New York City, NY

On that special wedding day, every bride wants to look her very best and be at her most beautiful, but presenting your best face can be a little daunting.  How do you make sure your wedding makeup stays on all day, looking flawless in your wedding photos, and manage to make you feel like a model, but still look like you?

I spent years doing wedding makeup early on in my career when I worked as a makeup artist in the beauty salon.  I also did photo shoots and advertising on the side for top magazines, and I realized that the best wedding makeup was actually the same makeup tips and tricks that I used on top models for their photo shoot.  The dynamics are the same, whether it be a wedding, or a top photo shoot.  Pictures are being taken.  It must stay on all day. The model/ bride wants to look beautiful, yet real.

Are you having a makeup artist do your makeup?  Here are some tips that will help you make sure that you get the look you want:

* A lot of time and detail went into choosing your dress, ring, flowers, and even your hairstyle.  Don't let your makeup take a backseat.  Take the time to go through magazines and pull out makeup styles that you really like, even tear out the ones you really hate.  It could be how a certain feature is played up, or that great lipstick color, or how the skin glows, or even how they used way too much eyeliner.  All this is easy to say and show to a makeup artist, like me, with pictures. It helps tremendously to show your desires by pictures rather than endlessly describing it. This helps me immensely in seeing what you like and don't like.  Remember, our mental ideas of pink lipstick could be completely different. There is a lot of truth in the adage that says "a picture is worth a thousand words". It really gives me a lot more information with a visual sense.

2. To save some wear and tear on your nerves on that big day, by all means, schedule a consultation, or even better, a complete makeup application before the big day with your makeup artist.  Plan it for the rehearsal dinner, or a special evening out alone with your groom, or a get together with all the bridesmaids.  Don't overlook this very important step because this way you can see if you like your makeup artist's style.

Things to bring to your consultation appointment:

*tear sheets from magazines, of makeup you like and don't like.
 
*A picture of your wedding dress (a Polaroid will do). This gives me a great idea of the style of the dress and the wedding. Is it romantic? Dramatic? Elegant? This gives me an idea of your style.

*The shade of lipstick that you¹d like to wear. If I don't have it, using yours is no problem. This is also a great test to see how long your lipstick will last during the evening.

*Your favorite waterproof mascara. I highly recommend using your tried and true mascara, and yes, waterproof. You just might be shedding tears of joy. If it's your brand, I don¹t have to worry about watery eyes, redness, allergies, etc.

Remember, your makeup run-through is the time to play, try different ideas, colors, etc.  Don't be afraid to say you don't like something.  Makeup is easy to take off and reapply.  Once you have your look down, make sure the makeup artist writes everything out, and notes makeup items you may not have that you'll needing for that day. And don't forget, if your makeup rehearsal is set for a romantic dinner with your groom, have the makeup artist change the lipstick or eye makeup a little so your groom can't tell you are wearing the same thing for your wedding day.  We wouldn't want him seeing the same look twice.

Are you planning on doing your makeup yourself? Here are some great tips and tricks that I use in photo shoots that you can easily incorporate into your look to make it last all day.

1. Make sure your foundation is an absolute perfect match.   Color blend along the side of the jaw and blend in 2-3 strokes. Is it gone? It should be. If not, or you find yourself blending forever, you have the wrong shade. It's not that it blends in, but how fast. I can make any shade blend in if I blended it long enough.

2. For under eye circles, the easiest way to lighten them is with an opposite color applied on top first.  If your darkness is gray, lightly brush a soft pink eye shadow on clean skin first, and then apply your foundation.  If the darkness is more blue, try a matte light peach shadow. You'll find yourself using much less concealer and foundation.

3. Using concealer is easier when you have the perfect shade. Don't go 1-2 shades lighter than your skin, as this actually makes the darkness appear more gray and muddy.  Mix your concealer shade with a drop of your foundation and then apply. You want your skin tone to appear one even shade.

3. To keep foundation and concealer on all day, take a Kleenex folded into squares, and lightly press into the foundation before you've powdered.   This removes excess oils from the foundation and leaves pure pigment on the skin. If you find this removes too much foundation, then apply a little more than you think you need, and then press. You'll find that foundation stays on hours longer.

4. Lightly brush on loose powder with a large brush to set. This is not the time to press powder into the skin with a powder puff. This actually can make your skin look and get shinier quicker.

5. Apply your blush next.  Find a blush brush that is the size of the apple of your cheek for a perfect application.  Pick up your color and tap onto the apples of the cheeks, slowly blending back towards the temple.  When you have enough on, take a clean makeup sponge and blend.   This one step makes your blush look real, rather than just sitting on the surface of your skin.  Also, by applying blush first, if you look great with just your blush on, you have the right amount.  If it looks too bright or harsh, lighten it up.

6. Do your lips next. To last all day, powder lips first, then apply your lip pencil filling in the entire lip.  Don't worry too much about the outline of the mouth.  Then, apply your lipstick shade, blot, powder, and apply again.   By blotting and powdering, you are actually removing the excess wax in the lipstick that causes it to bleed.  Once finished, then apply a light coat of lip gloss if desired in the middle of the bottom lip.

7. Brush and fill in eyebrows if needed with a shade that's 1-2 shades lighter than your eyebrow hairs.  Too dark, and you can start looking a little harsh.  Brush through with a toothbrush afterwards for a more natural look.

8. Last but not least, your eyes.  A soft shimmering cream or white is beautiful on the brow bone, and the inner corners of the eyes, both above and below the lashes.  This wakes up the eyes and creates a beautiful highlight. To make eyes appear larger, apply a sand or taupe in the crease of the eye.  Blend so that the shadow fades well.  Keep the eyes looking neutral, while the colors emphasize the cheeks and lips.  Make the most dramatic part of the eye your lashes and eyeliner as this looks the best in pictures. Take a black or brown pencil and line the lashes on the outer 1/2 or 1/4 of the eye.  Blend with a Q-tip.  Then, take your mascara and a eyeliner brush, and lightly line the eye with your mascara. Once it's dried, smudge again, and you¹ll find that your eyeliner will stay on forever. If your mascara is waterproof, that's even better. And remember to curl your lashes before, not after mascara.

9. If you're applying false eyelashes, single eyelashes are the most natural looking.  An easy way to apply them is to apply one coat of mascara, let dry.  Apply a dot of glue on the tip of the lash and along the length. This is actually the part that anchors to your lashes.  Then, take your tweezers, looking down, and place 2-3 single lashes on the outer 1/4 of the eye.  Let the glue dry, and then another coat of mascara to seal the lashes together. False eyelashes go a long way in making your eyes dramatic and the focus of the face.

10. Finishing Touches:  When you're done with your look, you may want to apply a little more blush, and then finish with a final brush of loose powder. Make sure everything is blended well.   If you feel like you have a lot of makeup on, lightly mist with a soft spray of water to set.  This will take away the feeling of makeup on your skin and also helps to set the makeup.  If you want your skin to glow, lightly brush on a soft shimmering eye shadow or the new shimmer loose powders.  To avoid over doing it, just dust across the tops of the cheekbones and collar bones.  For a more over-all glow, you can even go across the forehead and chin.

You want to look beautiful, glowing, soft and romantic. Remember, this moment only happens once in a lifetime.



Elke Von Freudenberg works in Los Angeles and New York as a top National editorial makeup artist for photography and print.  She is with the Fred Segal Beauty Agency in Los Angeles, and Punch Artists Agency in New York.  Visit her website at: http://www.portfolio.gq.nu.  Elke is the Editor and Publisher of the E-zine,  "The Beauty Newsletter"  http://www.beautynewsletter.gq.nu,  and the creator of "The Makeup Video Collection"  http://www.makeup.gq.nu.