Make-up is one of the most important parts of your overall bridal look, but most brides avoid planning it until the last minute. After all, it is just some lipstick and blush, right? Wrong. Your wedding makeup can look horrible if you rush to do it yourself before the ceremony, and no one will say anything - after all, you’re the bride. You don’t want to get your pictures back and cringe!

If you can, we definitely recommend getting your make-up done professionally for your wedding day. But not everyone has the money to hire a make-up artist. So how do you do your own make-up? Here are some great tips to get a flawless look:

• Choose a blush that is bright, not dark. It should be the color your of your cheeks after a jog. Don’t streak it on in a harsh line - simply blot a bit on the apples of your cheeks.
• Skip the liquid eyeliner. Instead, pick an eyeshadow color that compliments your eye color (or just charcoal gray) and use a small brush to push the color into your lash line for a smoky, feathery effect. Or, if you don’t like a lot of make-up at all, skip that and just use a strong mascara.
• Don’t use eyeliner under your eyes. It’s hard to apply well, and it is likely to make you look overdone. Plus, it will be in danger if you shed any tears!
• Dab a bit of shimmery, white eyeshadow into the inside corners of your eyes, where your tear ducts are. It will serve as an instant brightener. I like Jane’s Duel Eye Shadow, which you can get at most places (like Walgreen’s) - you get white, plus the charcoal color you can use for the tip above. All that for under $4!
• Don’t use lip liner. Instead, apply lipstick or gloss and then use cover-up and sponge on the skin around the edge of your lips to prevent bleeding and give you that really smooth look.

Most importantly, your wedding day is no time to experiment. Instead, use make-up that you’re comfortable using or spend some time at the make-up counter at the mall choosing and testing new colors and brands. You don’t have to go wild. The most beautiful brides are often those who go natural, using just a bit of make-up to cover up blemishes.

Photo by annia316

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