Flawless Wedding Faces

Contrary to the misguided beliefs of some, makeup is not, or rather should not, be used as a mask for women to hide behind. It is instead a tool used to enhance a women’s confidence by reflecting her personality, and on the most important day of her life the right look should accomplish just that. At the end of the day, confidence will be her biggest tool but a little lipstick won’t hurt either.

Makeup artist Jodi Valentine offers a few useful tips that can assist any bride in achieving t he look that she wants for her big day.

Flawless wedding glam is not entirely dependent on makeup. A proper pre-wedding skin care regimen is just as essential, and this should start in the months leading up to the big day. Jodi suggests that preparations begin several months in advance.

“The bride should pay close attention to drinking lots of water and sticking to a skin care regimen that suits her skin type.” Every woman’s skin type will vary, so find a skin care line that works best for you. A proper skin care routine must include a suitable cleanser and toner that is gentle on your skin to remove the excess build up of dirt accumulated on the skin during the day, as well as moisturiser for rehydration. Keeping your body hydrated from the inside out is the best way to ensure healthy, makeup friendly skin for the big day.

Jodi also suggests “paying close attention to the way your skin behaves,” with regards to certain foods in these months leading up to the wedding.

“Different people have different triggers that would affect their skin. Some persons break out if they consume too much sugar, oils or pepper,” she says, adding that “the trick is knowing how your skin reacts to particular foods,” and avoiding anything that may lead to breakouts. She also recommends using a moisturising mask the night before the wedding as well as exfoliating the lips to ensure maximum hydration for the following day.

There will of course be dozens of flashing lights in your face for the entire day, from the hired photographer to your favorite uncle who’s never quite sure how to operate the camera on his iPad. This will of course have an effect on your photos and so you should prepare your face for the harshness of all of that extra light.

Jodi says that “the largest problem with the lights of a camera is flashback. This can be prevented by avoiding silica based HD powders,” – the white powder, also known as setting powder, that is usually used to set liquid and cream foundations. It is a fantastic tool for creating a flawless finish, but light tends to reflect quite harshly off white surfaces. Although the powder blends into your makeup, it still leaves a thin white powdery layer of residue on the skin that is only apparent when in direct contact with harsh camera lights. Jodi recommends taking a few test photos with and without flash during the make up process to “ensure the look translates well in photos”.

In terms of choosing the right colors for your photos, Jodi suggests “a neutral but glamorous look. Twenty years down the road the bride would still look timeless.” But remember, in the words of fashion icon and makeup enthusiast Coco Chanel, “the best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you”.

One of the biggest trends at the moment is contouring. While Jodi notes that she has noticed a decline in heavy cheek and nose contouring, social media is still swarming with budding makeup artists demonstrating the many ways to accentuate the natural curves of your face. These looks are, for the average Jane, a bit challenging to duplicate (believe me, I’ve tried). So if this is the look that you are going for, it is probably best to leave it to the pros. If you are looking for a more refined look, then hiring a professional is always the better call.

However, in the given economic climate, a bride may be forced to cut costs when planning her wedding. But depending on the look that you are going for, doing your own make up does not have to be a total disaster.

“Many people might disagree,” says Jodi fervently. “But at the end of the day marriage is about your relationship with your special person and your journey together. All the material things of a wedding are beautiful and who doesn’t want the best? But too often people only think about the wedding and not the marriage.” So, remember that however you decide to do your makeup on your wedding day, or any other day for that matter, ensure that it captures the truest version of yourself. It is the only way to be flawless.