While much of a bride’s wedding day make-up focuses on a radiant, glowing complexion, don’t let your lip colour be an afterthought.
The Classic Bride
The ‘typical’ bridal lip look is a soft pink or nude, but pink need not be plain! Our lips are naturally a rosy beige, which makes pinks super complexion-friendly. MAC Cosmetics this month release an impressive line-up of “Liptensity”, 24 innovative hues, including very pout-worthy pinks. I’ve got my eye on Doe, Driftwood and Medium Rare – see the full line-up here.
Note, Neutral, brown, and pale lip colours can look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one or two shades brighter than what you would normally wear.
Red hot Bride
You don’t want to cover your groom in sticky red lippy for the big first-kiss, so if you opt for a pop of colour for the ceremony, do blot (and reapply and blot again) before walking down the aisle. Shiseido have the most incredible collection of reds, make that a collection of 16 (!!) reds, Rouge Rouge, the creamiest, moisturising lipsticks in sixteen of the most flattering shades – there’s quite literally a red for everyone.
Personally, I’m a toffee apple girl! Find yours
Not sure if you’re cool or warm? Try the wedding-dress test: Hold bright-white and ivory gowns near your clean, bare face. White liven you up? You’re cool. Ivory? Warm.
PHoto Credit: Anne Robert Photography via Style Me Pretty
Rich Berry Bride
Many brides are opting to choose a richer colour for the reception. I love a rich berry red, and can’t go past Karen Murrell‘s Scarlet Blaze and Racy Rata!
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Wedding Shoot on White Mag
Photo: Olivia Hemus for M·A·C Cosmetics at Eugenie, NZFW (feat Kiekie Stanners talons)
Rebellious Bride
Dare to Go bild, whether it’s a bright peach or orange hue or dark purple dramatic lip. For a bride who dares to be rebellious, it’s got to be MAC.
The liptensity range has something for every rebellious bride, even black, if you’re as bold as this bride (see full wedding on Burnetts Boards)
If that’s a little too edgy, It’s a strike set of varsity-chic hues might be just rock ‘n’ roll enough…
Swatched by MakeupandBeautyBlog
Olivia Hemus for M·A·C Cosmetics – Harman Grubisa NZFW
Glossy
Even if you’re not big on lipstick, a wash of gloss will keep your lips hydrated throughout the day and add a little shine for pictures.
Bobbi Brown has the most delectable glosses, worn beautifully over lipstick or alone, which I live in all summer, my favourite is sunset pink.
Smashbox, too, has almost every colour under the sun in its Be Legendary Lip Glosses. For bolder colours, just ensure to prime and lip-line to avoid bleed (see below).
Practise, practise, practise
Whatever you choose, ensure you have a bridal make-up trial either with your make-up artist, or if you’re doing your own make-up, recreate the full make-up look and wear for a day to ensure it’s long-wearing.
Perfect Pout
For a kissable pout, keep your sunscreen and moisturiser applied in the days before, give your lips a light scrub two days out from the wedding, and prep with a moisturising lip balm in the morning prior to applying your shade of choice.
Lastability
Everyone wants to kiss the bride, so ensure your lip look will last the distance by priming your lips, applying a lip liner all over, and then applying your lipstick with a brush. If you don’t have a brush, apply the lipstick over the liner, blot, and apply again. Start with Photo Finish Primer* by Smashbox, add lip-plumper, Always Sharp lipliner, and go slow and steady with colour.
What are you waiting for… get shopping!
*Winner of Best of Sephora Award for Best Primer, one of Marie Claire’s “25 Products That Will Change Your Life”, & an InStyle Best Beauty Buy.
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