Real Life Weddings

Hair & Beauty Feature

Eight of the country's top make-up artists give their solutions to the most common bridal beauty worries.

I have really sensitive skin and worry that make-up could cause a flare up on the day. What can you suggest?
Blue Sky Photography "Most people I find who have sensitive skin are using the wrong skincare products," explains Jacqueline Bruin of Looking Good. "Normally my first suggestion to brides is for them to look at their skincare regime. By itself cosmetics won't treat the skin and very rarely is a flare up connected to make-up alone."I would suggest that you come for a trial early on to have a thorough consultation and help to establish a good skincare regime. I can't see past the Liz Earle range in terms of skincare. It has a starter kit for around £20 that should last two or three weeks. So I'd take it back to basics and make sure you are following the three steps: cleanse, tone and moisturise. I'd also do a patch test at the first trial with a couple of foundations. Mineral make-up is very good for sensitive skin and I have the Bare Escentuals range in my kit bag, which you could try too."

I suffer from acne and don't want my spotty skin to be the only thing people notice in my wedding photos. Is there any way to hide it subtly?
George Lammie Photography "First of all I'd recommend that you avoid using a tinted moisturiser," says Linda Wilson of Sisstars. "With your skin type it's best to go for a full coverage foundation with a dusting of a light translucent powder, as opposed to a pressed powder. Powder will help the make-up to last all day but too much will give you a chalky look. "To cover individual spots requires delicate treatment and I would begin by using foundation to cover up any blemishes. There's no point in trying to cover them up at the beginning because the base may be enough. If they do need extra coverage then I would leave it to the very end of the makeover. I'd also definitely recommend you work hand-in-hand with a beauty therapist to get to the route of the problem – between three and six months before the wedding. Dermologica have a fantastic range that helps to treat acne-prone skin."

Is there any way to make my short stubby eyelashes look voluminous?
Sharon Casey Photography "Xtreme Lashes [eyelash extensions] is the ideal product for you," according to Christine Forster of Make-up By Chris. "It's a lash-to-lash-system and follows the normal natural form of the eye – it's nothing like fake eyelashes. They can be really difficult to apply and tend to pop up at the corners if you're not used to using them. "The eyelash extensions are naturally curled up at the tip, which is great because shorter lashes tend to be very straight, and they look brilliant in photos. It gives a ‘fan look' to the eyelashes and I always make them look natural; my focus is to extend the lashes and add thickness. I'd advise you to have them applied at least two days before the wedding; they last up to six weeks, and are waterproof after the first 24 hours – so you'll have gorgeous eyelashes on your wedding day and on honeymoon too!"

I have a small tattoo on my shoulder. I don't want to get it removed but would rather not show it off in my wedding pictures. Is there anything I can do?
Angela McConnachie of Stardusts advises that there is a very specific kind of make-up to cover tattoos effectively. "There are two main brands out there – Dermablend and Veil Cover Cream – and we use Veil. Obviously each case is different and it depends on the colour of the tattoo; the most difficult bit is hiding black lines," she says. "It's not only brides that want to cover up their tattoos; often bridesmaids will too. I had a wedding the other day and a bridesmaid wanted to cover up two rose tattoos on her chest, which she was in the process of having removed. The make-up we use is set with powder and it is water-resistant, so water tends to run off it, but I recommend that brides keep a translucent powder with them on the day for touch ups."

I've not been sleeping well and am scared that I'll have horrible dark circles and bags under my eyes on my wedding day. Please help!
SUSAN RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY "Most brides think this problem looks worse than it really is," says Elaine Burns of Homespa, "but there are a few old tricks I use to get rid of puffy eyes. The first is to use cold teabags, which is soothing and takes away any excess fluid around the eye area. Cucumber slices are also great as the juice soothes and refreshes the eyes and, of course, there's always make-up! "A light-reflecting concealer like Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Éclat can help to counteract dark circles, as do concealers with lilac tones in them. There are lots of clever things you can do with make-up to cover up problem areas. Here I would use a light-reflecting concealer then powder and, if necessary, build up the coverage with another layer of a heavier concealer. Wearing false eyelashes also detracts attention from the lower eye area – there are lots of options, it's just a case of finding the right one for you!"

I have very thin lips. How do I get a fuller look on the day?
This is quite a common problem, according to Lynne Mills of EyeCandy Professional Make-up. "One of the first things you can do is try any of the various products out there that swell the lips – I like ‘Lip Venom' from DuWop. Then use a light coloured gloss – a light beige or pink – nothing too heavy or matt to keep the lips soft and shimmery. I'd focus the gloss on the bow of the lips, taking it slightly over the lip to create a fuller look. "There are lots of long-lasting glosses available that last up to six hours. Lip tints are good too. A really effective way to open the lips is to go over the natural line of your lips with a liner that is the same colour. But it can be tricky to do and can go very wrong, so it's best to get an expert to try this."

I don't wear a lot of make-up and don't want to appear ‘made up' on the day. How do I avoid looking washed out in the photos?
Clear Photography "I'd tend to do a bit of layering," says Jo Bechard of Jo Bechard Makeup. "This would begin with choosing the right moisturiser for your skin type, applying a primer and then choosing the lightest foundation possible. Some people are scared of foundation but still want flawless looking skin. "For someone who doesn't usually wear a lot of make-up, I'd keep the eyes quite natural – only using earthy colours – and just make the eyes appear more defined. Rather than a lipstick I might use a lip liner in a neutral shade to fill in the lips, then add gloss on top. I use a lot of Mac products and Becca, which is an Australian brand geared towards dewy and radiant skin. Becca is not particularly fashion focused and has nothing too bright or brash; it's more about creating natural beauty. Mineral make-up is also really popular for this look, although it doesn't suit all skin types."

I've got quite an unusual sense of style and would like my wedding make-up to reflect that. But I'm worried that a strong look won't seem ‘bridal'. Reassure me please!
CandySnaps Weddings Catherine Maclean of Sparkle Hair and Make-up says they get quite a lot of requests like this, so as she says, "Don't worry, you're not alone! In the past 12 months we've had lots of brides asking for 1920s and vintage-style make-up, in line with the vintage dress styles that have been coming out, especially the sleek Jenny Packham gowns. It's quite a dramatic flawless look – it's very matt and without anything too dewy – but anyone could carry it off as long as they've the confidence to wear it. "It begins with picking the right colours to suit the bride's skin tone, in terms of eye colour especially. I'd experiment with a few different things to get the look you were after, and wouldn't go too heavy on the lips if the eye make-up was going to be quite strong or vica versa. Trials are a necessity and it's all about getting the balance right and allowing the experts to guide you."