Bridal Beauty Buzz

Getting your foundation/ base looking perfect on your wedding day is essential. Every bride wants a flawless, glowing complexion on her wedding day. If this looks perfect, then everything else you put on top of your foundation will look better. Even if you do not have the budget to spend a lot on your colour products (ie eyes/ cheeks / lips), I always say to brides that it is worth spending a little more on a good foundation – I really do believe that when it comes to foundations, you do get what you pay for.

Before you start your search for the perfect makeup base – even if you have a large budget for a good quality foundation, it will be a waste of time if you choose the wrong shade and incorrect texture for your skin. We all know that there is nothing worse than a line of foundation on your jaw line which is the wrong colour and trust me, if you do this on your wedding day, it will show up even more against a light coloured wedding gown! Also, wearing a foundation which is too dry for you can make you look older and if you wear a foundation which is too heavy and oily, it will slide off your skin and you will look ‘greasy’ in your wedding photographs.

Whichever foundation you wear, remember to use a light moisturiser first to hydrate the skin and then apply a small amount of primer before you apply your foundation.

So where do you start? As you know, there is a huge variety of foundations on the market. Makeup brands are improving their formulas everyday and offering a bigger choice, which makes our task even more complicated. When choosing a foundation it’s important to know what type of skin you have, since there are specific products for each type of skin. You can find foundations that are fluid/ powder/ compact/ mineral, with a matt effect, brightening, oil free – the list is endless!

If you’ve got dry skin a fluid, nourishing and creamy foundation is ideal, especially if you’re looking for a foundation that covers the skin – but remember that a creamy foundation doesn’t have to be heavy, there are moisturising foundations on the market that are lighter formulations.

For oily skin it’s important to choose an oil-free fluid with a matt finish – if possible, also try to find a formula which is silicone based. Mineral based foundations are fabulous for oily skins as the ingredients are pure and will not encourage blemishes or excess grease on the skin.

For combination skin I still recommend a light, oil free silicone based foundation as you still need to avoid a greasy T-Zone on your oily areas. Go easy on the face powder on your dry areas (ie cheeks and eyes). Some brands do now make foundations for combination skins – which reduce oil where needed and add moisture where you are dry, these might be worth a try but again make sure that the formulations are not thick and heavy.

When you have decided on your budget and the formula you wish to wear, my biggest tip is with reference to choosing the right shade – do not test the colour on your hand or your forearm!!! It has to be on your jawline – test 3 shades and the shade that you cannot see is the right one.

My next tip is after you have chosen your foundation is to invest in a good foundation/ base brush – this will give you a more ‘airbrushed’ finish to your makeup – I wouldn’t apply foundation with anything else.

(Wedding photograph by www.loveasart.com, makeup by Sarah Brock. Photograph of The Daniel Sandler Super Mineral Makeup foundation is kindly supplied by Daniel Sandler, www.danielsandler.com)