BY LUCY MAZZUCCO
Those who prefer lighter bridal makeup are leaning into the latest trend: “clean girl” makeup, a minimal, effortless look that focuses on dewy skin, subtle hints of colour and nude, glossy lips. “While wild trends will come and go, looking naturally beautiful and like yourself will never go out of style and if there’s any day to look like the best, natural version of yourself, it’s your wedding day,” says Christine Cho, makeup artist and on-air bridal beauty expert.
Yasir Akhtar, national sales and education manager for NARS Canada, says, “On your wedding day, you should glow from within, not hide behind heavy layers. Achieving that flawless fresh-faced look starts with skincare. Healthy skin is 50 per cent of any great makeup look. Makeup should never be a mask; it’s here to enhance, not hide. Clean girl makeup embraces authenticity and radiance.”
Skin prep 101
For the perfect modern bridal beauty look, Cho says it’s important to take good care of the skin leading up to your wedding. “For any makeup look, but particularly for a more natural makeup look, this means making sure to exfoliate weekly and add in face masks and other hydrating treatments.” On the big day, Cho says skin must be well prepped, since any dry patches or flaking skin is often accentuated by makeup.
“Glowing, real-looking skin is the focus, so after a hydrating sheet mask, I would drench the skin in moisturizer before applying complexion products. Then, once the base is on, I would recommend liquid highlighter, blush and contour,” says Cho. “I would leave the majority of the face without powder, so the skin’s natural luminosity shines through.”
For skin prep, Akhtar recommends hydrating the skin with the NARS Light Reflecting Restorative Night Treatment, an evening treatment that transforms from gel to oil and strengthens the skin’s barrier.
Get the look
Cho says the most important thing to focus on is natural-looking skin texture and radiance. “While the complexion is ideally even-toned with darkness, redness and spots covered, foundation or concealer products should be applied with a light hand,” says Cho. “I would recommend a skin tint or tinted moisturizer for most of the face, particularly those with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin E oil.”
Akhtar recommends using the NARS Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer before applying the NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation. “Apply one to two pumps using your fingertips. Start from the centre of the face and blend outwards for a seamless, skin-like finish,” he says.
All in the details
Depending on the bride’s preference, Cho recommends a waterproof mascara, soft, natural-looking false lash clusters, or a demi-lash paired with a soft brown smudged liner in the lash line to give a modern “clean girl” eye look. “While a skin-matching concealer or creamy pale rose or sheer metallic neutral cream eyeshadow base would work well, I would skip the powdered eyeshadows,” says Cho. “Keep it light on the brows as well. Brush up the natural hair and fill in only sparse areas where needed for symmetry using a micro-fine brow pencil or ink pen that is lighter than the natural hair tone.”
To finish off this bridal beauty look, Cho recommends a neutral lipliner before pressing in some long-lasting lip colour or sheer lip oil. “I would opt for a good setting spray rather than setting powder for longevity that doesn’t over mattify or add a textured product to the look,” she says.
To finish, Akhtar recommends setting everything in place with the NARS Light Reflecting Hydrating Setting Mist. “Hold the bottle eight to 10 inches away, close your eyes and mist to lock in the clean, radiant aesthetic,” he says. “Simple, effective and effortlessly chic.”
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