Blushing bride 101

MANILA, Philippines - It’s almost the “marry” month of December once again. A time when couples step into churches as boyfriend and girlfriend and walk out as husband and wife. The wedding signifies the couple’s union with God. And for the bride, it’s a whole day of getting all glammed up and being treated like a queen.

Aside from her designer gown and bespoke shoes, an important thing that will keep the bride looking fresh all day — from the second she gets into the bridal limo that will take her to church to the time she leaves the reception hall with her new husband — is her makeup.

Having the right kind of makeup is important on one’s wedding day. Not only does it have to look perfect from morning to night, it also has to withstand the flash of photography. Because of this, it is important that one picks a makeup artist who not only can work fast (you wouldn’t want to be late to your own wedding because your makeup artist took too long) but also knows how to apply makeup that looks fresh from the morning of the wedding to sunup the next day, without making you look dated. According to Yuki Geraldo, pro makeup artist for Make Up For Ever, 2009’s bridal makeup trend is a look that’s “timeless and classic.”

“Here in the Philippines, we’re not experimental when it comes to bridal makeup,” Yuki says, “We always look for neat, clean makeup. Sometimes (we use) the dewy look.”

The key to great bridal makeup starts with the makeup itself. First, it should withstand the elements. “The products used should be long-lasting and waterproof to last the day, as well as the sweat and tears that come with the celebration,” Yuki says.

Light is right

The makeup used should preferably be water-based. Oil-based makeup is thick and tends to clump as the day goes on, making one susceptible to looking like a well-oiled griddle by the end of the evening. While this is not always noticeable during the wedding itself, it does tend to show up in the pictures afterward. Water-based makeup is more sheer, lessening the chance of this happening. It’s also lighter on the skin, making it more comfortable for the bride, especially if she’s not used to wearing makeup. It also has to be waterproof. The last thing the bride needs is to have smeared mascara running down her face in front of 800 church guests, or to kiss someone, only to leave a sweaty mark on that person’s cheek.

The makeup must also stand the test of time. “Every detail should be clean and well blended to consider photography,” Yuki says, “The look should be timeless and classical and should enhance the bride’s features in a way that looks natural.”

This is easier said than done. The challenge is to enhance the bride’s features without calling attention to her makeup. This starts with the foundation, which should be very matte, to achieve a skin finish. It’s also okay to use foundation a shade darker than your skin tone so that your skin doesn’t look sallow during photo shoots.

Daytime doll

For a day wedding, makeup should be light. Everything must be well-blended because morning and midday light tends to make every detail visible. Foundation should be light and dewy. Yuki recommends Make Up For Ever’s Face and Body Makeup. Composed of 80 percent water, this waterproof foundation gives a natural finish.

Eyeshadow tends to be light, with neutral colors that accentuate the eyes. Use primer to as a base to keep shadow on all day. Place light color on lids, blend outward and upward to brow bone. Using a domed brush, place a darker color on the eye crease area, and blend to give depth. Top with a darker color in the same family to accentuate. For deep-set eyes, color the crease from near the innermost part of the eye until the outermost part of the eye to make eyes look smaller. “Apart from earth tones, morenas can wear cool, vivid colors like blue and green,” Yuki says, while mestizas can use a shade that’s the same color as their eyes.

For small or chinita eyes, shade only the middle part of the crease to make eyes appear deeper. “Chinitas should use neutral colors on their eyes for a deep set effect,” Yuki says. When applying shadow along the crease line, leave the corners of the eyes open to make eyes look bigger. Lining one’s rims with white eyeliner is another way to give an illusion of bigger eyes. A darker shade can be applied outside the rims for color.

Line eyes, curl lashes, apply waterproof mascara and follow up with falsies for extra drama. Groom brows, which should have been plucked and shaped beforehand. Yuki suggests using the Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector to design and intensify your brows.

Prime lips with balm or primer so that color glides on smoother. Line in upward motions to enhance the lips’ natural curves and blend with a brush. Apply lipstick. Choose a shade close to your lip tone for a natural effect. Skip the gloss for the church ceremony as the ceremonial kiss might accidentally dislodge it. It would not do to have your lippie on your groom’s suit so early in your marriage! You can, however, use gloss during the reception, where the lights are brighter and there are more opportunities to be photographed.

Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks, not going past the nose line. Stick to light shades such as pinks and corals, for a glowing effect. For a dewy look, apply shimmer powder on one’s cheeks, forehead and chin.

Evening belle

For a wedding later in the day, use the same techniques with darker, bolder colors. Again, proper blending is the key. Some brides may opt to have smoky eyes, but using darker earth tones instead of iconic black. “Use one color on the entire eye crease and blend,” Yuki advises, “It is the blending of the eyeshadow, the diffusing of color that makes it smoky.”

Others with cultural preferences may prefer the Arabian style, a dark, dramatic look best for deep-set eyes. Using intense colors such as fuchsia, light blue and black, this look works best with deep-set eyes. Black kohl is liberally used to make eyes look longer, much like a princess in classic Indian texts. “The outer corners of the eyes are blended to look like a wing tip, giving a cat’s eye effect,” Yuki says, “The look is finished off with mauve blush and dark lips.”

Be it natural or dramatic, the most important thing about your bridal makeup is that it reflects who you are, and that it is something that you will want to show your children and grandchildren in the future. The words “til death do us part” apply, after all, not just to your hubby, but to your wedding pictures as well.