Finding a makeup look that feels like you can be challenging. Here’s how to best remain authentically you on your wedding day.

Makeup is an art form, a means of self-expression, that has been a part of civilization for nearly 6,000 years. But despite its longevity, societal opinions on cosmetics have rarely been positive, often fluctuating from disdain to reluctant acceptance. There is, and has been, a stigma surrounding makeup that suggests it encourages fakeness or lying about one’s appearance. Yet, makeup has remained a symbol of empowerment that encourages exploration of the self while celebrating individual identity. Your appearance isn’t for the gaze of others, but to satisfy yourself.

Therefore, for your wedding, deciding how to do your makeup can feel overwhelming — especially if you’re unfamiliar with wearing it. Walking into an Ulta or Sephora without an insider’s knowledge can be panic inducing when faced with all the many aisles of product. Additionally, it seems that everyone has their own, often contradictory, opinion on how makeup should be worn. Ultimately what matters most is how you feel about it.

Robin Leibowitz, makeup artist and owner of Faces by Robin, says that as a wedding vendor “I must come to a happy medium because I want her to feel the most beautiful she’s ever felt. That involves listening.” Although the process may seem daunting, personalizing your wedding makeup can be a special way to both feel and look your best. Here are some tips on how to ensure that happens:

Gather some inspiration

Spend some time scrolling on Pinterest or Instagram, maybe even TikTok or YouTube, to find some makeup inspiration. Whether you’re looking for something bold or more subtle, there is most likely a step-by-step tutorial for it. Take all the elements you enjoy from the images you’ve collected to create your own unique look. These reference photos will be a benefit to both you and your makeup artist during your consultation.

Prepare for your consultation

Do not, Robin repeats, do not get threaded or waxed right before your session. Your skin can be tender after hair removal and prone to getting ingrown hairs which can make applying cosmetics painful. This also applies to experimenting with new facial products beforehand. Allergic reactions or breakouts are always a possibility. So instead, just focus on keeping your lips and skin hydrated — your makeup artist will take care of the rest.

Ask for your vendor’s advice

Your seasonal palette such as winter or spring will affect how makeup looks on you. Undertones in the skin such as cool, warm, and neutral can cause a shade to appear differently than you intended it to. Not only this, but hair and eye color are integral factors in determining what is most flattering. Thus, listening to your makeup artists about how to adjust your desired look to your coloring can save you from a too yellow-y foundation or lipstick that washes you out.

Just be you

No one in the world looks exactly like you. Makeup, despite its connotation, is about enhancing your natural features rather than covering them. Robin explains the power of makeup, saying that “It’s transforming. It brings out confidence. It brings out an inner beauty.” Overall, taking special time to care for yourself is a boost to your self-esteem. Feeling pretty can be powerful. By allowing your own personality to shine through, your makeup is highlighting — and not concealing — you.