Our dusky Indian beauties have plenty of options when it comes to planning their look for their big day. We are blessed today with major make-up brands catering for all skin tones and types – you just have to figure out which look you prefer.

It’s all in the eyes:

Eye shadows in copper, browns and earthy colors will work wonders with a heavy lashing of mascara and beautifully kohled eyes. Let your eyes do the talking for your bridal beauty and makeup look.

The Urban Decay Naked Palette has a variety of bronze shades that suit every skin tone and they come in matte for daytime functions as well as shimmer colors for a slightly more glamorous look for evening functions.

Back to bases:

Your foundation is one of the most important aspects of your overall bridal make-up. Get this one wrong and you may end up looking washed out if you pick a tone lighter than your actual skin color. Try going to a MAC or Bobbi Brown counter and asking the MUA there to assist you try on several shades until you find one that suits you. Also remember to choose for your skin type – oily, dry or combination. The famous foundations that get raved about on the blogosphere may not suit your skin type.

Another important but often overlooked base area is the under eye area. If you want to cover up puffiness under the eyes, try using a concealer that is just a little bit darker to avoid ghastly white patches. One of the best concealers in the market is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and they come in several different shades so you are bound to find one that suits you.

Totally peached:

For your cheeks ask your MUA to use a strobe (aka highlights) to bring out your best features. Strobing is essentially best suited for drier skin girls and enhances the areas where the light shines on your face. Just below the highlight on your cheeks, apply a peach toned blush to complete the overall bridal look with a healthy glow.

Lip it up:

For your lips once again stick to natural hues of peach and terracotta. These tones will bring some warmth to your overall look. If your bridal outfit is a bright color such as a traditional red – don’t match your outfit with your lips. If you can’t resist a red lip for your big day – try out the Mac Lipstick in shade Ruby Woo which is often said to be a universally flattering red.

Look to Bollywood:

Bollywood has a string of dusky beauties – The alluring Bipasha Basu, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Freida Pinto, Asin,  Chitrangda Singh and traditional Konkona Sen are gorgeous darker skinned ladies who hardly ever put a foot wrong in the make up stakes. They are all different yet they have found looks that work for them. You will notice with their looks that they embrace their darker skin tone and let it shine through their makeup.

Tips:

• Shop around for your beauty products. Don’t just go to one counter like MAC. While MAC have amazing products, do check out other brands that also cater for all skin types and shades for example Bobbi Brown, Maybelline and L’Oreal. Maybelline and L’Oreal in particular have greatly improved their shade selection.

• If your skin is oily, don’t forget to finish off by applying a translucent setting powder. Apply just enough for a thin layer

• Pick a MUA you can trust and don’t be afraid to speak up if the look they create for you isn’t your cup of tea. You know yourself better than anyone so pick the looks that make you happy – a happy bride is always a beautiful bride.

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