How To Do Your Own Wedding Makeup

10 tips for doing your own wedding makeup, from ME, a bride who did her own! These bridal makeup tips will help you feel confident & prepared to tackle your wedding day glam!

If you’re wondering how to do your own wedding makeup, I hope these DIY wedding makeup tips can be of assistance to you! I got married in August 2020 & although I started out feeling a little nervous about doing my own bridal makeup, I actually really enjoyed doing it & loved how it turned out! So if you’re in the same boat, I assure you that you can do it too with a little practice & preparation! If you’d like to see the exact products I used on my wedding day, be sure to check out this post next!

My husband & I decided to officially get married about four weeks prior to our wedding. Because of our short timeline & venue location, I wasn’t able to find anyone to do my makeup. This wasn’t a huge deal for me because I’ve always enjoyed doing my own makeup, but of course, this was a little bit more important than my everyday natural go-to makeup!

I ended up meeting with a friend about a week prior to our wedding. She helped me practice some techniques & we chatted about colors/shades I wanted to use. When I left, I already felt more confident in my ability to do my wedding makeup well!

There are definitely pros & cons to doing your own wedding makeup. Some pros include saving on costs, you have full control, & you get to use your products. For me personally, the pros outweighed any cons. Even the thought of someone else doing my makeup & me not 100% loving it was enough to give it a try on my own!

With that said, I LOVE how my wedding makeup turned out! I wanted classic makeup that would stand the test of time in photos & was very pleased with the results, how my makeup lasted, & the products/shades I used. If you’re considering doing your own bridal glam, I hope my DIY makeup tips can be of assistance as you begin to prepare!

DIY Wedding Makeup Tips

1. Prep your skin

In the months leading up to your wedding, you’ll want to start prepping your skin with a solid skincare routine. I used Beautycounter skincare leading up to my wedding (& still do now) & was very happy with how my skin looked & felt on my wedding day two years ago. The best primer for makeup is good, healthy skin, so allow yourself at least 60 days using any new skincare products, so that you’re able to see results in time. Three wedding-prep skincare products I’d suggest would be this Triple Acid AHA Toner, All Bright C Serum, & Reflect Effect AHA Smoothing Face Mask (read my review here). All three will really deliver the glow everyone wants for their big day!

2. Practice your look

When it comes to any makeup look or technique, practice makes perfect! Learning to do your own wedding makeup is no different. I’d suggest practicing with the products & shades you plan on using at least a few weeks in advance. Not only practice application techniques, but also make sure you have the proper tools to make you feel even more confident when the big day comes!

3. Elevate your normal makeup

I find that the most beautiful wedding day makeup is very complimentary of the brides natural beauty. What do you usually like to focus on when you do your makeup – eyes, cheeks, lips? Your wedding makeup should be a few steps above what you normally do for a nice makeup look. For me personally, this included more bronzer to contour, a thicker eye liner than usual, lash extensions, & full coverage foundation. Here’s the clean full coverage foundation that I used on my wedding day!

4. Keep your look timeless

While you want to elevate your makeup, you definitely want to keep it timeless. Yes, styles & preferences change over the years, but you want to wear makeup that will stand the test of time. For example, I wasn’t interested in doing a red lip, super dark contour, bright pink blush, glittery eyeshadow, or a cat eye liner on my wedding day. I kept the shades neutral & the techniques subtle but elevated. Of course, do whatever makes you feel comfortable on your wedding day, but that’s what worked for me & I’m glad I did so.

5. Mascara vs. Lash Extensions

This is definitely something to consider a few weeks prior to your wedding day. Do you want to wear mascara or do you want to invest in lash extensions? For my wedding, I chose the route of lash extensions & I was VERY happy with my decision. You can read all about my lash extensions here. I decided to do lash extensions because I have very watery eyes & I didn’t want to worry about wiping away mascara from under my eyes. If you too can relate, I think lash extensions are a very smart decision. Plus, they photograph really well!

If you choose to wear mascara, definitely give a few a try before committing to one. I’d even suggest working out wearing the mascara that you’re testing prior to your wedding to really see if it can hold up. You will want to choose a mascara formula that is waterproof or water resistant. If you’re interested in a solid clean mascara that won’t budge, I’d suggest the Lawless Mascara. But even though I recommend it for wedding makeup, definitely still test it out prior to the day of to see if it works for you!

6. Prime your skin day of

The day of your wedding, you’ll definitely want to use a good primer before applying your makeup. I’d recommend this Glow First Priming Serum. It will deliver long lasting hydration while also creating a beautiful canvas for your bridal makeup. The morning of my wedding, I used some eye masks & this eye cream to keep my under eyes hydrated & looking awake for photos. With that said, don’t try a new mask the day of your wedding in case you were to have a reaction. Stick to the products that you know work well for your skin.

7. Use a beauty blender

When it comes to foundation & the way you apply it, at least for me, I wanted full coverage but did not want it to look or feel caked on. I’d suggest using a foundation you’re already familiar with & one that you know matches well with your skin tone. I used this full coverage clean foundation with a damp beauty blender. If you’re looking for a good beauty blender, I’d grab this one! Using a beauty blender is a great way to achieve a non-cakey finish for both your foundation & concealer. Before applying, make sure the sponge is damp, not dry – that’s key! I like to pump the foundation onto the back of my hand & pick up the formula with my beauty blender & apply it that way. This ensures that you’re only applying as much as you need. Simply bounce the blender onto your face & watch the foundation melt beautifully into your skin!

8. Set your face in place

As you’re applying your makeup, you’ll want to make sure the products you’re using are being set in place. For example, once you apply your foundation, I’d suggest spritzing your face with a setting spray. Here’s a clean setting spray I’d recommend. Once you apply your concealer, set the areas you applied concealer with a setting powder, as well as, any other areas of your face where makeup tends to move around. Here’s the talc-free setting powder I used for my wedding makeup. And of course, using a setting spray after you’re finished is crucial for keeping your wedding makeup in tact all day.

This was something I was a little worried about prior to my wedding. I was a little unsure of how my makeup would wear throughout the day with all of the photos, potential tears, sweat, etc. but I was very very happy with how everything lasted. My wedding day was really hot & humid, but in my opinion, my makeup wore beautifully & I believe it’s because I really took my time during application & I made sure everything was properly set.

9. Take your time

This is huge. Coming from a bride who did her own wedding makeup, take your time!!! I know the morning of your wedding can be hectic with emotions & lots of moving parts, but it’s crucial that you allow yourself ample amount of time to get ready. I also did my own hair for my wedding, so I didn’t have to coordinate with a hair stylist but that’s definitely a conversation you need to have prior to the day of. Whether you do hair before makeup or vice versa, give yourself at LEAST an hour to really take your time & apply your makeup well.

In full honesty, I took way longer that I anticipated doing my makeup, which worked out okay because I started getting ready very early in the morning for our noon ceremony. The last thing you want to feel is stressed or rushed. Having extra time is essential because you might need to redo something within your look. I remember applying too much setting powder under one of my eyes & having to wipe it off & start over!

When you sit down to do your makeup on your wedding day, make sure to let each layer of makeup dry & settle into your skin before applying a second layer, coat, or product! For example, let your primer dry down before your foundation. Let your foundation settle in before going in with concealer. So on & so forth!

10. Put together a bag for touch ups

Having a little makeup bag to use throughout the day for touch ups is really helpful. Especially as you’re taking photos, laughing, crying, sweating, etc. having a few products to keep you looking & feeling fresh will really make a huge difference. I’d suggest including your lipstick/lipgloss of choice, deodorant, setting powder, & maybe even your setting spray! And definitely some tissues haha! Give your bag to your Maid of Honor, a bridesmaid, wedding planner, mom, etc. so that it’s easily accessible for you!

Want to read more wedding posts?

Those are my 10 tips for doing your own wedding makeup, from a bride who did her own & LOVED the results! If you’d like to see the exact wedding makeup products I used, be sure to check out this post next! I believe anyone is capable of doing their own wedding makeup with a little preparation & practice, so I hope these tips helped!

How To Do Your Own Wedding Makeup