I recently came across an old article I had written as a guest blogger giving my view of the top 7-tips for the perfect wedding makeover. Reading back through it is was a reminder of how quickly the makeup product market evolves, so I thought it was a good opportunity to update it to reflect my view of the best wedding makeup products for 2014. So here goes – my 2014 view of the seven top wedding make-up tips.
1. Exfoliated skin is the best base for successful bridal make-up. I previously recommended Eve Lom Cleanser to cleanse your skin in the morning and evening, and this is still a classic product (Vogue magazine once described it as the best cleanser on the market, and I would have to agree with them. If you do want to try something easier on the budget, my second recommendation would be to try Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. Whichever product you choose, apply it once a day to the face using circular movements, and leave it to work on your skin for 30 minutes. It will make dead cells soften and glide off the face. By doing this every day at least for a few months before the wedding you will be surprised how well your skin looks – the best way to get your skin ready for the big day.
2. To get sparkling bridal eyes, use eye drops like Optrex Eyedew Sparkling Clear Eye Drops to remove redness from eyes. This is wonderful on the big day as it can remove any redness from the eyes (perfect for any bride for whom the eve of wedding excitement caused less sleep than ideal, and a product I wish had been on the market for my own wedding day.
3. To reduce shine in the all-important wedding photos, avoid using a foundation containing SPF. Sun Protection Factor reflects the flash and makes the face look a different colour to the body in photos. For me, I still believe the best product of the market in this regard is “Foundation Stick” from Bobbi Brown as it is SPF free.
4. To help your base foundation / concealer stay longer on the face, before setting it with powder, I recommend using a standard face tissue such as Kleenex to dab off excess moisture. This will prevent the layering of oil and powder on the face and keep the skin from appearing shiny. To set the foundation for a long lasting effect, I would recommend Face Powder Matte from Shu Uemura. Use a cotton pad to push and press the powder into the skin, and lightly buff off any excess with a powder brush.
5. To help your eyeshadow last for up to 24 hours, prep your eyes with an eye shadow primer. In my experience the best product on the marketplace at the moment is NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base – it is wonderful for holding the make-up in place without causing it to feel heavy.
6. To make your eyes really defined on wedding photos, consider wearing false eye lashes. There are hundreds of different styles on the market, but my new favourites are mink lashes from Velour – they give an absolutely stunning look. They are still difficult to get hold of in the UK, so you may need to look into ordering online (my favourite style are You Complete Me). You may also want to consider permanent lashes, as this can be a cheaper option in the long run, and is an option that I now also offer to my clients.
7. For perfect lips, consider using more than one colour. Start by defining your lips with lip liner, which matches your natural lip colour – I recommend Prep + Prime Lip from MAC. Then use High Brow Glow pencil from Benefit to draw a very thin light line alongside the edge of your top lip (while the product was designed for brows, it is wonderfully flexible and is also ideal for lips). This will draw the light to your lips giving them a fuller appearance. Finally, to give to your lips a perfect 3D look, finish with your favourite lip-gloss.
For those of you getting married in 2024, have a wonderful wedding day, and I hope the above tips help you to create the perfect wedding makeup look.
