The blogosphere has been pretty much consumed by the upcoming wedding of Prince William and the currently less royal Kate Middleton. The bride-to-be’s wedding look is as of now a carefully guarded secret, but it will be fun to dissect it and pore over what potions were used for one of the few real modern-day princess stories when we commoners finally get a glimpse.
While everyone is experiencing a little bit of monarch-envy, part of the fun of following the festivities is putting yourself in the future Princess Kate’s (probably impossibly unaffordable) shoes. The royal engagement ring has already sparked a replica frenzy, and wishful brides the world over will probably look to this Friday’s massive shindig for inspiration for their own weddings. (As well as bridesmaids, mother of the brides and guests that get to get all dressed up.)
So what guidelines always work for traditional bridal beauty? Here are some tips ahead of the fete:
1.) Create a clean canvas: The line between airbrushed and spackled can be thin, but if you’re going to be subject to a bevy of photo-ops, a good balance is important. (Luckily for us plebes, we get a lot more editing privileges and our worst wedding shots won’t be printed in OK!) Actual airbrushing is popular with brides- many makeup artists provide this service, but if you’ve got a few bridesmaids, you might want to invest in your own kit. Sephora carries the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System, which is reasonably priced and provides comprehensive yet light skin coverage.
2.) Soft and blushy tones always work: A heavily bronzed, heavily lined or generally heavily made up look may not epitomize the “blushing bride” stereotype. Pink and pink-nude tones work really well for bridal beauty, and always look fresh, clean, and enhance natural beauty. Stila’s Convertible Color- Lilium and Gerbera are gorgeous pink hues- has been a best seller for years because it blends beautifully and creates a blushy glow. Tarte’s Blushing Bride Cheek Stain looks intense in the tube, but it was actually created for a blushing bride.
3.) But some extravagance is totally fine: While you may not want to go all out Vegas for wedding makeup- unless you’re getting hitched in Sin City- a few super-fancy tricks can totally be pulled off for wedding beauty. Shu Uemura’s Diamante Lashes are a subtle bit of sparkle, but lash extensions from a service like Bling Lash will keep your look going strong through the reception and honeymoon.
4.) Practice and prepare: For a planned and special occasion look, longevity can be a concern. Most brides test-run their look, but a few touch up tools can ensure you know what’s likely to smudge, shift or fade and at what rate. A product like Benefit’s She-Laq can help maintain your look throughout the reception, and Bobbi Brown’s Blotting Papers will soak up shine and pat away excess or shifted pigment.
Do you have any bridal makeup tips or tricks? What do you think Kate Middleton will choose for her big day?
She did her own make-up apparently which blew me away cos it looked fantastic!