If the likes of Kate Middleton and Blake Lively can do their own wedding makeup, then there is no reason why you can't too! When you're considering going for a DIY look, we're here to help you feel your most beautiful on your big day as we share our tips and product recommendations to help you get that coveted bridal glow – all by yourself!
Our top tips
Doing your own makeup for your wedding is a great option for lots of brides. Some members of our LF Beauty team have even done their own! Not only is it often a great way to save money, but many brides feel more 'themselves' by doing their own makeup rather than using an MUA. However, it can feel like a mammoth task with a lot of pressure, so these are few tips to remember before you get started:
Use your favourites
It can be tempting to go with all new products, but if you have a makeup essential that you love, then make that part of your wedding day look. Products you love and trust will help you feel your most beautiful.
Treat yourself to something special
To have something to remember, why not treat yourself to something special that you'll remind you of your wedding day every time you use them. You can’t go wrong with a classic fragrance like Tiffany & Co. Eau de Parfum – plus, it can be your something blue!
Trial everything
The key to making sure you're happy on your big day is by testing out the look. Wear it out and see how it lasts, photograph it to see what it looks like under flash, try it on with your wedding dress to make sure the look ties together - do everything you can to check you're happy with the final look and you'll feel confident on the day.
Practice makes perfect
Make sure you practice anything you aren't 100% confident with, like applying false lashes or winged liner.
Look for foolproof formulas
Your makeup needs to be hard wearing on your wedding day, so look for products that will last the whole day. Long-wear and waterproof formulas are essential!
Light layers are best
You want to look radiant on your wedding day so, cakey makeup is not an option. Achieve your desired coverage that looks flawless and natural by applying it in light layers.
Invest in great tools
Whilst it won't guarantee a professional finish, the right tools can make an amazing difference to your makeup. We love a makeup sponge for applying foundation and fluffy brushes are essential for making eyeshadow look beautifully diffused.
Your essential wedding makeup kit
It might feel like you need a huge bag of makeup to compete with a makeup artist, but a smaller kit of amazing products makes applying everything on the day a breeze. Put together your perfect makeup kit with these tips and recommendations:
Primer
It helps hydrate and smoothen the skin, so your foundation goes on perfectly, as well as helping makeup last longer. Find one that works for your skin type – some can help mattify, some can act as a blurring aid, while others can add radiance. The Elemis Pro-Collagen Insta-Smooth Primer works to smoothen the appearance of pores while minimising the look of fine lines with nourishing hydration. Alternatively, go for The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer, a multi-purpose formula that visibly reduces shine and excess oil and helps to ensure your makeup looks fresh and matte throughout the day.
Foundation
Match your base to your needs. If you prefer light coverage, you can opt for a BB cream or tinted moisturiser like the SOSU Cosmetics Radiance Base BB Cream: a radiance-enhancing blend that visibly brightens the complexion while delivering a skin blurring effect. If you prefer more coverage, look for longwearing, high coverage foundations. MAC Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation works well to achieve an illuminated complexion with hyaluronic acid to keep skin looking supple with a healthy glow that lasts up to 24 hours. Don't forget to avoid formulas containing SPF, as this can make you look ghostly in photographs. You’ll be forgiven for skipping it for one day!
Concealer
A great concealer is essential for covering any dark under eyes or blemishes. Look for radiance-boosting options with a peachy tone to counteract grey under eyes, like the benefit Boi-ing Bright On Undereye Brightening Liquid Concealer with colour correcting properties that brighten and illuminate the skin. For blemishes, a matte cream formula that you can stipple on with a brush can minimise the appearance without looking cakey. The Natasha Denona Transfix Matte Concealer is a great option, boasting a one-stroke full coverage application that conceals blemishes for a crease-free finish.
Highlighter
Everyone loves to look radiant on their big day and a highlighter is one essential you need for that loved-up glow. Liquid highlighters like the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Highlighter are amazing for a strobed finish, while creams such as the benefit Watts Up Cream to Powder Soft Focus Highlighter can give a natural hint of light on cheekbones for a lit-from-within look.
Blush
A hint of blush on the apples of the cheeks gives a youthful finish that looks perfect on a happy bride. To make it tie in with your whole look, consider the colours in your bouquet before deciding to go with a pink, lilac or peachy-toned blush. Go classic with the MAC Mineralize Blush, for a lightweight powder that provides a pearlised hint of colour. Or try the ICONIC London Sheer Blush for a creamy formula that adds an instant glow to your complexion.
Mascara
Get a wide-awake eye look, and avoid the risk of smudging, with waterproof mascara for your wedding day! Consider whether you want volume, length, or both when deciding on which mascara to go for. Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Waterproof Mascara is a great option to add length and definition. If you’re looking for more of a curl effect, try the benefit Roller Lash Lifting and Curling Mascara to volumise and enhance your lashes.
Brow Pencil
Brows frame your face, and whilst we recommend getting them shaped by a pro, make sure you fill in any sparse patches with light pencil strokes for a flawless finish. Opt for ashier, cooler tones that are one or two shades darker than your hair to keep your bridal brows looking natural. The benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil features an ultra-sharp tip to achieve super fine lines and hair-like strokes, while the Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake allows you to add a little more drama and definition when applied with an angled brush.
Eyeshadow Palette
An amazing eyeshadow palette is all you need for creating a perfect wedding day look. Whether you want to go for subtle nudes, warm roses, smoky silvers or soft golds, shadow will add pretty definition to the eyes. The Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Skin-Centric Eyeshadow Palette is an all-rounder to suit any type of eye look with 16 ultra-pigmented shades in natural nude tones.
Lip Stain
Glosses and lipsticks are amazing, but they can add stress on your big day if they smudge or bleed. Lip stains are a great alternative for a long-lasting finish that won't budge. With lots of colours available, you can rock everything from a pretty nude to a bold red – like the iconic benefit Benetint Rose Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain: a multipurpose tint that adds a subtle flush to your complexion to truly make you the belle of the ball!
Top it up on the day...
Your wedding day celebrations can go on for a long time and after spending so much time and effort on your makeup, you want it to stay looking its best. Having a tiny bag of essentials can keep you looking flawless all day long. Most brides don't have the space for a full makeup touch-up kit – but there are 3 essentials that we would always recommend:
Blotting paper will take away any shine without caking up your makeup.
Lip balm will keep lips hydrated all day long.
Concealer can do everything from topping up coverage to tidying up smudged liner or lip colour.
