Reader Question: Makeup Tips for Wedding Guests

Hi, any makeup tips for wedding guests? It's my first time to be invited to a friend's wedding and i'm excited! Kaso lang, wala akong idea kung ano ang dos and donts when it comes sa makeup when attending a wedding as a guest. Noong wedding kasi ng brother ko, included na ako doon sa entourage ng bride for the hair and makeup I'm going to be doing my own hair and makeup this time hehe thanks in advance! -M

I love this question because weddings are fun, and I want you to feel confident celebrating with your friends and family that day. I regularly go to a lot of events because of my job, so I’d like to think that I’m a bit of an expert when it comes to doing my own event makeup

But wait: should you hire a makeup artist or not? The answer depends on your confidence level in your makeup skills. If you’re confident then by all means, go for it! It’s enjoyable to come up with an event look that you’ll love to wear on the day. But if you’re not yet so sure, consider hiring a hair and makeup artist. They should be able to give you the look that will make you feel confident throughout the entire event. As much as I personally love to DIY, I think for special occasions it’s worth it to splurge on a professional.

If you’ve decided to do your own makeup, here’s my best advice!

Yes, it’s worth buying a good foundation just for the event. Not all bases are made equal to the task of looking glam AND photogenic the entire day! I notice most Filipinos don’t really wear a full base most of the time, and the exception is really when they attend an event. An event-ready foundation is different from an everyday foundation. Go for something full coverage with excellent staying power, and no white cast. Of course, it has to be the perfect shade match. Get it as close to the color of your neck, chest, and shoulders combined (if you’re showing skin in your gown).

I highly recommend the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation, Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation, or for the more affordable and accessible option, the Teviant Ultimate Skin Master Foundation.

Your makeup needs to be more high contrast than you usually apply it. Event lighting is different than everyday lighting (it’s bright white or dimmer than normal depending on the venue and time of day), and you can also expect a lot of flash photography. What this means is that your normal makeup style will get “lost” in the event setup and photography. I’ve been to so many events where I thought my eyebrows looked fine, but disappear in photos! Que horror.

So, you have to add more makeup. Let’s say, 30% darker brows, 30% heavier contour (and make sure you get the forehead, jawlines, sides on the face, nose if you do that), probably 40% more intense eyeshadow (especially near the lashes), and 20% more blush. Adjust this as needed.

In this makeup look, I don’t have enough eyebrows for the event I was attending that, It looked fine to the naked eye but in bright lighting + camera I see gaps. I should have also added more contour.

Test your final makeup look by taking photos and videos of it from different angles and distances. See how photogenic it looks near and far. Use flash and your back camera. This way you can see if you’ve added enough, and if your foundation is the right shade Practice your makeup and do this days before the event, not on the day, so you can tweak as needed.

A good setting spray is your ultimate weapon during the event. For longevity, make sure you spray your finished face generously with a good setting spray like the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray, or equivalent. I haven’t found a spray that works as well as this one yet, although a lot of people also love the Charlotte Tilbury spray. Locally, you can try the Vice Cosmetics setting spray and the GRWM one as well.

Bring blotting sheets and facial tissues with you during the event. The best way to keep your makeup intact is to stop sweat before it corrodes your makeup look. As soon as you start sweating, place and entire tissue over your face, press it down to absorb sweat, then PEEL IT OFF. Never wipe. This takes care of the sweat, For your oil, do the same but with blotting sheets! Only use powder to retouch when you’ve removed sweat and oil, otherwise your makeup will get super caked and crack later.

And that’s it! I hope my advice will be useful to you. I’m going to a wedding myself this week and will definitely remember this haha. Enjoy the wedding!