Help! Having to do my own wedding makeup - what are some *must-have* items for a beautiful look?

I’m a freelance makeup artist, I can give you some recommendations!
My biggest suggestion is to do your eyes first!!! If you plan on wearing eyeshadow you do not want the fall out of the shadow to get onto your foundation, trust me. Eyes first!!
When applying foundation and concealer I love using a beauty sponge (I personally use morphe, beauty blender is amazing but pricey) ALWAYS wet your sponge first.
First, I would definitely do a face mask the night before the wedding. Be sure to use a mask you have used before because if you try a new one we wouldn’t want to risk a reaction or breakout. For dry skin my absolute favourite is tatcha sheet mask, you can get this at Sephora. For oily skin you’ll want to use a mattifying sheet mask, I recommend the Sephora brand! Next I HIGHLY recommend purchasing the Ordinary’s hyaluronic acid, it’s super affordable, I believe it’s around $12, also from Sephora (or online) put this on after your moisturizer and before your foundation as it is sticky and will help the makeup stay on all day! For foundation, you’ll need to choose based on your skin type. My favourites arery skin- Natasha Denona face glow: this is expensive but amazing. For a more affordable option, L’Oréal infallible pro glowOily skin- too faced born this away: again, this is high end. Affordable option: maybelline fit me foundation. Concealer is next. My favourites are: maybelline age rewind, elf camo, nars creamy radiant, tarte shape tape. For brows since you say they make you nervous I would stick with a brow defined pencil the angle will make it much easier to apply! Anastasia Beverly Hills and Benefit are great for brow products There are so many amazing eyeshadow palettes, I love Anastasia Beverly Hills- soft glam & modern Renaissance are great. Morphe palettes are also amazing and affordable! I would stay away from drug store eyeshadows as they tend to be quite chalky and not long wearing. If you don’t want to spend the extra money on an eyeshadow primer, concealer works just as well!
If eyeliner scares you, you can always use a definer brush and apply dark brown or black eye shadow for a softer look which is also much easier to work with and clean up! For mascara, essence is a great brand from the drug store so is L’Oréal lash paradise! If you want to use false lashes, practice applying them before your big day as they can definitely frustrate someone who isn’t use to putting them on. Ardell demi wispies are great from the drug store, use duo lash glue (green bottle)
For bronzer I love too faced and physicians formula! If you want to slim your face with bronzer start applying it just under your temple line and blend UP! Add to your forehead for a sun kissed look. Blush wise, Milani flower pots are great, for high end definitely tarte Amazonian clay! Lasts ALL day! Go heavy handed with blush, it might scare you at first lol but I promise blush fades the quickest out of all the makeup on your face so add a little more than you think you need. If you want highlight Becca is great (from Sephora)For lips that last all day, maybelline super stay liquid lip is AMAZING. I mean this stuff lasts alllllll damn day, I have to scrub it off! Liquid lips can be drying though so if you have dry lips, use a long scrub or lip chap first! Lastly you’ll want to set your face with setting spray I recommend, morphe continuous setting spray! If you’d like to use setting powder (I personally don’t bc I have very dry skin) you can get a trail size of Laura Mercier from Sephora.
Watch YouTube videos, Instagram video. Or feel free to message me with any questions!!

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Thank you so much! Yes, I am definitely planning on getting a lash lift/tint, since I probably won't be in the habit of the upkeep on extensions. I'd love extensions though, a girl can dream!

Hey Sara,

First thing I would do is invest in a face primer as it will help your make up go one better and keep it from settling into your pores/lines - you may want to go to your local beauty store to find out which one is best for your skin (tone, oily vs combination, etc.).

To go along with the face primer, I would also pick up an eyelid primer - this will keep your shadow from creasing/running AND help the colors you use pop that much more. As for the eyeshadow itself, you want something that blends well and doesn't have much fall-out

Invest in a high-quality foundation (again, talk to your local beauty store to find out which one is best for your needs - photography ready, light/med/heavy coverage, matte vs dewy finish). Depending on if you have imperfections or bags under your eyes, you may also want a concealer, but it's not mandatory.

If you don't feel comfortable in your ability to apply false lashes (or don't want to invest in extensions) add mascara to your list (you can also go the lash lift/tint route if you can't decide on a mascara).

Decide on the type of lip you want (light, dark, nude, matte, gloss, etc.) and include a matching lip liner (lining the lip helps keep the lipstick/gloss, from bleeding, and filling in the lip with the liner helps the pigment stay on lips longer)

Finish off the look with a setting spray to keep everything looking fresh and long-lasting.
I would also invest in a few professional-grade brushes for application

Other things you can use, but isn't a deal-breaker would be blush, bronzer and highlighter.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions or anything, let me know