Your Bridal Party's Makeup

Those with unlimited budgets should feel free to hire a team of makeup artists to do your bridal party’s makeup, too. It looks amazing in pictures when everyone’s makeup is professionally done. If you can't swing this grand jesture, consider placing restrictions on makeup. For example, no blue eyeshadow, or no red lipstick. That way, when your bridal party starts getting ready they are aware of what can, and can't, be put on their face. Just be sure to let your party know beforehand what you are going to take care of the day of the wedding.

Well-Placed Shimmer

You're already radiant as a bride, but if you want a little extra shimmer use some body powder. Just make sure you don’t add too much artificial shimmer. It catches the light and will look too harsh if you overdo it. Keep the shimmer out of your foundation or blush. Slightly matte skin is better, so you don’t look too shiny in pictures. Keep shimmer soft—a highlight on the brow bones, or a touch in the center of your lips is all you need. A little well-placed shimmer goes a long way.

Cover Up a Tattoo

Tattoos are more popular than ever. That doesn’t mean you want that cute green gecko you got on a spring break trip to Cancun to show up in your wedding pictures! If you want to cover it up for the big day, you need to invest in some special concealer that is thick enough to hide your tattoo completely.



Dermablend is the leader in corrective and skin covering makeup. It’s used to cover up all types of skin problems ranging from covering scars, varicose veins, and even stretch marks. The Leg and Body Cover Crème ($18) is especially excellent at covering up tattoos. Apply a thin layer and blend with a foundation brush. Then, set it with a loose powder. It’s meant to last up to 16 hours, so you don’t have to worry about your tattoos showing up like an uninvited guest halfway through you wedding!

The Wedding Cosmetics Case

You will need a small cosmetics case the day of your wedding containing items that you can use to refresh your makeup. This case should contain the following:

Makeup Remover Pen - to get rid of smudges under the eyes

Concealer - with a wand to quickly dot under the eyes and pat with your fingers

Compact - with powder to matte late-day shiny skin

Oil Blotting Papers - for oily skin this is better than reapplying powder

Lip Liner, Lipstick, and Gloss - to redo your lips

Eye Drops - in case you cry buckets and your eyes get seriously red

Stay True To You

Don’t let anyone talk you into doing something with your makeup that isn’t comfortable for you. Otherwise, you will look back on photos and dread the sight of you in bright red lipstick! A sweep of rose toned blush and a touch of cream-colored shadow can look fresh and youthful. A thin line of eyeliner will just softly define the eyes without looking like too much. Don’t forget a quick coat of mascara to open up your eyes, and you’re ready to walk down that aisle as yourself!

Pictures Pictures Pictures

Stacy Pinkney, wedding photographer for Simple Moments Photography in Dallas, offers this piece of advice for brides, “The right makeup can mean the difference between a good portrait and a great portrait. The other caution I would give is that I have seen girls who go just a shade darker on their face, while wearing a strapless gown. The trouble with that is the skin on their neck and shoulders is much fairer than their face, and it looks very unnatural. Also, since you are showing more skin than everyday… blend, blend, blend. There is nothing worse than the streak along the chin line on your wedding day!”



So, take into account how the makeup you are wearing is going to photograph. Keep in mind these beauty tips for a flawless look:

Foundation: A flawless face starts with the right foundation. If you absolutely hate foundation, choose a medium to full coverage foundation, and avoid one that contains an SPF. The active ingredients in sunscreen can make your face look pasty white. Make sure you set the foundation with loose powder so your skin doesn't look shiny.

Blush: Apply more blush than you normally would so that you don’t look washed out. If you want to use a light layer of bronzer you need to make sure it’s matte. Using the wrong color bronzer will make you look like you have an orange sparkly cast to your skin. For fair skin, layer a pink-based blush underneath for a more natural glow. For those with a medium to olive skin tone, a plum-based color works best.


Eyeliner/Mascara: Double the amount you would normally use and try to stay away from black eyeliner, which can look too stark against your skin. Line your eyes very close to the lash line for the most natural definition. Keep your shadow semi-matte with a hint of shimmer on the brow bone to open up the eye. Simple, neutral eye makeup will showcase your eyes best in photos.


Brows: Fill them in lightly with a powder brow color that matches your hair color. The brows are the frame for the face, don’t forget about them!

Lip Color: Bright lip color is going to look even brighter in pictures, so this is the one item that you might want to tone down a bit. Try to pick a shade that is two shades deeper than your own natural lip color. Skip very light or frosted colors, and just apply just a touch of gloss right in the center of the lips for lush fullness.

Before the wedding day, it is also helpful to take three pictures of yourself. One without any makeup on to see where your skin needs the most coverage; one with the makeup you wear everyday; and lastly, one with how you want your makeup to look the day of the wedding. It’s good to take this photo on the day when you have your trial hair set, so you can tell exactly what you will look like for the big day. Taking the time to get your look right will save you the headache of making any beauty blunders, and you will make the most beautiful bride!

Skin Shape-Up for the Big Day

Smooth, glowing, flawless skin is every bride’s goal. If you have major skin issues to deal with such as cystic acne, rosacea or deep wrinkles, make an appointment with a dermatologist at least six months prior to the wedding. If you have other minor skin problems like blackheads, clogged pores, dullness, or dry patches, then it’s best to start seeing a good facialist at least three months prior to the wedding for a once-a-month facial. A facialist can help you with a skincare regime to get your skin into top condition. But monthly facials can add up. If this isn't in your budget consider some easy treatments you can do at home.



As soon as possible, get into the habit of using an exfoliating scrub at least three times a week. This will help unclog pores and get rid of dead skin cells, revealing the fresher, newer skin underneath. All skin types can benefit from exfoliation. If you are oily, try a clay masque once a week to absorb excess oil. Dry skin needs a hydrating mask at least once a week to deep condition the skin and get rid of dry patches. By planning ahead and taking care of your skin, it will be in peak shape for the big day.

An All Day Beauty Affair

A wedding is the bride’s day to feel and look her most beautiful, and most wedding days are usually an all-day affair. You need to keep your makeup looking flawless the entire day, and you might not have much time for touch-ups.


Staying power is key to wedding makeup. It needs to go the distance, and be smudge-proof. Start with a makeup primer to prep the skin and make your foundation stay on longer and be true in color. Choose a foundation that is specifically labeled for long-wear, and set it with a loose, translucent powder. Then layer using sheer colors.

Don’t forget the waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Even if you aren’t normally a crier and you think you won’t cry the day of, you just never know. It’s better to be safe than smeared!

Best Makeup Colors for Brides

After you pick your perfect foundation, try to find eye, lip, and cheek colors that are neutral and compliment your skin tone. Also remember not to put mascara on lower lashes or you can end up looking like a raccoon. If you need a little color in your skin try using a bronzer. This will give a natural glow without looking fake. Try a neutral lip color with a fantastic, hint of color gloss.

What a bride can do for flawless foundation

The best thing a bride can do for a natural, flawless look in foundation is to follow one simple rule: BLEND well!!! Use a moisturizer before applying foundation and blend together for a natural look. Make sure to blend your foundation into hairline and neck area.

Get Down to Business with Wedding Preparations for Hair & Makeup

From bridal makeup to wedding hair, every woman wants to look her best on her big, special day. Do you need some guidance? Here are some great ideas that will help you to look like the picture of beauty on your wedding day: Adequate sleep the night before the wedding is crucial so be sure that you get your fair share—you don't want to look tired in those photos. On your big day, keep a gal pal or relative close at hand with any and all makeup and quick fixes that you might need (powder, bobby pins, safety pins, lip color, gloss, tissues, Q-tips, etc.). Wear comfortable shoes on your day until it is show time—you don't want to be limping down the aisle because of blisters. Try breaking in those heels at home before the big day. Try out EVERYTHING before the day of the wedding. Play around with hairstyles until you find the one you like. Surprises can be nice but you don't want to be surprised by horrible makeup or a “do” that won't do on your day.

Hire a Makeup Artist for the Wedding Day

Getting ready the day of the wedding is stressful. Hiring a professional to do your makeup will ease the stress. Whether you go to a salon or hire a makeup artist, make sure to have a trial run before the wedding day so that you can see exactly how your wedding day makeup is going to look, and make any adjustments.

Watch your time, too! Plan for about an hour for full makeup. It shouldn’t take that long, but in case you are running behind schedule, it’s always good to have the extra time.

Mother of the Bride Makeup

When you hire a makeup artist to do you own makeup, it’s a good idea to have them do your own mother’s makeup, too. Having a makeup artist do your mom’s makeup will also help to solve the issue of any makeup faux paux’s she might be making. Say you don’t love that bright, coral lipstick your mother wears all the time. A great makeup artist will be able to subtly guide her into another, more flattering direction!

Look great for the wedding pictures with the right foundation.

Think of your face as a canvas...with the right foundation, a masterpiece is born! For your wedding pictures, try using a foundation that has a matte finish. Then get a glowy look by adding a bronzer with shimmer. Lighting can be an obstacle when it comes to taking bridal pictures and dewy foundation can make your skin look oily.

Flawless Foundation

The best thing a bride can do for natural looking foundation and flawless skin in her wedding pictures is follow one simple rule: BLEND well!!! Use a moisturizer before applying foundation and blend together for a natural look. Make sure to blend your foundation into hairline and neck area.