Makeup tips needed!

vikinganna87

I generally don't wear much make up, just eyeshadow and mascara.  I would like to do my own make-up for the wedding and need to find the right eyeshadow palette.

I'm blonde, have dark blonde/light brown eyebrows and fair skins with freckles.  Blue-gray eyes.  My wedding is in the winter and I'll have my hair up.

I think ultimately a gold/natural/light brown palette is the best eyeshadow for my coloring.  Is this right?  Are there specific brands you recommend?  What about foundation for under the eye make-up?  Liner?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Knottie1463426215

I'd go to Sephora or Ulta and have someone there help you pick out products that'll work for you. Color is only half the battle...you'll want to make sure you're using products that'll last all day, even through the sweat and tears. Here are some recommendations:

*Skin - Five words: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation. It's expensive, but it's going to make your skin look fresh and dewy. Hands down the best foundation ever.

*Eyes - Makeup Geek has some amazing shadows. I think you can get them at Ulta. They have a high-end finish without the high-end price. I also love my Naked 3 palette. It's got a lot of brown and rose gold shades, which are perfect for bridal.

*Blush/Lipstick - I tend to like Nars blushes and YSL lipsticks (make sure you prime first), but as far as colors, I'd have someone make a suggestion. Hard to suggest anything without seeing what you look like. Nothing too bold though.

esstee33

Pretty much the holy grail neutral eyeshadow palette is Urban Decay's Naked. I have Naked 2, which I absolutely adore, but with your coloring you might prefer the original. I'd probably recommend staying away from Naked 3, which is rose golds. I'm very pale and freckly, and rose gold looks atrocious on me. They're pricey, but they'll last you forever and are very, very versatile colors you can wear in tons of different ways. Also it comes with an awesome double-ended brush. Also also it usually comes with UD primer samples, which are fantastic and make my eyeshadow stay on basically forever. 

The Lorac Pro palette is another really popular one for neutrals, but I don't have any personal experience with it so I can't really attest to its awesomeness. 

For liner, I really like the Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof kohl liner. It self-sharpens! And they're not even messing around with the waterproof stuff. It will not budge without serious effort and actual makeup remover. 

Probably the best thing would be to go to Sephora or Ulta or even the Clinique or MAC counter at a department store and have them show you how to work with your skintone to determine colors. 

bridesontherun

I also don't wear much - if any makeup on a daily basis, and like you I am fair completed with blue eyes, and originally blond (now bottle blond highlights over a very dirty blond/light brown natural color). I decided to treat myself to my first set of grown up make up after one job ended and another began. I had a gift card to Dillard's and decided to spend it all at the Clinique counter. The make-up sales lady completed a look for me describing all the techniques she was using along the way for application. I had recently gotten a set of makeup brushes from Amazon (which I highly recommend! They make even my old department store makeup look flawless!) with blue eyes she stuck with neutrals - a dark and light brown and a white. I ended up purchasing a base moisturizer, a creme eye shadow, and foundation. That was my entire $70.00 gift card and then some. (I think I added $23ish of additional money.) I also received their special gift which included eye liner, pressed powder, lip gloss, lip liner, exfoliater liquid, and a mascara. So I ended up with quite a bit, and didn't feel a bit bad since the gift card was a bonus from work. But for me, someone that doesn't wear makeup on a daily basis, to drop nearly $100.00 on make-up would have been hard if I had to spend my own money. I just don't place the same value on it that some gals do.

So for my wedding make-up kit I supplemented with additional drug store type make-up. I bought a new waterproof mascara, a waterproof eyeliner (didn't know that existed), and 3 different types of red lip stick that promises to stay on all day. I am trying them out now to see which is the winner for the actual day.

I also tend to lean to a vintage/classic style, so since my eyes will be neutral colors for make-up I feel comfortable going with the fire red lip stick. If you get some drug store cheap make-up now, practice ahead of time and see what your comfortable with for your style. If you want professional style, try a make up counter in the department store, but be prepared to purchase, or pay for your makeover. But my best tip is still to get yourself a nice (affordable) set of make-up brushes to apply your makeup no matter which brands you go with - it really makes that much difference.

P.S. Sorry for the long story, but I find it helps me to decide to follow advice from strangers if I know a bit of back story. Best of luck!

blabla89

Here's the thing: if you don't normally wear makeup, investing in all the high-quality products to pull off a great wedding-day look may end up costing as much as a professional application. So if you're thinking of doing your own to save money, you might want to see what options you have for getting it professionally done before you commit to that option. If you just really want to do your own that's totally okay, but I recommend going to Ulta or Sephora and getting an associate to pick out good products for you and show you how to use them. This works out best if you go during a non-busy time, and make sure the person helping you works for the store and not a specific brand. Don't be shy about asking for help picking out and trying products.

I'm not a MUA by any means but here are a few tips:
-Get a good skin primer and setting spray or powder. Eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion helps your eye makeup stay in place all day.
-Use a foundation with a matte finish. Applying with a damp sponge also helps to get a nice smooth look.
-Definitely do you eyebrows, to help them show up in pictures. I love Almay's brow pencil in dark blonde.
-Get good brushes. This is clutch.

vikinganna87

I really appreciate your helpful tips.  I'll start by going to Sephora (there's one near me) and getting a makeover.  I don't mind spending a little more for quality makeup that lasts.  I did consider having my makeup done by a pro on my wedding day, but I figure this is something I should learn anyway.  I also plan on trying out some of the products you all mention, like the Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow, Urban Decay primer potion, foundation with matte finish,  Almay's brow pencil and GOOD brushes.  Now I'm actually really excited about testing these new things..... I have about 2.5 months to learn!

Thanks again!  Have a great day everyone.

esstee33

If you end up really liking the Urban Decay shadows, but you don't want to invest in the entire Naked palette, they do sell their eyeshadows individually, too. I absolutely love Pistol from Naked 2, and think it might work for your coloring -- typically they have a palette sitting out that you can swatch on your arm to see how the color plays with your skintone. Snakebite is nice, too. 

They also have the Naked Basics palette, which is significantly smaller (and like half the price, too) and might be better for you to start out with. 

But yeah, definitely go to Sephora! 

blabla89

vikinganna87 said:

I really appreciate your helpful tips.  I'll start by going to Sephora (there's one near me) and getting a makeover.  I don't mind spending a little more for quality makeup that lasts.  I did consider having my makeup done by a pro on my wedding day, but I figure this is something I should learn anyway.  I also plan on trying out some of the products you all mention, like the Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow, Urban Decay primer potion, foundation with matte finish,  Almay's brow pencil and GOOD brushes.  Now I'm actually really excited about testing these new things..... I have about 2.5 months to learn!

Thanks again!  Have a great day everyone.

I LOVE Urban Decay. They also make a great setting spray to hold your makeup in place and give it a matte finish (I forget what it's called though). And you can buy it in a travel sized bottle if you don't want to shell out $30 for the full size.

novella1186

esstee33 said:

Pretty much the holy grail neutral eyeshadow palette is Urban Decay's Naked. I have Naked 2, which I absolutely adore, but with your coloring you might prefer the original. I'd probably recommend staying away from Naked 3, which is rose golds. I'm very pale and freckly, and rose gold looks atrocious on me. They're pricey, but they'll last you forever and are very, very versatile colors you can wear in tons of different ways. Also it comes with an awesome double-ended brush. Also also it usually comes with UD primer samples, which are fantastic and make my eyeshadow stay on basically forever. 

The Lorac Pro palette is another really popular one for neutrals, but I don't have any personal experience with it so I can't really attest to its awesomeness. 

For liner, I really like the Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof kohl liner. It self-sharpens! And they're not even messing around with the waterproof stuff. It will not budge without serious effort and actual makeup remover. 

Probably the best thing would be to go to Sephora or Ulta or even the Clinique or MAC counter at a department store and have them show you how to work with your skintone to determine colors. 

I came here to suggest this also. I have Naked 2 and it has the most perfect colors ever. They're very subtle and pretty, without being TOO bold. Urban Decay is my most favorite eye shadow brand ever, and I've been a make-up addict for more than 20 years so I've tried A LOT of different brands.