My Wedding Day Makeup
It’s been a few days past our five month mark and I’m still trying to put into words how absolutely perfect our wedding day was, although I tried my best to describe the magic in a detailed wedding post. Literally everything about that day was complete perfection. I’ve gone over most of the other details in my post wedding series, and now I’m finally sharing my wedding day makeup. Since I had planned to do my own makeup, I did a ton of research and testing. Through all the trial runs I had, the final result was never what I really wanted. But with the magic of that day, everything came together perfectly!
I remember being nervous the entire morning about my makeup, and even had no idea what I was going to do when I actually sat down to start application. All I can remember is looking at the products, finishing my work, and looking in the mirror in awe. Of all the years I’ve been doing my makeup, I’ve never seen the final creation look as perfect as it did that day. I’m not trying to brag on myself, it was just pure magic. That’s all I can say.
I used all of my favorite products for this entire makeup look and reached for things I’ve known to work on my skin for years. Starting with my Milani eyeshadow primer! This has been a lifesaver for my oily eyelids. I didn’t have time for my makeup to be playing any games on my wedding day, so I went with the best! Once that dried, I went in with the shade called Private Party from the Pur Cosmetics Soirée Diaries eyeshadow palette. This palette is the only real “new” product I used in this look. I tested it for about a month or two before deciding to pack it in my bag. I lightly swept that shade over my entire eyelid to set the primer, and to help the other colors blend more easily as I layer those on.
I decided to go with a more warm-toned brown eyeshadow look, which actually surprised me because I’ve always been obsessed with more cool-tones. I took Makeup Geek’s Creme Brulee single eyeshadow and placed that on the outer half of my eye and into the crease with a Morphe MB23 blending brush. This is one of my favorite eyeshadow shades ever!
Then I took the shades Splurge and Stunner from the Soirée Diaries palette and placed that directly on top of where I applied Creme Brulee, but also making sure not to cover it up completely. I mixed the two shades evenly and applied it with a Sephora Professional blending brush. Once I had the pigmentation built up to what I desired, I blended everything with an empty loose bristled blending brush from Sonia Kashuk.
For added definition, I took Cocoa Bear (another Makeup Geek eyeshadow) and placed that in a sideways “V” shape on the outer corner of my eye with an Elf Contour brush. I was really careful to not overdo it with this step, but also made sure to apply enough. Sometimes I can be a little light-handed with my makeup because I don’t want it to look too heavy. I needed to kick that habit for my wedding day. Every step needed to be seen, and it needed to last!
Moving on to the lower lashline, I took three of my crease shades - Creme Brulee, Splurge, and Stunner - and blended those underneath my lower lashes with a #105 pencil brush from the BH Cosmetics Eye Essential Brush Set. This step will help tie everything together and make it a little bit more intense than an everyday neutral eyeshadow look.
To finish up on the upper lid, I used the L’oreal Infallible single eyeshadow in the shade Iced Latte. I’ve loved this shade for years! It’s one of those that makes you gasp at every application because the pigmentation is so good. The formula of these shadows lasts forever and this particular shade is the most beautiful shimmery gold I’ve ever seen. I applied it over the inner half of my eyelid with my finger first to really pack the color on and get it as intense as possible. Then I blended out the edges into the crease with a #103 small shader brush from that same BH Cosmetics brush set.
It wouldn’t be an eyeshadow look of mine if I didn’t bring in my favorite Ulta single eyeshadow in the shade Naked. I use this every single time I do my makeup, and my wedding day wouldn’t be any different. I applied it to the very inner corner of my eye with a small smudge brush from the Sephora Professional collection. I love the way this contrasts with Iced Latte!
I have been using the Jordana Retractable eyeliner in the shade Eggplant for over ten years now, so that was an obvious choice for the most important day of my life. I applied that halfway along both the upper and lower lash lines, and then set it with the shade called Snazzy in the Soirée Diaries palette. These two shades are perfect together and I love the way eggplant eyeliners look with my eye color. Although I only applied the pencil halfway along the lash lines, I took the eyeshadow all the way to the inner corner (on the upper lid only) because I could get a more precise line with the angled eyeliner brush.
Then I curled my lashes and applied two or three coats of the L’oreal Lash Paradise mascara -- waterproof version, of course. I also used false lashes that day, but I have no idea what style they were and have since thrown them away. They were actually a pair that I reused from the bridal photo shoot that I talked about on Wednesday. Y’all know I never wear false lashes, so that was quite the task trying to get those on that morning. I even practiced beforehand and it still took me atleast 5-10 minutes per eye trying to get it right!
Here’s a close-up of the final look:
And the usual quick, more condensed guide recapping every step for easy reference:
I absolutely love, love, love the way my makeup turned out! I seriously was so nervous before I started getting ready and really have no idea how everything came together as perfectly as it did. When I finished up and looked in the mirror to put my jewelry on, I was in shock! I’m still speechless! Every time I try to think of words, all I do is freeze up with a huge smile on my face.
Other products that I used for the rest of the face and the order in which they were applied:
-Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
-Coty Airspun Loose Powder - learn why here
-Elf Acne Fighting Foundation (Buff)
-Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (Sand)
-Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles (Fair)
-Temptu Shimmer Bronzer
-Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Loose Powder (Creamy Natural)
-Elf High Definition Undereye Setting Powder
-NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (Milk) - to highlight the browbone
-BH Cosmetics 6 Color Contour & Blush Palette (white & banana shades under the eyes)
-Makeup Geek Contour Powder (Bad Habit & Love Triangle)
-Makeup Geek Blush (Hanky Panky & Bliss)
-MAC Eyebrow Pencil (Spiked)
-Essence Make Me Brow (Soft Browny Brows)
-Kiss Strip Eyelash Adhesive (Clear, Latex Free)
-Elf HD Loose Powder (Sheer)
-Rimmel Provocalips (Wish Upon A Berry)
I didn’t use a setting spray (I forgot!) and all these products lasted the entire night on my face without budging or moving in any way. I didn’t even have to blot once! I’m telling you, it was pure magic!!
Stepping in to help my mom with her eyebrows ♥
It was in this moment, when I was putting my jewelry on, when I realized how perfect everything was ♥
I’ve looked at these pictures a million times and I still get just as excited as if it were yesterday. I am so thankful for Tim and Audrey with Phocus Photography for capturing these precious moments that we can look back on for the rest of our lives, and for spending that morning laughing with me as I prepared to marry the man of my dreams. ♥
~Christina~
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