How To Do Wedding Guest Makeup: Step By Step

Today we’ll take you through all things to consider to create stunning wedding guest makeup. From flawless skin, statement lipstick, and what nail looks to pair, our step-by-step guide will have you covered on how to do wedding guest makeup to wow!

Things to consider for your wedding guest makeup

Let’s begin with a few simple considerations on how to do makeup for a wedding. What type of wedding are you invited to? For a summer wedding, a lighter look would be more appropriate. Is the wedding black tie or a casual wedding? This will help determine whether a full or soft glam look is more in keeping for elegant wedding guest makeup. After this, we suggest you create a wedding guest makeup you feel comfortable in but also, complements all these factors. Here are some wedding guest makeup ideas we love.

How to do wedding guest makeup: step by step

Step 1: Prep your skin

Every makeup artist will tell you that this is the single most important part of how to create a long-wearing beautiful wedding makeup. It’s all in the skin prep.  To begin, moisturising is key. And using a moisturiser with SPF is especially important if attending a summer wedding or an outdoor wedding. Our Radiant Daily Moisturiser with SPF 30 is the perfect moisturiser for a glowing yet protected base.

Step 2: Prime your face with the right base

Once your skin is beautifully hydrated identify the correct primer to complement your skin type. Apply your appropriate skin primer to add dewy or matte finishes to your base. Our Radiance Base Glow skin enhancer is our go-to for a fresh-faced natural beauty glow. Stunning worn alone, under your base or even to add a touch of radiance over makeup.

Step 3: Foundation

Choose a foundation to suit your skin tone, but also remember to shade-match to your body. If wearing face tan, choose a foundation that integrates into your tanned body by matching the shade against your décolletage. This ensures an even head-to-toe colour match. Your personal preference in coverage will come into play hereafter. For wedding guest makeup in heat, a lighter coverage is advisable and have pressed powder on hand to keep shine at bay. We also recommend a setting spray to lock everything in place and to spritz throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated and fresh. Try our Hydrating Perfecting Mist for the ultimate multi-purpose mist. 

Step 4: Conceal and highlight

Use concealer to diminish dark circles, correct discolouration and cover blemishes. Add a highlighter to enhance and create a more youthful look. Melt into your foundation with a damp beauty blender for an airbrushed look. This technique softly defines your features creating a wedding guest makeup that is natural in look and feel.

Step 5: Define the eyes

To achieve long-lasting flawless wedding guest eye makeup, one of our favourite pro-makeup tips is to use a cream eyeshadow.  Highly pigmented cream eyeshadows, especially shimmery eyeshadow, look fantastic for wedding guest makeup. Add a subtle flick to define your eyes with a liquid eyeliner. Or for more drama, why not create a full-on cat eye? Amplify the lash line with the addition of individual lashes. We cannot get enough of our One of a Kind selection of individual lashes. A must-have for all beauty lovers. Easy to apply, subtle for natural makeup lovers but also buildable if you love full glam eye makeup.

Step 6: Complete your look with lips

What lip colour is best for a wedding guest? This is entirely up to you. You may prefer a soft lip gloss, over a classic red. Our advice is to wear what’s comfortable to you, your taste and what complements your outfit. Equally, if you prefer to wear a tinted lip balm, go for it!

Tip: lipstick is longer lasting than lip gloss or balm. Just something to keep in mind.

More tips to complete your wedding makeup look

What not to do for wedding makeup?

Over dramatic, heavy makeup is not a good look on anyone. Pick one feature to enhance. So, if you love your eyes, focus on the eye makeup and lashes. Then subtly enhance the skin and lips. Equally, if you prefer to wear a vibrant lip, then softly play up your eyeshadow. Balance is key when creating soft or full-glam wedding guest makeup looks. We also recommend using makeup brushes for a flawless application. 

Should wedding guests do hair or makeup first?

If you’re having a hairstyle created whereby the hair needs to be washed first, then hair must be done beforehand to avoid water washing away your makeup.  Otherwise, it doesn’t really matter.  

How should I do my nails as a wedding guest?

If you are unsure what nail style to choose, we recommend a beautifully manicured look and choose a length and shape that's in keeping with your overall look and personal taste. We love wearing high-quality fake nails as they are easy to apply, remove, and they won’t break the bank!

Should I wear fake tan as a wedding guest?

We love a sun-kissed glow, so our answer is yes. Wearing fake tan is not only a quick safe method of gaining a suntan but also easily removes within a few days. Instead of traditional contouring, it is also becoming increasingly popular for 'fake tan contouring'. Complete your occasional tan by spritzing all over with our Illuminating Bronzed Glow Setting Mist, a multi-purpose spray that not only preps and sets your makeup but also adds a glowing bronzed red carpet finish to your face and body.

Enjoy the celebrations,

Love SOSU Cosmetics x