Bridal Makeup Picks | Everything I Wore For My Wedding

I've been promising this post for awhile, and now it's finally here. I just got married on Friday, and I did my own makeup. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I had quite the journey of figuring out everything I'd wear and what kind of look I'd do for the day. After a few trials and a lt of practice, I think everything went off without a hitch.

I started off with freshly washed and moisturized skin (let me know if you want a post on the skincare I was using in the lead-up to the wedding, too!) and applied a base layer of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer. I never used to be a primer gal, but this one truly changed me. It sinks right into the skin but plumps up and hydrates it, which for me is key for getting my makeup to stay in place. I found my perfect foundation rather early in this whole process, and it was actually a mixture of two - I mixed equal parts Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation with the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation (which has since been reformulated - I still used the old version). This combo gave me the perfect amount of luminosity, a skinlike finish, and great longevity. It lasted all night long. For concealer I went in and covered up any lingering patches of redness with the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer, which is my ultimate favorite. I love it so much that I couldn't even think of another one to even try when doing my makeup trials. Since it doesn't fully cover my acne scars, I took it a step further and spot concealed with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.

For my cheeks, I layered cream and powder products for optimum longevity. I started with a base of the Glossier Cloud Paints* in Dusk and Puff, using Dusk in places where I'd bronze and contour, and Puff on the apples of my cheeks where I was going to apply blush. I also used the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand as an initial layer of highlight - this is one of the prettiest highlighters I own, so I had to make use of it on the day. As for powders, I contoured with a bit of the Surratt Beauty Artistique Blush in Grisaille, which is a beautiful cool-toned brown in an easy-to-use, buildable formula. I also went for a Surratt Artistique Blush as my blush shade, dipping into La Vie En Rose - I almost went for a lighter shade, but I'm glad I chose something a little deeper that stood out in photos. To blend together the blush and contour, I added a bit of the Guerlain Terracotta Sun Trio Bronzer. Then I dusted a bit of the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlight on the tops of my cheekbones and browbones - this is probably the best highlight for brides. It's super subtle and gives you a lit-from-within glow. I finished off the skin with a veil of the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder through the center of my face.

I knew I wanted a more feathered, less blocky brow look, so I started with a layer of the Glossier Boy Brow in Brown and followed it with the MAC Eyebrows Styler in Stylized.* I only just got the brow pencil last week, but I instantly fell for the formula and application. It's waterproof, and it lasted all night without smudging. For my eyes, I was feeling a slight rose gold look, but I also wanted to throw in some cool tones since they're more flattering on my skin. To combine those two things together, I used the Glossier Lidstar in Cub as the base for my eyeshadows - it not only gave my whole eyeshadow look a more rose-gold hue, but also worked beautifully as an eyeshadow primer and kept what I put on top from creasing all night. I went in on top with MAC Eyeshadows, dipping into the Cool Neutrals x15 Palette and a custom palette my sister made from me - I used mostly Quarry, Cork, and Naked Lunch from there. For a little extra sparkle, I patted a bit of the Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Chimiere on the center of my eyelids. Rather than a harsh liquid line for eyeliner, which I don't feel is very flattering on me, I did a soft smoky wedge using the Colourpop Eyeliner in Brew-Haha topped with a dark brown shadow from the MAC Cool palette. For mascara I went a bit rogue, choosing to layer two formulas, neither of which was waterproof. I started with a layer of the Milk Makeup Kush Mascara because I just love how it makes me look like I have dramatic lash extensions - it makes them look super fluffy, fanned out, and voluminous. Then on top I combed through some Glossier Lash Slick to help separate any clumps, lengthen, and keep it from smudging. The longevity of these two blew me away - I was actually afraid I'd have to do an emergency waterproof mascara run the morning of the wedding, but these two ended up holding up perfectly, even when my husband broke down in tears during his vows, which made me cry a lot. The mascara didn't smudge at all throughout the night, holding up from about 2pm to 3am.

The last thing to apply was lipstick, and again, if you follow me on Instagram, you'll know what a dilemma I was having - I attach a lot of sentimental value to lipsticks, so I kind of wanted a new one that I could forever remember as my "wedding lipstick." But I also wanted to wear something I knew I liked and would hold up well. In the end I found a compromise - I went with a Bobbi Brown Lipstick, which I knew was a formula that worked well for me, but I picked up a new shade, Sandwash Pink. It's such a perfect, classic neutral pink. I hear it's the one Kate Middleton wore for her wedding, which is what made me make a beeline for it when I went to Sephora with my sister for this quest for a wedding lipstick. It worked out so perfectly and is now my new favorite lipstick. I layered the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk underneath of course, and for the reception I topped it with the Lancome L'Absolu Lacquer in Infra Rose for something a little more fun - the shade looked lovely over Sandwash Pink, and it added a beautiful gloss that stayed put really well. I definitely need to run out and buy more shades now, because the formula is phenomenal.

So that's it! Everything I wore on my face for my wedding. What are your favorite makeup picks for special occasions? And are you with me on the wedding lipstick thing?

Products marked with an asterisk (*) were sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Lash Slick: Glossier’s New Mascara

Finally: a full face of Glossier is possible! Glossier’s latest launch, Lash Slick, is their take on mascara.  Like all things Glossier, this is definitely a “your lashes but better” mascara. It’s separating and lengthening, like eyelash extensions you can wash off at the end of the day.

248 formulas later, Glossier has really perfected the everyday mascara. It doesn’t feel like a fiber mascara, but look closely and you’ll see the little 1-2mm fibers in the formula. film forming polymers coat the lashes and hold the fibers in place on the ends of the lashes - true extensions! It also contains vegan biotin to condition the lashes. 

The wand is of the plastic variety, and while I normally prefer fiber brushes, this one is clearly perfect for the formula. It easily grips each lash and combs through them effortlessly, resulting in each lash being perfectly coated in product and fanned out. The result is a natural-looking lash that’s just enhanced - a little longer, a little curlier, and a little more full. 

Top: No mascara, Bottom: 2 coats of Glossier Lash Slick

While the formula looks beautiful on the lashes, the real selling point for me is its longevity. It’s water-resistant and not waterproof, and yet it lasts and lasts on me. I’ve said time and again I struggle with mascaras smudging underneath my eyes, but I haven’t had that problem in the slightest with Lash Slick. I haven’t been able to wear mascara on my lower lashes for years because of smudging, and I finally can now. Speaking of, this formula lends itself especially well to the lower lashes - you get doll eyes instantly. Lash Slick looks exactly the same at the end of the day as it does when i first put it on - just as black, just as long, and just as curled. It also washes off so easily despite being so long-lasting. It comes right off with warm water, making makeup removal at the end of the day a breeze.

Lash Slick is for sure my new everyday go-to - I love how natural it looks and how well it stays put throughout the day. If you’re looking for a lash-extensions kind of look, then look no further! 

Lash Slick was sent to me early for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Link points to my Glossier Rep Page - you get 10% off your first order, and I make a small commission. 

Pat McGrath Labs Spring Launches | Subversive La Vie en Rose Palette & Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner

One of my favorite makeup artists is Pat McGrath, so naturally I’ve been drawn to pretty much everything she launches in her line. Every new release and collection seems so thought-out and unique, so everything I've tried has been a welcome addition to my routine. Lately I've been trying to step up my eye makeup game and wanting to stray a bit from my usual super neutral looks, so the new MTHRSHP Subversive La Vie En Rose Palette and Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner landed on my doorstep at just the right time.

I've only recently become familiar with the eyeshadow palette formula - my sister just got me the Subliminal Platinum Bronze Palette for my birthday. The quality I fell in love with last month in that palette has remained consistent in this newest palette for spring.

The La Vie en Rose Palette houses such a beautiful array of shades, from a brilliant gold, to a royal purple, to a bright magenta pink. It was a little intimidating at first, but I've quickly fallen in love with the bright rosy looks I can create with it. I've started falling into the habit of thinking a palette needs to have a warm matte brown "transition shade" in order to be usable, but this palette has totally thrown that idea out of my mind. I actually love buffing the pink shade into the crease to start out a look, and the shimmery shades look beautiful in the crease as well - they become more of a satin finish as you blend them, so they work perfectly anywhere on the eyes. The shades included are Euphoria (pink plum frost), Paranormal (deep plum suede), Purple Reign (royal purple sheen), Gold Nectar (gold metallic), Rose Risque (bright pink sheen), and Pale Fire (peachy-pink duochrome).

Like I said above, the quality is top-notch. These are pigments, so they don't feel quite as "buttery" and soft as other eyeshadows, but they perform beautifully on the eyes. They have just the right amount of pigmentation - enough to show up right away, but also easy to build for more intensity. They're also quite blendable - they certainly make me look more skilled at eyeshadow than I really am. The shadows are incredibly long-lasting as well, even on my usually creasy eyelids. Not only do they stay put without creasing, but they also don't fade or lose their brilliance throughout the day.  Even without a primer, there's no creasing, and they blend effortlessly.

T-B | Pale Fire, Purple Reign, Gold Nectar, Paranormal, Rose Risque, Euphoria 

As for the liner, that's a win as well. I'm not always the biggest liquid liner fan, but this one has been easy enough for me to use and is starting to convert me. I usually have the most luck with the brush-tip pens, but this felt tip is so flexible that it is just as easy to control and manipulate. I can get such a smooth, even line even with my shaky hands. It's incredibly black and long-lasting, so it's perfect for adding a bit of drama to any look. 

Have you tried any products from Pat McGrath Labs? What's your favorite?

La Vie en Rose Palette & Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner have been sent to me for this review, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.