Essential wedding day makeup tips from a pro

By Tana D’Amico

You’ve probably thought, “I want my wedding day makeup to look like me, only more polished and beautiful.” These top tips will position you to win the day, feeling fabulous, calm and completely like yourself.

Here, a pro makeup artist gives us her best advice on how to make your look last the whole day.

Set yourself up for success

If you’re hiring a makeup artist, make sure your bridal party understands that you’re the priority and they may not be able to do anyone else’s makeup (or one or two others – at most). Sharing an artist among too many people leads to stress. If you’re doing your own makeup, approach it professionally. Set up somewhere quiet and comfortable, and with natural light (ideally by a window). A relaxed start sets the tone for your day.

Do a trial run

A wedding day makeup trial is a must, whether working with an artist or doing it yourself. It’s a chance to test different looks and see how they wear in real life and on camera. If you can, schedule the trial for your engagement shoot or bridal shower for added value and testing.

Prep, protect and prime

If you’re getting a wedding facial, book it at least three weeks before the wedding to give your skin time to recover from any reaction. Equally important, avoid using any new products, especially things such as eyelash glue or anything applied all over your face, to prevent surprise sensitivities.

On your wedding day, start with a lightweight moisturizer that hydrates without heaviness. Let it fully absorb for smooth, long-lasting wedding day makeup. ILIA The Base Face Milk is excellent for soothing and reducing redness.

If your wedding is outdoors, you need SPF. After moisturizing, use a sunscreen that’s fast-absorbing and doesn’t leave a white cast. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF70 is a favourite.

Next, apply a primer to help your wedding makeup last. Let it dry fully before applying foundation (a handheld fan can speed things up). Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas Primer works well with any foundation.

Build a foundation – lightly

Full-coverage foundations can look heavy in daylight and in photos. Instead, choose medium/lightweight, buildable options like Armani’s Luminous Silk or Maybelline’s Super Stay 30HR Lumi-Matte.

Waterproof everything

When tears, hugs and heat are expected, it’s crucial to use waterproof products. L’Oréal Paris Waterproof Voluminous Mascara is a go-to, and for liners, Lancôme’s Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner or Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil are favourites. For a softer, more romantic look, choose a brown pencil over black. Finish with a waterproof and transfer-proof setting spray like Urban Decay’s All Nighter.

Stay in your colour zone

Pick shades that suit your undertone. Warm tones work best for peach, gold and soft brown; cool tones suit taupe, rose and mauve. Not sure? If you tan easily, you’re likely warm; if you burn first, you’re probably cool. Try Anastasia’s Soft Glam Palette for warm/neutral skin or Urban Decay’s Naked3 Mini for cool tones.

Shine happens, be ready

Set your wedding day makeup with a loose translucent powder. For touch-ups, keep a pressed powder compact (with a mirror) to control the T-zone shine.

Buy your lip colour in advance

Lipstick will need reapplying, so own the exact shade used for your trial. Avoid ultra-glossy formulas that smudge easily. Instead, go for a creamy, long-wearing option like MAC Cosmetics’ MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick. For higher shine, try Maybelline’s SuperStay Vinyl Ink. Use a lipliner to prevent the colour from feathering.

Layer your blush

For dewy freshness, apply powder blush first; then, with a clean brush, gently layer cream or liquid blush on top. Peach and pink shades are always flattering.

Mind the details

Choose natural-looking false lashes like Ardell Demi-Whispies and avoid thick, heavy strips. Keep contouring soft and well-blended. When you look back at your wedding photos, you’ll still love what you see: a glowing, timeless version of you.

Lesley Turner Editorial Content Writer

Lesley is a freelance writer and content strategist with a serious love for all things wedding. With a background in bridal fashion and over a decade of industry experience, she creates stylish, scroll-stopping content for Today's Bride and beyond.

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