6 beauty essentials for your bridal 
make-up bag 

23 JUNE 2026

As a pioneer of the no makeup makeup look, and with a client list that includes Bel Powley, Amelia Dimoldenberg and Sarah Lysander, Alex Reader’s beauty toolkit has our full attention. 

 

Here, she shares the products every bride should have within their arsenal on the big day.

The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator by Victoria Beckham

A true hybrid of skincare and makeup, this illuminator works as a treatment-infused primer, delivering a lit-from-within glow. Weightless yet nourishing, it creates the ideal base for makeup, helping everything sit beautifully while maintaining a radiant finish throughout the day. It’s particularly brilliant for brides, where every close-up and flash photograph demands skin that looks luminous rather than heavy. 

 

Victoria Beckham Beauty, £76

Bronzing Gel by Sensai

This bronzing gel is the definition of an effortless, believable sun-kissed flush. Ideal for brides looking to enhance their natural tone, this formula feels seamless and entirely real on the skin. Its 70 per cent water-based gel texture blends beautifully, delivering a sheer, streak-free wash of warmth that looks polished, healthy and luminous. 

 

Sensai, £37

The Eyelash Curler by Kevyn Aucoin

An essential step in any bridal beauty routine, this lash curler is the underrated hero of makeup prep. It creates the foundation for longer-looking, lifted and defined lashes, allowing mascara to glide on more evenly while holding its shape throughout the day.

 

Sephora, £21.95

Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint by Lisa Eldridge

A skin tint is the epitome of modern bridal beauty: effortless, refined and beautifully real. This formula is ultra-lightweight, melting seamlessly into the complexion while offering sheer yet buildable coverage. The soft-focus finish perfects skin without masking it, making it ideal for brides who want to look like themselves - just more polished and rested.  

 

Lisa Eldridge, £39

Flush Balm by Merit

Designed to recreate the look of a natural flush, this blush brings life and dimension back into the skin. Its balmy texture applies a sheer veil of buildable colour, diffusing easily for a finish that feels fresh and youthful. The shades evoke a romantic warmth that translates beautifully both in person and on camera, and the multi-use formula can also be swept onto lips for a cohesive, monochromatic look.

 

Merit, £26

The Overliner Lip Pencil by MPH Beauty

Designed to softly define and enhance the lips, this pencil creates a softly sculpted finish. The creamy yet controlled texture glides on effortlessly, allowing for subtle contouring and reshaping. I like to blur the edges gently with a fingertip or brush to diffuse the lip line for a more lived-in finish. The colour tones blend perfectly into the natural lip, creating a fuller and more balanced pout.

 

London Loves Beauty, £39.95

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