It's wedding season and I'm all for focusing on the bride but it's also a pretty important day for mothers of the bride and mothers of the groom! I specialise in wedding makeup and I've put together a look and a guide to explain why the different techniques are important for mature skin.
I invited mother of the bride to be and Glossy subscriber Chris for a wedding makeover so I can let you in on the dos and don'ts of special occasion makeup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTvIlY8ODmw
Are you the bride? Don’t worry you can check out my other tutorial made just for you by clicking right here.
Preparing for your big day
You can start now with with a good skincare regime (you may have seen my blog on this). Then make sure you select a makeup artist (MUA) who has experience with mature skin well in advance of your big day.
Worried that you may look over the top for your son or daughter's big day? Don't worry, lots of Mum's worry that having their makeup done professionally means looking 'overdone' and this is not the case.
A professional makeup artist isn't just there on the day, they'll be there to guide you through the journey together and to help you to find a look you love!
You may even choose to do your makeup yourself – if you are I hope you’ll find a few tips and tricks below.
My Best Wedding Makeup Secrets For Mature Skin
1. Primer
Moisture is a must-have for more mature skin so I prepped Chris's skin with with the Lancôme Hydra Zen Neurocalm Dry Skin Moisturiser, which is specially developed for dry skin. I find this really helps to blur fine lines and to create a smooth base.
2. Prime the eyes
Priming eyes is even more important for mature skin to cover up any blue veins and to provide a really smooth base before applying any eye makeup.
I swear by the Urban Decay Primer Potion in the shade Eden. This is slightly tinted, which is perfect for providing a smooth base, covering blue veins and taking out natural oils. Where I would carve under the brows on younger skin, I miss out this step as this would look too severe on mature skin.
3. Eyeshadow
Make sure you choose eyeshadow colours that are fairly natural that also complement your hair and eye colour. Your eye makeup is also dependant on the colour of your dress too!
Chris has dark purple hair so I took this into consideration and used the MAC Eye Shadow x 9 in Burgundy, a collection of dusky nudes and gorgeous burgundy shades.
- I started by adding some depth into the socket of the eye with the shade Poppyseed
- I then used the darker burgundy shade Sketch and the shade Haux in the outer part of the socket
- To add a bit of sparkle, I added some Honey Lust and Star Violet onto the centre of the eyelid, blending outwards
4. Eyeliner
You want to lightly line your upper lash line for extra definition. I recommend using the AMC Gel Eyeliner from Inglot in the shade 69 (dark brown) because it's completely waterproof and smudgeproof. For mature skin you don't want harsh definition on your lower lashes so I recommend lining with a dark eyeshadow like the shade Sketchfrom the MAC Burgundy Palette. To really make your eyes pop, you can also use a white eyeliner on your lower waterline.
5. Eyelashes
You are never too old for false lashes. In fact, mature women need them even more to provide definition. I recommend using very natural looking lashes like the Baby Grail It Luxury 3D lashes from my own collection called CINK, £6.99. These are perfect because they don't look too false and the eyelash strands blend together with your own eyelashes for a seamless finish.
They really define Chris's eyes and you can't tell she's wearing them!
6. Foundation
Choosing a good quality foundation is vital. I use the Sheer Glow Foundation from Nars, £33 on a lot of brides but on more mature skin I like to use YSL’s bestselling foundation, the Touche Éclat Le Teint full coverage foundation, £35.
It doesn't contain SPF so there's no need to worry about camera flashback on photos (which can happen at night when your photographer starts to use flash). It's also not too heavy for mature skin, it brightens your complexion beautifully and gets that glowy finish.
I use the Illamasqua IL280 brush to apply this and use my fingers too because the warmth really helps to blend the foundation.
7. Concealer
Under eye concealer is a must to cover pesky dark circles and eye bags. I recommend using the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. This is perfect for mature skin because it's crease-proof and doesn't sink into fine lines.
8. Contouring
Severe contouring on mature skin is not a flattering look. I like to use a bronzer to subtly define features instead. The velvety finish of this Chanel Bronzer, £40, leaves your skin with a beautiful sun-bathed look. I apply this lightly onto places where you'd usually contour: under the cheek bones, on the hairline, the temples and jawline.
You wouldn't heavily contour for a wedding but using a bronzer to make your features pop is a must for the professional photos!
9. Blusher
Blusher adds a fresh glow! Choose a colour that complements your complexion. I used the Pure Powder Glow from Kevyn Aucoin in the shade Helena because it's so lightweight and adds a freshness to your look.
10. Highlighter
On younger skin, I would highlight more areas but this can look over the top on mature skin, so I just applied highlighter lightly to the top of Chris's cheekbones.
Whereas I used a powder highlighter (Illamasqua Daze) on bride Lois, I used the Living Luminiser cream highlighting balm from RMS on Chris. I love the ultra-sheer texture and translucent finish that gives your skin the kind of glow you normally only get after a long relaxing holiday. The soft finish is perfect for mature skin.
11. Eyebrows to frame the face
With a mature client, I like to do the eyebrows later as you don't want them the dominate the face. On younger brides, you can afford to go for more of a HD brow, but on mature skin defined brows can look too severe. Instead, I just fill in gaps in the brows.
I'm a big fan of the Obsession Brow Pomade range due to it's easy to blend cream formula. There are seven shades to choose from and I used medium brown on Chris. It's so affordable too at only £6 and has a lovely matte finish.
12. Waterproof mascara
You've already got your false lashes on so you'll just need some mascara to blend your own lashes and the falsies together. You'll be put through a lot of happy emotions, so use a waterproof mascara to stop smudges and panda eyes! False Lash Architect Waterproof Mascara by L'Oréal Paris is one of the best out there. It's great for curving lashes and staying put!
13. Lips
Lining your lips will not only keep your lipstick in place all day, but it'll also make your lips look bigger. I chose a natural hue a few shades darker than Chris's lips. Young brides can wear matte lipstick but I would recommend mature women wear a lipstick with a satin finish as it's more flattering and smooths out lip lines.
I used the MAC Lip Pencil in the shade Half Red.
I then used the shade Twigfrom the MAC's Satin range for a smooth finish with a gorgeous shine.
14. Setting spray
Don't forget to finish with a setting spray for a long-lasting look. Although mature skin often isn't as oily as younger skin, it's more likely to dry out. Setting sprays are perfect for refreshing your skin a couple of times throughout the day to prevent it from drying out.
I recommend the Infallible Fixing Mist from L'Oréal Paris. It's one of the most affordable sprays I've tried at just £8.99. Just hold the bottle around 20-25cm away from your face and spray 2 to 4 times in 'X' and 'T' shaped motions.
The Final Look
I hope you found this tutorial useful, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch on our Facebook page. Any makeup questions or techniques you are struggling with, let me know and I'll be in touch to help.
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