Today we’re talking natural wedding makeup looks!
While you want to look and feel like your most beautiful self on your wedding day, that doesn’t mean you must go all-out with dramatic or glamorous makeup!
From glimmering golden tones to subtle pink hues, natural bridal makeup looks can be fresh and beautiful.
Make Me Bridal Pro: Makeup by Katy
10 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks
Whether you’re aiming for an ethereal glow or a soft and natural look, there are plenty of ways to create the perfect makeup to highlight your features on your big day.
Of course, it’s essential to find the right balance between looking natural and still looking polished, and our Make Me Bridal artists are pros at doing just that!
Here are 10 natural bridal wedding looks from their portfolios, which are sure to inspire...
The 'No Makeup Makeup' Trend
The ultimate natural bridal makeup look is arguably the ‘no makeup makeup’ trend, which is perfect for brides who want to keep their makeup minimal and simply use a little magic to emphasize what’s already there. Start with a sheer foundation and concealer, add some mascara and possibly a neutral eye shadow or liner, brushed brows, very soft blush and a nude lipstick that’s close in tone to your natural lip colour.
The Classic Natural Bride Look
Opt for a combination of pink lips and full, fluffy lashes for a slightly elevated natural bridal makeup look. This classic bridal look is perfect for those who want to keep their makeup natural and understated. Choose a pinky nude lip colour and pair it with false lashes and a few coats of mascara. This look will make your eyes pop but still keep your look subtle.
The Natural Wedding Look with a Touch of Pink
For those who want to add a bit of colour to their look, pink tones are the perfect way to go. Choose a rosy eyeshadow and add a touch of blush to the apple of your cheeks, with a pop of pink on the lips. This look will make you look feminine and perfectly put together without being too overpowering.
Make Me Bridal Pro: Hair by Hare
The Light & Fresh Natural Wedding Look
For a light and fresh look ideal for a spring wedding, start by using a light foundation and apply a light pink blush. Use a cream eyeshadow to create a subtle wash of color, and use a tinted lip balm to add a hint of colour to your lips.
The Your Skin 'But Better' Look
To achieve a your-skin-but-better look, the key is a natural, barely there foundation that still has a lot of staying power to remain flawless throughout your wedding day.
Make Me Bridal Pro: Mel Kinsman
The Subtle Natural Wedding Look
This look is all about the subtle definition, using soft pink matte eyeshadow on the eyes and carefully lined pink lips.
The Elegant English Rose Look
Many brides want to achieve a beautifully elegant English rose look. This classic style features a combination of rosy cheeks and light pink lips, along with a flawless complexion. You can also use a shimmery eyeshadow to add a subtle sparkle to your eyes.
Make Me Bridal Pro: Styling Made Easy by Angie Anand
The Naturally Chiselled Cheekbones Look
With this look, chiselled cheekbones are the hero. Your makeup artist can use clever contouring and highlighting to lift and define your face and make those cheekbones stand out, while still staying natural and understated.
Natural 'Sun-Kissed' Wedding Makeup Look
To amp up that natural bridal radiance, you may want to opt for a sun-kissed makeup look using warm neutrals on the eyes, peachy blush and subtle bronzer.
The Warm Natural Makeup Look
Peachy tones are another perfect match for natural bridal makeup looks, with a little more warmth to them than pink. Start with a light peach eyeshadow and some mascara to bring out your eyes, add blush and finish off with a hint of peach lipstick, and you’ll have a perfectly warm and natural look.
These natural bridal makeup ideas are sure to make you look beautiful and glowing on your big day. Pick the look that best suits your style and you’ll be sure to wow everyone!
6 Tips & Tricks from the Pros for Natural Bridal Makeup
So how do you achieve a natural bridal look? We asked the pro makeup artists on Make Me Bridal to share their top tips!
Start With Skincare
The first step to flawless natural bridal makeup should actually start at least three months before the big day, with a good skincare regime. Hayley of Flame Beauty in Dartford, Kent, agrees: “A good skincare routine is imperative, so cleanse, tone, and moisturise regularly with a minimum weekly exfoliation to get the skin in tip top condition, alongside drinking lots of water. This also helps to keep the makeup looking natural and fresh, giving a flawless base.”
On the wedding day, South Yorkshire hair and makeup artist Julia Jeckell recommends the following pre-makeup routine. “Firstly cleanse and prepare the skin according to your skin type. Moisturising is a key step, as a good canvas will help make-up products glide on and last longer. If your skin is dry, go for something rich and hydrating. If it is oily or combination, I highly recommend Dermalogica's Active Moist which controls oil and also hydrates dry areas, acting as a first step primer. Massage well into the skin, bringing the blood to the surface for a natural glow.”
Choose the Right Primer
With everything happening on a wedding day, a good primer is an absolute must, but choosing one that suits your skin is important. Berkshire hair and makeup artist Melissa Clare tells us: “Choosing a good base can be an effective way of reducing the amount of foundation you need. A brightening primer for a dull complexion can work wonders! I love BECCA First Light Priming Filter, as it makes you look like you’ve had a great sleep, even if you haven’t!”
Hayley of Flame Beauty adds: “Bridal makeup is layered to make it last, and alongside high-quality products, this works the best. A good primer as a base aids with making it last all day and a setting spray (my current favourite is Iconic London’s Prep-Set-Glow)”
Only Cover What Needs Coverage
Use a light hand with foundation and concealer for a truly natural look. Skin should look like skin, not like makeup. Only cover the areas that need it rather than caking your makeup on. Let your skin breathe!
Hampshire wedding hair and makeup artist Katy Djokic follows this principle: “For natural looking makeup I use as little product as possible on the skin, nothing too powdery, a sheer foundation, and minimal translucent powder. I also like to add some liquid illuminator to the foundation to give the skin a natural glow.”
Pipa from BEYOU Weddings in Ashford, Kent, reaches for one of her favourite products to achieve this: “I love to use MAC Face and Body Foundation or similar, (which is lovely and light all over) to correct, and then a fuller coverage concealer in areas of concern. That way the skin still looks beautifully like skin.”
Remember that some foundations are best applied with fingers, some with brushes, and some beauty blenders, so try out these different methods and see what works best for you.
Add a Healthy Glow
Less is definitely more when it comes to natural bridal makeup, but blush can help to enhance that beautiful bridal glow. Julia Jeckell advises: “On cheeks, apply a cream blush in a soft rose pink and blend with fingers into the apples of the cheeks and outwards towards the hairline. On lips, use nude pink matt lipstick to finish.”
Katy Djokic opts for a stain blush: “It works really well as it lasts all day and looks like part of the skin.”
Keep Eyes Understated
Eye makeup should look natural, while still enhancing your natural beauty. Julia Jeckell suggests: “Prepare the eyelids with an eye shadow primer base for long-lasting eyeshadow. Then apply a neutral matte eye shadow all over the lid. Taking matte eye shadow shades in soft camel and light brown, softly blend them into the socket line and eyelid to give a ‘tea stained’ look. Then, apply a soft brown waterproof eyeliner and blend into the top lash line, using a few natural individual lashes on the corners for definition. Complete the look with one coat of black waterproof mascara.”
Melissa Clare is also a fan of individual lashes for this look: “I would recommend a couple of individual lashes to perk up the eyes and make them stand out in your bridal photos.” You’ll be amazed at how they really wake up your look!
Keep It Fresh
Julia Jeckell also has a few tips for keeping your natural bridal makeup in place: “To ensure it lasts all day, finish with another light top-up of powder where needed and a last spritz of fix spray. Ask a bridesmaid to assist you with carrying a small kit to include cotton buds, lipstick and face powder for you to top up throughout the day.”
And speaking of bridesmaids, don’t forget to give your girls a complementary look! Natural hair and makeup for the bridal party will continue the fresh vibe and make everything look cohesive.
So... Are you opting for natural bridal makeup on your big day?
Related: If you need more help preparing for your wedding, you may want to read our article on Wedding Makeup Tips!
