What Every Bride Should Know Before Saying ‘I Do’ to Her Look from a Makeup Artist

If you’re getting married soon, you already know how overwhelming wedding planning can be. Choosing a font for the invitations, orchestrating a menu with the caterers, curating a decorum for the venue. Then, there’s the bridal look—the hair, the makeup, the dress. This part of wedding planning often slips under the radar: how to get your skin prepped and how to choose the right wedding-day beauty look. It’s not something brides are usually guided through. To help, we turned to a makeup artist for expert insight on navigating your bridal glam with confidence.

MEET THE EXPERT

Bokamoso Dikobe (BK) is a professional makeup artist with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She specialises in bridal makeup, red carpet makeup, fashion photoshoots, and events makeup. She has worked with some well-known names, including Jessica Nkosi, Nomzamo Mbatha, Pearl Thusi, and Zozibini Tunzi, creating unforgettable bridal looks. Her portfolio also includes collaborations with Women’s Health magazine, various celebrities for the Durban July, and a leading beauty business in quality lashes.

The helping hand behind the bride’s glam, the magician responsible for the flawless highlights, a makeup artist knows how to hydrate cracking skin and hide facial acne. They are like the fairy godmothers on a bride’s wedding day, appearing before the ball and disappearing just before. While a makeup artist can wave her magic brushes and sprinkle her blush dust, BK advises brides to prep their skin prior, “the God-given product, which is water…. and a good skincare.”

Dehydrated skin is a makeup artist’s worst nightmare, As BK notes, Foundations and powders don’t hold onto dry skin, making hydration the non-negotiable first step to flawless makeup. While collagen supplements can boost your body’s water retention, healthy skin lies in the natural minerals and an excellent skin routine.

When it comes to layering your skincare, BK breaks it down with an easy-to-follow routine: a gentle face wash, followed by a targeted serum, then your vitamin C for that glow-boosting protection, locking it all in with a moisturiser, and finishing strong with sunscreen. A face wash should be gentle enough to scrub away the dirt from your pores, and not so rough that it strips away your natural oils. Serums, with hyaluronic acid, aid in water restoration and vitamin C polishes the surface with glow and radiance.

When choosing your bridal glam, BK nudges towards a classic yet effortless look, “What I focus on is a timeless look. I want you to look back on your pictures 10 years later and be like ‘wow! I was stunning!’ ” Colourful cut-creases and pigmented waterlines are a no-go for wedding makeup. Your glam should capture your inner beauty - not age it! “ I tend to lean towards natural tones like your golds, your browns, your dark browns that compliments [the skin] and doesn’t overtake the look.”

Surprisingly, BK prefers to work with stripe lashes rather than false lashes, “the disadvantage with individual lashes is, if you go too natural, it disappear, it won’t have the same effect with makeup on.” While false lashes look luscious and full on its own, when makeup is applied, it doesn’t always have the same outcome. “ [The] individual lashes will also get dirty with all the powders and eyeshadows. ”

Lastly, if you’re looking to do a facial the week of your wedding day, don’t! “ A bride getting their facial done the week of the wedding, that I wouldn't recommend unless you've done it before.” While it may seem like a no-brainer to do an avocado or a red-light mask, your skin could react negatively during the treatment. Between breakouts and rashy patches, if your skin is burning with irritation, there is only so much a makeup artist can do to conceal it.

Your makeup should not be treated as an after-thought, or an additional cost on your wedding. Rather, it should be seen as part of the ensemble, a retelling of your most precious moment from your special day. Make sure you budget for it, because when it is all over, your bridal look is what’s remembered, “as much as you prioritize your dress, prioritize your hair and makeup too.”