You've planned the hen party of dreams, found a dress that doesn't look like a bejewelled blancmange and are fully prepared to lead a conga around the dancefloor - but there's just one thing you haven't got sorted - your bridesmaid make-up.
It might be that social distancing has scuppered your plans of being painted by a pro, or that a MUA just isn't in the budget. Either way, doing your own make-up for your best friend's day is a daunting prospect, but it shouldn't have to be.
So get your brushes clean, follow these step-by-step guides, pro tips and product recommendations and you'll be the belle of the ball. (Well, almost...)
How To Do Your Own Bridesmaid Make-Up
Perhaps the most important part is asking the Bride what she wants - you don't want to get a death stare when you turn up with a bright red lip. Find out what her brief is, and then follow the steps below to nail the look...
The Bridesmaid Make-Up Brief: Natural
Perhaps the most popular look, most bridesmaids just want to look their best, not caked in make-up, especially if their usual look is pared down. However, with cameras flashing and a videographer around every corner, going fully bared-face isn't always the best option. So, a little make-up trickery is required to look as natural as possible.
Get The Look
1.Skin
Skin prep is the key to flawless make-up that lasts way past the first dance, so it's important to start on a completely clean and hydrated canvas - but what do the make-up artists use?
'You can’t have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas and a good skincare routine is so important for glowing skin on the day', says celebrity make-up artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury (yes, her aunt is Charlotte Tilbury, no big deal).
She makes sure the skin is super prepped by double cleansing and multi-masking to create 'the smoothest, plumpest baby-soft skin'. And the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Dry Sheet Mask £18, is always in her kit: 'Charlotte and I always use them on our celebrity clients ahead of a red carpet event to get that lit-from-within glow in 15-minutes'.
Well if it's good enough for the red carpet, it's good enough for a wedding.
Bobbi Brown's Global Pro Artist Amy Conway then adds a primer on top of any skincare. And this is non-negotiable for her. 'Always opt for a primer, it's essential for your base', she says. 'It acts as a protective barrier between skin and make-up. On oily skin it stops the oil from seeping through and making make-up slide. On dry skin, it stops your skin from almost "drinking" the make-up to find it going patchy in areas.'
2. Base
The important thing here to remember is - less is more. 'One of the biggest make-up mistakes I see is heavy, caked on foundation', says Sofia. She suggests going lighter on the base, blending from the centre of the face outer, where you might not need any coverage at all. 'Then you can use concealer to touch up any imperfections', she adds.
Zoe Taylor, freelance Chanel make-up artist, agrees that with this look you want something that will 'make your skin look like skin, only better'. Try a tinted gel or cream rather than true foundation as a base. 'Then only conceal where you need it.'
3. Cheeks
When it comes to adding bronzer and blush, think subtle, matte washes of colour that are going to sculpt and enhance your complexion without being too obvious or drawing attention to blemishes.
'I always stick to cream bronzers and blushers for natural make-up', says Zoe. Her all-time favourite (and, BTW, one of ours too) is Chanel's Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream £42, a gel-cream formula with added coconut oil to help it glide beautifully onto the skin.
Remember with blusher you can always add, but it's tricky to take away without disturbing the base underneath. So start small and build. If you do go accidentally-overboard, we like a little trick make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes taught us: grab whatever brush you used for your foundation or concealer, and use the excess product on that to blend away your over-blushing.
ELLE Edit: DIY Natural Skin Finish
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base - £44.50 for 50ml
'I love to use vitamin Enriched Face Base on my brides because it gives that radiant glow that lasts all day' says Bobbi Brown's Global Pro Artist Amy Conway, who uses it as a primer on her clients.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid Concealer - £24
'This is like spanx for under your eyes!' says Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury, who uses it over a very light base to hide imperfections.
Chanel Les Beiges Eau De Teint Water-Fresh Tint - £48
This Beauty Editor favourite goes on like a watery gel, with tiny pigmented bubbles inside that burst on the skin, leaving the lightest layer of skin-tone-evening colour.
Trinny BFF Skin Perfector - £35
Don't be weirded out when this comes out of the tube a bit.. grey. Invisible pigments melt on contact with the skin, giving just enough coverage that simply a few dots of concealer will be needed to hide any redness or blemishes. Has the added bonus of SPF too.
4. Eyes And Eyebrows
If you want to keep your look as natural as possible but feel naked without a wash of eyeshadow, opt for matte hues. 'I love to use cool grey/ brown tones,' says Amy, 'you will notice cooler tones make the whites of the eyes look whiter which in turn just pops every eye colour. Opting for an almost "mushroom brown" tone will appear like a chocolate brown in flash photography.'
When it comes to lashes, a curler is your best friend. It will give instant lift and open up the eyes, meaning you won't have to pile on the mascara to make an impact (risking transfer or panda eyes in the process).
For your brows, unless they reallllly need filling in, don't worry. For a natural bridesmaid look you want as light and fluffy as possible, so simply brushing up and fixing with some brow gel will do the trick.
5. Lips
You won't have time to check your make-up every five minutes, so an understated lip will be the icing on the cake of a fuss-free look. Either a tinted balm or stain will give a bitten, pretty look.
Whether you're adding colour or not, you want to make sure lips are nourished and plump. Zoe Taylor uses her scrub before adding anything else: 'lips are smoother, hydrated and with all the buffing, can appear a little plumper.'
ELLE Edit: DIY Natural Bridesmaid Make-Up
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel - £22.50
A tinted brow gel will added volume and keep hairs in place without any risk of them looking too heavy or done.
Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm - £15
Cream or liquid blushes are best for a natural, flushed look. Cloud Paint is one of the best, with Storm looking particularly pretty on darker skin tones.
Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Taupe - £20
Matte shadows in muted, mushroom-y tones are Amy Conway's favourite for a natural eye. This Taupe, a suits-all shade, is a good start.
Tinker Taylor Lip Kit - £64
If you're going super natural, just a well prepped lip without any colour will do. This lip kit comes with a scrub to prep, oil to nourish, and balm to top up through the day.
The Bridesmaid Make-Up Brief: Glowy
Ethereal and totally Instagram-worthy, this look is all about enhancing the skin and catching the light. Think ultra-radiant, dewy and supermodel-esque.
'The most requested look I get from bridesmaids is glowy skin', says Amy Conway. 'I find for bridesmaids it's less about thinking of looking classic for the forever lasting photos and more just wanting to feel a little more fun and glam for their bestie's day!'
Get The Look
1.Skin
The key here is hydration, hydration and more hydration. The glow needs to come from under the make-up, as well as from it.
Sofia recommends working a serum or moisturiser with hyaluronic acid into the skin, which will lock in moisture, with the massage stimulation microcirculation and boosting a natural radiance.
Looking for primers that have a pearlescent or golden tint to them, as they'll save you having to rely too heavily on highlighter further into the process.
2. Foundation
Look for foundations that have the word 'dewy' or 'illuminating' in them, rather than anything too matte or heavy. If you do have a favourite already, Zoe Taylor suggests: 'try to add a few drops of liquid highlighter into your foundation to give a gorgeous finish.'
Remember that concealer is your friend for brightening as well as hiding flaws: 'A bright under eye on your wedding day can really lift the whole face' says Amy. 'Start by using a corrector for the most flawless coverage - apply just on the inner corner to correct any darkness or blue/ brown shadow.
'Then layer a concealer on top to bring it back to skin tone and brighten the whole under eye area. I love the Bobbi Brown Instant Full Coverage Concealer £23, for a smooth and airbrushed look under the eye, but also keep it in your back as it is perfect for touch ups throughout the day also.'
3. Cheeks
For a glowy finish, look for products that have an illuminating quality instead of matte, but avoid anything sparkly or glittery, especially for a day time event.
If the look you want is sunkissed, look for bronzers with the tiiiiiniest bit of shimmer in them, like the Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder £38, which also happens to smell like a summer holiday.
ELLE Edit: DIY Glowy Skin Finish
Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer in Golden - £140 for 50ml
A skincare/make-up hybrid, this is a sunkiss in a bottle. Wear it alone to help even skin tone and add the subtlest of golden sheens, or use as a primer.
Kevyn Aucoin The Glass Glow Face and Body Illuminator - £26
Available in a selection of shades (from bronzed to holographic) this illuminator can be worn under make-up, mixed into it, or dabbed on top as a final, light-catching flourish.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Highlighting Fluid - £38
This is what Zoe Taylor adds to foundation to give a gorgeous glow. Or, if you're going foundation free, a wash of this on your skin will leave you positively gleaming.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream Light - £75 for 50ml
'The new Magic Cream Light is amazing for oily combination complexions and hot summer weather' says Sofia, 'And has the magic matrix of supercharged skincare ingredients to leave you dewy, hydrated and gorgeous!'
4. Eyes And Eyebrows
A gorgeous glowy look is the perfect place to practice the 'sunset eye' trend, warm shades from coral to brick suit almost anyone. Again, avoid glitter but don't be afraid of a little shine. 'I love to use shimmer on the eyes for that glowy look, it pairs beautifully with a dewy skin and a really balmy lip for a fresh faced look that will lay all day', says Amy.
If that sounds a bit much for you, stick to warm shades that will add depth and contour to the eye area. 'Keep to matte eyeshadow colours, so the make-up feels as if it is mimicking the natural colours of the eye area. Warm bronzed tones suit everyone. And always use waterproof mascara!', adds Zoe.
5. Lips
This sort of look really suits a glossy lip - look for tinted lip oils or buttery balms. Nudes and pinks look amazing against bronzed or shimmering skin, but you still want the finish to be quite low maintenance.
'You’ll be drinking champagne, smiling in photos and chatting all day', says Sofia, 'so you need a formula that is like velvet on the lips; long-lasting and hydrating. Charlotte’s new Love Filter lipsticks £25, have the perfect, cashmere-soft, rosebud-pink matte shades for times like this!'
ELLE Edit: DIY Glowy Bridesmaid Make-Up
Trinny London Eye2Eye in Courage - £18
Basically foolproof in application, use your fingers to smoosh this across your eyelid. The balmy formula doesn't crease, and the colour is the perfect sunset-y shade. Just wash your hands before you go near the bride!
NARS The Multiple in Orgasm - £30
The shimmer on this stick is the perfect level of light-catching without being at all 'festival'. Use it on your cheeks, eyes and even lips to enhance a glowing complexion.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette - £45
A favourite of Zoe Taylor due to it's muted but eye-enhancing shades, use a mix of the colours for a blended bronze eye, or choose whichever makes your eye colour pop.
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss - £19
The perfect lip product for a glowy bridesmaid, this nourishes whilst adding a hint of colour. The finish is buttery and glossy, and not at all sticky.
The Bridesmaid Make-Up Brief: Understated Glamour
The last thing you want to do is upstage the bride, but that doesn't mean you can't look just as glamorous, right?
Get The Look
1.Skin
If you're going to go a little heavier on the foundation, you need a primer to make it stick. Look for anything that's going to give long-wear, and a matte finish.
2. Base
With a glam look, you're probably going to be using bolder colours on the eyes and lips, so a matte canvas will let these do the talking. This is where a full coverage (but not cakey) foundation is best used. 'If you prefer a fuller coverage, Airbrush Flawless Foundation £34, is amazing', says Sofia. It's easily buildable too, so start small and work up to your desired coverage level.
3. Cheeks
'A great way to instantly add a little more glam is with highlighter', says Amy. 'Add it to cheekbones, brow bone and the inner corner of the eye for a gorgeous high shine. Then to define the eye, I love to use a bronzer and sweep under the lower lash line to softly smoke up the eye look.'
A glam look isn't complete without a little bit of contouring too: try using bronzer in your usual shade, and just building the colour, so it doesn't look too 'Insta-face'.
ELLE Edit: DIY Glam Skin Finish
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - £43
High coverage but never cakey, this foundation should outlast the sweaty dancefloor, happy tears, and even a cheeky after-party.
Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder - £36
A good dose highlighter suits a glam look as it will sit on the skin and catch the light at every given opportunity.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer - £39
This bronzer almost melts into the skin as it's so finely milled. Sweep it lightly around the edges of the face, they use it more intensely to sculpt.
ICONIC London Illuminator Drops - £30
This cult classic adds a glossy glow without looking too shiny or leaving that nightmare stickiness. It comes in a whole host of shades too.
4. Eyes And Eyebrows
Ok so we've been telling you to avoid glitter this whole time, but now is it's time to shine. Just keep it finely milled rather than chunky so it doesn't look festival-worthy. 'Glittering, shimmering, light-play textures can be a great trick for making the eyes look bigger and brighter', says Sofia.
'I love to use illuminating champagne-pink and shimmering taupe shades like eyeshadow toppers, applying with my fingers to the inner corner and centre of the lids to catch the light.'
You could also play with new colours, just keep them fresh rather than too gothic (unless that's the bride's vibe). 'Pastel lids would be super cute for bridesmaids', suggests Zoe Taylor. 'I think a fresh and powdery lavender suits everyone. It is so nice to see a little colour, try dipping an eyeliner brush into a mixing medium and then into a bright eyeshadow to create your own coloured liner.'
5. Lips
Fed up of nudes? You can totally wear a bolder colour - just be sure it doesn't clash with your dress or the wedding's colour scheme!
Amy tells us 'a fun lip is such a great way to take a bridesmaids look from day to evening, with their priorities on looking after the bride, time is of the essence and this is the quickest and easiest way to glam up their look before the dancing! A pink, berry or red can either be super playful or a sultry old Hollywood vibe depending on how bold you want to go.'
ELLE Edit: DIY Glam Bridesmaid Make-Up
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer - £17
If you want to up your lip game but aren't fond of a matte finish, this shimmering gloss is the one. Although it goes on luxuriously thick, it's not at all sticky. And the shade really does suit everyone (believe us, we've tested it).
Maybelline The Falsies Instant Lash Lift Look Lengthening Volumising Mascara - £9.99
False lashes are the ultimate way to va-va-voom eyes, but this mascara gives them a run for their money. There's a waterproof version too, if you're a crier.
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Lipstick - £30
One of our favourite reds (we could never choose one) this gives serious old Hollywood vibes. The finish is matte, but not drying at all.
Chanel Ombre Premiere Laque in Quartz Rose
Use a wash of this over the lids for a shimmery sheen, or use your finger to dot it on in the centre of the eyelid over any shadow, which will add dimension and catch the light.
How To Make Your Bridesmaid Make-Up Last
Ok so you've perfected the 'look'. But that doesn't mean much if it's melted off of your face by the time you get to the speeches.
'Don't rely on your fingers for longwear!', says Amy. 'When applying foundation, opt for a medium to full longwear formula, use a brush for the most flawless finish, brush down the face because that's the way the hair lies. Then layer a sheer finish pressed powder on top for that natural yet flawless coverage finish that will last from ceremony to dance off!'
Sofia confirms that powder is your friend here: 'Once your bridesmaid make-up look is complete, it’s important to finish it off with a finely milled powder to lock in your make-up effortlessly and keep everything from slipping; from the walk down the aisle to the party', she says. 'It also removes any unwanted shine for all of the wedding photos.'
Wedding Make-Up Inspiration To Make You Feel Your Most Beautiful On The Big Day
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