9-Step Guide To Reinventing The Traditional Bridal Makeup Look

Indian Bridal Makeup - Maybelline India



From going for bold eyes and deep red lips to now opting for more subdued and natural looks, the bridal makeup trends have evolved a lot over the years. While most brides prefer a naturally glam look that packs a punch, there are some modern-day brides who like to reinvent the traditional bridal makeup look by adding a flair of their own, whilst still maintaining the true essence of it. If this type of wedding makeup resonates with you and you are planning to go for this look on your wedding day, you’ve come to the right place! In this piece, we have provided a step-by-step guide on traditional bridal makeup. Read on to learn more about the tips and tricks that will help you ace your eye, lip and face makeup and create a beautiful look on your special day. 

9-Step Traditional Bridal Makeup Tutorial

Follow the 9 steps mentioned below to reinvent the traditional Indian bridal makeup: 


Step 1: Prep your skin 


Prepping your skin is essential to ensure that your makeup lasts long. After cleansing and moisturising your face, start your traditional bridal makeup by applying some primer on your T-zone. Use a pore-filling primer as it will help your makeup glide smoothly and also make it last longer. 


Step 2: Ace your base 


After applying the primer, dot the foundation all over your face and neck, and blend it using dabbing motions. Remember, dabbing your foundation instead of sweeping it across your face will help in a smoother and non-streaky application. Ensure that you choose the right shade of foundation and apply it properly. Once, you’ve blended the foundation well, move on to applying some concealer under your eyes and areas where you have some discolouration. To ace the base for your traditional bridal makeup, apply the concealer using the facelift technique for a natural, yet snatched look. 


Step 3: Contour your skin 


The next step in doing Indian bridal makeup includes adding some definition to your traditional bridal makeup look. Using a cream contour helps to add more definition to your skin while giving a lasting effect. Blend the contour well so it doesn’t look muddy. You can use the same contour stick to contour your nose. Wondering what’s the necessity of this process while doing traditional bridal makeup? Contouring your nose helps to add sharpness to your final look. 


Step 4: Set it all in with powder 


After blending your foundation, concealer and cream contour well, use some setting powder to lock your traditional bridal makeup in place. If you have oily skin, make sure to bake the area under your eyes with a loose powder for a smooth and long-lasting finish. 


Step 5: Blush it up 


The next step in your traditional Indian bridal makeup is to add some colour to your skin. Choose a blush that flatters your skin tone and place it on the apples of your cheeks. Don’t go overboard with your blush, instead apply very little at a time, you can always layer your blush later.  


Step 6: Add some glow with highlighter 


To take your Indian bridal makeup a notch higher, add some glow to your face by applying the highlighter on your cheekbones in upward motions. Next, apply the highlighter to the bridge of your nose and on your cupid’s bow. Spritz some setting spray on your beauty sponge and gently dab your face with this damp sponge.  


Step 7: Eyebrows 


Your eyebrows play a huge role in framing your face and accentuating your overall traditional Indian bridal makeup look. Make sure you use a spoolie to brush them out first. Next, use an angled eyebrow pencil and fill it in. The angled tip enables you to add natural-looking strokes that are super fine. To add more definition to your eyebrows, apply some highlighter at the arch of your eyebrows. This sculpts them while adding a pop of glow. 


Step 8: Eye Makeup 


The bride’s eye makeup attracts most of the attention, and therefore you must be extra careful and attentive while doing your own bridal eye makeup. If you want to ace the traditional bridal makeup with a bit of new-age addition, we recommend you to go for neutral eyeshadow tones and a pop of colour. Avoid using the same colour eyeshadow across your eyelid as your lehenga. It will throw off the balance of your makeup look. Instead, stick with the classic smokey eyes or a shimmery halo look. If you want to incorporate some colour, you can use a colourful shimmer or add a vibrant coloured eyeliner! This will elevate the makeup while still looking chic.  


After doing your eyeshadow, don’t forget to add some mascara to your lashes. Pro tip: Use waterproof mascara to save you from getting raccoon eyes as there might be some tears by the end of the wedding. To seal in the eye makeup, add some kajal. Applying kajal to your waterline and tight lining with it adds a subtle hint of glam to your Indian wedding makeup look while also shaping your eyes. 


Step 9: Lip makeup 


Complete the final step of traditional Indian makeup by adding some colour to your lips. While choosing your lipstick colour, make sure you keep your eyeshadow colour in mind. If you are doing a bold eye look, we suggest you choose nude or muted lipstick. If you want to experiment with bold lips, you can choose to keep your eye makeup neutral. This will help to strike a balance and create a harmonious look. 


Start by lining your lips with a lip liner to define the shape of your lips. Next, apply a coat of liquid lipstick. Using liquid lipstick will make your lip makeup last longer. If you have creamy lipstick in the same colour family, you can add a coat of that as well. This will make your lip makeup last through the function!  


If you’re confused about your lip shade, you can use the Maybelline Virtual Try-On tool. With this tool, you can try different lip shades in real-time from the comfort of your home. 


Pro Tip: To get a natural finish with your foundation, choosing the right shade of foundation is important. You can use the Maybelline Foundation Finder tool and pick your perfect shade from the comfort of your home. With this tool, you can try different foundation shades virtually and pick the one that fits you the best. 


Remember, bindi is an auspicious sign of marriage and is listed in ‘Solah Shringaar’ as one of the essential accessories. So, while doing Hindu bridal makeup, don’t forget to wear a bindi.  


Make your special day even more special by doing traditional bridal makeup yourself. After all, no one knows better than you how you want to look!