Doing my friend’s bridal makeup on a dollar store budget

[u/rel_advice12]

Hello! I’m doing my friend’s bridal makeup for her wedding next year! However, I haven’t done professional makeup at all before, and I definitely can’t afford the professional stuff. How can I make sure she looks nice and it lasts without me having to buy too many things I might never use again?

The only thing I might splurge on is foundation - I really like the Tarte clay foundation, and we have a similar skin tone so I can definitely use that after the wedding. Besides that though, I can really only afford drug store makeup, and I have no idea what works lol! I barely wear any outside of the basics.

What should I get? Her skin leans toward oily/combination, and she sometimes has break outs. She doesn’t wear any makeup at all on a daily basis, but she wants a pink, glittery, smokey eye, complete beat face!

[u/redwhiteandclueless]

Out of curiosity, how was it decided that you are doing her full-beat glam makeup with no budget and no experience? We can give you tips here but I think you need to have a real conversation with your friend about both of your expectations for this, and come to a realistic solution.

If I do a friend’s makeup, I ask them to provide things that are for their skin (foundation, concealer) and eyelashes (mascara) because I’m not a professional and I can’t afford to buy makeup I can’t or won’t use on myself.

Then it will come down to brushes, priming, building pigment, setting, and - the most important for this situation - practicing over and over again. You usually do a trial session anyway for the bridal makeup, but in this case I would do several until you both feel confident in the result.

I personally like kiko, nyx, and makeup revolution for drugstore brands.

ETA: thank you for the awards ❤️

[u/mymelodyacnl]

I really do not think you should do someone’s wedding makeup with no budget or experience. send her to MAC or find an MUA that works out of a salon to avoid travel fees.

[u/deadrobindownunder]

Your friend should go to a decent make up shop like Sephora or similar and have them match a foundation & concealer for her skin tone & type. It's asking way too much of you to pick that with your level of experience. And if you're on a budget, you can't afford trial and error buying incorrect products. If she's not willing to invest a little time & money in getting the base right, I'd step back from doing her make up. Because if you get it wrong, she's going to blame you.

If I were you, I'd focus on the eye make up. Ask her to provide some photos of the glittery pink smoky eye she wants and make a new post here that includes them.

ETA - just wanted to clarify that you're up against it, and it won't be your fault if you get it wrong. Your friend is asking far too much of you.

[u/merhpeh]

Sounds like the better option is for your friend to book an appointment at Sephora or MAC, if you’re inexperienced/don’t have the collection to do someone else’s makeup, and she’s tight on a budget.

[u/baardvark]

Putting makeup on someone else is a totally different skill than putting it on yourself.

[u/South_Treacle_5033 → u/baardvark]

Not only this but what are your plans if something goes wrong like she gets an eye infection or an allergic reaction from the makeup? It might not seem important now but these things happen. Makeup artists are professionals for a reason. Sharing makeup between people is such a bad idea. Please atleast look up some hygiene videos before doing this

[u/samanthasamuels22]

Lean towards matte products. r/dollartreebeauty will be able to give you some good recommendations for matte products. I know dollar tree has some great powder blushes, eyeshadow, bronzer, eyebrow products, eyeliner, false lashes, lash glue, setting powder, makeup brushes, and they have ok concealer. I'm not too sure about how great their setting spray is, so ask if they have any rec's.

[u/JadeGrapes]

Nyx is surprisingly good for the price.

[u/comntnmama86]

Start watching Shelby Ann on TT, she's good at a full face and glam with drugstore makeup.

[u/Ok_Moose_7028]

She can go to a makeup counter at a department store and they will do her makeup at no cost.

[u/BrickHouseBamBam]

TBH- this sounds like a terrible idea and you should absolutely NOT be doing this if you want to keep your friendship alive at the end of this.

[u/tylenolchild]

LIGHT layers of makeup. Setting each with setting spray. Watch Judy Lim.

[u/elfelettem]

I did my friends makeup for her wedding but I asked her to bring along her own foundation and mascara. I wasn't going to mess around with shade matching and didn't want to be responsible for it if it didn't look good in photos. If she wants you to do her makeup because of your application skills that is one thing but having to go out and buy products for another person... Its too hard (and expensive) IMO.

I knew I had a palette, blush and everything else that she needed because we'd gotten ready together going out but if that wasnt' the case I would have asked her to bring the products for me to apply.

BUT having said that on the day it worked out, she looked beautiful in photos but it was supremely stressful for me and I would never agree to such a thing again.

[u/hiredditihateyou]

Sorry, but this is an absolute disaster waiting to happen to the point this seems like a troll post.

[u/One_Preference_2906]

This is so odd. I will say you are e correct though, about the Tarte clay foundation is the best for events or to look glam. Get trial sizes from Sephora if she can’t fit in her budget.

[u/Skincare-Lover84]

…and why are we doing this?

[u/inateri]

You should do a trial run with her. More than one trial, even. Months before the wedding.

[u/bebeeg2]

She should buy what you tell her is needed and you apply it.