Getting married abroad? Take the stress out of your wedding beauty routine, with nine top tips (and plenty of pretty inspiration) for destination bridal makeup from leading makeup artists.
1. Never skip your skincare (especially when travelling)
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“Proper skincare is the foundation of any beautiful bridal look. If you neglect your skincare routine in the weeks leading up to your wedding, even the best makeup will struggle to sit smoothly or last,” reveals the makeup artist Saffron Hughes. That’s even more important when you are having a destination wedding, because the flight can leave your skin more dehydrated, and you are potentially going to be fighting jet lag as well as general wedding stress.
“I always advise my brides to keep their skin well-hydrated and gently exfoliated, and to avoid introducing any new products close to the big day to prevent unexpected reactions,” says Hughes. “Well-prepped skin not only helps makeup glide on seamlessly, but also ensures a radiant, healthy glow that shines through in every photograph.”
2. Watch for flashback from your sunscreen
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No one wants to burn on their wedding day, but an unfortunate side effect of some sunscreens is that they can cause ‘flashback’. Flashback is where your face appears ghostly white in photographs, and it is caused by certain ingredients in sunscreens and powders, especially those with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (aka your mineral sunscreens).
While SPF is crucial for outdoor weddings, especially abroad, you might want to opt for chemical rather than mineral formulas, or choose ones labelled “no flashback.” Your finishing powders can also be to blame – in fact, often more so, which is particularly inconvenient considering you might be sweating more in warmer weather! Avoid silica-heavy powders and do a trial photo session with flash using your full makeup look to check. The goal is to stay protected and photo-ready without compromising either.
3. For long-lasting makeup, you might need a second makeup trial
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“Longevity is more about technique: proper skin prep, layering products correctly, and setting strategically all play a huge role in making makeup last,” reveals the UK and destination bridal makeup artist Frankie Falkingham. That means giving yourself enough time to get ready before your big day isn’t just about pampering – it makes for better makeup, too!
In fact, having a makeup trial is a must before your wedding, not just to make sure you like your look, but to check that it lasts as long as you want it to. If you can, you’ll want to replicate the conditions of your wedding, as close as possible, so it might even be worth having a second, short makeup trial once in your destination to check the style still works in the altered conditions abroad.
4. Travel with your touch-up kit in your carry on
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Whether it is your favourite lipstick or the fragrance you can’t imagine getting married without, make sure you keep your bridal beauty essentials with you when you travel. Pop them in your carry-on not your checked luggage, so you don’t have to risk lost bags derailing your look. You might want to ask your bridal party to do the same as well…
Your makeup artist also won’t be with you all day – and your friends and family might have fewer beauty products directly to hand – so a pre-packed touch-up kit with all your favourites will also keep you photo-ready from ceremony to reception. Include your lipstick, a bit of concealer and powder or blotting papers to control shine, as well as a travel-sized mirror so you don’t have to always pop to the bathroom to check your face.
5. Go waterproof… just like at the beach
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Waterproof mascara is a bride’s best friend wherever you choose to get married, but especially for destination bridal makeup. Not only can emotions run high, meaning a few tears as you say your vows might be inevitable, but in warm or humid climates, traditional mascaras can also smudge or run, leaving you with not-so-flattering ‘panda eyes’ in your pictures.
Luckily, waterproof formulas offer long-lasting wear, so you can ensure your lashes stay curled, defined, and flawless no matter the weather. They’re also great if you’re having a beach ceremony or expect to sweat – and, of course, can be used when you are relaxing by the pool on your honeymoon too. Choose a formula that’s smudge-proof but not overly stiff, and remember to pack an effective eye makeup remover to get it off smoothly afterwards!
6. Be aware of your tan
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While here at CF, we are always advocating for staying out of the sun as much as possible for your skin’s health, if you do pick up some colour in the run-up to your destination wedding, you might encounter another problem aside from sunburn: your foundation is likely to be too light for you.
If you think you are going to pick up some additional colour – or are planning a spray tan (and don’t want your body not to match your face), it’s probably worth investing in your favourite coverage one shade deeper than normal, just in case. You can then use your current shade for some luminosity too. Speak to your makeup artist – if you are having one – about this, so they can be suitably prepped, and you might want to have your makeup trial after your tanning practice, so there are less likely to be unwelcome colour match surprises.
7. Layer your setting products
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To ensure your makeup is sweat-proof and transfer-resistant, especially if you are getting married in a hotter climate, “layer your setting and fixing sprays on each layer of makeup,” suggests the celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Falber. “Once you’ve done all your cream products, give your face a spritz with a hydrating setting spray. Then add your powder products, and again spray with hydrating spray. Then, once all is finished spray a fixing spray to lock everything in. I recommend Urban Decay All Nighter Hyaluronic Setting Spray.”
8. You don’t have to go full coverage – especially in the heat
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“It’s a common misconception that a full-coverage foundation is necessary for flawless bridal skin,” says Hughes. “In reality, a heavy base can settle into fine lines and look cakey, especially under high-definition cameras. I recommend a lightweight, buildable foundation that enhances your natural complexion. Applied in thin layers, it allows your skin to breathe and photographs beautifully, ensuring you look fresh and luminous from morning until night.”
Just make sure to “wait for each layer to dry before you apply anything else,” says Falkingham. You might also want to “stay away from layering oil-based ingredients, as they can break down makeup over time.”
9. Don’t try anything too different
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The last thing you want is not to feel like ‘you’ on your wedding day, or to get your wedding pictures back and hardly recognise yourself. “Your bridal look should feel effortless, refined and unmistakably you,” says Falkingham. For that reason, while your destination bridal makeup might want to be a little more ‘glam’ than your usual day-to-day, stick to natural-looking tweaks that elevate but don’t totally transform your face.
Red carpet makeup artist Vanessa Elles loves the current lifted blush hack, which involves applying your blush higher on your cheekbone. “Every talent I work with wants to achieve that lifted, sculpted look now,” she says – and the finish is super subtle. “Juicy lips have also made a huge comeback in recent months,” Elles continues. “A gloss popped over a deeper lipliner gives a gorgeous finish to any look”.
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Lead image: De La Vali
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