Photos (top, left to right): Makeup: JKatrien - Photographer: Hilde Eyckmans / Makeup: Salon Ferm - Photographer: Anouck Madelyn / Makeup: Celien Vanhoutte - Photographer: Charlotte Lauwers
1. Cold (or Colder) Weather Requires Adaptation of Your Skincare
Beautiful makeup begins with beautiful skin. The first step to ensuring that your winter wedding makeup is perfect is adjusting your skincare routine. Hydration is more important than ever in winter to ensure glowing skin. Indeed, your skin often loses moisture in winter, which can make your makeup flaky. Invest in a good moisturizer suitable for your skin type and don’t forget to drink plenty of water! Continue applying a day cream with SPF, recommends Yente from You by Yente: “If you are getting married in winter, it is important to continue applying your SPF, whether the sun shines or not! Your skin will thank you for it. Good hydration is always recommended too to create a fresh makeup look.”
Karine Uvijn from Hair & More adds: “Good skincare is the best makeup base. I recommend using a well-hydrating and nourishing day and night cream (but not too greasy). Hydrate well and possibly use a serum. Personally, I am a fan of Dermalab, a serum you can apply at home every week with small needles.”
Emiline from EmiMuA also advises: “Hydration, hydration, hydration! Invest in a good day and night cream and treat your skin to a moisturizing mask occasionally. My advice: keep it simple. A heavy routine with 23 steps often makes your skin more unstable. Stick to products that work well for your skin. Skincare is extremely personal, so mainly listen to what your skin needs.”
2. Extra Care for Your Lips
Your lips also need extra care to prevent them from becoming chapped and dry. Use a lip scrub once or twice a week and apply a rich lip balm or lip mask before bedtime.
Michèle Feyaerts advises: “Cold wind-chapped lips, etc., can be treated with a lip scrub and a good effective balm. For dry and flaky areas on the face, you can dab a bit of day cream or eye cream over the makeup.”
3. Optimal Preparation of Your Winter Skin for Makeup
Olsa from Blush Olsa shares her ultimate tip: “Getting married in winter has a fairy-like charm. However, the cold outside and dry air inside require extra care for your skin. As a bride, you want your makeup to stay flawless and your skin to glow from morning until night. The Glowy Blush Bride Box by VVBetter by MyMoment is, in my opinion, the winter bride's secret weapon. This carefully composed box contains everything you need to intensely hydrate your skin, protect it, and give it a healthy glow. The box covers all the necessary steps for your skin in winter: cleaning, exfoliating, hydrating, and protecting. With healthy skin, your makeup holds better, and you radiate all day despite the cold temperatures and dry air. The box is not only ideal for preparation weeks before your wedding but also a luxurious self-care moment amidst all the hectic preparations. My advice: start as early as possible before your wedding with the Glowy Skin Box, so your skin is optimally prepared, and your makeup artist can achieve the most beautiful result.”
4. Creams and Liquid Formulas in the Spotlight!
Radiant and glowing skin: that's what every bride desires - even in winter. “For that, use cream or liquid-based products,” advises Peggy Timmermans:
“A cream foundation hydrates and provides coverage.
Cream or liquid-based blushes and highlighters are easy to apply and look natural.
Moreover, you can easily layer and blend cream and liquid products.”
Karine Uvijn from Hair & More adds: “Use a hydrating or balancing primer. This creates an ideal barrier between your skin and the foundation, so it lasts longer. Also, choose long-lasting makeup products, preferably cream over powder. Apply lip balm well in advance, and avoid overly matte lipstick. To set and protect, use a hydrating fixing spray, a light powder or keep ‘blotting paper’ handy.”
5. Choose Light-Reflecting Foundations and Concealers
Winter light can be harsh, especially when the sun shines. Opt for reflective formulas that make you look radiant. Avoid strong contrasts if you have very pale skin. Call on a professional make-up artist who will help you create a flawless and radiant base that lasts all day.
6. Use Waterproof Eye Makeup
Winter or not, emotions and tears are always in season! Possibly cold air and biting wind can also make your eyes water and ruin your beautiful eye makeup. So be sure to use waterproof mascara and eyeliner to avoid panda eyes!
7. Consider a Bold Lipstick for Your Winter Wedding
Winter calls for a touch of drama! A bolder lipstick can be particularly beautiful for a winter bride, especially if you’re in a snowy environment.
Don’t shy away from bold lipstick colors that match the winter atmosphere.
Red or even deep berry tones can be the perfect colors for a stunning winter bridal look.
Note that a bold lipstick requires lip liner and touch-ups throughout the day.
8. Embrace Warm Tones in Your Makeup
- Peggy Timmermans recommends: “Allow your makeup artist to integrate warm, rich tones into your makeup; it suits the winter season perfectly. Deeper shades like copper, gold or brown tones can add depth and warmth to your eyes, perfectly in tune with the season.”
Foto: Make-up: Peggy Timmermans - Fotograaf: Gert Huygaerts 9. Fixing Spray
Emiline from EmiMuA continues: “Work in thin layers and avoid too much product. This keeps everything looking nice and prevents your makeup from shifting or becoming ‘cakey’. My main advice? Absolutely hire this professional makeup artist. They know exactly how to apply makeup sustainably. Personally, I’m a big fan of Charlotte Tilbury’s Fixing Spray: a fine hydrating mist that keeps your makeup beautiful all day, even in winter.”
Foto: Make-Up: EmiMuA - Fotograaf: Sacha Kleinblatt 10. In Summary
Anna from Anna Maltseva sums up her best makeup tips for the winter bride: “In winter, your skin needs more love. This immediately reflects in your makeup. Follow these steps:
Hydrate your skin well. Use serums and creams with hyaluronic acid and ceramides for the perfect base.
Take care of your lips. Scrub and hydrate regularly to avoid dry areas and ensure your lipstick remains flawless.
Use a hydrating primer. This keeps your skin fresh and radiant, even in cold, dry air.
Work with cream products. They provide a natural effect and won’t dry out your skin.
Set your makeup. With a light powder and fixing spray, your makeup stays beautiful all day.
Keep an SOS kit handy. Include: blotting papers_, lip balm, and a small brush, handy for_ touch-ups_. This way, your makeup stays perfect, even in cold and dry weather.”_
Foto’s: Make-Up: Anna Maltseva - Fotograaf (links): Anastasiia Pozhar 11. And What If It Rains?
Hair and makeup artist Lauren Bracke shares her tips if it rains on your wedding day:
“Choose a makeup artist and hairdresser who have experience with all weather conditions.
Buy umbrellas in the colors of your decoration.
Incorporate the rain into your photos, or consider a nice indoor location in advance.
Provide towels for the guests.
Consider possibly a second outfit.”
Foto’s: Make-Up: Lauren Bracke - Fotograaf (links): Charlotte Lauwers Photography / Fotograaf (rechts): Alina Krasieva - 8 Makeup Tips for a Radiant Bride
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