simply enhanced with make-up, so that your groom recognizes you when you’re walking down the aisle.”
1. For Your Photos
Avoid wearing a foundation with an SPF if you are going to be having flash photography as this can create a white ghostly ‘flashback’ on the photos. Opt for a modern but still classic makeup that will look timelessly beautiful in your wedding photos to enjoy for years to come.
2. Prep & Prime
Exfoliate your skin often in the run up to your big day as this will remove any dead skin cells and leave your skin looking brighter and fresher and your foundation will blend better. Pay particular attention to the sides of the nose, as this area can often get dry and flaky.
Apply lots of lip balm (my favourite is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Intensive Lip Repair Balm) beforehand and on the morning of the wedding (remember to wipe your lip balm off before you apply lip colour though so that they don’t interfere with each other).
Applying a primer under your foundation will help your makeup stay put all day and can improve the texture of your skin so that it looks more flawless. If you tend to get an oily T-Zone, choose an oil free primer such as the Award Winning Laura Mercier Foundation Primer.
3. Blend Your Foundation
Apply your foundation with a foundation brush and blend blend blend… Avoid using too much foundation, as contrary to what you may think, it won’t give you long lasting power, it will sit on the surface of the skin and eventually slide off. Take your foundation down onto your neck slightly and even onto your ears as the colour difference could be noticeable in photos (even if the contrast isn’t noticeable in your mirror).
4. When To Apply Concealer
Always apply your concealer after your foundation so that you can see where you need more coverage. Use a tiny brush to conceal any blemishes and conceal well under the eye area (after you’ve applied your eye makeup to create a clean, fresh under eye area).
p.s. Lots of brides have skin breakouts on the day of their weddings, so don’t despair, concealer is your best friend so utilise it!
5. Set with Powder
It’s a good idea to brush a light dusting of powder over the face to set your foundation, but if you have very dry skin skip this step and if you are using a cream textured blush, bronzer or highlighter, beware as the powder will interfere with these creamy products and you won’t get a flawless finish.
6. Contouring
Add definition to your cheekbones by sweeping bronzer into and just above the hollow of your cheekbones and warm up your skin tone by applying some onto the hairline and temples. Then apply a highlighter (Benefit High Beam is a good one) onto the top of the cheekbones, down the nose and on the cupids bow, just above the lip area. This combination of bronzer and highlighter will be really flattering and look stunning on your photos.
7. It’s In The Eyes
This is the time to have a think about what the colour your wedding theme is, what colour are your bridesmaids wearing? And what colours are in your bouquet? You may have chosen cool colours such as pale pink or violet or you may be opting for warmer colours such as coral or peach. There’s no need to match your make-up exactly with your wedding colours but it’s good to be mindful about avoiding any harsh clashes. For long-lasting wedding makeup use an eye base or primer under your eye shadow. Such as the Mac Paint Pots (Groundwork or Painterly are great colour options for bridal makeup).
When it comes to choosing eye shadow colours, it’s best to stick to natural tones, if you’re unsure then I suggest you apply varying shades of natural browns as these suit all skin tones and are flattering on all eye colours.
However here’s a quick summary of what eye shadow colours suit different eye colours:
- Blue eyes – suit oranges/warm browns
- Green eyes – suit purples/plums
- Brown eyes – suit greens and light/shade
8. Choose a Good Eyeliner
The 3 main choices of eyeliner are pencil, gel or liquid. If you are good at applying liquid or gel and you do it every day, then go for it! But if you are less confident then definitely go for the pencil option as it’s much easier to control and you can smudge with a little bit of eye shadow for a softer look. Even if you’re worried you will look too made up, it is a good idea to apply even a small amount of eyeliner for definition in your photos. Go for dark brown if in doubt, it suits everyone! My favourite is: Mac’s Eyeliner in ‘Teddy’.
9. Luscious Lashes
Curl your lashes first as this will make a huge different to how full and long your lashes look and wear a waterproof mascara so you can allow yourself a tearful moment or two. My fave is Christian Dior Iconic Waterproof Mascara. Apply 2-3 layers for maximum effect.
For DIY bridal make-up I would steer clear of applying your own false lashes unless you are REALLY confident as this could really stress you out! I would suggest you have semi-permanent lashes applied professionally 2-3 days before your wedding day if you want the full on glam effect – they will look good for a couple of weeks so ideal for your honeymoon too!
10. You’re Making Me Blush
Don’t forget to add blusher to your DIY bridal make-up look – I find women often leave this step out and can subsequently look a little flat and dull. A pop of colour on the cheeks will look youthful and healthy.
11. Kiss Kiss
This is the time to think about balance… If you have gone for a strong, smoky eye make-up, I would recommend you choose a softer lip colour. If you have opted for a natural eye then this might be the time to go for a vibrant lip colour. Again, make sure you don’t veer too far from what you (and your groom) are used to, so you still feel like “you”. Apply a lip liner all over the lip then pat the edges softly for a more modern look. Apply a coat of lipstick then blot with tissue and repeat. For a more glamorous finish you can add a lip gloss (if you have thin lips this is a good idea as gloss gives the illusion of fuller lips).
12. For your handbag
My 3 essential make-up products for any brides’ handbag are:
- Concealer – my favourite is Clinique’s Airbrush Concealer
- Blusher – my favourite is Laura Mercier’s Crème Blush in Oleander
- Lipstick – my favourite is Mac’s Plink! Lipstick
And finally –
Relax and feel gorgeous! Remember that a smile will brighten your face & as Marilyn Monroe famously said “A smile is the best make-up any girl can wear!”
xxx
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Great tips, a good eyeliner is very important I think and lipstick always adds something special.
Truly a very amazing article for would be brides. DIY makeup is very popular nowadays and hence this detailed overview of how to go about it would be very useful for brides who wished for doing makeup on their own.
The DIY bride is definitely a growing trend and for good reason! This article is great for brides who wish to do their own makeup. As a makeup artist, who takes care of plenty of brides on their big days, I would just say to make sure you do a bit of practice before the big day and I like to recommend a good quality makeup setting spray! It will help to keep you fresh throughout the night 🙂
Amazing post you share & I really love DIY makeup; its also trending in current fashion market & very helpful for brides.