As bridal beauty trends continue to evolve, renowned makeup artist Kelly Zhang, who is celebrated for her ability to enhance natural beauty, is sharing her top bridal makeup trends for the year. From achieving natural, luminous skin to selecting bold yet balanced lip colors, here’s everything brides need to know for a flawless wedding day look.
Let’s begin with how a bride should prepare her skin for makeup. According to Kelly, preparation starts long before the big day. By the time your wedding arrives, it’s important to have a consistent skincare routine in place. Begin with a gentle face cleanser, followed by a chemical exfoliant, a hydrating serum, and finish with a moisturizer suited to your skin type. If you implement this routine several weeks in advance, you’ll create a smooth, healthy base for your bridal makeup.
Hydration is important to that fresh faced, lit from within skin look that Kelly Zhang is known for. In addition to applying hydrating serums, you can actually hydrate your skin from the inside! Your water intake should be consistent and persistent to achieve that iconic Kelly Zhang skin.
You should also consider a facial, LED therapy or a mild chemical peel, if within your budget. Licensed professionals offer treatments than you can’t find at home and can offer a better understanding of any skin concerns you may have.
As far as skin prep on the day goes, ensure you use a primer that’s suited for your skin type, longevity and ensures a smooth base. Makeup and skincare is not one size fits all, what may work for an influencer or celebrity may not work for you. It’s important to take your skin type, the environment you’re wearing the makeup in and how long you’ll be wearing it, into consideration when choosing products for your bridal skincare and makeup.
Moving on to makeup, as a makeup artist herself, Kelly advises brides to choose an artist who listens, and provides professional, confident advice tailored to your specific features and wedding style. There are a lot of options out there; when considering hiring a makeup artist, review their portfolios, read testimonials from previous clients, look at before-and-after galleries. You need to ensure your makeup artist’s style aligns with your desired look.
Once you’ve hired a makeup artist, Kelly recommends having some trial sessions before your big day. You may only need one session, or it may take you both a couple tries to get it right; what’s important is that you and your makeup artist build rapport and have opportunities to fine-tune your look so by the time your wedding comes around the getting-ready-process is effortless and worry-free.
Oftentimes, a person’s wedding is their first time hiring a professional makeup artist. So, to help ensure you get the most out of your trial session, Kelly recommends you bring a few things to help streamline the process. Any reference photos or mood boards you may have can help you communicate your desired look more effectively. Your makeup artist can use your wedding dress (or photos of it), along with any accessories you’re planning on wearing, to coordinate the makeup look. Finally, any makeup or skincare items that currently work for you will be helpful in determining what products to use for your big day.
In being such a successful makeup artist, Kelly knows what’s trending and what to stay away from. While the face is often natural and luminous, in 2025, brides are leaning towards a mix of different makeup looks. For the lips, think nude bases enhanced with subtle rose or peach undertones to give you that ‘my lips but better’ style. Brides are also allowing for subtle statements using color as an accent, either on the eyes or lips, but be careful that the color doesn’t overwhelm the overall aesthetic. For textures, matte formulas remain popular (for their longevity), but with a slight luminous quality to keep a natural and hydrated look.
Now for the Don’ts of the 2025 makeup season. Your makeup should be applied in thin layers; too much product can lead to a heavy, cakey finish that will not look well in photographs or in person. Steer clear of ingredients that may cause skin reactions or break down after long hours. Avoid testing new or unproven products on the wedding day; the trial sessions are the time to experiment. Test your full makeup look in various lighting conditions (natural and artificial); the last thing you want is to be surprised how different your makeup looks from your trial sessions.
As mentioned earlier, makeup is not ‘one size fits all’, and no bride is the same. We all have different concerns with makeup, so what does Kelly say for more mature skin? You should still focus on hydration; there are hydrating creams and primers designed with mature skin in mind. Also, use foundations and concealers that provide coverage without settling into fine lines (they will be marketed as such). Cream blushes and lip colors often yield a more natural and lively finish. Overall, the key is a subtle enhancement of your natural beauty, rather than heavy application, to ensure the radiant, elegant look Kelly Zhang is known for.
A makeup artist won’t just be working on the bride, but can also construct the bridesmaids’ looks as well. According to Kelly, when it comes to the bridesmaids, the general recommendation is to let the bride shine. The goal is to complement the bridal look, not be identical. The makeup is often similar, but more neutral or understated for the bridesmaids, to maintain cohesion while ensuring the bride remains the focal point. To achieve this, use a similar color palette or finish to create a harmonious look without competing with the bride’s style.
But makeup isn’t just for the ladies of the wedding party, the groom can have a little touch up as well. Though it may seem off-putting to some, groom makeup is increasingly common, especially for photography! When it comes to the groom, Kelly’s makeup tips focus on a subtle natural look. A light touch-up can even out skin-tone, reduce shine, and ensure the groom looks polished in photos. Think of it as “groom-grooming”, keep it minimal and enhance their natural features without making them look overly made-up.
The heart of Kelly Zhang’s 2025 bridal makeup is the idea of enhancing, not masking, natural beauty. Whether you’re opting for a more luminous, barely-there look or a subtle statement with color, the key is to choose makeup that makes you feel confident, radiant and, most importantly, yourself. With proper skincare prep, thoughtful product selection and, perhaps, a trusted makeup artist by your side, you and your significant other will be ready to walk down the aisle with a timeless and flawless look that will be cherished for years to come!
photo credit: Kelly Zhang Makeup
