Flawless Bridal Makeup: Tips from A Pro Makeup Artist

The three words that I would use to describe a beautiful bride are flawless, defined, and glowing. Often when I meet a bride-to-be for the first time, she says that she wants to look "natural" on her wedding day. But what she is really saying is that she wants to look like herself and not have her groom running away in fear. Let’s face it, we have all experienced a bad makeup job at least once, and your wedding day is not the time to feel bad about the way you look!

Here are some of the products that I use and love that have created the flawless, defined, and glowing brides that grace my website, that can be seen in my local wedding magazines, and most recently in The Knot Fall/Winter 2012 issue.

1. Apply Retexturizing Face Primer* after face moisturizer to prepare skin for foundation.

2. My “Flawless Skin” Foundation* has a soft-matte finish and is a buildable formula for light to medium coverage.

3. Use the Nars Multiple in a pink or peach shade after applying foundation and before applying face powder. Then apply a powder blush for maximum staying power.

4. The always popular, Urban Decay Naked Palette, is perfect for bridal eye makeup. It has all of the eyeshadow colors that you will need to create a defined eye with shimmering and matte shades.

Pretty & Romantic: (Highlight) Virgin, (Lid) Sin, (Crease) Buck, (Contour) Hustle, & black gel eyeliner on top lash line, Hustle on bottom lash line.

Glamorous & Smoky: (Highlight) Virgin, (Lid) Sidecar, (Crease) Buck, (Contour) Creep, & black pencil eyeliner on top and bottom lash line and inside inner rim.

A tip to reduce messing up your face makeup when applying shimmery eyeshadows is to place a tissue on the cheek, just under the bottom lash line, to catch any fall out.

5. Ardell Sexies Invisiband False Eyelashes, not every bride wants or needs false lashes, but if the bride is willing to go for it, it really takes the look up a notch!

6. L’ Oreal Voluminous Mascara Blackest Black in waterproof is a must!

7. I believe the choice between a lipstick or a lip gloss is a personal one. A lipstick is more high maintenance but sometimes the color payoff is worth it. For lipstick, apply then blot a few times until you get a good stain on your lips. Then apply lip liner and finally lipstick using a lip brush for a longer lasting lipstick application. If the bride chooses to go with a gloss, my new favorite is my Luxury Gloss in Pink Peony (on the right). I line the lips with a neutral lip liner and apply this pretty pink for the perfect wedding day pucker.

8. Olay Body Lotion plus shimmer because a bride should have an all over glow!


Kim Porter has been in the makeup industry since 2001, establishing herself as one of the most sought after makeup artists in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Her work can be seen in local and national wedding magazines, television for Fox News and CNBC, and her work with individual and group makeup lessons. Currently she is working on creating her signature line of cosmetics, Kim Porter Cosmetics, that will highlight flattering shades that are easy to use for all women. She lives with her husband and two children and blogs about makeup in her free time. You can see all of her work at Makeup by Kim Porter.

*From the Kim Porter Cosmetics line, please email Kim at kim@makeupbykimporter.com for more information and to purchase products.





Bride Images (with makeup by Kim Porter) are courtesy of:
Eleise Theuer Photography
R & K Events