10 Brilliant Wedding Day Makeup Essentials Every Woman Needs to Own
New York–based beauty guru Alexa Rodulfo on the beauty staples every woman needs to prep for her big day, from smudge-proof mascara to radiant blush.
It’s a well-established fact that the world’s most memorable brides—think Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot, Gisele Bündchen—have walked down the aisle looking like the very best version of, well, themselves. A fair share of the credit can be attributed to a skillful makeup job—the kind that’s just pronounced enough to highlight a woman’s prettiest features without veering into overly done territory. It’s a fine balance to strike—one that years of practice have taught makeup artist Alexa Rodulfo how to master. The New York–based beauty guru preps her lineup of chic brides (which have included Gabriela Perezutti Hearst and the furniture designer Ana Meier in recent years) with precision, and sends them off with a well-edited assortment of makeup essentials that can withstand the demands of the big day, right down to the last glittering champagne toast. Here is her guide to the 10 products no bride should be without.
Photo: Courtesy of Laroche Posay1/10“Beautiful, flawless skin is what most brides ask me for right now. I discovered this thermal water from my client, Carolina Herrera, and now I can’t live without it! It contains a lot of minerals to prep and moisturize the skin, which is great for brides who are busy and a bit dehydrated. That extra moisture also helps ensure your makeup goes on smoothly and lasts for hours.”
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, $13; ulta.com
Photo: Courtesy of neimanmarcus.com2/10“After the La Roche-Posay thermal water mist, I like to massage this serum into the face, using my fingers to work it around the eyes, temples, and cheeks. It makes the skin look alive and happy.”
Natura Bisse Diamond Drops, $185; naturabisse.com
Photo: Courtesy of kohgendocosmetics.com3/10“Most brides want sheer coverage foundation, which gives you a healthy look without being too heavy. I like using a water-based option, like Koh Gen Do’s because it’s buildable and refreshes the skin—it looks like you just got a facial after you apply it. In general, I like to use foundation without SPF, which can leave a white cast on your face when using flash photography.”
Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation, $62; kohgendocosmetics.com
Photo: (from left) Courtesy of makeupforever.com; Courtesy of benefitcosmetics.com4/10“When brides tell me they will cry, I use Make Up For Ever’s waterproof mascara: You can even swim with it on! It’s a good base, and then I layer on Benefit They’re Real when I want the lashes to look thicker and have more volume.”
Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Waterproof Mascara, $24; makeupforever.com; Benefit They’re Real! Mascara, $23; benefitcosmetics.com
Photo: Courtesy of tomford.com5/10“This is the ideal lipstick color for brides. It’s chic and timeless, and flatters every skin tone. It looks beautiful in person and photographs very elegantly as well.”
Tom Ford Lip Color in Bare Peach, $50; tomford.com
