22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (2024)

If a neutral, subtle beauty look is what you're after, we're here to help.

By

Cristina Montemayor

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (1)

Cristina Montemayor

Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and makeup artist whose work has appeared on HelloGiggles, Slate, Elite Daily, and Bustle.

Brides's Editorial Guidelines

Updated on 03/23/22 01:28PM

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (2)

There are two types of brides: those that want to go full glam on their wedding day and those that are after a more natural, effortless wedding makeup look. There’s nothing in between, and one isn’t necessarily better than the other. Once a bride figures out what camp she’s in (after taking into consideration things like dress, venue, and personal style), it’s time to start researching bridal beauty looks and find the one that completes her wedding-day vision.

A natural wedding makeup look may seem effortless, but any makeup artist will tell you pulling off the perfect natural glam look is more difficult than it appears. When meeting with your wedding-day makeup artist for your trial or on the day of your wedding, it’s best to come prepared with plenty of inspiration pictures to clearly demonstrate what you want to look like and, more importantly, what you don’t want.

Want to skip a winged liner for something softer and smokier? Are you curious about the coverage of airbrush foundation? These are all things to consider while planning your natural wedding makeup look, and photos are the best way to help you zero in on the elements you want in your bridal beauty breakdown.

Ahead, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite natural wedding makeup looks from real brides to help inspire your own.

19 Celebrity Makeup Artists to Follow for Wedding Beauty Inspo

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Nude Lips and Fluffy Lashes

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This bride nailed the elevated natural makeup look. Fluffy false lashes draw attention to the eyes, while the lips are outlined with precision in a brownish, pinky nude shade. Simple, elegant, and beautifully executed.

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Amber Glow

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This warm-toned natural makeup look is all about glowing skin, which you can achieve by layering a liquid or cream highlight under your foundation. Finding the perfect shade of nude lipstick to match your skin tone is the key to an effortless natural makeup look. Don't be afraid to try multiple shades until you find the one that's just right for you.

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Pinky Natural

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Cheers to a beautiful life and equally beautiful bridal look. This bride went soft and simple with a barely there wing, flushed cheeks, and pinkish nude lip. The combination makes her look put together while still looking effortlessly beautiful.

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Smoky Natural

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This beautiful bride proves it’s definitely possible to make a dramatic eye look work with a more natural wedding makeup look. The key is in the soft, smoky execution of the eyeshadow. Everything else about this look is very minimal, including the eyebrows, contour, and lip color.

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Chic Natural Contour

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For the ultimate subtle snatched cheekbones, blend the color up into the temples. And you can’t forget blush—the reddish pink tone in blush counteracts the cool undertones in contour to bring life back into your face.

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Blushing Bride

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Blush can be tricky. You can go from naturally flushed to circus clown-level rouge very quickly. To get that perfectly diffused blush effect, layer a powder blush over a cream or liquid blush. Cream products blend the easiest into the skin, while a powder helps set the cream for a long-lasting finish.

Apply cream blush with (clean) hands to the apples of the cheeks. Then use a blush brush to blend it in, using upward strokes.

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Soft and Simple

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Your wedding day makeup look doesn’t have to be complicated. Choose one or two features to highlight and keep the rest of your look very subtle. The full, flirty lashes and pinkish lip tint on this bride are pretty simple—emphasis on pretty!

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All About the Eyes

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A little liner can go a long way when it comes to your bridal beauty look. This bride paired subtle liner with a perfectly defined pout and kept the rest of her look soft and subtle.

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Sweet and Sculpted

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This bride said "I do" with sharp, chiseled cheekbones that gave her that wow factor when she turned her face to the side, as pictured here. By keeping the focus on one element of her makeup, she creates a striking, subtle makeup look that doesn't feel like it's trying to do too many things at once.

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A Hint of Pink

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If your wedding dress is non-traditional, playing with color in your makeup look is a fun way to further express your signature style. A pink wedding gown, like the one pictured here, calls for a rosy makeup theme. The pink eyeshadow, rouge cheeks, and bright pink lips add to the overall look.

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Light and Fresh

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This look is natural wedding makeup at its best. Every element is subtle in the most stunning way, from the lightly filled-in brows to the flushed cheeks and the glossy pink lips. The bride looks like herself but better, which is what every bride who loves a natural makeup look wants.

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Soft and Defined

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Trust us—you can wear a winged liner and still look natural on your wedding day. The winged liner on this bride takes her look up a notch, but by keeping the rest of her face luminous and minimal, the complete look isn’t too harsh or heavy.

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Your Skin but Better

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Barely there foundation is the key to nailing the elusive your-skin-but-better look. Whatever product you choose, make sure it’s long-lasting. You have hours of celebrating after you say "I do," so you want a natural-looking foundation that’s up for the job.

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Fresh and Natural

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No fancy contouring or complicated eyeshadow techniques, here. Flushed cheeks give a radiant appearance, while a pale pink lip helps this bride’s natural beauty shine through.

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Monochromatic Mauve

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A little bit of blush can make all the difference. Match your lip color to your blush for a simple, monochromatic makeup look that feels effortlessly polished.

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Sunkissed Bronze

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The trick to the perfect sunkissed bronze bridal look is to take the powder all over the face. The sun naturally casts its glow evenly across your face—not just on your cheekbones. Take the bronzer up toward the temples, on the apples of your cheeks, and on the jawline for the most natural sun-kissed look.

Don’t forget to add a touch of highlight to the tops of your cheekbones for a little extra glow.

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No-Makeup Makeup

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Mastering the no-makeup makeup look is an exercise in restraint. Skip the lashes, contour, lip liner, and any other makeup steps you could do without. Keep it simple with just the basics: a light coverage foundation, a hint of concealer, and some color on the cheeks and lips. You’ll feel like the best version of yourself when you walk down that aisle.

Here’s How to Rock a No Makeup Wedding Look

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Bronzy Glow

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A natural glam look must contain the following: a bronzy complexion, a soft smoky eye, and a nude lip. This bride nailed it, defining and highlighting her best features with neutral tones and products with a natural, skin-like finish.

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Nude and Natural

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If you’re going for a more natural look, skip the black eyeliner and reach for a brown liner instead. The color looks more natural, especially on blondes who don’t have natural dark-colored lashes to begin with. The end result still makes your eyes pop but looks much softer overall.

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Flawless Natural Glam

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For the bride who likes wearing makeup but doesn't want to look like a completely different person on her wedding day, this flawless natural glam look is the solution. A full, fluffy brow feels modern and cool, especially when paired with a nice set of false lashes. Blush in the perfect pinch-me shade of pink and a mauve lip complete the look.

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A Pop of Color

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A stunning floral cape calls for a pop of color on the lips. This bride went with a punchy shade of pink, which accentuates her skin tone perfectly. She kept the rest of her makeup fairly light with barely there foundation, bushy brows, and no liner or false lashes. We love the way the unexpected shade of lip color plays with the fun earrings and the dress accents.

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Subtle yet Defined

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This subtle, toned-down bridal beauty look blurs the line between natural and glam. The defined eyes are balanced by the glossy nude lip color, giving the whole look an effortlessly chic vibe.

FAQ

  • Do I need to hire a makeup artist if I'm doing a natural look?

    This is entirely up to you. If you're confident in your makeup skills, go for it—just be sure to do several practice runs in advance. Also, consider a tutorial with a pro if you decide to DIY it.

  • How long will a natural makeup look take?

    The barely there makeup look doesn't always translate to less time. An hour to an hour and a half is a good amount of time to budget. If your trial runs are consistently longer or shorter, adjust the time accordingly.

17 Common Mistakes Makeup Artists Make on Brides

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (2024)

FAQs

What to ask for natural wedding makeup? ›

If you can mention specific details, all the better, for example, "I'd like my freckles to be visible," or "I'm happy to try an eyeliner, but nothing too statement or retro." Reading interviews with makeup artists whose work you admire can be really helpful.

What is a natural glam makeup for a wedding? ›

A natural glam look must contain the following: a bronzy complexion, a soft smoky eye, and a nude lip. This bride nailed it, defining and highlighting her best features with neutral tones and products with a natural, skin-like finish.

How to do natural eye makeup for wedding? ›

Prime your eye lids with Petal Smooth Affair for Eyes; you can use your fingers or a Camouflage Brush. Grab the Naturally Matte Eye Shadow Kit for a fresh eye makeup look. First Apply the Hush shade from lash line to crease with Eye Shader Brush. Next, line the top lash line with the Fudge shade using the Smudge Brush.

What is a natural makeup look for bridesmaids? ›

Soft and Natural: A classic, soft and natural look is always a winner for bridesmaids. This look features minimal eye makeup, with a focus on a fresh, glowing complexion. A subtle nude or pink lip completes the look. Bold Lip: For a statement look that still complements the bride, perhaps consider a bold lip.

Should bride get hair or makeup done first? ›

“It has been my experience with clients that getting your makeup done before doing your hair is best,” says Voight. She further adds, “This way, the makeup artist has the chance to blend the makeup into the hairline and around the jaw area without worrying about messing up the beautiful work of the hairstylist.

Should a bride do her own makeup? ›

However, these really are the exceptions. Our advice would be that unless you are very confident that you can do a great job, don't mind the pressure of having to do it by your self, and have somewhere you can get away to concentrate. Use a great MUA and make sure you look your very best on your wedding day.

What is basic bridal makeup? ›

Bridal makeup is a special type of makeup that is applied to a bride on her wedding day. It aims to enhance the bride's natural beauty and create a look that is both timeless and elegant. Bridal makeup typically focuses on creating a flawless complexion, accentuating the eyes, and enhancing the lips.

What is considered natural makeup look? ›

We consider truly natural makeup as "barely there" makeup- freckles still pop through the very lightweight foundation (think: tinted moisturizer), a very soft and light eye lash (if at all), neutral to nothing eye shadow, barely there blush & bronzer, a gloss over the lip.

What do I need for a natural makeup look? ›

How To Create a Natural Makeup Routine
  • Prep your skin. ...
  • Prime your skin. ...
  • Choose a light-coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer. ...
  • Go light on concealer. ...
  • Put down the contour stick. ...
  • Add a touch of bronzer. ...
  • Apply cream blush and highlighter. ...
  • Apply soft, neutral eye makeup.
Mar 1, 2024

How can I make my face look good for a wedding? ›

10 Steps to Perfect Skin on Your Wedding Day
  1. Have Your Makeup Done. When: The morning of your special day.
  2. Get Glowing. When: A few days before you say “I do” ...
  3. Banish Fuzz. When: A week before the wedding. ...
  4. Get a Facial. ...
  5. Pause to De-Stress. ...
  6. Prep Your Body. ...
  7. Avoid Pore-Clogging Makeup. ...
  8. Begin a Skincare Routine. ...

What is the difference between simple makeup and bridal makeup? ›

Regular makeup adapts to various situations, while bridal makeup is tailored specifically for the wedding day, considering the bride's attire, theme, and setting. It aims to create a long-lasting, photogenic look that complements the overall wedding ambiance.

In what order should bridesmaids get makeup done? ›

That's why planning is so important. We recommend the to-be-wed gets their makeup done first while wedding party members get their hair done. If that's not possible, the guest of honor should go last so that their hair and makeup is the freshest.

Do most brides pay for bridesmaids makeup? ›

The Answer: It Depends

There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding. However, this isn't always the case.

What should I buy for a natural makeup look? ›

Some great options to consider include tinted serums, tinted moisturizers, and semi-sheer foundations. Beyond your base, you may also need the other usual suspects: concealer, mascara, blush, bronzer, and lip gloss or lipstick. Some natural looks will use all of these, while others might only require a product or two.

What makeup do I need as a wedding guest? ›

What makeup do I need as a wedding guest? In addition to the staples — that is, makeup primer, lip color, and setting powder — you should also have the basics covered. These include a long-lasting foundation, such as Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation, as well as mascara.

What is minimal bridal makeup? ›

“The key techniques for minimal bridal beauty are gentle contouring to add some definition, using a sheer-coverage foundation and cream-based products that accentuate your natural skin. Cream contour and cream blush can create a seamless, natural finish that blends beautifully into the skin,” says Luthra.

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