Bridal Makeup
A bit of lip-gloss and mascara may work for your day-to-day, but a little more effort is required on your big day. No bride wants to look washed out in their wedding photos. Whether you choose a do-it-yourself method or seek out the help of professionals, embrace the wedding season and look into more elegant and extravagant make-up options.
Choosing your Make-up Style
The bridal make-up you go for depends on your personal style. But, there are still a few important things to consider such as the time and setting of your wedding. A lighter, more natural look will work best at, say, a Sunday beach wedding, while Saturday night nuptials at a swanky hotel would call for a more dramatic, evening look. The season can also make a difference – spring/summer nuptials lend themselves to cheery, pastel colours, while rich, deep shades suit autumn and winter.
Your skin tone and hair colour can affect the palette you opt for. Fair-skinned blondes suit cool tones, like grey, blue and lilac, while brunettes with olive complexions shine in warm browns, taupes, burgundies and reds.
Make-up Trends
Current make-up looks include sweeping eye shadows in pastels (think eggshell blue, light green and lilac) and in-your-face lip colours, from dark red to bright pink. Cat eyes are also back in vogue, using glossy black eyeliner, and paired with super-light eye shadows and nude tones. Still, it is best to avoid fast fads on your wedding day altogether and opt for more of a natural, timeless look. Remember to put the focus on one area of your face only – if your lips are strong, go easy on the eyes, and vice versa.
Professional Make-up Artists
Forking out for a professional make-up artist can put you at ease on your wedding day if you’re not so confident with a make-up brush. Make sure you’re prepared ahead of time. Organise a trial with your make-up artist a few months before the wedding to ensure you’re both visualising the same end result. Come prepared with magazine cuttings and photos of your dress and bridal party outfits to help paint a picture. It’s also a good idea to have your bridesmaids tag along for their input and advice.
On the day, ensure your make-up artist has plenty of time to get the job done and won’t be rushed. And remember, bridal make-up needs to be a little more dramatic than your everyday look, but you still want to feel like yourself.
Top Wedding Make-up Tips
- Use a tinted moisturiser instead of foundation for a natural, slightly sun-kissed look.
- If you do opt for a foundation, go for one with yellow undertones as it’ll look best with flash photography.
- Lightly dust translucent powder over your face to prevent any unwanted shine.
- Use a primer under eye shadow to avoid it “creasing” and to maintain the colour.
- Use a waterproof mascara to help get you through any teary moments unscathed.
- Use a lip liner in the same colour as your lipstick and then add a lip gloss or balm on top to moisturise.
- Apply bronzer to the areas of your face where the sun naturally hits, like your forehead and nose.
- Avoid excessive use of shimmer highlighters or light-refractive makeup, which can look a tad unflattering in photos.
- Carry an all-day beauty kit – including a powder compact, concealer, lipstick, lip balm and cotton buds – for touch-ups during the day (or get your mum or one of your bridesmaids to carry it for you).
