"I love Bobbi Brown's Skin Long-wear Weightless Foundation, it looks amazing in photos. It has 16-hour wear, offers a medium-to-full coverage and comes in 42 'skin tone-correct' shades so it always looks flawless and natural."
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# The best foundations to wear on your wedding day, according to bridal make-up artists

How to achieve a photo-friendly finish, with the perfect amount of coverage

best bridal foundations for wedding day

Betina Du Toit for Harper's Bazaar

On your wedding day it might seem like an infinite amount of variables loom outside of your control. While, unfortunately, we haven't figured out a way to control the weather or pre-empt which family member will make an unfiltered comment in their speech, there are certain things you can ensure go smoothly – not least your foundation.

To provide the most comprehensive overview of how to choose the perfect wedding day foundation for you, we asked expert bridal make-up artists Hannah Martin, Kelly Dawn Mitchell, Amy Conway and Cher Webb to impart their expertise and experience, as well as share the foundations they keep in their kits.

## Tip 1: Test-run your foundation

In an age of social media we've become unavoidably aware of how our make-up looks in photos, which, aside from the element of over-self-analysing, can serve to give us a better idea of which foundations work well with the camera and which don't.

"Too much luminosity in a foundation and you can look a little shiny, almost metallic, whereas totally matte can make your skin look flat," says Hannah Martin. "I like to use a more dewy foundation but set all the key ‘hotspots’ well with powder – these being areas that are prone to shine like the T-zone, above the brows, around the nose and chin."

Which leads us to the takeaway here: always test-run your foundations before the wedding. Even if the foundation looks great in the shop, it's crucial to wear it for at least a few days to see how different environments can impact the finish. Foundations will sit differently depending on your skin type, and by testing beforehand, you can see whether or not the foundation oxidises, how long it lasts on the skin, and if it requires touch-ups throughout the day.

If you're happy with the coverage and longevity, but not the luminosity level, "you can always add an illuminating moisturiser underneath or extra powder on top to manipulate the finish," suggests Amy Conway.

bridal beauty best wedding foundations

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## Tip 2: More coverage isn't necessarily better

A common misconception when it comes to bridal foundation is that you have to choose between what looks best on the day and what looks best in photos, often resulting in people applying more foundation than is necessary to appear 'smoother' on camera.

"For weddings, I don’t believe a bride should pile on more make-up than they are used to, just stand out in photos," says Kelly Dawn Mitchell. "Make-up can be fresh, natural and still stand out beautifully if you use the right products and techniques. Wedding photography usually doesn't have the same harsh lighting as studio shoots so make-up doesn’t need to be amped up so much."

"Coverage is mainly down to personal preference, however I do think enough coverage to banish any unwanted redness is key. Red is a very jealous colour, so if there is redness in the skin it can steal focus from other areas you’re hoping to enhance," advises Martin.

Spotlighting with coverage is a good alternative to going all-over with a heavier foundation that you're not necessarily comfortable wearing. Martin uses MAC's Face and Body Foundation as an all-over base, then takes Bobbi Brown's Skin Foundation Stick to add coverage in the particular areas that require it – usually the nose, chin and front of the cheeks.

Play Iconpreview for Undone up-dos for brides, styled by Sam McKnight

## Tip 3: How you apply your foundation makes all the difference

"It’s so important to apply your foundation with a brush on your wedding day," says Cher Webb. "No matter how clean our hands are, we still have natural oils on our finger tips and the excess oils can cause foundation to slip throughout the day. A foundation brush will ensure you get an even, buildable application that looks flawless and lasts."

To ensure you're left with a natural and even finish, go over your base with a sponge as a final touch (before powder) to remove any excess foundation and help it adhere better to your skin.

## Tip 4: Ensure bridesmaids are armed with a touch-up kit

Emotions run high on your wedding day, so tears are often inevitable. To protect your base, make sure your bridesmaids have the right tools on hand, should you need them.

"The one thing I recommend all of my brides have handy is a good setting powder to touch up throughout the day and avoid hotspots in your photos," says Mitchell. "Photography lighting can enhance the shine and if you haven’t powdered in the key areas (forehead, around the nose, T-zone) you might end up looking more sweaty than glowy. I love the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder for this."

## Tip 5: Prepping your base will make all the difference

" Skincare makes a huge difference to how your make-up looks and lasts," adds Conway. "Opt for a primer that adds radiance to ensure you achieve a natural glow that will last all day for you. I love to use vitamin C in bridal skincare as it instantly brightens and lifts the skin under foundation."

bridal beauty best wedding foundations

Alessandro Zeno

## Tip 6: Avoid a foundation with SPF in

"I always recommend foundations without SPF for brides to prevent the risk of flashback in flash photography," says Martin. "This is when the SPF in the foundation, usually titanium dioxide, reflects the light and creates a whitish hue to the make-up which can make it look significantly lighter than it does to the naked eye. I suggest brides get their sun protection from a clear facial SPF under their foundation, instead."

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## Kelly Dawn Mitchell's bridal foundation recommendations

"After testing virtually every foundation on the market my favourite and most used complexion products are Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Foundation and Concealer. Suitable for all skin types, the formula has a versatile and buildable coverage, and it glides over the skin like silk to give a smooth and luminous finish that lasts all day. I love to use the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder to set the make-up, and the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish pressed powder for any tough-ups throughout the day. I finish my bridges using AllEven's Colour Shield body foundation which ensures they look flawless from head-to-toe!"

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###### Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder

## Hannah Martin's bridal foundation recommendations

"The foundations I use on brides are MAC's Face and Body, Bobbi Brown's Skin Foundation Stick, Lancôme's Teint Idole and the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin – it's got all the hydration and coverage you need but without the SPF."

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###### Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

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## Cher Webb's bridal foundation recommendations

"Armani Beauty Luminous Silk is a firm favourite and it's one I've used in my kit since the very beginning. The radiant semi-matte coverage delivers skin that glows without looking overly shiny and there's no need for touch-ups." Other foundations she recommends are the waterproof Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Foundation for fuller coverage, the buildable Nars Sheer Glow Foundation for medium coverage, and the light coverage Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation "which creates a 'second skin' finish with a unique silky texture that hydrates, imparts instant radiance and lasts the duration".

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## Amy Conway's bridal foundation recommendation

"I love Bobbi Brown's Skin Long-wear Weightless Foundation, it looks amazing in photos. It has 16-hour wear, offers a medium-to-full coverage and comes in 42 'skin tone-correct' shades so it always looks flawless and natural."

## Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF15

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