A lot of women are getting married later in life these days, and some of my favourite bridal makeup looks have been on my more mature brides.
Being a little older doesn’t mean you can’t look just as gorgeous as you did in your 20s, as long you (or your bridal makeup artist) know the subtle adjustments to make in terms of products used and technique.
If you’re 40+ and getting married, it is essential that you go with a makeup artist who know’s their stuff when it comes to creating gorgeous makeup for mature brides, or if you’re thinking of doing your own makeup, make sure you know all the tips and tricks of the pros for a flawless finish!
As we age, our skin and hair texture starts to change, and applying makeup to this sort of surface is very different to what you may already know
To learn how to apply your own bridal makeup beautifully, you can always attend our 1 day makeover masterclass, where you can discover fabulous looks that work for you with our team of pro hair and makeup artists, but to keep you going before you can join us there, here are some top tips on working with mature bridal makeup from award-winning Pam Wrigley:
Skin
When starting with your bridal makeup base, remember that mature skin may have a tendency to be quite a bit more dry than what you’re used to.
To combat this and ensure a flawless finish, be sure to start with a lovely hydrating primer to prepare the skin. Do not skip this step, whatever you do!!
Using a hydrating primer will not only help to create a more even and supple base to work with, but it will also help to minimise pores and fine lines, which no-one wants to see when they get their wedding photos back!
Go light on the foundation if you can – thick bridal makeup will only lend to deeper creases and lines. To better your chances of getting good coverage with as little product as possible, make sure you’re using really high quality foundation or tinted moisturiser, with lots of pigment, for smooth, even coverage.
Under The Eye
Be very careful when working on the eye area – the skin here, particularly under the eye, can be very delicate and sometimes quite creased.
For coverage, choose something very light (even lighter than the skin tint mentioned above!). You want something that does the job and creates luminosity, without looking caked on.
For lining under the eye, avoid using eye pencils as these do tend to get into the creases and smudge. Instead, opt for an angled brush and a dark eye-shadow to create the required ‘oomph’!
Eyeshadow/Eyeliner
Begin by using a light primer on your eyelids, to help reduce that ‘crepey’ look. Don’t use a regular eye primer for your bridal makeup (such as MAC paintpots, which Pam likes to use on her younger brides), as this can be too heavy and give the eyes a droopy look. Instead go for something nice and light.
Always use powder eyeshadow rather than cream, as they last longer and won’t settle into the creases. Gentle shimmer shadows can work well for bridal makeup, but avoid too much glitter as this will just emphasise lines.
When applying eyeliner, avoid harsh clean lines – keep them looking soft and subtle instead. By all means, use a liquid or gel liner for precision, but not too thick! Once applied, soften it by applying a smudge of a dark eyeshadow on top and blend out with a soft angled brow brush.
Lips & Lashes
Lashes get thinner as we age, however, using a thickening mascara to beat this will only end up looking clumpy. Use a fine mascara and build it up in layers for that gorgeous, fluttering volume.
False lashes are always a winner when it comes to adding those finishing touches, however, avoid strip lashes as they look far too fake! When you’re going for fabulous, effortless looking glamour that looks like we haven’t tried too hard(!) try using individual lashes – You can use different lengths for a really natural look.
Brows
Blusher & Contouring
Cream blushers are lovely to use on mature skin – they look fresh, dewy and fabulous! Exactly what you want for great bridal makeup.
Pink tones on the cheekbones and apples looks stunning on most complexions. However, if you have more of a ruddy complexion, avoid pink tones and opt for nude tones on the outer edges of the cheek bones instead, avoiding the apple, as the natural redness might start peeping through after you’ve had a glass of champagne!!
If you’re after some definition and want to try your hand at a bit of contouring, easy does it!
It is very easy to over-do this technique, so take it slow and build up gradually.
