How to Do Wedding Makeup

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A wedding day is something people day dream about and even plan well in advance of meeting the person they end up marrying. When the time actually arrives, a vast number of things have to be planned and executed. One of these is choosing the perfect wedding makeup look. Doing this requires several steps, such as prepping your skin so it will look radiant, deciding who will do your makeup, and allotting time for a trial-run application (or two). It also involves learning how to properly apply makeup that's best suited to your desire wedding day look. Start now by learning the ins and outs of achieving your end goal – a beautiful face to match the beauty of the occasion of two people joining in matrimony.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Applying Your Makeup

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  1. Whether you're doing your makeup yourself or not, the day of your wedding, wash your face and use a light moisturizer. Whatever your routine has been, now is not the time to change it. If you exfoliate, however, stay away from a harsh scrub and opt instead for a gentle exfoliating cleanser. If you have a blemish, dab something appropriate on it such as Visine, but otherwise leave it alone. Your focus should be on having the clean and soft palette your makeup needs to achieve natural-looking, beautiful skin.
  2. While there are specific skin types (identified from 1-6) for dermatological purposes [1] , makeup companies use their own terminology to describe their makeup colors along the continuum of skin tone; and they aren't particularly consistent at that. For example, one company might call its lightest foundation “ivory” while another calls the same color “fair.” Thus, in thinking about colors that match your skin tone, it's best to first think broadly in terms of the range from "fair" to "medium" to "deep." [2]
    • Your skin's undertones – cool or warm – are also a factor when choosing both matching and complementary colors.
    • You can determine your undertone with a quick trick. Hold a piece of silver and a piece of gold jewelry to the back of your hand. If the gold seems to melt away, you have a warm undertone. If the silver does, you have a cool undertone. [3]
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  3. Between the time you begin applying your makeup and the time you say goodbye to your guests, a lot will have happened. Using a primer before you apply your makeup will help ensure it holds up through the ceremony, any dancing, crying and toasting. You'll likely still need occasional touch-ups, but they'll be much less frequent. Additionally, a primer will help smooth fine lines and wrinkles as well as disguise open pores.
    • Use a small amount after you've moisturized, but before you put on foundation. Spread it evenly on your face and eyelids to create a smooth base for everything to come. [4]
  4. Often people think concealer goes on before foundation, but the experts beg to differ. After you've put on the primer, allow it time to dry or set. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when applying makeup is not giving each step time to dry. If needed, turn your hair dryer on its coolest setting and wave it back and forth across your face before moving from one step to the next. [5]
    • If you have a cool undertone, look for foundation that has a rosier, redder or blue base.
    • If you have a warm undertone, use a foundation with a yellow or golden base.
    • To determine if the shade is right, dip a Q-tip in the foundation and apply it to the center of your lower jawline. If it vanishes, it's the right one! [6]
    • Apply foundation in thin layers, starting from the middle of your face and blending outward using a foundation brush. You don't want any visible lines, so pay close attention to blending beneath your jaw and on your neck.
    • Don't cake on foundation. It will look overdone and likely smear or streak.
  5. Whereas foundation is designed to even skin tone, concealers are designed to hide things, like blemishes and dark circles under your eyes. If you were to apply it before your foundation, you'd rub much of it away while working the foundation into your skin. To cover red areas or dark circles, use a concealer brush to dot a liquid concealer the same shade or one shade lighter than your skin tone along trouble areas. Then pat the brush against your skin to spread the concealer. If it's not blended enough, dip the tip of a makeup sponge in water and work the concealer outward. [7]
    • To hide a blemish, put foundation on it first, then apply concealer before setting it with powder. If you can still see it, add more concealer and powder. Make sure you pat the concealer on the blemish. Don't rub.
  6. Highlighter isn't always in everyone's makeup bag, but its purpose is to make certain facial features like eyes appear larger and to add both glow and a youthful dewy look. Using too much, or a formulation with sparkle or glitter, is a recipe for photo disaster, so tread lightly. They come in both liquid and powder forms.
    • If you use a liquid, dab it on with a brush after your foundation in the shape of a check mark. Start near your inner eye, go down at a slight angle toward your nostril and then up your cheekbone, blending toward your temple. Do the same above your brows, down the center of your nose, the center of your forehead and your chin.
    • If you're using a powder highlighter, use it after you powder and brush it under your brows, lightly in the corner of your eyes and on the tops of your cheekbones. Don't use powder highlighter under your eyes or over your mouth or you'll look sweaty in photos. [8]
  7. Really, you have two choices next. You can use a cream blush rather than a powder blush or set your base with powder. If you opt to use a powder blush, first use a translucent powder to set your base and control shine. Powder is one of those times when less is absolutely more. You're going for luminous, not laden down. Use a medium-sized brush to dust lightly over your forehead, the sides of your nose and on your chin.
    • Then use a powder bronzer that's just a shade or two darker than your foundation and brush it in the shape of a 3 on both sides of your face.
    • To do so, start at your hairline, move down the side of your face and then under your cheekbone, back to the side of your face and then below your jaw.
    • Have pressed powder on hand. There are always areas that shine and need a quick dab before a photo or while in the restroom. [9]
  8. Whether you're using a cream blush prior to your powder or a powder blush after, go lightly with the blush. You can always add more. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards and out toward your hairline. You don't want a pink nose, so don't brush it there. To finish, do a small check mark at your cheek bones. [10] [11]
    • If you have fair skin with cool undertones, colors like soft rose or baby pink with hints of mocha or beige will look nice.
    • If you have fair skin with warm undertones, go for golden apricot or a light peach with a bit of pink.
    • If you have medium skin with cool undertones, try cranberry, light raspberry or rosy pink.
    • If you have medium skin with warm undertones, look for soft coral with hints of brown or sunkissed apricot.
    • If you have deep skin with cool undertones, blush on shades of plum, grape and raspberry.
    • If you have deep skin with warm undertones, keep it rich with brown suede or a deep coral with a little bronze.
  9. Wedding experts generally don't recommend a darkly dramatic eye, opting instead to use eye liners in colors other than black, paler or muted eye shadows complementary to your eye color, and highlighters to make eyes look large. Try brown, grey, and green eyeliners and apply it on both your top and bottom eyelids to draw attention to your eyes. Using a cream eye shadow will last longer and is best used on the lids of your eye while a powder is best in the crease of your eye. Use a powder highlighter in the corners of your eyes and under your brow.
    • As for colors, try bronze shades if you have green eyes, mocha if your eyes are hazel, navy and dark brown for blue eyes, and purples and grays for brown eyes.
    • Dampen an eyeliner brush in water and brush it into your eye shadow if you want to line your eyes with your eye shadow. [12]
  10. Also, if you don't already regularly wear false eyelashes, your wedding day is not the day to start. [13] Instead, make sure you have a good eyelash curler, a volumizing mascara and a lengthening mascara. Curl your lashes before applying both. With your mascara, start at the root of your eyelashes and wiggle up from side to side to the top. Go with black – it looks good on everyone.
    • Finish by framing your face with a brow powder a little darker than your natural color. Brush it into the natural line of your eyebrows, working outward to the end of your eyes. [14]
  11. Just as you need your facial skin to be well moisturized prior to applying makeup, your lips also need to be moisturized so they aren't so dry or cracked that once color is applied all you see are lines. To avoid this, use a lip hydrator and let it absorb a couple of minutes before applying color. Choose a color that complements your blush while also following these tips. Also, while many newer lipsticks claim to last hours, going with a lip stain is a better bet on your wedding day. [15] [16]
    • If you have fair skin with cool undertones, go with nude, light mocha and light mauve; if you have warm undertones, try sand, nude peach or shell. Avoid bright pinks, dark bronzes and dark mochas.
    • If you have medium skin with cool undertones, choose a rosy pink, pomegranate or cranberry; if you have warm undertones, go for bronze, copper and cinnamon. Avoid nudes.
    • If you have deep skin with cool undertones, check out raisin, wine or ruby red; if you have warm undertones, try honey, ginger or a coppery bronze. Avoid anything close to orange. [17]
    • If using lip liner, apply your lip stain or lipstick, if that's what you choose, almost to the edge of the lip. Next use a lip liner to define the shape of your lips and to seal it all in. Add just a little more color and blend the two together.
    • If you go for a bolder, or statement, lip color, keep your eyes soft and natural to avoid the bridal doll look.
    • Avoid smacking your lips together because this can make your smile look lop-sided.
    • Skip the lip gloss. First, it doesn't last long. Secondly, it will end up on your intended's lips. It can also create a glare in photos.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Picking Your Wedding Look

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  1. One of the biggest mistakes brides make is caking on makeup – too many layers of overly dark foundation, far too smoky eyes, lipstick that is blindingly bright in photos and so forth. You don't want to wince when you look back on your wedding photos like you do when looking at those from prom. Think timeless. Leave experimentation for another time and place – you want to look like the best version of you, not like someone else. [18]
    • Makeup artists highly recommend staying away from all makeup with any glitter or sparkle because it bounces off flash photography, leaving white spots on your skin. They can be removed from photos, but it's expensive. [19]
    Rihanna, Founder, Fenty Beauty

    Using makeup is empowering. "Makeup is like a secret weapon. Depending on my mood, my look, or the occasion, makeup can go from very subtle to a complete transformation, and that’s the fun in makeup: being able to play and create in endless ways."

  2. Because your gown most likely will be white, you'll need some color to compensate for its lack of color. Yet just as you don't want to wear too much makeup, you also don't want to wear the wrong style of makeup. Your goal is a cohesive look in which each piece makes sense with every other. Even if you love a certain style of makeup, or are simply accustomed to wearing makeup one way, that doesn't mean it's going to look good with your hair and dress.
    • If your gown is romantic, billowy and soft, for instance, smoky eyes and bright red lipstick will clash, not be complementary.
    • If you're wearing your hair in an updo with a lot of adornments, you should keep your makeup simple, yet still fresh and rosy.
    • Look at bridal magazines and red carpet images, specifically, to see how stylists put together an entire look that's stunning rather than shocking.
  3. Another mistake brides often make is waiting until the last minute to decide how they're going to do their makeup. So definitely get started early. Pull out those bridal magazines and start looking at the makeup used. When you see something you like, tear out the whole page and put it in a file marked “makeup.” Also look in other fashion magazines, search for images online (and print them) and browse other publications.
    • Identify what it is you like about the makeup in each image you find. Use a sharpie and write it down to the side.
    • Look around and jot down notes at different times of the day and when you're in different moods.
    • After you've collected a nice sample, try to determine if you notice any themes. For example, have you repeatedly written that you like a particular lip color? Do you see you've written several notes on lightening undereye circles?
  4. Remember back to weddings you've attended or been a part of in the past. When do you remember thinking to yourself about the bride, “Wow, she looks AMAZING!” You may not be able to remember exactly what it was about her makeup that you liked, or if it was even her makeup that made her stand out, but you know one thing – she didn't mess it up and she looked fabulous. Give her a call. She will certainly take it as a compliment. Ask her if she did her makeup herself. If not, ask her who did. If she had a makeup artist, ask for the person's name and contact information.
    • If you're really struggling in deciding on a look, remember that one rarely fails: radiant skin, rosy cheeks and pink lips.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Getting Your Look Ready Before the Wedding

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  1. If you've not been particularly diligent about taking good care of your facial skin, now is the time to start. Get facials once per month to firm your complexion and illuminate your skin, which will create a good base for makeup. Make sure you wash your face well not only in the morning but also at night to get rid of the day's makeup. Regularly exfoliate to remove dead skin and even out your skin tone. Moisturize your face and drink plenty of water, too. Applying makeup to dry, splotchy and flaky skin won't produce your desired look, no matter how hard you try.
    • If you have a breakout a day or two before your wedding, do not pick at it! It's much easier to cover a blemish than a scab.
    • Wax brows or other areas of your face at least one week before your wedding to avoid any marks. If you've never waxed before, don't start doing so days before your wedding because you can get a rash if you've never before waxed.
    • Consider whitening your teeth, too. There are many options, from having it done at the dentist's office to doing it at home with over-the-counter products. You should start 3-4 months before the wedding. [20]
  2. You may choose to do your own makeup, as Kate Middleton did before she wed Prince William. Or you may decide to have a friend or a makeup artist do it. If the latter, you may already have a recommendation from a friend. If not, consider asking your wedding planner if he or she can recommend one. You could also ask the coordinator of events for your wedding venue, look online or talk with the salon owner where you have your hair done or where you're planning to have your hair done if you're going that route.
    • No matter whom you select, ask to see a portfolio. If it's heavy in everything but the look you want, find someone else.
  3. If you choose to have your makeup done by another person, schedule a time at least one month before the wedding to have a trial run. By this time, you'll be more settled in the overall planning of your wedding and have a better idea of what you want. Take your collected images, a photo of your dress, a photo or image of what your hair will look like and a photo of yourself when you think you look your best to your trial run. This will all help the person doing your makeup both create the look you want and one that will work with your other elements.
    • If you plan to tan before your wedding, you need to achieve that color before your makeup trial, too, or the results will not be the same.
    • Also remember that while you might find a makeup look that you love, it might not look good with your coloring. If you're using a makeup artist, allow him or her to guide you on these matters.
    • Try to wear a tee shirt of the same shade as your wedding outfit to your trial run so you can see how your makeup will look against your chosen color. Take a photo with no flash before you leave. [21]
  4. If you don't know much about makeup application, keep reading. You can also research it online; watch YouTube videos; or go to a department store, look around at the people selling products at the makeup counters and find someone wearing a makeup style you like. Ask them for a makeover, which they'll often do for free in hopes that you'll buy some of their products. You might find that you do. Practice doing your makeup in natural light, using the products you plan to use. Also wear a white t-shirt and take a photo of yourself afterward.
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  • Question
    What foundation do you use for bridal makeup?
    Nine Morrison
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    Nine Morrison is the owner of WedLocks Bridal Hair & Makeup, the largest bridal beauty company in Colorado. Her work has been featured in Brides Magazine, The Knot, and by Moroccanoil, and her company replicates this standard across 400+ weddings per year. She has been in the beauty industry for over 10 years, and also travels as a beauty educator and business consultant.
    Nine Morrison
    Beauty Consultant
    Expert Answer
    Pick an airbrush foundation for a dewy look that's not too matte in photos. Additionally, airbrush foundation is water-resistant and transfer-resistant, so it'll last all day.
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    How do I draw my eyebrows?
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    Set beneath and above your brows, trace the lines, and draw. Give the tip a darker shade and conceal.
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    How do I draw eyebrows when doing the makeup?
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    Set beneath and above your brows, trace the lines, and draw. Give the tip a darker shade and conceal.
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      Tips

      • Don't neglect other areas of your body like your back, arms and chest. Use a non-transferrable shimmer lotion so these areas don't look flat or splotchy. [22]
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      • Don't become overly tannic in general. The contrast between your skin and your wedding dress can simply be too much. [23]
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      • Don't forget about your bridesmaids' hair and makeup so that when you're all standing together you have a cohesive look. [24]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/are-you-at-risk/skin-types-and-at-risk-groups
      2. ↑ https://beautybanter.com/expert-blush-tips-with-robin-black
      3. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/g2414/best-foundation-for-your-skin-tone/
      4. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      5. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      6. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/g2414/best-foundation-for-your-skin-tone/
      7. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a21296/concealer-map-makeup-tutorial/
      8. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a10384/ways-to-use-a-highlighter/
      9. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      1. ↑ https://www.birchbox.com/magazine/article/timing-beauty-quick-fix
      2. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      3. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      4. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      5. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      6. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      7. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      8. ↑ https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/beauty-product-tips?page=2
      9. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      10. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      11. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      12. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/beauty-fitness/makeup-skincare/makeup-mistakes?page=2#
      13. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a5153/common-makeup-mistakes-brides-make/
      14. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/05/bridal-beauty-tips_n_5250154.html
      15. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/05/bridal-beauty-tips_n_5250154.html
      16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BptgSTSsPv8

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To apply wedding makeup, start by applying moisturizer and primer. Follow up with thin layers of natural-looking foundation, starting from the middle of your face and blending outward, then use concealer to hide dark circles and blemishes. Next, apply powder or cream blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend out toward your hairline. Use eyeshadow and eyeliner in natural tones, then top it off with waterproof mascara. Apply a long lasting lip stain in a flattering color, then set the look with a dusting of translucent powder. If you want to learn how to try your makeup before the day of your wedding, keep reading!

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