I'm doing my own makeup!

Did you buy all the bits they used on you at Clarins? I did consider doing my own but i think i need some heavyduty polyfiller nowadays.

I am almost decided that I will do my own too for mainly the same reasons - I don't like being 'handled'! I have been trying out some skin products and have booked to go on a 'smoky eye' make up course.

Please do share any hints, tips or tutorials you found that work or any pictures of your practise attempts!

I did buy some stuff from Clarins, mainly the foundation Ever Matte and the eye shadow she used. I bought some concealer from soap & glory called Kickass Concealer which is awesome! as well as a whole host of max factor lipfinity and masterpiece mascara. Max factor is a brand I've used and liked from my college days.

so far the tips I've seen (and they vary trust me) avoid glitters and shimmers, or at least uses them extremely minimally. Mineral makeup is also a no-no. mainly because of the flash photography, it could make your face white on photos. high SPF moisturizes and foundations can do that too.

I'm considering doing this too because I too hate being 'handled'. When I go to the hairdressers I cringe inside even when they start fluffing and preening your hair, just cut it damn it! I've been doing my own face for the past 15 years so hopefully I'll manage on the day!

My sis is going to do mine; don't mind being manhandled by someone I know! She's no way an expert, but she does a pretty good job on her own face.

My main issue is the condition of my skin. I'm 34 and have lost quite a bit of weight lately- I've noticed that my skin has started to go all sallow and tired looking. I think it must be a combination of ageing and the natural collagen leaving my skin. Everything looks like it's hanging off a bit! It also means that when I apply makeup (esp. foundation) it tends to look a bit patchy. Anyone have any good tips for how to brighten or tighten up skin like this?

My only concern about makeup is looking shiny in the pics, but I reckon (hope) any photographer worth their salt can remove any unnecessary shineage from photos??

I'm doing my own as I don't trust anyone else to do it the way I like it, the only bit I had been worried about was eyeliner going wonky but now I have eyelash extentions I only need it on the bottom lashes which I can do fine even if I'm in meltdown. I'm going for dior forever foundation as my base but with maybeline fit me foundation and powder over the top as for my tone and colour that seems to work best. Then everything else is mac. I'm really confident doing my makeup. :-)

My issues i have to say are the fact I'm pale (but i like it that way! dislike tans on me) i genetically have dark circles and hooded eyes! what a pain. BUT the soap and glory concealer make the circles vanish and I've been advised that less is more when it comes to my eyes. a light neutral eye shadow, some eyeliner, mascara on the tops only and a bit of highlighter in the corners and under the brow.

for tightening your skin, I heard the anew range from avon got an award for best moisturizer (the age 25+ range). some of them have firming properties.

Good on you Elixia! I'm also doing my own make up and couldn't be happier about it.

I'm not getting married until October, so am still in the process of choosing all of the products I'm going to use. So far, I went for a really informative appointment at an Estee Lauder counter, and have also visited Bobbi Brown and Clinique. I've chosen a few products, but am still uncertain on foundation as so many of them seem to either have SPF or a 'luminous' finish, both of which I want to avoid because of the photographs.

I've found this blog really useful whilst looking for a suitable foundation - the blogger has done a whole series of posts on doing your own wedding make up.

Thanks for that blog! been reading it. I'm wondering about this whole 'ghosting' effect from SPF. I mean .... i look like a ghost now, how much lighter could it get? Gonna experiment which that one, methinks. Plus I believe most tog use a diffuser for their flash, which i hope is true because i blink in flash EVERYTIME! (Photosensitivity eyes, thank you Irlen syndrome)

From what I can gather, pro togs' photographs generally will be fine regardless of which foundation you've used, because as you say, they'll be smart with the flash - I'm more concerned about Aunty/Cousin/Friend etc. taking a photo with their phone, and then suffering the dreaded 'ghost face'.

I'm also incredibly pale, which has only made it harder to find an appropriate foundation. At the Estee Lauder counter, the woman basically admitted that I'm too pale for even their lightest shades!

I'll be doing my own too. I've hated the things make up artists have done to me in the past, so they are a big avoid for me

All my makeup will be cruelty free though

Ladies, I too am pale enough to pass for the undead!...and have many years experience with make-up after wanting desperatly to be a make-up artist as a kid.

What I've found really works is Bobbi Brown foundation (lightest shade is either Alabaster or Porcelain) and a translucent powder. The powder will lighten your foundation as well as sealing it. Do try apply your foundation with a bruish though - you are far more likely to get an even coverage. You can pick up a decent brush at MAC stores (my bro got me mine).

You'll need a light pink blusher as well to give your cheeks some colour (and help prevent that ghost face!). Don't go dark on the blusher - it give you that 80's music video look.

To help keep your make up on all day, spray your face with hairspray. It will help seal the colour and make it a little more weather proof. Also, if you suffer from greasy skin (like me!) take a toilet tissue and dab your face occasionally. It will absorb the excess oil (taking away the shine) and wont get rid of the top layer. However, you'll still need to reapply power throughout the day so take a compact (or get the MOB to carry it for you).

To keep eye make up on all day, Urban Decay has a base that clings to the stuff like billy-o. Well worth the extra. You shouldn't need to re-apply, but be on the lookout for 'crease eye' (make-up gathering in the crease of your eye). For light make up, smoothing this out with your finger should work - even for dark lines caused by eyeliner.

Try wearing your wedding make up for a whole day and see how it olds up to abuse. That'll give you an idea on maintenance for the rest of the day.

I wish this was my problem! I am- how should we put this?- a bit more swarthy. Complexion-wise, think drunk Romanian gangster.

Problem is, my skin tone seems to be really hard to match. No matter what foundation I use, I always seem to have an tangerine tint. I've tried Benefit and Clinique as well as 'regular' make up (ie. Maybelline, L'Oreal). They go on fine, but they oxidise when they meet the air and turn orange.

Had an appointment booked to see a Dior consultant today, but have to cancel. Is Dior any good?

I'm by far not a expert, but maybe it has something to do with your undertone? I know I've a cool bluey undertone so i avoid coral and apricot and peach colours or I'll look yellow

Always that mental image of you with rosy cheeks is adorable!

also never would of though of hairspray in my face but its a sound idea! I used to use it as a fixer for my charcoal and chalk drawings!

I've heard Dior foundation is good, though I've only used their eye shadow myself. Whilst undertone may help, it sounds like you have natural skin tone variations - so the colour might be too dark for certain parts of your face. With regards to the oxidisation effect; I get that when I apply foundation that's not the right match for my skin. If you plump for a more expensive foundation, they'll have more colours to choose from and (in theory) it should be easier to find something to suit you. Check in with MAC and Bobbi Brown as well - unlike Dior their entire business is make up.

Another tip - rather than trying to use one all over colour, try using two. One for the darker areas and another for the lighter. This will highlight your natural face structure more as well, and help avoid 'moon face' (where all you can see on photos are your eyes, nose and mouth). A more theatrical make up might work for you - lighter colours on the bridge of the nose, cheeks, jaw, ball of the chin, forehead and upper lip. Darker around your hairline, just under your cheeks, sides of the nose, etc. Think of it like shading a picture of your own face - the colours should only be one shade lighter or darker than each other. Blend well with a decent foundation brush, and cover with fine loose powder. This is a method used frequently on film and in theatre - though on stage they make it far more obvious of course. A lot of women have two foundations anyway - one for the summer when you're more likely to tan, and one for the winter...when you're not.

Unless you're me, and you look like the Borg queen 24/7 ?.

It'd be interesting to see what the Dior consultant comes back with though!

Boots number 7 have a fancy new gadget thingy that matches your skin tone to your "perfect" shade. Find a largish store and go and have a chat to them. I've always found if your not in there every week you can get them to do you a trial and go away without buying to test how true the colour stays (avoiding that oxidation) and how well it stays put (the oily skin slide). Anyone with any confidence in their product should be happy to do you a make over like this particularly if you say its because you have had foundation problems in the past

Hi, I'm a pale girl too and found that foundation always looked a bit orange. I went to the no 7 counter at boots and they used that machine and found a shade thats pretty much perfect, and no orangeness! Also a primer is good to help hide flaws, make skin look smoother, keep the oiliness away and to make it stay put. I use a no 7 one but the avon one is supposed to be good too. You can also buy blotter type papers, think tissue paper with a bit of powder on for those shiney moments.

I've got the avon one, makes your face like a blank canvas, its pretty good!

Smashbox primers are also wonderful, but incredibly expensive.

Monistat Soothing Care Skin Protection Powder Gel is an excellent dupe for it, if you can get over the fact it's actually meant to be an anti-chafing gel!

Okay, an update on this:

I bought Benefit's primping with the stars kit and did a trail run. so I read advise about using more makeup than normal so it shows up, certainly true. I have the crappiest phone ever and even thou everything looked fine it didn't show up on camera very well. Also eye lashes might need tinting since even with mascara they were barely visible. oh a good note highlighters and the shadow that has a shimmer in it didn't flashback that badly.

what i used:

porefessional primer

clarins ever matte

benetint (as blusher)

girl meets pearl highlighter

clarins ombre rose petal eyeshadow

max factor masterpiece

max factor lipfinity

my ugly mug (i hate this camera)