Long Lasting DIY Wedding Makeup Tutorial
Wedding season is in full swing and it definitely takes me back a year ago when I was prepping for my own big day. I had a two-year engagement and used that time testing out products to find the best of the best so I could do it myself. This may not be for everyone, but doing my makeup relaxes me. Here’s all of my tips and products used for my long lasting DIY wedding makeup tutorial that lasted from 7 a.m.-1 a.m. …
Ok, get ready because this is going to be an intense list of cosmetics. The amount and layers of product (applied lightly and built up) is what helps create a long lasting look, so bear with me. I’m going through this in order of how I applied it the day of the wedding. Give yourself a solid hour to apply your makeup… more if you’re going to be getting ready with others and will be easily distracted.
// FACE //
- Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 3W2, Cashew.
- Spot conceal with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC3.
- Set foundation and concealer with Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Rich Vanilla. Do not apply this under eyes – I used something a bit more brightening later on.
- Fill in brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde/Taupe.
// EYES //
- Apply MAC Paint Pot in Painterly to lids to prime for eyeshadow.
- Apply MAC Brule all over lids to create a smooth canvas for other shades.
- Apply Urban Decay Half Baked on mobile lid, blending into crease. Feel free to really pack this gorgeous gold/bronze on – it’s my favorite eyeshadow ever!
- Apply MAC Soft Brown through the crease and fairly high up towards the brow bone to help transition some darker shades next.
- Apply NYX Skinny Dip right on top of where you applied Soft Brown, just slightly lower to create a gradient effect. This shade was crucial in creating the soft purple/brown color I achieved, which was great on my lighter brown eyes!
- Apply Urban Decay Roach on top of where you applied Skinny Dip; again, just slightly lower and more concentrated into the crease and outer lid than you did with the previous shade. This color really needs to be applied on that outer corner blending up and out to start smoking out the look and widening the eyes, creating depth.
- Apply MAC Handwritten heavily right on the edge of your eyelid/outer corner. Start with a small amount of product, buffing it out and adding more until desired effect. Don’t worry if this is looking a little crazy and almost ‘dirty’ on your outer eye area. We’re going to clean this up later.
- (optional) Apply Bare Minerals Nude Beach loose eyeshadow to the very center of the lid. This is a super shimmer warm sand color that will reflect the light really nicely, but it really isn’t a make it or break it addition.
- Line upper lids with MAC Blacktrack gel liner and wing out. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. Again, we’re going to clean this up in a few.
- Apply MAC Shroom to highlight right under the arch of your brow bone. Be very light with this application and keep it only under the arch of your brow. You don’t want to look like a 90’s porn star, right? 😉
- Curl lashes and apply a light layer of waterproof mascara on top and bottom. I used Maybelline Rocket Lash.
- Take a baby wipe or makeup remover wipe and gently wipe from under your eye to your temple (outwards) to clean up shadow fall out and sharpen your winged liner.
- Smudge NYX Skinny Dip under the lower lash line, followed by MAC Handwritten in the outer edge. Connect to the top lash line at the outer corner.
- Apply false lashes. I used Ardell Demi Wispies with Revlon Lash Glue in Black. I like this formula and brush applicator WAY better than any Ardell glues. Let it all dry and settle in.
// FACE (again) //
- Conceal under the eyes now that eye makeup is done. I used Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage in SC3 again for this.
- Set under the eyes and on center of face/cheeks with MAC’s Skinfinish Natural face powder. I used shade Medium Plus. It was a bit light for me since I was more tan, but good for a brightening effect.
- Bronze the skin with TooFaced Chocolate Soleil bronzer. I applied this to my cheek hollows, under my chin, on my nose, and along my hairline.
- Apply highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones, bridge/center of the nose, and cupids bow. I used The Balm’s Mary Lou-manizer. It’s intense!
- Apply blush to the cheeks. I used MAC’s Gingerly.
- Set brows with a brow gel (if necessary – my brows are wild). I used Anastasia Brow Gel in clear. It’s like a super hold gel.
// LIPS //
- Line and fill in entire lip with lipliner. I used MAC Etcetera.
- Apply lipstick. I used MAC’s Peach Blossom.
- Apply a long wearing gloss. I used MAC’s Prolongwear Lipglass in Ready or Not. It’s such a gorgeous light coral/peach, but extremely sticky. I tend to like sticky glosses because they last longer, but you may hate that.
// FINISHING TOUCHES //
- Now that the entire face is done, take a look and see if you want to add more dimension/depth to the eyes. I chose to deepen the outer corner of my lid with a very light application of MAC’s Black Tied shadow (a sparkly black). I also applied MAC’s Powerpoint eye pencil in Engraved (a dark charcoal) on my lower waterline.
- Apply a bit more mascara to the lashes to help blend the falsies with your real ones.
- Apply a liquid liner to the top of the false lash band to help conceal any dried glue. I used Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper.
- Decide if you need a bit more blush. Remember, this is your special day and flash will drown out any color. I chose to add a bit more. Gingerly is a very soft shade and builds up subtlety… it never looked like “too much” on my skin tone.
// MY TOUCH UP KIT //
- Gingerly Blush
- Kat Von D Liner
- Eyelash Glue
- Tweezers
- Peach Blossom Lipstick
- Ready or Not Gloss
- Blotting Sheets
- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder
I hope that helps you get some ideas for products you may be able to use and incorporate into your special day. Let me know if you have any other questions or any other tried-and-true long-wearing products. I’m always on the look out!
-Steffanie
PS. All photos are copyright Brian Mullins Photography. If you’re in the North Carolina area, I highly recommend Brian!
You looked so pretty! Your face is flawless! It looks better than a professional! This is the first longwear makeup routine that I have seen that didn’t use Mac Pro Longwear. I use the concealer here and there if I want really full coverage. It looks like the Estee Lauder foundation worked great for you!
Thank you so much! Pro Longwear broke me out and also didn’t have as nice coverage or finish as the Estée Lauder did. 🙂
Hmm interesting! I will look into the Estee Lauder as I am really prone to breakouts! Thank you!
Keep me posted how it works for you!! Obvi I’m a convert haha. It’s also great applied with a beauty blender or brush.
Your makeup looks gorgeous! After testing out literally a dozen different foundations over the last two months, I am 10 days away from my wedding and STILL have not found an SPF free foundation that looks good and lasts. I just want to use my Double Wear, but how did you prevent flashback?
Thank you! I did not have any problems with flashback (obviously … from my professional photos used here). I still used ELDW regularly and have never had an issue with flashback. The traditional double wear NO LONGER has SPF in it. It did years ago, but it’s a common misconception that there’s SPF, but I actually now work for the brand and there’s no SPF haha. If it helps, I set it with the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and maybe that helped? But like I said, I do still use this foundation regularly and never have flashback.
Thanks so much for replying so quickly! I feel so much better than I can finally just choose my ELDW and call it a day. The typically recommended wedding foundations either looked terrible on me (too shiny) or didn’t last (MUFE HD, GA Luminous Silk, YSL Touche Eclat…).
Haha yay. I totally understand. I tried ALL of those, as well. Now I do makeup professionally freelance and I’m doing my sister in law’s wedding in Nov. At her trial, we did half her face in Luminous Silk and half with Double Wear. She called me in two hours and was like “My face is melting on the Luminous side! I hate it!” I think all of those formulas are better for short term photoshoots and dry or mature skin. Not LONG WEAR. Enjoy your day knowing your face won’t be melting off 😉