BLUSH-ON

Pick a powder-based blush in auturnn and a crearn-based one in winter. Usually, the blusher is applied on the cheekbones and blended upwards and outwards. However, the actual application of the blush will depend on the shape of your face. Great care should be taken to blend the blush smoothly with the aid of a make-up brush. (Cheek out Revlon 'Touch & Glow' blushes in sandalwood and cinnarnon spice with fade-resistant formula. Also try Aveda's exotic tones which are formulated with plant derivatives and are free of petrochemical ingredients). A shimmering powder applied over the blush-on will give a finishing touch to the cheeks. (Try 'Sparkledust' by Bobbi Brown). Tip. If the face is round, apply the blush outwards to the corner of the eyes. This will give a leaner shape to the face.

CLEANSING

Start by cleansing the skin with a mild, herbal cleanser-cum-toner using moist cotton. (You could try 'Cucumber Cleansing Milk' or 'Honey Cream Cleanser' by Body Shop). For a squeaky clean feeling, you may follow the cleanser with a face wash. Tip: Rubbing ice cubes all over the skin's surface will make the mak 'e-up last longer and take away the dull look.

MAKE-UP BASE

The most important step in make-up application is preliminary make-up base. It should lend a youthful glow to the skin, so choose the right base with care. A commonly held notion is that yellow or earth tones lend a dignified look to the Indian skin, especially for bridal make-up. However, this does not always hold true. Sometimes, such base colours can make you look pale.

CONCEALER

The concealer and the founda- tion together form the base of make-up. A concealer can be applied directly on the face with a concealer stick, or by taking snial '1 quantities onto a make-up brush and lightly smudging on the relevant spots. Use a full coverage camouflage concealer for concealing dark circles, blemishes and discolorations. The concealer should be just a shade lighter than the Foundation.

Tip: Use a concealer with a light moisturising formula as it rehydrates the skin

FOUNDATION

A matte-based foundation should be applied over the concealer. The foundation should match your skin tone as closely as possible. Pour a small amount on your palm and then dab on the face in small quantities. Blend the foundation carefully with a sponge, to get a reflective sheer coverage. Never ignore the neck area. After thoroughly, apply foundation and a powder on it so that your same colour tone. Never ignore the neck area. After thoroughly, apply foundation and a powder on it so that your same colour tone. Gold glitter on the arms is in this season, and this gives an appropriaet backdrop to your wedding jewellery. The glitter can be applied spread sparingly with fingertips.

Tip: A matte foundation will lend a beautiful look and an oil-free foundation make the make-up last longer

AN EYEBROW PENCIL.

Define eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil.This in case of scanty or light eyebrows.

Tip. A little vaseline on the eyebrows a fine sheen to them

EYE SHADOW

The eye shadow tones used should be subtle.The eye shadow should be - shimmer. Shade the contour of with a darker tone . tones used should be subtle. An eye gloss can be used for extra shimmer.

Tip: Make a work base by applying white eye shadow on the eyelids to ease blending.

EYELINER

Using a dark brown eyeliner pencil together with a gold one can highlight the eyes some more. First draw a neat line with the eyeliner from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner, near the eyelashes. Both the upper and lower lash lines must be lined carefully. Then, apply a gold or silver eyeliner, slightly above the dark brown shade on the upper lash line and slightly below the brown shade on the lower lash line. The colours should touch each other. Care should be taken not to smudge the dark brown shade.

Tip: Coloured contact lenses in green, grey and beige colours will complement your bridal make-up.

MASCARA

Smudge-proof mascara is a must on the wedding day. The mascara should dramatically lengthen and thicken your eyelashes,. without flaking, cluniping or smudging. First curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler. Then take a little mascara on the application brush and stroke the brush from the roots to the end of the lashes, in an upward motion. Also apply the mascara brush horizontally and vertically so that all the lashes are coated properly. Apply two coats. Be careful that the first coat has dried before applying the second one.

Tip. Use of a dry brush to brush the eyelas .hes after the mas- cara is applied, will comb out the lashes and avoid caking.

LIP COLOUR

Begin by applying foundation on the lips with your fingertips. Then, outline the lips with a lipliner. to create a perfect outline. The lipliner will also prevent the lip- stick from smudging. Fill in the lip colour or lipstick with a lipstick application brush.

Tip: Lipsticks can be made to last longer by first dusting the lips lightly with some loose powder instead of foundation before applying the lip colour. Dab lips with a tissue.

BINDI

Indian bridal make-up is incomplete without attractive bindis dotting the face. The traditional bridal bindis are now being substituted with the more sophisticated stone diamentes. Individual tiny glass diarnentes lend a beautiful effect when placed on the corners of the eyes. You could use liquid gold glitter or liquid bindis along with stone diamentes to make stylish designs.. Tip: Carry a little bindi glue, to re-affix the diarnentes in case they come off as the day progresses.