Make-up made easy

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white, wearing a garish shade of lippy, doesn’t she look a fright!

Your wedding day will be forever captured on camera and you want to look back with fond memories, rather than cringe in horror at your make-up.

John Gustafson, beauty guru at Handbag.com, advises brides to stick to what they know.

“This is not the day to experiment with a new look; this is a day to make yourself look the very best version of you,” he said.

“When you are having all of your trials done — hair, dress fittings, make-up — remember that you are seeing each of these things
singularly. When you put all of it together, it can look way too much.”

Jacqui Ripley, author of How to be a Beautiful Bride, said: “Subtly applied make-up is essential. You don’t want a heavy-looking base, so choose a foundation that covers blemishes while allowing skin to breathe, and use a primer to help it stay put.”

Face shine is your number one enemy in pictures, so give yourself a fine dusting with ultra-light powder before you smile for the camera.

Apply a little colour on the cheeks for a pretty and youthful look, but Jacqui suggests keeping it neutral.

“Resist the temptation to go for bright colours,” she said. “If you want something a little more exciting than taupe, like shimmery gold powder, apply it with a dampened brush and don’t go OTT.”

Kissing, sipping Champagne and eating will test your lipstick to the max. Shades close to your own lip colour are low-maintenance,
compared with dramatic reds, which look striking but will need frequent reapplication, or frosted hues, which can make you look washed-out.

Choose a mascara and eyeliner that can withstand tears, such as Chanel Inimitable waterproof mascara, £17.50, or Almay Amazing Lash waterproof mascara, £7.99.
Bobbi Brown’s Bridal Face Palette, £40, contains make-up for eyes, lips and cheeks in colours that would suit most women. Using this means you only have to take one product with you to do any touch-ups, perfect for slipping into a small bag.

If you wake up with a spot, don’t panic. Apply foundation stick to the area using a concealer brush, then gently blend the foundation with the pad of your finger. Then set the foundation with sheer loose powder and a velour puff.

If the lack of sleep from the night before shows on your complexion, a silvery white shadow brushed across the eyes makes the whites of the eyes look even whiter.
Use a touch more blush than usual on the apples of your cheeks if you are feeling a bit pale.

If make-up has always been a bit of mystery to you, turn to the experts for professional advice. Estee Lauder offers a free
three-consultation bridal beauty programme to help you prepare for the big day.

When it comes to hair, stylists recommend you start thinking about what you want as soon as you set a date. You should take pictures of hairstyles you like to your stylist so they can offer advice on what would suit your face shape and your dress.

A few wispy strands around the face gives the illusion of a slimmer face, while loose curls or a relaxed up-do gives the effect of a shapely face. Falling tendrils and waves that finish at the chin will make a large forehead seem less broad.

But don’t feel pressured into trying a dramatically different style — if you feelhappier leaving your hair in a bob, then wear it that way.

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