How to Do Bridal Makeup: Tutorial and Inspiration
Look your best for the big day.
Your wedding day makeup look is likely the most important look you will ever sport. Every little speck of shimmer and swipe of lipstick needs to be in perfect placement, your face needs to photograph beautifully, and your bridal makeup needs to last through crying, celebrating, and a long night of dancing. The stakes are high, and you want your makeup to look its best so you can feel your best.
The truth is simple. When you want your makeup to go the distance, you start with your primer and base because those determine the rest of your makeup look. To help you perfect your makeup look for your big day, we’re sharing a bridal makeup tutorial that covers every step of your routine. Plus, we’ve gathered lots of wedding makeup inspiration, which you’ll find below.
Long-Lasting Bridal Makeup Tutorial
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Hey guys it's Nicole Elise Today I'm gonna be walking you through my take on a bridal long lasting makeup look I ended up creating this look for you guys with all of my favorite L'Oréal products that are just quintessential for bridal looks Especially for a long day and a long night You definitely wanna make sure you're picking the right products The goal for this look was to really create like a more enhanced version of myself while still being able to photograph beautifully last as long as possible all day and night And I also just really wanted my skin to look as beautiful as possible with some natural eyes This is what I would consider like my level one bridal makeup look So if you are looking to kind of enhance or add to this look you can definitely do it as you please But for me and any of my gals who just want really simple natural makeup look for their wedding this is sort of the look I would go for I have handpicked all of these products for you guys from L'Oréal that are going to make your makeup last all day long all night long So I hope you guys enjoy and let's jump in To start off the bridal look we're gonna go in with the L'Oréal Lumi Glotions I have mine in 902 Light Glow and in a 903 Medium Glow And I'm actually gonna mix the two to give me a little bit more warmth to the skin but also give me that like champagne pearly finish Just gonna take some on the back of my hand gonna mix it and go ahead and apply We're gonna use the Infallible Up To 32 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation This is going to give you a really beautiful finish very natural finish while still giving you a perfect amount of coverage Also long lasting so it can stay put for your day For pictures I find that this foundation is so nice cause it doesn't give any like flashback and it's also very natural looking in photos it's not too matte and it's not too dewy But also with the Glotion you're giving yourself a little bit of that natural lit from within look So it's sort of like a happy medium that I think a lot of brides would love For bronzer we are gonna use a cream contour I'm actually gonna use the L'Oréal True Match Radiant Serum Concealers I have two different shades here I have Medium Deep C8 and Deep C10 I'm gonna start off with the Medium C8 and just see how this works warming up the skin It also comes with a really nice applicator We will be using the Infallible Full Wear Concealer This one is in shade 405 Toffee and it has a really nice doe foot applicator for really nice precision The creaminess of this concealer is just unmatched especially for being affordable it's just so good Okay with that we're just gonna highlight around the rest of the face Gonna go right on the chin down here middle of the forehead and then down the nose For bronzer we're gonna be using the L'Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear Bronzer This one is in 450 Deep Tan and I'm just gonna go over everywhere we used cream bronzer set everything in and then give it an extra airbrush look For blush I'm gonna go in with one of my favorite liquid blushes This is the Lumi Le Liquid Blush it's in shade 601 Dewy Worth It And it's like the perfect pink for a wedding day I'll just show you guys Just like a fresh pink and then I take a little bit and sort of dust it right on top of the nose and then a wash of it like just straight across the head and then down here And it just really ties everything together and I think this color is just a perfect youthful pink It looks so good especially in pictures it is so beautiful And then of course we're gonna go in with the L'Oréal Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick this one is in 610 Glossy Pearl And I'm just gonna take a little bit down my nose And I'm gonna also push this right into the skin and see how the sun just sort of hits it perfectly And I'm just gonna go right on top of the high points of my cheekbones and then right underneath the brow Just sort of like in a C-formation like that We're gonna go on top of the liquid blush with a powder blush just to lock everything in similar to what we did with the bronzer Just to give it a little bit more of an airbrush effect also to keep it very long lasting for the whole day We're gonna use the Infallible Fresh Wear Blush - Shade 20 And this one is in the shade 20 Darling Rosewood I'm gonna take a wash of it right on the lids Just to tie everything together See how everything is sort of coming together on the face I'm gonna be taking some of the Infallible Fresh Wear Highlighter This one is in 15 Champagne Glow and I'm going to use my finger just a little bit to lock in that highlight on the nose Taking a highlighting brush and I'm just going to do like a little dust of it And to set the concealer and just make everything more long lasting And also see how there's this glow right here it is really pretty but it's not ideal for pictures you wanna look back at later in life It's better to have that be a little bit more muted and tone down and then really glaring And I'm gonna be taking the Infallible Blur-Fection This is the loose powder and it lasts up to 24 hours It's brightening and blurring I'm gonna use shade 10 Pink and also 20 Translucent Mix these together for underneath the eyes and then I will be using the Translucent just on my forehead and certain parts of the rest of the face And then I'm gonna set wherever I have concealer especially around the mouth you're gonna be talking a lot you don't want this to crease this area Ideally wherever you applied concealer I always go in with a powder for something really long lasting And it's always better to just be safer than sorry just lock it in Because no matter what the powder is going to look so beautiful and translate so nicely on camera So just lock it in Speaking of long lasting obviously we want this look to last all day long all night long as long as possible This is gonna be your best friend this is the L'Oréal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist You don't have to wait for this to dry This will set down so quickly and you can just continue on with the rest of your makeup We're gonna be using the Brow Stylist this is the Definer Waterproof Brow Pencil I have Soft Black and Dark Brunette I love how tiny the actual pencil is You can make really nice hair like strokes For brow gel I'm using the Infallible Brow Lamination Gel This is clear and I like how tiny the wand is so you can get in and really push those brow hairs up and just mold them the way you want them to I'm gonna go back in with the powder bronzer we used and I am going to actually brush the bronzer all over my lid Really give your look some dimension I wanna keep the eyes really really natural The focus is really my skin more than anything Going in with the powder blush I used and I'm going to blend this throughout the whole eye up to the crease For eyeliner we're going to smudge this out we're gonna use the Infallible Gel Mechanical Liner this one is an Intense Black This one has a bit of a point to the end of it and I'm gonna run this right along the lash line What's great about this eyeliner is it comes with a smudger See how it just defines the eye but at the same time it's not super intense However we are gonna go in with the Infallible Precision Felt Liquid Eyeliner This is basically like your typical pen eyeliner Right underneath where we smudged everything just to give that lash line even more intensity Still want my eye shape to be defined and I feel like when you smudge it you kinda lose a little bit of the shape For mascara we're going in with the Paradise Big Deal Mascara This mascara is great for lengthening but it's also gonna give you really pretty volume Also just gonna take that gel liner and then tightline right in the you would call like the upper waterline In makeup we call it tightlining This just enhances the lash line even more just makes it look a lot fuller For lip liner today we're gonna be using the Colour Riche and this one is in Worth It Medium It's like a perfect pinky mauve It's like the go-to lip color for bridal cause you want it to be pink and natural but not like baby pink you know what I mean And then we're gonna go with the matching satin lipstick This is the Colour Riche Satin Lipstick and Worth It Medium as well And I'm just gonna dab this Ah The smell of L'Oréal lipsticks just is so nostalgic to me For lip gloss I'm actually going to opt for a lip oil This is the Plump Ambition Lip Oil and mine is in 601Worth It That is the finished look I hope you guys enjoyed my beautiful bridal look Very easy long lasting perfect for that bride that just wants to enhance their natural beauty and still look like themselves I hope you guys enjoyed this look Let me know what you think and I'll see you guys in my next one Bye
Our wedding makeup tutorial, includes every product you need to achieve a long-lasting, gorgeous wedding beauty look.
1. Prime for your skin type
It’s important to start with a solid base to ensure your makeup look will last through a full day of wedding activities. The best way to achieve that is with makeup primer. Even if you forgo primer on the other 364 days of the year, your wedding day is not the time to skip it.
Taking an extra moment to smooth on primer before breaking out the rest of your face makeup could make all the difference in how long your look lasts and how easily your makeup applies.
Choose a primer that targets your unique skin concerns. We love the L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. This viral TikTok favorite is also a tinted illuminating moisturizer for face and body. It is lightweight and infused with shea butter and glycerin.
Then it’s time for concealer. One of those makeup products has been used for generations of brides to cover pimples, disguise under-eye bags, color-correct pigmentation, and temporarily cover an array of blemishes and marks. So it’s a must for a picture-perfect look. We suggest the double benefits of L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, which acts as a serum and a concealer at the same time. It’s a hyaluronic acid infused with medium coverage that neutralizes dark circles and visibly depuffs under-eye bags.
2. Apply a long-wearing foundation
To look just as free of imperfections when your wedding ends as you did at the beginning, apply foundation that offers long-lasting coverage. Try the L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation, which has a natural finish and lasts all day without transferring. Another great option is the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder—it’s long-lasting, mattifying, sweatproof, smudgeproof, and heatproof. Both products work for all wedding makeup looks.
Pair your long-wearing foundation with a full-coverage concealer, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage, to brighten your under-eyes and conceal blemishes.
3. Set with powder
Long-wear liquid foundations will have more staying power if you set them with a face powder. Opt for a lightweight powder to avoid looking like you’ve caked on tons of makeup. Dip a fluffy makeup brush into translucent powder and sweep it onto your face, focusing on your T-zone, where you can get oily as the day progresses. For this important task, we recommend using L'Oréal Paris Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder.
4. Add dimension and color with powder blush, highlighter and contour
Use contour and blush to bring color to your face and keep your makeup from looking flat.
Apply a neutral or cool-toned powder two to three shades darker than your skin tone for contour. We like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer because it melts into the skin, and it never looks gray.
Remember to highlight to add some extra glow to your face. To be quick and precise, use L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick. Its reflective glassy finish delivers an instant multi-dimensional glow in one swipe. Swipe the highlighter onto the high points of your face with a light hand (you can always add more), and move on to the next step.
For your blush, look for a blendable powder formula, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush. It gives cheeks a natural flush of color and brightens your overall complexion. If you are more comfortable with a liquid format and want something that you can build on, adding more layers (depending on how intense you want the hue to be) and is even longer-lasting, tryL'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush.
5. Prime your eyes before eyeshadow
Primer isn’t just for your face, so if you’re planning to wear eye makeup, you’ll want to prime your eyes. A fantastic hack is to take a waterproof eye pencil in a flesh-toned hue and use it to fill your lid with color. Use a finger to smudge the liner all over your lid, and you’ll have a long-wearing, waterproof base for your eyeshadow.
As for your lids, you can’t go wrong with a smokey eye moment. Look for a mix palette with light and dark shades to create the iconic sultry blending. For a shimmery finish, layer on the L'Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick to make your eyes pop.
6. Wear waterproof eye makeup
Let’s be real, your wedding is bound to get emotional. As such, you’ll want to prepare for inevitable waterworks by wearing waterproof eye makeup. We have all your bases covered below:
For mascara, try the L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara. Its formula is excellent for lifting and separating your lashes without clumps. It also comes in a waterproof version. This is your first choice if you have sensitive eyes or wear contact lenses.
Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner for a great waterproof liquid eyeliner. The precise felt tip is perfect for crafting a sharp cat eye, and the formula is long-wearing, waterproof, and transfer-proof. If you want to wear winged eyeliner for your wedding, we suggest finding the right wing for your eye shape.
When it comes to waterproof pencil eyeliner, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner. It lasts up to 36 hours, and the built-in smudger is excellent for creating smokey eye looks.
7. Opt for a matte lipstick
Chances are you’ll have to reapply your lipstick a few times on your wedding day. Kissing your new spouse and sipping on champagne, make touch-ups a must. Whether or not you’ll have to reapply isn’t up for debate, but how often you’ll have to is. You can get a velvety matte finish with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick. The slim bullet doubles as a lip liner. This way, the application is quick and easy. Plus, it comes in various shades, meaning you can rock a pink, nude, or red lip for your big day—it’s up to you.
For an extra pzazz, top it all off with lip gloss. For plump lips on your special day, use Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil with Hyaluronic Acid and Tripeptides for instantly smoother, juicier-looking lips.
8. Finish with a makeup setting spray
Wearing many long-wear makeup products is a great way to extend the life of your makeup look. However, it isn’t all you can do. When applying your makeup,
a final step can make all the difference in how it holds up. For the perfect finishing touch, lock in your makeup with a few spritzes of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist.
20 Bridal Makeup Ideas to Inspire You
The tutorial above has great bride makeup ideas and tips for creating a long-lasting look. But there are so many different ways to do wedding makeup. Below, find 20 options (complete with inspiration photos!) for wedding makeup ideas.
1. Natural glam wedding makeup
This natural glam wedding makeup look features smooth, even skin, shimmery neutral-toned shadow, soft liner, and a satin lip.
First, you should determine if you want a glowy or skin-like finish. For the former, apply the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer to your face, neck, and décolletage. This illuminating formula provides a sheer wash of color and gives skin a radiant finish. As for the latter, try the L'Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation, which adapts to your skin so you can't tell where your foundation ends and your real skin texture begins. After laying your base makeup, subtly contour and highlight your face. Then, add a few sweeps of a rosy blush. We’re partial to the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush for a natural, complexion-brightening flush of color. Complete your glam with a pink or peach lipstick like our L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Worth It or Fairest Nude shades.
And you can skip the falsies for this timeless look; you don't need them. Instead, define your lashes with the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Waterproof Mascara, which creates corner-to-corner panoramic volume and lasts for up to 24 hours without flaking, clumping, or smudging— even if you shed a tear or two.
2. Shimmery lids
For those who want their eyes to be the main focus of their bridal makeup, this is the look to go for. The soft, feminine look stars shimmery taupe lids, a lightly defined crease, and a soft wing created with eyeshadow rather than a liner. Add individual lashes to the outer corner of your eyes to get natural-looking definition, and finish your wedding makeup look with a few swipes of your favorite matte lipstick—mauve tones play especially well with the cool tones of the shadow. The product that will help you achieve this glowing effect is our L'Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick.
3. Timeless neutrals
Anyone who has ever thumbed through a wedding album from the 1980s will understand the appeal of a classic bridal makeup look. Today’s hottest makeup trends will eventually become as dated as the blue eyeshadow and frosted pink lips mom sported in ‘85, so opting for a neutral color palette—think nudes, neutrals, and rosy hues—will give your wedding makeup look a timeless feel.
4. Full glam bridal makeup
Your wedding day is the perfect opportunity to go all out with your hair and makeup, which is exactly why we love a full-glam bridal look. To get this head-turning wedding makeup look, full-coverage foundation is a must. Try the aforementioned L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation, and for extra staying power, lock in your look with a setting spray.
5. Classic winged liner
Winged eyeliner is a wedding makeup staple for a good reason: it’s flattering, attention-grabbing, and easily customizable for any eye shape. For this, we suggest allowing your eyes to be the focal point. Pair your classic wing with rosy lips and flushed cheeks for a well-balanced look that’ll photograph beautifully.
6. Dewy wedding makeup
This dewy, skin-focused wedding makeup look is easy to achieve, making it a great option for anyone who wants to do their makeup for their big day. If the goal is a your-skin-but-better finish, we love the L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum. The formula, which combines hyaluronic acid with luminous pigments, provides the skin with sheer, lightweight coverage, a brightened finish, and a hydrated feel. Then, add peachy blush, rose gold eyeshadow, and a bit of eyeliner to complete your lit-from-within look.
7. Understated wedding makeup
If you favor a no-makeup makeup look in your everyday life, don’t feel pressured into changing your style just because it's your wedding day. A few tweaks to your usual makeup routine will yield gorgeous results for your walk down the aisle. We suggest swapping your skin tint for a medium-coverage foundation, filling in your brows, and replacing your tinted balm with a nude lip liner and lipstick combo. Bride makeup can be this easy.
8. Soft pink monochrome
Pink practically screams romance, and rosy monochrome makeup makes for a stunning (and timeless) bridal makeup look. Blush and matte pink lipstick are the key elements of this look, but you can add dimension with details like shimmery shadow, champagne highlighter, and soft brown eyeliner.
9. Vintage-inspired wedding makeup
Old Hollywood-inspired makeup can sometimes be too much for daily wear, but the ultra-glam, retro aesthetic is perfect for a special day. This look comes together thanks to a few standout elements, like winged eyeliner and soft matte foundation, but the classic red lip takes center stage. Get a long-lasting lip look with the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner, then add a coat of your favorite satin-finish red lipstick (we’re big fans of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Le Rouge Paris).
10. Soft glam
Soft glam has been all over social media for a few years now. Unlike other viral makeup trends, it works beautifully as a timeless bridal makeup look. It’s glam enough to be worthy of your big day, but understated enough that you’ll still feel like you. Best of all? This elegant look pairs beautifully with any style or dress (and it fits any venue, indoors or out).
11. Glowy peach wedding makeup
Replicate a flattering golden hour glow—even if your ceremony is held after dark—by opting for makeup in sunset-inspired hues like gold, peach, and coral. You’ll want your skin to be the star of this alluring look. Skip the matte foundation and opt for a product with a dewy, radiant finish. Pair it with lots of blush, a bronzer´s touch, and a luminous highlighter for a glowy, natural-looking bride makeup.
12. Boho bridal makeup
Healthy-looking skin with a sun-kissed, bronzy glow is a key element of this free-spirited bridal makeup idea. Swap pink blush for a richer, warmer bronzer, then brush up your brows to add fullness and definition. Complete the carefree look with slightly smudged brown eyeliner—we love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Bronze.
13. Softly sculpted
Sculpted Instagram makeup looks great in photos, but can feel a bit heavy when paired with a pristine white dress. But that doesn’t mean you can’t emphasize your cheekbones—you’ll just want to take a slightly different approach. Skip the opaque matte bronzer. Instead, lightly define your cheekbones with a luminous, cool-toned contour. Then, apply plenty of blush to the apples of your cheeks and along the top of your cheekbones to make them pop while maintaining a natural-looking, elegant feel.
14. Beachy wedding makeup
Brides getting married by the sea should consider this natural, minimalist makeup look. It’s special-occasion ready but still fitting for a beachside ceremony. If you plan to exchange vows during the day, remember to protect your skin with plenty of sunscreen.
15. Shimmery winter wedding makeup
The best thing about getting married in the winter is that you don’t have to worry about soaring temperatures melting off your look. This means you can go a little heavier with your bridal eye makeup (if desired). Try pairing snowy pearlescent eyeshadow with bold winged liner and a glossy nude lip. The eye-catching and subtly shimmery combo, dreamy bridal makeup look is perfect for cold-weather weddings.
16. Latte makeup
If you want to create your wedding day makeup using products you already have, consider latte makeup (one of the few viral trends we’d argue is perfect for your wedding day). The alluring look forgoes the pinks and shimmers often seen in wedding makeup, opting for a matte, softer neutral palette—think caramels, toffees, and chocolates. Among bridal makeup looks, this is a very affordable one.
17. Grungy glam bridal makeup
On your wedding day, you should feel like the best version of yourself, not like you’re playing dress-up. If you normally favor an edgier aesthetic, there’s no reason you can’t make that work on your wedding day. Pair your signature smudged black eyeliner with fresh-looking skin and a satin nude lip for a balanced look perfect for your walk down the aisle (and the after party).
18. Statement lipstick
A statement lip is ideal for your wedding makeup look because it’s attention-grabbing, customizable, and super easy to touch up after a glass or two of champagne. Classic crimson looks gorgeous on everyone—just make sure to choose the right shade for your undertones. If you have cooler-toned skin, try a blue-red like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Rouge Paris. Warmer merlot and burgundy shades are a perfect match for warmer-toned skin. Or as we said before, you can never go wrong with L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Le Rouge Paris,
19. Colorful smoky eye
If you want your bridal eye makeup to make a lasting impression, consider a colorful take on the classic smoky eye. We love the flattering burgundy and purple tones pictured here, but emeralds, sapphires, and even deep ruby hues would work well, too. Just keep the rest of your makeup on the softer side for a well-balanced wedding makeup look.
20. Glittery eyeshadow
There’s a time and place for glitter—and your wedding day is it. Pair sparkly eyeshadow with full, voluminous lashes and glossy nude lips for a look that’ll have you feeling like a princess on your special day.
Next Up: 12 Elegant Bun Hairdos for Wedding Season (and Beyond)
Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris
