DIY Bridal Beauty Tips

Can’t find the right makeup artist or stressing over the cost? Or, are you just a DIY-kind-of-girl? With these steps, you can achieve a beautiful bridal makeup look all on your own. To start: Assemble a good set of brushes and products that work with your skin type and tone. Seek out a well-lit room and gather paper towels, Q-Tips, and a cup of water.

Korinne Robertson | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Primer & Foundation
Use a lightweight, silicon-based, oil-free primer like Make Up For Ever’s HD Microperfecting Primer to help your makeup last.  Then, squirt a few pumps of foundation — I love Make Up For Ever’s HD Invisible Coverage Foundation because it looks natural in real life and flawless in photos — on the back of your hand and warm it up with your fingers before applying. Blend the foundation into your neck to avoid harsh lines. *Quick tip: Set your foundation with a translucent powder like Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinishing Powder to reduce shininess.

Concealer
Diamonds are great, but concealer is a girl’s true best friend. Dab a few dots under your eye — start under your tear duct and go all the way around to the sides, and onto the edge of your brow bone. You can also dab a little on the tops of your cheekbones. Then lightly blend with your finger tips or a concealer brush. Avoid the raccoon look by choosing a shade this is just a little lighter than your natural skin color.

Concealer | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Bronzer
Heavy bronzer can be scary, but when applied lightly, it gives you a healthy glow. Swirl your brush in the bronzer. Then, tap the brush on the sides of the container to get rid of any excess. Dust it all over your face, focusing on the spots where sun naturally hits (i.e. cheeks, nose, corners of forehead). I suggest Lorac’s Warm Glow, as it has a touch of pink in it. *Quick tip: Swipe some bronzer off your brush and onto a dry paper towel before applying it to your face to prevent it from going on thick or patchy.

Bronzer | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Blush
The easiest way to apply blush is to smile with your mouth closed. Buff the blush onto the apples (or roundest part) of your cheeks and blend upward toward the top of your ear. The key is to look fresh and flushed, as if you just came in from playing in the snow. NARS blush is long-lasting and comes in nearly 30 shades.

Blush | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Eyeliner
Skip the black and opt for peachy (Tarte’s emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener) or white eyeliner to make your eyes look big and bright. Line your top and bottom waterline to open and define those pretty peepers.

Eyeliner | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Shadow
Choose neutrals that accentuate your eyes. Swipe a soft shade, like champagne, onto your entire lid and then dab a darker shade into the outside corners of your eyes. Bring some into the crease of your eye as well. Finish it off with a touch of lighter shadow in the inside corners and along your lower lash line. *Quick tip: When using a shimmery shadow, lightly moisten your brush with water and then apply. Urban Decay’s Naked Palette offers an array of neutrals.

Mascara
Pick a waterproof mascara — it won’t run down your face when the aisle waterworks start. Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Falsies Waterproof Mascara is my favorite. It gives you big, long lashes sans clumps. *Quick tip: Mascara on your cheeks? Dip a Q-Tip with water and twist it on the spot.

Mascara | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Lipstick & Lip Liner
Liner will define your lips and help lipstick stay all night long. Fill in your lips with liner and finish off with your favorite shade of lipstick. Keep both with you — or in a bridesmaid’s clutch — for quick touch-ups.

Eyeliner | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Highlight
The finishing touch is a dusting of highlighting powder on the tops of your cheeks. A little shimmer ups your natural bridal glow.

Highlight | Photo by Julie DiGiovine

Tweak these tips to work for your face and be sure to practice several times before your wedding so you are completely comfortable. Ask a friend to take a few pictures of you indoors, and outdoors, to make sure your look translates well in photographs. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and avoid facials or harsh treatments too close to the Big Day to make sure your skin is in tip-top shape.

Getting married? Start and end your wedding planning journey with Boston Weddings' guide to the best wedding vendors in the city.