Bridesmaids Makeup: Simple Tips For A Flawless Look

Being a bridesmaid is an honour, but it can be an expensive one. If you're doing your own makeup for the wedding, it's important to get it right. You'll want to start with a fresh, clean face, so bring a gentle cleanser and moisturiser. Use a moisturiser with SPF to avoid sunburn, especially if it's an outdoor wedding. Next, use a primer to minimise pores and fill in fine lines. When it comes to foundation, opt for full-coverage or all-day wear and pay attention to skin type and undertones. Once you've found the right shade, apply it all over your face. Set your foundation with a translucent powder, focusing on your t-zone to keep your face from getting shiny.

Now for the fun part: eyeshadow. If you're wearing a jewel-toned dress, try a coordinating shadow colour one shade lighter or darker than your dress. If your dress is a warm colour, stick with a black/grey eyeshadow. If you're wearing black or grey, any colour eyeshadow is fair game. Add a tiny bit of primer to help it stay put, then apply lighter colours first and layer darker colours to highlight, using a small brush or sponge applicator to blend. Finish the look with eyeliner and mascara, making sure to use waterproof products.

For your cheeks, apply bronzer and blush. Bronzer will give you a gentle sun-kissed glow, while blush will add a little pink to your cheeks. Keep the blush higher on your cheekbones for a natural facelift. Finally, finish with your lips. Start with a thin layer of lip balm or liner, then apply layers of long-wear lipstick until you reach the desired shade.

Skin prep

Next, use a primer to minimise pores, fill in fine lines, and provide a smooth base for your makeup. A small amount of eyelid primer will also help your eye makeup stay put throughout the day.

When it comes to foundation, even if you don't usually wear it, it's a good idea for weddings to ensure you look picture-perfect. Choose a full-coverage or all-day wear foundation that matches your skin type and undertones. Test a few options on the inside of your arm or neck to find the perfect shade—it should almost disappear.

Finish off your skin prep with a light dusting of translucent powder to set your foundation and prevent shine, focusing on your T-zone where oil tends to surface.

Foundation

Choosing the Right Foundation

When choosing a foundation, look for one that offers full coverage or all-day wear. Pay attention to your skin type and undertones (warm, cool, or neutral). Once you've narrowed it down, test several options on the inside of your arm or neck—the right shade should just about disappear.

Applying Foundation

Before applying foundation, use a primer. It will minimize pores, fill in fine lines, and give your makeup a smooth base. When applying the foundation, remember that less is more. Start with a light layer and blend it from the centre of your face outwards. You can always add more coverage where needed with a concealer.

Setting the Foundation

To set your foundation, use a translucent powder. This will help keep your face from getting shiny, but be wary of HD powder, which can reflect light and wash you out in photos. Apply the powder with a big, fluffy brush, focusing on your T-zone where oil tends to surface.

Tips for Longevity

To make your foundation last all day, choose a long-wearing formula and set it with a setting spray instead of powder. This will ensure your makeup stays put without adding extra layers that can cake or crease.

If you want a more natural look, you can opt for a tinted gel or cream instead of a traditional foundation. This will give you a sheer base that lets your skin shine through while still providing some coverage.

Bronzer and blush

Bronzer can also help to contour your face. For a natural facelift, apply blush higher on your cheekbones. For a natural look, opt for subtle, matte washes of colour that will sculpt and enhance your complexion without being too obvious or drawing attention to any blemishes. Remember, you can always add more blush, but it's tricky to remove it without disturbing the base underneath. Start small and gradually build up the colour.

If you have a naturally rosy complexion, you may want to use foundation and bronzer to tone it down before adding blush to bring some colour back to your cheeks.

Brows

For a natural bridesmaid makeup look, simply brush up your eyebrows and set them with brow gel. This will give a light and fluffy appearance.

If you're going for a glowy or glamorous look, you can fill in your brows a little more. Bridal beauty expert Nine Morrison suggests keeping your eyeshadow simple and neutral, without any pops of colour, unless the bride requests something specific.

For a modern bridesmaid look, lightly smoke out the eyes with a brown liner and a matte eyeshadow. Chanel's Les 4 Ombres in Clair-Obscur and Warm Memories are recommended palettes.

Eyeshadow and lipstick

When it comes to eyeshadow and lipstick, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it's important to coordinate with the bride and the rest of the bridal party to ensure everyone looks cohesive. It's also a good idea to take the dress colour and style into consideration—for example, if you're wearing a jewel-toned dress, you might want to try an eyeshadow colour that's one shade lighter or darker than your dress. If your dress is a warm colour, a black or grey eyeshadow might be a better option. And if you're wearing black or grey, any eyeshadow colour will work!

For a natural look, opt for neutral eyeshadow shades and soft pink tones for your lips. If you want to add a pop of colour, you could try a red or berry lip, but always check with the bride first. For a glowy look, warm shades from coral to brick will make your eyes stand out. You could also try a sunset eye, using shimmery shades like champagne-pink and taupe. If you're going for understated glamour, a matte canvas will let your eye makeup do the talking. Try a fuller coverage foundation and add a little more glam with a highlighter on your cheekbones, brow bone and the inner corner of your eyes.

If you want to keep your makeup simple, try a monochrome look by matching your eyeshadow to your dress colour. For a bold statement, a smoky eye will never go out of style—just remember to blend well! For a summer wedding, less is more—opt for a natural, nude palette that won't melt off in the heat. And if you're a fan of glitter, a glittery eye is a fun choice for a glamorous ballroom wedding.

Finally, don't forget to use a primer to help your eyeshadow stay put all day, and finish with a setting spray to ensure your makeup lasts well into the night!

Frequently asked questions