A touch of tan

The ideal template for wedding make-up is a warmed complexion and soft, natural shades on top. Applying a subtle fake tan to the face the day before will add warmth beneath your foundation.

Take a test run well ahead of the wedding, though, to ensure your chosen tan doesn't make you look too orange. Also, always choose a facial tanner as the results are less intense and obvious than those of body tanners.

If you've had a last-minute outbreak of stress spots or dry patches, however, skip the fake tan. Its active ingredient, DHA, will react with the heightened pigment or scaliness of your skin for a darker result in those areas that is almost impossible to conceal. Instead, add a bronzing liquid – Bourjois and Maybelline do one – to your base and lightly brush bronzing powder over the top once applied.