At the start of this year, when the internet declared that 2026 would be the new 2016, I watched in amusement as beauty gurus recreated the bold makeup looks that had become synonymous with that era. Heavy contour, overlined lips and cut crease eyeshadow—an aesthetic that one imagines bridal makeup would still channel. But with endless inspiration on social media, celebrity weddings aplenty and the ability to put together a Pinterest moodboard in under 60 seconds, the typical bridal makeup look has been loosening its grip.
These changes aren't only trend-driven, with no-makeup makeup or increasingly slicked-back hair. They're led by a focus on authenticity and a rejection of dated expectations. “Bridal makeup used to be associated with fairer, brighter skin. Everyone thought you had to go a shade lighter on your wedding day, with strong contouring, glittery eyes, huge eyelashes and red lipstick,” says bridal makeup artist Saaba Chandna. Today, she says, brides want to look like themselves, just a little more refined and elevated. Even those who prefer a more glamorous version want the overall look to feel “very natural and very seamless”. It may sound contradictory, but it makes sense. A bride can still want those glittery eyes and a red lip without wanting to look unrecognisable. And someone who prefers minimal makeup isn't necessarily trying to make a statement about natural beauty—maybe she just doesn't enjoy wearing makeup. Neither look is more bridal than the other.
Chandna starts with understanding a bride's personality. She tries to get a sense of how the bride sees herself and what she would feel comfortable wearing. “Authenticity isn't necessarily about stripping things back; it's just about making intentional choices,” she says. Even a minimal look, Chandna points out, needs warmth, structure and depth.
Photographed by Vansh Virmani
Of course, bridal makeup hasn't completely escaped the trend cycle. Bridal make-up artist Ayesha Farooq has seen requests for rhinestones and other whimsical, bedazzled details grow in the recent year. From crystals around the eyes to accessories woven into the hair, brides are keen to experiment, particularly for the welcome function, mehendi, haldi, sangeet and reception. Farooq recalls a bride who wanted the exact lime green of her outfit on her eyelids. “But each element doesn't exist in isolation. As an artist, you need to understand what your bride wants, but also consider how everything will look together,” she says.
Makeup completes fashion–it's the cherry on top of an embroidered lehenga, a beaded sari or a brocade ghagra. Farooq always waits until the entire look is finalised, including jewellery, before deciding on her client's makeup. “People have such interesting themes today, and such unique options for what they want to wear. The way they style their outfits has also changed. So a good makeup artist always looks at the whole picture.” It's no surprise then that as bridal fashion and wedding design have grown more diverse, bridal beauty has also followed suit.
Farooq encourages brides to look at their saved references and identify common elements. She then brings these preferences together, while considering the outfit, jewellery and overall styling. However, she cautions against being overly reliant on references. Celebrity weddings and editorial shoots don't show you what goes into the finished image. “These are edited pictures, and there's an entire team constantly touching them up,” says Farooq.
So perhaps we're retiring the idea of bridal makeup as a look with a fixed set of rules, but brides do still want to look special, whether through barely-there foundation, a smoky eye, a scattering of rhinestones or a classic red lip. The best part is that there is room for all of it. The only thing making a makeup look ‘bridal’ is the person wearing it.
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