Natural Woman

A woman who doesn’t normally wear makeup might make an exception and dip a fingertip into a pot of gloss to look especially pretty on her wedding day. Even with a flawless complexion and a sparkling smile, she risks looking washed out in photographs or in a keepsake video if she doesn’t use any cosmetics to define her features. When makeup is artfully applied, the bride’s status as a natural beauty won’t be threatened.

We asked makeup artist Jeanine Lobell, founder of Stila Cosmetics, to design a look for Betty Liong, who is getting married in June.

“A common mistake brides make is wearing too much makeup,” Lobell says. “You want to look like yourself on your wedding day. And you want to make sure not to get a facial too close to the wedding. You want to allow enough time for your skin to calm down after a facial.”

Although a makeup rehearsal isn’t as long-standing a tradition as the rehearsal dinner, Lobell suggests experimenting with makeup in advance.

Even if you’ve hired a professional to create your wedding face, it’s a good idea to check out cosmetics counters and familiarize yourself with a color palette you like.

If you don’t want to add a makeup artist to your prep crew, many department store cosmeticians will design a look for you and send you home with a map of your face and instructions on how to re-create the look for your special day.

All products are by Stila and available at Barney’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.