Wedding make up - product recommendations please!

If you google the best wedding make-up or best primer / concealer etc for your skin type it comes up with loads of results. Failing that, get yourself into Debehams / House of Fraser to one of the counters & they will advise & help you.

Hi, I would recommend using a foundation without SPF as it will flash back on your photos and wash out your facial features, I have heard wonderful things about MAC face and body foundation, its got buildable coverage, works well with dry skin types.

Collection 2000 concealer is AMAZING! One of the best around and for a drugstore product can really hold its own against higher end ones. I would look into colour correction concealers to counteract the dark circles.

Obviously, waterproof mascara is your better option but it also helps to keep your eyelashes curled too, it almost 'sets' the curl so an extra bonus. I think Max factor False lash effect is wonderful, and Benefit they're real mascara is good but a lot more expensive.

As for lipstick / gloss that is long lasting, I would personally choose to go for a stain since this will last longer. Maxfactor lipfinity is good but make sure you exfoliate your lips before you apply it, this stuff actually lasts all day! You couldn't scrub it off if you tried and it needs to be removed with an oil based remover (baby oil works great for this). It dries matt but it comes with a lip balm over to apply over it when needed to add shine x

I've heard lots of good things about smashbox primers and they do quite a few different ones so you should find one that works well for you ;-)

I am buying all my makeup and will be going to Boots and visiting the counters to ask for advice!

I have dry skin too and use Illamasqua Hydra Veil primer and then Mac Face & Body foundation which is really sheer but buildable depending on the level of coverage you are looking for. This gives your skin a lovely glow too. I use Makeup forever HD concealer if I'm going out as it photographs really well but daily I use Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser concealer and I like the coverage this gives without being too heavy although it flashes back on me in pictures (doesn't seem to on my sister). Bourjois Volume Glamour Waterproof mascara is pretty good as is Benefit 'They're Real' and although this isn't labelled as being waterproof I need eye make-up remover to take it off as water doesn't shift it. Avon glimmerstick waterproof lipliner in 'Pink Bouquet' is lovely used all over the lip and buffed in with a lip brush then with a clear balm or gloss on top- it's like natural lip colour but better. I also like Revlon Colorstay lipstick in Heavenly Mauve but it can be quite drying.

I find with makeup though it can be trial and error and what works for one person with a similar skin type doesn't agree with another.

I would also recommend trying things out well in advance since you don't wasn't any nasty breakouts or reactions to any products! x

I'm a bit like you in that I've never worn much make-up, although I am addicted to Benefit They're Real mascara. I highly recommend going to a department store and having your make-up done by someone at one of the counters. You can then see how it feels and how well it lasts for the rest of the day before you go back to buy it if you like. I had mine done with Clinique and since trying it myself I've found it fairly easy to replicate what the girl did as she had talked me through all she was doing.

I agree with what others have said about avoiding products with SPF for this occasion.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, smashbox primer, estee lauder double wear foundation and benefit mascara all keep cropping up so I might have to give these ones a go :-)

Took the words right out of my mouth

..... off to search out some Collection 2000 concealer now!

I love clarins

have really dry skin and they do a whole range of sensitive stuff.

Go and ask for lots of samples

I haves used lots of different make up and in my opinion, you can't beat MAC. It lasts all day xx

I've just bought some Chanel perfection lumiere foundation. It's brilliant! Not to heavy but gives a great coverage! (smells amazing too!!) I used it with revlon photo finish primer, it went on really nicely and lasted all day! I'd def recommend!

Yeah, heard really good things about Chanel perfection.....

My skin is dry - my OH uses Estee Lauder double wear and it has great coverage and durability but on the few occasions I've worn it I've felt like I have a clay mask on .. I think others find it OK but it doesn't seem to be great with dry skin.

It also has an SPF in it so not great for photos

I've heard that doublewear flashes back!!

I'm hoping to do my own make up too and going to go and have a trial with MAC, apparently it's £25 but then that's redeemable on products!

I'm going to Space NK for a makeover on Saturday (if you have one near you!) 1, it's free, unlike some of the others, and 2, they have a range of brands so are probably going to pick the best thing to suit you rather than trying to fit you into their own brand! I like Mac eyeshadows etc but I'm too pale for their foundations. I'm after a good long-lasting lip colour too, albeit a fairly subtle one, so I'll post back if I find anything good!

Ooh, have fun. x

For primer I would probably suggest something from the smash box range, they also give little samples a lot of the so you can try it at home first.

For concealer I would recommend Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch which is very similar to theves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat (they also have a new baby face primer but I haven't tried it yet)

For mascara there are so many that I love I couldn't list them however if you have straighter eyelashes then I would definitely recommend curling them and uses a waterproof mascara at least for the first layer as this will hold the curl but also you may want to use only waterproof anyway...

You have similar skin to me so for foundation I would definitely recommend the Clinique anti-blemish foundation which I have recently discovered! It gives a nice coverage but nothing too heavy and lasts all day, I would also get a good non oily moisturiser to use before the wedding so you don't have any dry skin patches and it will also not cause blemishes if you get oil free such a neutrogena

For the lips try and use a good lip balm in the run up to the wedding to avoid chapped lips (I like Burts Bees) and then I would suggest the Revlon balm stains to the colour lasts longer but it is moisturising (I like the colour Honey for day to day nudeish lips-it doesn't look nude but when you apply it looks lovely)

I would also suggest a nice blusher so that you have some colour and it will make you look like your glowing

xx

Thanks so much for all the suggestions ladies, blusher is a good one too I didn't think of that.

I didn't know where to start but I have a bit more of an idea now, thanks again ?

I use Nivea primer, NO.7 foundation and then Benefit makeup including Bo-ing concealer (it's industrial strength and great for dark circles), they doa lip and cheek stain which is great, they're real mascara is fantastic!

Commenting to keep track of this thread.

I had a free makeover at Bare Minerals (not sure if they usually charge or not, but a good tip is to go in asking to try 1 item to see what it looks like, and then just keep asking!) and I liked them so much I'm using Bare Minerals for everything, except mascara - I have really long blond lashes, so although I wanted colour, I did not need a volumising one so I've gone with Benefit. Not sure if it's waterproof though, so may have to go shopping again!

Well, I had my make up done by a lovely visiting make up artist, who discouraged me from wearing foundation (only tinted moisturiser) and too much make up in general. Ended up with a bit of a Sophia Loren meets natural look! Have now spent a lot on rather expensive make up and hope I can make myself look as good as he did..

Oh and for lips I bought Laura Mercier stickgloss, as I didn't want anything too pigmented, but traditional glosses are a bit too shiny and sticky for me!

Another vote for Bare Minerals here. I tried it at the National Wedding Show and I haven't used any of my other make up since.

I've just purchased the Bare Minerals range and it's amazing! It's weird to get used to using a powder instead of a liquid but it's so quick to apply now I am used to it! Not only that, my skin is in better health, fewer spots.