9 things you need to know if you want to DIY your wedding makeup

Of course we don't think anyone NEEDS to wear makeup on their wedding day (or any other day), but if you're the type who loves getting fancy-faced, this post is for you…

I'll be doing my own rainbow makeup on my wedding day and thought that it might be nice to share a few of my handy DIY makeup tips…

1. White (shimmery) eyeshadow is your friend!

This is controversial with makeup artists, but I think a touch of white eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eye gives you a more awake and alert look. If you don't have smokey eyes or other more “heavy” makeup, you can do the same for the outer corner. Add a touch of white eyeshadow under your eyebrow, following its curve. I like to start in the highest part of the arch and work from there. It will make your eyes pop more and, again, can make you look more awake.

You can also use white shimmery eyeshadow as a highlighter by sweeping it over your cheekbone, above the line of your blusher. It will give you a beautiful glow and will make your blush look better. Add a tiny touch of white eyeshadow to the centre of your cupid's bow, just under your nose, to make your lips look more full and plump (and kissable!).

2. Don't skimp on the essentials

I love makeup, a lot, so I also have a lot of it. Since I'm not really rich I can't afford the awesome, expensive, cruelty free, totally vegan brands like Urban Decay and Lime Crime. However, there are some things that you should spend a bit more money on, because they will take your look to the next level and make sure it stays on all day.

• Make sure you have a good (eyeshadow) primer/base. This will really make sure that your awesome makeup look stays in its spot throughout the entire day. I love Urban Decay's Primer Potion and have splurged on that one.

• The next one to splurge on is mascara. This might sound silly but the right mascara will really complete your look, the icing on the cake and all that. A lot of times I have on my eyeshadow and think “meh,” but when I add my mascara it really rocks! Try and find one that works best for your type of lashes and your look and be prepared to spend a bit more. The best one I've had so far were the “Smokey Lash” mascara by Makeup Forever and “They're Real” mascara by Benefit.
• The final splurge is on brushes. I'm serious, I've struggled with my blusher for longer than I should have. When I finally found a good, fluffy, soft blush brush it took me half the time to apply my blusher and it looks better than ever. Make sure you feel the brushes before you buy them, don't buy them online. You never know what you'll get.

3. When is your wedding? In what part of the year?

This will affect your makeup. Generally, in the summer you're more tanned, while in the winter you're more pale. Keep this in mind when shopping for the basics like foundation and blusher. What might look great in summer could make you a bit orangey in winter. You can either take a shade lighter and take the chance that it will be alright, or wait until fall to purchase your foundation/blusher.

4. Having trouble with that picture perfect line of eyeliner?

Try a cream eyeliner with an angled brush. Add a bit of the cream liner on your brush and sweep along the lashline. Tada! You don't want black/brown/blue/the eyeliner colours and instead want something a little more funky (with sparkles!)? Try searching for cream eyeshadow in your awesome colour, it will usually work just as well. Otherwise, add one more layer.

5. Adding eyeliner on your waterline under your eye will make your eyes look smaller

It's better to add eyeliner (or eyeshadow) to the tiny edge under your waterline, between your lower lashes. Don't go all round, just from the outer corner about a third or a half towards the inner corner. Don't forget to smudge! This will give you a more open and approachable look

6. On nail polish…

I know a lot of bottles say that the polish will dry within a minute but if you need to add more than one layer for coverage, wait. For the perfect, (mostly) chip-proof, vibrant colour, wait about 20 minutes between layers. This is how long it takes for the layers of polish to really set. Just watch a movie and add a layer of polish every now and then.

Don't forget your topcoat, this is your best friend. There are many different types of topcoat, find one you like (I'm in love with the sparkly ones and the matte finish, love it!) it will make your polish last twice as long.

Use your topcoat as glue for your rhinestones and other nail-art shineys. Put on a layer of topcoat, press in the rhinestone/shiny/Hello Kitty face and wait until the layer is dry. Add a last layer of topcoat and tada! It stays put without using the pesky glue.

When using a glittery nailpolish, add a layer of clear polish underneath.
You can use your topcoat for this or buy a clear basecoat which will usually also feed your nails. It will make sure the glitters don't get stuck too much on your nails and will make it easier to remove them. Also add a layer of basecoat or clear polish under your reds and blues, these will stain your nails. You know what, just add a basecoat underneath everything, just to be safe.

Still not getting your glittery nailpolish off easily? Soak cotton pads in nailpolish remover and cut them into fours. Press one of these quarters onto your nail and wrap aluminum foil around it to keep it in place. Wait for a few minutes, it should come off easily now.

7. A makeup artist will use different makeup when working on a photoshoot, than for a private party

Your makeup will look different in photos, you may need to add a bit more makeup to make sure the effects will be seen on film. Keep this in mind and take a few test runs. Ask your friend who has a semi-professional camera to do a mini photoshoot and look at the results. What needs to be added? More mascara? More blusher? Try to find the middle ground between “looks good in pictures” and “simple natural look.” Of course, make sure you're comfortable with the results: you don't want to feel like a painting on your wedding day!

Also, make sure you see your makeup in daylight and artificial light before the big day
If your pictures will be in daylight, you'll probably still have artificial light on you a big portion of the day. Take that test run and check your makeup under different lighting conditions. Take your mirror and take a walk, how does it look with the light in the hallway? What about the kitchen? The garden underneath the trees or the harsh light in the elevator?

8. Think about fake lashes

Normally, I'm not a big fan (unless they have ridiculous colours and feathers and sparklies!) but I'm seriously considering this. When you have a makeup look that is kind of heavy — like nice dark smokey eyes or a vibrant rainbow look — your look could be enhanced by false lashes. Don't go overboard with length and fullness (unless you love that, of course!) but there are a lot of falsies that just add a tiny bit more volume and still look natural. It will look great in pictures and might just be the finishing touch to your look.

9. Practice, practice, practice!

Seriously, the more you practice the more fluid and natural your look will be. Take the time to practice every single bit of your look and search the internet for more tips and tricks to make your makeup experience easier.

How sparkly are you going on YOUR wedding day? And are you DIYing it all?