9 things you need to know if you want to DIY your wedding makeup

Comments on 9 things you need to know if you want to DIY your wedding makeup

1. Body glitter tends to leave random white specks all over one in photos. And not in a pretty way. Perhaps tuck a tube in the Survival Kit and smear some on later during the reception?

2. FOR REAL on the primer. I love Urban Decay’s Primer Potion so much. And yes, if you want to do your makeup yourself, practice the look you’re going for, even if you’re a Makeup Champion who does epic stuff every time you go out on the town.

   • YES! this stuff rocks!
     also, another good primer-type splure is “pore-fessional” by benefit. use it to smooth & soften your complexion and it will help your makeup stay on longer. i swear by this stuff.

     • The best part is it’s super effective with anything. I use a lot of drug store makeup (guys for real, Wet ‘n Wild is pretty awesome) and it ends up looking like gorgeous high-end stuff.

       • I freakin’ LOVE Wet ‘n Wild! And a bit of skill/practice can make cheaper stuff look even better than the expensive makeup. I get a lot of comments on my liquid eyeliner and praise of my skill — I’ve been wearing it pretty much the same way for 10 years, and stick with the cheapest solid/sponge-tip brush I can find…

3. If I may, I have a great recommendation re: number 4. Smashbox Gel Eyeliner is AMAZEBALLS. Yes, Smashbox is a somewhat higher-end brand, but it’s not quite as pricey as, say, Clinique or something, and I also find the eyeliner lasts a really long time, so you’ll get more use out of it than other eyeliners so you might actually save some money in the long run. It just glides on so smoothly, and with a good angled brush, you can really fine-tune your point to whatever look you want. I say this as someone who is really not very good at makeuping. Their products are generally good for you, too. Paraben-free and cruelty-free and all that jazz.

   I swear I don’t work for Smashbox. Just, seriously, it’s an amazing eyeliner – trust me.

4. Except that shimmery makeup is a definite no-no for photos — it tends to look like “dropped pixels” that most photographers won’t photoshop out for you. And the shimmer also reflects the light, which tends to make your face look a little strange.

   Making shimmery makeup look good usually requires a studio set up, which is obviously not the case during most weddings!

   As a wedding photographer, I tend to recommend that brides avoid the temptation to wear any kind of shimmery makeup at all. In fact, it’s my #1 piece of advice!

   • Not sure I’d agree with this. I totally rocked some crazy shimmery makeup on my wedding day and didn’t end up with any “dropped pixels” in any of my photos:
     

     To be fair, it wasn’t GLITTER… but it was definitely shimmery.

     • It’s all about the size of the shimmer. There is a huge difference between shimmer and glitter when it comes to makeup and photography. Matte is awesome but, whenever I’m doing a bride’s makeup, she almost always uses the word “glow.” It’s next to impossible to make someone glow without a little shimmer. I always use some (moderation is key) and I’ve never had an unsatisfied customer (offbeat or otherwise).

     • Ariel, where do I go for pictures of your wedding?

       • They’re scattered all over the site, but if you want to see a selection all in one place, they’re over here:
         https://www.flickr.com/photos/ariel/sets/1424934/

   • I disagree with this. My eyeshadow was shimmery as was my blush…there was no issue in my photos…and I saw the photos on my photographers camera as he was taking them throughout the day…so no photoshop.

     I think you might mean glitter. Glitter is much heavier than shimmer. Glitter=no, Shimmer=yes.

   • I agree, matte is where it’s at. Shimmer can not only be overpowering to the point of discoball in photos, but fallout is more of an issue with shimmery shadows and shimmer also has the unfortunate effect of enhancing pores.

   • I’ve heard both sides, and to be honest I think it depends on the amount of shimmer. Yes, if you’re using something that’s practically micr0-fine glitter and nothing else, then it’s gonna look weird. But there are some “glowy” ones on the market that do have a little bit of shimmer but won’t make your eyes look like a fluorescent tube under flash.

     As always, it’s about balance.

5. My two must haves are Lights, Camera, Lashes” mascara by Tarte. (Really, it’s the most amazing crap)

   As far as eyeliner, I love Sephora’s own brand of retractable waterproof eyeliner. It’s creamy, so easier to go on, AND there’s a smudgy thing at the other end that makes me not so scared to use it. Now’s a good time to get things at Sephora, too, because they have all those fabulous gift sets where you can play/experiment.

6. White can often be too harsh on anyone who isn’t pale, a champagne color is a good alternative if shimmery white is too stark for your skin tone. I also prefer a matte skintone highlight for the browbone – just a personal preference.

   There is a big emphasis on eyes in makeup, and I love eyeshadow and sparkles as much as the next gal, but the most important, and sometimes most difficult, is skin. Foundation does not have to be thick to be effective, I prefer cream foundation, set with a translucent powder. AND MATCH YOUR NECK. That way it blends and you don’t look like you’re wearing a mask.

   One place I definitely skimp on is lips. There are plenty of cheap, good lip products and no matter how much you spend, you end up eating it.

   • If you can find it, invest in some Lipcote. I wear it over liner and lipstick/stain (I HATE gloss!), and it lasts really well until I eat and drink at the same time – I’m wearing red for my own wedding next May because I make such a mess…

     I will warn you, it can “tingle” a bit upon application – and if you’ve any cuts or coldsores in/on your lips it will sting for a minute. But your lip colour will last significantly longer than it would without it.

7. Practicing really is a great idea. I probably did my makeup 50 times before the wedding and I took photos every time to make sure it looked ok. And Urban Decay’s primers are pretty much magical.

   One thing I would add is it’s a good idea to do your eye makeup first so you can wipe away any eye shadow fall out. My order usually is eyes (except mascara), foundation, blush, eyebrows, mascara. That way you don’t get dust in the mascara.

   And shimmer/glitter can look great in photos. I used copper glitter over my eye shadow and it looked amazing. (Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue FTW)

8. Yes to the eyeliner not-all-the-way-around-your-eye! I took a theatrical makeup class in college and my teacher told us never to do eyeliner from corner to corner – “it makes your eyes look like piss-holes in snow,” she said.

   • It can work! My eyes look awesome with eyeliner all the way around, so long as I extend the far line out a bit. My eye shape works really well with a cat-eye look like that. I don’t do it every time, and for a wider-eyed look I definitely don’t, but there’s nothing in makeup that NEVER looks good.

     • I live in black cat-eye/winged liner, and try as I may with ten years of practice I just can’t get the hang of using pencil successfully anywhere but the waterline!
       I personally don’t like to go into the inner corner with either kohl or liquid, but it can look amazing on other people. 🙂

       TBH, if I didn’t wear it for the wedding, smudges and all, it just wouldn’t be “Me”.

   • Here, proof:

     Post by Amanda Casperson.

9. If you’re looking for new products I highly recommend sifting through http://www.makeupalley.com – full of thousands of reviews and you can search by skin tone/type etc. My two latest favourite finds:
   1. Anti-chaffing gel as primer. According to many folks on MUA it’s basically the same formula as Smashbox for a quarter of the price. In the US the biggest brand is Monistat, in the UK it’s Lanacane. I’ve only been using it for the last week or so but it seems pretty magical so far.
   2. Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation. Expensive, but this stuff is like permanent marker – once it’s on it will not budge an inch until you decide to remove it. I have very oily, acne prone skin that’s also mostly red and white and blotchy. My last foundation (MAC no less) would go patchy and gross within a few hours and I thought that was just my lot in life. Not so! Combination of Lanacane and Double Wear and I honestly feel happy having my photo taken, even at the end of the day.
   Bonus: MAC Viva Glam 1 is my perfect red lipstick, if anyone’s still looking for theirs, and the proceeds help people living with and affected by AIDS. Win-win!

   • will the Viva Glam come off on my hubby to be during “the kiss”? or any other kissing moments? i’m DYING to find a FAB red lipstick but do not want one what will come off on him because he hates it.

     • Most normal lipsticks will rub off. You probably want a lip stain or a longwear liquid lipstick like revlon colorstay.

     • It’s very matte, so as lipsticks go it’s pretty long lasting but also quite drying. But yeah, everything will rub off given enough kissing!

     • Try a stain! I’m going with Stila’s cherry stain. Because it is a little pink and can dry up, I’m covering it with Urban Decay’s Lip Love in Stung. The darkness of the gloss balances the pink in the stain and gives an amazing deep red. Best yet, the gloss isn’t sticky and is honey-based so it tastes and feels awesome.

     • Quick note – have your maid of honor / officiant / bff / whoever is going to be standing closest during your Kiss have a mini baby wipe or wet nap with them. That way just as you are getting ready for photo time, there can be a quick touch up. 🙂

10. +1 for the false lashes. They really do make a difference. My tips:

    1. Practice applying them a few times when you have zero pressure and time constraints. You’ll want to work out your method before the big day, when you’ll probably have a bit more of a time crunch. They never seem to work out if you’re stressed or in a big hurry. They smell fear, I think.

    2. If you want just a little boost, you can get demi lashes that are only about a third of the length. They’ll just amp up the outer part of the eye without going full diva.

    3. Super spikey will look more natural than really dense ones. During your warm-up application session, try a few kinds to see what you like.

    • I found a handy-dandy tool for applying false lashes in a discount store in my town. It’s a lifesaver for people like me who fail at using tweezers to put on falsies…

      Here’s a picture from one on eBay. They’re available at different prices and from different brands.

      http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/Wangdecheng9898/D0143_5.jpg

11. Lush have just brought out an amazing range of makeup, and most of it can be used as either eyeliner/eyeshadow or lipstick. Having tried some of their blue eyeliners, it lasts easily as long as Urban Decay (my previous favourite!) though it is cream eyeshadows, so on my skin it’s not as good as powder.

    Other things I’d recommend makeup wise is definitely what Alana says – eyes first, then foundation. So much easier when I inevitably get bright blue shimmery powder all over my cheeks!

12. Survival kit essential (even if ur not wearing make up), Mac blotting paper, removes excess oil from skin(without removing make up) great for quick fixes during photos!

13. A few things that I’ve discovered recently whilst doing photo-shoot makeup that I wish were more frequently disclosed to the general public:

    1 – Avoid any makeup with mineral spf. These natural chemicals will reflect A LOT of light and leave you with ghosty face.

    2 – Setting spray is your friend. Don’t be afraid to spend 10 bucks on a bottle. You can find them at Sephora or at stage and costume supply stores. My favorite is a bit minty smelling!

    3 – Primer is also your friend. This is especially true if you don’t have a flawless base skin to start with. I have large pores in some places, the occasional blemish and combination skin. But if I prep my canvas with a primer I get a nice even smooth finish that STAYS that way.

    4 – Start with light coats for all skin products, you can usually build your coverage up if you need

    and lastly:
    5 – Makeup brushes are an investment but they are SO worth it. If you don’t want to buy your own, see if you have a friend that will help you out. Your products were designed to be used with these tools… a hammer always works better than a screwdriver when you need to pound a nail…

    Good Luck DIY DIVAS!

    • Re. Setting spray…

      One of my mam’s clients in her salon is a makeup artist. She agrees with using common-or-garden hairspray if setting spray isn’t in the budget or on the store shelf.
      A lot of other clients come in to get their hair done for special occasions after getting their makeup done, so it kills two birds with one stone. As long as it’s not Semi di Lino — too much shimmer!

      (I also use hairspray to set chalk/charcoal drawings… What can it not do??)

14. I’m a makeup lover, but I have discovered that I can skip splurging on mascara! Since mascara needs to be replaced so often, I’d rather splurge on a high quality foundation or eye shadow palette – one with a longer shelf life. I swear by L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black (it also has a waterproof formula) – it lengthens and thickens without too much clumping. Another awesome one is Cover Girl Lash Blast – my sister loves this one, and they are both under $8 at Target in the US.

    • Seriously. I work at Ulta so I get to play with high-end makeup products all the time, and while I’ve found that pricer eyeshadows or quality primers are worth the investment, I have never been tempted away from my favorite six dollar mascara. It’s waterproof and makes my lashes look amazing! I’ll probably never switch.

      Over many years of trying this and that, I’ve discovered which products I can skimp on and which ones I need to spend a bit more cash. I suggest going with highly pigmented shadows like Urban Decay and pairing them with a good eyeshadow primer like Too Faced. The initial price tag may be a little steep but whatever’s in the formula is ingenious- my eyeshadow doesn’t budge until I take it off at the end of the night- and because the colors are so high quality, you end up using less product. My tube of primer has lasted me two years! I would also suggest finding a good foundation primer. I recently switched back to my cheap foundation, but I will always use my nice primer, it truly makes a difference in staying power and the smoothness of the makeup. Plus, primer is your barrier between your skin and the rest of your makeup. Make sure you play around with different brands till you find the right one for you- everyone has different needs! Most makeup stores will be happy to help you find the best product.

    • A good mascara is amazing. I use Chanel’s and while pricey it last me AGES and it never clumps. I can wake up after a night out and it will still be on! <3

15. Personally I only ever use crayon eyeshadow. This has several advantages:
    1) no powder fallout
    2) no primer needed
    3) no brushes needed
    4) super easy to blend because it’s creamy

    I also found that fingers are better for applying foundation than any brush I ever found. Brush just makes it too thin and streaky. Those little foam rounds don’t make it streaky but they still make it very thin.

    For someone like me with super heavy lidded eyes fake lashes just poke my eyelids and make my eyes looks smaller because my puffy lids push them down. I also have no reason to bother with eyeliner on my upper lids – no one ever sees it.

    As a goth I can totally skip blush or bronzer!

    In my case I highlighted with a very light blue instead of a white since my eye look was all blues (I blended 3 total). Appropriate coordinated light colors work instead of white in a lot of cases.

    Sephora Lip Stain is your friend. I tested 3 or 4 different long-wear lip colors and that has the best combination of staying power and rich color. Even so a leetle bit of it got on my boy when I kissed him.

    Oh and my favorite trick – use mascara on eyebrows. It’s so much easier to make look neat than eyebrow pencil.

    Here’s what it all looked like:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/plymouths/6401320143/in/set-72157628142086899

    • Oh and I almost forgot… the rhinestones! It took a couple of tries but I eventually figured out:
      1) Apply foundation first, nice and even
      2) Use Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove foundation in spots
      3) Apply rhinestones with Spirit Gum over spots
      Stayed on all night!

      • Ooooo, I’ll have to try that!

      • Rhinestones also stay on well with Elmer’s glue. (I avoid spirit gum because of the strong smell.)

16. I feel like no matter what I use, I end up looking like a clown. I’m ghost white and enjoy being that pale, but I’d love some beautiful pigment on my eyelids without it looking so…harsh. I see such gorgeous makeup on faerie models and wonder to myself how I could ever achieve that, since they’re usually just as pale. Do I really need studio lighting for that kind of prettiness?

    • Sometimes it can be what colours you’re using – I’m really pale (buying foundation is a nightmare!) and I just try to make sure the colours aren’t as overwhelming. I mean, they don’t need to be to show up on me. For instance, Barry M’s glitter dust comes out really strong on me, so I try to avoid it. For instance, this is the sort of colours I went for whilst blonde: http://imgur.com/vyhtA,tmJzY

      I find putting the bolder colours, like the blues, closest to the eye, and then building out into softer colours (like a gold, silver or lilac) helps it look bright without being overwhelming. Equally, using shimmer dust-style eyeshadow, rather than creams, because the colour in cream tends to come out sharper on my skin.

      Oh, and I very, very rarely would do eyes + lipstick. That definately makes me look like a clown. One or the other is enough.

      I guess it sort of comes down to – play around with colours, which might not sound that helpful, but I hope it’s given you a couple of ideas.

      • I definitely agree with eyes or mouth. I either do bold lips and light shimmery eyes, or bold eyes and nudish lips.

        I used to wear bright colors all the time, but lately I’m too lazy. I found that if I’m going bright warmer colors like pinks, golds, yellows, and bronzes worked the best with my whiter-than-white skin.

        Some of my favorite eye shadows to use are light shimmery urban decay colors. I usually do light colors in the inner corner of my lid, faded out to dark in the outer corner. Then I do white/light colors under my brow and use that to fade out the dark colors so there aren’t any harsh lines (unless I’m going for that).

    • Sometimes the clown feeling is due to not being comfortable wearing makeup. Which is totally fine, but if you want to get comfortable with it, I’d start with just playing around with some colors (start subtle, pale pinks, lighter browns) and wearing them around the house, making sure to look at yourself in the mirror a lot to get used to your face with makeup.

      I wish I could play with makeup with everyone here so I could help with ideas in person! I love makeup so much. 🙂

17. Even when using primers, foundations and eyeshadows melt off my face or dry out patches on my cheeks (and I’ve used that Smashbox primer and the Urban Decay eyeshadow one!). I think I’ll just be going for mascara and maybe eyeliner on the top lash-line if I can get it right.

    Surely there are other people out there who simply cannot wear eyeshadow without it creasing/melting off? I feel like everyone must have model-like smooth skin apart from me.

    • That is odd! I definitely don’t have model skin (I actually had Nightmare Acne in my youth, and still have occasional spots) and primer potion has worked perfectly for me.

      What kind of skin do you have? I feel like this is a solvable problem if we can figure out what’s causing it to come off you!

    • Thank you! I’m reading all of these comments about Primer, and I am a clueless (and cheap) when it comes to makeup. I splurged and bought a pump of primer one day, and the associate showed me how to put it on. Well, she applied it to the back of her hand, using gentle circular motions, and then had me touch-compare to feel the difference with and without. So I know how to apply it to the back of my hands. LOL But that did me absolutely no good when it came time to get dolled up for a night out, and applied it to my face. It’s clear, so i have no idea where I’ve applied it already, and it really didn’t do anything to “smooth out” my skin. My skin gets ridiculously dry and peeley under foundation, so I was hoping primer would help, but it didn’t. I paid $40 for a tiny bottle that I’ve only used once, because it didn’t do what I was expecting.
      I think for my wedding makeup, I might just go to the counter in a high-end department store, and get one of those “free makeovers” that I always see signs for.

      And yeah, I have a huge problem with my eye shadow creasing, and eye liner creasing under my eyes. UGH.

18. I’ve always heard and was trained that for photos, shimmery white and light colors above the brow bone were a no no. A LITTLE bit in the corners of the eyes is okay, but it’s the brow bone that ends up being the only thing you can see in shots from far away. It washes out your eyes and all you see is a highlighted brow. This happened in my good friends photos for her wedding, all you could see was white shimmer for her eyes in pictures that weren’t up close. Using a light but matte color on your brow bone is better, and you can still use a bit of shimmer as long as it’s a darker color. but no matter what, you’re going to look AMAZING because you are happy! And a smile is the best thing to wear!

19. For my wedding, I bought a whole bunch of new makeup from sephora, which I generally still use everyday.

    Hourglass foundation – this was my biggest splurge, but it’s awesome! Blends so well, and you don’t need much to get good coverage. Plus, supposedly Madonna uses it. Win.

    Tarte blush – lasts all day long.

    Benefit High Beam – a great highlighter. Definitely didn’t create any weird problems with my photos, just a bit of shimmer where the light naturally hits you.

    Stila waterproof liquid eyeliner – Really easy to apply.

    Urban Decay All Nighter – a makeup setting spray. Can’t recommend this enough, this makes sure your makeup lasts until your wedding is over and you’re in bed with your new spouse.

    I’d also recommend getting individual eyelashes, if you’re doing the fake thing. It still looks very natural but with some oomph.

    • I also recommend All Nighter! I got a sample size version last year for Halloween and I use it all the time still!

      I always make sure I use this before I put on mascara though, sometimes it makes it wet again and I’ll get little black lash dots on my eyelids.

    • I’ve never been brave enough to try the Urban Decay All Nighter or the Benefit High Beam. I’ve always wanted to, but my skin is pretty sensitive so I try to avoid using any extras like blush or highlighters. Did you have any problems with breakouts? And did the makeup setting spray smear anything/ruin the makeup? I’ve heard some people say that it made their foundation run.

      • I have had terrible skin on and off forever, and I love this stuff. Wasn’t a problem for me at all.

20. “Of course we don’t think anyone needs to wear makeup on their wedding day (or any other day)”

    As someone who wore no makeup at all on her wedding day, thank you for that comment! So many people told me I would look terrible in photos without it, but all of the photos turned out great because we hired a good photographer.

    • “Makeup should serve to enhance what is already there, and add what is lacking.”
      A quote from my aunt’s dressmaking textbook from Home Ec class in the 1970’s.

      Some people like you are lucky to not want or need it. You are awesome in that respect, and damnit am I jealous of you! 😀
      Unfortunately I have looked dead and noseless in photos before, so need to do a little bit of structural work to look sufficiently human.

21. I have gotten some fantastic gluten free, vegan, cruelty free mineral make up from Earth Angel Minerals. She is on etsy and has her own site. http://www.tryearthangelminerals.com/

    She sells sample sizes so you can try colors out, and she is so sweet. I said I wanted a couple of shades of brown samples to try as eye-brow powder and she contacted me to ask for my picture so she could pick the best shade for me. The colors she sent looked fantastic, best eye brow shades I have found!!
    I have slightly oily eyelids (and dark circles) that make shadow slide right into my creases and her Refresh eye brighter helps brighten my eyes and keep my shadow in place.

    I seriously recommend ordering a bunch of samples from her if you want to play around with different wedding looks with out spending a ton.

22. There’s one thing that REALLY needs to be on here: No SPF. SPF in your foundation will make the flash from the camera bounce back, giving you a chalky look.

    • LOOK WHO IS EMBRACING HER QUIRKY! 😉

23. You guys need to do an article on skincare! You all have such great advice 🙂

    • Already done: http://offbeathome.com/2012/11/natural-skin-care 🙂

24. Oooh. Part 2 of number 2 is wrong! There are some amazing drugstore mascaras. And you should be splurging on your foundation more than your mascara.

    • I couldn’t agree more. I have never seen my professional mua friends use anything but maybelline and loreal.

    • I live in drugstore makeup. The only “High-end” stuff I have is Max Factor Pan-Stik (for emergencies and extreme concealer), No.7 eyebrow pencil, and an IsaDora lipstick that was an unused tester from a discontinued line.
      I don’t use much mascara because my lashes are really long as it is (and I get a lot of fallout if I blink too fast!), but my €4 Essence one has served me well so far.

25. This is such a great article! I used this one when practicing my own DIY elopement makeup and it helped a ton, even going into the MAC store and having a girl teach me how to apply my own false eyelashes (which was the scariest thing for me)!

    Also, big THANKS to the commenter who mentioned not having SPF in makeup. I will remember that when I do my reception makeup this summer. As a wedding photographer, I have sometimes seen that issue but always thought that the bride just had under-eye makeup that was too light for her. I’ve even asked hair and makeup folk about it, but got no certain answer. Now I know – I’ll remind my brides to avoid SPF in their wedding makeup!

26. I’d also like to add that for older brides (like me!) a good moisture-rich foundation is a must.
    You want your skin to look dewy and soft! Its worth more to splurge on that than anything else at my age (I turn 40 this year).
    Nice recommendations!

27. I don’t know if it was mentioned, but Sephora has a great return policy. You can purchase products, try them, and if you don’t like them- return them!

28. Be careful with Lime Crime, the owner doesn’t seem to be that clear on what vegan actually means. They advertise as vegan but some of their products actually aren’t. Google “lime crime not vegan” for sources.

    • Thank you, I was about to mention something here.
      And not only that, but apparently her customer service skills leave a lot to be desired, and the products are very hit and miss in terms of how well they work. For the price I’d pay, I’d much rather have something I can test before I buy.

29. I am a photographer I also love glittery makeup…. but to my surprise I found out that it does not photograph well if flash is used. I tell my brides to avoid glitter because you better believe I am not editing all the little blown out dots. I have learned that matte colors photograph much better for a whole day shoot.

30. Just so you know, Lime Crime is not vegan, even though they say they are (they use beeswax in their makeup). They’re also known for their shady practices, like repackaging mica.

    A good link to find out information about the spoopiness that is Lime Crime: http://ohdeardoedeere.tumblr.com/post/75607412764/history-page-w-most-of-the-working-links

    This is not to be dramatic, this is just because I don’t want anyone to go into buying makeup without knowing a little bit of the history out there!

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