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Although it may take a while for any bride to decide what she wants as far as her makeup looks are concerned, she certainly knows the kind of approach she intends to go with: subtle or full-on glamorous. So if you’re lucky and soon-to-be-hitched (oooh, congratulations!), then we’ve got bridal makeup looks with immense potential to be bookmarked.
That’s why it’s essential to invest in a soap that’s built to satiate the needs of your skin.
Scroll through our curated list of the best bridal makeup looks ranging from subtle to glam for your top three wedding functions: engagement, wedding and reception. So whether you’re looking for a simple bridal makeup look or a glamorous wedding makeup look, we’ve got you covered with bridal makeup step by step so you can spare yourself of the last-minute anxiety, right before your D-day. Already sounds relieving, right?
Bridal Makeup Tips
So, if you are planning your bridal makeup look, then you must be well-glowing no less than a goddess on your big day. And, of course, Indian weddings are always about embracing traditional bridal makeup vibes, which add a touch of modern glamour. First things first: do not skip the primer. It'll have to get through all those ceremonies, hugs, and those happy tears.
For wedding make-up, go big on the eyes. Being a bride you know everything needs to be extravagant. So, you can experiment and go for a winged liner along with a smokey eye for the ultimate bridal look. For the base, though- soft and glowing. Highlight those cheekbones. Bridal must-have? The perfect lipstick. Deep reds, rosy pinks or even some kind of nude tone, depending on your outfit.
Finally, set everything with a long-lasting setting spray so that your traditional bridal makeup stays flawless all day long.
1. Engagement Makeup Look
Subtle Look
Get the Look:
- Start off your base, with primer and follow it up with concealer and foundation. Since you’re trying for a simple engagement makeup look, your best bet should be a light-weight foundation.
- Define and fill in your brows with a brown eyebrow pencil. The key is natural-looking brows are small strokes.
- For a subtle pop of colour, pick a rosy pink for the eyes. Dab in your crease and blend toward the outer corner of your eyes with the help of a brush.
- Next, line your waterline with a smudge-proof black kohl pencil. Then for the least theatrical look, draw a thin line along your upper lash line with a black eyeliner.
- Complete your look by applying blush pink lipstick. For precision, you could first use a lip liner of the same shade.
Nykaa Recommends:
Glam Look
Get the Look:
- Prep your face first with primer and follow it up with concealer and a liquid-based foundation.
- Apply a glitzy illuminator on the high points of your face for an effortless glow. While you are at it, also dab a little highlighter on the brow bone and inner corner of your eyes to add some definition. Already glowing, aren’t you?
- Sweep a metallic pink eyeshadow formula all over your eyelids and blend well.
- No high-glam look is complete without a hypnotic pair of falsies. We recommend going in with triple-stacked lashes for some major drama.
- Complete the look with a smooth swipe of nude pink bullet across your lips.
Nykaa Recommends:
2. Wedding Makeup Look
Subtle Look
Get the Look:
- After applying a primer, start your base by blending a liquid-based foundation with a beauty blender. Dot the problem areas on your face with a full-coverage concealer and blend it well.
- Once you’ve achieved an even skin tone, add a thin stroke with eyeliner to your upper lash line. For a shimmer finish, sweep a little glitter over your lids for some subtle shimmer.
- Now for some ‘extra’ fun. Glue on a pair of lightweight falsies to your lashes to add a stroke of effortless drama.
- If you’re going to blush all day, you might as well look good while doing it. Pick a red blush with a velvety finish and smoothly glide it over your cheekbones for a flush of colour.
- You’re almost there. Keep your lips muted with a nude shade.
Nykaa Recommends:
Glam Look
Get the Look:
- Start with a blend of waterproof concealer and foundation. This takes care of your wedding makeup base just in case things get a little out of hand, emotionally.
- Focus on highlighting three main points, the top of your forehead, down the centre of your nose and your cupid’s bow. Opt for a liquid highlighter for a dewy finish.
- Pick the royal golden shade from your eyeshadow palette and sweep it over your lids. For a gentle smoky finish, trace over that with a dark shadow and smudge it.
- Stroke your lash line with black eyeliner. Extend it for a dramatic wing. To bring to life your not-so-flattering lashes, perk them up with a very intense pair of falsies.
- For plumper lips, line them first with a nude liner. And then fill your lips with generous coats of deep red lipstick.
Nykaa Recommends:
3. Reception Bridal Makeup Look
Subtle Look
Get the Look:
- A reception bridal makeup look is never complete without a full-coverage base. Opt for a concealer and foundation that gives your skin maximum coverage without the cakey finish.
- It’s time to fill in the brows because a bride does not underestimate the power of defined brows.
- Dab a dark shade powder from the colour palette over your lids and sweep a lighter pink shade on the crease. Use your ring finger or sponge to merge the two colours.
- Apply thick coats of mascara to your lashes, to play up the drama without going overboard.
- Go nude with your lips. A swipe of pinkish nude tending would do the trick.
Nykaa Recommends:
Glam Look
Get the Look:
- Prep your face first with a primer and follow it up with concealer and foundation.
- The key to this look is contouring and following it up with highlighting to make your face look sculpted and defined. Opt for a cream-based highlighter and contour palette.
- On the crease of your eyes, sweep a silver shimmer liquid eyeshadow. Be skimpy with the coats on this one.
- Pick a liquid eyeliner and draw a dramatic wing along the upper lash line. Pull a thin stroke along the lower lash line until it meets the wing.
- Lastly, complete the look with a red coral shade on your lips.
Nykaa Recommends:
Stunning Bridal Looks To Try
1. Be The Highlight Of The Day
Perfecting makeup for brides? Shine on as you reach dizzying heights with the godsend highlighter.
Decoding The Look:
- Use the Swiss Beauty Drop and Glow Liquid Highlighter, Nykaa Strobe & Glow Liquid Highlighter and Kay Beauty Illuminating Highlighter to contour the hollows of your cheeks and highlight the high points of your face.
- Sweep Revlon Colorstay Look Book Eyeshadow Palette - Maverick shadow across your entire lid.
- Give your lashes a natural look by using Nykaa Black Magic Waterproof & Smudge Proof Mascara
- Complete the look with soft pink lipstick like Nykaa So Matte! Mini Lipstick - 47 M Bare Minimum.
2. The Bronzed Beauty
Wedding makeup tips can never be complete without some generous use of our beloved bronzer, can they?
Decoding The Look:
- Done with your base makeup? Dress up your eyelid with the centre shade from the Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette shadow.
- Fill in your brows with NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil and add volume to your lashes with M.A.C Macstack Mascara - Black Stack, Nykaa Eyem24/7 Kajal Eyeliner and Kay Beauty 24 Hour Kajal.
- Add definition to the high points of your face with the chiselling expert, Nykaa Contour & Conquer - Contour and Highlight Duo - Sizzle.
- Complete your look with a soft rusty brown lipstick like Faces Ultime Pro Matte Lip Crayon – Really Rust
3. Brown Shade Beauty
A bridal makeup tip for the dusky skin tones ? Well, fret not cause we got your back girl! And trust us when we say a brown lip is your ultimate saviour.
Decoding The Look:
- After perfecting your base makeup, apply the third shade from the Maybelline New York The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette, Nykaa Eyes On Me! 10-in-1 Eyeshadow Palette, and Kay Beauty Metallic Eyeshadow Stick across your entire eyelid.
- Next, choose the darkest shade from the palette and apply it up to the crease, blending thoroughly to create a seamless look.
- Use the light brown shade to blend at the outer corners of your eyes and smudge it along your lower lash line.
- For your lashes, use the Colorbar I-Glide Eye Pencil and Maybelline Volum Express Hyper Curl Mascara to complete your eye look.
- Finish off with a soft brown lipstick, like Elle 18 Color Pop Matte Lip Color.
4. A Rendezvous With Red
Beautiful bridal makeup with a hint of spunk, spell bridal diva right with this carefully curated look! Don’t miss out on the H.A.W.T. red pout.
Decoding The Look:
- Perfect your base by using Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte+Poreless Liquid.
- Use the Nykaa SKINgenius Foundation Stick Conceal Contour & Corrector to enhance the hollows of your cheeks.
- Add some volume to the lashes with Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof.
- Complete the look by using Kay Beauty Matteinee Lip Crayon and Maybelline New York Color Sensational Ultimattes Lipstick.
5. Blushing Bride
A bridal makeup tutorial isn't complete without mentioning rosy cheeks. Here's how to achieve the sun-kissed bridal look for a bride who prefers a natural, no-glam style.
Decoding The Look:
- Use the Maybelline Flower Beauty Flower Pots Powder Blush and Nykaa Get Cheeky Malibu Barbie onto your cheeks for that flushed look.
- Smear the peach shade from Huda Beauty Matte & Metal Melted Shadows shadow across your lid.
- Use a volumising mascara like Kiko Milano Smart Colour Mascara.
- Complete the look by applying rusty golden lipstick like GlamGals Matte Finish Kissproof Lipstick - Bronze.
6. As Deep As The Ocean
Send the traditional bridal look for a toss and take the path less travelled. Swipe your eyelids with a bold hue to get all eyes on YOU!
Decoding The Look:
- After perfecting the base, glide on a generous amount of the Makeup Revolution Cheek Kit, Bronze and Brighten for killer cheekbones and jawline.
- Now swoop a liberal amount of the e.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Matte Shadow Stick - Out Of Sight and Coloressence Single Pearl Eyeshadow, Longstay– Azure with your eyeshadow brush and blend it well across your entire eyelid, right up to the crease.
- Put your favourite falsies to the test; use the PAC Lash Book - Season 1 to further enhance the dramatic eye look.
- Keep the lips muted to not look OTT. Swear by the NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss – Peaches And Cream for that shiny hint of colour.
7. The Kohl-Lined Goddess
Take makeup for weddings a notch higher and let your eyes literally do ALL the talking on your big day!
Decoding The Look:
- Play with just the eyes; keep the rest of your makeup subtle and clean. Use the Colorbar Perfect Match Primer for a flawless complexion.
- Bring out the star product, Nykaa EyemSMOKY Kajal Eyeliner. Line your lower lashline generously with this magic wand. Then use the smudger brush for some misty eye drama.
- Groom your brows and fill in the gaps with the Kay Beauty Brow Studio Wooden Eyebrow Pencil.
- Finish the look with a ravishing red pout, thanks to the Nykaa All Day Matte Limited Edition Liquid Lipstick - Pataka.
8. The Ethereal Bride
Walking down the aisle? Take a cue from our bridal makeup tips and achieve that lit-from-within glow, perfect for a church wedding.
The Look Decode
- Give your face a dewy makeup finish. Using a lightweight foundation like the Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-In-One Tinted Moisturiser.
- Line your upper lash line with a soft eyeliner like NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner Black
- Define and fill in your brows with Nykaa Oh My Brow! Eyebrow Mascara - Sirius Brown
- Finish the look by applying some soft pink almost nude-ish lipstick, like Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick
9. Clean Girl Chic
Sometimes, taking the “less is more approach” is just the perfect way to go about your glam, especially for bridal makeup. It is classic for a reason, right? You just can't fail if you have a soft, natural look that sets off the glow of your skin. Paired with vibrant colours in a full traditional Indian bridal outfit?
Decoding The Look:
- First things first – a smooth, radiant base is the key. After moisturising, apply a lightweight, medium-coverage foundation like the Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation to get that "your skin but better" finish. Don't forget concealer to cover little imperfections and brighten up the under-eyes.
- For the sheer surrealism of it all, keep your eyes subtle but mesmerising. Paint the eyelids with soft browns or peachy tones and finish with a swoosh of shimmer with the Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless Eyeshadow Palette-18 in the inner corners for that glow.
- Light dusting on the apples of your cheek would give you that fresh bright bridal glow. Don't forget some gentle highlights along cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose and a bit on Cupid's bow to get lit from within with the help of Insight Cosmetics Blush & Highlight Palette .
- And last but not least, the grand finale. For a classic bridal makeup look with a twist, consider a nude lip or subtle pink like the Chambor Le Shine Les Nudes Lip Gloss . That will beautifully contrast against your bright outfit and keep the makeup effortlessly elegant and timeless.
Conclusion
Achieving the perfect bridal makeup look is all about finding a balance between tradition and personal style. Whether you prefer timeless elegance with a traditional bridal makeup look or want to add a modern twist to your wedding makeup looks, the key is to enhance your natural beauty while staying true to your cultural roots. From radiant skin to bold lips and striking eyes, the right bridal makeup look will make you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on your special day.
FAQs
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What is the best bridal makeup look for a traditional Indian wedding?
A traditional bridal makeup look typically includes bold eyes, defined brows, and a radiant complexion. Think glowing skin, gold or bronze eyeshadow, and a classic red or maroon lip.
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How can I choose the perfect wedding makeup look for my big day?
Consider your outfit and jewellery. A bridal makeup look should complement your wedding attire. For traditional outfits, go for bold eyes and lips, while softer, pastel shades work great for contemporary looks.
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Should I opt for heavy or natural makeup for my bridal makeup look?
For traditional bridal makeup, a slightly heavier look with dramatic eyes and bold lips is common. For modern wedding makeup looks, brides often prefer softer, more natural vibes.
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What makeup trends are popular for Indian wedding makeup looks?
Glowing, dewy skin with a touch of highlighter is all the rage right now. Soft smokey eyes with nude lips or bold red lips paired with metallic eyeshadow are popular choices for wedding makeup looks.
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How do I make my bridal makeup look last all day?
Start with a good primer and use long-wearing, waterproof products. Setting sprays and powder are essential to lock in your bridal makeup look, ensuring it lasts through all your wedding festivities.
