My Bridal Makeup Must Haves

What’s In my Bridal Kit?

My Must-Have Products for Bridal Makeup

Full disclosure: I’m a makeup addict.

I’m not one of those hyper-disciplined MUAs who can stick to the same basic kit, only replacing products as they run out. No. I’m a magpie. I see it. I like it. I want it. I got it.

Well, not quite. But when I see a new product that I think will really enhance the kit, that fills a gap that isn’t perfectly served by any other product, I will try it. If it’s great - it ends up in the kit. If it’s not so great it stays on my dressing table.

But while there may be the odd newbie in the kit there are some products that I will buy time and time again for my bridal makeup clients. Absolute failsafes, that never let me down, always perform brilliantly and look beautiful on everybody. So I’m opening up my makeup kit to let you in on the secrets!

Complexion

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Let’s start at the beginning. Skin prep is everything. And this cream is the final step for almost everybody who sits in my chair. It’s a moisturiser come primer that hydrates and smoothes and has the most incredible grapefruit oil scent. Cue cries of “mmm that smells amazing” every wedding morning!

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. Okay, so you might be confused as to why this isn’t the last on this list but spritzing all over with setting spray as the final step before makeup locks in your skincare and helps create a long lasting base. I mist it over layers of cream products too and then give everything a final misting once powdered and fully set. There are loads on the market but this is my favourite - sets without drying, has a superfine mist and smells delicious too.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation If I had to choose just one foundation that I could make work on any skin type, this would be it. It’s medium-full coverage, gives a beautiful flawless but skin-like finish, naturally radiant but can be made matte with the right prep and setting. It has a huge shade range too. I could never be without it.

A good concealer is key and my latest favourite is Hourglass Vanish. It’s a full coverage concealer with a natural finish, and it’s the best I’ve tried in a long time. A little goes a very long way and the tiniest dot is enough to brighten even the darkest undereye.

Laura Mercier Tranluscent Loose Setting Powder (Ultra Blur version) A good setting powder is the key to long-lasting makeup. Even those wanting a glowing, dewy finish need a touch of powder to lock product in and remove excess shine (glow looks healthy and beautiful, shine reads as oiliness). The newest Ultra Blur version is talc free and has overtaken the original as my favourite. Soft, natural and never cakey. The perfect powder.

Cheek

Nars Cream Bronzer - I always layer cream under powder products for longevity and to build natural depth. So I begin adding shape and structure back to the face with cream bronzer or contour. The Nars Cream Bronzers are THE BEST. A cream version of their OG Laguna powder bronzer it comes in four shades for all skin tones. It’s blendable, but not too dewy and the tones are just perfect for adding dimension without too much warmth.

I will then set that with a Powder Bronzer, usually in a slightly lighter shade. The best around are by Hourglass. Expensive, but once you’ve tried them, there’s no going back.

I love a liquid and cream blush and my faves are the Rare Soft Pinch liquids (I now have six of these super-pigmented beauties in the kit) and for cream I love RoseInc & Nudestix. Again, a first layer of cream or liquid blush really helps to create a long-lasting flush to the cheek.

The powder blushes that over the years have replaced all other brands in the kit are by Pat McGrath & Hourglass. They are luminous without being overly glowy, longwearing and come in the most beautiful range of shades. Hourglass Dim Infusion is the perfect peach and Pat McGrath Nymphette is a dreamy warm rose shade.

Dior Backstage highlighters - I don’t know a bridal artist who doesn’t have this highlighter quad in their kit. It’s perfection - four shades that cover all skin tones and they look incredible on the lids too.

EYES

My foolproof formula for a crease free lid is to begin with a cream shadow as a base for powders. Charlotte Tilbury des the prettiest shimmer shades that give subtle glow to the lids. I then build up on those with powder shadows.

I keep one or two Matte shadow palettes in my kit that covers all eye looks (Viseart Neutral Mattes is my current along with Too Faced Natural Nudes for more rosy/ mauve looks. The Mario Master Mattes palette is also great.

Tom Ford quads are now pretty much the only shimmer/ glitter/ satin eyeshadows I keep in the kit.The baked formulas are like nothing else you can buy. Glow without glare, expensive looking shine. They’re the best. They cost A FORTUNE but they’re worth every one of the many many pennies I spend on them.

Anastasia Beverly Hills is the queen of brows and if I only carried her Brow Wiz pencils and Brow Gel I could get by on any client. I also stock her brow freeze and pomades for clients who like a more feathery brow look.

Waterproof Mascara (Nudestix, Lancome and Maybelline) and Sweed No Lash Lash Individual Lashes. I love a fluttery, feathery lash and will always choose to build up a lash line with individuals over a strip lash. This gives a beautiful, tailored look. These Sweed lashes are heavenly.

LIPS

I could never be without the perfect ‘your lips but better’ shade of Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Lip Pencil ( and the dreamy neutral nude Iconic Nude). They’re the perfect balance between waxy and blendable, comfortable to apply and wear and her lipsticks are always a favourite with brides too.

So there you have It. my ride or dies

All of these products are tried and tested and reliably see me and my brides through every single wedding. If they can hold up through a wedding day, they can hold up through anything!

But they’re not just for brides. These are some of my favourite products FULL STOP. If you’d like any shade advice drop a comment below.

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