10 Make-Up Ideas & Tips For Your Beach Destination Wedding
Once you’ve chosen your dream wedding dress for your destination wedding, the next step is to focus on your hair and makeup. While we’ve already covered hair ideas and inspiration, it’s time to turn our attention to the makeup. Bridal makeup is crucial – it needs to look flawless both in person and on camera. You’ll be the star of the day with all eyes on you, so it’s important to avoid any makeup mishaps. Let’s dive into some tips and inspiration to help you achieve a stunning bridal makeup look.
1. Decide On A Look
With so many looks to choose from, the options are endless! Do you want to stay true to yourself with a natural, effortless beauty look? Or maybe you’re feeling like adding a bit of glam with a soft glam eye makeup? Perhaps a bold lip to make a statement, or a bronze goddess vibe with copper eyeshadow? Do you want that fresh, dewy finish or a smooth, matte look? Glossy lips or a touch of contour to highlight those cheekbones? The choice is yours – let’s explore all the possibilities to find your perfect bridal makeup style!
With so many YouTube videos offering step-by-step tutorials, you can easily practice your bridal makeup at home if you plan on doing it yourself.
However, if you’re opting for professional makeup at the hotel, be sure to bring along all your inspiration and details to ensure you get the look you truly love. Communication is key to achieving your dream bridal makeup! No Spanish? No problem! Most makeup artists speak English, so you can easily convey your vision. But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words – so be sure to bring along your makeup inspiration photos to make sure you get exactly what you’re dreaming of!
If you need recommendations, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Hola Wedding Expert. We’re locals and have all the best contacts to help make your bridal makeup (and everything else) perfect!
This post is especially for the DIY brides looking for ideas and tips to perfect their makeup for the most special day of their lives.
2. Dot Not Skip The SPF
SPF is already a must-have in your daily routine, but don’t skip it on your wedding day! While some sunscreens can give off an unwanted shine in photos we know it could be tempting to just skip that step but it’s important to remember that sun exposure will likely be high, and you want your skin to stay protected without any flashback or white cast. We’ve selected three SPF options that are ultra-fluid and water-resistant, ensuring you stay protected while avoiding that shiny look.
We particularly love the La Roche-Posay one it – almost invisible on the skin and provides 50+ protection.
The Supergoop sunscreen is always sold out for a reason, it has an amazing clean composition so if you manage to get your hands on it, don’t hesitate—it’s a bridal MUST! Perfect for keeping your skin protected while looking flawless all day long.
We also added the Kosas sunscreen to the list because of its perfect travel size – and let’s be honest, it’s pink and cute too! A great option for brides who want something compact and stylish while staying protected.
3. Apply A Primer
Once you’ve completed your skincare routine and applied your SPF, the next step is to use a good base primer for long-lasting makeup. With a day full of happy tears and dancing ahead you’ll want to ensure your makeup stays in place all day. The good news is, there are so many amazing base products available, even on a budget! No need to splurge – drugstore makeup has some truly outstanding options that will give your makeup the staying power it needs for your big day.
If the primer step feel like too much of a hassle and you want to keep it simple while packing lighter, we absolutely love and highly recommend Lait Crème Concentré by Embryolisse. A staple used by French women for years and hugely popular among makeup artists worldwide, this moisturizer works wonders as a base for any type of makeup. Its light texture is incredibly hydrating, making it the perfect all-in-one solution to keep your skin prepped and flawless without the fuss.
4. Dewy or Matte ?
Make sure to decide whether you want to go for a dewy or matte look, as this will set the tone for your entire makeup routine. Your skin type plays a big role in this choice – if your skin is on the oilier side, you might prefer a matte finish, while a dewy look works best for dry skin, giving it a fresh, hydrated glow.
A dewy look will typically feature a lighter, translucent foundation with a more natural, fresh finish – think lip gloss over lipstick, cream blush, and eyeshadow that enhances your natural beauty.
A matte look, on the other hand, will involve more powder-based products, matte lipstick, and a more structured finish.
You can even mix dewy and matte for a balanced look – try a glossy, fresh-looking lip paired with more matte eyeshadow to create a beautiful contrast. This way, you get the best of both worlds, with a radiant, hydrated vibe on the lips and a sleek, structured finish on the eyes just like in the picture above.
But, to be totally honest, whether you opt for a matte or dewy finish, you’ll likely end up with a bit of shine due to the hot weather – and, hopefully, all the fun you’re having! Hey, it’s a destination tropical wedding after all! Let loose, enjoy the moment, and embrace the fun. Whether you go for a dewy glow or a matte finish, remember to relax and have a blast -it’s your special day. The makeup may not last forever but the memories will!
5. Opt For A Long Lasting Foundation
To ensure your makeup lasts all day, we recommend choosing a long-lasting foundation. No need to worry – long-lasting doesn’t mean cakey. Today’s formulas have come a long way, and you won’t need much product to achieve a flawless complexion.
Also, the way you apply it can make a huge difference: using your fingers, a beauty blender, or a brush each gives a different finish, so choose the method that works best for your desired look.
Here at the Hola office, we particularly love the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation – it’s an incredible product, and a little goes a long way. It offers slightly more coverage than the HD Skin by Make Up For Ever, but both are long-lasting options. Also, the results on camera are phenomemal!
For a more wallet friendly choice, we highly recommend the Maybelline Fit Me foundation. It’s affordable, but the results are even greater! It gives you that flawless look without breaking the bank.
Have a look at this in-depth tutorial by Jaclyn Hill, she gives some great tips and tricks for a DIY bridal look.
6. Pack The Blotting Papers
This one may be a bit controversial – either you love them or hate them – but blotting papers are here to stay! They’re compact and perfect for keeping shine under control throughout the day. We particularly love the Sephora ones, but there are plenty of great options available now. It’s definitely a must-have for our brides to keep their makeup fresh and matte all day long!
7. Eyeliner
When it comes to face and eye makeup, there’s one product we absolutely love – and it works with almost every eye shape: eyeliner. You can go as subtle or dramatic as you like, and it accentuates your eye makeup perfectly.
Whether you choose a bare lid, nude eyeshadow, or a more intense eye look, eyeliner is like the cherry on top – it pulls everything together and makes your eyes pop, giving your look that extra something special! You’ll want to perfect making the best eye contact with your groom during the vow exchange – doe eyes all the way!
A great, wallet-friendly eyeliner to achieve that perfect look is the NYX Epic Wear. The wand is fantastic for drawing a thin line and building it up if you’re going for a more intense look. It’s easy to apply and stays put, so you’ll be all set for those emotional moments!
8. Make It Last With A Setting Spray
A key tip for achieving a flawless wedding makeup look at your destination wedding is to use a setting spray. It will lock in your beautiful makeup and minimize transfer throughout the day. The All-Nighter by Urban Decay is a fantastic option – it lives up to its name by ensuring your makeup stays put all night long.
9. Lashes, Lashes, Lashes!
While waterproof mascara is a favorite for many, the intense humidity in the Caribbean can sometimes cause it to falter. To ensure your eye makeup stays flawless all day and night, a great alternative is to wear false lashes.
We know false lashes can seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice and patience, they’re actually quite easy to apply. We’re especially obsessed with the new magnetic lashes – they take just two minutes to put on and stay in place all night long! The Kiss range has an amazing choices of lashes, magnetic or just with regular eyelash glue.
10. Go For A Lip Stain
For a long-lasting lip look, try using a lip stain as a base, or wear it on its own, topped with a lipstick or lip gloss for extra shine. This technique will ensure your lips stay flawless all day long.
Our wedding expert, Priscila, swears by L’Oreal Infaillible Le Matte Resistance for its all-day wear, even through long hours under the sun during our weekly resort visits it does not smudge. Caribbean weather approved.😉 We’ve also heard that the NYX I.V. Lip Stains offer incredible long-lasting power, making them an ideal choice for your wedding day. With this combination, you’ll be ready for that perfect kiss at the altar, while looking flawless in every wedding photo!
We’ve also heard that the NYX I.V. Lip Stains offer incredible long-lasting power, making them an ideal choice for your wedding day. With this combination, you’ll be ready for that perfect kiss at the altar, while looking flawless in every wedding photo!
With so many brands, textures, and finishes available, it’s a great idea to check out a few YouTube videos for inspiration and expert advice to help you choose the perfect products!
And Finally… Let Your Love Shine Through
Our final tip for a flawless look: let your love shine through. The inner glow and affection you feel for your significant other will make a far greater impact than any makeup ever could.🥰 A glad heart makes the face cheerful!
And that’s a wrap! If you need help bringing your vision to life, we would love to talk with you about how we can turn your dream destination wedding into reality.
Having planned hundreds of destination weddings gives us a little insight that we are happy to share! Did we miss anything in this guide? Do you have more questions? Reach out today😊
