Beauty & the Bride
How to Avoid Wedding-Day Makeup Meltdown
By Haley Nelson
You want to look more gorgeous on your wedding day than any other day of your life. But consider this: Your wedding makeup must hold through all the crying, dancing, sweating, cheek-kissing, Champagne sipping and cake eating – and look great for all those photos too. Sounds like a makeup meltdown ready to happen, right? It’s a risk – especially at outdoor summertime weddings. But don’t stress! Here are some tricks and tips to keep you looking fresh and fabulous all day long.
Prep your face
To create a look that lasts for hours, prep your face with specially formulated products that will stay – not stray. Start by smoothing on an oil-free primer before applying makeup. It'll make your makeup go on smoother and last a lot longer, even when you sweat.
Cut the cream
Steer clear of heavy, creamy makeup, which tends to streak and invite shine, especially during the warmer months. Consider using lighter, oil-free foundations that won’t weigh down skin, then applying powder. Or opt for a soft, powdery formula that will look fresh and absorb oil. For more staying power, apply cheek stain, then dust a matching powder blush on top of it.
Prime your eyes
To keep eye liner and shadow from migrating, start with an eye shadow primer that works similarly to the foundation primers but formulated without any eye irritants. Using an eye shadow primer ensures smudge-free makeup, a must when you're wearing all white. For extra staying power, brush on a bit of translucent face powder before applying your eye makeup. And let’s face facts: On your wedding day, you’re going to cry. The waterworks may start as soon as your dad walks you down the aisle or when your new husband first turns to kiss you. For this day, waterproof mascara is a must.
Kiss and makeup
Don’t forget that it’s a very active day for lips – from talking to kissing to eating cake. For longer lasting lip color and to prevent your lipstick from bleeding, use a lip pencil to line and then fill in your lips. Or try a lip stain as the base color. Then top with a long-wearing lipstick.
Set it
When your face is fully finished, spritz on a setting spray to create a sweat-proof, rub-proof barrier that locks your look in for hours as well as hydrates the skin and leaves a beautiful, luminous finish.
Blot it
Remember that a camera's flash emphasizes anything that reflects light, so touch up with blotting papers to keep from looking "oily" in pictures. (Avoid toning down the shine with powder, however. It can lead to makeup becoming flat and cakey.) Blotting papers will help sop up excess oil without disturbing your meticulously applied makeup.
Just in case
For any quick touch ups throughout the day, keep a small bag with a compact, lipstick, blotting papers, concealer and blush. Give it to your mom or maid of honor for safekeeping.
