Whether you’re hiring a makeup artist, asking your glam aunty, or doing your wedding makeup yourself, deciding what to put on your face at an event where you’re the centre of attention can be overwhelming.
The tricky thing with bridal makeup is that it needs to hold up to a lot. Greeting relatives, dancing, kissing, nervous sweating: it needs to act like stage makeup, without making you look like a Dancing With The Stars contestant.
Generally, it’s a good idea not to stray too far from your usual look. If that’s tinted moisturiser, mascara and lip balm, aim for a more polished version of natural rather than a full beat. And if you always wear a red lip, don’t feel pressured into a pinky nude just because it’s ‘bridal’. The goal is to be comfortable and look like yourself, just on a really good day.
According to Mecca education partner Louise Rae, the current trend for bridal beauty is, “perfectly perfected – but not too done up! Fresh, glowing complexions, warm tones on eyes and creamy blush textures.”
Right now it’s peak wedding season, and bridal beauty is top of mind for makeup artists across the country – myself included. So to help guide you through the ever-growing beauty aisles, I pulled together my favourite wedding day essentials, and asked four top NZ makeup artists to share theirs too.
Tip #1. Don’t forget SPF
Good skin prep is essential for glowing wedding day skin, and so is sunblock if you’ll be outdoors for extended periods of time. To avoid too many layers on the skin, try the makeup artists’ trick of using a combined SPF and primer.
Makeup artists Lochie Stonehouse and Sophy Philips both rate Mecca’s To Save Face SPF 50 for bridal and editorial clients for its lightweight, shine-free texture. If you’re really worried about shine, take the advice of makeup artist Tallulah McLean (also known as Look Bomb), “The ELF Putty Primer is great for oily skin in the T-zone to keep things matte.”
For makeup artist Rae Sacha and myself, Hourglass Veil Primer SPF 15 is the go-to for a long-lasting base, over something hydrating like Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Brighten Your Day Crème. Mecca’s Rae keeps Hourglass Veil in her personal kit, too, “it minimises the appearance of pores, blurs out fine lines and leaves your skin feeling super silky and smooth all the while extending the wearability of your foundation.” What she said.
It is pricey though, so if you only wear makeup for special events, the mini version is less of an investment.
In the kit:
Mecca Cosmetica Lit From Within Primer, $47
Hourglass Veil Primer SPF 15, $95
ELF Poreless Putty Primer, $18
Mecca’s To Save Face SPF 50, $47
Emma Lewisham Illuminating Brighten Your Day Crème, $120
Tip #2. Coverage without cake
Even if you don’t normally wear foundation, taking time to even out your skin tone will help give you that polished look. But in the wise words of Phillips, “The only cake on a wedding day should be the one you eat.”
Most makeup artists suggest using a high-coverage foundation sparingly for a flawless, non-cakey result. Philips and Sacha are fans of the TikTok viral Charlotte Tilbury foundations; Flawless Filter and Airbrush Flawless (the latter is slightly more matte), whereas Stonehouse reaches for Nars Natural Radiant Longwear foundation, before “setting the hot-spots with Shiseido Synchro Skin Invisible Silk Loose in Matte.”
If you have drier skin or like a really dewy finish, try Ellis Faas (my personal favourite) or Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation, and “focus on buffing the product into the skin to ensure enough coverage but that it still looks like skin,” says Sacha.
For ultimate longevity, “Morphe Continuous setting spray I use between each layer of makeup to really make it stick!” says McLean.
In the Kit:
Nars Natural Radiant Longwear foundation, $83
Ellis Faas Skin Veil Foundation, $122
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, $70
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, $70
Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation, $92
Synchro Skin Invisible Loose Powder, $82
Morphe Continuous Setting Mist, $27
Tip #3. Light-weight lips
Between the greeting, kissing, eating and drinking you’ll be doing, the pros recommend a lightweight, liquid matte formula for long wearing colour. “Stila Stay All Day and Nars Powermatte Lip pigment offer a liquid to matte finish,” says Sacha.
Stonehouse agrees, “Liquid lipsticks still last longer than typical matte formulas. That being said, if you have dry lips, liquid lipsticks and matte formulas can emphasise this.”
To avoid the dry look, start with a juicy layer of Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $36, and let it sink in before you start your makeup, or try this unanimously-approved method: line and fill your lips with a durable lip pencil, and apply a gloss over the top.
“My favourite pencils are Nude by Nature’s Rose and Soft Pink, $25 each. I use them all the time on shoots, and they last all day without ever flaking or looking parched,” says Phillips. “Nars Dolce Vita also comes in a long-lasting pencil, $52, which is very comfortable to wear.”
McLean (a lipliner queen) has some hot recommendations: “MAC Spice, $38, for a darker complexion and Whirl for fairer are great natural lip liners. Makeup Forever Limitless Brown, $40, for darker complexion and Endless Cocoa for fairer are amazing brown shades.”
In Sacha’s experience, “most brides prefer a natural balmy finish to the lip. My go-to combination is Charlotte Tilbury Iconic Nude, $38, topped with Mecca Lip De-Luscious Tinted Balm, $36. It gives the most natural hydrated nude lip.”
Finally, a personal artistry tip from Mecca's Rae, “if you want your lipstick to stay on longer, a lip primer is very important to apply first - then using a lip pencil over the entire lip is a great way to ensure your lipstick stays on longer.”
In the kit:
Nars Air Matte Lip Colour in Dolce Vita, $50
By Terry Lip Pencil in Perfect Nude, $53
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Penelope Pink, $56
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, $47
Makeup Forever Lip Pencil in Limitless Brown, $40
Tip #4. Lashes: Choose your fighter
When it comes to lashes, you need to decide (don’t worry we’ll help you) - either individual or strip lashes applied on the day, or something more permanent like a lash lift or extensions.
If you’re blessed with great natural lashes, a lash curler and a good mascara will be enough. “By Terry Terrybly Waterproof is a beautiful mascara that gives a nice voluminous look to the eye,” says Louise Rae. “I haven’t come across a bride yet that doesn’t want not only waterproof lashes but volume which is what this fabulous mascara gives.”
If you’ve never worn false lashes but want something a little extra, McLean and Sacha love the natural look of individual lashes. You can’t feel them on, and they can be customised to suit your overall makeup vibe. Just be warned, applying these yourself is challenging, so leave this part to the professionals or steady-handed friend.
“In general, I don’t often reach for faux lashes unless specifically requested by a client,” says Stonehouse. “When I do use them, it’s LoveSeen strip lashes. Strip lashes have come a long way, and can look just as natural (if not more natural) than individuals. They’re so much faster to apply too.”
Sophy Phillips rates Glam by Manicare's range of false lashes for easy self-application, “They have fine, flexible strips so they're almost invisible and less likely to pop off at the edges.”
If you don’t like the idea of fussing around with lash glue, a semi-permanent lash treatment is the way to go. “I always recommend that my bride book an appointment for a lash lift, although I discourage extensions,” says Stonehouse. This option simply ‘perms’ your own lashes into a flattering curl, and avoids the risk of heavy-looking falsies or extensions.
However, if you’ve had lash extensions before and you trust your technician, getting natural extensions prior to the wedding “will save time on the day and you’ll be feeling a little fabulous on your honeymoon too”, says Phillips.
Again, choose your fighter: “I would only recommend having a lash lift if a bride does not need lash extensions,” says Sacha. “Makeup artists know the struggle of fitting a strip or individual lashes on lifted lashes, they don't sit flush and end up looking fake, not the good kind!”
“I find lash lifts and strip lashes don’t go together very well so stick to individuals! Extensions or individuals are ideal for a more subtle glam!” - Tallulah
What’s in the kit:
Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curler, $47
Kevyn Aucoin The Curling Mascara, $55
Bryedo Tears in Rain Mascara, $79
By Terry Terrybly Waterproof Mascara, $85
Too Faced Better than Sex Waterproof Mascara mini, $31
Ardell Eco Lashes 453, $17
Tip #5: Curate (and delegate) your touch-up kit
Once you’re ready, pack a small touch-up bag with only the essentials - your chosen lip product, to add more colour after celebration drinks and dinner, and a pressed powder are a must. You don’t have to have it on you, just tuck it away in the bathroom or have your bridesmaid, mum or bestie look after it.
“One of the bridesmaids should be allocated the role of checking the newlyweds’ makeup throughout the evening and give them a reminder to touch-up if they notice a smudged lip or too much shine coming through,” says Stonehouse. “I will often leave them with some mascara wands, cotton pads and cotton tips.”
Similarly, “Translucent powder & puff, straw to drink from (genius), lip colour, tissues for the tears :).” Makeup artists really do think of everything.
In the kit:
Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder, $146
MECCA MAX Retractable Travel Brush, $22
Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray, $29
Rare Beauty Blot & Glow Touch-Up Kit, $49
Straw
Q-tips
Tip #6: Book a trial
“A trial is the time to instruct your MUA on exactly what you do and don't want. It'll save you a lot of time on the day and make it a much more relaxing experience,” says Phillips.
Stonehouse agrees, “a pre-wedding trial is a must - unless you have worked with your makeup artist before. Make sure you factor into your budget those key makeup products that you will need to touch-up with! Remind your makeup artist to moisturise any exposed limbs and have them cover any uneven tan lines or bruises. People will far sooner notice a bruised leg or ashy elbow before they notice your gorgeous lashes or lip colour!”
If you’re doing your own makeup, practise the whole look beforehand and wear it out for the night. See how it lasts and photographs, try different lip shades, take photos in different lighting, go into Mecca and ask for a few samples to take home - especially if you’re planning to get a fake tan.
