Bridal Beauty Tips: Cool Undertone

Makeup and hair are just as important as your gown on your wedding day. An unflattering beauty look will make you feel uncomfortable in your own skin and dampen your confidence. Bridal makeup artist Jane Kim lends her expertise on tips for cool undertone Beauties and transforms Beautylish's Victoria (also a cool undertone Beauty) into a classic bride. Jane also gave fantastic bridal beauty tips on what to expect when working with makeup artists. Stay tuned this week for her tips on warm and olive undertone tips. 

At the mock trial session, Victoria asks for the classic blushing bride look to match her tea garden theme. Jane shapes Victoria's eyebrows with the threading technique and hydrates her face bare face with a thin layer of Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30. "When photos are taken, your face can appear to have a white cast due to the SPF in sunscreen. Use a moisturizer without SPF instead if you notice it at your trial session." On a big occasion like a wedding, primer is a must to ensure longevity of the makeup. Jane suggests to use a high quality primer like Giorgio Armani Fluid Master Primer. "This primer works beautifully on everyone, feels great on the skin and helps lock in your makeup for the entire day." 

Many people say you need to wear a thick coat of foundation on your wedding day. "Completely not true. You're the bride so you can wear your makeup however you want. If you have great skin, show off your natural radiance. But you do want to make sure your complexion looks fresh and even." Jane uses Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation with a stippling brush and presses it in with a blending sponge. "This foundation comes in different shades and really gives a luminous glow to your face, without being cakey." To cover dark circles, spot conceal discoloration and prime eyelids, Jane mixes a thick and creamy concealer from Ben Nye with foundation for a lighter application.

To set the makeup, Jane taps a big, fluffy brush into Giorgio Armani Loose Powder and rolls the bristles on Victoria's face. The cheekbones, brow bone and nose are highlighted with Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder. "This is seriously my favorite powder to brighten everyone's face. Just make sure to concentrate it in toward the middle of your face and don't pack it on to avoid looking too shiny." To compliment Victoria's complexion, Jane uses NARS blush in a soft rose shade a bronzing powder to lightly contour her cheekbones. "On cool undertones brides, you want to be careful with bronzer because if you go overboard with it or choose too deep of a color, it can come out looking extremely fake."

To enhance Victoria's hazel eyes, Jane packs on shades of Shu Uemura purple, taupe, and light eye shadows. Jane lines both the top and bottom lashes with Stila Smuge Pot gel liner. "Gel liners are longer-lasting than pencils or eye shadows. Just be sure to set the liner with dark powder." Jane applies natural looking false lashes and mascara to add more drama to the eyes. She finishes the look by applying pink lipstick and gloss for an understated pout.

As you can see from the photos, Victoria looks amazingly flawless and truly like a blushing bride on her way to her tea garden wedding. Upcoming brides, are you inspired by this look?

Cool Undertone Jane Kim's Bridal Make-up Tips

1. Your makeup artist can help determine whether you have a cool or warm undertone. A cool undertone means you are more toward the blue spectrum and can either have light or fair skin with blue or pink undertones. People with such undertones can burn easily and tend to have a slight redness on their face. Look at the veins around your wrist and if they seem blue, you are a cool undertone gal. This doesn't mean your skin appears blue or pink, but rather the tint and how your skin picks up surrounding colors.

2. Gray and purple eye shadow colors are always flattering on fair and light skin. Your colors will depend on your dress and theme you're going for so experiment at home or during your trial session to see what shades suit you.

3. Pinky shades of blush look great on cool undertone people. Using peach, brown or plum blushes can make your cheeks look ruddy. Honey-toned or light beige bronzers with a subtle pink shimmer will add just enough warmth to your face.

Image courtesy of Jane Kim

Jane Kim is a Bay Area makeup artist based in San Francisco, California,. "I love empowering women through beauty.The best part of my job is when I unveil a look to my clients—they stare in disbelief by their own reflection and thank me for a miraculous job well done. Only, I am not a magician. I am not a surgeon. I am not miracle worker. I see the beauty in people and enhance what beautiful features they have already been blessed with." You can find Jane at theglamourist.com.