Your wedding day should be magical, memorable, and stress-free. Among the highlights is getting all made up with your favourite people, from your dress to the makeup. However, many brides unintentionally make mistakes that can affect their overall look. Here are some makeup blunders to steer clear of, ensuring you can make the most of your makeup on your big day.
Overplucking or Waxing Close to the Big Day
Your eyebrows are crucial in framing your face and enhancing your overall look. A common mistake many brides make is attempting to shape their brows right before the wedding day. Scheduling a wax too close to the event can result in irritation and redness to the skin.
Red raw skin = makeup not wanting to stick to it.
Instead, give your brows some care and attention in advance. Ideally, schedule any waxing or tinting at least 4 days minimum before the wedding day. This timing helps them heal.
Forgetting To Test Longevity Of Makeup At The Trial
On the day of your trial, leave your makeup on as long as possible to test the wearing power. Look in different lighting (bathroom, natural outdoors etc) to get used to it. Then give your makeup artist in-depth feedback on how it wore. They need to know if you're going oily in areas, shiny, or if anything isn't staying as well as you'd liked.
Not Testing The Spray Tan
Please trial your spray tan/instant tan before the big day. I highly recommend trialing it before the makeup preview so that you can see what it will all look like together. Spray tans can be notorious for going patchy if you don't follow the proper aftercare advice so definitely try it out before your wedding day.
Another tip is to avoid getting your face covered in spray tan. It can go very blotchy on the face due to the natural oils and can be harder to work with for makeup. Don't worry, your face and neck will still match with makeup! If you want to tan your face, I recommend these (i've tried them out for you):
Bondi Sands Technocolor Face Tan - Use this quiz to find the right shade
Squeezing Your Spots
HOLD FIRE. If you have a spot that you really REALLY want to squeeze or pick, please please please try your hardest not to. If you do need to though, I highly recommend reading this post through that I wrote recently as it tells you how to do it properly.
Remember, we are makeup artists and not magicians so if you go squeezing your spot and creating a mountain, we won't be able to hide it. Redness can be hidden, but texture such as raised bumps unfortunately is alot harder to work with.
Trying New Products Last Minute
Your wedding day and even just before is not the right moment to experiment with new makeup or skincare products. This also includes those fancy undereye patches people like to use before makeup! Please try them before the wedding day. Use me as an example - I used one recently, and my undereyes went red, blotchy and swollen. Switching a foundation, mascara, or skincare product just days and even weeks before the wedding can lead to unpredictable outcomes. For example, research shows that about 20% of makeup wearers experience skin reactions to new products. You could find yourself with irritation, or even unpleasant allergic reactions.
Stick to your tried-and-true products that have worked for your skin type and complexion. If you want to try something new, test it at least a month in advance to observe how your skin responds. This will ease your mind on the big day, letting you focus on enjoying the moments instead of worrying about makeup performance.
Skipping the Makeup Trial
One of the biggest blunders is not scheduling a makeup trial prior to your big day. I do not take a bridal client unless that have a trial with me - I mean it! It allows the artist to understand your preferences and needs, as well as ensuring you love the look on the day.
Aim to schedule the trial at least 8+ weeks before the wedding. This time-frame gives you the chance to adjust anything that doesn't feel quite right.
Choosing A Low-Lighting Venue
There are some seriously stunning venues that have bridal prep rooms in, but sometimes not even makeup ring lights can give the lighting power we need. We always have our ring lights with us just in case but ideally you want somewhere with beautiful natural lighting and not giving off too much warm lighting (yellow/orange tones).
Swiping Their Tears - GIRL NO.
Weddings are emotional! What I tell my clients to do is either:
Let the tear run naturally.
Catch it early with a tissue!
Dab your makeup after the tear has run. Let your makeup dry a little bit first.
NEVER EVER swipe. DAB DAB DAB.
Something else I suggest is to open and hand out any presents that might make you emotional before makeup application starts on the wedding morning. I know sometimes couples like to gift eachother a little something before the ceremony and 90% of the time, this sets off happy tears.
Make Every Moment Count
Your wedding day should be free from stress. By avoiding these common makeup mistakes, you can feel confident that you’ll put your best face forward. Remember, preparation is key. Invest time in trials, eyebrow grooming, and sticking to products you trust for the day you have always envisioned. Every detail matters, so ensure you're well-prepared to avoid last-minute panic.
Hey! I'm Mary, bridal makeup artist of 6.5 years, specialising in soft and glowy looks personal to you.
If you're still looking for your wedding makeup artist and I sound like the artist for you, let's chat!
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