One of the main roles as a make-up artist is ensuring correct products and ingredients are selected, providing clients with optimum results in long lasting make-up perfection. After many years of research and product testing I have full confidence that my make-upapplication will look flawlessly fresh all day through.

To save you time, here is my compilation of useful tips and product recommendations to achieve long lasting, flawless make-up on your wedding day.

Step1- It’s a crime not to prime…

After skin has been moisturised, I would reach for a foundation primer, an essential item in achieving long lasting, flawless make-up. Primers are generally silicon based and create a perfect base for foundation, helping make-up bond to the skin’s surface and hold it in place. Besides giving your make-up more staying power, other benefits include smoother application, reduced appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections, plus it helps plump out the skin, which is great for mature complexions. Trust me, once you have used a primer, you won’t be without it and as the make-up artist mantra saying goes, ‘It’s a crime not to prime!’

Application tip:

Take a small amount of primer, using either clean fingers or a foundation brush. Apply evenly all over facial surface avoiding the eye area. Do not rub into skin, just allow primer to penetrate.

Step 2- Trick of the trade!

Eye make-up before foundation… When an eye make-up brush is overloaded with eye shadow, you can end up with what is known as ‘fall out’, where pigments of eye shadow sprinkle under and around the eyes. When you try rubbing it away it can turn into an ugly mess. One easy way of avoiding ‘fall out’ is by applying eye make-up before foundation. This is a really useful tip, especially when using loose pigment shadows.

Step 3- No more blushing brides…

Concealers are a must for hiding flaws and imperfections; be clever with your colour choices and application technique and the end result can be quite amazing. I have often heard people say that green toned concealers reduce redness, however in my personal experience green concealers will only make you look, well, green! Instead, choose a yellow based concealer which neutralises areas of redness such as high cheek colour, broken veins or angry red spots. I find this far more effective.

Application tip:

Apply concealer with a small flat brush or clean fingers.Take a small amount of concealer, dab and press onto skin until the redness starts to diminish. To finish, apply a small amount of foundation over the concealed areas and blend until the make-up appears even.

Step 4- Perfect with powder…

Once the foundation is on it will feel moist and look shiny. If a powder is not applied over the top of your make-up it will eventually slide away, so a loose powder is essential in order to fix and hold make-up in place, plus loose powder particles absorb any excess moisture and oil thus erasing any shine.

Application Tip:

Take a powder puff or sponge and press it into the loose powder. Follow by gently pressing the puff over the face, particularly concentrating on the t-zone area and chin. Then with a big fluffy powder brush, sweep away any excess powder.

Step 5- For long lasting lipstick…

Lipstick is one item which does require the odd touch up. Unfortunately, long lasting lipsticks are drying and after a couple hours’ wear will begin to show signs of dryness. However, follow my next tip to keep your lips looking hydrated and fresh just that little bit longer!

Application Tip:

Apply foundation and a tiny bit of powder over the lips. Now apply your lip liner of choice, filling the entire lip area. The next step is to use a lip brush and brush over the lips with a moisturising lipstick then take a tissue and blot. Now apply another coat of lipstick, repeat blotting and lipstick process 2 or 3 times.

Step 6- And to finish!

Apply a touch of makeup finishing spray… The last key item I would recommend for long lasting make-up is a ‘make-up finishing spray.’ There was a time when these could only be found in a make-up professional’s kit, but nowadays they are becoming ever increasingly popular and more easily accessible for everyday consumers. Make-up finishing mists are made with special polymers which are designed to keep make-up pigment fixed in place.

Application tip:

Once all make-up and powder has been applied, holding bottle 12”-14” away, spritz mist a couple of times over face, keeping eyes and mouth closed. Allow 1-2 minutes for dry time then blot away any excess moisture with a tissue. You can then apply a touch more powder and repeat process again for increased longevity.

So there we have it! As you will see the key to long lasting flawless make-up is carefully selecting and layering appropriate products, rather than caking your skin with thick and heavy make-up.

Until next time, happy make-uping!

Charlene x

Life as a make-up artist is certainly interesting; it’s fast paced as the beauty industry does’nt stand still for a minute. Just flick through any monthly glossy and rest assured, you’ll be bombarded with adverts for the latest anti-wrinkle formulas or new super glow foundation. It’s a saturated market which makes life terribly confusing for consumers. My priority is teaching you everything I know about all things beauty, but most importantly keeping it simple!

Unfortunately, ladies appear to be consistently coming up against the same old challenges with foundation. I’ve had numerous conversations with clients, hearing about negative experiences after spending money on quality foundations, to then find it incompatible with their skin type or the wrong shade. Many will sympathise that sourcing a foundation that fits our everyday needs can be tasking, let alone for the most important day in your life. Perfect wedding make-up should keep skin looking beautifully natural, flawless and glowing all day through, both in real life and photographically.

I have put together helpful information about choosing the right foundation for your wedding day and of course, getting it right first time. This blog post should be extremely beneficial especially for those doing their own wedding make-up, so enjoy!

Firstly, think about look and finish you wish to achieve...

Do you require a dewy or matte finish? This will be dependent on age and skin type. For example, mature, drier skins benefit from dewier formulations, however those who are oilier normally prefer matte based make-up, but please bear in mind they generally have a powdered effect which are not always complimentary to older complexions as it can emphasise lines and wrinkles.

Next, coverage....

Choose from light and natural, full and glamorous or somewhere in between. Your decision could be based upon the wedding theme; are you going for a vintage style or English rose? A natural foundation would be great for these themes! Or maybe a winter wonderland wedding with lots of glitzy glamour? In which case you’ll most likely require more coverage.

Not using a make-up artist? I’d certainly recommend you visit a local department store. Cosmetic houses offer superb ranges of high-end make-up. Tell the department assistant about your requirements and ask for their recommendations. Most make-up stands now offer make-up consultations where the amount charged is redeemed against the items you choose.

Helpful tips......

Book a morning consultation so you can see how the make-up feels, looks and wears throughout day.

Wonderful light reflective foundations are largely available, giving skin luminosity, they’re extremely effective, disguising appearance of lines and wrinkles, but, PLEASE!!!… Avoid on your wedding day!! When the photographer captures a shot, it can give skin a ghostly white appearance, known as “flash back.” Avoid high levels of reflective pigment by checking the ingredients label on the product; if ‘titanium dioxide’ is top of the list, then you’re best steering clear.

Hopefully my tips have given you a little food for thought, especially if in search of a perfect wedding foundation. Until next time,

Happy make-uping!

Charlene xxx

Hi! Please allow me to introduce myself; I’m Charlene, a make-up artist specialist in bridal and photographic make-up. First of all I would like wish you a very big warm welcome! As this is my first post I felt it would be the perfect opportunity for you to get to know me, my history and how I became a make-up artist.

So here’s my story... From a very young age I loved to draw and paint –art was by far my favourite subject at school and was about the only class I would look forward to! After discovering make-up as a teenager, hours would pass by whilst experimenting with every last product in my mum’s cosmetics bag. I was just completely fascinated by the array of looks which could be created.

This love for make-up grew and I became a fully qualified make-up artist in June 2000 at just 18 years old. Before completing my college education I was very fortunate to meet a local photographer who required a make-up artist to work on his model portfolio shoots –the door of opportunity opened at the most perfect moment! Around the same time I gained employment as a beauty consultant, so my days would be spent working with ‘real’ every day women and the evenings applying make-up to models.

Two years on I had built a fabulous make-up kit, extensive portfolio and gained some great experience. Being a fulltime make-up artist was all I wanted to do so I went freelance and haven’t looked back since.

As with any new business it can take time to establish; some weeks could be busy while others were quiet, which frustrated me. A photographer suggested I find some promotional work in order to support my career and the make-up and promotions complimented each other very well.

During this time I took further education, studying beauty therapy and holistic treatments at evening college. Eventually I was able to leave the promotions industry as my business continued to grow. People I knew would often request me to do their wedding make-up or their friends’, and through word of mouth my business soared.

Where I am now… It’s been three years now since I became a specialist in wedding make-up. I eat, sleep and breathe weddings and can honestly say I absolutely adore my job! It really is such an incredibly rewarding career in so many ways.

Also getwed.com recently invited myself to become their expert wedding make-up artist and beauty blogger, which is truely exciting! So if you would like to keep up to date with my latest articles, please feel free to visit. It is a great new website for all brides to be, for help, advice, useful contacts and you can even build your own wedding website there! Go and take a peek! ;)

Well thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I shall look forward to seeing you here again soon!

Best Wishes,

Charlene x