Wedding Makeup Tips (Glam Slam)

This past weekend was celebrity wedding madness. Rose McGowan, Jason Whaler, Greg Louganis, Keith Powell, Matt Sorum and Pharrell all got married.

Additionally, Lauren Conrad got engaged, Naya Rivera tried on wedding dresses, Jessica Simpson was a bridesmaid, Charlie Hunnam was a best man and Jennifer Hudson was a wedding singer. Phew!

My favorite part of weddings, aside from all the dancing, is seeing how beautiful the bride looks. For me, it’s all about the dress and makeup. Since Kate Middleton, more and more brides are opting to do their own makeup. I’m a bit of a makeup junkie and surprise — I’ve done bridal makeup for women about to begin their Happily Ever After.

Below, I’ve outlined my favorite wedding day makeup: a classic, natural look, but amped up.

Prep:
For this look, prepping your skin is essential. You don’t want your makeup wearing off or your eyeshadow creasing. Apply a primer, such as Rimmel London Fix & Perfect onto skin using a foundation brush. This helps keep your foundation in check from the ceremony through the reception. Next, apply an eyeshadow primer. I like N YX Cosmetics Eyeshaow Base- its creamy texture makes it a great foundation for shadow and its light beige tone really makes colors pop.

Skin:
Your wedding day is the day you’ll be photographed most, so you want to be sure your foundation is a good match to your skin. My favorite foundation is Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover. Available in 26 shades, you’re sure to find the best fit. Apply using a foundation brush and be sure to blend around your hairline, nose, and jawline. Next, apply concealer where needed to cover up any skin imperfections. I like Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing, which is smooth and has full coverage. As any bride knows, there’s no such thing as “plenty of sleep” before the big day. To hide dark circles, swipe Yves St. Laurent Touch Eclat Radiant Touch in a V-pattern under your eyes. Tap using your ring finger to blend. Set your foundation using a good pressed powder- I like NARS. Add a pop of color to your cheeks with a good pinky-peach blush. Try NARS Orgasm, which has a hint of golden shimmer to highlight your cheekbones.

Eyes:
To amp up your eyes, start by lining your top waterline with a long-wearing kajal eyeliner- I prefer NYX Cosmetics Collection Noir Kohl Kajal Black Liner. It doesn’t smudge and will last through your happy tears. Next, apply a neutral eyeshadow, such as beige, taupe, or for a little sparkle, a metallic. I like Urban Decay’s Naked2 palette. It has 12 beautiful, neutral colors that you can mix and match to your liking. My favorite wedding day shades are a Bootycall, Half Baked, and Tease. Next, take your kajal liner again and line only your top lid, getting as close to your lashline as possible. To soften the line, take an angled eyeliner brush and gently smudge, extending just past your outside lash. Don’t forget to load on two coats of waterproof mascara. I prefer Maybelline Volum’ Express Mega Plush Waterproof mascara in Blackest Black. Finally, fill in your eyebrows. This small step makes all the difference in framing your face and completing your look. I like Chanel’s Crayon Sourcils, which has an eyebrow brush on the end for easy blending.

Lips:
No one wants their lipstick fading before the kiss, so look for a longwearing lip stain. I love Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Beige Aquarelle, a peachy-pink that looks great with every skin tone. This will last all day between kisses, cake, and champagne.

— Jenna Nolan

(Glam Slam’s Ryan Patterson is on maternity leave)