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If you’re planning to do your own makeup for your big day, whether it doesn’t fit your budget or you simply prefer your own routine, there are a few tips and tricks from the experts that’ll you want to know about.
There are plenty of benefits of doing it yourself, too; you have total control over your final look, can work to your own schedule, and it can be a bit of peace and quiet before the chaos begins.
But wedding makeup is different from your everyday makeup. It needs to survive tears, maybe humidity, your ceremony and reception and of course, the camera lens.
That’s why I’ve gone straight to the pros, to find out what you should be doing weeks before your wedding, application tips and product recommendations for perfecting your bridal look.
First up, I spoke to Keeley Wilson, a professional makeup artist and co-founder of Altar Beauty, a bridal hair-and-makeup team. She has done the makeup for a ton of brides – seriously, you need to scroll through her Instagram – and has a detailed eye for creating a wedding look that will make you feel like your best self.
Next, I headed straight to Jamie Genevieve, makeup artist and founder of Vieve, one of Metro’s favourite makeup brands. Known for her signature polished-yet-wearable glam featuring flawless skin, defined eyes and a nude lip, she has a wealth of experience that’s she shared with Metro.
Consider this your backstage pass to two of the top names in beauty, so you can countdown to your wedding day armed with tips and tricks, straight from the pros.
How important is skincare prep?
Put simply, both MUAs say your skincare prep is essential to how your makeup will look on your wedding day.
‘I would advise keeping your routine simple and consistent, give at least 6 months to try any new treatments (in case of reaction) and avoid anything too invasive,’ advises Wilson, who also recommends drinking water daily to keep your hydration levels up, as this will help the skin look plump and healthy.
According to Genevieve, your makeup will only ever look as good as the skin underneath it. ‘Focus on gentle exfoliation and hydration in the lead-up, and an LED mask if you want to invest!’
Her top recommendations are the Bio Effect EGF Serum, which hydrates, smooths and firms skin, Biologique Recharge P50W Toner, a liquid exfoliant that can help to combat blemishes, dullness, flakiness, uneven skin tone and texture, Medicube Sheet Masks, which are a speedy way to plump and boost radiant and her go-to Nooance LED Mask.
What long-wearing base product that doesn’t end up cakey, what complexion products would you recommend?
Wilson’s favourite foundation for bridal looks is the NARS Natural Radiant Long-wear Foundation, but she’s also a fan of the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation if you prefer a slightly lighter coverage.
To lock it all in, her top tip is to apply a cream blush, bronzer and highlighter, followed by a light powder.
For Genevieve, less is more. ‘I think people panic about longevity and pile it on, but that’s usually what causes that heavy, cakey look later in the day. Go for something that works with your skin rather than masking it, like Vieve’s Skin Nova Complexion Balm. It gives you coverage but still looks like you, and it wears so much more beautifully over time.’
How can you find the best kiss-proof lipstick for your wedding day?
Wison’s recommends a lip stain for the ultimate long-wearing finish. ‘Find one that is close to your lip colour (or your chosen shade) and wear that as a base, that way you won’t have to worry about topping up throughout the day and your lips will still look perfect!’
But no matter what lipstick you wear, Genevieve advises there will always need ot be touch-ups. ‘That’s just reality, so delegate it! Give your bridesmaids your lipstick so you’re not thinking about it.’
‘For something that lasts but still feels nice on the lips, I love Vieve’s Poutder. It gives that soft, diffused finish, so even when it wears off, it still looks really pretty rather than patchy.’
How long before the big day should you practice your wedding makeup?
While both MUAs agree there’s no strict timeline, they recommend trialling your wedding makeup regularly in the lead up to your day, so you can tweak things you don’t like and get a better sense of how it will look after a few hours.
Genevieve says: ‘If you’re quite natural with your makeup day-to-day, you’ll probably find it comes together quite easily just by tweaking what you already do. If you’re going for something a bit more glam, give yourself time to properly play around with it. Save references, try things out, take photos in different lighting – that’s the biggest thing. What looks good in your bathroom mirror might feel totally different on camera.’
Is there anything brides should avoid in their makeup bag?
For your wedding day, Wilson recommends steering clear of SPF and foundation products that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, as they can sometimes leave a white cast on the skin that shows up in flash photography.
Meanwhile, Genevieve suggests being mindful about your application, trying not to be too heavy-handed or use products that are very strongly pigmented and harder to fix if you accidentally apply too much.
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