Prevailing wisdom says that on your wedding day you should look like the best version of yourself, so play up your assets with a clean, classic skincare and makeup routine that will ensure you’re the center of attention. We turned to Jillian Dempsey, one of Hollywood’s premier makeup artists, for spotlight-stealing beauty tips.

Responsible for the red carpet looks of screen sirens like Kate Winslet, Jessica Biel, Kirsten Dunst and Thandie Newton, Dempsey’s A-list clientele is a regular who’s who of style and beauty. She has served as Avon’s Global Creative Color Director since 2006, guiding the cosmetics giant toward more fashion-forward looks and releasing her own line of professional-quality products while she’s at it. (She’s also married to one of Hollywood’s leading men, Patrick Dempsey.)

Before even considering makeup, however, Dempsey recommends getting your skin in tip-top shape by going back to basics.

Priming the Palette

“Good skin is an absolute must-have for brides,” she says. “Treat yourself to a facial three weeks in advance and pamper your skin. Drink lots of water, avoid sodium and salty foods the night before [the wedding], and get a full eight hours of sleep. It really makes a difference in your appearance, and having a nice complexion on your wedding day means the makeup process is more like a beauty session than a big cover-up.”

Her skin prep recommendations include rejuvenating eye pads to quell puffiness; her personal favorites are Shiseido ($39; sca.shiseido.com) and Shu Uemura ($45; shuuemura-usa.com)

Fresh-Faced Foundation

When it comes to foundation, Dempsey insists that less is more. “I like the freshness of skin and tend to avoid heavy bases,” she says. “A great foundation—blended with a sponge or fingers—will even out skin tone. Remember to blend into your neck and décolletage if your dress reveals those areas.” She advises brides to steer clear of SPF on the big day, as it can give your face a ghost-like hue in photographs, even if it’s invisible to the naked eye. Her go-to foundations include Armani Luminous Silk ($59; giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com) and Avon Ideal Shade ($10; shop.avon.com) for light, effective coverage.

Punchy Pink Cheeks

To up the glow factor, Dempsey recommends piling on blush in lieu of bronzer. “You need to go a little heavier on the blush—about 20 percent more than normal—for it to show up in pictures,” she says. “I especially like rosy pink and dusty rose shades for brides. Shu Uemura ($23; shuuemura-usa.com) has pretty powder blush shades.”

Color-Saturated Lips

When asked about tricky lip color issues, she ditches traditional lipstick in favor of more fashion-forward (and long-lasting) lip stains. “Laura Mercier Lip Stains ($20; lauramercier.com) provide a great base, and NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils ($24; narscosmetics.com) are good, too—they’ll help your lip color last a lot longer than normal lipstick,” she recommends. “Top it off with a tiny amount of gloss to give your lips a supple look.” For mid-reception touch-ups, reapply that gloss. “It’s easier to apply and more forgiving,” Dempsey says. “Just make sure the gloss has a medium to heavy amount of pigment so your lips stay fresh-looking.”

Soft and Pretty Eyes

She also recommends keeping eye makeup simple to make sure the focus is on you, though upping the glam factor is certainly a priority. “Ask a professional makeup artist to apply a few individual lashes to the outer edges of your upper lash line,” Dempsey says. “It creates fullness, and if done correctly, the false lashes should not be obvious.” She also advises that brides stick with waterproof mascara—the dual-ended Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Mascara ($9.50; avon.com) has a volumizing formula on one end and a waterproof one on the other, giving you the best of both worlds.

Capture the Look

If the idea of doing your own makeup on the big day overwhelms you, Dempsey offers tips for finding a makeup artist who understands your vision. “Ask them to describe their signature beauty look,” she says. “Show the artist pictures of your favorite looks from magazines and ask them whether those makeup looks are right for your face.” One thing you can’t sacrifice: a test run. “Definitely invest in a makeup test with the artist before hiring them,” she stresses. “Above all, make sure you share the same vision for your big day.”