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A Bridal MUA's Honest Advice
Wedding season is here! We sat down with bridal hair and makeup artist Melissa Clare, to ask her the questions that actually matter. From how to build the perfect canvas before the big day, to the last-minute mistakes she sees far too often, her advice is grounding, honest and a little reassuring. Because the most beautiful brides, as it turns out, are rarely the ones who overhauled everything 💚
Tell us a little about yourself and how you found your way into bridal make-up. What is it about working with brides that you love most?
I’m Melissa Clare, a bridal hair and makeup artist based in Hampshire, working across Berkshire, Surrey, London and beyond. I originally came from a fashion and styling background and spent years training with luxury beauty brands before moving into bridal full-time.
What drew me in was the feeling I got after working with my very first bride. There’s something incredibly special about being part of such an emotional, intimate morning. It never really feels like “just makeup” to me. It’s about helping someone feel calm, confident and genuinely like the best version of themselves. I also love the atmosphere of wedding mornings. Even amongst the nerves and chaos, there’s usually this really beautiful moment where everything suddenly feels real - and being trusted with that part of someone’s day is something I never take for granted.
How would you describe your approach to bridal beauty?
My approach has always been centred around enhancing rather than masking. I want brides to look glowing, fresh and elevated, but still completely recognisable to themselves and their partner.
I’m very skin-focused, so I spend a lot of time thinking about texture, light and how makeup will wear throughout the day and photograph in different settings. I love soft, modern looks that feel effortless rather than over the top. Most importantly, I want my brides to feel comfortable. The best bridal makeup is the kind you stop thinking about because you simply feel like yourself in it.
Do you find that brides tend to come to you with a clear vision, or is it more often a case of helping them discover what they actually want?
Usually a mixture of both. Some brides arrive with very busy Pinterest boards, while others just know they want to “feel enhanced” but can’t quite explain what that means yet.A big part of my job is translating inspiration into something that actually works for that individual person - their features, skin, colouring, dress, the feel of the wedding, and most importantly their own personality. I think a lot of brides realise during the trial that what they really want is not to look like somebody else. They just want to look fresh, radiant and they want to feel confident.
How much does the condition of the skin affect what you can achieve with makeup on the day?
Skin condition makes a huge difference. Makeup can enhance beautiful skin, but it can sometimes show up problem areas if not treated or targeted well with good skincare. Makeup can’t completely disguise problematic skin in the way people sometimes hope.
Healthy, balanced skin allows makeup to sit more naturally, blend more seamlessly and wear better throughout the day. It also means we can use less product overall, which usually creates the most flattering finish anyway.
What does well-prepped skin actually allow you to do as a make-up artist that yousimply cannot replicate with product alone?
Well-prepped skin gives you that natural luminosity and smoothness that no highlighter or foundation can truly fake in person. When skin is hydrated and calm, makeup almost becomes part of the skin rather than sitting on top of it. Products melt in beautifully, texture is softened naturally, and everything moves and photographs better throughout the day.
There’s only so much makeup can do structurally. Good skin prep creates the canvas that allows makeup to look effortless instead of “applied.”
There is so much noise around bridal beauty, treatments, trends, the pressure tolook completely different. What is your honest advice to brides who feeloverwhelmed by it all?
Honestly, I think brides put far too much pressure on themselves now. There’s this feeling that you need to reinvent yourself for your wedding day, and I don’t think that’s where real beauty comes from.My advice is always to avoid chasing trends or trying to become a completely different version of yourself. Your partner, your family and your friends already love your face.
The goal isn’t transformation, it’s refinement.
Most of the time, the brides who look the most incredible are the ones who look relaxed, healthy and genuinely comfortable in themselves.
You must see brides who arrive on the morning having tried something new thenight before. How often does that go wrong, and what would you say to anyonetempted to do it?
More often than you’d think! Last-minute facials, spray tans, strong retinols, DIY treatments… they can absolutely backfire. The skin really doesn’t love surprises right before a wedding. Even products that normally work well can suddenly trigger irritation or sensitivity under stress.
My advice is always the same: if your skin is currently happy, protect that - the week before your wedding is not the time to experiment. 6 months before the wedding would be a good time to focus on changing skincare if you are in need of a new routine!
When it comes to the week before the wedding, what is the golden rule? Whatshould a bride absolutely be doing, and what should she stop doing?
The golden rule is consistency. Stick to what you know works. Hydration, sleep, gentle skincare and eating properly will do far more for your skin than any aggressive treatment. I always tell brides to focus on calming and nourishing the skin, and staying calm internally too!
Everyone wants to look like themselves, just luminous. What are the thingsoutside of skincare that you think make the biggest difference to how skin looks andfeels on the wedding day?
Sleep is a huge one. Stress and exhaustion show up on the skin very quickly. Hydration also makes an enormous difference. I also think energy and emotion play a part. When someone feels relaxed, loved and genuinely happy, there’s a softness and brightness to the face that makeup can’t manufacture.
The brides who glow the most are rarely the ones obsessing over perfection.
Which Votary products have become a favourite for you when it comes to bridalskin prep?
I love products that genuinely support the skin rather than overload it, and Votary does that beautifully.
Their Ultra Rich Cream is so lovely for creating that nourished, balanced base without being oily, and I’m particularly drawn to skincare that gives hydration and radiance without heaviness or residue underneath makeup.
For bridal prep especially, I always gravitate towards products that help skin look healthy, calm and naturally luminous!
Find Melissa:
https://www.instagram.com/melissaclaremakeup/
Photo Credit : Grace Lally Photography