How to Achieve a Dewy Bridal Makeup Look Without Looking Sweaty

The dewy bridal makeup look is a popular trend for brides who want to achieve that radiant, glowing complexion on their big day. However, there’s a fine line between looking dewy and looking sweaty, especially when you’re under the spotlight for hours. The key to pulling off this look flawlessly is all about how you prep your skin and, most importantly, how you set your makeup.

In this blog, we’ll go over the steps to help you achieve that glowy, dewy look without crossing into greasy or shiny territory. By using the right products and techniques, you’ll look fresh and radiant in person—and, just as importantly, in your wedding photos.

Skin Preparation: The Foundation of Dewy Skin

The first step to achieving a dewy bridal makeup look is to prep your skin correctly. Hydration is essential, but you need to balance it with a proper base so your makeup lasts all day without turning into an oily mess.

• Hydrate: Start with a moisturizer that suits your skin type. For brides with dry or normal skin, a hydrating base like Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré is ideal. If you have oily or combination skin, go for a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer to ensure you’re adding moisture without clogging your pores.
• Prime: After moisturizing, apply the appropriate primer for your skin type. This step is crucial to ensure your makeup stays in place and doesn’t break down. For oily areas, especially in the T-zone, I recommend using a mattifying primer like Mehron’s Skin Prep Pro. This primer is excellent for keeping sweat and oil at bay, while still allowing the glow to shine through in the right places.

The Right Foundation for Dewy Makeup

For a dewy look, you want a lightweight foundation with a natural or radiant finish. Avoid matte foundations as they can make the skin look flat and dry. However, balance is still necessary—your foundation should be buildable but not heavy.

• Application tip: Use a damp beauty sponge to apply your foundation, as this will help press the product into the skin while keeping it lightweight and natural.
• Blend well: The more seamless your foundation application, the better your dewy look will turn out. Blot areas like your forehead and chin if you’re prone to oiliness, and use less product in those areas.

The Key: Setting Your Makeup Properly

The biggest mistake many brides make when trying to achieve a dewy look is skipping the setting step, which leads to a makeup look that ends up looking oily or sweaty. Setting your makeup is crucial to locking in the glow without letting excess shine take over.

• Translucent Setting Powder: After applying your foundation and concealer, make sure to use a translucent setting powder. Lightly dust the powder on the areas where your skin tends to get oily, such as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). This step ensures that your makeup stays in place and prevents shine from developing throughout the day.
  Important tip: Don’t skip this step! Even for dewy bridal makeup, setting powder is a must if you want to avoid looking sweaty, especially in photos. The powder will lock everything in while still allowing the glow on the high points of your face.

Use the Right Highlighter

Highlighter plays a big role in achieving a dewy look, but you need to apply it strategically. Choose a cream or liquid highlighter for a more natural glow and apply it only to specific areas, like the high points of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and your Cupid’s bow.

• Avoid Shimmery Highlighters on the T-Zone: It’s important not to apply highlighter on areas where you tend to get oily, such as your forehead or nose. Adding shine to those areas can make you look greasy instead of radiant.

Set It with a Dewy Setting Spray

After you’ve set your makeup with powder and applied highlighter, finish your look with a setting spray to lock everything in place while maintaining a fresh, dewy appearance. My go-to is Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, which helps keep your makeup in place for hours without dulling the glow.

• How to use: Hold the spray about 6 to 8 inches away from your face and apply in a light mist. This will set your makeup and ensure it stays fresh without adding any excess shine.

Balance Dewiness with Mattification

The secret to pulling off a dewy bridal makeup look without appearing sweaty is all about balance. Focus on keeping certain areas of your face matte while allowing the high points (cheekbones, brow bones, and bridge of the nose) to glow.

• Mattify the T-zone: As mentioned before, using translucent powder on your T-zone is crucial. You want to keep this area matte to avoid looking oily in photos.
• Glow in the right areas: Keep the dewy glow to specific parts of your face, like the high points of your cheekbones and temples. This controlled glow will give you the radiant, fresh look without looking greasy.

Avoiding the Sweaty Look in Photos

Your wedding day photos are one of the most important aspects of the day, and you want to ensure that your skin looks glowy, not shiny. Skipping the step of setting your makeup properly is a common mistake, and this is what often leads to a sweaty appearance in pictures.

Here are a few final tips to keep in mind:

• Blot if necessary: Throughout the day, keep blotting papers handy. They will help absorb excess oil without disrupting your makeup.
• Keep powder on hand: If you feel shine coming through later in the day, lightly dust some translucent powder to maintain that matte/dewy balance.
• Check in with your makeup artist: Before your wedding, have a discussion with your makeup artist about your skin type and how to achieve the perfect balance. They can ensure that your makeup is set perfectly for both the ceremony and reception.

The JTorry Bridal Experience

At JTorry Makeup & Hair, we specialize in creating the perfect bridal makeup look for every skin type, ensuring your makeup stays dewy and fresh throughout your entire wedding day without crossing into oily or sweaty territory. Whether you want a natural glow or a full glam look, we’ll make sure your bridal makeup is flawless from start to finish.

Ready to achieve the perfect dewy look for your big day? Visit Here to schedule a consultation and learn more about our bridal services!