This week we introduce you to professional Make-up Artist
Jo Leversuch of
Make-up by Jo for expert advice on wedding day make-up. Seen as it's getting to that time of year we've looked at make-up for both summer and abroad. Here is a wonderful write up by Jo with plenty of essential tips and also her products recommendations...
Building the Foundations...
When you wake-up on the morning of your wedding, wash & cleanse your face with your chosen routine & use your favourite moisturiser for face and eyes. Don't apply any face masks or introduce any new skin care products on your wedding morning.
If you can, find a large & light area to apply your make-up. Make sure your hair is styled first before the application of make-up - you want to be able to see all the aspects of your face that will be seen by everyone else. But don't forget to wear a loose buttoned front top to make sure you can get un-dressed and into your wedding dress without smudging your make-up.
Make-up primers are used underneath the foundation and are especially esential in the heat; primers help the make-up to stay on with a flawless finish. One primer that I tend to use on a lot of my brides is
Ariane Poole's Ultimate Anti-Shine Primer - you don't need to use much, just apply around the nose, forehead and chin area.
If you are using a foundation in hot weather, then it's best to keep a light & natural coverage.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light is fabulous foundation as you can layer up in the areas you need extra coverage, but it will still give you a light natural finish. Or if you think that a foundation will be too heavy, why not consider an oil free tinted moisturiser by
Laura Mercier.
Apply the foundation or tinted moisturiser with a foundation brush starting from the nose & sweeping outwards/downwards towards the cheek area. Getting used to using a foundation brush can be a little tricky, so make sure you have plenty of practise before you go. If you have a full fringe, do not apply and foundation on this area of your forehead as the fringe will become greasy throughout the day.
If you feel you need to use a concealer to cover blemishes or dark circles apply a small amount with your fingertips or a concealer brush.
Ariane Poole has a wonderful range of products, so why not try her
Conceal and Colour Palette - consisting of 3 shades of concealer which can be blended to your individual skin tone, you can be sure you'll be able to cover the signs of jetlag.
Next Step... Eyes...
Don't be tempted to use concealer on the eyelids though. Instead you might want to apply an eyelid primer such as
Elizabeth Arden's Advanced Eye Fix Prime. A primer for your eyelids will make sure that the eyeshadow stays in place all day - and can also give a much needed lift.
Start by defining your eyebrows with an eyebrow powder - try
Jemma Kidd Eyebrow Kit. Or you can use an eyebrow pencil. Always apply in short strokes rather than one continuous line as this will allow the colour to blend better with your natural brow. When choosing an eye colour for your wedding, stick to something neutral that will enhance your eye colour and look beautiful on your wedding day.
Ariane Poole Eye Shine Crystal Taupe is an excellent choice for a single colour which can be applied with a sponge.
Apply a khol eyeliner along the top of the eyelashes or use a liquid eyeliner such as
Long Wear Gel Eyeliner by Bobbi Brown for a slightly more dramatic look.
Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Cream Shadows come in a range of stunning colours, and can be applied with a brush or finger tips - ideal for the perfect beach wedding.
Mascara must be waterproof (everyone cries at weddings) or alternatively if you have a favourite non-waterproof mascara you can coat over the top with
Clarins Double FIx Mascara. This is a waterproof seal for lashes.
And Finally, You May Now Kiss the 'Blushing' Bride...
Often forgotten, it's important to protect your lips from the sun, to make sure that they have not become chapped. For a beach scene look keep them fresh and use subtle colours ranging from pinky hues to bronzed colours. There is a wide range of lipsticks on the high street from lipglosses, lipstains, to matt lipsticks and tinted lip balms.
Depending on your preference, you can add a touch of colour to your cheeks with
The Multiple from Nars Cosmetics, an excellent choice of colours and easy to apply for a glowing complexion. Alternatively use a bronzer high on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the arch of the brows for that ultimate sun kissed beach look.
Finally, powder the T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin area) with
Ariane Poole's Universal Powder. Use a large powder brush and always brush powder downwards.
Tatcha Blotting Paper Sheets are excellent to carry with you to blot away any shine without disturbing the make-up.
Many thanks to Jo for her wonderful advice! For further details on Make-up by Jo please visit her lovely website here. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter @JoLeversuch
