Your Wedding Day Makeup
The most important thing to remember about your wedding-day makeup is that it shouldn’t outshine you. Like your hairstyle and your photographs, makeup’s purpose is to make your face look like you—only better. If you’re set on trying something brand-new for your ceremony, such as bright red lipstick when you’ve never glossed before, don’t wait until the Big Day. Start trying out shades weeks before, and see how they look with your dress, your flowers, and your hair color. Should you be hiring a makeup artist for the ceremony, tell her the look you want, listen to her ideas, and get started: Do not be talked into any “look” that makes you uncomfortable. Just as new shoes or a completely different wardrobe for a job interview makes you feel off-balance, a makeup style that doesn’t suit you will affect your self-confidence as you walk down the aisle.
Eye lines.
These days, simple is in, starting with your eyebrows—look at Old Hollywood photos of Hepburn and Garbo, not the ’80s caterpillar frames of Brooke shields and Madonna. If you’re an expert plucker, go ahead and do the job yourself. If you want to get your brows waxed for the first time, have it done six months before the wedding to make sure the look works for you. If you don’t like it, they’ll grow back. Then have your brows waxed again a week prior to the wedding. Do not wax them immediately before the ceremony; you might have breakouts and other irritations. Keep your brows in shape with a toothbrush, and use clear mascara for a simple look, or something darker for a more dramatic approach.
With the dress, the hair, the veil, the flowers, there’s a chance your eyes might get overlooked. Putting shadow in the inner corners will pop them out; a line of mascara that extends beyond the lash line does wonders for small eyes, as well as accentuating their beauty. A light brown on the top and bottom lids will make your eyes stand out, without taking over your face.
Kiss and makeup.
Light-colored lipsticks are de rigueur for most brides, covered with a protective balm. Remember, too, that your hair color plays a part here. Brunettes can afford darker shades of lip gloss and blush. If you’ve got blonde or light-brown hair, you don’t want a color that upstages the rest of your face. Peach blush is very popular now for women with lighter hair and skin tones.
The weather affects your makeup choices too. In the summer, breakouts are common. Try to use oil-free products as much as possible, have lots of body powder on hand, and make sure your balm is SPF-enhanced. Light shades of makeup work especially well with outdoor weddings. As for the rest of the year, take a clue from the outdoors. Fall and winter mean warmer colors like plum and burgundy, and when spring hits, make like a blossom and go pink! Make sure you love your look, then head down the aisle, blush, and blushing, included.