Wedding Make Up Tips & Advice

You want to look your best on your special day so make sure you plan your make up carefully, well in advance.

Whether you are doing your make up yourself or hiring someone else to do it, try to remember the following: -

1. Your make up should be an enhancement of what you normally wear. For example, if you usually go for the natural look, stick to natural colours but slightly stronger. You don't want to try out blue mascara and red lipstick! Remember your fiancé is marrying you, so he should at least recognize you! Saying that you should define your features stronger than what you usually do, so they show up in photographs. You should feel comfortable in the make up you are wearing, this is not the time to try out anything drastic. On your day you don't want to be worrying about your shade of lippy whilst saying your vows.
   

1. If you are having your make up done professionally, make sure you have a practice run before your big day. A good idea is to have a dress rehearsal and take photos, so you can then check that it will look good.
   
2. Like a very dear friend of mine who recently got married, she cried the whole way through. Waterproof mascara is a must!
   
3. You want your make up to last all day. There are some fabulous long lasting make up items around, which will ensure that you don't need to “touch up” during the day. Believe me you won't have time to re-apply your make up.

 

Make up Tips

1. Starting with concealer and foundation. Be careful about the colour foundation you choose. Whilst you should always go for a match as near as your skin, anything too pale will make you look washed out if you are wearing a white/ivory dress. Try to choose a yellow toned foundation to bring warmth into your face. Alternatively use bronzing powder to give you a bit of colour – if you are wearing a low cut dress remember to sweep it across the chest area so you don't look “two toned”.
   
2. Whilst there are some lovely “shine” products available to give a dewy complexion, again be very careful where you use them. In photographs it will be easy to mistake the “glow” for sweat – not nice. If you are applying a highlighter, stick to brow bones, cheekbones and a dab in the middle of your lips. If you are wearing a low cut dress add a little on your décolletage. Beware of any makeup that is too sparkly, this can look strange in the photos. Matte is usually best.
   
3. Pending on what season you are getting married this will also have to be taken into account when planning your makeup. Avoid anything too shiny on your skin if you are getting married in the summer, stick to a coloured lip-gloss but don't wear shine all-over. Light formulas are better as you don't want your makeup melting in the sun. Winter make up can be more dramatic although again it's best to stick to a stronger look of your usual make up, bear in mind if it is a very cold day, you may want a green concealer. Green will counteract any redness to stop you looking like Rudolph!
   
4. To make your lipstick last all day. First apply a lip primer to give your lips an even surface and rid of any flaky bits. I always apply foundation to the lips and let it dry – this gives a good base. Then line your lips with your lip pencil (which should be the same shade as your lipstick). Then fill in all your lips with the pencil. Finally on top of that apply your lipstick. Blot with a tissue and reapply your lipstick – repeat this twice. Now your lipstick should stay on all day. If it does start to wear off you will have the lip pencil underneath so your lips won't look patchy.
   
5. Although foundation/concealer should be left to areas where you need it, i.e. around the nose then blended into the cheeks (you don't want to put it everywhere otherwise it will look false), you can also apply to your eyes to give your eye shadow a good base and something to cling on to.
   
6. Eyebrows - have them professionally shaped before your big day and enhance them with a same colour eyebrow shade. Eyebrows frame your face and it can make a huge difference if you have the professionally shaped – a la Liz Hurley!
   
7. To make your eyes look bigger and whiter choose dark navy mascara. If you are dark skinned or have brown eyes then black is usually best. Brown mascara can make eyes look tired.
   
8. To lift your eyes apply a highlighter just below your brow bone. If you have small eyelids, apply a highlighter just in the center of the eyelid and a dark brown shade in the eyelid crease – this will lift your eyes. White/ivory eyeliner in the rim of your eyes also makes them appear brighter, however be careful if you wear contact lenses as your eyes maybe sensitive. To make your eyes look more wide set blend the highlighter in the inner corner of your eyes.
   
9. For a natural flush apply a light natural pink shade onto the apples of your cheeks – don't go to harsh, especially if you are drinking which can give you a natural flush look without the blush.
   

Finally remember on your big day to have the following to hand.

• Cotton buds, to wipe away any smudges under the eyes
• Your lippy, should you need a touch up.
• Some translucent powder to blot away any sweaty patches
• Breath freshener (you will be doing lots of kissing – alcohol breath is not very attractive!)
• Contact lens solution – if you wear them.
• Small phial of your perfume to keep you smelling gorgeous – which you will be!
• And your man of course!!!