A Soft Bridal Makeup Tutorial.

My boyfriend's sister stayed with us for a week this month. It was pretty fun. She's a lovely woman and let me do her makeup on more than one occasion just because I wanted too. While she was here a website I frequent was having a create a tutorial contest. I decided I wanted to enter. When did I decide the best time to create this photo tutorial was? Around 1 am. After coming off a medication cold turkey that lists severe vertigo as a side effect of stopping using it. And a drink or two. Great idea Jayne!

So, I grab Mel and sit her down in my kitchen and get to work. This is the results. There are definitely things I could have done better but I'm actually pretty pleased with it! Here's where it gets funny. I decided I wanted to create a bridal tutorial. I only know one person getting married now - my boyfriend's sister! My boyfriend's OTHER sister. This sister is already married. But I wanted to do a springy bridal tutorial so I did! Here it is.. :)

Step One:

 First, start with a clean, moisturized face like Mel's. Sorry, I didn't realize just how dirty my boyfriend's camera lens was until I had started applying makeup!!

Step Two: 

The second step I did was to even out her skin tone. I used Lancome Maquicomplet in Correcteur over the worst of the rosacea to conceal redness. Next, add a good foundation that would last well for pictures. I used Revlon Photoready in 002 Vanilla. In this step I also added Clinique Lid Smoothie in Bit O' Honey as an eyeshadow base. You can use whatever shadow base you prefer or even just some of your foundation.

Step Three:

Next, use a medium brown shadow all from the lash line to just above the crease. Blend it out with a fluffy brush for a soft, natural line. I used the color Suspect from Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette.

Step Four:

It's brows time. Mel is getting her brows waxed in a couple days so I didn't tweeze them at all. I did fill them in for definition with Tease from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I used a few shadows from this palette since I know A LOT of people have it! I also highlighted her brow bone using Clinique Sugar Sugar which is a nice, sheer white color. Remember to always try and make your brows come to a point on the end - looks so much cleaner!

Step Five:

Add a darker brown eyeshadow into the crease and outer corner. I used Snakebite from the Naked 2 palette. Again, blend it out with a fluffy brush to keep the look subtle.

Step Six:

Line the top lash line with a liquid, gel, or cake liner. Thin to thick with a slight wing at the end to lift the look of the eye! I used Kryolan Aquacolor in Black because it's a weird addiction of mine.

Step Seven:

This step is actually a couple of steps. Conceal the under eye area with a peachy based concealer to hide dark circles. I am a huge fan of the Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer. Line the waterline with a white or nude pencil to brighten the under eye area even farther and make the eyes appear larger. Curl your lashes and add mascara! (Some finishing touches missing in the picture are bottom lash mascara and false lashes! If Mel was really getting married - I'd never leave the look lashless.)

Step Eight:

I powdered the skin to prevent shine throughout the day. Contouring the cheekbones, sides of nose, and around the forehead will add definition for pictures! I highlighted the center of the forhead, top of nose, cheekbones, and cupids bow. I also added a subtle blush to put the colors back in her cheeks. I used a contouring palette and blush palette from makeup school for this! You can buy them at St James Cosmetics. The colors well Shell, Acorn, and Barely Mauve.

Step Nine:

Lips, lips, lips! I lined Mel's lips with Ben Nye lipliner in Vino. For the color, I made a glossy stain by mixing Blistex lipbalm with MAC's Rebel lipstick. I LOVE the color it turned out. If you have thin lips, like Mel does on top, you can pencil them a tiny bit outside of the line to create a fuller lip. To keep the lines looking crisp, I added Clinique's Airbrush Concealer in Neutral Fair around the lip line.

The Finished Look:

Look at my Mel! I think she looks LOVELY. It's too bad her husband was asleep by the time we finished. Usually, I would use bottom mascara but I know mascara irritates her eyes and tends to smudge so I left it off! You should add some though. It will bring the whole look right together.

Products Used

• Revlon Photoready Foundation in 002 Vanilla
• Lancome's Correcteur Concealer
• Clinique 8 Hour Antioxidant Lid Smoothie in Bit O' Honey
• Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Tease, Suspect, Snakebites)
• Clinique Color Surge Eyeshadow in Sugar Sugar
• Kryolan Aquacolor in Black
• Lancome Definicils Mascara in Black
• NYX Eye/Brow Pencil in Pearl
• Clinique Stay Matte Powder in Buff
• St James Cosmetics Contour/Highlight/Blush (Acorn, Shell, Barely Mauve)
• Ben Nye lipliner in Vino
• Blistex lipbalm
• MAC's Rebel lipstick