Bridal makeup dilemma

Jun 17, 2015

Kailey L.

So I'm in a bit of a pickle, ladies. My sister-in-law is getting married next weekend, and... well, she's not a girly girl so she really didn't give much consideration to her makeup for the big day until now. I've offered to help her but I'm not sure what to recommend as her base. I don't think she should go full glam all out makeup, because at most she wears eyeliner and mascara and occasionally lipstick. I don't think she wants to look at her wedding photos and not recognize herself. Problem is, we have different skin types (she's dry/normal), and I've only really used/tried medium to full coverage foundations, so I'm not sure what to recommend. My worry is that she doesn't have time to test run any foundations (or bb creams), so my question is this: what are some good light coverage foundations or bb creams that photograph well and last? Any other bridal makeup tips would be very welcome!

Jun 17, 2015

Alexis C.

You can mix the foundation you have with her moisturizer to make more of a tinted moisturizer. It'll thin out the coverage of your foundation and it'll moisturize her dry areas (:

Jun 17, 2015

Erin M.

I would say you can also go to Sephora and get a Color IQ done, get three samples of the tinted moisturizers or light weight foundations she likes the best or look the best on her for her skin type. The MUFE Face and Body is very sheer, the Tarte BB cream is light weight, Shisedo BB cream is nice, the NARS BB cream is my favorite though.

Jun 17, 2015

Lindsey K.

If she's getting married next weekend, she has time. For someone looking for light coverage and lasting power, I would strongly recommend a face & body foundation. My personal favorite is the Make Up For Ever F&B foundation. This is a very fluid, comfortable foundation that works gorgeously for drier skin. MUFE has an impressive color range and doesn't break out even my ridiculously sensitive skin. I apply it with my fingers. MAC also makes a very popular F&B, but their shade range doesn't work for me unfortunately.

In terms of bridal tips in general, your SIL sounds like someone who would feel most comfortable with very soft neutral makeup. Think browns and mauves. If you can convince her to wear some individual false lashes, lashes make the biggest difference in the world when it comes to photography. Pop a few onto the outer 1/3 of her lash line, and her eyes will pop.

It's hard to give more specific recommendations past that without more information about her coloring/preferences, but that should give you a decent starting point!

Jun 17, 2015

Shauna S.

I would check out MUFE HD foundation or their Face and Body and I agree you can mix some moisturizer into the foundation to make it a bit more sheer. As for her makeup keep it simple and elegant, if she doesn't wear a lot of makeup normally then don't go too glam.

Jun 17, 2015

Kailey L.

Thank you all SO much! I will go to her with these ideas and see what she wants to do :) Thank you!!

Jun 17, 2015

Sadie G.

If I were in your situation, I would take a medium coverage foundation (maybe revlon color stay, it's pretty great and she won't have to go out of her way to get it) and once you find her shade, apply it with fingers, only in places she needs. I love doing this lately, that way you can melt the product into her skin, and she won't even be able to notice the foundation, only apply it to her problem areas, feel free to leave some skin showing, then the same with concealer (personally I love maybelline fit me) then depending on her as a person, use bronzer or blush (I would go for a bronzed look, but I don't know her or what she looks like) then just a tad bit of powder contour (not too heavy) and even if you do use bronzer, maybe just a tad bit of cream blush, then set the face with powder (rimmel stay matte?) then for the eyes, take the contour color in the crease, a nice cream color over her lid, then highlight the inner corner and brow bone. If she needs it, fill in her brows lightly, then mascara, and a "my lips but better" lip color. That's just personally what I would do, and definitely go through a test run with her, make sure it's not too much, she deserves to have a day pretty glamorous, but you don't want to put her too far out of her comfort zone! Good luck!!

Jun 17, 2015

Rebecca J.

I'd look at YSL touche eclat foundation. It photographs really nicely, I've never had a problem with it. Lightish coverage but kind of "blurs" any imperfections.

In regards to general makeup, I'd do a bit of contouring for the photographs, light rosy blush and lipstick, a champagne colour on the lids with a touch of matte brown in the crease for definition then a soft brown liner on her upper lashline with mascara and maybe some individual lashes.

Completely agree with you on wanting her to look like her! You don't want to go too out there. Good luck!

Jun 17, 2015

Alyx T.

Jacqueline nailed it. As always :)
I saw the title and wanted to come say remember to cover all the skin. My cousin got married at a resort in Mexico and her makeup artist was her sister (she's a hair stylist so she knows a bit about it, but she has heavy acne and oily skin that she covers up everyday, while her sister is more of a "maybe I'll be fancy and put on mascara" kind of girl lol.) So the professional pictures looked great because the photographer helped out and pointed out that her arms and neck aren't going to match and they fixed it right before the ceremony, but the little selfies the girls took before, her neck and shoulders just look so washed out next to the white dress.

Jun 18, 2015

Kailey L.

I love this community, you guys are so helpful. And thank you for the lip tip especially, Jacqueline! I believe she was planning on a nude lip so I will make other suggestions to her now. Thank you!

Jun 18, 2015

Teodora R.

Agreed with Jacqueline about the lip tip so much,I recently had an event and did a really pretty nude-ish look,a lot of ppl complimented me,but on the pictures looked so washed out! Just go a tad stronger on everything you would do,especially contouring/blush and lips,I looked like my face was bare,you could only see some eyeliner and lashes lol.