Face First

Exfoliate and moisturize- Don’t forget that forget that the most important step is good skincare for a clean, smooth base. Soft, supple skin will be the best canvas for any makeup to look great on.

Don’t go changing- Brides shouldn’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate skin during the wedding countdown. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic or skin treatments too close to the date, especially if you haven’t experienced the procedure before.

Good skin reflects good health- Drinking lots of water helps skin stay hydrated and radiant. Also, eat healthfully and take your vitamins!

Build from a solid foundation- Be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. Color correcting concealers, like green/yellow for redness, and peach/yellow for undereye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Define eyes and brows- While its important to line and define eyes so they pop in photos, keep in mind that dark shadow will make eyes recede and look smaller. For big bright eyes, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon.

Make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Skip the glitter- Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, keep the sheen only on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, and and blot any oiliness as needed.

Consider your lighting- Do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh in sunlight.

Fit into your venue- Adjust your makeup look according to the formality and location of the event. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup. A beach bride and a black-tie ballroom bride should (hopefully) have very different wedding makeup looks.

Personalize the makeup plan- The older you are, the more important it is to avoid shimmery eye makeup, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner). Many fair blondes may be more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones so as to not look overdone. These kinds of ideas apply well to bridesmaids and mothers-of-the-bride. There shouldn’t be an idea that there is a uniform look for brides and their party, as we all have different coloring, etc.

Don’t over do it- Keeping these tips in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. You don’t want to look back and not even recognize yourself! Even, glowing skin and well lined eyes are the most important basics for women that usually wear little to no makeup.

Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, beauty school, NY. Offering aesthetics certification classes and specialized coursework in cosmetic laser training and microdermabrasion certification.