April 25th, 2011

Bridal Beauty: The Royal Wedding Edition

April 25, 2011 at 12:52 pm , by nykiaspradley

The wedding of the century is only days away and millions will be watching (not just brides-to-be) as a princess is born. No pressure of course for her hairstylist and makeup artists to make her look stunning.

We checked in with celebrity makeup artist Kimara Ahnert, who has prettied the face of A-List brides like Catherine Zeta Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow to get some bridal beauty tips and her thoughts on what may work best for England’s soon-to-be princess.

LHJ: What is the best way to prepare for unexpected weather on your wedding day?

Ahnert: Make sure you have the hair products that you will need: curly/frizzy hair needs a flat iron and styling serum. Straight hair will need a volumizer and hairspray.

Also have on hand any last minute touch up makeup, such as waterproof mascara, powder, and lipstick. Put it in a go bag along with mints, tissue, a brush, and a little bottle of hairspray.

LHJ: What products should you steer clear of? Which are the best for any weather?

Ahnert: Avoid any product that is going to easily run, like instant bronzer for your body. Cream blush and waterproof mascara are good items to have for any weather situation.

LHJ: The world is buzzing about the royal wedding this week, what do you think we should expect to see as far as hair and makeup?

Ahnert: Kate Middleton has a classic look so the makeup will also be very classic – a pink lip and cheek, a light eye with lots of mascara. The bridesmaids will also have the same look, tasteful and classic. There won’t be any trendy makeup or colors and or smoky eyes.

LHJ: What look do you think would work best on Kate Middleton?

Ahnert: Keeping everything simple and refined. I’d play up her beautiful dark eyes with faux lashes and mascara and emphasize her porcelain skin with a good foundation and pink blush.

LHJ: Can you give us three different looks that would work for either a daytime wedding, an evening wedding, and for someone who would like to transition a look from a daytime ceremony to an evening reception?

Ahnert: For a day time wedding: Voluminous mascara in blackest black, YSL Touché Éclat concealer, MAC Crème blush in a lighter pink, a dusting of Benefit bronzer in Hoola, and a pink to nudish lip.

Evening: Kimara Ahnert Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation, Bare Escentual smoky eye kit, bronzer, nude lip liner with pink lip and a Chanel Glossimers Lipgloss, faux lashes with black mascara.

Day to Evening: Use the daytime makeup but add either a smoky eye using browns and taupes or a brighter lip with a neutral eye.

LHJ: What are the basic dos and don’ts for brides-to-be who would like to do their own makeup on their wedding day?

Ahnert: Bridal Do: A trial run before the day of the wedding, especially if you are applying false lashes or doing any tanning (spray or bronzer). Your makeup might need to be adjusted due to your added color. Don’t go trendy with eye shadow colors—you still want to look like yourself in the pictures.

Photo via Lauren Nelson