What Constitutes “Good” Wedding Makeup? We Asked KL’s Top Bridal Makeup Artists for Their Advice
Big day beauty
From what to consider before choosing your look to what will look best on the day itself, here’s what you need to know when choosing your bridal look.
BURO brides, assemble! Wedding season is in full swing, and if you’re among this year’s prospective brides (congratulations!), then we would like to have a word with you. Bridal duty is no easy feat—there’s so much to plan ahead of the big day, from venue hires to catering to decor. Most importantly, however, your bridal look should be at the top of your list.
We’ve covered the big stuff, from the facials you should try ahead of the big day to the essentials to add to your bridal beauty checklist. That said, knowing what to put on your list is one thing; actually making a decision is another. What are you going to wear? How are you going to do your hair? What are you thinking for your big day makeup look? All these decisions must be weighing heavily on you, so we’re here to lighten the mental load.
Step one is figuring out what bridal makeup is going to work best for you, and we’ve consulted three pros for their sage advice. Ahead, find our pro-MUA guide to getting your wedding beat just right, featuring Shiyo Joo, Kevin Lee, and Ummi Nasir:
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What constitutes a “good” bridal look?
“To me, good bridal makeup is when the bride still looks like herself—just the best, most elevated version,” says Joo. Nasir, Lee, and Joo all agree on one thing: the makeup you choose should simply enhance your natural features, creating a timeless and effortless look that you’ll be glad to look back on. Really, the best thing to do for your bridal look above all else is to make sure you’ve got your skin prep down. “Good makeup always starts with good skin, so I always tell brides to focus on skincare and making sure their skin is healthy and hydrated before the big day,” Joo shares.
You also don’t want to be doing too much on your wedding day, especially if you’re used to a more pared-back beauty beat. “For me, a good bridal makeup look is one that doesn’t feel overdone,” Lee adds. “It doesn’t need heavy foundation or dramatic false lashes to make an impact.” That said, if it’s what you prefer and what makes you feel good, that’s fine too!
Finally, Nasir brings up a very good point: Truly great wedding makeup both looks beautiful in person and photographs well. In short, it’s worth doing a few test shots during your trial run just to be absolutely certain you’re happy with your look.
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Where should you start with picking your wedding makeup?
What we’ve learned today is that the most important thing with bridal makeup is making sure you feel great. The second most important thing is making sure that the look gels with the rest of your wedding details. You see, while you could pull up to your quaint, countryside reception in full goth glam, it might look and feel a little odd.
“My advice is to first choose your gown,” says Lee. “Then, from there, do your makeup research based on the style of the dress you’ve chosen, so that the whole look feels cohesive and well put together.” In fact, the more details you have decided on—think theme, venue, and timing—the easier it will be to sort out the exact vibe to go for with your wedding look.
From there, it’s time to find a makeup artist. “Make sure you choose the right makeup artist for your bridal look,” Nasir shares. “Browse their work beforehand and make sure their style matches what you want.” It can be helpful to put together a Pinterest or Instagram moodboard of the vibe and style you’re going for, just to help you stay focused when looking for artists.
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What should you avoid with your bridal makeup look?
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what makes you feel beautiful and confident. That being said, Joo and Nasir advise against chasing viral trends on your big day. “Think about what actually suits your personality, dress, and overall wedding vibe,” Joo asserts. “Sometimes, the softest and most natural looks end up looking the most beautiful years later.”
“Instead, ask your makeup artist what suits your features best,” Nasir adds. Communicating your preferences and ideas for your bridal look clearly and trusting the expertise of your makeup artist will make sure that they can best execute and translate your vision onto your features.
Lee also makes a point that too many cooks spoil the broth: “Don’t listen to too many opinions from your bridesmaids. Only you truly know what style you love and what suits you best.” Ultimately, your decision is yours alone (and maybe also your fiancé’s, but that’s besides the point). You are the only one who has to live with your decisions, and so they had better be what you really want.
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If you’re planning on doing your own makeup…
…make sure you’re doing plenty of trial runs ahead of the big day. You’ll want to have your routine rehearsed to perfection so that you’re able to avoid a last-minute meltdown. Keep in mind that your wedding is not the right time to be experimenting with your look—steer clear of unfamiliar formulations and techniques, lest you end up with a result you’re not happy with as you walk down the aisle!
Ultimately, while you certainly can do your own makeup, there are a few reasons why you may want to consider investing in a makeup artist. The first is superstition: According to Joo, there’s an old Chinese belief that brides shouldn’t do their own makeup on their wedding day, as it symbolises having to handle everything alone in marriage. Yikes!
However, superstition aside, he also doesn’t recommend it personally, either: “Brides already have so many things to prepare and worry about on the morning of their big days. If a bride is too focused on doing everything herself, she might not fully enjoy the wedding day, and the whole experience may not feel as beautiful and memorable as it should be.”
All of this is, of course, completely dependent on you and your preference—if you feel most comfortable working on your own face, by all means! At the end of the day, all you can do is what feels right for you. That said, it’s worth fully considering all of your options.
For more bridal reads like this, click here.
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