Mother of the Bride Makeup: 10 Tips to Look Beautiful and Be Yourself!
Looking picture perfect when you are the Mother of the Bride or groom isn’t just about the dress and the hair. Your makeup is crucial too. What do you need to look your best, and how do you look fabulous but still like yourself?
Celebrity makeup artist Sana Young has all these answers for you. Here’s her expert advice Mother of the Bride makeup to shine on the big day!
1. What’s the best makeup look for Mother of the Bride?
The most important thing is to be yourself. If you are not big on glamour, don’t talk yourself into wearing lashes and a smoky eye. You have to be comfortable with the level of makeup being applied, or you will be distracted by your face. You’ll wonder if people are staring at your lashes or heavy makeup, and this is too special a day for you to be worried about what people might think.
A natural look to one person might come across as a glam look to another, so always be clear with your desired look when speaking to your makeup artist. I always suggest bringing pictures of your dress, how you look every day, and how you look when you go to a special event.
Once you have defined your preferred comfort level, we turn to your outfit for inspiration. Color choice, as well as style, will be inspired by your company. If the MOB is wearing a long, flowy gown, then the makeup look should match the mood of the dress. If the MOB wears a tailored suit, the inspiration comes from the outfit.
2. If a MOB/MOG doesn’t usually wear makeup, what’s the minimum she needs to look fabulous and feel comfortable?
If the MOB does not typically wear makeup, I suggest evening out the skin tone with some light foundation and possibly concealer. Also, add some blush to give a soft glow, to mimic a light jog or the glow you get from having a glass of Champagne! Top it off with some mascara on the top lid only. If the MOB feels comfortable with these three corrective applications, I would suggest a light eyeliner application. Comfort is key. It’s not worth it if the MOB doesn’t feel like herself.
3. What is the best eye makeup application for Mob/mog- shadows, liners, brows?
Eyes – Corrective is the key to creating a look for the MOB. Look to correct dark circles, age spots, wrinkles, or deep-set eyes. Concealer under the eye and on the lid helps bring the eyes out, reducing the look of depth. Depending on the eye shape, you typically want to create the face of an upward eye; we use makeup to lift the outer corners of the eyes. This look can be achieved by applying a generous amount of mascara on top only, liner on the top, and perhaps a little in the corner on the bottom, as well as some shadow on the top outer corner.
Filling in the brows, whether lightly or to match your hair color, is essential to complete the look.
4. What is your recommendation for the best mascara? – I’m sure lots of moms have tears
I still love Voluminous from L’oreal!! Since you are applying on top, you will only avoid some of the mess, which could cause tears.
5. If the MOB uses a makeup artist, is it necessary to do a dry run ahead of time?
It’s unnecessary to have a dry run for the MOB or MOG before the wedding unless they are genuinely concerned or have never had it done before, and you feel it could take attention away from the Bride that morning. It’s essential to ensure the right energy surrounds the Bride while she prepares for the big day. I typically suggest the MOB comes with the Bride for her trial. That way, we can discuss any of their questions or concerns. Let’s get it all out before the wedding day!
6. What’s the best foundation to wear for photos?
I prefer using a light liquid foundation on the MOB. Something that offers fair coverage and still evens out any discoloration while skin allows the skin to look like skin. Products- Armani Liquid foundation, Charlotte Tillbury, MAC water weight foundation. All great products!
7. What is the biggest concern MOB’s have about their makeup, and what do you tell them to do to remedy this?
The biggest concern is the creasing of the foundation under the eyes. If that happens, I ask them to use a sponge and gently rub the makeup off a bit or use a blending brush and blend it in gently.
8. What are the best lip colors for MOBs, and how can they get lipstick to last all day?
I always like using something with some color. Not a nude; it’s too dull. A rosy tint or a warm pink is still an excellent way to brighten the face. To prevent lip bleed, use a lip primer. MAC has one that I know works well.
9. What are the biggest makeup mistakes that make MOBs look awful or old?
Using a dark lip, not maintaining it, Allowing the lipstick to bleed, and not correcting it is a problem that leaves mature women looking much older—too much frost on their eyes or cheeks.
Also, all the ‘Luminating” products don’t work well when someone wears too many. Dark eyes, a heavy black liner is not ideal; it darkens the eyes and deepens them.
10. Evening bags are tiny. What essential makeup items should the MOB always carry?
Essential items to keep in your bag for the night – your lipstick and lip liner, mascara, and if you are wearing false lashes, BRING LASH GLUE!!
Thanks, Sana, for those great tips!
Here are some fabulous Mother of the Bride makeup looks from various makeup artists around the country.
This Mother of the Bride looks elegant on her big day. Look at those lashes and how they open her eyes. She is all smiles, as well as she should be. She looks fantastic!
The Mother of the Bride is goddess-like for her daughter’s wedding day. She glows with her highlighter and metallic eye shadow, which for many Mothers of brides would be a little too much, but this one looks gorgeous.
Wedding preparations can be tiring, but you never want to look like you’ve been sleep deprived on the big day. This Mother of the Bride’s makeup brightens her eyes and freshens her appearance to conceal dark under-eye circles and enhance her eyebrows.
A little concealer, foundation, and eye shadow even out this Mother of the Bride’s skin tone and play up those beautiful blue eyes.
Now that’s a glowing transformation! A color corrector and concealer cover and tone down the Mother of the Bride’s redness. And neutral eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara shape her eyes so that they pop and are the first thing you see on her pretty face.
Dark circles are gone! You want to look well-rested and lively on your son or daughter’s special day. Concealing dark eye circles will refresh your appearance and take years off. A soft pink eye shadow perfectly complements her berry-stained lips.
@rachaelharris_hairmakeupbeauty
This blue-eyed beauty looks picture-perfect for the big day. What a difference a little eye makeup and brow filler can make! Fuller brows help frame the Mother of the Bride’s face, and her eyes are much more defined with the help of false eyelashes.
This Mother of the Bride looks stunning thanks to a primer that blurs to hide rosacea and other blemishes and redness. The primer is followed up with a foundation that has been expertly blended on her neck and décolletage for a flawless look.
Mom deserves pampering on the big day too. This Mother of the Bride looks glowing after her MOB makeover. Even skin tone, glammed-up eyebrows, and eyes will get her noticed on the big day.
Dark circles are a common problem for women over 40. But there’s no need to let it ruin your son’s or daughter’s big day. For this Mother of the Bride, the makeup artist used a liquid color corrector in yellow and peach to neutralize the dark circles before applying the foundation. Filling in the eyebrows and adding a light liner and a few coats of mascara keep the eyes looking bright and perky.
This aunt of the Bride’s makeup is proof that less is more. She has great skin, so there’s no need for a lot of foundation or concealer. Just a little goes a long way here, especially with the brows. Just enough to fill them in and frame the face makes a significant impact.
On your son’s or daughter’s wedding day, the last thing you want is to look unrecognizable. This Mother of the Bride has stayed true to herself by keeping her wedding day look natural and similar to what she may wear every day, just a bit more on the glam side.
This Mother of the Bride’s number one request was to make her sunspots disappear. Her makeup artist did just that and more. What sunspots? Her skin looks flawless. The makeup artist didn’t overdo it but instead gave her a look that enhanced her natural features and made her glow.
This Mother of the Bride looks beautiful after slightly contouring the cheeks and nose. Can we talk about the transformation in her eyes? Wow! She started with beautiful, full brows. But adding a little liner, shadow, and lengthening mascara make her eyes much more prominent and striking.
Is it appropriate to wear a bold and daring outfit to a traditional wedding ceremony, or should I stick to more conservative attire to avoid offending the bride and groom?
Hi, Bold and daring is for nightclubs and parties. I would recommend you wear something lovely but don’t ever compete for attention with the bride. Put yourself in her shoes. It’s all about the bride.