Bridal Makeup Trial: What I loved and What I'll Change

I recently had a fabulous time trying on wedding dresses at Natalie Rose Bridal, and I took the opportunity to attempt a makeup trial to see how everything would look and feel in videos and photos. In this post I'll break down the products used and share my thoughts on what worked and what I might tweak for the big day.

Let's dive into the makeup details and some essential bridal makeup tips. For a full guide on how to prep your skin, check out my detailed bridal skin prep guide that ensures a flawless base for your big day.

A Venue-Inspired Look

Since my venue for the day was Natalie Rose Bridal boutique, I embraced its enchanting fairytale ambiance when selecting products. The whimsical stone chimney, pink wainscoting, and dusty rose velvet curtains set the perfect scene for a princess-inspired makeup and hairstyle. I started with the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush in the shade Happy, carefully selecting other products to complement the glowing pink cheek color.

Product Breakdown and Bridal Makeup Tips

Skin Prep: It's crucial. Start prepping your skin well ahead of the big day. Stay hydrated and ensure you're well-rested. For a pre-makeup boost I recommend using Valmont's Prime Renewing Pack, which works wonders as an overnight mask and a pre-foundation moisturizer.

Foundation: My favourite summer foundation is the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation for photo-ready coverage. For those seeking more coverage, try Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation — just make sure to test any foundation well before your wedding day.

Highlight and Contour: I used Mario's Sculpting Stick for contouring and Yensa's Super Serum Silk Concealer to cancel out any darkness under the eyes. For more tips, visit my contour guide.

Blushing Bride Cheeks: The focal point of the look was the Rare Beauty Luminous Blush paired with Charlotte Tilbury's Spotlight Highlight. Check out more blush tips in my blush guide.

Brows: I kept my brows full and natural using Florasis Luodai Eyebrow Pencil and the Benefit 24-hour brow setter.

A Nostalgic Eye Palette: For eyes I chose neutral tones from the Cinderella and MAC Collection — a nod to my early YouTube days.

Go Waterproof: For the final touch on the eyes I added a bit of black eyeliner to my inner corners and tight line, along with black liquid liner for a small wing. I opted not to use waterproof liners since I don't usually have issues with smudging — but I always recommend waterproof mascara. It's an absolute must, especially for those teary-eyed moments on your big day.

Lashes & Lips: Complete your bridal look with soft lashes from Velour or Isopia. For lips I preferred the cooler, deeper tones of Charlotte Tilbury's Iconic Nude.

As for lips, this was one area I'd adjust from my trial. The lip liner I chose, Makeup Forever Anywhere Caffeine, felt too rosy as it began to wear for this look. In close-up photos in this article I added some of Charlotte Tilbury's Iconic Nude to the lip combo, which I preferred for its cooler, deeper tone. I went with a nude gloss but in some lighting it appeared a bit too warm — a baby pink gloss might have better complemented the overall look.

Setting the Makeup: A good setting spray is a must. I recommend the Mist of Dawn for its fine mist and long-lasting power.

Final Verdict

This makeup trial was a success, drawing subtle inspiration from beauty icons like Margot Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street for the eyeshadows, and Brooke Shields' iconic natural brows. The products held up great and I especially loved how the blush looked in person, on camera, and in video in various light.

My actual wedding dress is not as white as the dresses I tried on, but slightly more on the warmer, champagne side — so I'm excited to adjust my makeup accordingly.

Since I will be outside for much of the wedding day, I will skip gloss and go for a balm for moisture, but less stick. Nothing worse than hair in lipgloss.

What's your dream bridal look? Let me know in the comments. If you need more inspiration, remember to check out my pop-culture bridal styles on Instagram. Cheers to looking and feeling your best on your special day.