Bridal Makeup Beauty Tips

That's me on my wedding day

Tis the seasons for the sacred "I Do." Whether you're a bride, bridesmaid, or guest whose summer calendar is clogged with save-the-dates, women all have the same goal in mind for this special event -- to look picture-perfect. Between the flashes, gowns and aisles, a wedding night is like the Oscars, and you wouldn't dare show up to that gala unprepared. I rode my own wedding wave a mere seven months ago when I got married. Being that makeup is my thing, there was no way in hell my face wasn't going to last from my grand entrance to my night cap. With the help of Ethian Hugo, the incredibly talented makeup artist who has worked with taste makers such as Carolina Herrera, we created a classic bridal look that I loved. These are the tips and products he used to create my look that I can personally say kept me looking like a fresh-faced bride from the first pictures at 2pm to the last dance at 2am.

My bridal beauty look.

Step 1: Foundation Do: use a very fine liquid like Nars Balanced Foundation, Mont Blanc. To avoid caking, apply with a sponge, which will absorb excess product. Then set the foundation by brushing on a microfine powder that matches the skin. Ethian usedMAC Mineralize Skin Finish Powder. Don't: use thick, heavy foundation. Skin should look like skin so if you have freckles like I do, they should show through. Step 2: Eyes Do: When working with more than one shadow, apply the lightest shade on the inner lid that's closest to the nose and work outwards with the medium shade on the middle of the lid and the darkest on the outside. Ethian applied a combo of MAC eyeshadows including woodwinked, bronze frost, smut velvet and shroom, which he used as a highlighter and tapped underneath the brow bone. Don't: rub your eyes before or after they've been dressed. You'll not only smear your shadow, but rubbing will leave you wishing you had Visine. Liner: Eye liners are like cable companies. Too many either don't show up like they're supposed to, don't perform as they should or have some type of flaw that gives you reason to complain. However, Shiseido Black Cream Eyeliner defies the odds. The cream liner doesn't smudge, has a smooth consistency so it's easy to work with and doesn't fade. I loved wearing it on my wedding day. Mascara: For special occasions, a wedding day definitely qualifies, thick, long lashes are a must. Unless you were blessed with them naturally, false lashes will get you the beautiful dramatic eyes that smile at us on every magazine cover. Ethian first applied Nars Mascara in black orchid. Next, he adheredArdell DuraLash, Flare Short Black individual lashes to my lash line starting at the outside and working in.

Makeup artist Ethian Hugo putting the finishing touches on my lashes.

Step 3: Brows Do: use a shade that's one shade deeper than your natural hair color to get a finished brow that frames the face. Ethian chose Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in birchand used a slightly wet brush to apply the color. The darkest part of the brow should be at the middle to end so keep the color soft and light on the part of the brow that's closest to the nose. He says that if the inner brow is too dark, it can make you look angry.Don't: touch your skin when applying or else the brow will look contrived. Step 4: Cheeks Do: go for a blush that gives your face life and smile to find the apples of your cheeks. I wanted my skin to have a soft, dewy glow. To achieve this finish, Ethian usedGiorgio Armani micro-fil loose powder and topped it with the best-selling Nars Blush in orgasm. If you haven't experienced orgasm yet, it's worth getting your hands on. Don't: apply in a straight line or else you'll have streaks. Stick to circular motions. Step 5: LipsDo: scrub your lips to rid flakes and follow with a lip conditioner such as Jo Malone's before starting your makeup. A smooth, hydrated mouth will allow lipstick to go on easier and stick to your pout better, which means fewer touch ups. There's an art to creating a soft lip. Oftentimes, a light color looks pretty in person but then comes off blah in photos. On the flip side, deeper shades can appear too harsh. Ethian struck the perfect balance using a combo of products to create my putty-pink lips. First, he lined and filled in my lips withSorme Cosmetics Smearproof Lipliner in tease 19. Next up was gloMinerals gloSheer lipstick in tahiti, which was layered with a dab of Bareminerals gloss in cupcake for a pinch of shine. Don't: lick or bite your lips incessantly no matter how nervous you are. These actions will cause chapping and irritation.

Me with my handsome hubby David.

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Makeup For Older Women

You may be above 40 but there is no reason, why you should look so. So here are some tips and tricks for mature women to conceal their age effectively and look young forever:

• Use a stiff bristled brush and blush to line the lips rather than a lip liner pencil that helps your lip color to stay put longer and prevent it from bleeding or feathering.
• Use loose translucent powder with a powder brush only once in the morning to set your makeup as reapplying it again and again can accentuates lines and wrinkles. Use a fluffy brush alone for the touch up.
• Use a highlighter to de-emphasize jowls (the lines from the edge of the nose to the corner of the mouth).
• Use a non-frosted powder under the chin to de-emphasize saggy neck. Choose a shade slightly darker than your natural skin tone.
• Frosted eye shadows can actually make you look younger but be sure that you are expert at handling them properly. Use the lightest shade under your brow, a darker one close to your lashes and the darkest on the crease and blend them properly.
• Be soft and subtle in the choice of makeup and colors for the youthful look or get professional help!
• A foundation with a lighter-textured base that matches your skin tone is a must.
• Use concealer generously to cover up any aging lines or blemishes.
• Use cream blushes in golden almond and copper tones and blend them gently from cheeks to temples in an arc for a soft transparent effect.
• Blends of pink and gray eye shadows soften graying hair.
• Use a soft eyebrow pencil that matches your hair color and never ever use black eyebrow pencil.
• Use soft matte lip colors in pink, berry, coral or peach shades to make your lips fuller.

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Cinema smiles Four tricks for lovely lips

It just takes a little skill with makeup if you want your lips to be the centre of attention. 

Take note of these four tips to help you make the most of your mouth, and you'll be ready tosmile for the cameras in no time!

• Matte-effect lipsticks reduce the apparent size of the mouth, so if you're aiming for a luscious cinema smile, you're best off avoiding them. The glossier the lipstick, the more apparent volume it will add. For a natural look, apply a cream or satin-effect lip colour in a natural shade and then add just a touch of gloss in the centre of the lower lip to give a fuller effect. 
• Outline the mouth slightly beyond the natural lip line to increase volume, but be sure toblend the outline with the fill colour. This trick can be used to enlarge and enhance the shape of the mouth, but should not be used to try and make major alterations or corrections. 
• In order to get that perfect line when you redraw the contours of the lips, try applying a base of foundation to them first, as this will create a perfect canvas for when you come to apply the colour. 
• Try using just a drop of pearl shadow or concealer at the centre of the upper lip, to emphasise the 'cupid's bow' and enhance the volume of the lips.

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