Find your local make up artist to help make you look fantastic on your wedding day.
TOP TIPS for flawless wedding day make-up
- Arrange your make-up trial at least three weeks, before your wedding just in case you have a skin reaction.
- If you plan to use fake tan on the big day, test run the final tan shade before your make-up trial so that your artist can see what colour your skin will be.
- Wear something white for your trial make-up so you can see how wedding day make-up differs from everyday make-up.
- Brighten any darkness under your eyes with corrector and concealer.
- Remember that the camera can be unkind on wedding photos if you've gone overboard with colours. Your specialist wedding day make-up artist will know all about this and where her advice becomes worth its weight in gold.
- Use individual eyelashes – far more subtle than a full strip and go for differing lengths to create a really natural fluttery look.
- Your skin tone and texture has never been more important, so ask your make-up artist for advice on the basic factors of 'your' skin regime in the run up to the wedding.
- Go for the pro. If you are doing your own make-up, at least invest in fresh new products. Tired, old, and sometimes out of date make-up is best thrown away.
- Go for a light matte shade look as shiny spots on the photos can really stand out, often highlighting unwanted blemishes.
- But most of all, blow the budget and use a professional. Make-up for a wedding is a several layer process to make you the best you can be. Think about it, all that pampering on your day will be really welcome too.
Here are some 'never do's'
- Never have your make-up test done anywhere with overhead fluorescent lighting. If you have a professional make-up artist coming to your home, arrange a time when it’s still daylight outside.
- Never let a make-up artist hijack your look, or even a best-intentioned friend. You're aiming for a more polished version of yourself – after all, you are wearing the make-up, not your make-up wearing you.
- Less is more is always the rule for weddings. It's a myth that your make-up has to be plastered on for the photographs. Most wedding photography is done in natural light, so if you choose a heavy base the make-up will look obvious. In terms of flash, ensure your T Zone is matte throughout the day.
- Your wedding day make-up is not a time for completely changing your look. Don't go for anything that appears to be trend-led no matter how many glossy catwalk images you see in magazines. It’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll have to live with photos from your wedding for the rest of your life, so it’s best to avoid statement looks and opt for something more classic.
- Don't be scared of going a bit brighter, but try to keep to colours you're used to. Browns, and pale lip colours can look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one or two shades brighter than what you would normally wear.
- Don't just apply make-up to your face. Instead, extend down your neck and over your shoulders if necessary, this will ensure you face is not a different colour or even a different texture to your body. Blend uneven skin tones together using a light fake tan. Never do this the day before your wedding - heaven forbid the night before! This regime needs to be started sometimes weeks in advance, so an even tone builds up on all parts of the skin.
- Waterproof mascara is an obvious choice.
- Never rush. Allow at least an hour before you put on your dress for your make-up and the final touches to your hair and headdress.
- Ask your bridesmaid to carry a little emergency bag with tissues, lipstick, an eyelash or two, matte finish powder with large brush, a cotton bud for repairs and hair spray. Also a breath freshener spray, comb and a perfume atomiser.
- When you're ready, take one last look in the mirror to check for lipstick on your teeth, toothpaste in the corners of your mouth and finally, sip a little plain water through a straw as your mouth will have become dry with nerves. Now off you go.