DIY make up

Watching with interest as I think I'm going to DIY it too, I can't believe the prices of wedding make up and I'm adept enough at it not to warrant spending a fortune! I also will be investing in new products as they will last long after the wedding!!

No advice on those particular Benefit products but as a rule I love their stuff! I'd really like to try the Chanel Les Beiges healthy glow powder...

I'm doing my own too and I'm currently on the hunt for an eyeliner which will stay in place all day and not leave a smudge under my left eye (yep, just my left) after an hour. I've heard good things about Stila Waterproof liner, but it's hard to get hold of in the UK. I am gonna try Kryolan liner sealer, which is supposedly a good dupe for Benefit's late lamented She-laq. I still curse the day that was discontinued.

Hi

I've tried the benefit they're real push-up liner and I really love it. It goes on smooth because of the silicone tip and it really lasts all day. The Only thing I've found with it is that the tip sometimes gets clogged up, but I just squeeze excess out and wipe it on a tissue and it's as good as new. It's a really good black colour as well, whereas some other black eyeliners I've tried look more grey. I'd definitely recommend it though

x

Bobbi brown or Mac gel liners are great for staying power. I also recommend the Smashbox primer for helping your base stick all day

I used to use Bobbi Brown gel liner and can't remember why I stopped - maybe the price?... Definitely gonna revisit it though. I was tempted to try the Smashbox colour correcting primer, as my cheeks get a bit red. I've tried so many foundations over the past couple months, but cannot settle on one I like.

Has anyone tried the fixing sprays? My MUA used a mac one on me on Saturday but I've had a NYX one recommended to me also

I always reccommend MAC it's long lasting and flawless and great for a dewy 50s look with red lips! What I always reccommend is having a MUA do the make up in the shop as the price is redeemable on products and therefore they can reccommend the best ones to use and you can see without losing money. My make up trial will be in the shop so the money it costs I can spend on the products. Winning!

I use Smashbox primer and rate the original over the colour correcting. I get very red because of medication I'm on; with the original I can get adequate cover with foundation that lasts all day but find that the colour correcting doesn't hold the foundation for long enough so I look redder much sooner. Drop into a Boots with a Smashbox counter and they'll give you a sample of both to try. (Smashbox primer is the best thing since sliced bread in my opinion!)

I swear by Collection 2000 Eyeliner Pen. Its cheap as chips but stays on brilliantly well and is a good shade of black, also really easy to use as its a pen.

My MUA also recommended the Urban Decay Setting Spray which you can get a small bottle of for £9. She used this on my trial before I went on a very drunken works do and I actually struggled to get my make up off at the end of the night!

Love this, I'm going to DIY my wedding make up too. One of the first things I thought of! I want my wedding make up to be the same as what I wear now (although maybe a little more carefully applied than my usual bung-it-on-halfway-out-the-door!! My sister said she would help me put it on, she knows what I wear and uses a lot of the same products, so I'm happy that between us we'll get it right!!

I'm far to nervous about my own makeup to comtemplate it.... I can do my own make up but g'teed on that REALLY special night, I just cannot get it to look right. When I'm popping out fr a few bevvies or a BBQ somewhere, it look good!! Never lasts very long tho, my eye shadow colours go within hours and my lippy... never stays on.

Lipcote is your friend

Excellent tips, thanks! The Boots here just got a smashbox counter recently so I was planning to go have a nosey. What foundation do you use? I got some of the Clinique anti redness stuff but I just don't like the feel of it. I have recently had samples of Dermablend, NARS and Paula's Choice but haven't liked any of them!

What foundation is everyone using? I'm worried about flash back

I usually use No7 Stay Perfect applied with a foundation brush and then I add a second coat where I need to with a sponge. It just seems to get a better finish that way and gives enough coverage to hide the redness. It doesn't photograph very well so I'm going around the cosmetic counters at the moment.

MAC gave me some studio fix foundation to try. It builds really nicely but I'm slightly concerned about the high level of SPF in it. I'll put it on at the weekend and take myself off to get it photographed.

I spent nearly two hours at the Bobbi Brown counter on Saturday. Four different foundations later, we finally found one that settled nicely on my skin (Skin foundation). There happened to be a professional photographer in the shopping centre that day so I cheekily asked for a photo. Although it has SPFs, it didn't seem to be too bad from a flashback perspective but I only got to see the photo on the camera - they should email it to me sometime this week so I'm waiting until then pass judgement.

Ooh interesting thread!

i love Benefit Stick foundation for staying power.

one thing I read somewhere is to stay away from the lightening highlighters around your eyes or it really shows up in the pictures!

I have done LOADS of reading about spf makeup and camera flashes but cannot find a definitive answer. Some people say it's a myth. Light reflective highlighters I think do give weird camera flash, but I love my Touche Magique so much, the thought of using anything else under my eyes fills me with dread. I think nearer the time when I practice my makeup I'll take some unflattering selfies with flash on and see how they look!

I am using the Mac Matchmaster foundation. I am the palest shade they do, and I find it really hard to get face make up that is my tone. But this is really good. Apparently, it's light reflecting, or something like that, so is ideal for photos etc.

I don't normally wear foundation day to day, so if you are like me, I'd say to try it on a few times before the day to get used to it.

I've never tried the Benefit eye liner, but I adore the "they're real mascara". Its amazing! And has great staying power. Highly recommend that.

I also gota free eyeliner thingy from Glamour magazine last month. I think it's by Eyeko? I really like it, it's easy to apply and stays on well without being a total pain to remove when the time comes.

Yes me too in at such a cross roads with it too. I think I'd rather not risk it tho. I need quite heavy coverage as I get a lot of spots so I seem to be searching for the holy grail!

Ooh try the maybelline colour tattoo eyeshadows. They're super long lasting, and so easy to apply! Cheap too so worth a go! I got them on a 3 for 2 deal in Boots I think.

I did my make up on the day with all Benefit stuff - I went into a shop first to try it all out and then practiced lots before the day. Kept it all very simple.

I used Girl Meets Pearl primer, Hello Flawless foundation, High beam highlighter, Browzings, Sugarbomb blusher and the Big Beautiful Eyes eyeshadow palette.

Lipgloss was also Benefit but I can't find it for sale anymore - was called "Life on the A-List".

No mascara as I had semi permanent false lashes on but would usually use They're Real.

You look amazing Mrs C! Definitely even more encouraged & inspired after seeing your pic.

I used the Clarins fix spray and it was amazing!

? Thanks!

Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. You will have wedding day glow anyway and your smile will do all the work!

Does anyone rate Clinique?

So Bobbi Brown Face foundation is out of the question. It photographed terribly ... my nose and cheeks were white in the picture. It's a shame because it looked quite good in the mirror.

Sounds like me. Make-up for work goes on fine, try and do it for a night out goes all messy and I can never get my eyeliner to stay put I end up with panda eyes.

Eeeek bought most of my make up today!

I just bought the Kryolan eyeliner sealer so I'll see how that goes. Bought an ELF eye-shadow palette to practice with, I may not end up using it on the day as they're very cheap and I'm dubious about staying power, but as they had one set with the colours I need I thought I'd get it and use it for practice runs to perfect my technique. Next on my list is a Smashbox primer!

Does anybody know if moisturisers with SPF in give you the 'ghost effect' on photos?! I use a Lancôme one with SPF in?! Thanks ?

After reading all these posts I thought I'd answer a couple of questions.

Regarding foundations flashing back - you need to check the ingredients - it's titanium dioxide that causes the problem - if it's high on the list the foundation will photograph badly - if it's right at the bottom of the list you'll be OK. Also check the powder you're using - you might have a great foundationbut then use a ppowder that flashes back on top. 2 ggood foundations are Bourjois Healthy Mix - great for dry or combination skins or Dior Forever - amazing for combination, oily or problem skin.

Regarding eyeliners - I have the whole range of bobbi brown gel liners on my kit and once they've set they just don't budge at all A great bblack liquid liner is MUA black liquid liner - the best I've tried and it's only £1!

Hope this clears things up a bit.

Juliet x

I can't believe I just read that, I've spent hours trawling the shops for the right SPF free foundation and now I've checked and it's bloody high in titanium dioxide yet my normal foundations aren't!!!