Your bridal vanity doesn’t need every new launch that lands on Instagram. But a few really good makeup and beauty products are worth the splurge. A great blush can make your base look instantly fresher, while a good eyeshadow palette can take you through multiple wedding events.
Here are the ones we’d actually consider adding to the kit.
A Dior compact on the vanity is never a bad idea. Rouge Blush comes in a huge range of shades and finishes, from soft pinks to deeper rosy tones, and the colour is easy to build. Keep it light for the pheras or add another layer when you need it to show up in photographs.
Price: ₹5,300
Buy On: Sephora
This one has been everywhere for a reason. The Beauty Blush Wand is creamy, blends quickly and gives cheeks a pretty, luminous flush. Just don’t squeeze out too much at once. Pillow Talk is an easy bridal shade, but there are plenty of warmer options too.
Price: ₹4,750
Buy On: Nykaa
If you like your blush to look more like skin than makeup, Armani’s Luminous Silk Glow Blush is a good one. It gives cheeks a soft wash of colour with a subtle glow rather than obvious shimmer. The rosy shades are particularly pretty with bridal makeup.
Price: ₹5,000
Buy On: Tira
Fair warning but this one is seriously pigmented. You need barely a dot, but once blended, it gives cheeks that fresh, just-pinched look. There are plenty of shades, so whether you’re after peach, pink or berry, there’s something to work with.
Price: ₹3,200
Buy On: Rare Beauty’s official website
NARS has been doing good blush for years, and its classic powder formulas remain hard to beat. The shades build nicely and work with everything from a soft nude bridal look to something a little more dramatic. Orgasm is the obvious classic, but don’t stop there.
Price: ₹3,400
Buy On: Tira
The gold compact is enough to make you want it, but the shades inside are what make it worth the splurge. YSL’s four-pan palettes are easy to use together, and the warm neutrals work particularly well for wedding makeup. Captivating Dunes is a good one if you like bronze and brown eyes.
Price: ₹7,600
Buy On: Sephora
Five shades, plenty of wedding looks. Dior’s 5 Couleurs palettes are great if you don’t want to carry several eyeshadow palettes around. Use the lighter shades during the day and add some depth and shimmer for the evening.
Price: ₹6,800
Buy On: Sephora
This is definitely a splurge, but it is also the sort of palette you buy once and keep for years. The combination of mattes, satins and shimmers makes it easy to create a soft eye or something much smokier. Stick to warm neutrals if you want maximum use out of it.
Buy On: Sephora
For the bride who actually loves doing her eyes, Natasha Denona is worth a look. The formulas are pigmented, the shimmers are beautiful and the palettes give you enough options to create several different looks. A neutral palette will get plenty of use even after the wedding.
Price: ₹7,100
Buy On: Sephora
ABH palettes are another good bet if you want plenty of mattes and shimmers in one place.
The warm neutrals work particularly well with Indian bridal makeup, whether you’re keeping
the eye soft or going for a proper smoky look at the reception.
Price: ₹3,800
Buy On: Tira