Pro make-up artist Viorela Coman gives her professional tips for brides, bridesmaids and guests who are doing their own wedding-day make-up
While we would all like a make-up artist on our wedding day (or even every day), sometimes it just isn’t possible to have a professional on hand. Whether you are a close family member at a wedding, a bridesmaid or even a bride jetting off to the sun for a romantic elopement, choosing to do your own make-up can’t be a daunting task knowing it has to stand up to the glare of cameras and video. Achieving a flawless look that will last is the challenge, so here are tips to tick all the right boxes: long lasting, natural and timeless.
Prepare your skin
Focus on skincare first, if you have dry skin ensure you prep it accordingly as this will create the perfect canvas for the make-up products that follow. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Radiance is a gorgeous product to prime your skin and a personal favourite. If your skin is combination/oily, the moisturiser/primer should have the term ‘mattifying’ in its description – I find Bioderma Sébium Mat Control to be a great product.
“Avoid using a super high SPF foundation because you risk getting a flashback from the camera – which is not a good look”
Foundation is a fascinating topic in itself. With so many choices, what texture should you trust? My advice is to opt for a satiny/matte finish as this tends to set better on the skin and endure heat and humidity. Three that I trust are Illamasqua Skin Base, IT Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better CC+ Oil-Free Matte and Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation.
While you might normally look for sun protection, especially on a summer’s day, it’s not a good idea to use a super high SPF foundation on your skin because you risk getting a flashback from the camera, which is not a great look in photos.
Eyes and lips
Your eyelids will need your support on such a long day, so spoil them by using a lovely eye primer (have you tried Eyeshadow Primer Potion by Urban Decay yet?). An alternative is to do this the old-school way by adding concealer on the lids and setting it with translucent powder. Only then start applying your eyeshadow.
For lips, the most comfortable thing to wear is a tinted glossy texture, but if you want the colour to actually stay on your lips I have two precious tips. One way to get lasting power is to contour and pencil in your lips with a lip liner. That way you have a proper base for the lipstick to hang on to. Do feel free to add a bit of lip balm before the lip liner to make sure your lips are not over dry. The second tip is to save time reapplying throughout the day by opting for a lipstick that has a longwearing texture. This can then make-up for the lack of lip liner and give you the definition you need. Among my favourite long-lasting lipsticks are Sleek Make-Up’s Matte Me, Stila’s Stay All Day and Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour by Rimmel.
Finishing touches
To finish things off, you want to add some colour with blusher or bronzer. Here, my tip is to layer creamy textures with powdery ones for a natural glow with extra longevity. So, if you normally use a creamy blusher/bronzer, to make it stay a lot longer on your skin just dab on a little powder blusher/bronzer. Do make sure the amounts you use on the brush are tiny because if you combine cream and powder you increase the intensity – a little goes a long way.
“A good tip is to spray setting spray all over your face – it can even add a protective layer to mascara so you don’t get panda eyes”
Once you have all your make up in place and are happy that the look is spot on, you want to set it. I love the popular All Nighter Setting Spray by Urban Decay and it really does ensure your make-up will see you through. A good tip here is to spray it all over your face, eyes included (make sure eyes are shut). That way it will add an extra protective layer to your mascara so you can rest assured you won’t get those dreaded panda eyes. A great-value drugstore alternative is NYX Professional Setting Spray Matte. And there you have it, guaranteed camera-ready perfect make up to take you through a wonderful wedding celebration.
About Viorela Coman
Viorela Coman is a freelance make-up artist who has worked with names such as Burberry, Chanel and Heidi Klein. She specialises in natural, soft and feminine make-up. viorelacoman.com
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