Yes, You Can Indeed Apply Your Own Wedding Makeup—Every Single Step From a Newlywed Celebrity Makeup Artist

      Planning a wedding should be an incredibly thrilling experience, but it often turns into a lengthy, stressful, and expensive endeavor. If the cost of hiring a makeup artist makes you consider selling your car for some extra cash (especially with those expensive flowers in mind), we’ve got an extensive guide to wedding makeup from expert celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty, who recently tied the knot herself and did her own makeup for the event. Bhatty has worked with a notable roster of celebrities, including Lorde, Auliʻi Cravalho, and Jenny Slate. While her job certainly gives her an advantage with DIY wedding makeup, her step-by-step guide—covering skincare, hair, and makeup—will help make it achievable for you as well. "I had a courthouse wedding, and in the spirit of keeping it simple and intimate, I wanted the morning to myself," Bhatty shared with Who What Wear about her recent marriage. "I understand how chaotic a glamorous morning can be, and I really aimed for a simple and peaceful atmosphere. I’ve always enjoyed the process of getting ready, and my wedding morning felt wonderfully serene." Continue reading for Bhatty's detailed guide to her rain-resistant wedding look that you can replicate at home or in a makeup chair. (Yes, it rained on her wedding day, but her makeup remained intact.)

      **The Breakdown**

      1. **Plan the Look**

       First and foremost: It's essential to plan your makeup to complement your dress and hair. "The best way to start is to have a vision of how you want to feel and the level of touch-ups you're comfortable with," Bhatty advises. "For me, I wanted it to be easy and effortless while still adding a bit of color to my lips and cheeks. I chose a blurred lip look with a flowing blowout, which kept me feeling relaxed all day."

      2. **Proper Prep**

       It's well-known that brides put in considerable effort to present their most radiant selves on their wedding days. Bhatty reveals the preparation a professional with industry connections undertook before her special day. A must-have? The Triple Crown Royale facial from celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas the day before her courthouse wedding. This pre–red carpet tradition incorporates microcurrent, microdermabrasion, and oxygen treatments to lift and tighten the skin while giving the complexion a radiant glow. "There's no downtime, and many of my clients use this to prep before award shows, so I knew I’d be in great hands," Bhatty explains. She also utilized lymphatic-drainage treatments and an LED light bed to further enhance the firmness and rejuvenation of her skin, undergoing these routines "for months" with consistent visits to Vargas's spa. She upped her skincare game with the celebrity-favored Lyma Laser to "reduce some hyperpigmentation" and began taking Nutrafol supplements months in advance to ensure her hair looked its shiniest and fullest for the courthouse ceremony. "I knew that would ensure my blowout had the bounce I desired," she shares. Additionally, Bhatty recommends visiting a hair salon close to the wedding day for a haircut that best suits your hairstyle. (She turned to celebrity hairstylist Derek Yuen for this step.) Embracing South Asian bridal traditions, Bhatty had her henna applied by New York henna artist Sabeen while simultaneously using an Ayurvedic serum from the beauty brand Ranavat on her hair. "I relied on my cultural insights for beauty rituals, which felt very sacred," she reflects.

      3. **Start With Hair**

       The big day is finally here! Bhatty suggests starting your day-of glam with your hair. "I always begin with hair, particularly with a blowout, so I can clip it up after it dries to maximize volume," she states. Her ideal wedding blowout was created using Roz's Foundation line, designed to hydrate, cleanse, and balance your scalp and hair, followed by styling with the Shark FlexStyle and finishing with Sisley hair oil for extra shine.

      4. **Do Your Skincare**

       Any skilled makeup artist will affirm that proper skincare preparation is crucial for flawless makeup application. Bhatty initiated her routine with the Joanna Vargas Eden Instant Lift Mask, designed to provide optimal hydration within just 15 to 20 minutes. This serum-infused mask plumps and moisturizes the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and rejuvenating the complexion. (For extra glow, she suggests applying any leftover serum to your neck and décolleté.) Another tip makeup artists advocate? Begin with a hydrating lip product well before you apply lip color—this ensures full absorption by the time you reach that step. Bhatty relied on EOS Super Balm for this task. "Since I was aiming for a blurred lip, keeping my lips hydrated and free from chapping was vital," she notes. A light application of La Mer Moistur