A Bride to Be and Know Nothing About Make Up? Why you need to learn NOW

A Rookie’s Journey with Makeup

14 months ago, I bought my first foundation. Before that, I’d only used my mother’s compact powders for basically patting my oily T-zone into better shape just before a big dinner party. Then, one fine sunny day, somebody gave me gift vouchers to Shoppers Stop.

As some of you may know, Shoppers Stop houses a large range of cosmetics brands. I walked up to the Chambor counter (probably because it looked pretty), and am I glad I did! The saleswoman matched me to my perfect shade, and I was the proud owner of Chambor Brightening Foundation Wet & Dry. I used it a little bit in the first month, but then I stopped because I felt like – it showed that I’d put on makeup. You see, I had also bought my first tinted lip balm at that time – Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 in Blush. The balm, although sheer in coverage, made my lip color pop, and its effect with the foundation was looking too made up. I wanted something more natural. I continued to use the lip balm (am halfway through my second one now), but the foundation usage more or less went down to only the big occasions.

Then came my roka ceremony (a semi-official engagement ceremony, for the uninitiated) in December 2011. I would need to put on makeup, and my novice hands were just not going to cut it – I needed to learn. I did some research online, and found out that MAC was the go-to makeup brand for most people, albeit an expensive one. So off I went, with my list of things to buy in hand. Fortunately for me, I met the best makeup artist (MUA) there. Let’s just say, out went the plan of trying to do my own makeup on the roka, and I was sold on the idea of coming in on D-Day and getting it done by her in exchange for buying beauty products. In hindsight, it was a pain to get to the mall to get my makeup done (I was late for my own roka!) but well worth the effort.

You must be wondering, why the detailed roka makeup description? Because that was a turning point. I saw the way the MUA applied the makeup, and I realized – I’ve been applying it the wrong way! With my Chambor foundation, I was using big sweeping strokes with the sponge to apply the foundation. Literally painting it on. Big. Fat. Mistake. Most of you who have been applying foundation for long enough would’ve gasped in horror if you saw my application technique. MAC was also the place where I first learnt that

• people actually use brushes to apply makeup (yes, I was that unaware)
• that there are different brushes for different kinds of makeup
• and that a good brush can make all the difference!

Since then, my makeup routine and application techniques have changed drastically. I have also learnt how moisturizing is such an important part of your routine – without it, the foundation looks dry, patchy, flaky – you name it! I now use a face wash, toner, moisturizer, primer (MAC’s prep+prime with SPF 50) and then finally the foundation with a sponge. My Chambor foundation is almost over now – have been using it almost daily for the last few months, since I learnt how to use it correctly! I make the sponge wet first (it’s actually a compact powder that can be used as a foundation by making the sponge wet), sweep on some of the foundation onto the sponge, press the sponge onto a few spots on my face (cheeks, nose, eyelids, undereye, chin, upper lip, forehead – basically a few dots all over the face), and then blend like a crazy person. The way I use it, the coverage is very sheer. If I want greater coverage, I can always take a larger amount of the foundation onto the sponge. Post foundation, I don’t use the compact powder because I feel it starts to look cakey then, and I like the slightly dewy finish it gives.

Moral of this long story was, BLEND your foundation and it will make a world of a difference! 🙂

Why All Bride to Be’s Should Learn Basic Makeup

Ok, no. Before I start to sound more like a beauty blogger (which I have no right to be considering I’ve ever only used foundation and don’t own a single makeup brush) than a bridal blogger, let me say something which all brides-to-be should know and consider. As Indians, we have a lot of wedding functions happening over a course of a few days. Hiring a MUA on all those days will burn a massive hole in your pocket. Unless you have really deep pockets, in which case I apologise for making you go through this long post – you can stop reading now. For the rest of us, it’s important to start learning about makeup. If you’re a bride to be, you must start soon. Ideally, give yourself enough time before the wedding to:

• try out different beauty products and see which ones work for you
• learn some basic makeup techniques

This is the advice my mother gave me! Initially I just got annoyed with her and kept saying “Ufff! I don’t need makeup!” But then I saw my face in a photograph after I’d put on makeup. What a big difference! It honestly does even out the skin tone, lightens your dark circles, and a little bit of blush and lipstick can give you a very healthy glow.

So yes, fellow brides to be – learn some basics of makeup because you will need it on all those wedding functions when the MUA will not be by your side. It’s also useful as a lifetime practice because your pictures turn out better, the oily-skin girls can finally use sunscreen (cover it with foundation and voila! Oiliness gone!) and on those special occasions you know what you’re doing! Check out my Bridal Beauty Page on the blog for links to some great beauty blogs and websites.

Thanks for tuning in, and once again – apologies for such a long post. Many more coming soon 🙂

Edit: My Chambor foundation is almost finished, and I want to try out something new. Any suggestions?