Whether you’re into soft glam, bold lips, or shimmering eyes, find inspiration from our favorite wedding guest makeup trends.
Your wedding guest makeup look is a chance to play with trends you see on your TikTok feed or a lipstick color you saw Taylor Swift wear on the red carpet. While the bride may try to keep things natural, you definitely don’t have to. A graphic eyeliner look or smattering of face gems might not be quite right for the occasion, “but a pop of pastel, a metallic shadow, a holographic blush, or the perfect fluttery lash can make you stand out in a subtle way,” says makeup artist Christin Cook Zito. Your look will be in the couple’s photos forever, after all. Think of trying understated but pretty wedding guest makeup trends, like pearl skin or berry girl makeup, instead of louder looks like neon lipstick or full-on rockstar eyeliner.
It’s a delicate balance to strike, so to help you look like the chicest guest at the reception, we asked the pros which trends are ideal for wedding season and how to look your best on the dance floor.
Pearly and radiant
Photo: Getty
No, it’s not your wedding day, but you can still look like Venus emerging from her scallop shell. Madison Bailey, Ilia’s TikTok and new platforms manager (who works with editors and content creators to identify new trends on social media), says she’s seeing the “pearl skin” trend take off this year. To get the Venus glow, you’ll need a veil of super-delicate pearlescent highlighter in the places it counts—your cheekbones, brow bones, nose, cupid’s bow, chin, and maybe the center of your eyelid. If you want to go all in on pearly skin, mix the highlighter with your foundation before applying for an all-over glow.
Berry-blushed
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Not every TikTok trend is worthwhile (sunscreen contouring is a hard no from us), but berry girl makeup—makeup in jewel-tone or berry-hued colors like cranberry, burgundy, and plum—is a classic and universally flattering wedding guest makeup look. (It’s also, you know, much safer than deliberate sun damage.)
Makeup artist Shenise Sheena recommends starting with a medium-coverage foundation to get the skin looking even. Then, she suggests using a multi-stick on your cheeks and lips to give your look a monochromatic, berry-hued flush. “I also love to take the product I used for my blush and buff it in the crease of my eye with a blending brush to tie the whole look together,” says Sheena.
Sculpted and statuesque
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Looking like a Greek goddess will never go out of style, so a sculpted dot contour—a look created by blending a single dot of a contouring cream or liquid from the center of your cheek—is a great wedding guest makeup hack. It gives you statuesque, chiseled cheekbones, but in a more accessible way than painting on brown stripes and blending until you get carpal tunnel.
Starting with your contour and following with a light-coverage foundation or skin tint (a.k.a. “underpainting”) helps soften the shadow, says makeup artist and director of artistry at Milk Makeup, Sara Wren, so it looks like Zeus himself gave you that definition.
Dewy and natural
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Skin tints have been trending in every corner of the internet because they’re generally much more lightweight and comfortable than full-coverage foundation. With skin tint usually comes a pared-down look—dewy skin, a natural flush, and maybe just a touch of mascara will do. We’re picturing this look at an outdoor summertime wedding (when heavy makeup can be a slog).
Bright and blushy
Photo: Instagram.com/karolg
You know that flush you get after a life-affirming pilates class? Or an all-night tête-à-tête with your soulmate? That’s what an extra bright, statement blush looks like. “Bright blushes will always be flattering and no-fuss when attending a wedding,” says makeup artist Paige Pelfrey, adding that a statement blush requires much fewer touch-ups than a statement lip. Liberally buff the blush on the apples of your cheeks, up your cheekbones, and across the nose, and finish with a flirty lash.
’90s supermodel
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We have to imagine that Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were the life of every wedding they attended in the ‘90s (and maybe still are). So for the next glitzy evening wedding we’re invited to, we’re following suit with our own ’90s supermodel look. What are the ingredients? Lips overlined with a dark brown pencil and filled with a nude color and a brown smoky eye, says makeup artist Karina Morales. Apply the shadow along the top and bottom lash lines, then smudge and blend it out for a lived-in look.
Sweet and peachy
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The color gods at Pantone hath decreed our favorite hue of the year: peach fuzz. So while we’re ordering bottomless Fuzzy Navels at the bar and seriously considering repainting our bathroom the sweet coral color, we’re also going to every warm-weather wedding with a full peach makeup look. “The great thing about coral blushes is that they look amazing on all skin tones,” says Morales. Pair the blush with a balmy coral lip and a flick of a kitten eye for a coquettish look.
Frosted eyeshadow
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Even the most cynical can agree: Weddings always feel a little magical. Call it love in the air or the massive floral budget, but a shimmery ethereal look feels appropriate for such an enchanted day. And nothing quite says magic and whimsy more than frosted eyeshadow. “This trend works for all weddings because you can simply switch up the shades depending on the season,” says Morales. “I might do a frosted light pink in the spring, a baby blue or yellow in the summer, and icy white for winter.”
Dolly beauty
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Bows, ballet flats, and dolly beauty are the Holy Trinity for nailing the coquette-core trend. It’s especially pretty for a wedding where pink roses and lace abound. The key will be to start with a blurring primer to create a smooth, doll-like base. Follow with a medium coverage foundation, a healthy dose of peach cream blush, baby pink lids, and—most importantly—spiky ’50s babydoll lashes. Zito recommends this blurring primer-highlighter hybrid to create a smooth base. “You can apply it under foundation or mix it 50/50 with your foundation. You can even tap it on top as a highlighter,” she says. “It’s one of my most used products because it’s so beautiful and versatile.”
Mob wife
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Bored from a day of running errands in her oversized sunglasses and long fur coat, the mob wife is the epitome of confidence and glamour. The makeup trend is the same—bold and a little overdone in the best way possible. “I love the mob wife makeup look for a winter or fall wedding since it has darker tones and goes great with warmer fabrics like velvet and fur,” says makeup artist Diane Buzzetta. You’ll want a little bit—er—a lot of everything: a full matte smoky eye, black eyeliner, and a bold, glossy lip.
Strawberry makeup
Photo: Instagram.com/haileybieber
The berry girl trend covers the jewel-toned portion of the food pyramid, but strawberry makeup is a bit brighter and more energetic—ideal for a summer wedding (when strawberries are actually in season). The look is super straightforward with just a strawberry-stained flush and lipstick topped with a high-shine gloss, says Buzzetta. Go for juicy and hydrated so you’ll look fresh enough to eat.
Ombré lips
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You have a dark side and a light side. Why wouldn’t your lips? Ombré lips add a sexy, dimensional, and mysterious touch to your look and can be done with any color combo like burgundy-to-crimson, chocolate-to-beige, or mauve-to-petal pink. It’s on the “statement” end of the wedding guest makeup spectrum, so keep the rest of your look simple and fresh. Everyone you talk to will be looking at your lips, so you want to start off with a smooth, hydrated base. “Apply a lip mask a few days before the event,” says Carrillo.
Originally published in Allure.com
