How to Do Your Own Wedding Makeup

Most women don't stress out over the makeup they put on before leaving the house. However, your wedding day is not just your average day, and you want your look to be special and bring out your best features. Doing your own wedding makeup can be a breeze when you follow a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Foundation
• Face powder
• Blush
• Lip liner
• Lipstick
• Eyelash curler
• Eyeliner
• Eyeshadow
• Mascara

1. Wash your face. Although this sounds like a no-brainer, applying makeup to oily, unwashed skin can create an unnatural look. It can also lead to acne, which may sully your honeymoon.

2. Apply a moisturizer to your face before applying makeup. Dry skin will make the cosmetics look uneven.

3. Pad foundation gently over your face. Padding, as opposed to smearing or rubbing, will ensure even coverage, and will help you avoid stretching the skin.

4. Apply powder to your face.

5. Brush on your blush. Starting between the ear and cheekbone, use downward strokes. Blush goes on smoother when applied after, not before the face powder.

6. Apply the lip liner, being careful not to leave a heavy line. This can be done with either a pencil or a lip brush.

7. Apply the lipstick to your lips, blending the color in with the lip liner. You want one solid shade, rather than a dark line around the edge of your lips.

8. Use an eyelash curler to curl the lashes. This technique will help create fuller-looking lashes.

9. Do your eye makeup last. First, apply the eyeliner, then the eye shadow, followed by the mascara. Putting on the eye makeup in this order will yield the most natural look.

Tips & Warnings

• Set aside time to do a few test runs with your makeup. You don't want to wait until the big day to realize that your rouge or lipstick is too dark for you.
• Pluck your eyebrows no later than the day before your wedding. This will allow time for any redness or irritation to lessen.
• When you do your own wedding makeup, use a heavier hand than you do with your everyday makeup. This is especially true if you are wearing a gown (rather than a more casual dress) or if your hair is in an updo.
• If you have doubts about your ability to do your own makeup, consider scheduling an appointment with a professional makeup artist.
• The key is moderation. Never go overboard with your makeup, since heavy makeup can make you look unnatural and can even age you.