How to do your own wedding makeup

There are many different types of brides out there. Some prefer to choose a makeup artist for their special day, while others do not. It would not be surprising if not every bride wanted someone other than herself to do her makeup since no one but her would know the contours of her face or the products that would best suit her. Of course, a little planning for anything wedding-related will ensure that everything goes smoothly on an actual day. If you'd like to do your makeup on your wedding day, here's our guide to help you achieve that goal

Choose an inspirational photo

Before starting, each bride should do their research and look up reference photos of different looks they want to emulate. By doing this beforehand, you will have plenty of time to find and adjust any looks that suit your face shape.

Practice Practice Practice Practice

As with most wedding-related decisions, you don't want to wait until the last minute to apply your wedding day makeup! No matter how skilled you are, it's best to try it out ahead of time so you can make notes to yourself to remind you which products are best to use and how you should use them.

Prepare your skin

Remember to spend time on your skin by cleansing, toning, and moisturizing to remove any dead skin cells and moisturize the rest of your face. Also, don't forget your lips! Use a lip balm whenever possible to keep your lips hydrated and conditioned.

Get the perfect foundation

Your face is your canvas, so it's important to set it up correctly. Start with a facial primer as a base, and depending on the type of look you choose, go for a matte primer if you want less shine or an illuminating primer if you want a glowing look. Apply foundation and don't forget to apply it to your ears and neck (or even your shoulders, depending on the type of clothes you're wearing). After applying concealer, set your makeup with loose powder to prevent it from slipping off.

Hide dark circles and blemishes

If you have dark circles or blemishes that you want to hide, use a matte concealer to immediately hide any blemishes and fix them with powder. If you find that coverage is not enough, apply another layer on top by repeating the same process. Also, remember to pat the concealer on - don't rub it in!

Add some definition with contouring

To warm up your face, apply some bronzer starting at the hairline and working your way up to your cheekbones and chin. Remember to start lightly and build up slowly - the last thing you want is to look muddy!

Don't forget the blush!

Add color to your face by applying blush to the apples of your cheeks. The secret to finding the perfect blush is to match the shade of your natural lip color. When applying blush, apply a little more than usual, as the color will fade in the photos.

Perfect your eyebrows

If your eyes are the windows to your soul, then your eyebrows are the frame of your face. Fill in your brows with brow powder to the end; remember to choose the natural shape of your eyebrows. Use a spoolie brush to blend in any rough lines.

Pro-tip for finding the perfect brow color: If your hair is darker, your brows should be one to two shades lighter. If you have lighter hair; your eyebrows should be one to two shades darker.

Create a natural eye look

Use an eyeshadow base to lock in the color of your eyeshadow. Choose a lighter shade across the lid and a medium shade around the crease. To open your eyes wide, use pencil eyeliner to tightly line your eyes at the top and bottom of your lash line. Then, use liquid eyeliner to draw a line that extends upward at an angle to open your eyes.

Enhance your lashes

If you're not comfortable with false lashes, opt for volumizing and lengthening mascara. However, if you're comfortable with false lashes, then be sure to test them beforehand to make sure it looks as natural as possible; remember that false lashes should enhance your natural lashes, not change them completely.

Seal it with a kiss

To create the perfect lips, use a lip liner to shape and fill in your lips before applying lipstick to avoid color bleeding. Apply your lip color on top to seal it.

Pro tip: Don't bump your lips together after applying lipstick as it can cause your lip color to transfer unevenly across your lips. To hold the lipstick in place, use tissue paper as a barrier between your lips and the powder brush and sprinkle a little fixing powder on the top of your lips.