Finding the perfect wedding guest makeup can be tricky (though, admittedly, not as challenging as bridal makeup). There’s an important balance to strike: You want to look put together enough to look great in photos, but not so flashy that you outshine the bride. It’s also important to ensure that your chosen look wedding guest makeup look fits the venue since what works for a low-key beach wedding may not fit in at a black-tie event (or vice versa). And on top of that, you have to be sure your look is able to hold up throughout several hours of festivities, or you’ll be spending most of your evening in the bathroom touching up your makeup.
If that seems like a lot to keep in mind, keep reading—we’ve done all of the hard work for you. Ahead, we’re sharing 13 wedding guest makeup ideas we love and offering tips on ensuring your makeup stays put throughout dancing, tears, and of course, champagne toasts.
You can absolutely wear makeup as a wedding guest, but it’s important to be sure your chosen look fits the occasion. Certain looks may be better suited for specific venues or dress codes.
If you’re attending an outdoor wedding with a more casual dress code—think “garden party” or “dressy casual”—we suggest opting for simple wedding guest makeup that accentuates your features without adding too much color or drama. For white-tie and black-tie events, glam wedding guest makeup may be an option—just be sure to keep the focus on one feature (for example, your eyes or your lips) to avoid looking overdone.
Finally, remember that makeup for wedding guests usually isn’t required. If you’re someone who prefers going au naturale, applying a tinted moisturizer, lip balm, and concealer is perfectly sufficient. No matter which look you opt for, we recommend setting it all in place with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist to help keep mid-festivity touch-ups to a minimum.
Wedding makeup doesn’t have to be complicated to look great. Ahead, we’re sharing 13 of our favorite wedding guest makeup ideas to bookmark next time you receive a save the date in the mail.
If you’re looking for a summer wedding guest makeup look that won’t feel too heavy in hot or humid conditions, we suggest opting for a less-is-more approach with a natural-looking bronzy look. Start by evening out your complexion with a lightweight foundation or skin tint, such as the L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum. (If you find you need extra coverage under your eyes or need to conceal any blemishes, add concealer—but use it sparingly to avoid looking overly “done.”)
After applying your foundation, sweep some bronzer onto your cheeks to fake a sun-kissed glow. We’re fond of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer, as it’s buildable, breathable, and offers up to 24 hours of waterproof and sweat-proof wear. Complete your simple wedding guest makeup look with neutral eyeshadow, mascara, and a pinky-nude lipstick like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Worth It.
Pretty pastel hues aren’t just for bridesmaid bouquets—they also make for great wedding guest makeup looks. To create this pretty pink look, start by adding one dot of the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush onto your cheeks. Blend the color out with a liquid blush brush, then add more as desired to build up the pigment. Once you’re satisfied with your blush, tie your look together by swiping a pastel-toned eyeshadow onto your lids. We love the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Alluring Rose, as it boasts a soft matte finish that’ll define your eyes without taking attention away from your fresh-faced flush.
If you want to go a bit bolder with your wedding guest eye makeup look, a classic smokey eye is hard to beat. Creating this look is fairly simple, but you will want to consider your eye shape for the most flattering end results (we break down the need-to-knows in our article How To Craft The Perfect Smokey Eye According To Your Eye Shape). When selecting your shadows, we recommend opting for matte rather than shimmery formulas and keeping the rest of your look fairly minimal to avoid going overboard. Skip the bright blush and bold lipstick—instead, line your lips with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in Au Naturale then swipe on the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss With Pomegranate Extract in Feathery Fleur for a hint of color and shine.
If you haven’t yet tried brown mascara, you’re missing out. Dark brown mascara can help define and emphasize your eyes with a subtler finish than jet black mascara—we find it’s especially well suited for more laid-back wedding guest makeup looks. Try the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara in Black Brown for long, lifted lashes that hold up for up to 36 hours. If you prefer waterproof mascara, the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Waterproof Mascara in Black Brown is a great pick. Apply one or two coats to help thicken, lengthen, and lift your lashes, then swipe on a pinkish-nude lip gloss to complete your barely-there look.
Opting for light makeup for weddings is a great idea if the event is going to be held outdoors—the less makeup you wear, the less you’ll need to touch up throughout the night. In fact, you only need a few products to nail this pared-back wedding guest makeup look (specifically, eyeliner, lip liner, and lipstick).
Start by using L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Brown to tightline your upper waterline—the long-wearing formula is waterproof, so it’s unlikely to smudge or smear throughout the night. If you want a little more definition, you can use the same liner to thinly trace your upper lash line, flicking the liner outward at the outer corner of your eye to create a barely-there wing.
Then, line your lips with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in All About Pink and swipe on a rosy pink lipstick. The L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Rosy Confident is our pick for a matte lip look, while the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Montmartre boasts a satiny finish that’s neither matte nor overly glossy.
If you’re attending an outdoor wedding in a hot, humid climate, you may want to opt for a matte wedding guest makeup look to help keep shine to a minimum. Start by priming your face with the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Matte Setter, which helps mattify shine and extends makeup wear for up to 24 hours. Then, reach for a long-lasting powder foundation to even out your complexion. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder, which provides (as the name suggests) up to 24 hours of waterproof, sweatproof, and transfer-resistant wear.
To complement your velvety skin, we suggest reaching for a soft, peachy-pink lipstick. Try the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick in Peach Charm. This tinted balm-lipstick hybrid helps keep lips hydrated while providing a buildable flush of luminous-looking color.
If there’s any occasion that calls for a bit of shimmer, it’s a wedding. Lean into your celebratory side by swapping out your go-to shadow for a nude-toned shimmery shade, such as the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Twinkly Rose or Magnetic Bronze. Swipe on a few coats of mascara to define your lashes, then complete your wedding-approved look with a nude lipstick, gloss, or hydrating tinted balm.
Winged eyeliner lovers, you’re in luck: The iconic eyeliner style is ideal for creating a glam wedding guest makeup lookthat’ll practically guarantee compliments. Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner to create a sharp, exaggerated wing at the outer corner of either eye. Then, apply a lengthening mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara to give your lashes some volume. You can complete the look with any lip gloss or lipstick of your choice, but for an ultra-glam finish perfect for a black-tie affair, a subtle ombré lip can’t be beat. To nail the gradient effect, line your lips with L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in Truly Burgundy, then use a clean lip brush to lightly blend the color toward the center of your lips. Finish it off with a coat of clear lip gloss to add shine and emphasize the subtle two-toned effect.
You don’t have to wear a full face of makeup to look and feel put-together at a wedding. Bronzed cheeks and full, fluffy brows create an elegant yet understated look that’s both easy to achieve and incredibly natural-looking. Start by taming your arches with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24HR Brow Lamination. It’s a clear gel that holds the brows in place and adds fullness for salon-inspired brow lamination that stays put for up to 24 hours. Once you’re satisfied with your brows, use a fluffy brush to dust the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer onto your cheekbones, along your hairline, and on each temple for an effortlessly glam look that works equally well for casual and more elegant affairs.
Pearl skin is one of 2024’s biggest makeup trends—and it makes for a great wedding guest makeup look, too. To nail the lit-from-within effect, skip the matte foundation in favor of the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer, which you can wear alone or mix with your liquid foundation for a more radiant-looking finish. Then, use the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush to add a pop of color to your cheeks, and add an extra dose of shimmer to the high points of your face with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24HR Highlighter Longwear Powder.
Because your skin is the focus of this look, you can keep the rest of your makeup simple. A few swipes of black mascara and a touch of pink or nude lip gloss will tie your glowy, glam makeup look together perfectly.
Berry lipstick is classic for fall wedding guest makeup looks, but it’s important to find the right hue—anything too dark could read more vampy than romantic. If you have fairer skin, opt for a soft berry lipstick, such as the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Blushing Berry. A richer plum shade, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Lazy Sunday, is ideal for those with darker skin tones. Be sure to line your lips with a coordinating lip liner to help prevent fading and feathering.
Soft glam makeup is chic, elegant, and understated—and easily adaptable for just about any occasion. There are plenty of ways to create the look, but we love how adding a touch of contour helps create a sculpted effect that looks incredible in photos. Start by applying a natural-finish foundation, such as the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation, to help even out your skin tone. Then, use a cool-toned contour to define your cheekbones, nose, and jawline, using a light hand to ensure a seamless finish. Sweep the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24HR Highlighter Longwear Powder along your brow bones and onto the tops of your cheekbones, then finish the glam look off with a few coats of mascara and your favorite matte nude lipstick (we love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Snooze Your Alarm).
There’s a reason red lipstick is considered classic: it’s sophisticated, flattering on everybody, and glamorous without being over-the-top. Plus, a timeless red lip never (and we mean never) goes out of style—so it’s perfect for wedding guest makeup.
In our opinion, red lipstick truly shines when it’s allowed to be the star of the show, so we suggest keeping the rest of your look minimal. Start with natural-looking skin and wispy lashes, then swipe on your favorite red lipstick and head out the door. If you need a recommendation, we love L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Reds of Worth Satin Lipstick in Prosperous Red for those with fairer skin, and Hopeful Red for those with darker skin. If you fall somewhere in the middle, try a pure crimson, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Rouge St. Germain or the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Le Rouge Paris.
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