BRIDAL LOOK 3: WESTERN BRIDAL MAKEUP

Drum roll please……..introducing: Western Bridal Makeup, look 3 of my 3 part series on bridal makeup! I must admit that I created about 3 different bridal looks before I settled on this one and I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Western bridal makeup is a style that is usually worn with a white wedding dress. A bit of background about ‘white weddings’: they all started when Queen Victoria decided to wear a white lace dress for her wedding. This phenomenon took off in the Victorian era and even in today’s modern world it shows no sign of going out of fashion. There is something so romantic, so hopeful and so joyous about white wedding dresses – they are almost fairy tale-like and I think it makes a woman feel like a princess on her special day. The makeup worn to complement a white wedding dress is usually quite soft; I like to call it a glammed-up daytime look. When I did my bridal makeup course last year, I was taught that the goal of a western bridal makeup is that the bride looks ‘naturally radiant’. So the emphasis is on creating flawless skin, gently accentuating the bride’s features, and choosing colours that are quite soft. However, one must take into account the bride’s skin tone, because darker skinned brides look amazing with stronger colours. I’ve even seen a bride wear a deep plum smokey eye to her white wedding and she looked amazing. At the end of the day, the makeup must suit the bride’s features as well as her personality.

For my bridal makeup I decided to stick to tradition with a soft pink colour scheme; in fact I would name this look ‘sweet pink’, so corny, I know! I used a pink champagne hued highlighter by Inglot as my main eyeshadow colour, then I added some definition to the outer corners of my eyes with a dark brown eyeshadow. I used the Inglot No. 77 black gel eyeliner to define my eyes; it’s super black, waterproof and very long lasting which is perfect for bridal makeup because you don’t want panda eyes when the tears of joy start flowing. I finished off my eyes with some fluffy false lashes to add some subtle drama; I actually layered 2 pairs of lashes to get my desired look – I have big eyes so I can get away with this, but this look may not suit everyone.

My foundation routine remained the same as always with my most trusted foundation, MAC’s Studio Fix. It lasts me a good 14 hours so it’s a great choice for bridal makeup because it lasts all day and it helps control oil production. I highlighted and contoured my face with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit and then set these areas with powders so that it would last all day. On my lips I used Lancôme’s L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick in the shade Poême. It’s my new favourite pink lipstick! I’d been searching for one for a while but never seemed to find the right shade until now. Poême is supposed to be a matte lipstick, but it’s actually very creamy and does not become fully matt. I found it very hydrating and easy to wear all day. It does transfer a bit which meant that I had to touch it up after eating, but I didn’t mind this at all. I highly recommend this lipstick to any brides out there. I finished off my look with a bit of highlighter on my cheeks and cupids bow, and then a very light application of a custom pink and orange blush. It’s a look that’s quite neutral and won’t date too quickly. (See below for shopping links)

I hope that this look provides some inspiration for brides out there who are wondering what makeup to wear for their wedding. I’ve had a lot of fun creating these bridal looks and I feel kind of sad that my series has come to an end. But, if you want more series like this then just let me know.

For make up bookings send an email to msabeinspired@gmail.com

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P.S. For more makeup looks check out my Facebook page and Instagram.

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