Makeup tips for the bride
There is no mistaking a bride’s desire to look her best on her wedding day. She’ll primp and preen to make sure every detail is exactly how she imagined.

Makeup is an important tool in the this beauty regimen. It can hide flaws, accent the positive and give you a glamorous makeover. Proper makeup application techniques should be employed so that you will photograph well and the makeup will not wear off after several hours.

Though you may want to rely on a professional to apply your wedding makeup, you can achieve similar results by studying tips from professionals, like those offered in “Ultimate Makeup & Beauty” (DK), by Mary Quant.

There are several steps to creating flawless wedding makeup results.

• Foundation — Cake foundations give a smooth, matte finish that prevents the skin from looking shiny and oily. Some can be applied using a dry sponge instead of a damp one and many contain powder particles, so that you only need to apply a face powder on top if you have very oily skin. Liquid foundation produces a more lightweight finish than the cake variety and tends to be easier to use on dry skin. However, some people find it harder to apply; the trick is not to overload the sponge, which creates a streaky, unnatural effect. To finish, always brush over with a translucent powder to help the foundation stay in place longer.

• Color correcting — They may seem like the last thing that you would want to put on your face, but liquid color correctors can hide a multitude of flaws. They work by using opposing colors to counteract specific complexion problems. For example, green will tone down redness; blue will make a flushed complexion look paler; white will help cover up dark under-eye circles and improve dullness and purple will give an olive complexion a healthier glow.

• Blusher — A subtle sweep of blusher will lift the cheekbones and enhance your face. It is applied after foundation, although if you have clear skin you could wear it on its own. Blusher must be blended perfectly to ensure there are no harsh edges — using a good brush will make it easier. Choose color carefully: The right shade will make you look healthy, while the wrong one will drain color from your face.

• Eyeshadow — Dark and dramatic, light and pearly, frosted and fresh — a wide variety of effects can be achieved with eyeshadows. However, the general rule is to use four different-colored shadows; a neutral-toned base, a main color, a darker shade for emphasizing and a lighter shade for highlighting. It is also important to use a magnifying mirror so you can see exactly what you are doing, and to keep a good range of different-sized brushes and applicators on hand.

•  Lipstick and Lipliner — Lipstick adds the finishing touch to makeup. It should help unite the other colors you have used and really bring your face to life. However, if it is applied incorrectly, it will look clumsy and unsubtle. The answer is to use a lip liner to give lips a neat, defined edge and to build up color using a lip brush.