DIY Budget Friendly Wedding Makeup!
Weddings are so expensive, we all know that. But hey, they don’t need to be! Don’t feel the pressure to shell out thousands of dollars on things you can do yourself for free. Makeup is something which you can totally do yourself, with a little practice and a few key tips. Here are some tips for doing your own makeup on your big day!
1. Multi-task your setting spray
If you don’t have a primer but you do have a setting spray, no worries…just use the setting spray as a primer! After your moisturizer has soaked into the skin, give your face a decent spritz with setting spray and let it dry slightly. Go in with your first thin layer of foundation while the setting spray is still a little wet on the face. This will prime your skin and turn your foundation into a longer-wearing product.
2. Work in layers and let the concealer do the hard work
Instead of laying down a thick layer of full-coverage foundation, use your concealer to do the hard yards. By layering thinner layers of base products you will get a more natural coverage while still concealing everything you need to, and your makeup will last much longer. Once you’ve added your setting spray and first thin layer, you can add a second thin layer of foundation to build up the coverage but without focusing on blemishes.
Afterward, take a tiny brush and pinpoint any redness, scarring or blemishes with your concealer. Press the edges with your finger to blend until invisible. Dust each concealer application with a tiny bit of translucent powder to set. Step back, take a look and go back in if there are any other areas to be concealed.
By using your foundation as a sheer wash and using the concealer for concealing, your skin will be completely flawless in photos without looking cakey or completely canceled out in real life!
3. Multi-task your lipstick
Use your lipstick as a cream blush to compliment your lips and tie the look together. Cream blush is so easy to apply and super easy to tone down if need be. Use your fingers to press the lippie onto the apples of your cheeks (or cheekbones, depending on your face shape) and blend until natural. Start with a thin layer and build it up until you’re satisfied. No need to buy a new blush!
4. Go for a lived-in eye look
No, we don’t mean total grunge…(unless that matches your wedding theme of course), but just a slightly smudged, hazy look which doesn’t require a lot of precision or a steady hand.
Think of a cream shadow in a natural shade blended all over the lid. Then a deeper shade of taupe, bronze or chocolate blended thoroughly through the crease. Add a chocolate pencil pressed deep into the lash line and smudged out, thickening slightly at the outer corners. The lower lash line is left clean and clear, with a touch of bronzer smudged close to the lashes for an imperceptible dash of warmth. Lashings of mascara, a few individual falsies and omg…perfect!
This kind of look just takes the pressure off from trying to tackle a sharp liner wing, cut crease or any other precise look on a day when you’re already likely pretty nervous. What’s more, smudgy, hazy looks make the eyes even bigger and deeper in photos.
5. Do a test run and take photos
Always do a test run of your DIY wedding makeup to figure out the right products and techniques to use on the big day. That way, you’ll have a clear path once the day comes and you’re not sitting there trying to freestyle.
Take photos outside to make sure the colors, blending techniques, and overall looks are daylight-friendly. Take some selfies and write down the products you used so when you get to the day you’ve got everything all set out to jog your memory.
6. Make a moment of it
Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to sit down and do your makeup on your wedding day. Don’t see it as a chore or quick task to check off the list. See it as your time to relax, have a glass of champagne and spend time with yourself before embarking on your huge new chapter.
You might like to do your makeup in quiet solitude, or you might like to have your bridesmaids and loved ones around you to share memories and laugh together. Treat your DIY makeup as a therapeutic moment of self-care and love. What a lovely experience to add to your special day!
Quick-fire tips
- Gently exfoliate the night before the wedding for a smooth canvas
- Apply a thick layer of rich moisturizer (relative to your skin type) and allow to sink in before applying your base
- Choose makeup looks which are easy to touch-up
- Choose looks which can be easily done with the makeup you already have, to save on costs
- Be wary of liquid liner if you’re a cryer…
- Err on the side of fresh and dewy as opposed to matte…it’s better to look a lil too glowy than a lil too flat in photos
- Go easy on the contour and blend the heck out of it to avoid any harsh lines in photos
- Set the face with a translucent powder and a good spritz of setting spray
- Keep a concealer, powder, blush, lipstick, and mascara in your bag for touch-ups
- Make sure your mascara is waterproof
- If you’re not a lipstick gal, go for a lip-enhancing gloss or stain
- Use bronzer to warm the eyes by sweeping it through the crease and really subtly along the lower lash line
- Use glowy highlighters with creamy textures to blend into the skin as opposed to layering on top of the skin
Conclusion
Doing your own makeup on your wedding day makes so much sense, especially if you’re passionate about makeup to start with. What better way to connect with yourself than by being in charge of your own look, with your own hands and your own time to spend? Give yourself time in the lead-up to the wedding to play, practice, experiment and solidify the look you want. Put together a collection of products (using what you have, to keep costs down), take a deep breath, and enjoy every moment of the process.
Gin Mabey