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Makeup is applied to the face to improve appearance and to emphasise the good features and maybe make defects look less noticeable. Clean skin is a must before using makeup and having the correct "tools" is a necessity. Invest in good quality brushes for your application, and use a good skincare range everyday.

Most Brides want a clean and natural look. Looking your best doesn't mean looking "Made-up".
Makeup always looks better on very clean and moisturised skin, so in the months leading up to your wedding day, you should be using a good skincare programme and following a regular routine.

If you intend doing your own make-up for the day don't leave it to the last minute to sort out the colours to use. Play around with colour choices in the weeks previous. Please don't try any "new up to the minute techniques" - keep it very simple.

The right foundation is a must . The colour should blend in with the skintone around the face edge so its hard to know you have any colour there.
There is no need to take foundation down the neck at all ...if you have the right colour shade for you, blending around the face/neck area will leave no demarcation mark.

Foundation creates a good contour to the face and gives a base for colour harmony, conceals blemishes and protects the skin from weather, wind and the environment. Test some foundation colour near jawline, to find the closest match to face and neck.

I find starting with a little foundation on fingers and working your way quickly down from forehead past nose on one side of face, then again on other side - moving swiftly with fingers in downward motion, gives a good application. Then using a clean DRY sponge blend from forehead down, across nose, and over

Dust with Translucent Powder - just a little is needed but is absolutely necessary to combat shine and give the skin a covering for the blush to grab. Press powder into the skin, to help set the makeup, then dust again with a large powder brush.
Translucent Powder gives a refind velvety finish.
(Keep a small powder compact handy for a touch up)

Blusher adds colour and contours the face. Pick the right colour in either cool or warm tones. Lip and blush colour tones need to complement each other - not clash.
Apply under the cheekbone structure brushing gentle slanting strokes up towards the temple. Be careful not to put too much on brush at one time - its easier to add , not to take away. Start light and build up colour as needed.

Eyes can be made to appear larger or smaller through eye shading.

Light brings out, dark conceals. Keep eyeliner thicker at outside end of eye graduating to middle of eye with a thinner line. Apply Mascara and eyebrow pencil with a steady hand.
The finishing touch is Lipstick. This will last longer if foundation and powder is applied to lips.
Outline lips with a soft lip pencil to define shape and prevent "bleeding" into tiny lines around the mouth. Fill mouth with chosen colour, using a lip brush for better coverage.

* Keep colour choices in the matte form - stay away from frost, pearl and glitter tones Powder shadows/blush will be better than cream.

* Define eyebrows with shadow for natural look and use eye brush/comb to take care of excess. OR use brow pencil with very light strokes.

* Eyeliners should be in navy, grey, charcoal, tones, not harse black.

* Depending on skin tone, eye contour colour should be light beige, pale pink or pale peach

* Keep away from bright vibrant choices, if complexion is pale.

* Eye needs to have light colour over lid, medium colour from inner eye and deep at outer eye. All blended and in toning shades.

* Look for shades of mauve, grape, plum ameythst OR pale beige, soft rose-brown, and deep brown shades (colour selections for skintones will be covered in next month's newsletter)

* Use lip pencil to define lips, and a lip brush for lipstick application. Lips can be conditioned with the use of an aloe eye cream.

* To get a good coverage of Mascara using a water-soluble brand, add mascara, then with eyeshadow flusk brush with translucent powder. A few minutes later, add more mascara, and more powder depending on thickness needed. If using a water-proof brand, 2 layers of mascara is enough.

* Lips should not be too pale with dresses of white. If you like a neutral pale look, you need to brighten it a little by using a slightly deeper tone over your pale choice. If you wear dark lipstick, use a soft pale tone over top to keep the colour bright but not too light or too dark.