From the foundation that photographs beautifully to the setting spray made to withstand happy tears, we round up bridal beauty products worth adding to your pre-wedding skincare and makeup kit
There are some beauty products you’ll happily pick up on a supermarket run – and others that might be worth spending a little extra on when your wedding is on the horizon.
But with endless serums, foundations and setting sprays promising big things, how do you know what’s actually worth adding to your routine?
We went straight to the people who work with brides every week. From bridal makeup artists to skincare and tanning specialists, our experts reveal the wedding makeup products and bridal skincare buys they genuinely rate – including a few they wouldn’t want to face a wedding morning without.
Looking for something in particular? Jump straight to our expert picks for bridal skincare, wedding makeup or glow and tanning.
The best bridal skincare products for your pre-wedding routine
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Antioxidant Vitamin C Serum, £169
Best for: Brightening and evening skin tone
If radiant skin is high on your pre-wedding wishlist, Jennifer Martin of Studio 55 Aesthetics recommends introducing a good antioxidant serum to your routine.
Her investment pick is SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which she says helps protect against environmental stress while “brightening the complexion and improving the appearance of uneven tone and fine lines”.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, £250
Best for: Deep hydration
Jennifer’s second pick is one for dry or dehydrated skin. She describes The Rich Cream as a nourishing moisturiser that supports the skin barrier while providing intense hydration, leaving the complexion feeling “soft, plump and radiant”.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, £36
Best for: Smoothing texture and unclogging pores
Hair and makeup specialist Lee Hanna of The Blushed Bride calls this a firm favourite for pre-wedding skin prep.
Designed to help unclog pores and smooth the skin’s texture, Lee says her brides have seen a visible improvement in their skin in less than a week of use.
Not quite ready for a product splurge? Here Scottish bridal beauty experts share top product picks from high street to high end
Wedding makeup products the experts swear by
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation, £42
Best for: Natural, buildable bridal coverage
Bridal makeup artist Audrey McCarthy counts this among her favourite foundations for brides. The appeal? A natural, skin-like finish with buildable coverage that she says “photographs beautifully” and can be adapted to suit anyone.
Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 649 Nude Dress, £60
Best for: Soft-to-glam bridal eyes
Also recommended by Audrey, Dior’s five-pan palette gives you scope to take your bridal makeup from soft, understated definition to something a little more glamorous.
She particularly rates its “gorgeous, sophisticated shades and finishes” and their versatility for different bridal looks.
MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick in Modesty, £25
Best for: A versatile bridal lip
Bridal beauty and makeup specialist Victoria Paul has reached for this shade countless times. She rates its versatility with different lip liners and across different skin tones – and, in her words, it “really gives off bridal energy”.
One/Size On ’Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray, £32
Best for: Helping wedding makeup last
Crying, laughing, eating, singing, smiling – your wedding makeup has rather more to contend with than your average day. Victoria relies on this waterproof setting spray to lock everything in place and says she “couldn’t do a wedding morning without it”.
Bridal glow and tanning products
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £40
Best for: A natural-looking glow
Another of Lee Hanna’s recommendations, Hollywood Flawless Filter earns its place in the bridal makeup bag thanks to its versatility.
Lee uses it as a primer for cancelling out redness in the skin or over foundation when she wants to add a natural-looking glow.
Beautiful and Bronzed The Tan Collection Gradual Tanning Lotion, £19.99
Best for: Maintaining your wedding tan
If you’re having a professional spray tan ahead of the wedding, tanning artist Amanda Louise Brown of Beautiful and Bronzed recommends her own gradual tanning lotion for keeping it topped up while deeply nourishing the skin.
How to choose your bridal beauty products
Your wedding beauty kit doesn’t have to involve replacing everything you already own.
Instead, think about where spending a little extra could make the biggest difference to you – whether that’s investing in your skincare in the run-up to the wedding, finding a foundation you love both in person and in photographs, or choosing a setting spray to see your makeup through from getting ready to the last dance.
Check out our Scottish wedding suppliers directory for experts on everything from hair and makeup to aesthetics and treatments
