06 Mar Wedding Makeup Tips
Of course most of us want to be pampered to the fullest on our wedding day and we should! Getting married is one of life’s most magical moments and it should be special from the flowers to the venue, right down to the makeup, hair and nails! But sometimes all that pampering isn’t in the budget. That’s why I’m writing this blog post for you. I’ve had the pleasure of planning a coupe weddings so I know how the expenses can add up! Before you know it, you’re over budget and without a makeup and hair team. Well don’t fret, all is not lost!! With a few easy wedding makeup tips you’ll be able to do your own makeup on your special day and still look flawless.
TIPS # 1: SKIN CARE
I cannot stress enough the importance of a good skin care routine. Not only in the months leading up to your wedding day but for everyday use! Our faces are constantly exposed to all kinds of harsh weather, dirt, oils, sun exposure, germs and more on an everyday basis! That’s why it’s imperative to take care of your skin on the regular to help keep it looking young and fresh.
Skin care (cleanser, toner & moisturizer) can be a little pricey at times but it’s worth every penny. I recommend that you invest in high quality skin care that is backed by actual research, free of harmful chemicals and non-toxic. Then start washing your washing your face morning and night at least 2-3 months before the wedding. There are SOOOOOOO many different skin care lines out there and not all of them are worth your time and money. My personal favorite is the Arbonne AgeWell Skin Care Line. When I was having problematic skin a few years back this skin care line saved my life after ONE wash!! I’m not kidding you, ONE WASH! It’s amazing! Another thing I love about this line is that it removes your makeup. The cleanser is so gentle yet so effective at removing dirt, oils and impurities from your skin, which a lot of cleaners don’t do! If you have waterproof mascara or liquid lipstick you’ll need some makeup remover, but otherwise this cleanser will do the trick. It’s also %100 cruelty free, never tested on animals, completely natural, vegan and all that good stuff. Plus as an added bonus the packaging is gorgeous and each bottle can last you 3-4 months! If you want to check it out, just click the image above and you’ll be directed to my personal web page where you can learn more about the line.
TIP # 2: PRIMER
Next thing you’ll need for you wedding day makeup is a good primer! Primer is used after your skin care routine, on top of your moisturizer and underneath your foundation. The reason you need a good primer is to help minimize pores, smooth out uneven skin, control oils or to add a little extra dewyness if needed. Primers also help your foundation go on like butter and last longer. There are oodles of different primers out there, some good, some great and some just to damn expensive to care. (I’ll list my favs below).
If you have oily skin look for a primer that helps mattify the skin and if you have dry skin I recommend a hydrating primer to give you the extra moisture that your skin needs.
Favorite overall primer: Arbonne Makeup Primer
Primer for dry skin: Smashbox Photo Finishing Primer in Radiance
Primer for oily skin: Smashbox Photo Finishing Primer in Pore Minimizing
Tip # 3: Foundation
When choosing a foundation for your wedding day one of the main things to look for is the SPF levels. When a foundation has SPF it can cause what’s called “flashback” which is simply a white cast on your skin when the photographer uses their flash. It’s not a pretty scene when you look like a white ghost in all your pictures so be sure to find a foundation with a low SPF level of 10-15 max.
Another thing to keep in mind is the coverage and finish. Try and find a foundation that isn’t too dewy, with low SPF and full to medium coverage. Also when choosing a shade take into consideration the color of your BODY rather than your face. If you’re going to get a spray tan or use self-tanner then you’ll want to find a foundation that matches your body, otherwise you’ll look a bit funny in pictures with a dark body and bright white face.
And last thing to consider is the INGREDIENTS. Please, please heed these words when I say the beauty market is literally poisonings our bodies and the environment with toxins, hormone disruptors and carcinogens. If you’d like to find out more about the ugly truth behind our cosmetics check out the documentary Toxic Beauty, available on Amazon Prime. That being said here are a couple brands that use clean and safe ingredients:
Arbonne is a brand that uses vegan, GF, non-toxic, %100 clean and safe ingredients. I’ve use their products for years and all my clients love their stuff.
Ilia is another brand that I have found which has really clean ingredients. I haven’t personally tried their stuff but I looked into their brand and it’s free of all the harmful junk.
100% Pure is another brand that I have looked into and they have very clean ingredients. I haven’t used their stuff personally but they have great reviews so it must be good.
I hope you find the above information helpful when picking out a foundation for not only your wedding but for everyday use.
***Don’t forget to powder after applying your foundation and concealer!!***
Tip # 4: Eye shadow
A couple brief tips to keep in mind for wedding day makeup eyeshadow. First thing that I recommend is to apply a good base for your eyeshadow to stick to such as an eye shadow primer or even your concealer will work. After applying the base, set it with a translucent powder or a light matte eye shadow. Doing this will give your eye shadow something to grab onto, makes blending a breeze and minimizes creasing.
The next tip is in regards to color. Of course a bright flashy eye shadow looks awesome on days when you want to play up your makeup look. But just because it’s in style now doesn’t mean it will be in 20 years. You want to be able to look through your wedding album and no matter what decade it is, you’re still the timeless beauty you were on your wedding day. So put away the glitter liner and the blue and green shadows and choose some beautiful neutrals that compliment your eye color.
And lastly that inner corner highlight! Applying a white or near white, shimmery shadow to the very inner corner of your eye really opens up the eyes and makes you look bright and refreshed. You can use just about any shimmery eye shadow for this or your favorite highlighter.
Tip #5: Setting Spray
Using a makeup setting spray after you’ve applied all your makeup does exactly that, it sets the makeup in place and helps it to last all day. Plus I also find it softens the powdery finish and looks that much more natural. Not all setting sprays are created equal though and some simply don’t work at all. Morphe has a great setting spray that beauty influencers love, Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is good as well. But as I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, the ingredients contain all kinds toxins that aren’t good for you! Check out the brands I listed above, I believe they all have setting sprays.
Tip # 6: Grooming
Let’s face it, we all have hair in places we’d rather not! It’s sooooo important to groom your brows and any unwanted facial hair because even tiny, blonde fuzz above our lips will show up in any close ups and believe me it’s not something you want to have in the memories of your special day. So get that pesky facial fuzz & brows cleaned up for your special day. I personally find threading the most effective of hair removal, painful but effective. But make sure you do any kind of hair removal at least 3 days before the big day to allow any redness or soreness to fully heal.
And that’s about it for my wedding day makeup tips. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. Congratulations on your big day! May it be everything you ever dreamed it would be.