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Question: Ivy, what do you think about makeup? Should a bride wear makeup?

Answer: Yes, I recommend to use makeup!

Putting on makeup is fun - it makes you feel beautiful and glamorous. You can paint emotions and moods with makeup, make yourself look beautiful and mysterious... Think about a beautiful actress in your favorite movie! Yes, actresses always wear makeup when being photographed! Well applied make up helps bring out the beauty of your features and convey your emotions, and that's why it is so important during photography.

Makeup also helps create a smooth complexion, prominent eyes, and a beautiful mouth. The mood you want to convey is up to you, but here are some basic makeup skills. Remember to try out different makeup looks before your big day; ask an honest friend or a professional makeup artist to guide you.

•    Use concealer in a tone that is slightly lighter than your foundation; apply it liberally under your eyes and use it to help cover blemishes. Then apply the foundation.
•    It is most important to select a good color of foundation. Try out a few foundation colors and a variety of brands to see which one is a best match for your skin. Avoid foundations that have exaggerated yellow or orange tints. The foundation needs to have a natural skin color that matches your complexion.
•    Use the foundation to even out skin color, hide minor blemishes, and help support the powder on top. A good foundation will make your makeup last longer, a great benefit in weddings! At the same time, be careful not to apply too much foundation, as this may obscure delicate expressions on your face and appear like a mask. Finally, go outside to check the foundation in natural light, taking along a mirror and a friend.
•    On top of the foundation, put a good layer of powder. For the wedding day or for a long photo shoot, it is best to use compact powder. Make sure to bring some along with you.
•    I recommend to apply powder to the neck and to the visible parts of the chest as well, to prevent shine and specular reflections during photography. Check the condition of the powder every hour or so, and apply more as needed.
•    It is nice to use eyeliner and eye shadow. Use colors that  are natural to your skin tone. Apply a lighter color along the brow bone area  and a slightly darker color on the lid. You can use browns or beiges as base colors, and elaborate with another color in the middle of your eye lid, if desired.
•    Finally, use an eyelash curler and mascara. There! Your eyes and skin look  beautiful.

•    Next - the lipstick! I love to use a little brush to paint on my lipstick. First, use a lip pencil in either a natural color or in lipstick color, and mark the outline of your lips. Be gentle - heavily outlined lips tend to look  harsh through the lens. Use a little  moisturizer on your lips if they tend to be dry.
•    Now, dip your lip brush  into your lipstick and start painting. Brush lip color right to the end of the lip  pencil line to achieve nice full lips. For a deeper color, you can apply two different colors of lipstick. Try out several colors - dark rose, coral, red etc. - to see which one fits you the best. A  touch of lipgloss in your favorite flavor is fun at the end.

•    It is easiest to have a professional take over the makeup session, so you can relax and enjoy the process. After all, it is your special day!

* Remember: the makeup should be as close as possible to your natural skin, covering imperfections, but leaving the overall effect as natural as possible!

                                 

•    Quick tip: Have a bridesmaid or someone special carry your powder, lipstick, and tissues, so you can reapply when needed.

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