The DIY Bride
For most brides, one of the most important parts of their wedding day is getting their hair and makeup done professionally. They want to look and feel amazing and they want the morning of their wedding to be stress-free so usually, this is where we the professionals come in. However we are now in a different time, weddings have been cancelled and postponed, not once but maybe up to four times so it’s extremely difficult for brides to book anything, with many deciding to do their hair and makeup themselves. Not only this but under level 5 restrictions makeup artists and hairdressers are not permitted to work on anyone during these times, therefore brides wishing to go ahead with their weddings under level 5 restrictions have no choice but to do their own hair and makeup, a big blow to our industry and to those brides who find difficulty in doing their own makeup and hair. I can feel the panic and the disappointment of so many brides so I thought it was important as a makeup artist to share some of my skills, tips and tricks that may be of some benefit to brides on the morning of their wedding day.
Practice makes perfect.
The first thing I would suggest is not waiting until the morning of your wedding to do your makeup look for the first time. Practice makes perfect. Make sure you know exactly what products you would like to use, how to prep your skin for the perfect base and make sure you are using the right foundation to match your skin. You can also try out a few different lipsticks to find your perfect one. I know many brides might not worry too much as they will only have six people at their wedding but don’t forget pictures last a lifetime and you want to look your best no matter what.
Watch tutorials.
If you’re not a makeup lover and are not sure how to apply certain products then hop on YouTube for some amazing bridal masterclasses or Instagram where most makeup artists including me have tutorials saved on bridal looks.
Virtual consultation or trial with a makeup artist.
Under level 5 restrictions makeup artists are unable to give brides to be a makeup trial, however, due to this fact I have found I’m doing a lot of makeup consultations via zoom. It’s not the same as a normal hands-on trial but what we as makeup artists can do is chat to the bride, find out what look she is hoping to achieve on the day, and give her suggestions on what products may or may not be suitable for her skin. Through a tutorial, we can teach brides to be how to apply the makeup and give them some of the skills needed to achieve the perfect flawless bridal look.
Give yourself time.
On the morning of the wedding, give yourself enough time to get ready. The last thing you want is to be rushing. I would suggest giving yourself at least an hour to do your makeup and do it in daylight in front of a window. This is very important as natural daylight gives the most accurate reflection of your face and you will be able to make sure that everything is blended seamlessly.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
I cant stress enough the importance of hydration so for the days, weeks or months coming up to your wedding day drink lots of water. It’s imperative to the nourishment of your skin. Makeup sits so much better on hydrated nourished skin, you will be less likely to have any breakouts, and staying hydrated will also help reduce any puffiness or swelling in the face.
Beauty sleep.
Get some sleep. Hydration and sleep are probably the two most beneficial things you can do for your skin so the night before your wedding, ditch that last glass of prosecco and try to get to bed at a reasonable hour. You’ll be thankful the next morning.
Some product recommendations.
Nars sheer glow foundation.
Nars creamy concealer
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood flawless filter.
Some of my favourite lipsticks include anything from Charlotte Tilbury but specifically Pillow talk and Penelope pink. My favourite Mac lipsticks include Mehr, Brave, velvet Teddy and Blankety.
