Two failed wedding make up trials - I need help to do it myself

[Cantdecidewhich]

The first trail, my make up looked great on photos but really cakey and heavy in real life
Second trial, I looked 10 years older and deathly pale, I sent a pic to my son and he said I looked like I had been dug up
I have decided to have a go myself just buy new products.
Can anyone please recommend long lasting products that will look good on photos. I am in my fifties and would like a natural, healthy look but want to look polished. Any help would be fantastic please

I am similar age to you OP and my go to foundation is now Nars Sheer Glow. Its give a nice light coverage but it's not heavy and cakey at all. It's also flash photography friendly so good for weddings!

I also recommend Hourglass cosmetics - their ambient lighting powder is very easy to use and gives a great soft focus finish to the face. Their ambient lighting blush is also excellent - natural looking and stays put.

What kind of brow look do you want? If a natural-but-groomed loom is what you want try Boy Brow by Glossier, essentially it's mascara for brows but it will add a little volume and smooth them into shape.

I would keep eyes simple and clean looking, maybe invest in a neutral shade of Ombré Blackstar from By Terry or a Caviar Eye Stick from Laura Mercier. Again easy to use but high quality finish, long lasting products.

Go to the Bobbi brown or Chanel counter ask her to do the makeup say you want dewy skin, soft smoky eye natural lips etc.
I use Clarins flash beauty balm then the primer then foundation.
You need a good primer, finishing powder and highlighter. Misting spray for when you are finished to set your makeup.
If you like it ask them to write down the products, go out walk around take some photos inside and outside. Then buy the products.
I got almost all my makeup from Chanel and lipstick in Blush from Bobbi Brown it lasts very well. Make sure to get waterproof mascara.The great thing is for about the same price as a makeup artist you get to keep all the products afterwards.

Thanks again I have heard good things about Bobbi Brown.

I will definitely look at that Nars foundation, sounds lovely.
My brows are thin so I need to fill them in so a mascara type wont work but thank you.
I have looked and the John Lewis appointments are not available near me. I have loads of Boots points so will probably pop in there.
I have the Max Facor stain but it is a bit drying to be honest

I am mid 50s and am rubbish at doing make up - my go to would be Bobbi Brown products or Chanel ,

Pre covid I have had make up done by both these brands to try foundations etc and have always been pleased

I may be wrong here so apologies but last time I looked on John Lewis site or nay even now I come to think of it be the Bobbi Brown site there was an option to book for an online 1-1 session with a MUA for free - would be worth a shot at least to get a look you like - Hannah Brien previous BB person has done good YouTube videos

I sympathise OP
I got married abroad and don't wear a great deal of makeup anyway. A light foundation, blush and mascara normally. I wasn't going to get my face done by the beauty dept at the hotel, only my hair pinned up was the plan. But after reading some of the reviews I thought ahh why not, it's my wedding day after all and they'll make me look better than I can do.
Sweet baby Jesus I was WRONG.
I wish I'd taken a photo but I felt it rude but the only way I can describe what she done to me is - I resembled a corpse! An aged, funny coloured alive corpse.
I specifically requested light and natural and I got the complete opposite including heavy blunt black eyeliner and a heavy powder finish that was at least 2 shades darker than my skin tone TWICE! Yep 2 attempts she had and still got it so so wrong.
I politely requested she remove every last bit of it and informed her not to worry I'd do it myself. She wasn't particularly pleased but I wasn't paying £100 for some shit on my face I would have went and washed off when I got back to my room.
She also pinned my hair - which was really lovely even if she was quite passive aggressive with the pins while doing it haha
Lesson learned, I won't ever consider anyone else doing my make up ever and I made an ok job of it anyway.
If you find some tutorials and have a good practice you'll do it fab.
I use Boots No7 airbrush away for a natural dewy cover. It doesn't sit in your lines and creases like a full cover foundation and it can be built up for a bit of a better cover.

Code 8 is meant to be good for mature skin

I did my own makeup copying a Lisa Eldridge video. Not too many products, definitely not caked on and looked OK for someone who just wanted a my face but better look.

I had people ask who did my makeup

So I strongly recommend copying a Lisa Eldridge look.

I did my own wedding makeup and bought all new products, so I felt like me, but just a bit more glam/premium!

I used:
Laura Mercier primer, long lasting blush and setting powder
Armani luminous silk foundation (no flash back!)
Nars creamy concealer
Charlotte tilbury supermodel brow
Charlotte tilbury eyeshadow
Clinique eyeliner
Mac nude lipstick
Then had lash extensions too

Sounds a lot but it really was just an elevated version of what I usually do. Couldn't stand the idea of being out of control of how I looked and ending up looking cakey, fake and unlike me. I will add though, that the morning of was very stressful as the pressure to make sure I was having a good make up day was intense!

Could you choose the products you like and want and then get an artist to apply?

I did mine - the important thing beyond what you normally wear is to get a good primer and setting spray as you’ll need it to last.

I used several things that have already been recommended here actually.

I would recommend:
Glossier priming moisturiser
Smash box primer
Nars sheer glow foundation
MAC studio fix concealer
Glossier boy brow eyebrow pencil
Laura Mercier eye caviar stick
Lancôme hypnose mascara
Glossier cloud paint cream blush
Benefit highlighter
Glossier Matt lipstick - this is a really nice tint rather than a full on lipstick
Urban decay up all night setting spray

Firstly, get good brushes - you need to blend, blend, blend.

I love Estée Lauder double wear products, they really do last and you need that as a bride - I mix the foundation with a glow product to take the flatness out and to make it more sheer - Iconic illuminating drops. Mix on your hand, applyy with a damp sponge, then buff in with a flat top buffing brush

I use the double wear eye pencil with smudger and tight line my eyes - you'll need to emphasise your eyes for the photos. Plus taupe and bone coloured shadows to highlight your eyes further. Curl your lashes (MACare great) and use a waterproof mascara that will set the curl.

The double wear lip pencils are great, last all day, line and then fill your lips in totally with one, gloss over the top. I like the pink or rose one. That will last and be easy to touch up if needed.

You'll need a soft blush if you're using foundation to stop your face looking flat. I'd tone this in with your lip colour.

I'd use a very light bronzer to make you look healthy (dug up quote worries me!) and then finish off with a light dusting of Beauty Pie Wonder powder to give luminosity and blurring!

The key to really good make up is in the products and the blending, you want it to be imperceptible. I love Melly Sophia on Instagram - her brides always look so pretty.

3 hours? For wedding make up you didn't particularly like, that's crazy.

Have you tried just a tinted moisturiser as mentioned by a pp above?

@Fuckityfucksake your experience sounds exactly like mine, I was totally shocked when I looked in the mirror!

Thanks loads more great advice and products here, I am feeling more confident already :)

Tinted moisturiser wouldn’t have enough coverage for me but thanks for the suggestion.

I am definitely going to try a sponge

I did my own wedding makeup, for exactly the reasons you described! I've got high colouring and I needed the foundation to be perfect and last!
I spent time researching the right products and lots of practise. Especially re foundation I remember swanning around work for several weeks before with near perfect then perfect foundation as I totally nailed it!
Loved my photos, I looked and felt like me.

Good luck 🤞

@ChequerBoard which ambient powder do you recommend as there are a few types. Thanks for your help

[quote Cantdecidewhich]@ChequerBoard which ambient powder do you recommend as there are a few types. Thanks for your help[/quote]

I have a pale/fair skin tone and use this one:

[] https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/hourglass-ambient-lighting-palette.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwk4yGBhDQARIsACGfAetg0Ot1NVJJMotKGjFWhUqFsaQcwAdX9dersp2yzE4pdXlZBujiZAsaAjn2EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds]]

There is a another one referred to as volume II for darker skin tones.

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/hourglass-ambient-lighting-palette-volume-ii.html

There are also the bigger palettes which add in a couple of blushers and a darker bronzer. I prefer to get the smaller palette and buy the blusher separately so I can pick the shade I want.
https://www.hourglasscosmetics.co.uk/products/ambient-lighting-edit-sculpture?variant=39354866630791&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk4yGBhDQARIsACGfAevoSpbM6DGrJVX09JYGkDDRR7mf5JYO5zzKx2aE3xA5LdjbF7pLS40aAk2zEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

You can also buy travel sizes of some of the blushers which are actually quite a decent usable size.

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/hourglass-ambient-lighting-blush-travel-size.html

Hope this helpful!

For your eyebrows can you go to a benefit counter and get a brow tint? They will do a natural shape/colour if you want so it isn't too heavy or dark. That would make your brows easier on the day.

I went to the Yves Saint Lauren counter in JL to get my wedding make up. I bought some bits from there - the foundation (like you I didn't want it heavy or powdery), a new touche eclait concealer etc - I got a primer and setting spray from Primark. Although I do think getting a better quality setting spray would have been worth it. And used some of my own make up for other bits.

Oh and Liz Earle sheer skin tint is my usual tinted moisturiser I normally wear on a night out (the only time I really wear make up).

I used Bobbi Brown for my wedding make up and can highly recommend it. Had a trial at John Lewis before buying the make up but worked out cheaper and better than paying someone to do it.

If you’re on Instagram follow FACES makeup (facesmakeup) they are based in Yorkshire so might not be anywhere near you but they post lots about different products and pics of the things they use which might be helpful for you.

I'd invest in some new luxurious products that you can use again but feel special and use YouTube (hannahmartinmakeup has a great wedding makeup tutorial) and teach yourself a professional looking eye makeup, get your brows done and some eyelash infills.

I'd recommend:
Find whatever works for you to properly moisturise before you apply make-up
Get some decent brushes/application sponges
Trinny London miracle blur for fine line
Smashbox photo finish primer or Laura mercies pure canvas illuminating primer both good
Code8 concealer and bronzer
Armani luminous silk foundation - amazing product and my more mature skin looks dewy and smooth. Not cheap be warned but I love this for special occasions.
Charlotte tilbury for lipstick
Clinique lash power mascara is lovely and doesn't smudge
Finish with a setting spray - Urban Decay by far the best and genuinely does work!

I use this on my eybrows
www.boots.com/revlon-colorstay-brow-pencil-10226203

And I really like this foundation. Good coverage but not heavy.
Bigger boots stores do a colour match service, and (used to) give samples.
www.boots.com/no7-hydraluminous-moisturising-foundation-10262468

Lots of great suggestions. I did my own wedding make up, after a Trish McEvoy tutorial. They did a brilliant job - helped me look like me, but at my best! I bought a number of products, and they definitely work on mature skin - still use them. I used Laura Mercier primer, a light reflecting Clinique foundation (now discontinued) plus these.
Eye base
www.libertylondon.com/uk/eye-base-essentials-000564547.html
Line refiner www.libertylondon.com/uk/line-refiner-4.25g-383311.html
Eye lift
www.libertylondon.com/uk/instant-eye-lift-concealer-in-shade-1-000564545.html

With a light dusting of loose powder my makeup stayed looking good all day, with only a few touch ups. I bought some excellent brushes, including this for eyelining with powder - brilliant . www.libertylondon.com/uk/11-precise-eyeliner-brush-382852.html
The lip tip I used was to use lip pencil first, blot, apply again, blot, then add lipstick/gloss. You get a deep coloured base which lasts. I found Estée Lauder best for staying power.
Hope you have fun experimenting and practising - DIY is the way! Investing in the products and good brushes is worth it, and then you have them to use afterwards. 😀
www.elle.com/uk/beauty/make-up/a40184/how-to-do-your-own-wedding-make-up/

Thanks so much everyone I am taking all your suggestions on board.
I have now ordered a double wear lip pencil and some make up sponges and I am going to try the Colourstay pencil as my eyebrows are too thin to tint. I am going into town tomorrow and I will try to get some foundation samples and also speak to the girls on Bobbi Brown as that seems a really popular brand.
I have also decided to get the Urban Decay fixing spray and probably Laura Mercier primer.
I am so grateful, I feel I am getting somewhere now!
I need to choose a nice eye pallette if anyone can help, nothing too dark though as I cant do very dramatic eyes :)

Bobbi Brown have great eyeshadow palettes, including various nudes - you should be able to find something tomorrow. You might want to check out the BB website - they have online consultations too.