How to Make Wedding Makeup Last All Day

A wedding day can run twelve hours or more, with tears, hugs, heat and a dance floor. Long-wear bridal makeup is less about one magic product and more about how the look is built. Here is what makes the difference.

It starts with skin

Makeup sits best on calm, hydrated skin. In the weeks before the wedding, keep your routine consistent and avoid new treatments. On the morning, your artist will prep with hydration and a primer chosen for your skin type: more grip for oily skin, more moisture for dry skin.

Thin layers, set as you go

Long-wear does not mean heavy. Several thin layers of foundation and concealer, each set lightly, hold far better than one thick layer. The result looks like skin in person and stays smooth in photos.

Waterproof where it counts

• Waterproof mascara and a lash adhesive that holds through tears
• Long-wear liner and brow products
• Lip liner across the whole lip under your lipstick so colour fades evenly

Plan for flash and daylight

Some products reflect light under camera flash. A good bridal artist knows which formulas photograph well and checks the look under different lighting before you leave the chair.

Touch-ups without starting over

Keep a small kit with you or with a bridesmaid: your lipstick and liner, blotting papers and a small powder. Blot before powdering so you do not build up texture. Many brides plan one quick touch-up after the ceremony and another before the reception entrance.

Summer and Shore weddings

Heat and humidity are the biggest test. Ask for a mattifying primer and setting spray, keep blotting papers handy and step into shade between photos. Your artist can adjust the look so it stays fresh on a July afternoon in New Jersey.

← More from the Journal