6 Natural Wedding Makeup Looks for Brides

Ready to Glow

The allure of sun-dappled skin is understandable; everyone just looks healthier and better rested with a tan. But the irony is that those warm rays are wrinkle-causing and a health risk no one needs to take.

To shine on, place bronzer where the beams would normally hit—on your forehead, nose, cheekbones, jaw, and neck. Bronzing palettes featuring deeper browns and red-orange undertones work best on darker complexions. Swirl all the shades together, applying from forehead to neck, then highlight the tops of cheekbones with a dab of ivory cream shadow. Copper shadow dresses up the eyelids. Color in lips with taupe liner and cover with clear gloss.

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Get the Look

On eyes and cheekbones: Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Skinlights, $8, walgreens.com.

On face: Dior Forever Couture Luminizer Highlighter Powder, $50, sephora.com.

On lips: MAC Lip Pencil in Spice, $22, maccosmetics.com.

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Sunny Shimmer

For a believable bronze on fair skin, Imai reaches for golden powders with subtle metallic flakes, which are much easier to blend than matte formulas. Use a fluffy brush to distribute the color evenly, then line eyes with a flat brush and bronze shadow, and swipe on mascara for definition. Pair with nude lip gloss.

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Get the Look

On eyes: Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerize Cream Eyeshadow, $35, sephora.com.

On face: MAC Bronzing Powder in Golden, $33, maccosmetics.com.

On lips: Clinique Pop Plus Creamy Lipgloss, $21, sephora.com.

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Precious Metals

One way to elevate "natural" makeup to black-tie-ready status? Focus on your eyes with a healthy dose of luster shadow. We're not talking disco dust, just sheer metallic accents that create a modern, sexy smolder. Warm metallics, like copper and gold, accentuate darker skin tones. A coppery eye gloss smudged from lash line to crease creates an alluring look that's enhanced by curled black lashes. Golden highlighter lends definition to cheekbones, and nude lipstick is the ideal contrast to all that sparkle.

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Get the Look

On eyes: Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine in Florence, $9, amazon.com.

On cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light, $54, sephora.com.

On lips: MAC Lipstick in Half 'n Half, $22, ulta.com.

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Holy Smokes

Brown tones—instead of classic black—make smoky eyes more doe-eyed bride than dramatic diva. Line eyes with a bronze liner, smudging it out along the lid, then add complementary light metallic shades: an ivory shimmer on the brow bone, Champagne in the crease. A sheer lipstick keeps the focus on the eyes.

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Get the Look

On eyes: By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eye Shadow in Brown Perfection, $38, byterry.com; Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Extreme Shimmer Shadow and Liner in Nude, $9, target.com.

On lips: Ilia Lipstick in Humble Me, $28, sephora.com.

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Pretty in Pinks

Why is pink so flattering? Because it actually does come naturally to us. We all have some rosy undertones, regardless of skin color. Once you find the shade that works for you, use it from lid to lip for monochromatic makeup at its best. Warm skin tones and darker complexions can play with deeper, punchier pinks. Imai suggests wearing a cotton-candy-colored shadow on lids with brown liner. Dab ivory shadow on the inner corners for an ethereal air. A subtle coral lip pulls it all together. The final touch: A sunset-shaded blush on the apples of the cheeks.

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Get the Look

On eyes: YSL Couture Clutch Eyeshadow Palette, $160, yslbeautyus.com.

On cheeks: Jouer Blush & Bloom Cheek + Lip Duo, $32, jouercosmetics.com.

On lips: NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil, $27, sephora.com.

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Pale Fire

For fair skin tones, Imai favors true pinks—nothing dark or bubblegum bright. Swipe a light ballet-pink eyeshadow over eyelids (anything too red next to eyes will make them look puffy, she says), then add some definition with a chestnut-brown liner. Finish with blush and sheer lip gloss in a peony pink.

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