Deciding on your wedding hair and makeup can feel a little overwhelming sometimes and it’s easy to think, “am I going to look back in ten years time and cringe at ‘ten years ago’ me? No you’re not, because we’re here to help you and give you everything you need to know before you book in your hair and makeup. We truly believe that there’s nothing better than seeing a bride who looks oh-so comfortable in her own skin (and hair), so it’s important to find a style that makes you feel most like the best version of YOU for your big day. Your wedding day is probably not the day you decide to suddenly laminate your brows for the first time or add a bright red lipstick, when you have never even owned one – cue *wedding disaster*. Take our advice – the minimalist and natural wedding hair and makeup looks are the way to go. This look will highlight your natural beauty and stand the test of time so you don’t look back with #regrets! So, what is the minimalist makeup look and how can you achieve it? We sat down with our resident expert and HMU artist, Monique Kazokas who worked as the Principal Artist at our recent One Fine Day x Hello May runway show in Sydney. We worked with Monique and her team to execute the most sought-after wedding makeup look. They sent a bride squad of 11 natural and minimalist beauties down the runway. Discover more about how you can get the runway look, how to prep for your big day and makeup dos and don’ts!
WHAT’S THE HOTTEST BRIDAL WEDDING BEAUTY REQUEST FROM YOUR BRIDES-TO-BE?
“For makeup, it’s natural, natural, natural and did I say…natural? The minimalist bridal makeup trend has been the number one option for Australian brides over the last year or two and the requests don’t seem to be slowing down. I think the trend made itself onto every bride-to-be’s radar back when Meghan Markle debuted her minimalist look at the royal wedding. What we like to do in Australia is add that bronzed, sun-kissed glow to the look. The majority of brides opt for warmer weddings so exuding that bronzed-beauty look is quintessentially Australian. Often referred to in the beauty world at ‘Lit from within’ I also see so many brides requesting that radiant, glowing look, still with a matt finish to avoid that ‘shiny’ look.
As for bridal hair, it’s equally as effortless. The major requests from my brides are soft, loose waves – such a beautiful way to frame the face. The perfect option for bohemian or natural wedding looks. Half up, half down is also very popular, again usually with loose waves and a relaxed knot or wedding hairpiece. Perfect for the bride who wants to let her beautiful features shine. Another very popular style is the loose, low bun. It simply exudes class and looks so chic – just picture it with a low back wedding dress!”
WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING ON YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP WEDDING LOOK?
“There’s a few things I like to suggest to my brides-to-be; really consider your wedding colour scheme, I’m talking about everything from bridesmaids dresses to flowers to your overall colour palette. Wedding photos really come to life when all of these elements are carefully considered together. Often I like to pair either warm or cool undertones to the makeup look based on complexion, bridesmaids dresses, jewellery (whether it’s silver or gold), flowers… the list goes on. Complexion is an important part of the makeup palette – one of the major reasons I recommend a makeup trial ideally 6 weeks before the wedding, so we can nail the colour tone and make any necessary tweaks before the wedding day.
For hair and makeup I think it’s so important for brides to feel like the best version of themselves. It can be so tempting to try something exciting and new because it’s a special day, but when it comes down to it most people feel most comfortable sticking to their usual makeup preference.”
WHAT SORT OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE BRIDES TO PREP IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE WEDDING?
“I recommend my brides book into their local, trusted skin clinic to discuss their skin concerns and goals at least three months before their wedding date. Skin needling used in conjunction with active products can be a fantastic way to create a perfect canvas for makeup. Of course, weddings can be an expensive time and not everyone wants to budget for this, so there are definitely other ways you can prepare at home. There are also some great resources online such as Emma Hoareau to help guide you in creating your own skincare routine at home with really affordable, effective products such as The Ordinary. Another piece of advice is not to experiment with your hair or skin close to your wedding day, if you haven’t tried that sheet or eye mask, please put.it.down, it’s not worth the risk.
Pro tip: For hair I recommend getting it done at least two weeks before your wedding date so the colour and cut have time to soften and settle. For skin prep I recommend adopting a skin care regime in the lead up to your big day to help achieve the results you desire. I often hear people say their skin is dry when in fact it is dehydrated, so really understanding your skin and using the right products can make a huge difference to how your makeup will look on the day.”
HOW DID YOU ACHIEVE THE SYDNEY RUNWAY LOOK?
“The look was minimalist, natural bride, ‘Lit from within’, so we needed a fresh, flawless and radiant finish. We created a flawless base using the Napoleon AP Pre-foundation primer and Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation. On the eyes we used the Napoleon Loose Dust in Stardust which worked so well for every single model, we also created some shadow with a smoked brown liner. Let’s not forget about lashes – we used mascara and then the Napoleon ZInna Lashes for the outer corners to really open up the eyes. Some brides feel a little hesitant to use lashes if they don’t normally use them but I generally recommend them because they really make the eyes pop in the wedding photos and I like to use subtle lash options. We really wanted to cheekbones to shine through so we adopted a contouring technique and used the Napoleon Mosaic Blush and this incredible Light thief liquid highlight, also by Napoleon Perdis. For the lips we kept it natural with the Napoleon Perdis Divine Goddess Lipstick – we used a brush for a really refined finish and an amazing pout!
For the hair, it was sleek and slicked with a middle part. Hair was pulled back into a low bun – so very chic and timeless.”
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Monique has 17 years of experience as a hair and makeup artist. It was 5 years ago she carved out her position in the wedding space and decided this was her calling: “I specialise mostly in weddings which I love. I love meeting new people and building a relationship with my brides. The vibe on a wedding day is like nothing else and I love being around such happy, excited energy. Every single one of my brides has been an absolute dream to work with, I feel very lucky”.
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Are you a bride-to-be? Make sure you check out our One Fine Day Wedding Expo event pages for all the information on our next shows. We will be showcasing more incredible runways to inspire you and kickstart your wedding planning!
