5 DIY Wedding Makeup “I Do’s”

Not every bride hires a makeup artist for her wedding day makeup. Many amazing women choose to do their own makeup instead! This can be a little intimidating because it’s such a big day, but being your own makeup artist is awesome because you know your face and what you like and don’t like better than anyone else. If you chose or are considering choosing to do your own makeup on the day you say “I do”, these 5 tips are for you!

#1: DO practice at least once

Practice applying your full face of makeup exactly how you’ll do it on your wedding day at least one time before the actual day, so you know what to expect and there are no surprises! Have a friend help you take pictures of the makeup in different types of lighting (outside, inside, candlelit, etc.) so you can see if you need to adjust any of the products you’re using.

You can also use this practice time to try multiple makeup looks and even photograph them all, then compare and decide which bridal look is your favorite! This is totally a perk of being your own makeup artist– no extra charges for trying out the makeup, and you can do it as many times as you want! By practicing, you’ll also know how much time to give yourself to do your makeup on the big day so that you don’t have to stress and guess about your schedule.

Related: Discover the Secret to Flawless Foundation

#2: DO use YouTube, blogs, and Pinterest for research

You have a whole world of information at your fingertips thanks to the internet, and thousands of makeup lovers have been sharing their tips and tricks online for years. Definitely take time to watch and read tutorials and product reviews before deciding how you’re going to do your makeup. You might discover a brand new look and fall in love with it or learn how to make your face look even more flawless! You’re not planning on having a professional makeup application, but this way you can become a self-taught makeup artist for free!

#3: DO prime and set your makeup

Primer is basically a foundation for your foundation (and the rest of your makeup). It allows for a smooth application and locks your makeup in place. This is crucial for such a long and eventful day! You can look for primers that will help even out your skin tone and help counteract either oily or dry skin, depending on your skin type. Because primer goes directly onto the face, using it could potentially cause a reaction, so make sure you test it. Once all of your beautiful wedding day makeup is on, don’t forget to use a setting spray!

Setting spray keeps you from getting too oily and doesn’t allow your makeup to melt, even in conditions of humidity, heat, and nervous sweat.  Together, primer and setting spray are a dream-team of makeup products that work together to keep you looking flawless all day long. Makeup artists don’t forget these steps, but sometimes in our everyday makeup application we do. Remembering to prime and set will take your personal makeup application to the next level!

Related: Before You Buy Another Foundation, You Should Read This

#4: DO prime your eyeshadow, too

Primers don’t only exist for foundation- they’re for eyeshadow too and they’re extremely important. Without it, eyeshadow tends to crease, melt, not stick, and not appear pigmented. This is the last thing you want on your wedding day! Primer gives eye makeup something to stick to all day long, thus making it appear more vibrant and allowing for a longer-lasting look. You won’t regret investing in a great eyeshadow primer before your wedding day– the eyes are the windows to the soul, after all!

#5: Use a highlighter to get your GLOW on

Beautiful brides are often described as “glowing” on their wedding day. Hop on this train by using a shiny highlighter on the cheekbones and cupid’s bow. It’s wise to stick with matte, oil-free foundation products aside from the highlighter so that your face doesn’t become too shiny. You will already be glowing and sparkling from happiness, and having that subtle pop of shimmer will make you look and feel like a million bucks!

Watch tutorials on highlighting and be sure to practice your wedding day makeup often so that you don’t overdo it or underdo it, and swatch different shades and types of highlighter (powder, liquid, cream) to figure out what works best for you!

Related: How to Get Those Sculpted Cheekbones

Us Beauty Junkees have total faith that you can DIY your wedding day makeup like a pro! Take a deep breath and relax, because you are beautiful no matter what your makeup looks like. We hope that you have the most magical wedding day and live happily ever after in your brand new adventure!

Other Great Resources for Your Wedding Day Makeup:

The 10 Commandments of Wedding-Day Makeup

20 Makeup Tips Every Bride Should Know

7 Beauty Experts Share Their 1 Tip for Wedding Makeup That Lasts All Day