Makeup Guru

Indian Bridal Makeup Tips & Advice

A wedding day is an auspicious and important day in the life of every bride and it is natural for each one to want to look their fabulous best, yet retain some of their inherent everyday charm.

Use a professional makeup artist if possible. Have a pre-wedding consultation so your makeup artist already knows what you want.

Working with The Indian Bridal Makeup Artist (Hopefully Khush ;) can save you quite a bit of time but make sure you collect pictures from magazines to show the makeup artist so he or she can get an idea of the look you're going for. Keep in mind that your wedding is not the time to start experimenting -- stick to an enhanced version of your everyday self.

Schedule trial runs before your prewedding parties or other special events (friends' weddings, class reunions, etc.). Some makeup artists do charge you for these practice sessions -- so find a crowd to wow!

Take a close look at yourself a few hours after a trial makeover to check how the makeup wears on your skin. Does it last or fade away? Note any color changes or allergic reactions.

Have a facial two weeks prior to your wedding. If you’ve not had facials in the past we would recommend you start this process 3-4 months prior to your wedding.

 However the below is a makeup tutorial for those who would like to do it on your own - here are the tips:

The makeup should be classy, yet not so overdone as to draw attention away from the rest of you.  Splash cold water on your face in the morning to help reduce morning puffiness.

 Moisturize:

The first of these Indian bridal makeup tips involves moisturizing. Once the face is clean and free of any excess oil or dirt, apply a sheer layer of moisturizer. This will help to hold the makeup better, and make sure that it lasts longer. You should also apply a layer of oil-based concealer under the eyes, in preparation for any tears that may arrive during or after the ceremony. Allow the makeup and concealer to set for about 20 minutes

Foundation:

Make certain your foundation is an exact match to your skin tone.  Use heavy-pigmented cream foundation and layer it with powder foundation to make the skin look smoother.  Using your fingertips or a sponge, apply a sheer but even layer of foundation. Check for any lines around your jaw bone. 

(Makeup Artists will combine 2 or 3 different foundation colors to match the bride's skin tone perfectly and also possibly combine 2 or 3 different coloured concealers to conceal things like dark circles.)

Apply a matte powder all over your face; using a powder based product, this will ensure skin looks perfect in the photographs. The shine free oil control loose powder, will help control the oil that usually develops around the 'T zone'. This will last long & give it a matte look. Add a little blush; pick a peachy pink color that will look natural on you.

When you’ve applied it, dust on some loose powder to seal it all in.

If your dress has an open neckline, be sure to warm up your neck and chest with a dusting of Bronzing Powder.

 Blush:

For a pretty flush that lasts, use two shades of Blush. First, apply a neutral shade on the apples of cheeks, blending up into the hairline, then downwards to soften. Then apply a brighter shade just on the apples of cheeks.

Eyes:

If you have dark brown eyes and want to have a smokey eye effect, then focus on using deeper colors, as these complement the natural color of your eyes. For a more dramatic effect you can use colors that shimmer, but in general deep, rich, matte colors work best for dark brown eyes. Some excellent colors are purple, gray and brown.

For a perfect eye shape, use a small brush to blend a medium tone color from just below the brow arch downwards in a semi-circle motion.

Basic smokeyeye makeup uses two shades of eye shadow, one light and one dark, in order to achieve the dramatic effect. However, using three colors can really enhance the make upon brown eyes, since brown eyes are less dramatic than, say, blue eyes. Do make sure, however, that the shades you select are complementary and do not clash.

Begin by cleaning your eyelids and applying a primer. If you don’t have a primer, you can dab on a light layer of concealer or moisturizer for around the eyes. This will ensure that the makeup is absorbed better and continues to look fresh for much longer. Once you have primed your lids, line both the top and bottom lids with brown or black eye liner. Smudge the line on the bottom lid to make the effect more dramatic.

Once you begin shadowing, you will immediately see the effects of smokey eye makeup for dark eyes. Brush the lighter shadow over the entire lid, up to the brow ridge. Next, gradually blend in the darker shade, starting at the outer corner of the lid.

As you get closer to the eye crease, switch to the other, slightly lighter dark eye shadow. Blend continuously. To finish your makeup, apply a few layers of black mascara to you lashes.

The foremost tip that you must remember before applying Smokey eye makeup for dark brown eyes is to select the right colors. Choose deep, rich tones to complement and enhance the color of your eyes.

End with lining the eyes with kohl, to accentuate the look.

Lash Extensions:

Every Bride wants her eyes to pop on her wedding day. It’s all about the lashes.

The extensions are single strands of synthetic eyelashes that are curved to replicate a natural eyelash. They provide length and thickness to your own lashes and are available in varying lengths and thickness. They are applied to your individual eyelashes, one lash at a time. There is no need for mascara even though a water based mascara is fine to use. The result is thicker, longer, eye opening eyelashes that are safe in the shower, while swimming, sleeping or exercising.

Lipstick:

Use a light to medium lipstick that is long wearing. Choose a lip liner that blends easily with lipstick for that soft glossy look that looks good in photographs too. Start with a pencil lip liner. Apply from the centre and line outward; make sure you have completely outlined your lips. Lip liners help lip color stay longer and also avoid bleeding. Now fill in your lips with a moisturizing lip color, helps keep lips soft and supple and the pick a color that is most striking. 

Thin and small lips look more sensuous with light lip colors while fuller lips can use deep shades. Keep the Lipstick handy to freshen up your pout after the kiss.  Add some gloss to your lips for a great impact.

Nails:

Go get yourself a manicure & pedicure! It will ensure the hands & feet look duly moisturized. Well polished and shaped nails add spark to the looks of a bride. The color of nail polish should ideally match the wedding dress of the bride. Apply it to your nails in single sweeps. Apply a base coat on the nails because it gives strength to your nails.

Remember:

Place the focus on the face either on eyes or on lip and underplay the other with neutral pink or brown shades. 

Neutral and pale lip colors look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one to two shades brighter than what you normally wear. Pinks, roses and plums are great choices for brides.

When applying your makeup wear a button shirt that can be easily removed when its time to dress.

Get plenty of sleep, please!

Don't try anything new on your skin 7-10 days before your wedding. You don't know how your skin will react.

Well-shaped brows can open up your whole face, get them done ten days before the wedding, then two days before get them touched up or pluck the few strays yourself.

Choose a hairstyle that will suit your face shape. Round faces will look good on high ‘up dos’ and sleek long styles while long faces suit styles that have width and volume.

If your wearing sandals then about a month before your wedding start your foot treatment so your feet look as good as the rest of you.

Do not do your own makeup. Have a professional makeup artist do it. Chances are you’ve got a bit of the jitters with all the excitement which could result in you having difficulties doing your own makeu

 Khush Singh - Celebrity & Indian Bridal Makeup Artist ...Born with a Brush in her hand...

Modern Indian Bridal Makeup Tips from Khush Singh