There are all kinds of reasons why you might choose to do your own wedding makeup. Maybe you love makeup, have an aptitude for it, and know you'll knock it out of the park. Or perhaps you don't like to wear a lot of makeup and feel more comfortable being in control of your look. Or you may want a more budget-friendly option, weddings ARE expensive after all. Or - horror of horrors - you waited until the last minute and no artists are available for your wedding date. It happens!
First: it's going to be OK! You've GOT this, and I'm here to offer you a step-by-step breakdown on achieving a beautiful DIY Bridal Makeup look on yourself. Practice at home or use as inspiration for your next big event - this Soft Natural Glam makeup look is a timeless classic.
Makeup by Tabitha Colie, Photo by Jen Jones
Step 1: Prep the canvas All good makeup begins with clean, hydrated skin. Cleanse thoroughly, spritz with a hydrating mist, and use a light hydrator. These are my current favorites. Step 2: Shape the brows The brows provide the frame for your most expressive features - your eyes. Enhance your natural brow color and set hairs in place with a tinted brow gel like this one from Ere Perez, which works on a wide variety of brow colors. Step 3: Enhance the eyes You can't go wrong with a neutral palette like this one from Ilia. To create an eye look like I did on Kayla (pictured above), first prime the lid so that your makeup will last all day with a primer like this one from Milk. I use this for all of my summer brides and it is amazingly sweatproof!
Then, sweep the lightest color in the palette (upper left corner) over the entire eyelid and into the crease. Then, using the mid-brown shade (middle right), tap lightly into the crease and below the lower lash line. Blend very well so that you don't see any edges.
Using a small detail brush, use the darkest brown shade (lower right) to line the upper lash line, getting as close to the lashes as possible. Leave the line crisp or give it a softer, smokier look, using a small smudge brush to gently smudge the line. For even more definition, line the eye with a deep brown liner. I love Ilia's gel liner in Dusk.
Curl lashes and apply 2 coats of volumizing mascara - make sure it's waterproof. Right now I am using this one from Caliray, and it is miraculous! It's a tubing mascara that really and truly STAYS PUT and it's clean! Step 4: Get a glowing complexion With a damp cotton swab, clean up any powder that has fallen under the eyes. This is why I always ALWAYS do the eyes before moving on to foundation.
Use a foundation brush or Beauty Blender to apply a medium-coverage foundation. In my opinion there is none better than MOB Beauty's Blurring Ceramide Cream Foundation. The shade range is extensive, it has skin-loving ingredients, and it holds up all day long.
With MOB's foundation you don't need a separate concealer - just build up coverage anywhere you need a little extra.
Now the secret to getting that beautiful glow is this: Westman Atelier's Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in Peau de Pesche. It's part bronzer, part highlighter, part blush - all magic. One product, loads of color payoff! Step 5: Lips that last Let the lips be the very last thing you do before stepping out the door. For the longest wear, line with a lip pencil and then top with lipstick and a little gloss. Bridal lip color is so personal, so I've linked all of my favorite bridal lipsticks that look good on everyone. Don't forget your bridesmaids too - many of my brides gift a lipstick to their wedding party for touch-ups all night long. Step 6: Set it and forget it (kind of....with touch ups)
Now comes the most important part - setting your makeup to last. Use a big fluffy brush or a powder push to lightly dust a translucent setting powder all over, including over your eye makeup. Then, use a setting spray to make sure it holds up to all of the elements as well as your killer dance moves. Even with all of this, it IS makeup and it will move with your skin. If there are tears and sweat, you'll want to make sure to do a touch-up or two before photos.
Step 7: Did you do this? Let me know how it goes!! beauty@tabithacolie.com
Comments