Natural Radiance

Now that you know all the hints and tips on applying your own make up, I thought it was time to show you a beautiful look and how to achieve it. On your day, you want to look naturally radiant and glow in your own beauty, rather than caking the make up on. Kate Beckinsale is the very eptiome of achieving natural beauty through make up. She keeps her English rose complexion and adds some simple touches to shine- the perfect look for your wedding day.

So get those brushes ready, tie back your hair and join me as we work through this stunning look.

The most important place to start is the night before your wedding. Take all of your make up off. Use a cleansing wipe to remove those stubborn, hard to reach places, and then use liquid cleanser on a cotton ball to remove any dirt and grime that your skin has accumulated over the day. When you have removed every speck of make up, give it one more going over with a good  cleanser just to be doubly sure. For tricky areas such as the eyes and corners of the nose, dip a cotton bud into the cleanser and wipe over your face.

Next, sweep some toner over your face using another cotton ball to close the pores and finish off with an even layer of moisturiser. Make sure you apply moisturiser in an upwards and outwards motion to keep your skin taut. This routine will ensure that your skin is fresh in the morning.

When you wake up, go through the above routine again- cleanse, tone and moisturise. It may seem a pain, particularly if you’re short on time, but it will be worth it for the fresh dewy skin you will achieve. Afterwards, use your fingertips to apply a primer such as Benefit’s “That Gal” (£19.50). It smoothes your skin, giving a perfect base for applying make up as well as making it look brighter. Remember to apply it in the same motion as you used for your moisturiser.

Now that your skin is all primed and beautiful, it’s time to apply the make up. Begin by dotting concealer under your eyes and on any blemishes. Try Soap & Glory’s £9.00 “Trick n Treatment”. Gently dab at the dots to blend it in for a natural finish. Then apply a good liquid foundation such as Estee Lauder’s “Individualist” (£24.00). Foundation acts as a way to even out your skin tone, hide blemishes and form a base for the rest of your make up. This lightweight foundation has sheer coverage so will give you that even look without a caked effect. An applicator sponge is one of the best ways to apply foundation as it gives an even coverage, although they can be difficult to control if you have not used them before so ensure you get lots of practice. Don’t forget to blend over the jaw – the last thing you want is a clear cut line at your chin.

To prevent the foundation smudging, especially on hot summer days, set it with a translucent powder. Boots No 7 do a fantastic translucent powder for £11.50 called “Perfect Light Pressed Powder” which will keep your skin matte whilst holding your foundation in place.

Remember that with products such as foundation and concealer, it is important to get the best shade available for your skin tone. You want the make up to cover your blemishes without looking obvious. We’ve all seen those teenage girls with bright orange faces from choosing the wrong shade of make up. The best way to find out which is best for you is to visit the make up counter at a department shop. The girls on the counter will be able to show you which shade to use and how best to apply the products. Best of all, they’re usually free and you can sometimes get a discount on the products if you buy them there and then.

That finishes the base of your make up and will create a perfect cover to complete it. To get those rosy cheeks, apply a blusher high on your cheekbones, sweeping down to below the apples. You only need a small amount at first as you can then build it up as you need to. Bourjois sell gorgeous blushers for less than £7.00. Choose a shade that brings out a natural, subtle rosy glow. Dip a brush into the pot and gather a small amount of blush on the bristles. Tap a few times to remove the excess and then sweep over your cheeks in one fluid motion. Repeat this until you have your desired look. Beautiful.

Now let’s move on to the eyes. This look is all about the eyes- they are dramatic but not bold. A little different from your every day look, but still with a natural beauty about them. This is exactly what we’re going for. Start with a grey toned eyeshadow across the eyelids. Use a small brush, rather than a sponge applicator, to achieve a more subtle look. Too Faced’s “Candy Bar” eyeshadow in Black Liquorice (£16.00) is perfect for this as it has four different shades of grey and black, meaning you can choose the look that’s right for you. As with the blusher, start with a very small amount and build it up gradually, paying attention to the crease of your eyelid. Smudge a very tiny amount below the lower lashes, sweeping up to the corner of your eye in a subtle wing.

Now we’re going to be using liquid eyeliner. If this form is unfamiliar to you, make sure you practice a lot. It can be difficult to master at first, but it offers such a beautiful effect that it is well worth the effort. L’Oreal’s “Super Liner” (£6.00) has a very fine brush so it is perfect for this look. Wipe the excess eyeliner off the brush and delicately draw along the upper lashes in one movement. The idea is to get a thin line as close to the lashes as possible then sweep it into a small wing at the corner of the eye. Finish off with a layer of mascara. If you are prone to crying, find a waterproof or clear mascara to use such as Rimmel’s “100% Waterproof Mascara” for £5.00. Apply using the blush applicator, then seperate the lashes using an eyelash comb to avoid that spider eyes effect.

To complete this look, we need some glossy rosy pink lipstick. Try MAC’s £12.50 “Slimshine Lipstick” in a shade such as Long Stem Rose. Use a lipbrush to draw around the outside of your lips with the shade first by way of lipliner. Then, still using the brush, fill in the lips with small strokes. Blot once and apply once more. Finish off with a slick of Lipcote to make sure it stays on throughout all the kissing.

And there you have it. A gorgeous natural bridal look a la Kate Beckinsale. Although the cost of the products may add up, the sum of the products featured here is just over £100- much cheaper than any make up artist. You can then use some of the same products on your bridesmaids and mother to get your money’s worth. Of course, you’ll also have lots of lovely products to use in the future which you don’t get from a make up artist.

With this style you will look stunning and beautiful- your groom won’t know what’s hit him. Thanks Kate!