“Never ask a girl with winged eyeliner why she’s late.”
Makeup is every girl’s ‘first love’! And we are sure even tu ne sais peut-être pas how many Youtube DIY makeup videos you have seen so far since the moment you learned the advantages of wearing makeup. After all, skincare and beauty is the hot topic du jour. Do you know any girl on this earth who doesn’t like doing makeup? Well, we don’t! With so many online sources and excellent makeup products doing self makeup is no rocket science for a woman who is on the ball still even a modern bride who is proficient in this art would want to hire a professional makeup artist to achieve her dream wedding look for her big day. And we are not surprised! At the end of the day, you want to look confident and the best on the most special day of your life. No doubt, professional hands can make or break your look. But if you keep in mind a few pointers, you can be your makeup artist. Easier said than done? Well, you won’t think so after giving this article a thorough read.
First off, let’s shout out to the brides who dare to experiment and look forward to cutting down the unnecessary wedding expenses. When it comes down to wearing makeup for the wedding day, the benefits go beyond looks. Not only your vanity box can become a treasure chest of joy and fun but also can save you a fortune. Maybe ‘tis the reason why more and more brides (budget-savvy brides or high-budget brides who usually hang the cost for their wedding day) are turning to DIY wedding makeup. There’s something so arresting and magical about those tiny cute bottles, tubes, containers, glass boxes, pencils, palettes, and brushes placed on your dressing table which has the power to transform an ordinary face into an extraordinary one. When it comes to the wedding day- besides making sure your makeup lasts till you make a grand wedding exit, you want it to look spectacular and flawless in wedding photos. And what better way to express yourself in your own unique way! So our dear bride get ready to moonlight as your own makeup artist!
Makeup is not a new kid on the block for us girls. We’ve all undergone our own personal journeys with makeup that may or may not have involved many, many YouTube tutorials and life learnings like which eyeshadow and lip color suit us, which waterproof mascaras and kohl brave our tears, and which lipsticks are most and least likely to smudge during daily routine. Sky’s the limit when it comes to beauty products but remember not every cosmetic is for you. Do not dare to experiment on the day of your wedding and make the most of your life experience with cosmetics.
Ladies usually have all the required makeup articles in their vanity and as soon-to-be brides, they don't need to buy all new makeup whether they want a minimalist bridal look or the full-on red-carpet look for their special occasion. Do a thorough inspection of your cosmetics. We are sure you will find most of the products that offer up the perfect finish and match your skin tone exactly. Stick with the products you're positive will work for you. Make a list of the additional items that you need for your perfect bridal look and buy them beforehand so you have ample time at hand to practice.
Practice makes the man perfect! No matter how proficient you are at makeup doing it for the first time on the wedding day is a big NO. Remember confidence is good but overconfidence always sinks the ship. On the big day, there is no room for carelessness. The best way to steer clear of any goof-ups is a trial run. Keep your bridal gown and bridal accessories in mind and start practicing until you are confident about the look you want for your red-letter day. Practice a lot before the wedding and make final changes to your bridal look if you want. See your whole look pulled together, with a veil or no veil, before the big day. Jotting down the ingredients that helped you nail down the perfect wedding day look is a great idea as in the thick of wedding planning we tend to forget little things that might cause a big disaster.
You can’t achieve that dreamy bridal look in one day. Regular facials, a healthy diet, yoga, and work-out are the BFF that stay by your side to reflect the best in you through your skin. We need a clean canvas to paint, after all. A flawless face is the best possible canvas to paint a bridal look on it. If you have deep pockets, enroll yourself into pre-wedding bridal sessions or simply start visiting salons at least once a month for facials. If the budget doesn’t allow splurge on at-home facials and face-masks or face-packs. Do not step out without putting sunscreen on your face and neck and devote at least 2-3 hours to skin and body. Not only this will make your skin toned and improve your complexion but also make you glow.
Primers are used for hydrating, soothing, or replenishing the skin. Say goodbye to magnified pores, fine lines, and deeper-set lines (if any) for the next 24 hours and so by applying a thin layer of branded primer right after cleansing and moisturizing your skin. In addition to hiding or correcting the unwanted visible flaws, a high-quality primer smoothens and prepares your skin for other strong products. Primer comes in different textures for you to choose from. For instance, pick an illuminating primer to give the skin an instant, radiant base for makeup, or go for a mattifying primer to throw away the excess shine from your oily skin. Also, you need a separate primer for your eyelids than what you've used on the rest of your face. Choose a cream eye shadow that is neutral in tone. Makeup artists suggest you use a bone or nude shade to help even out discoloration on lids. It also makes eye shadow application smooth and easy-breezy if you wish to layer extra powder or cream shadows smack dab over it. You might want to check out these makeup products for your bridal look.
Wondering liquid, powder, or creme-based? Take expert help while buying a foundation that’s a perfect match for your occasion and skin- one that is in accordance with your skin type and gives you a natural look. When we think of foundation, we think of liquids. While dewy finish liquid foundations could be perfect for brides with oily skin textures the matte finish foundations could cause dry skin to flake. There's a perfect liquid foundation out there for every bride, you just have to find it. Coming to powder foundation- in addition to setting your makeup, mineral-based foundations cover up flaws and blemishes and counterbalance the skin tone while being superbly feather-light on the skin. It really helps you get a non-greasy look, however, overuse of powder foundation may make your skin look dry and old. If you want to do contouring, a cream foundation is simply the best option. Unlike powder and liquid foundations (that are hard to concentrate in one area) cream foundation, however, stays where you put it. BMag tip: Mixing a little amount of setting spray with your foundation can do wonders to dilute your thick foundation. Blend it well and don’t forget- less is more, in the case of foundation!
While sunscreen protects your skin from harmful sun rays, it can cause ghostface flashbacks due to zinc and titanium oxides present in its formula. Sunscreen isn't the only cause behind your clown-white appearance though. White finishing powders too could be the culprits. Your wedding makeup is for just one day but your wedding photos are forever and a day and you would not want to ruin them with makeup flashbacks. Avoid SPF-based makeup (or choose the best one)! However, don’t listen to us if you are tying the knot on a beach, outdoor in the mountains, or in the backyard of your nana’s property. In case it's mandatory as per the season or totally against your personality we recommend you use a sunscreen that is no higher than SPF 15; this will help avoid casting your face in unflattering ways in flash photography up to great extent.
Whether you are a summer bride, a winter bride, or even a Zoom bride your makeup should be weather-proof for spectacular bridal portraits. You can’t deny the fact, weather plays a pivotal role in deciding the wedding outfit for yourself and your bridal party. Just like the way you pick your wedding dress according to the season you are going to exchange your nuptials in, you should consider the makeup products and style in accordance with the weather. If the ceremony is long and outside in the height of summer, you're not going to be able to escape from as much makeup as you would if you're doing it in winter indoors; it's going to melt off. Keep a primer handy either way in your wedding-day survival kit.
The big day is the day to go all out when it comes to makeup. Even simple bridal makeup is not that simple it used to be. You would need more strokes than your makeup brushes would usually do. Add more blush to your cheeks (don’t overdo it!) than you might be used to look fresh in the photos. And make sure the blush shade matches your lips. The more the better, when it’s about wedding photography! The lip color intact will keep you from looking washed out. Put all your efforts towards looking like the best version of yourself. Trends come and go and there is no harm in staying away from trends. Zero in on highlighting the things you like about yourself even with modest wedding makeup.
We can’t just blame the SPF and white powders only for ruining the pictures, the sparkly eye shadows, face powders, highlighters equally contribute to the terrible look in the flash photography. Go with neutral, subtle tones, and more matte eye shadows for a perfect camera-worthy look. Color correct your eyes by offsetting any uneven color on the lids and brighten your eyes by using a color corrector or concealer in light shade. The double layer of primer on your eyes creates a base that keeps your eyeshadow in place all day. Buck up your eyes by brightening and neutralizing your eyelids using the correct shades as per the skin tone. Most brides-to-be choose MAC's Pro Longwear Paint Pots for this purpose. While white shade might suit the pale skins, a bone hue could look perfect on brides with medium complexions, and a banana or taupe shade can perfectly enhance the dark skin tones.
For that photo-ready look: Doing makeup to be photographed or for the big day is a different kettle of fish than any other-day look. For your day, opt for lightweight, hydrating, and radiating beauty products only. Not only they allow your makeup to stay but also provide you a non-slippery canvas to attain that most-coveted lit-from-within glow! Add a bit of Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick (available in 5 brilliant shades) by Sephora just on the cheeks and temples to add that instant flash of light to the skin for that celebrity-like glow. Shy away from putting shine to the T-zone, center of the forehead and cheeks, as this will look over-the-top and rival the camera flash. To gain more confidence on the look undergo 2-3 run-throughs and ask someone to photograph you every time to be sure of what you are not going to do on the day of.
They say, “The most beautiful makeup of a woman is confidence. But cosmetics are easier to buy.” No doubt, cosmetics are confidence enhancers but if not for self-confidence all your efforts and money might go down the drain. Regardless of who does your makeup, you have to look confident to look beautiful all day. You may thank the great long-lasting makeup products to paint your face with the look you dreamed of but ultimately it’s your confident smile and expressions that give your makeup a perfect final touch. For that, you have to trust your hands and the words of your well-meaning besties-cum-bridesmaids. After all, they are the ones who would fix your kohl or lipstick when you were high school girls. Ask the most makeup-savvy girl in your gang to be with you during your getting-ready period and we are sure they would love to be there to help you achieve the look of the day.
Feeling and looking good comes from within! Whether you hire a professional make-up artist or not, for that much-needed sweet-sixteen glow you have to start from now. Get adequate sleep, drink plenty of water, watch your diet, take multi-vitamins, go for an early morning run (for vitamin D- it’s free!), get into the habit of using a Vitamin E-enriched lip balm (for kiss-ready lips!), oil your hair (olive and coconut oils are great options!), take care of your hands and feet, exfoliate your body daily, and don’t forget to make time for romantic dates with your fiance (you really need vitamin ‘HE’ or ‘SHE’!). And yes, keep following makeup accounts on Instagram and watching YouTube tutorials, it helps!
There are plenty of things you should keep in your mind while doing your makeup for a special occasion. Branded waterproof and smudge-proof products, matched with your skin-tone can only give the best results when you are using the applicators and brushes that are professional. Equipped with good hands-on DIY makeup experience (that you already are!), you can’t go wrong by deciding to do your bridal makeup all by yourself. It’s a no-brainer ladies, trust us! And amongst ample reasons to take charge of your wedding day make-up, the major one is- we should not forget that C-virus (better not to take its name in 2021!) is still breathing down our necks, let alone professional makeup charges. There is no harm in taking extra precautions during these testing times which will save you a buck or two as well. Plus, the money you would invest in the makeup products would be in your bag to keep you beautiful even after the big day (Hello, gorgeous honeymoon pictures!). So brave your doubts, hold your brushes, and paint the bride of your dreams on you! Break a leg!
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