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Writer's pictureAshley Victoria

COVID BRIDE // I DID MY OWN WEDDING MAKEUP AND IT WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE

Updated: Apr 3, 2021


Hey beauties! Trying not to skip a beat with rolling out this wedding content - as I have been waiting for SO long to share it with you. This piece is truly something I am excited about, since I was on the fence with doing my own makeup for the entirety of my engagement.


I finally pulled the plug and made the decision after my FOURTH makeup trial - yes, four! I spent a small fortune just to have makeup artists do trials for my big day. Time after time, no matter home much I tried to guide, navigate or make suggestions to increase the likelihood of my being pleased with the outcome, they fell flat. Not only did they fall flat, but some where down right horrid. I am a firm believer in less is more, and accentuating natural beauty.


That being said, against advice from friends, family and even my own wedding planner, I decided to do my own wedding makeup, as I know my face, what I like and I am very dialed in to the best-of-the-best when it comes to skincare and makeup, thanks to being a blogger and having a background in beauty PR.


This post is for anyone who wants to tackle their own makeup on their special day. Maybe you don't want to chance getting germs in these COVID times, maybe you are on a tight budget and want to save money or maybe you are like me and just rather do your own glam - whatever the reason may be, I got you!


So enough lead up, let's get into what I used, why I used it, how I applied it, and where you can buy it! Kindly note that below, the products are in use order.*



As always, I am transparent with you guys; I want to let you know that some of the brands I am talking about are SPONSORS. These are ALL the products that I actually used day-of my wedding and use in my day-to-day life. Note that any and all sponsors I have ever partnered with, are ones that I truly love, believe in and most importantly USE!*




 

THE PRODUCTS I USED FOR MY WEDDING MAKEUP


 



This cleansers name is spot on. I never knew I could love a face wash so much! This gel-based cleanser removes your makeup and cleanses skin without stripping, better than any other I have ever tried - and I have tried a LOT! Probiotics, prebiotics and lactic acid gently exfoliate skin, leaving it purified, clarified and balanced.


Having a clear canvas for makeup application is so crucial - especially for your special day. I recommend starting to use this cleanser 2-3 months prior to your wedding, to get your skin in tip-top shape.


TULA is doctor-founded clean, effective skincare powered by probiotics and superfoods. Embrace your skin, unleash your glow. SAVE 15% on TULA with my code STYLEELYST.






Second is the most amazing peel! I love to use this prior to a big event or when my skin is acting up. I apply this on a clean, cleansed face. Make sure you have let your skin thoroughly dry prior to application. When you are ready to do your makeup, apply Step 1 Exfoliate + Smooth and wipe it all over your face. Wait about a minute to let it activate, and then apply Step 2 Anti-Aging Neutralizer. Once I finish, I start my makeup application process. Note I only do it prior to makeup application for special events.*


This peel helps to prep and calm my skin, giving me an amazingly clean, toned and dewy canvas to work with!


This patented two-step anti-aging AHA/BHA peel pad is pre-dosed with five acids to visibly reduce dullness and uneven texture, pores, and dark spots. You will see an overall reduction in visible signs of aging and pore blockages, all while it supports natural collagen and cell renewal. Does it get any better?!


PRO TIP: I also did this treatment Thursday night before bed (wedding was that Saturday), after cleansing and prior to putting on my face cream. I woke up Friday looking super refreshed. I have built up a tolerance, giving me the ability to do these twice in one week. I did it twice, spaced out, to ensure a perfect canvas for wedding day. Also, if you are experiencing a breakout and you have popped said pimples or they have come to a head naturally, do NOT use this peel - as it can further exacerbate the pimple to help heal it, but it will get worse, before it gets better. If you have under the skin pimples that have not come to a head or black/white heads you can most certainly use the peel, and you will see a reduction the next morning!


I recommend using these peels twice a month and then slowly building up your tolerance over time to once a week and then twice a week.*



Ya'll - THIS PRODUCT! Shoot, I am in love with it. It is truly is a holy grail for me, I use it daily, throughout the day. I use it as a toner on my bare face prior to applying any other beauty products or makeup, I use it as a setting spray once I finish my makeup, and I use it as a refresher mist throughout the day - keeping my skin dewy and fresh. Be sure to grab this clean beauty, cult-favorite toning mist to tighten your pores, set your makeup, and provide an instant shot of radiance to your skin.


Clean beauty is SO important to me - this product is vegan, non-toxic, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and free of all synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, fillers, gluten, and GMOs.





I used to not wear face cream - yeppp, really! I was an aloe vera and serum kinda gal before Alpyn Beauty sent me this wonder of a moisturizer. I apply this on my face after I spray my skin with the beauty elixir, and prior to foundation.* I swear, since using this product my skin is healthier, clearer and more youthful looking. BONUS: my makeup goes on SO much smoother.


PlantGenius® Melt Moisturizer with Bakuchiol is a whipped, anti-aging moisturizer with antioxidants, ceramides, and bakuchiol to fight wrinkles and tighten pores for beautifully hydrated, brighter skin.





My next step is foundation application. I do this with my trusty beautyblender®. I prefer the nude one - don't ask me why, I just do. Maybe it's because it aligns with my aesthetic? Ha!


Make sure to fully submerge, soak and squeeze out your blender prior to use, each time. NEVER use a dry blender to apply your foundation and concealer.* I personally use the bottom of the blender with the larger surface area to dab on and blend my foundation, and then use the tip to dab and blend under-eye concealer - I don't like to mix them.


When using my beautyblender®, I find that my application is smoother and more flawless than when I use my hands or other tools.





I recently switched to this foundation in the last three months when I was researching long-wear foundations for the wedding - and my goodness, am I happy I found this gem! This foundation won the ALLURE Best of Beauty 2018 Award, and for good reason. Wear confidence, this 24-hour liquid foundation with a fresh, flawless, natural, matte finish unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections. The coverage is truly buildable, and even though it is categorized as matte, it doesn't dry out my skin like other matte foundations. It keeps the oil at bay, all while keeping my face looking hydrated. I hate when foundations look 'cakey' and dry, exaggerating every little line.


It feels lightweight and beyond comfortable, you won’t believe it’s

super long-wear, heat-resistant and waterproof! BONUS: it is 24-hour color true.*


This no touch-up needed foundation is also fragrance free and is available in over 55 shades - including cool, neutral, and warm undertones - to suit all skin tones. I wear shade BUFF 2N2, a light medium with neutral, and subtle golden undertones






Once I finish my foundation, I then move on to applying; my eye cream. Saturday Skin sent me this, along with other products in their line a while back. I have since repurchased - it is just that good. It is hydrating, without feeling greasy on the skin, acts as a primer for my concealers and reduces dark circles and puffiness.


The lightweight, clean beauty cream is formulated with antioxidants, avocado protein, and a peptide complex to visibly illuminate and maximize hydration.


PRO TIP: All you need is a little dot - trust me, a little goes a long way.






After my eye cream, I apply my first under-eye concealer with the pointy side of my beautyblender®. I love this hydrating concealer, as it helps to color correct and acts as a fabulous primer for my heavy duty concealer.


This natural, clean concealer is a flexible, second-skin, providing buildable, weightless coverage with superfood avocado to help hydrate and nourish the skin. It is also formulated with Caffeine, to help diminish the appearance of under-eye puffiness and dark circles, as well as Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, a mushroom and natural humectant that boosts skin’s moisture content and helps it appear more plump and smooth for an overall youthful appearance.*


I wear shade 2 Fair, which flatters ivory to fairly light skin tones. Note I only use this concealer under my eyes.* PRO TIP: Your concealer should be at least 1-2 shades lighter than your foundation.






Then I follow up with my second, more full-coverage concealer for full color correction. Again, using the pointy side of my beautyblender® to dab and apply. Make sure to dab out and up towards your brow/temple to help brighten and lift your eye area.


This vegan, full-coverage formula infused with tape technology instantly helps brighten, smooth, and give the skin a firmer, more lifted look. This concealer truly blurs and smooths fine lines and wrinkles. BONUS - it doesn't crease and looks perfectly natural! Full on holy grail right here.


I wear shade 22N Light Neutral, which flatters light skin tones with yellow and pink undertones. Note I only use this concealer under my eyes.*


FUN FACT: One sells every 12 seconds!





Next up I apply my ALLURE Best of Beauty 2020 winning bronzer on the apples of my cheeks, and a light dusting on my upper forehead, as well as my jawline and neck. I also use this bronzer in the creases of my eyelids, to add dimension prior to eye shadow and tie in the colors of the face.*


Hoola Matte Bronzer is now available in four shades to flatter all complexions, perfect for getting a natural-looking tan all year long. These finely-milled bronzers blend smoothly and seamlessly.


I wear shade Hoola - Natural Bronze, which flatters light to medium skin tones.


PRO TIP: Don't use the little brush it comes with, unless you have to. It does not apply as well as a larger, round powder brush will. The brush it comes with is good if you are looking for a heavier, contoured look.





After my bronzer, I applied DRIVE in the Tarteist™ PRO to go palette at the base of my eyelids, as well as HYPE towards the inner corners. They are a pretty neutral-toned nude and a shimmery metallic burnt gold.


The palette features six exclusive, metallic and matte shades that are enriched with Amazonian clay. It includes four new, long-wearing matte and metallic eyeshadows that are infused with Amazonian clay for smooth blending and flake-resistant wear, as well as two iridescent shades with a micro-shimmer, duo-chrome formula. Each shadow is loaded with deeply concentrated mineral pigments with a smart-blend technology to leave you with an intense, even payoff.






I also layer, LET'S BOUNCE from Too Faced on the base of my eyelids. I love this tangy nude with hints of burnt orange. The warmth pairs lovely with the other shadows and bronzer that I wear on my eyes.

This palette has rich neutrals in matte, shimmer, and pearl finishes. Infused with peach and sweet fig milk, it smells like a Peaches and Cream vacation dream. It is also free of parabens, and is cruelty-free and gluten-free.*




I apply my bronzer, blush and highlighter with this epic duel-sided, luxurious brush. I use the full, rounded side for bronzer and the slanted side for my blush and highlighter. The tapered brush features multi length bristles that pick up and deposit color evenly, and the angled brush hugs the curves of your face to contour with effortless precision.

This cruelty-free, super soft synthetic bristled brush delivers extra dimension and blends powders, gels, creams and liquids seamlessly.* It has truly been a game changer since I started using it. No other brush (that I have tried) compares.






I apply my eyeshadow with this lovely duel-sided shadow brush. Designed with a precise shader brush on one end and a fluffy blending brush on the other to create infinite eye looks. The super soft, cruelty-free synthetic bristles flawlessly pack and blend both powder or cream eyeshadows.







After I am done with the shadow, I then apply my liner. I adore this intensely black liquid eyeliner featuring a precise felt tip for definition that lasts all day. The tug-free liner glides smoothly across lids and the tapered felt tip allows for easy control and crisp lines. The quick-drying formula is water-resistant, long-lasting and smudge-free. I love how easy this liner is to apply and how richly pigmented it is.


I apply this to my top lash line to give it an ever so slight flare at the end. I did not do a thick line or a cat eye - as that's a little too retro for my taste. I simply delicately swooped upward, elongating my lash line, giving it a lifting effect. I also skipped doing my lower lash line for the wedding, as I wanted a more natural look. However, this liner is a joy to apply on both top and bottom lashes.*


PRO TIP: Be sure to shake to saturate the felt tip with the formula.





Next up, I fill in my brows with Brow Wiz - making gentle, natural strokes. PRO TIP: start with the edges of your brows and work inward. You will realize that you won't need as much upfront. Over-filling in the front of your brows is one of the biggest mistakes one can make, as it will make your brows look artificial.


This brow pencil is an ultra-slim and retractable, for precise detailing and creating hair-like strokes. It is perfect for spot-filling in areas where brow hair is sparse, as well as places where your arches may be bare or over-tweezed. The smudge-proof formula stays put all day for fresh, natural-looking brows.


I wear shade TAUPE (formerly Ash Blonde) - this shade is suggested for light to dark blonde hair hues.*





I then set my brows with a this ALLURE Best of Beauty 2020 award-winning brow gel from Wander Beauty.


This brow gel is designed for natural, fuller-looking brows with a soft hold. I use shade CLEAR - perfect for all hair colors and skin tones.*


PRO TIP: Wipe some of the product off on the edge of the container. You don't need much - a little goes a very long way.





I got lash extensions, as I am not great at strip lashes and wanted a more impactful eye for the wedding without having to stress or fuss with falsies. I LOVED my extensions. I did extensive research on water-proof mascara, as I needed to lightly brush my bottom lashes with some ( I also ended up adding a little to my extensions too). After a lot of research, comparison and review reading, I landed on this ultimate cry-proof mascara.


I really enjoyed that the fact that this water-resistant formula uses an innovative, non-sticky wax complex to resist clumping during wear. This formula adds volume, length, curl, and precision to lashes. This lash-defining product lays on color using an exclusive micro-defining complex that envelops the surface of lashes with ultrablack pigments for far-away impact. The two-in-one, cone-shaped, synthetic fiber brush has a precision tip that separates lashes, and a rounded base to create extravagant volume and defined precision from any distance.


Note this is not the mascara I use on a day-to-day basis. I needed a long-wear, water-proof mascara for the wedding, as I knew I would cry a lot.*


******** If you are local to Fairfield County, I got my lash extensions from Melba at Eye Coco Studio. She is amazing and I highly recommend her! Be sure to follow her on Instagram @eyecocostudio






We can't forget blush! Definitely need that elegant touch of rosy bridal cheeks. My all-time favorite blush is NARS Orgasm. If you haven't tried it, do so ASAP and level-up.


This award-winning, pressed powder blush delivers healthy-looking color to flatter any skin tone. Silky, superfine micronized powder pigments in matte and shimmering shades ensure a seamless application. These soft, buildable shades deliver a wide range of effects, from ulta-sheer to powerful pops of color. Each iconic shade features a subtle pink undertone for a natural-looking blush.


I use shade ORGASM - a peachy pink with shimmer.*






Almost at the end, guys - I know it may seem like a lot of products, but it really isn't - and this is for your wedding day!


Next up is my go-to highlighter. I don't wear highlighter often, but when I do, it is this one.


This silky, universally flattering champagne hued powder highlighter can be used on your face, body and even your eyes. Ultra-fine, light-reflecting pigments blend flawlessly into skin for a show stopping glow. Apply a sheer layer for a subtle glow or layer on for a statement strobe. Enriched with edelweiss flower extract to help keep skin supple and sunflower seed oil to retain moisture.


PRO TIP: For a wedding I would only apply a light, thin layer. As too much highlighter can have an adverse effect on the evening photos with flash. I dust on my cheekbones, and a dab on the tip of my nose. Apply where desired.*


I wear shade After Hours - a feminine champagne pearl.





Lip time! First up, I use another one of my favorite clean beauty brands, innisfree. Their high-impact lipstick comes in dimensional shades formulated to deliver lightweight moisture and creamy wear. I did not wear this with a lip liner day of the wedding, but if I do pair it with a liner, I use Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk, a versatile pink nude hue.


I wear shade SUGAR BEIGE - it is the perfect moisturizing, pigmented nude.






I then layered this DIOR lipstick for shine and dimension, as this next-generation lipstick delivers unparalleled shine. It is sheer, vibrant and luminous, ready-to-wear lipstick, infused with aloe vera, oils and waxes to provide 24-hour hydration to lips. At the heart of the formula are five ultra-sensorial oils selected for their exceptional glide, shine, nourishment, comfort and softness.


I wear shade 535 CD CREAM - a shimmery pink taupe. I love this hue layered on top of Innisfree's Sugar Beige for soft, nude, hydrated lips with the perfect pop of delicate shine and shimmer.


PRO TIP: Get a dress with pockets. I was able to keep both lipsticks in my pocket throughout the photos, ceremony and reception to retouch as needed.*







Last, but certainly not least, my amazing setting powder - it's lightweight, easy-to-apply, and blends effortlessly to set makeup for up to 16 hours of wear. This award-winning powder locks in makeup for long-lasting wear without adding weight or texture. It absorbs oil and reduces shine all day, creating a flawless, matte finish with no flashback in photos. These truly-translucent shades work on all skin tones, and create a soft-focus effect to subtly blur fine lines and imperfections.


After applying the setting powder, I then mist my face with my Caudalie Beauty Elixir as a setting spray. Don't skip these steps, they make all the difference.*


I wear shade TRANSLUCENT - perfect for very fair to medium skintones.


PRO TIP: If you are getting married during the summer months or somewhere that is humid year-round, I highly suggest also putting the setting powder on after your moisturizer (before your foundation) to help with oil control.





And that's all folks! For shade references, I have a light-medium skin tone with pink, olive and yellow undertones. My eyes are brown and my hair is golden blonde with pops of champagne.


 

WEDDING BEAUTY PRODUCTS


 







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Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith
Jul 05, 2021

After being in relationship with Wilson for seven years,he broke up with me, I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to someone online and she suggested that I should contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that don’t believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I meant a spell caster called Dr Zuma zuk and I email him, and he told me there was no problem that everything…

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