Bridal Makeup is the ultimate in event makeup. Bridal season is no longer confined to just the summer months—it now lasts all year long! Regardless of the season, the makeup artist must make sure that the makeup will last all day, in any given environment. We’ll give you the tips, techniques, and products you’ll need for your bride to ensure long-lasting wear regardless of skin type or weather conditions.

The Eyes: Waterproofing the Eye Makeup

Eye Shadow
The bride’s eyes may tear, either from crying, or from the wind during an outdoor photo shoot on a windy day. For a long-lasting eye makeup application, the lid—from lash line to brow—should be prepped with a cream, such as Cinema Secrets Pro Eyeshadow Base, and then set with a powder that is somewhat lighter in color than the skin. The layers of shadows will have more staying power if they sit on top of a prepped eye. When using loose pigments, shimmers, or glitters, try using Inglot Duraline as a mixing medium. Duraline becomes not only a binding ingredient, but will also work to waterproof the cosmetics.

Eye Liner
For a liner that will not move until it is taken off with a beauty cleanser, nothing beats Ingot Gel (Black #77). Apply with a precise brush, such as the #762 Bdellium Brush. For a softer look, you can use a black liner on the upper lash line and a brown liner on the lower lash line.

Mascara
Both before and after the false lash application, use either waterproof mascara, or the long-lasting Kevyn Aucoin Curling or Volume Mascara, which is less harsh for the lashes. Apply sparingly in thin layers, so as not to weigh down the lashes. Be sure to use a new mascara, so that the lashes won’t be dry and flaky after curling.

The Brows – Pencil, Powder, Brow Mascara/Brow Gel
Always use a brow gel (Senna) to tame thick brows, and/or a brow pencil (Kevyn Aucoin, Senna) for sparse brows.

False Lashes
Apply the false lashes, leaving adequate time for your application, to ensure that the bride does not leave with a corner of the false lash line popping off. Be sure to use latex-free eyelash glue for strips or individuals, such as Callas Eyelash Adhesive. The glue is very affordable, so you can easily send it with your client in the event of an emergency.

The Skin: Clean, Beautiful, Melt-proof

Prepping the Skin
In making the application durable, factors must be considered, such as the condition of the bride’s skin as well as the weather. The bride’s skin must be assessed and then properly prepped and primed according to her skin and the foundation selected. For longevity and a radiant finish, we recommend using either a wax or silicone-based foundation. Both wax and silicone are waterproof, and have a high melting point, which will combat hot weather conditions. Both wax and silicone-based foundations are flattering on all skin tones and types.

Prepare the Canvas: Oil Control (Summer) – Very Dry Skin (Winter)
If you notice during the trial run that your bride has dry, dull skin (particularly during the winter months) be sure to encourage a good skin routine. Advise her to exfoliate regularly, followed by facial oils (see below) and moisturizer, each night after washing the face with a creamy facial cleanser. Recommended: Mario Badescu Botanical Scrub, Embryolisse Lait Crème, Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser.

The night before the wedding, in any season, recommend that your bride use a brightening or moisturizing face mask—for example: MusteaV Whitening Joy Mask.
When you begin your day-of application, address any oil issues by applying a mattifier on those areas. We recommend Mehron Anti-Shine, Nurturing Force Blot Out, or Super-Matte Anti-Shine.

Check to see if the skin then needs more moisturizer. Based on your client’s skin concerns before the bridal makeup application, consider adding facial oil prior to the moisturizer (Mario Badescu Rose Hip Nourishing Oil or Burt’s Bees Facial Oil). To combat dry skin, as well as winter wind-burned skin, we recommend first spritzing with an electrolyzed water (Cinema Secrets Moisture Spray) to help the moisturizer better absorb into the skin. Make sure to follow it up with a richer, more emollient moisturizer with sunscreen. Don’t skip out on sunscreen in any season! Recommended: Mario Badescu The Moisture Magnet with SPF 15. For moisturizing, we love Embryolisse products and the MAQPRO – Makeup Mixer which works as both a moisturizer and a primer. The Mixer is a lotion with wax that makes it compatible with the silicone or wax foundation.

Before applying the foundation, it’s important to prime the skin, which creates a smooth surface. For primers, select either a silicone-based primer such as Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation Primer, or a primer with some shimmer for a radiant glow. (Becca Backlight Priming Filter, Kevyn Aucoin The Primed Skin Developer, or the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Skin Fluid Foundation).

Color Correcting
To treat any redness, like wind-chapped skin, sun damage, or acne, we recommend applying, where necessary, the color green. You may also need to color correct under the eyes. If your bride has dark shadows, or a blue/purple cast, be sure to use a brightening corrector or peach color to neutralize the shadow. Follow up with a concealer, like the Eve Pearl Dual Salmon Concealer. Waterproof the concealer, buff it in, and then powder.

Selecting the Foundation, Cream Blush, Highlight, and Setting Powder
Wax or silicone-based foundations are great for longevity and durability. For staying power with a beautiful finish, we recommend MAQPRO Fard Crème, Temptu Silicone or Hydra Lock Airbrush Foundation, or FACE atelier foundations. Before setting the foundation with powder, apply a cream blush which will provide a long-lasting stain on the cheeks. Try our MAQPRO Lip and Cheek Palette. With respect to highlight, layer liquid and then cream highlighter on the cheekbones. Add a powder highlighter to set. Finally, using a powder puff set the foundation with a colorless translucent setting powder (Cinema Secrets, Inglot, First by MAQPRO).

Once you have set the foundation, you can heighten the blush color with a powder blush (First by MAQPRO, Inglot, or BECCA). If desired, then use a powder contour product like Kevyn Aucoin’s Sculpting Powder.

Lips

Dry or Chapped Lip Treatment
You can first exfoliate the bride’s lips, using the MODELROCK Lip Scrub or Cinema Secrets Lip Scrub. Once the lips are exfoliated, use a moisturizing lip balm such as Rosebud Salve. Then, reach for a lip pencil- your kit should include, at a minimum, a neutral light pencil and a neutral deep pencil (Kevyn Aucoin Lip Pencil in “Medium” or “Minimal”), to create a crisp line.

For long-wear, next apply a liquid lip—we prefer the non-drying, long-lasting ModelRock Liquid to Matte Liquid Lipstick. Apply a creamy lip color over the liquid lip (Inglot). If your bride would like a glossy lip, apply on top a thick, yet non-sticky lip glaze such as FACE atelier Lip Glaze.

Finally, “set the face”, with an ultra-fine, misting, alcohol-based setting spray (Skindinavia) to ensure that the makeup will hold up throughout the entire event.

And there you go! A long-lasting beautiful application, fit for any season, for your beautiful bride!