When I got married in April 2024, I knew that nobody would do my makeup to my liking. I also knew that I wanted to save as much money as possible. Doing my glam on my wedding day did not bother me in the slightest, so much so that I volunteered to do my Mom’s makeup too, which I guess is saying something since she never wears makeup and trusted me with her beat for the day.
That’s when I embarked on my journey to create my ultimate wedding day glam kit. The makeup shopping list to end all makeup shopping lists as you will.
So, here is what I found searching for the best products to use on my wedding day, while on a budget too.
Things to pack for your wedding
- Steamer
- Makeup wipes
- Q-tips
must-haves for your Wedding Makeup glam kit
- Brushes > Shop my must-have brushes here
- Lash Curler
Face & Eye Primers
The secret to long-lasting wedding day makeup is to find the right primers that work for you. My favorite skin primer of all time is Too Face’s Hangover RX Primer. I know that my skin is dry, so this primer does a great job of locking everything into place while keeping my skin hydrated throughout the day.
I also recommend grabbing a good eyeshadow primer like the Urban Decay Primer Potions or NYX Glitter Glue if you don’t have money for another $25+ cosmetic item. If you are going for a sparkly makeup look, using this as your base is going to make all the difference in bringing out vibrant shimmers.
Wedding Day Foundation & Concealer Combo
When it comes to your wedding day foundation and concealer, you want to opt for something you know you already love. That’s why when I found out that Dior Airflash was discontinued, I damn near cried. That was what was supposed to be in my foundation and concealer combo for the big day going back to like 2016, but I found the next best thing.
Enter the Dior Forever Fluid Skin Glow Foundation and Concealer. The new ride-or-die skin combination that I found in preparation for my wedding is flawless, long-lasting, and not cakey at all. I am obsessed with the doe-foot applicator on the Dior Forever Concealer. It’s large, sort of like the Tarte one, but with a much better, full-coverage application that still appears natural.
There are plenty of drugstore options out there that you can try if you are not sure what foundation and concealers are best for you. I just knew Dior’s foundations wear the best on my skin and didn’t want to take any chances trying something new.
Blush & Highlighter
I am a huge blush girly, so when my Maid of Honor surprised me with the Rare Beauty Liquid Blush the morning of my wedding, I knew I had to give it a try! I am so glad I took the chance on this product. The color is gorgeous, but a little bit goes a long way.
I set the liquid blush with a luminous Milani blush from the drugstore for a bit of extra glow. After I hit my cheekbones with another drug store favorite, my Wet & Wild blush and highlighter compacts.
Contour & Bronzer
Setting Powder & Spray
As soon as you have your wedding day face on, you are going to want to set everything with powder. I knew the Dermablend Setting Pwoder has zero percent chance of flashback in photos, so I opted for this over Laura Mercier.
I used my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette Banana Yellow Powder to set my under eyes and brighten up my look before setting all the creams and powders I applied earlier with my Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray.
My face did not budge. I went to brunch in it the next day.
Eyeshadow Palette
The one thing I knew I wanted to splurge on ahead of my wedding was an eyeshadow palette. I already knew I would be bringing my Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette because nothing will ever beat that inner corner highlight, but I still wanted something new – a keepsake if you will.
I opted for Natasha Denona’s Glam Eyeshadow Palette. I snagged her for 20% off at Christmas after eyeing some palettes from the brand for a while, especially after I was gifted two mini-sized palettes and fell in love with the formula. The mattes blend seamlessly and the shimmers are subtle enough for everyday looks, but also stunning.
Brows
Benefit
Eyeliner
Mascara
False Lashes (Optional)
Surprisingly on my wedding day, I went without the false eye lashes. I knew I was going to be crying later on and just didn’t want to be bothered by them with so many other things happening that day.
If you told me that in 2016, I would think you were crazy, but it was the best decision I made that day. It was a down-to-the-wire decision as I had already bought my favorite Eyelure Cosmetics falsies and restocked my ride-or-die Duo Lash Glue. The look still ate without them.
Long Lasting Lip Products
must-haves for skin
- Fake Tan
- Lotions
- Perfumes
hair glam kit must-haves
- Hair Spray
- Texturizing Spray
- Volumizing Powder
- Curling Iron or Hair Straightner
- Blowdryer
- Brush & Hair teaser
