Louise McSharry: ‘I did my own makeup for my wedding — your big day shouldn’t feel like fancy dress’

I hope most of those people found that, actually, it was grand, and that the beauty of a bride comes not from the products on her face, but the happiness and love that beams out of her. For those who didn’t, I hope you treat yourself to a day of glamour. Have a photography session in your wedding dress. Go out for dinner with your spouse in your wedding gear. Have a party. Do whatever feels most like what you wanted.

I did my own makeup for my wedding, not out of necessity, but because I enjoy the process and wanted to feel like myself on the day. Because I love makeup so much, I find it hard to feel like me when someone else does my makeup. Doing it yourself has many benefits — you can practise your look as many times as you want in advance of the day. You can try a range of products, various iterations of your desired look, get other people’s opinion if you want, and generally be totally in control of the outcome. You can justify buying all the beauty products you’ve ever lusted after, and you’ll have them long after the wedding.

Of course, there are disadvantages too. There’s something very special about having a team get you ready for such a special event, and I’ve heard gorgeous stories from people about the role makeup artists have played in their wedding day. It might alleviate stress on the day to know that your makeup is something you don’t have to think about, not to mention the fact that trained professionals are, well, trained professionals with years of experience.

Whatever you decide, don’t feel like you need to go with neutral tones just because that’s what traditional bridal makeup tends to be. If you hate wearing lashes, don’t wear lashes, and don’t feel like you have to tan if that’s not something you want to do. Your wedding shouldn’t feel like fancy dress, you’re not playing the role of someone else.

I wore red lipstick on my wedding day. It felt like the most ‘me’ option. At the time, (1) Lime Crime’s Velvetines were some of the only kiss-proof liquid lipsticks around, so I ordered Red Velvet (€20.56 at boots.ie) from the States (if I was doing it now, I’d probably go for Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso, which is a little less drying (€19.95 at cloud10Beauty.com). Later, I changed into (2) Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Red Carpet Red (€32 at brownthomas.com), for comfort’s sake.

I used (3) YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint foundation (€44 at arnotts.ie), which I’d loved for years, and treated myself to (4) Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (€37 at beautybay.com), which helped make my complexion look flawless. I had MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (€32 at brownthomas.com) on hand for touch-ups, which I’ve used off and on since I was 17.

My blush was Coralista by Benefit (which I think has since been discontinued, sadly) and my liner was (5) Essence Liquid Ink Liquid Liner (€3.10 at mccabespharmacy.com), both of which I used all the time. I don’t like the feeling of strip lashes, so I wore Ardell Duralash Individuals (€5.95 at cloud10beauty.com).

I was me, using stuff I usually used, doing the kind of makeup I frequently did, just well practised and more carefully applied. I felt like me, and I felt beautiful, and honestly, what more could you ask for from your wedding look?

Something old…

If you’ve just got your highlights or balayage done for the first time in what felt like an actual age, you may find yourself reaching for the purple shampoo again. There’s nothing like it for maintaining the brightness of blonde hair and cancelling out the pesky brassy tones that inevitably creep in. Charles Worthington’s Colourplex Toning Ultra Violet Shampoo (€9.99 at boots.ie) is one of the best I’ve ever tried, and won’t break the bank. It is a very deep purple, which is what I think makes it so effective, but mind your shower curtain and skirting boards, it doesn’t wipe off easily. It’s also not exactly gentle on the hair, so best for occasional use rather than every time you wash.

... Something new

Aveda’s hair products are top of the class across the board. Cruelty-free and often vegan, the brand knows how to combine botanicals with active ingredients to get you the results you want without damaging your hair. The Blonde Revival system (€25.50-€28.50 at avedastore.ie) has just been launched for, you guessed it, the management of blonde hair. These violet toning products will keep your hair bright, and are also silicone and sulfate free, which means they won’t be overly heavy or harsh on it. What’s not to like?

Lost in translation

Skincare brands love to tell us that their products include antioxidants, which will ‘banish free radicals’, but what are they and why don’t we want them on our skin? ‘Free radical’ is a term used to describe highly reactive oxygen molecules that can break down and damage the skin, contributing to premature ageing. These guys are a natural by-product of the body’s processes, but can be contributed to by pollution, the sun, diet, and smoking.