The Top Bridal Makeup Trends For This Year

You’ve got the dress, now it’s time to sort out the rest. Essential to your overall bridal look will be a beautifully radiant face that shows off your features perfectly!

Here’s our round up of the top bridal makeup trends for this year.

Trend #1 – The Classic Cat-eye

A popular trend in the makeup world for quite some time, winged eyeliner is transitioning into a favourite look for brides. Previously considered too dramatic and daring for daytime bridal looks, makeup artists are lessening the impact by creating more subtle versions of this appealing trend.

Diffused styles of winged eyeliner feature thinner, less dramatic lines with delicate flicks or bold lines with an ever so slight feline flick.

On paler brides, if black eyeliner is deemed too harsh, makeup gurus are substituting black for a more suitable shade of brown to soften the look. Another technique is to blend the liner out so the lines aren’t as harsh – and a matte eye shadow can be used in this instance.

Used to highlight and elongate the eyes, winged eyeliner adds understated glamour and will suit a range of bridal styles and gowns. While winged eyeliner is considered on trend, its classic retro appearance means that it will appear timeless in your photos for years to come.

MORE – How To Find The Ultimate Wedding Dress, No Matter Your Size!

Trend #2 – Dare to Bare

The number one piece of advice given to brides about their wedding makeup is that they should always look like themselves, just an enhanced version. As a result, more brides than ever are opting for a natural / understated makeup look that brings out their best features in a subtle way.

This look embraces romance rather than red carpet worthy glamour, so soft and natural makeup is all about having a glowing complexion to provide a fresh base. Inspired by the “no makeup look” popular on the runways, an effortlessly chic and fuss-free appearance is created with flawless dewy or matte skin, minimal eye shadow if any, subtle hints of blush and pale pink or nude lips.

Fresh-faced understated palette to enhance natural beauty. Via Pinterest

Some brides opting for the soft and natural look will make their lashes the main feature, adding lashings of mascara (or false lashes) to create this look, with the rest of their face left relatively bare. If opting for the “natural look” it is essential to identify what suits you, and what you are comfortable with wearing on a day to day basis – then creating an enhanced version of that.

If you’re not a fan of foundation for instance, then opt for a cc cream; if you love to play up your eyes add an iridescent shade to your lids. The natural look is a favourite amongst brides for its compatibility with a range of gowns and hairstyles.

MORE – The Top 5 Wedding Dress Trends To Know

Trend #3 – Smoky Glamour

Whilst heavily smokey eyes are not a traditional bridal look, brides are increasingly asking for smoky eyes to add drama and sophistication to their wedding day style.

A smoky eye can be done using an array of wedding appropriate hues aside from the typical black. Silvers and greys, gold’s and bronzes to shimmery pinks are all perfect for creating a well-defined eye.

Subtle hints of colour and metallic will liven up your bridal look. Smudging the shadow into the lash line and waterline will create depth and make the lashes appear fuller.

The dramatic smokey eye is always spotted on the uber-chic Olsen Twins. via Pinterest.

As a general rule smoky eyes should be paired with an even complexion with little to no obvious contouring or blush. Added definition on the face has the potential to make the look too dramatic for a day time wedding and more suited to a night time event. Smoky eyes can be tailored to look more subtle and soft for weddings through the colour, amount of shadow used and the degree of blending.

MORE – The Best Bridal Inspiration From Fashion Month

Trend #4 – Structured Definition

Contouring is now a HUGE trend in makeup for any special occasion thanks to celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, who have propelled this specialist technique into the mainstream.

Contouring can have a dramatic effect on the size and shape of your face in photography through the use of precise makeup techniques. (For a handy how-to guide on contouring read here.) Contouring flatters the shape of your face by enhancing your cheekbones, defining your nose and adding overall defined structure.

Contouring can be achieved with the use of different shades of foundation or specialised contouring powders.

Contour queen – Kim Kardashian. via Pinterest

Brides can also choose to use their bronzer as one of their powders which will bring warmth to their face. The combination of bronzer, blush and a highlighting powder will add more dimension to your face ensuring you don’t appear washed out in your all-important wedding photos.

Perfectly sculpted brows (a la Olivia Palermo at her recent nuptials) will add definition to your face. Typically your eyebrows frame your face and help to highlight your bone structure. Filling in your brows and having them perfectly groomed is vital to achieving a flawless bridal look.

MORE – The 17 Most Breathtaking Dresses From New York Bridal Week

Trend #5 – Kissable Lips

Brides are having more fun with their makeup looks by adding pops of colour to create the perfect pout. Shades of peach and pink are among the favourites with brides ditching traditional nude or rose coloured lips.

Pink coloured lips feel fun yet still maintain a classic air of romance and are the perfect way to add some colour without opting a for a bold red (although a bold red lip is also becoming increasingly popular).

Berry shades are also being favoured by slightly more daring brides, depending on the tone a light berry can be vibrant and youthful while a deeper toned berry is glamorous and elegant. In particular deep berry pouts are perfect for weddings held in the cooler months.

A bright lip offsets an otherwise natural and understated bridal makeup look. via Pinterest.

What would be your preference for wedding day makeup? If you have already tied the knot, what style of makeup did you opt for? Let us know in the comments below!