The Beauty Report: Bridal makeup

W ith bridal make-up, the aim is to create a finish which looks great on the day, translates very well to photographs, and still makes you look like your best self.

If you don’t feel confident of your ability to do your own makeup for such an auspicious occasion, find a good makeup artist who will help you to achieve what you want, and offer solutions to any issues that worry you.

There are a few basic pointers that are always important to remember for bridal makeup.

SPF and flash photography don’t mix. That effect in photographs when someone’s face is several shades lighter than their body is caused by titanium dioxide, a common SPF ingredient.

It works as a physical sunscreen, causing light to bounce off the skin and create a ghostly hue.

Unfortunately, it does the same thing with the light of a flash, causing the face to look lighter than the body, which looks odd. To prevent this, opt for a foundation that doesn’t contain SPF.

Perfect skin is always the focus of any bridal makeup, and is easily achieved with a good foundation and concealer.

The key is coverage without heaviness – makeup that looks like flawless skin. You want people commenting on how well you look, not on how nice your makeup is.

For a very long-lasting base, opt for something like MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation (€36.50). This is a seriously tenacious 16-hour wear waterproof foundation, and can be used sparingly as a concealer.

If applied all over the face, it has the potential to look masky, but if you apply it sparingly just where needed, focusing on the centre of the face, the finish is lastingly radiant.

The key to long-wear makeup is building up several thin layers. Just as with painting a wall, horsing on one very thick layer of paint and expecting a smooth, lasting finish is unrealistic.

With a foundation like this, careful buffing of small amounts with a fluffy brush will build up the finish you need.

The shade range is excellent, and the absence of SPF prevents flashback in photographs.

You will need to touch up once or twice during the day, but that is standard.

We all know the importance of choosing the right mascara, but it’s a more complex territory than people presume. I have no tolerance for advocates of waterproof mascara in any scenario other than an emotional one. We use oil to remove waterproof makeup, and the oily sweat and sebum produced by the skin around the eyes (or indeed by more mature, crinkly lids) will dissolve the waterproof mascara at the tips of lashes, leaving black streaks on the skin.

It's better to opt for a smudge-proof mascara, which is slightly more oil resistant. I've been giving Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara the sweat test in the gym, and it doesn't budge.

If it can withstand a workout without moving, it can last through a wedding day. Foundation and mascara are the two products most prone to migration. Master them, and you’re very nearly there.

A nude lip is the most practical - and often the most subtly flattering - choice for bridal makeup. No one wants to spend the day worrying about whether their lipstick has done that horrid disappearing act after eating and drinking, leaving behind a bizarre-looking outline. Keep things simple and pretty by choosing a lipstick which is the closest possible colour match to your natural lips. This will keep the look fresh and polished, give your lips some oomph, and allow you to forget about what your lipstick is doing. If it wears away in the centre, it won’t be visible, and you can top it up whenever you feel like it.

The Balm is an underestimated brand available online and from Make Up For Ever on Dublin's Clarendon Street. Mai Billsbepaid (€19.04) is a flattering pink nude, a clever match for a lot of pink-based Irish skin tones. Shop around - the shade that disappears on your lips is the one for you.