Biggest Bridal Makeup Mistakes

By Emily Kate Warren

Now that you know which wedding day hair mistakes to avoid making, it's time to focus on your face. I'm going to share the top bridal makeup mishaps that I've encountered (more than once). Don't fall victim to these easily avoidable blunders.

The problem: going for a faux glow and coming out looking orange
The last thing you need when looking back at your wedding photos is to confuse yourself with an Oompa Loompa.

Do this instead:
Go for several trial runs with the same spray tanning service prior to your wedding. You want to make sure they consistently make your freshly tanned skin look natural. Once you feel confident with your glow, make an appointment late afternoon two days before your wedding. Just be sure to avoid harsh soaps and exfoliators when showering before the wedding. This way the color should last and look natural.

The problem: forgetting to waterproof your eye makeup
Sure you may consider yourself a "strong" person but trust me, when that music keys up and your guests are all eagerly admiring you as you walk down the aisle, the waterworks will come. Yes, waterproof is a pain to remove but that's not an excuse for raccoon eyes at your reception.

Do this instead:
Choose waterproof finishes on any makeup worn on or around your eyes --particularly liners and mascaras. Depending on how weepy you are naturally, you may decide to also avoid committing to a heavy dose of color along your lower lash lines. And keep at least one or two cotton swabs in your clutch in case you need to do a little smudge removal regardless. (Trust me, watching your hubby dance with his mom is usually a real tearjerker!) Then, simply use an oil-based remover afterward and your eyes will be clean as a whistle when you wake up the next morning.

The problem: overdoing the dew
A little shine on key areas is beautiful, but too much and you'll be cursing your photographer later for not telling you your forehead looks like a disco ball in your pictures.

Do this instead:
Keep the highlighting products on the high planes of your face only -- think cheekbones and brow bones. Also, choose products that have shimmer, not sparkle or glitter. And don't forget to powder your forehead, nose, and chin regularly. Looking back at my photos from my own wedding, I regret not staying on top of that duty -- several otherwise great photos were unusable because my forehead looked sweaty or greasy.

The problem: skimping on color for fear of being too dramatic
Very typically, brides will instruct me that their makeup should look "natural." And while I couldn't agree more with the sentiment, your wedding day is not your every day. Taking your look up just a notch is essential!

Do this instead:
Whether you hire a stylist or choose to do your own makeup, you'll definitely need to do a practice run. If you are seriously attached to the "no makeup" look, just bump up each feature ever so slightly (for example make your top liner 1/8-inch thicker or your blush one shade more intense). Then, run your usual errands -- most likely you'll find that the checker at the grocery store will treat you the same, you'll forget you've got a bit extra on and later, in photos and videos, you'll be thanking your lucky stars you listened to me! Think about it: you've spent money and time on a beautiful dress, venue, and countless other details, so you'll want your face to match those efforts.

The problem: getting a facial a day or two before your wedding
As tempting as it may be to get your skin looking perfect for your big day, getting a facial too close to go-time can be a disaster of epic proportions. Your skin could reject the kind gesture and wind up 10 times more broken out and red than it was to begin with.

Do this instead:
Start seeing a facialist or dermatologist eight to 12 weeks before your nuptials. This will get your skin on track and give your esthetician or doc time to assess your needs. She can then recommend the best course of action to getting glowing skin just before the wedding. If you are suffering from just a blemish or two every so often, skip the facial pampering all together. Trust yourself (or your makeup artist) to cover any small spots day of, no sweat. And remember, we live in a world where re-touching exists, so a spot that's particularly troublesome will be a figment of your imagination in photos anyway!