Let’s talk about those unexpected bluish marks (bruises) that can appear right before your wedding day. Ouch! As a professional bridal makeup artist, I have seen this more than once. In fact, in recent months, a few brides have arrived with bruises that needed to be covered before walking down the aisle.
While I am always happy to help disguise them, finding out about bruises on the spot can throw off the carefully planned wedding morning timeline. Why? Not because I cannot conceal them. Yes, I can. But because makeup for bruise and tattoo coverage takes more time, products and skill than a regular beauty prep.
Plan Ahead for Perfect Coverage
If you discover a bruise or have a tattoo you would like covered, tell your makeup artist as soon as possible, ideally before the wedding day. That way, we can adjust the getting ready schedule to include the extra steps needed, like for example multiple layers of color correction (neutralizing blue, purple, green, or yellow tones, specialized concealer and setting techniques for all-day wear and blending to match your skin tone perfectly in photos.
Why Last-Minute Coverage Can Be Risky
When bruise or tattoo coverage is rushed, it may not look flawless in close-up photography. The added steps can cause stress or reduce time for other bridal party members.
The artist may need to use whatever products are on hand, which may not be the most effective for your unique skin tone or bruise stage.
Budget and Communicate
Since advanced coverage requires extra time, skill and multiple products, many artists will charge an additional fee. Communicating early by sharing photos of the bruise or tattoo so your artist can prep product selection, avoid unpleasant surprises on your wedding morning and ensure the look remains beautiful and undetectable all day.
Pro Tip: The same coverage techniques apply for tattoos, scars or birthmarks that you prefer to hide for photos. Mention them during your trial or pre-wedding consultations.
Brides – share this with your makeup artist or bridal party so everyone is prepared. And if you found this helpful, save it for your wedding beauty checklist!