The 'best version of you' makeup is the best way to go for your big day.
We all want to look our best on our wedding day, and often that’s the day we splurge for a professional to help us get that way. But there’s still a lot to learn leading up to the wedding when it comes to makeup besides hiring a makeup artist. We spoke to two experts to find out their top tips and have answers to the most pressing questions brides have when it comes to wedding day makeup.
#1: HOW MUCH MAKEUP SHOULD I WEAR?
While you might feel pressure to really “do it up” on your wedding day, you should go with a makeup style that makes you most comfortable. So if you’re not used to wearing a lot of makeup, your wedding day is not the day to start experimenting. Consider going for a soft, yet still pretty and natural look. If you overdo it, you’ll feel uncomfortable, and you’ll look uncomfortable too (no matter how much concealer you have on).
“Stay true to yourself! For most brides, when it comes to their bridal beauty, the most important thing is looking and feeling like themselves on their wedding day.”
Katherine McCall, FaceTime Beauty
Experts agree. Katherine McCall, Event Coordinator at FaceTime Beauty sums it up this way, “Stay true to yourself! For most brides, when it comes to their bridal beauty, the most important thing is looking and feeling like themselves on their wedding day. There is sometimes pressure to wear a lot more makeup on your wedding day to look more ‘glam’ or ‘special’ but a more natural look done well can be just as elevated.”
Local Photographer and Media Makeup Artist Brett Dorian Benedict of Brett Dorian Artistry Studios thinks you should look at the big picture, “Truly think about your vision for your bridal look. It should still look like you, but just the very best and most bridal you that would make your day perfect while still making sense for the overall aesthetic of the day.”
#2: HOW DO I PICK A WEDDING DAY MAKE UP ARTIST?
Benedict smartly suggests if you’re hiring a professional make-up artist for your wedding, make sure you like that person, because “you spend more one-on-one time with your makeup artist than any other vendor on the wedding day.” If having a strong “social media game” excites you, just be forewarned, “all those likes and hashtags don’t translate as actual real-life experience.” And no matter what, “do an initial meet and greet to set expectations and then also a trial run to solidify the design of the makeup before the wedding.”
#3: FAVE PRODUCTS FOR WEDDING DAY MAKEUP?
There are so many great products out there, but when it comes to the top products for your wedding day, the key factor is a product that lasts. McCall loves Nars liquid blushes. Along with being long-lasting, they come in a wide range of colors that look great on every skin type and tone. She explains her other two faves, “Tarte Shape Tape concealer (below) is a miracle worker for wedding days. It lasts all day, doesn’t crease, and has full coverage. And Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara. We love this one because it adds volume and length and stays intact through tears and sweat.”
When it comes to must-have products, Benedict swears by “Temptu airbrush makeup for a flawless finish after all of the color correcting and neutralizing, Benefit High Beam Illuminizer (we call it Super Model in a Bottle!) to pop the cheekbones, and individual faux lashes so we can build a totally custom lash line that helps with length and volume-specific to each person in the bridal party.”
#4: OK, BUT WHAT SHOULD I HAVE IN MY PURSE THAT DAY?
Benedict says everyone should have powder, lip color, oil blotting papers, and tissues in their day of the makeup bag, “We always recommend a day-of touch-up kit since it’s similar to what we’d have on set for editorial shoot touch-ups to stay fresh all day.”
McCall of FaceTime Beauty agrees on the touch-up kit, “We send out touch-up kits to all of our brides and always make sure they have Q tips, makeup sponges, lip balm, oil blotting papers, and mints. The key for makeup touchups is mostly to remove or blend products already on the face, rather than adding on more makeup (with the exception of lipstick). Use Q-tips to clean up any under-eye fallout, sponges to blend in any makeup separation, and blotting papers to keep oil and shine at bay. These simple tools help to keep a bride and her party fresh all night long!”
#5: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKES BRIDES MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR BRIDAL BEAUTY REGIMEN?
“The biggest mistake brides make when it comes to their beauty look day-of is to go with something super trendy instead of classic. Whatever is in at the moment is not going to read as timeless down the line. That has become even more paramount in this age of fleeting self-taught Instagram influencers trying to push the boundaries for looks that only read well when filtered and in photos rather than in real life at luxe events. The ‘best version of you’ makeup is the best way to go for your big day.” advises Benedict.
85mm Photography
Wedding Guy Wisdom: Same goes for your bridal gown—if you go too trendy, you might regret it later. Consider classic styles as well as trendier options to ensure you’ll love what you see in your wedding album for decades to come.
When it comes to your beauty regimen leading up to your wedding, make sure to try products and services out well before your wedding. McCall adds, “Any new facials, products, treatments, waxing, etc should be introduced at least a year out from the wedding. We certainly recommend a facial treatment plan to ensure a bride has her best skin for her special day. But again, she just should start that process at least a year out. Everyone’s skin is different, so there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ plan.”
When trying out new wedding day makeup products, check out the latest in clean beauty. You’ll be sure to look your best if you consider the tips above and get rest before your wedding day
