1. Whether you decide to do your own makeup or book a professional makeup artist, it is important to be up to date with the latest colors and looks, and if you are doing your own makeup, it is especially important to be in the know of application techniques - it is all about knowing what works best for you. So keep up to date with magazines (fashion and bridal) and current trends. Book a trial with professional makeup artists you are considering for your day, or book yourself a lesson with a professional makeup artist, and experience an opportunity to learn how to get the best out of makeup, which leads us onto #2.
2. Find out makeup artist tricks of the trade - a lesson or makeup trial will show / teach you the secrets of how you can apply your makeup like a professional - flawless skin, day/evening palettes, lip + eye makeup techniques - you can have your makeup dilemmas solved, and have your makeup and beauty queries answered as you learn, to make your wedding day blissful!
3. Wedding Day bliss comes from knowing the professional makeup artist you have booked will be working their magic on you, (your mom, maid of honor, bridesmaids, and flower girls), so you can be relaxed and looking perfectly gorgeous.
4. Create a look that suits your style, enhances your features, and co-ordinates with your color scheme to suit the occasion. Whether you do your own makeup, or you book a professional makeup artist, the makeup should complement the theme of the wedding, be it subtle, dramatic, natural or glamorous!
5. Experimenting should be done prior to the day, as your wedding day is not the time to experiment with contouring and correction, reshaping and defining. Your wedding makeup is of great importance, as the wedding pictures will always be a reminder of your happy day, so you with this in mind, make sure your wedding makeup look suits your style, and is not overly "trendy" as the pictures will date.
You will want a beauty plan that is easy, with results that last all day / evening.
• Bridal makeup tends to be soft, feminine and beautiful, if you want a more dramatic look then "feature focus" your favorite feature rather than making your whole face heavily made up.
• Matte or semi-matte products (particularly shadows and blushes) photograph much better than heavy frosted shades (having said this a hint of shimmer in the right place can do wonders to lift a makeup :), avoid blusher that is too bright.
• Waterproof mascara is a wise investment, or visits your beauty therapist and have your lashes tinted (and wakes up always looking gorgeous on your honeymoon!)
• Kiss-proof lips are the go!! Matte lipsticks last longer than non-mattes, however over a long period of time, can be drying for your lips
• If you are wearing a low neckline or backline, body makeup may need to be applied.
On the day you will need to have a schedule, so that you can co-ordinate the days events - hair + makeup for the bride, bridal party and mother of the bride, when the photographer arrives and how long they need with you before you arrive at the wedding, up to your arrival (this includes getting dressed, travel time, make sure you remember to have something to eat - as there is a long time till the reception food comes around!)
6. Preparation of a pre-trial or professional consultation / makeup lesson ensures that you will look your best on your wedding day. Pre-planning is the key to creating a beautiful look for you, and gives you peace of mind that your wedding day will run smoothly. You will also know how long to allow for your makeup, feel comfortable with your makeup design and the products being used - one less thing to have to think about on an already busy and wonderful day!!
Bridal makeup is a combination of day / evening makeup (depending on the time of your wedding), photographic makeup (needs to be able to look good under flash or studio lighting, especially if you are having studio shots, location shots, a professional photographer, black and white photographs), and corrective makeup (using subtle highlighting and shading techniques to bring out your best features and minimize flaws).
There are two very different makeup trends in 2008. One natural-looking, the other vibrant and artistic. On the one hand, spring 2008 fashion shows feature bright colors and boldly glamorous looks. On the other, natural mineral makeup is growing in popularity. The best known — Bare Minerals — has been joined by Leeza Gibbons’ Sheercover, Rawminerals, Laura Mercier Mineral Makeup collection, and others. The appeal is look and feel. Mineral makeups are safer on sensitive skin and enhance your natural look, rather than cover it.
On the glamour front, Sephora mentioned these makeup trends for 2008:
- Bright 60’s-style, purple, or golden lids
- Thicker, larger brows
- Fresh, natural skin
- Rosy cheeks
Let’s start with some basic wedding makeup advice: choosing your makeup, which is as important as choosing your dress. The first rule is to enhance the best of what you have, not to create a brand new face. The last thing you want is to look like a painted doll. The second rule is to choose products that complement your skin tone, your skin type, your eyes, the color of your hair, and your wedding gown.
Your makeup needs to be picture perfect on your wedding day. It must cover any imperfections and highlight your features, yet appear subtle and natural. If you’re not sure exactly what you want, find a look that fits your style by searching bridal magazines and the Internet for photographs. Keep these pictures handy as you shop for makeup.
Color
Make an appointment with a makeup artist to determine your ideal color palette. Have your face made up more than once to refine your look and prevent surprises. If you plan to do it yourself, get step-by-step instructions and a chart with your colors and specific products. Even if you have confidence in your ability, here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
• The focus should be on your whole face, so avoid bright or dark hues that call attention to individual features. Softer, lighter colors can also make you appear younger.
• Natural tones will permit your own beauty to shine through. Both you and your wedding party will look radiant with makeup in soft shades or earth tones.
• Don't use a lot of shimmer or glitter with your wedding makeup. Pictures tend to come out less than perfect. A little shimmer for an evening wedding comes off well, however.
Foundation
The best wedding makeup advice should begin with choosing the correct foundation for your skin type and color. Start by learning about your skin type. The most common types are oily, dry, and combination.
• Your skin is probably dry if your makeup looks blotchy and cakes in dry patches. It’s most likely dry if your face feels “tight,” and you can’t seem to apply enough moisturizer. Dry skin does well with liquid foundations that contain a little oil.
• Your skin is oily if you have to apply powder throughout the day to control shiny spots or if you tend to break out. If your skin is oily, you certainly don’t want an oil-based foundation. Instead, choose a water-based, matte foundation.
• You have combination skin if some parts of your skin are dry, some are oily, and some are neither. This is when a professional makeup artist can help you choose the best foundation to deal with multiple skin types.
No matter what your skin type, choose a lightweight foundation, which will even out your skin tone and hide imperfections. Here is some additional wedding makeup advice from experts I have consulted:
• Use a foundation primer with polymethylmethacrylate, a foundation primer under your wedding makeup. This conceals skin imperfections, makes pores less noticeable, keeps makeup from separating, and hides redness.
• Match the color of your shoulder (instead of the face), or test colors on your jaw line (rather than on your wrist) when choosing your wedding makeup. Photos come out better with these approaches.
• Your foundation color and skin tone must match, especially if your hair is styled in an up do with your neck and shoulders bare, so that your makeup blends perfectly. The goal is discreet foundation.
• Use a foundation that contains sunscreen if you will be outdoors during the day.
• After your make up is applied, use a bronzer on your face, neck, and chest if you prefer more color.
• Creams and liquids don't adhere after applying powder. Dust on a matching pigmented powder if you need a foundation color touch up.
• For a smooth, perfectly matched look, blend foundation past your jaw and into your neck.
• Remember that your makeup may look different as you go from indoor to outdoor lighting, so check out your colors in natural daylight before you buy.
All of these subtleties mean that you should plan to spend some time choosing a foundation shade. Have patience. It’s worth the time it takes.
Makeup Advice
Brows, Eyes, and Cheeks
Well-defined eyebrows are important to how you photograph, but there is more than one way to achieve them: plucking, waxing, or threading. All facial waxing, including your eyebrows, should be done at least seven days before the wedding. If waxing causes skin irritation, you should allow a week for it to heal; or skip the waxing and opt for plucking or threading instead.
Visit an experienced esthetician to have your eyebrows shaped. Your brow shape should suit your facial structure and help you look the way you want to look. Your brows can change what shape others see when they look at your face. For example, flatter brows make long faces appear shorter, and high arches make a round face look more oval.
Eyes
Few features are as important as your eyes. They should shine with the happiness you feel, but you may have to help them along. Here are some suggestions for creating and maintaining perfect eyes for your wedding day and on into the night:
• On the morning of your wedding day, check your eyes for any signs of redness, especially if you didn’t sleep well the night before. Red eyes don’t photograph well.
• Use over-the counter eye drops to clear the redness.
• If your eyes are swollen or tired looking, take a ten-minute breather with tea bags on your closed eyes to make you look and feel more alert.
• Wear waterproof eye makeup — mascara and eyeliner — to keep it from smudging, streaking, or smearing.
• Add definition to your eyes by using different soft eye shadow shades.
• Add eyeliner for a bit of drama. You can use a pencil, a thin brush full of eye shadow, or liquid liner. Be sure to practice applying eyeliner well before your wedding day.
• Consider leaving the false eyelashes at home. Instead, curl your natural lashes to make them appear longer and more defined.
Cheeks
Subtle cheek color can add an extra "something" to your natural glow and help accent your facial features. Here are some tips for making the most of a wedding day blush:
• The type of blush to use depends on your skin type. Use gel and cream blushes for normal-to-dry complexions; powder blush for oily.
• Stains are another option. They produce a natural looking flush, making your cheeks appear moist and young. Stains dry very quickly, however. You must work fast when applying them. For a more lasting look, apply cream or powder blush on top of the stain.
• You can also layer blush by first applying a cream blush, then a dusting of translucent powder, and finishing with a powder blush.
• Keep your blush simple. Use a rosy or peachy-golden color, applied only on the apples of your cheeks.
• For well-defined cheekbones, contour below the apples and toward your ear with a darker blush or bronzer.
• For evening drama, after you apply blush dot a shimmery white highlighter along the tops of cheekbones. Mix in a bronzer if your complexion is dark.
Beautiful Lips
Beautiful lips complete the picture of a beautiful bride and are particularly important for the photographs you take that day. But don’t leave their color to chance. Too light, they disappear; too dark, they dominate your face; too bright, they throw off the delicate balance. Once again, the deeper your skin tone, the deeper your lip color should be; but, within your particular palette, you can create different looks with different colors and finishes.
• For example, if you have fair skin, you can shape a soft, feminine mouth with a sheer peach, beige, or pink. For more drama, move to berries and soft wines. Use a light hand in applying your lip color to avoid a matte finish.
• If you have medium or olive skin, think warm earth tones. You can comfortably wear reds with brown undertones, wine, or the darker berry shades Steer clear of pinks, which may be too cool for your olive skin. If you have a tan or use a bronzer, choose a complementary, warm lip-gloss.
• If you are African American or Hispanic, you should choose vivid colors with more pigment to produce a richer look. The deeper your skin color, the wider range of choices available. You can go from browns and plums to more vibrant reds and from a matte finish to a moist, glossy effect.
• Use a lip color that complements the other colors you are wearing, including your foundation and eye makeup. If your skin looks washed out or faded, you’re on the wrong track. Keep looking.
• You want to see the color on your lips, not on your hand and certainly not on the salesperson’s hand. Be sure the lipstick is disinfected and your lips are free of color before you apply it.
• If your lips are dry, from the weather or from unconsciously licking them, lipstick won’t go on easily or evenly. Lipsticks that last all day are also dry and drying. Drink a lot of water and apply lip creams regularly. Don’t use a petroleum jelly or products made for chapped lips. Fortunately, many of today’s lipsticks contain moisturizer.
• Lipstick styles change with the times, not to mention the seasons. The heavily made-up look of years ago is out; satiny, demi-matte, and sheer are in. To prevent your lipstick from “bleeding,” use a neutral lip pencil to line and fill in your lips. Brush on color and blot. Then, apply another coat. Another technique is to apply an undercoating that prevents a spider pattern around the edges of your lips.
• To avoid having your hair accidentally stick to your lips, use one of the new nonstick lipsticks, which will also give your mouth a nice shine.
Your picture-perfect face
So far, I have presented pieces of the puzzle. The finished picture is your perfect face on your wedding day. There are many ways to achieve the look you want. Here are some of the ideas offered by those who create beautiful faces all the time.
• If you want to have your makeup done by a professional makeup artist, don’t wait until the last minute. Start looking a few months before your wedding.
• Explain your preferences. Mention any skin allergies or sensitivities
• If you decide to do your wedding makeup yourself, experts still advise having a professional makeover before the wedding.
• If you’re really happy with the results, see whether this person might be available on your wedding day, either at your home or the location of the wedding.
• Try applying your wedding face a month or so before the big day to see how long it stays on and fresh looking. Be aware of reactions you may be having to any of the products you’re wearing. If something is irritating to your skin, you still have time to find another product.
Wishing you magic makeup moments on your wedding day, allow yourself to relax and be pampered, as this is one very special day :)
Have fun making up!