Product pricing and earnings updated August 27, 2007
Every bride wants to look incredible on her wedding day. There are so many new, innovative beauty products out there today, it's hard to know what's right for you. Even harder is selecting products that will keep your look natural, but polished and defined enough for photography. Here are some tips to make sure you look gorgeous from the first photo right through to the last dance.
Fresh Face Forward
The first step to getting wedding day gorgeous is healthy skin. Make sure you're cleansing scrupulously every day, moisturizing and drinking plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated. This will also help those unwanted blemishes from popping up. That's the last thing you'll want to wake up to on your wedding day! An outstanding moisturizer we like is a little pricey but worth it: MD HydraPure Intense Moisture Cream $120 SkinStore.com (Earn 15 Pts/$1 spent)
Your Look
Before you decide what kind of makeup to wear, think about the style and setting of your wedding. What time of day will it be held? Indoors or outdoors? Will you have to battle heat and humidity? What type of gown are you wearing? Are you going for soft and feminine or over-the-top glam? Keep in mind that your makeup will have to be slightly "heavier" than everyday makeup, so you don't look washed out in pictures. If you're planning on using a makeup artist, be sure to book an appointment for a trial run before your wedding. Take pictures as you go to have an idea what the end result will be in your wedding photos.
Primetime Beauty
Start with a foundation primer like Nars Makeup Primer to keep your makeup looking flawless. The primer acts like Velcro for your foundation, so your base and color go on even and last longer. Try Nars Makeup Primer, $33 from Sephora.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)
Nars also offers long-lasting foundations in a multitude of shades so you're sure to find the perfect one for your complexion. Test the color out on your hand or jaw line, preferably in natural light, to find the right shade and make sure it blends smoothly. Nars Foundation, approximately $40 at Sephora (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent) Try the Oil-Free version if your skin tends to be oily.
The Eyes Have it
Many makeup artists love to focus on the eyes for the perfect wedding day look. Start by priming the lids with an eye shadow primer to keep the color in place. Soft, shimmery rose is a great shade to build on. We love Nepal , a shimmery pink and Ashes to Ashes, a violet brown with a little shimmer, both by Nars. Be careful; this is not the time to break out some new metallic gold eye shadow. Nars Single Eye Shadow $20 at Sephora.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)
For smear-proof eyeliner, Smashbox has created the perfect cream liner with unbelievable staying power. A Hollywood fav, this is simply the best eyeliner for staying power. Choose a color to highlight your gorgeous eyes, not hide them and try to keep it classic, not too trendy. Smashbox Cream Eyeliner, $22 at Nordstrom.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)
If you're prone to tearing up at sentimental moments, waterproof mascara is your new best friend. Try Lancôme Courbe Virtuose' Divine Lasting Curves Mascara. It lengthens and holds a curl for 12 hours. The brush provides an outstanding eyelash curler effect and the long-lasting formula is virtually smudge-proof and tear-proof but easily removable. Lancôme Courbe Virtuose' Divine Lasting Curves Mascara $23 at Nordstrom.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)
Lip Service
Ready for that first kiss as husband and wife? Make sure your lips are, too! Choose a color that complements your skin tone and features, but stands out more than the lipstick you wear to work. Lip liner will give your lip color extra staying power, but make sure it blends nicely with the lipstick and, whatever you do, follow your natural lip line. Our favorite lip liner for real staying power is Laura Mercier Long Wear Lip Pencil $19 at Nordstrom.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)
Blushing Bride
Highlight your cheekbones with color. Brush on the apples of your cheeks and sweep up toward your temple for foolproof application. A favorite of make-up artists and beauty editors is Nars Powder Blush in Orgasm $25 at Sephora.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)
You've got the essentials, now it's time to test them out. If you are doing your own make-up for the wedding, do a trial run a few weeks before. Ask a friend to help by taking digital photos of you in different lighting so you can see just how your look will translate in your pictures.
uTANGO merchants mentioned in this article include:
Want more favorites? See Michelle's picks from SheFinds in The Beauty Box
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