Celebrity makeup artists reveal the biggest bridal beauty trends for 2019

If 2018 was anything to go by, bridal beauty looks are moving from tried-and-tested to experimental. Case in point: Deepika Padukone’s matte finished look for her Lake Como wedding. On the other hand, Priyanka Chopra Jonas stuck to her “less is more” guns, while Sonam Kapoor’s look spelled the quintessential Indian bride. But one thing they all did was set the tone for the brides of the coming year.

Whether you’ve just cemented your relationship with a roka or nearing your makeup trail for the big day, this 2019 forecast by celebrity makeup artists is the place to start to switch up your bridal beauty game.

Opt for classic red lips

Image: Viral Bhayani

Feminine yet empowering, traditional yet contemporary—the multifarious scarlet pout has many connotations attached to it. In fact, nothing pulls your look together like a timeless red lip—a trick style icons, old and new, have known all too well. Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist Namrata Soni also reinforces the power of red lips, elaborating, “While 2018 saw a lot of neutrals, nude lips and smokey eyes, I think red matte lipstick is going to make a big comeback in 2019. For me, classic red lips paired with subtle highlighter on the skin is the best way to go for brides.” Soni also points out that silver cat-eyes will be in trend—a look we spotted on Anushka Sharma during the promotions of her film Zero recently. “You may not want to consider it for the wedding day, but I recommend you to experiment with a silver foil effect for your cocktail or reception.”

Put your fresh, flawless face

Ever since Anushka Sharma’s pared down makeup for her nuptials in Tuscany, Italy, broke the internet, an au naturel complexion has been the Holy Grail formula for brides-to-be. Don’t believe us? Hear it from her trusted makeup artist Puneet B Saini, who believes that the power of less is certainly more. “I feel skin isn’t paid enough attention to. Fresh and flawless face should be the order of the day for brides in 2019.” A fail-proof way to ensure a luminous finish is to create a healthy canvas for your foundation and makeup by prepping with the right primer or even gentle exfoliating peel pads. “Enhance your bridal glow by beautifully yet mindfully highlighting and contouring the face,” she adds.

Let your natural beauty shine though

We live in a world full of Instagram brows and OTT highlighter. But even maximalist brides across the world have been enamoured by Meghan Markle’s soft, radiant and most importantly, not-covering-her-freckles makeup. Closer to home, celebrity makeup artist, Deepa Varma, has always been a loyalist of understated, skin-first look. Her advice is to “embrace your real beauty by keeping the fragility and delicate vibe of a bride.” The big trend she’s hoping people leave behind: the dated, overdone contoured-and-cut face. “Glowing skin should be a bride’s priority, as people are not interested in looking like painted masks anymore.” While you may have an affinity for a vibrant lip colour or shadow, shade-match your foundation to ensure that your skin still looks like skin. “Changing your skin colour or lightening your complexion is a strict no-no,” she concludes.

Let the eyes do the talking

Image: Viral Bhayani

A dewy-fresh look has been a common denominator among top makeup artists. And makeup guru who has styled every B-town beauty from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ojas Rajani is another aficionado of the lit-from-within, realistic glow for the big day. “Minimal, clean and fresh should be your starting point for your bridal look.” But the biggest trend, he strongly advocates, is a strong yet subtle emphasis on the eyes. “We are done away with the stark black kohl look. The flavour of the season is brown,” Rajani elaborates. Chocolate, earthy-brown shades are more flattering to most complexions and eye colours. “Pick a forest brown if you’re looking for something less harsh or shimmery brown kajal or smoky eye to add that much-needed drama. Browns won’t make the eyes look too heavy or close them up the way a black will.” He adds, “The colour palette that’ll rule the roost will be pastels—think nude or burnt rose, peaches and cream.”

Keep up the glam quotient

With pastels, soft tones and lots of sequins taking bridal wear world by storm, celebrity makeup artist and one-half of Fat Mu, Natasha Nischol, advises brides to keep up with the glam quotient for their makeup too. She recommends, “Think sculpted luminosity. While you don’t want your make-up looking greasy and too shiny, dewing up high points will give you that ethereal look.” Raspberry, strawberry, cranberry—pick your jam. “Wines and berries are definitely the statement lip shades for 2019. A sophisticated matte velvety formula works best but if you’re daunted, try its softer and pinker variations,” Nischol adds. For the eyes, she reveals, “We love a good dose of shimmer and shine. You can cover the whole lid or have just a touch in the centre or inner corner if you need something understated.”

Don’t follow the herd

A Vogue regular (remember, Katrina Kaif’s cover look for our December 2018 issue?) and a go-to makeup artist to stars including Janhvi Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and many others, Daniel Bauer encourages brides-to-be steer clear from trends. “Trends don’t care who you are, or what you look like,” he cites. At the end of the day, a wedding look is very aspirational—every bride has an outline of what would or would not bring out the best in her. Don’t completely conform to a trend, and communicate to your makeup artist what will make you feel most confident. “I try to mix and match. Find your own personal balance, go 70 per cent timeless and 30 per cent trend. You’ll not only be playing it safe, but you’ll be also be playing it wise,” Bauer elaborates.

Think subtle but festive 

If you were (like us) swooning over Deepika Padukone’s modest yet dramatic makeup at Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ reception, then you’ve artist Priya Todarwal to thank. She feels that, “the subtle but sexy glam look will be the biggest trend in 2019. It’ll be all about that gorgeous glow in the skin but at the same time not overtly highlighted. No sharp edges, just blended contours. The eyes will have a soft wing flicked to perfection. The lashes are all about being wispy… no more full lashes, with singles all the way. And to finish it off, the perfect strong lip will make a statement, even if it’s in the nudes.”

Complement metallic eyeshadows with glossy lips

There’s a time for going shimmer-free, but the wedding day is not it. Makeup artist Tanvi Borkar agrees, “When it comes to eye looks for your big day, a wash of metallic or iridescent eyeshadow paired with smudged liner is as foolproof as it gets.” The glimmer needs to trickle down to the lips as well, she believes: “Gloss will be in trend in 2019.” Thanks to the new-generation of glosses sans the stickiness, we are sure this one will come back with a bang.

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