10 of the Best Longwearing Foundations for Brides

How should you prep your skin before make-up?

Every long-lasting bridal make-up look starts with a thorough skincare routine. According to pro make-up artist Joy Adenuga, “a good, dedicated skincare routine leading up to the wedding day goes a long way towards how your skin looks and feel on the day.” The less experimentation, the better, so try to stick to a solid routine that covers the fundamental steps to thwart a pre-wedding breakout. As for what products to use, Bobbi Brown's global pro artist Amy Conway turns to vitamin C in bridal skincare as “it instantly brightens skin, even under foundation.” Another top tip is to consider avoiding sunscreen in your foundation as Conway mentions that “one job of SPF is to bounce back light to protect skin. However, in flash photography, this can give a white or overly shiny finish, which we don’t want in our photos.” Translation? You may want to avoid mineral sunscreens and opt for a chemical sunscreen instead. Alternatively, a spray formula such as Ultra Violette’s Preen Screen SPF 50+ Mist is a great option for the big day.

Should you choose a dewy or matte foundation?

Ultimately, it’s up to you. You may prefer a dewy, glass-skin look or maybe you’re a velvet-skin lover. “Whether you love a glow or prefer a matte radiance, your foundation should look fresh, natural and have the longevity to look great all day long,” says Conway. Her favourite foundation to use? Bobbi Brown’s Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation for its medium to full coverage and – for all you summer brides out there – its resistance to sweat and humidity. Adenuga is of the same mind as she focuses on wearability and shade matching. The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation and NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation are her go-to for brides craving longevity and its “brilliant shade range works on any skin type and undertone.”

How do you make sure your foundation lasts all day?

Skincare prep is key but when it comes to make-up, Conway suggests a “primer that adds radiance to your skin, ensuring you achieve a natural glow that lasts all day” – one such product is Clé de Peau Beauté’s Pore Refining Mattifying Veil. Choosing the right foundation suited to your skin type is important, too – Adenuga notes that using a foundation that isn’t formulated for your skin type (oily, dry or combination) could cause your foundation to “separate or make your skin look very textured, especially on camera.” While there are many factors to consider, having a setting spray in your arsenal is a no-brainer, and the bestselling Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is a great place to start to keep your make-up locked in. Once you’ve got that covered, read on to find the foundation with the longevity and finish you’re looking for.

Best Full-Coverage Bridal Foundation

CHANEL UItra Le Teint Ultrawear All-Day Comfort Flawless Finish Foundation, £47

CHANEL’s Ultra Le Teint is an all-rounder if we’ve ever seen one. Film-forming technology means it’s sweat and humidity-resistant, ensuring you’ll look pristine throughout the day. Plus, its soft-focus finish and the addition of hydrating ingredients like glycerin mean you can create an immaculate full-coverage look that doesn’t ever feel cakey. For an ultra-comforting and luminous finish, we recommend applying it with your fingers to help it sink into your skin.

Shop Now

Best Lightweight Bridal Foundation

YSL All Hours Foundation, £36

The clue’s in the name – YSL’s All Hours Foundation is another pick that’ll stay put all day. The real draw, though, is its breathable, weightless formula – great for brides who prefer an au naturel look or aren’t used to wearing a full face of high-coverage complexion products. Waterproof, oil-free and now infused with hyaluronic acid for a hydrated and healthy complexion, it’s a real winner for those wanting their skin to shine through.

Shop Now

Best Bridal Foundation for Oily Skin

Gucci Eternité de Beauté Matte Foundation SPF 15, £47

An oily T-zone can wreak havoc with your bridal make-up, but Gucci has you covered. The Eternité de Beauté Matte Foundation delivers luminosity without unwanted shine, thanks to oil-absorbing bamboo powder and black rose oil to keep your skin feeling plump and hydrated. Plus, it promises to stay put all day, working with your complexion rather than against it– what more could you want from a wedding day base?

Shop Now

Best Bridal Foundation for a Soft-Matte Finish

Prada Beauty Reveal Skin Optimising Foundation, £49

No other day calls for such unparalleled harmony between your skincare and make-up. Enter: Prada Beauty’s Reveal Skin Optimising Foundation. Working with your skin, not against it, this hybrid foundation infuses vitamins and niacinamide to make your skin sing with luminosity, alongside evening tone and texture. Thanks to the brand’s IRL (In-Real-Life) Micro-Filter technology, you can expect a transfer-resistant, blurred finish that can be built up in coverage.

Shop Now

Best Bridal Foundation for Dry Skin

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £44.50

The glow-giving properties of Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation are no secret – it’s a longtime favourite of make-up artists, A-listers and beauty aficionados everywhere. Its award-winning formula includes hydrating glycerin and brightening Micro-fil™ technology to deliver lasting luminosity, making it a brilliant wedding day foundation. Pair this with the Luminous Silk Concealer and pat into place with the Luminous Silk Glow Fusion Powder for a trio you'll certainly come back to time and time again.

Shop Now

Best Bridal Foundation for a Natural Glow

Guerlain Terracotta Le Teint, £47

The lightweight finish isn’t the only natural thing about Guerlain’s Terracotta Le Teint – it’s formulated with 95% naturally derived ingredients. Serving up a lit-from-within glow, the new release pairs the skin-evening coverage of a liquid foundation with the lightness of a powder for a comfortable, healthy look and feel. The only other make-up addition? Some blush applied to the apples of your cheeks for a radiant, natural flush.

Shop Now

Best Bridal Foundation with Skincare Benefits

La Prairie Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation SPF 15, £251

Tick off your wedding make-up and skin prep at the same time with La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation – the final step in the brand’s indulgent Skin Caviar routine. Infused with Swiss caviar extract to lift and firm your skin, it works to nourish your complexion while leaving a dewy veil of coverage. The foundation also comes with a shade-matched concealer, great for touching up dark circles and redness on the go.

Shop Now

Best Bridal Compact Foundation

DIOR Forever Couture Perfect Cushion Luminous Foundation, £55

Compact foundations are ideal when it comes to wedding day touch-ups. Our portable pick is the DIOR Forever Couture Perfect Cushion Luminous Foundation – formulated with nourishing wild pansy flower, it leaves a beautiful and luminous finish, cushioning feel and complexion-smoothing medium coverage. Plus, the iconic chequerboard packaging is refillable when you hit pan. Pop this beauty into your make-up bag before handing it over to your bridesmaids or maid of honour and like your partner, it'll not let you down on the big day.

Shop Now

Best Cruelty-Free Bridal Foundation

Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation, £56

The Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation is another winning pick for brides looking for an otherworldly glow – and it just so happens to be vegan and cruelty-free. Its non-comedogenic formula is made with blurring spheres to even skin tone and conceal any blemishes, as well as helping to achieve the lit-from-within radiance that Hourglass is known (and loved) for. Plus, its buildable coverage means you can go as lightweight or high coverage as you like for a custom look and feel.

Shop Now