When to Splurge and Save on Bridal Beauty Products
Planning your wedding takes a lot of time and money, especially if you’re putting together your bridal look yourself. A dress alone costs hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars, and that’s not even including accessories. If you have enough money in your budget to hire a makeup artist for your big day, it’s most likely they will come equipped with all of the necessary makeup products. But, if you plan to save a little cash and do your makeup yourself for your wedding, you’re going to need a guide on what is worth splurging on and where you should save. It’s a given that every bride wants to look her best on her big day, and that’s possible even without a professional makeup and hair team. You don’t have to break the bank to achieve a bridal makeup look you’ll never want to take off, you just have to know where to invest your money. So gals, if you need a little makeup guidance, we’ve listed what makeup items you should splurge or save on for your wedding day, along with a few basic application tips!
Splurge: Pre-Wedding Facials
Before you can even consider which makeup products will work well with your face, you have to make sure your skin is healthy enough to sustain them. If your skin is not calm and hydrated, many makeup products will appear patchy, heavy, or slightly discolored in photos.
via Pinterest
It’s not necessary for you to get a facial multiple times a month, but try to factor a monthly facial into your budget starting at least six months before your wedding day. This will help you achieve a natural glow that enhances your makeup and facial skin that requires less product altogether.
Save: Lipstick
Secret makeup tip - many drugstore lip stains will work much better than any expensive lipstick you purchase from a high-end brand. No matter the shade or brand of lipstick you choose, you will need to reapply at some point during the day, whether that’s after dinner or a quick touch-up before taking wedding photos.
Photography by Ria Mackenzie Photography
Choosing a simple lip stain rather than lipstick will ensure that your color will last much longer throughout the day and won’t cake up on your lips. What’s more, is if you opt for a drugstore brand, it will only cost you about $8 rather than a hefty $30.
Splurge: Foundation
A makeup method to follow for your wedding day and beyond - always pick a quality foundation. The first few products you apply on your face set the tone for the rest of your makeup look, and if you choose a faulty foundation or concealer, the rest of your makeup will not come together well.
Photography by Alyssa Parker Photography
So, it might hurt you to spend upwards of $30 on a good foundation, but in most cases, you’ll only need a few pumps of it and you can use it in your makeup routine post-wedding. Try to choose a foundation that is matte and oil-free so it won’t fade throughout the day and make your face appear greasy.
Save: Eyeliner
Many eyeliners usually follow a simple formula, so you don’t need to spend big bucks to find one that will be long-lasting. Most brides also opt for a more natural look on their big day, so a waterproof black or brown eyeliner from your local drugstore will suffice.
Photography by Jessie Wyman and Christina Anne
If you’re planning to use eyeliner on your top lid as well as your waterline, make sure that you test out the eyeliner, liquid or otherwise, before your big day just to make sure it doesn’t melt off or smudge easily.
Splurge: Eyeshadow
Whether you’re opting for a natural eyeshadow that accentuates the color of your eyes or want to sport an edgier smokey eye, your eyeshadow needs to be highly pigmented. Some drugstore eyeshadow palettes can give you this effect, but more often the pricier eyeshadow palettes will give you more color options.
Photography by Marcela Plosker Photography
They can also give you more pigment in just one swipe of the shadow. Your eyes are often the first thing that people look at when they speak to you, so you want to make sure that you spend that extra money to achieve a flawless eye makeup look.
Save: Mascara
Truthfully most mascaras, whether they’re from a drugstore or department store, will give you a similar effect. The key is to have a good eyelash curler that will make your lashes appear longer. You can choose just about any drugstore brand of mascara, just make sure that it is waterproof to keep it from running throughout the day.
Photography by Courtney Chau Photography
This is especially important if you plan on getting married in one of the hotter months of the year. Pro-tip: use two to three mascaras to achieve a fuller lash look - one for volume, one for length, and one for defining your lashes.
Basic Application Tips
Use a primer for both your face and eyes, this will help even out any visible pores or discoloration and allow for a smoother, flawless application. This is what all brides are looking for on their big day! Most brides will also want a natural glow, which can be hard to achieve when you have a white cast on your face from the makeup products you used. SPF is important for skin protection, just make sure to use one that’s sheer or incorporated into your moisturizer instead of your foundation.
Photography by Lynne Reznick
You also want to avoid any white finishing powder that can create a similar effect as sunscreen, instead opt for a neutral-tone setting powder. The most important tip for a successful makeup application? Setting spray. This will allow you to lock your whole beauty look into place and minimize any need for touch-ups throughout the day.
Share this with a bride-to-be who plans on doing her makeup herself on her wedding day and check out our lookbooks for even more bridal inspo!
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