Bridal beauty – the facts
On your wedding day, you want to look like yourself and feel your most beautiful. Avoid trends and think more of a look that’s timeless and elegant where you can look back at the photos in 10, 20 or 30 years and your makeup won’t feel dated.
For bridal beauty, prepping the skin is so important. I’ll reach for Extra Treatment Lotion (€60) – it has a beautiful essence consistency and is packed with moisture magnets to plump and hydrate. It leaves the skin looking calm, soothed and beautiful. Then I’ll use Extra Eye Repair Cream (€56) to smooth and brighten the eye area and prep for concealer. For the face, my go-to is Vitamin Enriched Face base (€52.50) which is a moisturiser and primer in one and gives the most perfect application. My secret weapon is the Extra Illuminating Balm (€56) and I’ll add this anywhere I want extra glow for a dewy, radiant finish. It’s beautiful on the shoulders and décolleté if your dress is off the shoulder.
Choosing the right type of foundation is key. Go for a tinted moisturiser or foundation that evens out your skin completely as the camera picks up on any high colour peeking through . I tend to reach for Skin Long-wear Weightless Foundation (€38) as it’s 16 hour wear, sweat and humidity resistant. Always make sure you apply a little foundation on your ears if your hair is back so there’s no visible difference in tone. Apply corrector and concealer under the eyes as needed, then set your base with a skin tone correct powder. Nude Finish Illuminating Powder (€50) is a great choice, especially if you have a drier skin or haven’t found a powder that you love. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid so it never looks dry or creates texture. I avoid white translucent powder completely as to minimise the chances of flashback in photography.
When choosing colour for blush, it’s a great idea to look at colours that mimic your skin at its best. Choose a cream blush if you have a drier skin type or a powder blush if you’re oilier. If you have a cooler skin tone, look at pastel or powder pinks, while if you have a warmer skin tone, look for peaches and apricots. Apply from the apple of the cheek and sweep upwards towards the temple.
The same idea works for bronzer – look for the colour that you would go on when you’re on a sun holiday. I love using Antigua Bronzer (€37) on a fairer skin as it adds warmth in a way that flatters and lifts the skin without looking obvious. Apply on forehead, cheekbones and jawline in an “S” formation. Again, you can add a little to the ears if your hair is back. Apply a little Highlighting Powder (€44) to the top of the cheekbones, the Cupid’s bow and the bridge of the nose to add a beautiful dimensional glow to the skin. Pink Glow and Bronze Glow are some of my go-tos. The light reflective pearls in the Highlighting Powders are golden in tone so they never look ashy or silvery against the skin.
Choose one feature that you want to be the focus – pairing a red lip with a smokey eye will look too heavy. If you want to rock a red or a darker lip, remember to have a bridesmaid on hand to top you up throughout the day and make sure you use a lipliner to create a precise shape. Luxe Matte Lip Colour in Red Carpet (€32.50) is a great option for longer wear and works beautifully on so many skin tones.
For a nude lip option, remember that nude doesn’t mean beige as this can wash you out. As a guide, look at the colour that’s just inside your lower lip when you pull it down slightly. This is your perfect nude. Choosing a lip colour close to that will look really elegant and polished. Luxe Lip Colour in Neutral Rose (€32.50) or our classic Lip Colour in Sandwash Pink are really beautiful options.
Define your brows with Perfectly Defined Long-wear EyeBrow Pencil (€39.50). It’s great for creating precise hair-like strokes or filling in an gaps in the brow in a natural way. If in doubt, choose a lighter colour that you can build up rather than going for something too dark which can make the brow look heavy.
For eyes, I love a look that fresh and polished. Again, going for a full on smokey eye or a cut crease look, although popular now, will look dated in five years. I’ll use Long-wear Cream Shadow Sticks (€30 each) when I’m creating a Bridal look as they stay budge-proof for 8 hours and blend absolutely beautifully. Golden Bronze and Golden Pink are firm favourites, as they add brightness, luminosity and radiance to the eye.
For eyeliner, I’ll use long-wear Gel Eye Liner (€25) to give definition. Choose an eyeliner shape that flatters your eye and that’s based on what you would normally wear so you still feel like yourself. Sometimes a simple tight line at the lashes looks perfect so don’t over think it. To finish the look, I’ll use Smokey Eye Mascara (€28.50) for volume, length and definition and follow with a coat or two of No-Smudge Waterproof Mascara. It’s like a raincoat that works over any formula just in case there’s any tears.
BOX
We offer a how-to: do my wedding makeup at our counters nationwide where we can help to create a bespoke bridal look and teach you techniques to perfect your application for the day in hand. Pop into store or check out bobbibrown.co.uk for further details.