Celebrity make-up artist Namrata Soni shares the dos and don’ts sacrosanct for the big day

From bronzed eyeshadows and pearlescent skin to sculpted contours and bold lips, this season’s bridal beauty trends are all about enhancing your features with a light touch. Celebrity make-up artist Namrata Soni shares the dos and don’ts for the big day, emphasising the importance of skincare prep and choosing the right products to ensure your wedding day glow lasts all night.

The season's trends

Bronzed ltte: The key is to keep the eyeshadow to one or two similar shades of brown. Keep the rest of the face natural, using nudes or browns throughout.

Pearlescent skin: The pearl skin or rose gold trend is a great base for a wedding day look. Once all the make-up is done, use a beauty blender to bounce a liquid highlighter all over the skin. Add a little on your forehead, the tip of your nose and Cupid’s bow.

Gently sculpted: Subtlety is key when it comes to natural wedding make-up. Underpainting your contour—applying your contour and highlighter before your foundation—can help soften the look.

Statement lips: A bold lip doesn’t always have to be paired with minimal make-up. To let your natural beauty shine, try hydrated skin, loads of mascara and eyeshadow liner. A red lip will be enough to elevate your look.

Fresh & angelic: This look means super soft, plump and radiant skin. Avoid deeply saturated colours or ultra-defined features. Stick to non-touring by drawing attention to the high points of your face with highlighter and blush without contour products. Follow with a light-to-medium coverage foundation using a damp sponge.

Skincare & prepping

“Skincare and prep play a crucial role in bridal beauty. Good, hydrated and soft skin is the canvas you want for your make-up to last longer and look natural. Start a skincare regime with your dermatologist six months before the wedding. They will guide you on the right products to use and prepare your skin for make-up. To ensure that your make-up lasts all day and night during the festivities, it’s vital that you prep the skin correctly and set the make-up with the right setting powders. For touch-ups and emergencies, keep a powder puff, lipstick, lash glue and safety pins handy.”

The big bridal Don'ts

“Freckled skin is a trend that I hope doesn’t catch on. For those without natural freckles, attempting to create them can look fake. Plus, it doesn’t last well, especially in our weather. It ends up looking like patchy skin. Avoid lash extensions as they restrict the artist from creating certain looks. Remember to always carry your skincare products with you, and use them every day after removing your make-up. And always remove your make-up, no matter how tired you are!"

Synergy with the make-up artist

“Always choose an MUA whose style matches your own. Many brides book artists based on their popularity but are often unhappy with the result. Make sure to see all their work, meet them in person, and create a mood board for each look. I always like to meet my brides and understand what they like. I create mood boards for each look based on their likes and dislikes to make the process easier.”

Acing trends

“Incorporate trends into your look in subtle ways. Add a hint of a trendy colour to your outfit, eye make-up, lipstick or nails. Avoid going all out with trends as they will fade, and you might regret it a year later.”

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