Putting On A Pretty Face
August 1st, 2008 @ 9:29 am by Mrs. Cherry Pie
After deliberating about the results of my May makeup trial in Montana, I decided that I would just DIY my face on the day-of. Honestly, I feel relieved. I’m confident about doing my own makeup and the money I’ll save on the day-of application (including hourly fee and transportation for the makeup artist to the hotel) will more than cover the cost of new makeup colors that I can use for months to come.
I want to share what products and colors I’m using. That way, any of you considering doing your own makeup can see that it doesn’t all have to be matchy-matchy high-end products… you can spend in some areas and save in others.
But first, let me explain the look I’m going for.
I want a very fresh, “blushing bride” look… I guess this is very typical of the All-American blond bride, and I think it will look good on me. Because our wedding is outdoors in the countryside, I don’t want anything too heavy and dramatic, but I do want to call out my eyes because they’ll really stand out in photos.
Here’s sort of what I’m going for:
For my base, I’m using oil-free Healthy Skin makeup by Neutrogena, but probably only for under-eyes and spot-coverage if my Yaz is working well. For powder, I’ll use Pearls of Perfection bronzer by Physician’s Formula. For blush, another drugstore product, and this one’s a staple for me - Cover Girl’s Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush in “sophisticated sable.” All of these products are el-cheapo, and I love them.
For eyes, I’ve splurged a bit more, but not too much - everything is from the Clinique counter. As a base, I use their Touch Tint for Eyes in “nude sparkle.” It adds a fresh, glowing look to the eyelid and makes eyeshadow last and last. I love wearing this stuff by itself, too, or with a little blush beneath my eyebrows.
My eyeshadow is a Color-Surge Eye Shadow Duo in “twice the spice,” for golden-brown depth. For liner, I’m using violet Quickliner for eyes to bring out the blues. It’s very subtly purple and blends nicely into a smoky outline.
My mascara is the requisite long-wearing waterproof variety in black, with a thickening lash-primer base.
The icing on the cake is my false lashes. I would never have considered these if it weren’t for Weddingbee readers suggesting them! I picked up a pair at the drugstore to test out before the wedding but before I got a chance to use them, I ended up at the Shu Uemura counter during the Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale and got these, sumptuous Smoky Layers:
I had one of the eyelash pros at the Shu counter trim and apply them for me. They felt REALLY weird at first, but it turns out that’s only because I didn’t apply them myself. Once I did it on my own they felt hardly noticeable and looked much more natural.
And last but not least, for my lips, I’ll be wearing Burt’s Bees lip balm (bzz bzz!) underneath it all, because I love the stuff. Then, a lip color “foundation” made by Victoria’s Secret, but no longer available in stores. I’m lining with Clinique Quick-Liner for lips in “lipblush” and glossing with “spring fling” Juicy Tubes from Lancome. I’d much rather re-apply gloss throughout the night than have any kind of lipstick - I can’t stand the way the stuff looks & feels!
So there you have it… my makeup plan. But you’ll have to wait until the pro-photos come in to see what it’ll look like. I’ve been playing around with various applications and I think the result will be nice!
What are your makeup plans for the big day?
Related Posts
17 Responses to “Putting On A Pretty Face”
Wow - I’m AMAZED you can put lashes on yourself. You go girl!!
Isn’t Touch Tint amazing? I don’t think I could live without it.
I had a really bad experience with a makeup trial. The girl was a friend of my cousin (who is an amazing hair stylist) and she was moderately priced.
I walked out of there looking no better than I look on any given day (and i am not talented at diy makeup!) I was really upset because I had such high expectations.
I ended up going with a girl who was three times more expensive, but SO worth it. She was a true professional! I have never felt so beautiful in my life!
Of course, I won’t be able to duplicate that, it’s so cool that you will be able to!
Becky
I did my own extremely minimal makeup when I wasn’t enthused by my trial. It was largely because I hadn’t the faintest idea how to give her direction… my cousin felt safe using her with no trial and looked great day of. Anyway, I have no regrets at all. I looked lovely and fresh, and I looked like myself.
My mom did her own makeup too, but got me to line her eyes. That’s one of my favourite photos: me all ready to go with veil and everything, stopping to carefully line Mom’s eyes. Kinda the opposite of the bride getting ready photo.
I did my own, and it turned out very well. I used the Bare Escentuals powder which was FABULOUS. I had heard it could cause reflection in photographs (It has zinc in it), but didn’t have any of that. I also used fake eyelashes! I had never used them before and practiced with them, which I encourage you to do.
I did my own trials, settled on something, and the day of it took me about 10-15 minutes and I had no stress.
DIY is great!
It’s so nice to hear about another bride doing her own makeup! As a fellow fair-skinned blonde, I love the beautiful yet simple products you chose (I am a huge Clinique fan, and now will be sure to try out Touch Tint). And the 4th hairstyle you chose is gorgeous - I am saving it as an idea for myself! Thanks for the post, Miss Cherry Pie
I’m amazed about your putting on the fake lashes yourself. Everytime I wore mine, I had to track down the lovely and talented Bianca del Rio to apply them for me.
As for my own wedding day makeup, I’ll probably have my fiance’s cousin do it for me. She’s much more makeup savvy than I am.
That sounds like a much better idea than paying someone for an hour of applying makeup + several hours of driving!
Did you go to a makeup counter at a mall or something first, to get recommendations for your new toys?
I had my makeup done for my engagement photos and was unimpressed too. So I decided I am going to DIY on my day. I plan on going to the MAC counter to get my look down and then buy whatever I need to do it myself.
@alliec: Yep, for sure! It ended up saving me waaay more than the $60 application– I think travel fees and hourly rates added up to over $150.
I went to the Clinique counter and talked with them about what I was looking for. I generally like their products and the natural, clean looks they produce. So once she showed me some colors and made some suggestions, I loaded up on new goodies for my eyes … the rest of the stuff I already had, but I wanted something new and special for eyes. I was in and out of there in 1/2 hour!
i will be DIY’ing as well. i have watched several makeup tutorials online. Youtube has tons of them!
i’ve been practicing and feel confident that i’ll look just as glamorous as i’d hoped for my wedding day. i plan to have lash extensions added the day before for major impact.
it is so awesome that you and the other bees are confident enough to diy your makeup.
i’m a very fair skinned blonde who hardly sleeps. that translates to some massive under eye circles, plus a yellowish complexion when i’m tired plus general shadows around my face that i’ve always had (like those on the corners of my eyes). thus, i’ve made a makeup artist a must-have for my wedding day (if i ever get engaged that is!).
Great post, Miss CP! I’m sure you will look stunning on the big day. Question - where did you find the photo in the top left? (above the actress Hayden Pane-whatever her last name is) I’d love to know the image source, if you have it! Thanks!
I am not nearly as savvy as any of you ladies. I’ve only worn makeup on less than 10 occassions in my life! So when I thought about the makeup I’d have to buy and potentially mess up I was like, yeah I think I’ll pass. LOL. It would have been bad investment since I don’t wear makeup at all and would have tossed the products out in the long run.
Thanks for the reminder I need to get that planned!
I am DIY all the way in Canada. Bobbi Brown via Holts, where the makeup artist will spend 2 hours + showing you what’s what and how to do it…then Sephora: checking out the highly touted mineral makeup which, it turns out, doesn’t give enough coverage for wedding photos (reassuring! everyone keeps telling me Bare Essentuals (?) is the way to go, but BB will do the trick)…back to Sephora: Lancome Hypnose mascara is a dream. DREAM, ladies, DREAM…you can layer and layer and layer; it’s natural, no clumps, and gorgeous. I also bought a Shu Umera eyelash curler. Not sure about that yet, but all this to say: i have ruled out the fake eyelashes on the day. I am not makeup inclined, and they would only stress me out…I was sure I would go for it, but the more I looked into it = NO THANK YOU.
Holts + Sephora = No Problem DIY
Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, Montana
Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications Specialist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse Practitioner
Engagement Date: August 26, 2006
Wedding Date: September 2008
Blogging Since: April 1, 2008
Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National Park
About Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!
Originally I was going to do my own until my MOH offered to pay for my makeup so I can feel pampered. I’m going to bring in a few items to the salon like Smashbox foundation primer, eye & lip primer, and Cover Blend concealer.