Liz Beckett's Wedding Make-Up Tips

1. Hire a Professional

I would highly recommend booking a professional make-up artist for your wedding day. No matter how good you are at your make-up, they will still be able to show you new tricks and it will take some of the stress out of the preparations. Decide in advance on a make-up look for your bridesmaids that complements you and suits all of them. Make sure they wear about the same amount of make-up - you don't want one of them looking like a random lapdancer in the photos! When it comes to children, avoid making them look tacky by sticking to a bit of blusher and lipgloss at the most.

2. Prepare as Early as Possible

As soon as you set a date, start drinking plenty of water, moisturising daily, exfoliating three times a week, using high-factor suntan lotion and getting plenty of sleep. These are simple tricks, but very important for perfect wedding skin. And if you have over-plucked your eyebrows, start growing them ready for a reshape!

3. Do Your Research

If you have decided on a themed wedding, make sure you do lots of research and try out plenty of make-up looks. The most important thing is that the colours complement your skin tone and bring out the best in your face. Choose elements of the theme for your make-up and interpret them in a way that suits you - you don't need to go the whole hog. Remember your make-up look should be timeless so that you'll still be happy with the photos in 20 years.

4. Take Test Photos

Take photos of your make-up trial with and without the flash. Flash photography can pick up shine that the naked eye may not see. Because of this you should be careful not to use anything light-reflecting or illuminating anywhere near your T-zone, and make sure your under-eye concealer is not going to make you look like you've had skiing googles on for a week.

5. Don't Go Too Minimal

Make sure you wear enough make-up. You don't want to look plastered in the stuff, but remember that you will be wearing a dress that stands out, you'll have your hair done and you'll be photographed all day. If you want to keep it to the bare minimum, have your skin done beautifully and make sure you've got a good lash line.

6. Use Natural Light

Make sure you're facing a window with even light on your face while you get your make-up done. You will be spending the majority of the day in natural daylight and you don't want to miss any blending that needs to be done. If you are getting married in the winter and it will just be artificial light, find the brightest one you can and do your make-up under this, then check it in various other lights.

7. Test Your Fake Tan

If you're planning on having a spray tan done, make sure you have a trial beforehand. If it doesn't turn out the way you hope, there are loads of brilliant instant tans that you can use on the day for as much or as little colour as you like, and any mistakes can just be washed off. My favourite is Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Bronzing Spray, because it won't run if someone - god forbid - spills a drink on you. Apply using a tanning mitt over moisturised skin, and then dust with a tissue to take off any excess. If there are a few little unblended patches, a bit of moisturiser will redistribute the tan without having to wash it off. Read tips on how to apply fake tan.

8. Contour, Contour, Contour

Contouring can give you fabulous cheekbones and a good jaw line, which is especially great for photos. Use a matte bronzer to shade under the jaw line and under your cheekbones, and to hollow out your collarbones. You can also ask your make-up artist to use shading to narrow a wide nose. Always make sure you blend perfectly so it can't be noticed. If you are getting married in the evening and will be in darker light, you can get away with more contouring.

9. Use Highlighter

A surefire way to look fresh is to apply a highlighter to your cheekbones and the inner corners of your eyes. You don't want to look completely matte. If you have thin lips you can also apply a little to your Cupid's bow to make your lips look fuller. Also use on shoulders and collar bones for radiant skin all over.

10. Layer Your Make-Up

When it comes to your skin you should apply lots of thin layers of different products - this will give the make-up staying power and keep it looking three-dimensional rather than flat. Foundation should be like a second skin - it's just there to even out your skin, not cover it like a mask. Concealer and powder should only be used on the areas where they’re needed, and bronzer should make you look sunkissed - not completely change the colour of your face.

11. Be Careful With Mascara

If you are prone to dark circles I wouldn't wear mascara on the bottom lashes, as it will create shadows or smudge and make your dark circles worse. You'll look fresher if you leave it off. If you feel a little bare without it, use a little eyeshadow under your lower lashes for definition instead.

12. Try Matte Shadow

Matte eyeshadow gives the most natural look for shading, especially on older eyes - shiny eyeshadow will draw attention to looser skin. If you want to use a shadow with some sheen in it, keep it just to your lid.

13. Individual Lashes

Unless you have exceptional eyelashes I would highly recommend individual or corner lashes. They are subtle but will make a big impact. You can use them to open up your eye by applying them all the way along your lashline or - my personal favourite - to get a sweeping feline flick at the corners. You can also make your lashes look thicker by dotting liquid liner between them, curling them and applying two coats of waterproof mascara.

14. Don't Forget Your Eyebrows

Eyebrows are so important because they frame the face. Anything too thin and harsh can make wedding make-up look tacky. If you have unsuccessfully tried to grow them you can use an eyebrow powder to gently fill them in. Add a little at a time and go a shade lighter than your hair colour to prevent them looking harsh. Watch 4Beauty's video on filling in eyebrows.

15. Make Up Your Man

I would say his wedding day is the one day your hubbie-to-be can wear a tiny bit of make-up. Subtle things would be having his eyelashes curled, wearing a little bit of brown mascara, and covering any spots or dark circles. He might even want to apply a moisturiser with a small amount of fake tan in it the night before. Get more tips on make-up for men.