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

01of 22

Nude Lips and Fluffy Lashes

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (3)

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.

02of 22

Amber Glow

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (4)

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.

03of 22

Pinky Natural

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (5)

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.

04of 22

Smoky Natural

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (6)

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.

05of 22

Chic Natural Contour

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (7)

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.

06of 22

Blushing Bride

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (8)

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.

07of 22

Soft and Simple

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (9)

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!

08of 22

All About the Eyes

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (10)

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.

09of 22

Sweet and Sculpted

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (11)

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.

10of 22

A Hint of Pink

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (12)

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.

11of 22

Light and Fresh

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (13)

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.

12of 22

Soft and Defined

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (14)

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.

13of 22

Your Skin but Better

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (15)

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.

14of 22

Fresh and Natural

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (16)

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.

15of 22

Monochromatic Mauve

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (17)

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.

16of 22

Sunkissed Bronze

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (18)

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.

17of 22

No-Makeup Makeup

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (19)

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

18of 22

Bronzy Glow

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (20)

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.

19of 22

Nude and Natural

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (21)

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.

20of 22

Flawless Natural Glam

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (22)

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.

21of 22

A Pop of Color

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (23)

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.

22of 22

Subtle yet Defined

22 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks (24)

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

How would you describe natural wedding makeup? ›

Natural makeup is usually what most people wear every day. For the bride who is requesting natural makeup, they are probably the type of person who wears a tinted moisturizer every day, sheer lipstick, and cream blush rather than full coverage makeup (Think Glossier model!).

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 makeup do I need for a natural 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 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 describe bridal makeup style? ›

To achieve the classic bridal makeup look, you'll want to ask for a dewy foundation base, simple or cat eye makeup, rosy blush, shaped brows, and a natural or red tinted lipstick or gloss (like our bride wearing Kimora by Sottero and Midgley did).

How do you describe beautiful makeup? ›

Natural Makeup: Enhances natural features with a subtle, fresh look. Glam Makeup: Bold and dramatic, featuring smoky eyes and vibrant lips. Classic Makeup: Timeless and elegant, with neutral shades and defined features. Trendy/Experimental Makeup: Embraces current trends and allows for creative, unique looks.

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 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.

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.

What is the permanent makeup that looks natural? ›

Microblading is an age old Japanese method by which color is implanted into the epidermis using a hand-held (manual) tool comprised of very fine needles in the shape of a blade. Oftentimes, the most natural-looking brows are those that are softly shaded, simulating the effects of traditional makeup, powdered designs.

What color eyeshadow should I use for a natural look? ›

If you want your eyeshadow to look natural, use softer shades and a light hand. Natural eyeshadow looks appear natural because they stick with neutral shades like brown, tan and beige, typically in matte or slightly shimmery finishes.

Which makeup is best for marriage? ›

Silicone Based Makeup Type For Wedding

It's lightweight and long-lasting which means it stays put for more than 4 to 5 hours. If you are a newbie or a seasoned pro, you might need a few tools and techniques to set it right on your skin.

What is the description of natural glam makeup? ›

Natural glam is a perfect middle ground if “no makeup” makeup is too subtle for your big day, but full glam with a strong contour, bold lips, and glitter everywhere isn't your style. It's all about looking effortless while being a slightly more glamorous and put-together version of your natural self.

What is natural beauty explanation? ›

Natural beauty refers to the inherent attractiveness and aesthetic qualities found in the natural world, as well as the unaltered appearance of people or things. It is often contrasted with artificial or man-made beauty, which involves the use of cosmetics, surgery, or other enhancements to alter one's appearance.

What are the four elements of nature makeup? ›

Makeup inspired by the 4 elements Earth, Water, Fire, and Air | Air makeup, Fire makeup, Makeup themes.

How do you describe makeup to an artist? ›

For example, you can say, “I want a soft bronzey eyeshadow with a soft peach lip.” Your makeup artist should then talk to you about eye shape and placement suggestions. 2. Think about what kind of foundation coverage you want. Take into consideration what condition your skin is in.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 6800

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.