Getting married on the beach is as romantic and dreamy as weddings come, but there’s no denying that it comes with many stress and potential problems. With the reality and unpredictability of weather due to climate change, you never know if the rain will come, and not everyone enjoys getting sand everywhere.
But all these aside, the lure of a beach wedding is too difficult to deny. Being surrounded by loved ones in a stunning ocean and the warmth of the sun—there’s nothing quite like it, and as long as you’re prepared, no weather problems can ruin your look. Whether you’re the bride, a member of the entourage, or a guest, there are steps you can do to ensure that you stay fresh and glowing at the beach. Here are some key beauty tips, tricks, and hacks for a beach wedding.
Mind your gorgeous tresses
While beach weddings look incredible in photos, the heat and humidity are not good omens for your hair. They can bring about unwanted frizz, especially if your hair is on the curlier and thicker side. You can combat this by washing your hair a day before the wedding and using a high-quality ionic hair dryer to blow dry your hair, and then adding a small amount of non-oily serum from the roots to the tips.
On the big day itself, have your hairstylist use an anti-humidity hairspray to keep the style in place. As for the style, since beach weddings tend to be more casual, go for a windblown look or some mermaid waves. If the theme also allows, you can invest in some hair accessories with simple flowers to not upstage the bride. But if it’s your big day, then you have the license to be as extra as you want with the hair accessories!
If you’re truly worried about the wind messing up your perfect tresses, you can also go for a more relaxed up-do, like wavy Bohemian hair half-ponytail to keep your hair away from your face (and your sticky lip gloss!). For a more structured up-do, a loose knot or a fishtail braid will never go out of style since they’re classically softer and ideal for outdoor weddings.
Foolproof your makeup
Here are some tips for a sweat-proof and foolproof makeup look on the big day, especially if you’re doing it yourself:
- The sunscreen issue. Since you will most likely be spending a lot of time under the sun, you might need to add some sunscreen to your neck, décolletage, shoulders, and other parts of your body that might be exposed. For your body, use sunscreen spray since they tend to provide natural shine, making your shoulders and décolletage appear glowing—as if you’ve just had a spray tan or spent a week in Barbados. As for your face, you need to find a sunscreen that is lighter and more weightless in texture because some physical and hardcore sunscreen products will peek through your layers of makeup and might cause “flashback,” or the ghastly phenomenon of making your face appear too white and washed out for your neck, especially in flash photography. Test every light sunscreen you have and see how it performs under makeup during high humidity and for how long you foresee your wedding going.
- Foolproof makeup. To keep your makeup look from breaking down due to sweat and oil brought on my humidity, layer everything. If your skin is more oily, go for a matte primer that promises to make your makeup last. If your skin is on the dry and flaky side, go for a moisturizing primer. Find a medium to full coverage foundation and pat it over with a wet sponge. Layer creams over powders to ensure the longevity of your makeup look. And lastly, use a setting spray after every step, not just so that the powders will sink into your skin but also so that your makeup is protected from the elements, especially if you’re wearing a mask. Don’t forget to choose waterproof-everything, especially mascara! Choose foundations that also claim to be sweat-proof and waterproof.
- A gorgeous pout. To achieve kissable lips, even if you’re wearing a mask and drinking and eating throughout the day, go for a transfer-proof liquid lip. If your lips tend to be on the dryer side, you can add a lip balm underneath to add some moisture.
Be comfortable
And last but not least, make sure that every beauty choice you go for makes you feel comfortable! Fake lashes may look good, but if it makes you feel dizzy, you can skip it. For beach weddings, comfort and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive. Good luck!
