The 7 Essential Steps of Bridal Makeup
Doing your own wedding makeup may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Professional makeup artists come at a price that you may want to avoid-especially when splurging on ceremonial details or a lavish honeymoon vacation. Besides, nobody knows your facial features quite like you do!
Below are some tips for creating a gorgeous bridal makeup look that will last all night long.
1. Prepare Your Canvas
A good makeup look begins with what’s underneath: your skin. Develop a good skincare routine at least a few months before your wedding to avoid any skin purges or irritation. A simple three-step routine will work just fine: cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Consult your dermatologist for any specific recommendations, such as anti-aging or acne-fighting products.
When starting a new routine, always choose gentle products that aren’t likely to irritate your skin or cause any further breakouts.
Choose a Gentle Facial Cleanser
Look for something fragrance-free that can be used twice daily, such as the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser from Amazon. Some women swear by the double cleanse, which incorporates both an oil-based and water-based cleanser to remove any and all impurities. However, this isn’t necessary for light makeup-wearers.
Use a Toner Daily
Toners are another important part of your daily skincare routine. Used after cleansing, toners remove any leftover dirt and shrink the appearance of the pores. This is especially good before a big event like a wedding to avoid large pores appearing in your photos. A gentle toner like witch hazel is good for beginners.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized and Protected
Lastly, choose a moisturizer with an SPF component. Even in cloudy weather, the sun can do great damage to your skin. The last thing you want in your wedding photos is sun damage spots! Neutrogena and Cetaphil make great affordable moisturizers that won’t irritate your skin.
2. Apply a Good Primer
Arguably, priming your skin is the most important step in your makeup routine. Applied under your face makeup, primer creates a base for your foundation and concealer to stick to. Whether you sweat, cry, or dance all night, a good primer will ensure that your makeup stays on your face.
To apply primer, simply squeeze a small, pea-sized drop onto your fingertips and gently rub to warm it up. Massage the product into the skin like you would a moisturizer, ensuring to cover all areas that your makeup will touch. If you’re planning on wearing eye makeup, be sure to invest in a good eyeshadow primer as well. This will keep the eyeshadow pigment from creasing or fading.
For affordable primers, we recommend Maybelline’s Baby Skin Pore Eraser or e.l.f.’s Poreless Putty. If you’re searching for something a little more expensive, look to classic brands like Benefit or Too Faced.
3. Build Your Foundation
It’s time to create that flawless skin finish! This can be achieved in several ways: tinted moisturizer, medium coverage concealer, or full coverage foundation. Every bride is different, and if they have oily skin you may need that perfect foundation for oily skin. Brides can be specific in what they want, so take some time to decide whether you’re going for a more glamorous or natural look.
Tinted Moisturizer
If you’re going for a natural look, you’ll want to consider using a tinted moisturizer or CC cream on your big day. This color-correcting product works to even out the skin tone without covering it all the way up. Pair it with a light concealer under the eyes and on any blemishes for that effortlessly chic no-makeup look.
Medium Coverage Concealer
For something with a little more coverage, try a medium-coverage concealer under the eyes and on any high points of the face. This strategy works great for contouring.
Full-Coverage Foundation
If you still aren’t satisfied, try a full-coverage foundation. While this will feel quite a bit heavier, your skin tone will be completely evened out, and any dark marks or blemishes will be covered. Many brides choose a full coverage foundation to appear flawless in their photos.
No matter what you choose, be sure to have the proper tools for application. A damp sponge or foundation brush should be used to buff the product into the skin evenly without leaving any streaks. Don’t forget to blend into the neck!
4. Create Some Dimension with Bronzer
After applying foundation or concealer, you may look washed out. That’s where bronzer comes into play. Bronzer (or contour, if you’re feeling it) adds dimension back into the face for that sun-kissed glow. Choose a shade darker than your natural skin tone, but not so dark that you’ll look like a character from a Tim Burton film!
To apply bronzer, use an angled powder brush and upward strokes to buff the powder into the hollows of your cheeks, your temple, and your jawline.
5. Add Blush for a Pop of Color
Now’s the time to add some color back to your face. Choose a light pink or peachy blush to achieve a beautiful, innocent look perfect for a bride on her wedding day. Apply conservatively; a little bit of blush goes a long way.
Similar to bronzer, blush can be applied using a powder brush on the apples of your cheek. For a more youthful look, blend the blush onto your nose.
6. Define Your Eyes with Shadow
Eye makeup is by far the most noticeable part of the bridal makeup look. Here’s where you can really let your personality shine! If you’re going for the sweet and innocent look, a blend of natural colors will compliment your face while letting your natural features shine. On the other hand, if you want to make a statement, choose eyeshadow colors that are dark and smoky. For even more fun, add a pop of color!
You will need four colors to achieve a basic eyeshadow look. Here’s how to do it step by step:
- Start by applying a base color over your whole eyelid.
- Take a slightly darker shade and blend that into your crease, being sure to define your eye shape.
- Take your second darkest shade and blend that into the outer corner of your eye.
- Using a highlighting shade, add a touch of shadow to your inner eye and underneath your eyebrow, on the bone. Don’t forget to define your eyebrows! (need to touch up your eyebrows quickly and easily, learn how to microblade from home in that article!)
7. Choose a Smudge-Proof Lip Product
Lastly, choose a kiss-proof lip product that you won’t need to constantly reapply. A tinted Chapstick or neutral lipstick is the best way to go to avoid bright red on your teeth when you smile. A gloss may be too sticky and pose problems during the ceremony. In a pinch, err on the side of caution.
Be sure to coordinate your eye makeup and lips. If you choose a dramatic eye look, opt for a neutral lip, and vice versa.
Makeup Tips for the Big Day
Now that you have a framework for your makeup look, there are some other things to consider before the big day. Here are some tips to ensure getting ready goes off without a hitch so that you can get hitched!
- Test your makeup before the wedding. The last thing you want is any surprises. Make sure everything looks exactly the way you want.
- Choose some inspiration. A great way to decide which makeup you’d like is to search for bridal looks online. This will help you visualize how you might look all dolled up.
- Waterproof mascara is your friend. While we all dream of our partners shedding a tear during the ceremony, it may not be so attractive when black mascara is running down your face! Opt for something waterproof, and enjoy your night! (Such as the best little mascara which is smear proof, sweat proof, smudge proof and budge proof!)
Knowing how much does the average woman spend on makeup per month could give you an idea of how much you should spend and not go over the line.Spending money on makeup is worth it when you want your makeup look to be on point and flawless.
Whether you choose to go bold or natural for your big day, these seven essential steps will help you to achieve a perfect makeup look without any added stress. And if you want to learn even more, you can take bridal makeup courses online as well, and once you take the courses, you might just be ready to get your first bridal makeup client! Whatever you choose to do, we wish you the best on your big day!
