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Gorgeous brides are made, not born. While no one is disputing the power of flawless skin-tone, bone structure and perfect features, natural assets alone do not always result in the breathtaking impact that a properly made-up bride often has.  

MAKE A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE

There you are, close to the wedding day, stuffed with overly rich festive food, ravaged by celebratory functions and baggy-eyed from lack of sleep. “Please! Cover that mirror!”-Is that is how you are feeling right now? Relax! Help is at hand. Though the happy events of the coming days will bring their own glow to your face, there are ways to ensure a beautiful you. Here are some simple tips to cherish, starting today.

THE SHOPPING LIST FOR MAKE-UP

Foundations: Buy the one with yellow tones, without any pinks in it. Avoid the light colour foundation tones because your neck will look a shade darker than your face and it will make you look strange.

How to check your base colour: Apply the foundation under the chin and on the neckline. Leave it on for 40 minutes and check whether it matches your skin-tone in daylight and not in the fluorescent or halogen lights of the store which will either provide an overly blue or yellow tint. 

Blusher: Go for bright colours as well as the pale ones such as peach, but nothing too pale. Also, try the latest colours in browns and shiny tones.

Lipstick: The colours that you choose have to compliment your skin-tone and outfits you will wear. Test your lipstick on the base of your thumb. Wait for a while to see the real colour emerge. Indulge in the bright shades but stay away from too pale of wishy-washy colours – these can make you look ill! 

Eye shadow: Take care to choose a colour that compliments your skin-tone and the outfits you will wear. Most of the brown/earthy shine on your skin, while the very dull or pale colours can make the skin look ashy. Try to give yourself an individual look by blending the appropriate shade to suit the shape of your eyes.   

TIPS FOR A HAPPY FACE

Skin care: Every night, scrape your hair back and keep it in position with a hair band. Apply a little oil (olive, almond or coconut) with your fingertips, all over your face and neck in firm, rotating motion. Wipe the extra oil off with cotton wool.

Follow this up with some chilled milk, applying it all over the face and neck. Leave on for half-an-hour, while you carry on with your regular chores. Then lather your face and neck generously with a very gentle soap and wash off. A baby-soap is best.

Invest in a soft baby-brush: Wet and rotate it briskly all over the face and neck for 10 minutes, Wash-off with plenty of water. This increases blood-circulation to the face or neck and gently dislodges dirt, stale make-up, white heads and black heads. 

Pat face dry. Apply a light hand and body lotion over face, neck, hand and feet. Do not slather it on –use sparingly.

Get rid of those bags under the eyes: Keep some time aside for this daily ritual. Dip 2 wads of cotton with hazel (available at the chemists) or rose water. Keep aside.

Wash and dry a small to medium-sized potato and grape. Apply the wool on eyelids. Lie down and relax for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently wash-off the grated potato with tap water. Pat dry and apply a little baby oil.

To acquire seductive eyelashes: Every night, carefully apply a thin coat of pure castor oil. It is full of Vitamin-A, which strengthens lashes and cools your eyes.

For soft lips: Use the good old Vaseline or petroleum jelly religiously every night and see the difference!   

APPLYING MAKE-UP

At first, wash your face with water mixed with a pinch of soda-bicarbonate, and then smoothly rub the face with ice-cubes.

Base-first: Make sure that you begin by moisturizing your face thoroughly. Use a damp sponge to ensure smooth and even application, taking care not to pull the skin especially around the delicate eye area. Blend to the edge of your hairline and below the jaw line. 

Mix your own foundation: A common problem among dark-skinned women is that skin is darker across the brow and chin, and slightly lighter on cheeks. Even out the difference with 3 steps. The concealor colour, which goes under the eyes, should be light, but can also be used to lighten the dark forehead or chin area.

Medium (one shade darker than concealor) should be used as an all over foundation, to blend pigmentation spots.

Dark foundation (2 shades darker than concealor) evens out the lightest areas. If you have a suntan, it becomes your all-over foundation colour.

Pan Stick: Apply pan stick like bindis and go on spreading uniformly all over your face. Apply it on your neck as well.

Pancake: Apply pan with a wet sponge and spread it slowly all over your face. Apply in such a way that there should not be any patch on the face. Apply it on the neck and ears too.

Loose-powder: For an even coverage, dust it over your face using a large, soft brush or a clean powder puff.

For a film-star glow opt for a matte blusher. Choose a natural, cinnamon-toned blusher for shading. Then for high definition, using a large stable brush, lightly apply colour to the fattest parts of the cheeks.

Lip-precision: To combat chapping, soften lips with a little lip salve. Remove any excess with a tissue. Then, using a lip pencil, carefully outline your lips. Fill in with the same colour of lipstick, or for fuller lips, use a lighter shade.

Eyes: For the lower eyelid, simply use foundation and powder. Then, with an angular short brush, apply a charcoal brown eye shadow in the socket line for smoky intensity. Dab in a little moisturizer to the lid to help the shadow go on more easily.

Liquid liner: Keep your hand steady and the line precise by resting your elbow on the table. Try the felt-tip pen style for a clean look.

Mascara: Apply glossy mascara to your eyelashes for added allure. First, coat the upper lashes with mascara on both sides. Wait for the mascara to dry, then look upwards and brush the power lashes. If they seem a bit clumpy, gently separate them, using an old toothbrush. 

Eyebrows: Using a dark brown eye-pencil, emphasize the arch and end with light strokes that look like hair and fill in any gap with a similar coloured shadow. Finish-off with eyebrow pencil.

Eyelashes: It is better to forget false eyelashes; they might spoil the entire effect. However, if you feel confident, go right ahead, here is how to do it right:

Pick up the lashes with tweezers by the right edge and apply some adhesive on your eyelashes.

Use mascara to brush your own lashes and the falsies together.

Center bindi: Bindis are very important for the face. First stick the center bindi according to the size and type of the bride’s face. The center bindi must be large and decorative.

Side bindis: Thereafter slide side bindis of the same colour and size above the eyebrow. The distance between side bindis should be the same.

BRIDAL MAKE-UP EXTRAS

Consider the light: Think about the quality of light when you apply make-up for the evening. The secret is to look bright. 

Start with basics: Apply a base from the lash line to the brow line. This can be foundation, concealor or the lightest shade of the shadow you plan to wear. A canvas, from which to begin, this opens the eye area, neutralizes capillaries and primes the skin to accept and retain colour. Large lids benefit from a softer, medium colour. Remember, your foundation holds the key to the overall effect. It is crucial to find the right shade.

Always colour-coordinate the make-up shades with your outfits. A faux pas can be a clash between the colour of the dupatta on your head and your lips 

Blend: All colours should gradually disappear. There should not be any stripes or hard lines anywhere.

Texture matters: Try one of the latest shimmer finishes (they are more subtle than the frosts of yesteryear). These pearly shades attract light. 

Bright tones are an absolute no-no for dark complexions. 

Pimple marks ought to be camouflaged very carefully. Patchy skin is not a pretty sight. 

Powder away the gloss: Stay away from anything greasy. Use powder to prepare and give finishers touch to the eyes. This prevents smudging, bleeding and telltale crease lines.

Easy does it with the concealor, for dark circles under the eyes.

Add drama to the night: Intensify contrasts. Deepen the dark tones and let the light tones shimmer.

Keep Perspective: Remember, the whole point is to have everyone look at you, not your make –up!

TODAY’S BRIDE

The latest evening shades are softly shimmering and often mixed with mattes for sophistication.

Dusty rose and smoky green eye shadows might have glimmering tints of amethyst or ruby. For a more natural-toned effect, there are brown and tan powders that give the slightest hint of iridescence.

Remember that eyelid colours will determine all other things that you will wear, and we might say vice-versa. The latest in fashion is to wear shades of gold. To offset this richness try deep dark red or more muted versions-plum, rose, claret, etc.
           
One exception to this “go for more” mood-a final, sparing touch of translucent powder. Place it on the cheeks, over eyes, eyelids, where make-up tends to fade fast. Too much, however, will give a dry, flaky appearance, particularly under the strobe camera lights. You certainly don’t want that!  

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