You’ve all heard of Bridezilla ; now meet her mother. First to be the shoulder to cry on; last on the list of priorities, it’s no wonder she can sometimes feel left behind when it comes to the getting-ready-for-the-big-day department, with a quiet anxiety about being seen at all.
“There’s maybe a fear of being left out of such a big day,” says make-up artist and founder of cosmetics brand Vieve, Jamie Genevieve, who spent years at Debenhams as a make-up artist often doing the make-up for anxious brides and their mothers.
“But also, and I think this comes from a really lovely place, it’s perhaps quite a rare opportunity to feel beautiful. And with that comes a lot of pressure.”
It is a sentiment echoed by Lucy Russell, founder of the Lucie App, the celebrity-trusted make-up artist booking platform: “It’s their day too.” Getting the make-up right, then, matters more than many mothers would admit. Here’s how to approach it.
Should you hire a professional?
The short answer is yes, if budget permits. “Having a make-up artist takes the pressure off in a lot of ways,” says Genevieve, who, even on her own big day, applied her mother’s eye make-up.
“It helped that we were in Italy and our wedding was at 5pm so we had the whole day to get ready,” she says – and presumably it also helped that she is an actual make-up artist and knows what she is doing. “It’s your own little experience, and it’s a really lovely thing.”
Russell recommends booking two artists on the day if you can – one dedicated to the bride, one for the wider bridal party - so that no one feels rushed, and there is capacity for any last-minute additions. Lisa Eldridge, one of the world’s most respected make-up artists, advises researching your artist carefully. “Look at their pictures online, meet them, make sure you’re on the same wavelength,” she says. “Bring pictures of things you haven’t liked as well as things you love. It helps so much.” Try the Lucie app or Ruuby for bookings.
Start with your skin
Whatever you decide about hiring a professional, the unanimous advice is to start with the skin and to begin well in advance. Russell recommends having a couple of facials in the months leading up to the wedding. Try Clinique’s free on-counter 20-minute Mini Glow facial which offers a thorough cleanse and light moisturise. Consistency in your skincare routine is equally important; the last thing you want is a new product causing a reaction in the days before the wedding.
Avoid alcohol the night before, which dehydrates the skin. And, a word of warning about sunscreen : mineral formulas containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can cause flashback in photography, making skin look startlingly pale.
“Think about your sunscreen,” advises Eldridge. “If you’re wearing one, make sure it’s chemical, not mineral.” As for base make-up, she cautions against anything too heavy: “Even though you want it to last all day, there are so many better formulas now. Mature skin doesn’t need heavy coverage, it needs something that breathes.”
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Eyes and brows: Don’t play it too safe
This is where many mothers make their biggest mistake: playing it too safe. In photographs, especially in daylight or where flash is used, eyes without the definition of eyeliner or mascara can disappear.
“Get out of your comfort zone and get some eye make-up on,” says Eldridge firmly. “It’s more important than anything.” She recommends waterproof mascara applied all the way to the roots, a little socket shading to open up the eyes, and softly applied eyeliner. Nothing dramatic, but enough to give genuine definition.
Brows, too, are transformative. Russell calls them “everything”, noting that well-groomed, defined brows can take years off a face.
“If you’re getting them tinted, ensure your final tint is done at least five days before the wedding so the colour has time to settle – nothing is more troubling than feeling your brows are too dark on the morning itself.” For tinted and threaded brows, try Blink Brow Bar .
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Lip, cheeks and the art of subtle warmth
A little warmth goes a long way. Eldridge recommends a bronzer for almost everyone “just to warm up the forehead, a little on the cheeks, around the edges of the face. Not to look bronzed or tanned, but just to lift any sallowness.”
A crucial caveat: if you have grey hair choose your bronzer with care. Many formulas contain orange pigments that read very differently against cool-toned hair. Eldridge recommends Fenty Sun Stalk’R Instant Warmth Bronzer for its cooler, almost grey-toned shades.
“Be very careful with the colour you choose,” she says. “They don’t always look orange in the pan, but once they’re on the skin, with grey hair, they really can.” For lips, a glossy or satin finish photographs better than matte. Russell notes that the bridal make-up mood this season leans towards “glossy or satin lips and warmth through the cheeks that looks sun-kissed rather than structured.” Avoid overlining the lips; in photographs especially, it quickly looks unnatural.
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What to keep in your handbag
As mother of the bride, you will be talking to everyone, photographed constantly, and are unlikely to have the luxury of disappearing for a touch-up.
“It’s very likely your handbag will be smaller than your day-to-day one, so only a few products should make the cut,” says Eldridge. Keep the essentials simple, with your chosen lipstick or pencil, and for quick touch-ups on the go, Eldridge says nothing beats Pinpoint Concealer, which can “camouflage a blemish, lift a small under-eye shadow or address a small patch of uneven skin”.
Genevieve’s top picks are a skin-supporting base product like Vieve’s Skin Nova – “everyone’s skin just drinks it up, and be radiant all day” – and a travel-size setting mist.
“It sets your make-up in place for hours,” she says. “It’s incredibly refreshing if things get warm or emotional, and it has a really grounding scent.” Beyond that, less is more – except when it comes to tissues, you may need lots of them!
