How To Achieve Flawless and Long Lasting Wedding Make-up

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