Wedding Guest Makeup

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With wedding season in full swing, you’re probably eyeing up the perfect outfits and accessories to stand out from the crowd in, booking hotels and taxis and ordering gifts. But what about perfecting the art of wedding guest makeup? Seasoned wedding guest pros, we’ve put together some of our favourite makeup essentials and top tips to help you stay perfectly groomed from the ‘I Dos’ through to the first dance and beyond.

Skin Prep

The key to flawless makeup is great skin and this starts long before the morning of the wedding. During the build-up to the big day, it’s worth investing in a rigorous skincare routine to iron out any issues and make sure you’re putting your best face forward on the big day. The night before, we recommend treating skin to a radiance-inducing face mask to boost hydration and plump. If you’re away from home, pack a space-saving sheet mask such as Sarah Chapman’s Skinesis 3D Moisture Infusion Mask or otherwise we love Clark’s Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask – packed with white clay to clarify and anti-inflammatory qualities for if you suffer with blemishes or redness.

If you went a little heavy at the pre-wedding celebrations or simply didn’t sleep, you might wake up to puffy eyes. A metal teaspoon popped in the freezer for an hour is a great antidote when pressed onto skin, or try applying Patchology’s Eye Revive FlashPatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels with hydrolysed collagen to help boost hydration and smooth out fine lines and caffeine to reduce the appearance of puffiness and fatigue.

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Makeup Basics

If you want your makeup to last from the ‘I dos’ to long after the first dance, there are some essential base products to reach for. Firstly, it’s worth investing in a reliable primer –  like lingerie for your makeup, a good primer helps to create the prefect base for your look and sets it for longer meaning you’ll look the part in all the candid shots discretely captured by the wedding photographer on when you least expected it. We love Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15, which glides onto skin like satin and masks imperfections but gives skin a matte finish.

If you’re going for a bold eye, always prep eyelids with an eyeshadow base. By Terry’s Eye Base Prime to Fix balances and corrects the eyelid surface and smooths over fines lines, making for a flawless application that won’t slip or smudge throughout the course of the day.

It’s always worth switching out your usual mascara for something waterproof, so that if the moment does catch you and you feel emotional you can shed a tear without fear of running eye makeup. We trust Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara, which helps to lengthen and thicken lashes as well as withstand any waterworks.

Finally, don’t leave the house without fixing your foundation firmly in place. There’s nothing worse than visiting the powder room, staring in the mirror and realising to your horror that it’s not just your girlfriends you left on the dance floor, but half of your makeup too! A setting powder or spray work in exactly the same way, it just depends on which formula you prefer.

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Clutch-friendly Touchups

However much you prime and set, you’ll always need to top-up and refresh throughout the day. Instead of overloading your clutch with your entire makeup bag, keep it to a streamlined edit of must-haves. We recommend a concealer or mini foundation compact for face touch-ups. Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid glides onto skin like a serum and can be used throughout the day to revive the tired under-eye area and retouch the complexion.

If you’ve been out in the sun all day or throwing some shapes on the dance floor, knock back unwanted shine with Cover FX’s travel-size Perfect Setting Powder  dusted onto skin for a soft, airbrushed finish.

Always keep your lipstick to hand, so you can reapply when needed. After all the Champagne you’ll be sipping, its longevity will be tested and a touch-up will help to freshen up your face. If you’re wearing a bold colour, don’t forget to check your teeth for any misplaced product and try out the lipstick trick (placing your index finger into your mouth and removing) to ensure any excess product is removed.

A compact mirror is a handy accessory to keep in your clutch, if there are queues to the loo or it’s a long walk away, you can give yourself the once-over without having to leave the party.

Finally, travel-size fragrances are a lovely way to freshen up during a long day, especially if the wedding is abroad and you’re feeling a little hot and flustered. We love Diptyque’s solid perfumes and Malin + Goetz’ roll-on oils.

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