Through my own wedding planning process, there have been lots of decisions. Like, a million of them. From dinner entrees to vendors to what cups to use, it has been a lot of decisions.
Once you get all the big things out of the way, like photographer, venue, caterer, you get to the fun stuff. The dress, the hair, the makeup. What do you want to look like on your big day? Are you the Glam girl that loves to play up her eyes? Or the natural girl that doesn't wear much makeup? Whatever your style is, rock it on the big day! This is the time to absolutely be your amazing self.
As I make preparations for my own wedding day, I am blessed to have this makeup thing down pat! Every girl should have the option to do their makeup on their big day if they feel comfortable. With that being said, make sure you use these tips to make the most of your makeup and keep it looking stunning all day. This post if for anyone, the mascara-&-lipbalm chic or the glamour-girl, here are some tips every bride needs to follow.
***Note: I'm a makeup professional and HIGHLY encourage brides to have a makeup artist do their makeup the day of. Those pictures do last forever! Whether you choose to have a makeup artist or not, make sure that you have spoken with them about your likes & dislikes and they clearly understand your vision. You don't want it to turn into their version of what they think you should look like on your wedding day. It is your beautiful version that should always be #1 priority.***
#1 Don't skimp on the essentials.
It doesn't have to cost a fortune to get high quality, luxury makeup. There are some products that you should spend a little more on than others to get the look you desire & will last all day long.
Foundation primer- We don't need our makeup to go anywhere...especially since there are many factors against you that day. White dress + makeup runs = disaster! Foundation primer ensures it's not going anywhere.
Makeup Finishing spray- These are not all made equally, so be careful when purchasing. You should be able to put on makeup finishing spray, go to the gym for an hour, sweat profusely, & your makeup stay in the same spot. Try it out. (And MK has a 100% guarantee...so if you don't like it you can actually return it!)
Eyeshadow primer/base- You don't want you makeup to go anywhere, especially anything around your eyes. Once you apply eye primer, also put on a concealor base that is one shade lighter than your foundation. This is guarantee your shadow looks like the color it is meant to, without the blue tint from the veins on your eyelids, which will tint the shadow.
Mascara- A high quality mascara is the best thing in the world. It is like Christmas to me when I get to open a fresh new tube. Heavenly! Mascara makes all the difference in the world, especially if you are rocking falsies. I suggest the Lash Love black mascara...waterproof of course. :)
Brushes- These will make all the difference in the world. You shouldn't put on any product without a brush. It's designed to use brushes and that's how you will get the best look. Not to mention, it makes your product last almost 2x longer! Love it!
#2 Trends vs Classic
Remember the blue shadow in the 80's? Brides that used this look on their big day probably regret it when they look through their pictures now. Make sure to pick a look based on your eye color and your likes/dislikes. a Mary Kay beauty consultant can provide this service...for free! They will custom design a look to fit your needs and make you look stunning.
Just because it is on trend now doesn't mean it will be in 30 years, when you still have your pictures to prove it.
#3 Purchase & use a consistent skincare routine at least a year in advance
You want to have radiant skin. Period. We all do. Make sure to find skincare that does its job and gives you the best results. Invest in skincare, not off the shelf at Walmart. A professional consultant will be able to assess your skin and your needs to provide what products will work best for you. If that skincare needs to be tweaked, you need ample time to be able to do that. You also want to have enough time to get your skin looking so wonderful you don't need a ton of makeup if you don't want to. Makeup is fun, but skincare should be the #1 priority.
#4 When is your wedding? What part of the year?
Now, onto makeup. You should wait until about a month out to purchase makeup for the big day or do any makeup trials, especially if your complexion gets lighter or darker according to the seasons. I love tanning (after I slather on the SPF, of course!) and my foundation, concealor, and even blushes that I use during the winter look horrible on me now that I am tan. You need to wait so you can make sure the colors are exactly what you need to compliment your skin tone.
#5 Adding eyeliner on your waterline under your eye will make your eyes look smaller
See what I'm saying? To make eyes look bigger, don't go all around, just from the outer corner about a third or half toward the inner corner. And make sure to smudge your eyeliner on top so it gives you a softer look, not such a rocker-chic look, unless that's what you are going for. You can also purchase a white eyeliner to use on lower waterline to make your eyes look whiter & you look much more awake. Especially helpful if you had a little too much fun with the vino at the rehearsal dinner. :)
#6 Your makeup WILL look different in professional photos than on your smartphone camera
You may need to add a bit more makeup to make sure the effects will be seen on film. Keep this in mind and do a few test runs. Ask a friend with a semi-professional camera to shoot a couple pics so you can see what you need to amp up. Ask yourself, what needs to be added? The most common are blush, mascara, and lipstick. Try to find the middle ground of "what looks good in real life" and "what looks good in pictures".
Also check your makeup in artificial light & natural light. Take a mirror along and take a walk in both. Do you look a tad more yellow/pale in some? You may need to change the shade of your foundation and match your undertone more.
#7 To wear or not to wear fake lashes?? That is the question!
There are tons of videos online about how to apply fake lashes and most of them are decent. If you don't want to wear fake ones and want to make the most of yours, you can also check out this video on a step-by-step tutorial & products she uses to make hers look amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6qm18ZkO2w
#8 Contouring...how bad can it be??
It doesn't have to be scary! It can pop your features or help hide problem areas. Watch it to get amazing cheekbones & an awesome glow, even better for those summertime brides!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Me1URO9inM
#9 Let's talk about eyebrows...
Don't be a statistic with crazy brows, like I know you have seen on Pinterest. Just watch a video to learn how you need them to look! It's really a lot easier than you think it is. If I can learn, anyone can! I adore our mechanical brow pencil, it gives a softer look and puts color on your actual brow rather than your skin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfYld985CT8
#10 Use a lip primer & make your MOH your lipstick holder/watcher
Any primer is going to keep whatever product you put on last way longer than normal. On the wedding day, you will be talking, drinking, all kinds of things and will need to reapply your lipstick. If you wear a gloss, it will wear off faster. Your MOH can have that job of maing sure you always have lips on. Soooooo important in pictures! Without any color whatsoever on your lips makes people look a little on the undead side.
And there you have it! There are tons more tips and tricks for bridal makeup & DIY application that you can learn from your own Mary Kay consultant. Don't know one in your area? Head to marykay.com and click "Find a Consultant." Enter in your zip code & voila!
In the Kentucky area? Hit me up and I am at your service!
bleedpink101@gmail.com
Have more tips on DIY bridal makeup??
Comment below! We would love to hear from you!
