Every bride is beautiful on her wedding day — but that's not to say that every bride doesn't worry about her makeup. According to most makeup artists, there are six basic cosmetic components you need when it comes to your makeup: foundation, powder, mascara, blush, lipstick and concealer. 

A matte finish is your goal, since the camera captures the slightest shine. "Consider your face to be the painter's canvas," says Estée Lauder's Dominique Szabo, "and the foundation the paint. Foundation is the key to keeping makeup looking fresh because it's the basis of your whole look." Use a slightly heavier foundation than you usually do, and once it dries apply loose powder with a makeup brush. This gives the complexion a smooth, unified finish. Blush should, above all else, look realistic, so choose a color that complements your skin tone and blend well — you don't want to look like Tammy Faye Bakker. The goal is for family and friends to notice you, not your makeup.

If avoiding cosmetics that have too much frost is the rule, lipsticks are the exception. "You may want to give your lips a little shimmer or go a shade darker," says makeup artist Bobbi Brown, "but keep the color consistent with the rest of your makeup." If you want your lipstick to stay on after you kiss the groom, makeup artist Lori Klein suggests "using lip liner and applying lipstick with a lip brush — that's the secret to long-lasting color." Finish lips by blotting them lightly with powder, then apply another coat of lipstick.

The same tears that proclaim a bride's happiness can also be the bane of her makeup. Wearing waterproof mascara is essential if you want to avoid panda-bear eyes. Concealer, foundation and powder give eyeliner the solid base necessary to prevent the smudge-and-smear syndrome.

Last but not least, don't experiment with a new look. If you've never worn Paloma Picasso's red lipstick, don't try it now. Your makeup should look natural and always reflect your individual style. (It's a good idea to do a dry run before the day of the wedding, even if you're using a professional.) "When you look back on your photographs twenty years down the road," says Brown, "you don't want to wonder 'Who was that?'" And neither does the man you're about to marry.

Make up Tips from The Professionals

• Apply plenty of powder, since flash photography can make you look shiny. (Have a powder compact handy for quick touch-ups.)
• Eyebrows tend to fade away in photographs. Make sure to fill in and define them with a matte shadow that matches your hair (a shadow application creates a more natural look than an eyebrow pencil does). If you go too strong, tone it down with a pale-yellow powder.
• Use an eyelash curler before applying mascara to make your lashes look longer and your eyes look bigger.
• Bring out your eyelashes with an extra coat of mascara, making sure that every lash is separated.
• After applying eye makeup for a day wedding, apply bone shadow directly under each brow bone (for an evening wedding, use white). This works as a highlighter and also creates further definition.
• If you will be wearing glasses, make sure they have glareproof lenses.
• Concealer that is too light will wash out your face, especially in combination with a white dress.
• Avoid using pink, light-blue or frosted shadow on your eyes unless you want to look tired — and absolutely no fuchsia anywhere!
• Don't forget to apply powder and blush on skin exposed by low necklines.
• Lips also tend to fade away in photographs. Use a lipstick that is a shade or two darker than you would ordinarily wear.

Evening Makeup 

When it comes to makeup, night weddings prove problematic for everyone. There always seems to be someone — anyone from a girlfriend of a guest to the mother of the groom — who tries to be more dramatic and ends up looking like Morticia Addams. 

The key to evening beauty is simplicity. "The modern way to make yourself up for evening," says makeup artist Trish McEvoy, creator of her namesake cosmetics line, "is by simply enhancing your day makeup. It's a matter of making it look crisper and more defined. There are at least ten subtle ways of making your makeup pop out more."

And here they are: 

• Choose one of three features (eyes, cheeks or lips) to accentuate, and keep the others subtle and demure. Other possibilities: line your lips so they really stand out; use black mascara instead of brown.
• For a touch of glam, apply a few single false eyelashes to the outer corners. Inexpensive brands like Vogue Cluster Lashes are sold at most drugstores.
• Brush loose powder on your eyelids after applying shadow so it doesn't crease or cake as the night goes on.
• Don't match your makeup to your handbag, your jewelry or any other accessory. "Makeup should match your skin tone — that's all," says McEvoy. "If you're wearing a red dress, then you can wear red lipstick — but only if you look good in red lipstick. If you don't, it can make you look older."
• Make sure your blush isn't too severe. Put color on the brush, tap it against your dressing table so some of the powder shakes off, then slide it across your cheekbones.
• The most timeless, elegant manicure is always not too long, not too short and in a pretty, pale color.
• Here's how to make lipstick last the evening: use a smoother lipstick, like Alexandra de Markhoff's Under Color for Lips, as a base; apply liner around your lips, color them in with the liner and then reapply lipstick. If you want shimmer, add gloss on top.
• Spray on perfume immediately after your shower. If you use too much, it will have time to fade — and you won't risk spraying it on your pearls.
• Have a snack before the big event. "I always eat a yogurt before I go out for the evening," says young woman about town Isabel Goldsmith. "That way, if dinner isn't served until late, I'm not starving — or tipsy."
• Finally, treat yourself to a makeup lesson. Everyone can use some advice from an expert.

Bridal Hair Accessories Ideas
One of the most prominent and noticed details to the overall look of a bride is her hair and the accessories she selects to adorn her hair style. Here are some flattering, fun and elegant ideas for that special day:

• Fake or fresh water pearls twist into a bun, braid or across the crown of the head. 
• Baby Breath flowers or dried heather or lilac arranges in a rind around the head or off to one side. 
• Hair pieces to extend the hair or to create braids to adorn the hair design 
• Shells, especially mother of pearl, make beautiful hair adornments. (A small hole can be drilled in the shell to allow for ease of use. 
• Dried or fresh roses, either full size or baby, make a natural beautiful statement. Multi colored thin silk or cotton ribbons. Whether in pastel or jewel colors, ribbons can be twisted or braided to weave into hair design or to tie the hair back. 
• Glass or plastic colored bead make for beautiful adornments to the hair design. 
• Costume jewelry clip-on earrings make for easy to use individual touches to the hair. 
• Silk cording, much like ribbons, can be used for many different styles. 
• Lace can be gathered into small bunches to make a bow or center point for the hair to wrap around. Ordinary, plain barrettes can be converted into real show pieces which a hot glue gun and any precious stones, mementos or decorations you find.