Instagram @katiemooremakeup
When you think of your wedding day, chances are you imagine yourself looking and feeling your best, and looking and feeling like you. After all, it’s nice to meet your partner at the end of the aisle looking like the (best version) of yourself.
Years ago, doing your bridal makeup was considered a bold move. However, millennials and Gen Z are increasingly ditching many conventional wedding traditions. Call it a zeitgeist shift, or call it canny cost-cutting but weddings don’t look like they used to.
Connected to this has been a preference for more natural-looking bridal beauty, which has left many wondering if they need the services of a professional makeup artist to achieve a look they’ll be happy with.
The preference is reflected in the prevalence of the “doing my makeup for my wedding” tag, which has appeared in 63.7 million posts on TikTok as chronically online brides embrace the “get ready with me” culture. But that doesn’t mean there’s no place for wedding makeup advice from experts as the big day approaches (if anything, there’s more).
@francescahung I had the best morning singing and hanging out with my beautiful friends whilst doing my makeup for my wedding. 🤍💒 This is exactly what I had envisioned and I’m so so happy I trusted my gut and did it myself! Felt like we were back in highschool gettjng ready to go out together 😂 #grwm #weddingmakeup #doingmyownweddingmakeup #doingmyownbridalmakeup ♬ original sound – Francesca Hung
No matter how natural your beauty look on your wedding day is, there are tweaks you can make to ensure it lasts longer and looks as radiant in real life as it does on camera.
So, we tapped one of Sydney’s top bridal makeup artist for some wedding day makeup tips, read on and you’ll be well prepared to tackle one of beauty’s biggest DIY projects on your big day.
Your Must-Have Wedding Makeup Advice
Katie Moore is a bridal makeup artist who specialises in wedding makeup looks that straddle the line between natural and glam. Essentially? She’s a master of “you but better beauty.”
Moore, who did her makeup for her wedding, says that far from being an added stressor, taking time on the big day can provide a moment of reprieve. “Find a nice quiet space with natural light that’s free of distractions and interruption, pop some nice music on, and take it slow,” she advises. ” It can be such a beautiful sacred moment to have some time to yourself.”
Moore also advises sticking to what you know you feel good in. “You’re not recreating the wheel with your wedding makeup look. Stick to something that makes you feel like you.”
Here are her tips and top products.
Bridal Skin Prep:
Moore, working on a smooth canvas during the lead-up to your wedding will save you time. “Skin prep is key; in the lead-up to the wedding, I really focused on my decolletage and neck – I also had a fairy dust facial at Bellaméres. If there’s one time to splurge on a facial, it’s a few weeks out from your wedding!”
For at-home care, Moore loves Dr Dennis Gross Peel Pads, ($28-249.00) which promote skin cell turnover, keep pores clear, and refine skin texture without causing irritation. She also called on the expertise of Amy Jean, an Eastern Suburbs Brow Expert, for a “brow colour match.” While we often think of brow technicians as masters of plucking and tweezing, a good brow studio should be able to tone your brows to your hair, a small detail that will pick up in photos.
While skin prep for the day will change depending on your skin type, ensure whatever moisturiser you use provides plenty of hydration. Moore loves the Charlotte Tilbury, Water Cream ($149.00) or the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré ($47.00)for dryer skin types.
Bridal Foundation:
When it comes to foundation, resist the temptation to apply one product all over the phase. “Customising coverage means applying foundation where it’s needed most, classically the T-Zone where we experience redness and see texture while using less product on the outer parameters of the face for a “real skin” finish. Using two shades of concealer, one for your under eyes and one for any blemishes, will create a more seamless and natural finish and leave you feeling more like you’re most glowing.
Moore used Charlotte Tilbury, Beautiful Skin Foundation ($70.00), a balmy medium-coverage foundation layered over Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer ($96.00), a product she rates for its waterproofing properties.
Bridal Blush and Bronzer:
When it comes to blush and bronzer, ” Blend, blend, and blend again! Focus on having no hard edges.” Moore says that after applying your blush and bronzer, you can give it a final blend with the brush you used for foundation or concealer.
Moore opted for a liquid blush, specifically Nars, Afterglow Liquid Blush in “Dolce Vita” ($53.00). This product is a matte liquid blush with a thin consistency that gives colour without adding layers of emollience that can compromise the longevity of your base. For bronzer, she reached for Chanel, Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream-Gel Bronzer ($91.00), a sheer bronzer that can be used to sculpt and give the skin a tawny sunkissed look.
With cameras flashing, it can be tempting to reach for the contour stick, but Moore says if you’re a novice, it’s best not to make your wedding day your trial run.
Wedding Day Eye Makeup:
Eyes are where you can have fun and experiment on your wedding day – just ensure you do so in the lead-up and not on the day. A few guiding principles? A top bridal makeup tip? Tightlining. The technique creates a denser lashing and adds definition without creating a smokey eye. Work an eyeliner pencil between the lashes all the way along for Bambi-esque eyes without a whole lot of product.
Then, using a soft pencil at the lashline and smudging it out will also “anchor” a look, whether you choose to follow with a soft wash of colour or opt for something more glam.
Lashes:
Moore’s biggest “don’t”? Waterproof mascara. “Lots of people think waterproof mascara should be the go-to for wedding days, but mascaras aren’t waterproof; they’re water “resistant”.” This means if you do find yourself tearing up small amounts of waterproof mascara, it will transfer, stain your under eyes, and make a mess of your existing lashes. Moore instead suggests using a tubing mascara, like the Kevyn Aucoin, The Volume Mascara ($53.00) falls away in clean segments, meaning the flakes can be dusted off and the mascara can be easily reapplied once you’ve wrapped your happy cry.
Lips:
Ensure your lips are well-prepped by applying a balm before you start your makeup. Then, work it off with a Q-tip. This will gently get rid of any dead skin, leaving you with a soft, supple pout. Dab with a tissue and apply your liner of choice all over the lips before following with lipstick. Moore opted for Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in “Pillow Talk” ($38.00) and Mecca Max Pout Pop Sheer Lipstick in “Top Down” ($23.00), a perfect nude combo.
Locking It In:
One artist’s tip to ensure your makeup lasts? Give your complexion a spritz of setting spray before you apply powder. This “dries off” your complexion products, cementing your base and requiring less powder. Then, apply powder minimally to the central areas of your face.
The Expert-Approved Bridal Beauty Products
01
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads
from $146.00 at Mecca
Best for: resurfacing
These pads are soaked in alpha and beta hydroxy acids to clear pores and resurface skin texture.
02
Charlotte Tilbury, Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream
from $149.00 at Mecca
Best for: lightweight hydration
An oil-free priming moisturiser designed by makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury with skin prep in mind.
03
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
from $47.00 at Adore Beauty
Best for: skin prep for dry skin types
Loved by French makeup artists for it’s plumping and priming qualities, this moisturiser is perfect for massaging in under makeup if your skin sits on the dryer side.
04
Hourglass, Veil Mineral Primer
from $96.00 at Mecca
Best for: a bulletproof base
A pea-sized amount of this velvety primer will smooth your pores and waterproof and transfer-proof your base, making it essential for events where white fabric abounds.
05
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation
from $70.00 at Mecca
Best for: your skin but better foundation
This balmy complexion enhancer is perfects your complexion while keeping your skin hydrated and looking fresh and natural throughout the day.
06
Laura Mercier, Real Flawless Concealer
from $55.00 at Mecca
Best for: spot concealing
This concealer covers, smooths and delivers crease-proof, buildable coverage all in one package. With 22 shades to choose from Moore recommends selecting one for your under eyes and one that matches your foundation for a seamless base.
07
Chanel, Poudre Universelle Libre
from $94.00 at Myer
Best for: Seamless setting
This loose powder effortlessly absorbs oil, smooths the complexion, and tackles excess shine. It comes in a translucent shade and three tinted versions that provide a hint of additional coverage.
08
One Size On Till Dawn Setting Spray
from $58.00 at Sephora
Best for: Insurance
This viral setting spray mattifies, waterproofs, and transfer-proofs your makeup with ingredients that absorb oil throughout the day. We especially love the super-fine mist in this spray—it does the job while leaving freshly applied eye makeup well alone.
Looking to save money on fashion? Check out our coupon codes for Farfetch, The Iconic and more.
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