Perfecting Your Wedding Day Makeup Look

Doing your own makeup for your wedding can be a great way to save money and ensure you get the look you want. However, it can also be stressful, especially if you're not confident in your makeup skills. If you're thinking of doing your own wedding makeup, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to practice the look beforehand and give yourself plenty of time to prepare and perfect your technique. You should also invest in good-quality products, including a long-lasting foundation, concealer, setting powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick or lip gloss. On the day itself, start by prepping your skin with a moisturiser and primer. Then, apply your base products, including foundation, concealer, and bronzer, and blend well. Add eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, and finish with lipstick or lip gloss. Remember to take into account factors such as your skin tone and the colour of your wedding dress when choosing your makeup look.

Prep your skin

Prepping your skin is the most important step when it comes to bridal makeup. It is crucial to have a good skincare routine in the run-up to your wedding day, as well as on the day itself.

Six to 12 Months Before the Wedding

If you are thinking of trying out injectables like Botox or a filler, the best thing to do is grant yourself as much time as possible. The more time you give yourself, the more options you will have in terms of procedures, downtime, and cost. Ideally, you should come in for an initial consult and injectable treatments at least six months in advance. This gives your dermatologist enough time to understand your expectations and see how your skin responds to the treatment.

Six Months Before the Wedding

Now is the time to start a new retinoid. Retinoids are a vitamin-A derivative that increases cell turnover and makes way for fresh, new cells to reach the surface of your skin. They can help treat acne, rough or congested skin, and hyperpigmentation issues. Despite their reputation as one of the most effective skincare ingredients on the market, retinoids are not a quick fix. You shouldn't expect to see great results overnight or even within the first week. As your skin adjusts to the treatment, it's normal to experience flaking, dry skin, and purging during the first month or so. If you're working with a dermatologist, they will help you adjust your dosage and application method to minimize negative side effects and ensure that you're getting the full benefits by your wedding day.

It's also a good idea to start looking for an aesthetician about six months in advance. That gives them enough time to get to know your skin and perform multiple treatments to help resurface and smooth your complexion.

Four Months Before the Wedding

If your primary concern is eradicating sun spots or hyperpigmentation, speak with your dermatologist about the possibility of laser treatments. Laser treatments work by sending pulses of highly concentrated light to the affected area, penetrating the skin, and heating up and destroying the hyperpigmentation. This results in the hyperpigmentation spot turning into a scab, flaking off, and revealing brighter and more even-toned skin underneath. Depending on how severe the scarring is, you will generally need about three or four laser treatments before the wedding day to see optimal results. So, it's recommended to come in for a laser consultation about four to six months in advance. This gives you enough time to assess how your skin reacts to the treatments and gauge how long the downtime will be for your particular skin type, while also having the flexibility to tweak the treatments as needed.

Three Months Before the Wedding

Now is the time to start new AHAs and BHAs. Acids such as AHAs and BHAs are generally not as effective at rebuilding collagen in the skin as retinoids, but they are capable of providing fantastic results when it comes to hyperpigmentation, dullness, acne, or textural issues. Consider a gentle, yet exfoliating toner like the coveted Biologique Recherche P50W, or opt for Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Serum, which utilizes vitamin C, AHAs, and BHAs to impart glowing skin. Masks and peels by Dr. Dennis Gross or Paula’s Choice could also be a good option.

In order to integrate an acid into your at-home skincare routine while ensuring that the percentage is right for your skin, it’s recommended to start with low- to medium-strength products (around 1 to 10 percent AHAs and 0.5 to 1 percent BHAs) and then increase only if necessary. If you experience any kind of irritation, redness, or flakiness after you begin using the product, it’s likely that the formula is too strong for your skin and you should stop using it.

One Month Before the Wedding

Your final Botox appointment should be done no less than one month prior to your wedding day. That way, the treatment will have settled into your skin, while still giving a little bit of time to heal in case of swelling or bruising.

One Week Before the Wedding

Get your final facial one week before your wedding. The last treatment should focus on keeping the skin hydrated and healthy and avoid any kind of extractions or peels that might leave the skin red or irritated. Oxygen therapy and hydrating serums, as well as ultrasound modalities to decrease puffiness, are great treatments to ensure your skin looks beautiful and glowy.

In order to avoid any possible skin irritation on the day of your wedding, some dermatologists and aestheticians may recommend that you stop using exfoliators or retinoids about a week prior. Instead, opt for hydrating and calming serums, essences, or toners to soothe and quench the skin.

The Day Before the Wedding

The day before your wedding, your skincare should focus on delivering layers of hydration and soothing ingredients to your complexion. Look for products that provide deep hydration, such as hyaluronic acid or ingredients that support your skin’s natural barrier.

It's also important to prepare the skin with water-based skincare rather than oil- or silicone-heavy products. Water-based formulas provide a lightweight, non-greasy feel while still deeply quenching the skin and locking down the pigment of your foundation. They are also less likely to pill or separate your makeup, so you can apply layers of product on top without interruption.

On the Morning of Your Wedding

On the morning of your wedding, prepping your skin is crucial. Use a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer to give yourself a glow and an eye cream to correct dark circles and depuff your face before applying your makeup. And if you want your look to last from the ceremony through your after-party, don’t overlook primer. Primer helps smooth the skin’s appearance and helps your makeup wear longer.

Choose a foundation

When choosing a foundation for your wedding day, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is important to test out the foundation beforehand to see how it looks in different environments and lighting. You should also consider your skin type when choosing a foundation. If you have oily skin, for example, a powder foundation might be a good option, whereas if you have dry skin, a liquid or cream foundation might be more suitable.

Another thing to keep in mind is the level of coverage you want. If you don't usually wear foundation, a tinted moisturiser or BB cream might be a good option for a very light coverage. For medium coverage, you could try a stick foundation or a liquid foundation, and for full coverage, you could opt for a powder or liquid foundation.

Some specific foundations that are often recommended for bridal makeup include:

• Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
• Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick
• Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation
• Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation
• Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
• Nars Sheer Glow Foundation
• Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation
• Bobbi Brown Skin Long-wear Weightless Foundation
• MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
• Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Serum Foundation
• La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation
• Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
• Chanel Ultra La Teint Velvet
• Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick
• Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation

When applying your foundation, it is recommended to use a brush to ensure an even and buildable application, and then go over it with a sponge to remove any excess and help it adhere to your skin. It is also important to set your foundation with a powder, especially if you have oily skin, to avoid shine in photos.

Conceal and contour

The first step to achieving a flawless bridal makeup look is to prep your skin. Start by washing your face and applying a light moisturiser. If you have any blemishes, dab them with a suitable product. You can also use a gentle exfoliating cleanser to ensure your skin is soft and ready for makeup application.

Primer is essential for bridal makeup as it helps the makeup last longer and creates a smooth base. After applying primer, it's time to move on to foundation. Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone and undertone, and apply it in thin layers, starting from the centre of your face and blending outwards.

Once your foundation is blended, it's time to conceal. Use a concealer brush to dot a liquid concealer that matches your skin tone under your eyes and on any blemishes. Pat the concealer with your brush to spread it, and use a damp makeup sponge to blend it further if needed.

Contouring is a technique that uses shadows to sculpt your face. Use a contour product that is two to three shades darker than your skin tone, and apply it to the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, and on your eyelids to make your eyes appear larger. Remember to blend well to avoid harsh lines.

To add warmth to your face, sweep a bronzer on the high points of your face, such as the tops of your cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and collarbone. Finish by applying a setting powder to ensure your makeup lasts all day.

Products

• Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
• Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer with SPF 35
• Bobbi Brown Instant Full Cover Concealer
• Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Concealing Cream
• Revlon Colorstay Concealer
• NYX Cosmetics Full Coverage Concealer

Blush and bronzer

Choosing the Right Blush and Bronzer

When choosing your bronzer and blush, it's important to consider both the colour and the texture.

Choosing the Right Colour

When choosing complexion products, the easiest way to ensure they will flatter you is to make sure their undertone matches yours. If you have warm undertones (yellow-leaning), choose warm-leaning products like peachy blushes and golden highlighters. For cool undertones (pink, blue, or red-leaning), pink or berry blushes and champagne highlighters work best. Those with neutral undertones (beige or a mixture of warm and cool tones) look best with colours that are somewhere in the middle, like raspberry blushes and champagne highlighters. Lastly, those with olive undertones (skin with a slight green tint) tend to also do well with warm-leaning colours.

Choosing the Right Texture

All of these products come either as a powder or a cream. You can use both types, but you might find that one suits you better than the other. Most newcomers to makeup find powders easier to control and much faster to apply and blend. Cream products are usually better for dry skin since powder formulas can highlight dryness and flakiness, while oily skin does better with powders. Cream products usually look softer and like they come from within the skin, so they're nice for natural makeup.

Applying Blush and Bronzer

Here's a guide to applying bronzer and blush flawlessly.

• You don't have to apply all complexion products at once. You can go for a bronzed look without blush, or a youthful look without contour.
• Cream versions of products should go on after foundation and before setting powder.
• Powder products should always be applied after your foundation has dried down or been set with powder.
• Always apply cream products with a synthetic brush or sponge.
• Powder products can be applied with both synthetic and natural hair brushes.
• In general, the firmer your brush, the heavier your makeup will apply, and the softer it is, the more diffused it will be.
• The reverse is true for blending. A firmer brush will blend out your makeup more thoroughly than a softer brush.
• Where your brush first comes in contact with the skin is where it'll deposit the most product, so remember that when deciding where to start your application.

Applying Blush

The most universally flattering way to apply blush is along the top part of the cheekbones, very slightly below where your highlighter will go. Start your application at the highest point of the cheekbone, and then lightly blend and pull the colour inwards towards the apple of the cheeks and outwards towards the hairline. For a fiercer look, angle your blush towards the hairline. For a softer, more rounded look, keep the blush closer to the centre of your face and on the apples of the cheeks.

Applying Bronzer

Bronzer is versatile, so there are a few ways to apply it. If you want to look naturally bronzed, apply your bronzer with a soft fluffy brush. Traditionally, bronzer is meant to be applied to the points of the face that would naturally be darkened by the sun, like the forehead, cheekbones, and bridge of the nose. If your bronzer leans orange or red and is not significantly darker than your skin tone, you can apply it as though it was a blush. If your bronzer doesn't have a shimmer and is a little more neutral in colour, you can actually apply it as though it was a contour. If you have darker skin, a shimmery bronzer might be your perfect highlighter.

Applying Blush and Bronzer Together

Start by contouring with bronzer as your base, paying attention to the hollows of your cheeks, jawline, and hairline. Then, flush your cheekbones with blush just above the bronzer to finish.

Lips

Preparation

Before applying any lip products, it's important to prepare your lips so that they are not dry or cracked. Use a lip hydrator and let it absorb for a couple of minutes.

Choosing a Lipstick Colour

The lipstick colour that you choose should complement your blush and skin tone. If you have fair skin with cool undertones, go for nude, light mocha or light mauve. For warm undertones, try sand, nude peach or shell. Avoid bright pinks, dark bronzes and dark mochas. For medium skin with cool undertones, choose rosy pink, pomegranate or cranberry. If you have warm undertones, bronze, copper and cinnamon are good options. Deep skin with cool undertones is complemented by raisin, wine or ruby red, while for warm undertones, try honey, ginger or a coppery bronze. Avoid anything close to orange.

Application

If you are using lip liner, apply your lip stain or lipstick almost to the edge of the lip, then use the liner to define the shape of your lips and seal the colour in. Add a little more colour and blend the two together.

If you go for a bolder lip colour, keep your eye makeup soft and natural to avoid an overly made-up look.

Maintenance

Avoid smacking your lips together as this can make your smile look lopsided. Avoid lip gloss as it doesn't last long and can end up on your partner's lips. It can also create glare in photos. Instead, use a lip stain or a matte lipstick.

Frequently asked questions