Matin unveils celebrity makeup tips for real women. From post-work touchups to wow-factor makeovers, Matin will show you how to enhance your natural beauty.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor to be invited to my dear friend Lanita’s wedding. Lanita is a beautiful girl who doesn’t wear much makeup regularly. She asked me if I could do her makeup for the wedding. I’ve done a lot of bridal seminars and bridal magazine covers but to do the makeup for an actual bride…that really got me thinking. In honor of Lanita (and you), I put together the following bridal makeup guideline:
A bride should always remember that on the BIGGEST day of her life, she should NOT look like somebody else.
With that said, if you are a natural girl and your daily make up consists of tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip gloss… you should never go for a smoky eye or bright lips on your wedding day because you don’t want to look at your pictures later and not be able to recognize yourself (even though you can pull it off).
It is best to start your regime with a good hydrating masque, which will help you relax and get your skin nicely moisturized (my favorite is Guerlain Super Aqua-Mask) - do NOT do this if you are excessively oily. Next, apply a primer, like Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, to extend the life of your makeup and guarantee that it looks fresh for hours. With a good primer, your skin will wear foundation the same all day (it won’t separate on the oily areas of your face or disappear on the dry dehydrated parts). It is like gesso on a canvas… you want to prepare your face for painting and you want to make sure it goes on evenly and stays the same until you wash it off.
I recommend using an oil-free makeup on the wedding day - it seems to “stick” better to skin. Make sure to use it with a damp sponge if the foundation is thick (like Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation) or opt for a lighter texture (like Neutrogena Glow Sheers). Foundation should be used to even out your skin tone but NOT to cover flaws.
For concealer, use one that is light but provides enough coverage. My favorites are Neutrogena 3 in 1 Concealer for Eyes and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, which gives more coverage. Use a small nylon brush to “erase” flaws.
For eyes and lips, chose products that last but don’t pack-on textures. It’s best to keep it sheer and glowy. My favorites are Chanel Ombre D’eau (liquid eye shadow), MAC Fluidline and cream eye shadows, Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Duos, Laura Mercier Eye Colour, Guerlain Kohl Eye Pencils and Terracotta Tajine Metal Eye Shadow and Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow. Also some individual “knot free” false eyelashes can add a lot to the look without overtaking your face. And of course…WATERPROOF mascara!
For sheer lips, I like Neutrogena MoistureShine Soothing LipSheers, Guerlain KissKiss Maxi Shine and Kiss Kiss Stick Gloss. Laura Mercier has really nice lipsticks and glosses and for a killer RED I love MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo.
For colors, I recommend soft pinks and corals, lighter shades and those that complement your theme and flower colors.
