10 Rihanna Red Carpet Beauty Looks for Every Type of Bride

A Touch of Shimmer

If ideal bridal makeup is “yourself, but elevated,” this look is “yourself, but sparkly.” It’s a great option for a bride that doesn’t want anything too dramatic but still wants to add a little element of fun. Celebrity makeup artist Kristine Studden recommends creating the look with smudged black kohl liner and a metallic cream shadow from Tom Ford (“Platinum” would be a good color match for what Rihanna has here). If you want to catch even more light when you bat your eyelashes, start with a neutral matte shadow base and then press a shimmer shadow onto your lids, like Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Cosmic, with your fingertips. 

Glowing Goddess

If Aphrodite were getting married, this would be her makeup on the big day. It’s fresh-faced with an other-worldly glow. “Start with your favorite moisturizing foundation to create a glowing natural finish,” says makeup artist Cassandra Garcia. (We like Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation.) “If you want even more of a glow, mix a touch of illuminator to your foundation to give a lit-from-within look,” Garcia adds, who recommends Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm. 

To further bring the glow from mere mortal to Grecian goddess, use a highlighting powder on the lids and along the cheekbones. Any shade or finish will do, but Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife is a match for the gold color Rihanna has here.

Snatched Cat Eye

A cat eye can work on any eye shape, and this crisp, ultra-clean line is a modern way to get a universally flattering look. “The focus here is mainly on the liner, and enhancing and contouring the eye to pull it out and up,” says Studden. She recommends Le Liner de Chanel for a really thin and precise line, and cleaning up any bumps or mistakes with a precision-tip cotton swab. Stick to matte, neutral shadows on the lid (the liner is the star of the show here), and finish with a flirty mascara like Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara.

New Hollywood

If Grace Kelly were on TikTok, this would be her new-and-improved look. The red lip and black liner are iconic old Hollywood mainstays, but the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it accented crease over the lid gives the eye definition and brings the look into 2023. Can’t take your eyes off of that perfect blue-toned red? Rihanna’s makeup artist, Priscilla Ono, posted her product list on Instagram—this one is Fenty Beauty Fenty Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick in The MVP. 

Fresh and Sweet

If you’re planning a romantic wedding complete with white roses, candlelight, and a classic fairytale gown, this look is your best bet. “It’s understated and blushy—evoking a Botticelli-esque beauty,” says makeup artist Kelli Bartlett. “The use of a rosy hue on the lips, cheeks, and eyes is what ties the whole look together.”  She recommends sweeping a sheer wash of pink across the lids—you can even use your blush on your lids to get a perfect match.

Gilded and Sultry

We know that for every soft and romantic bride, there’s a bride that lives for glamour and drama. To recreate this sexy, bronzy look, follow the same rules as a regular smokey eye: Use your lightest color on the lid and your darkest color in the crease and blend, blend, blend. For a more gilded aesthetic, try Tarte’s Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette to get the warm tones Rihanna has here. And to add even more va-va-voom for the after-party, swipe on a berry-hued lipstick and top with clear gloss. 

Glitzy Smokey Eye

Shine bright like a diamond (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves). If a smokey eye veers too dark for your liking, these shimmery and pearlescent finishes can give you the same sultry look with a lighter, brighter effect. Try ColourPop’s Of Quartz Pressed Powder Palette, which offers a nice mix of matte neutrals and barely-there, light-reflecting shimmer shadows. 

Be sure to add a touch of glam to the lips, to boot. “Her lipstick has a sheen at the center of her lower lip and below her cupid’s bow, giving her lips a fuller look and added attention,” says Vincent. (A touch of Pat McGrath Labs Lust Gloss in Gold Allure should do the trick.) “You can also opt to skip this step and add a simple balm or gloss over the lip color,” Vincent adds. 

Modern and Minimalist

We love this white minimalist liner for a town hall bride or for someone who simply yawns at the word “glamour.” To start, you’ll want your skin to be polished and hydrated, so think about booking a facial a few months before your wedding. On the day of, go for a light coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer like Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint. When applying the liner, be sure to start at the center of the lid and flick outward. “Be strategic with the white line and don’t add too much—it can get away from you,” says Studden, who recommends applying Danessa Myricks Colorfix Matte Cream Color in Lift with a liner brush. 

Classic Glamour

If you’ve started mining Pinterest for day-of beauty looks, chances are you’ve seen a few hundred photos that look a lot like this. A balance of smoked-out liner, dramatic lashes, and a red lip are basically the ABCs of event makeup (see every red carpet bombshell from Audrey Hepburn to Angelina Jolie and, obviously, Rihanna). “What I love is that neither [the lip or eye] overpowers the other and while it’s a full makeup look, it’s sophisticated and would look stunning on any bride,” says Vincent, who also notes that RiRi's perfect brows play a big role in framing the look. “Use a fine pencil to define the brows and then soften the shape with a spoolie,” she advises on achieving your own perfect brows. Lastly, set it with a clear brow gel like Kimiko The Brow Sensei. 

60s Mod

Double liner is a cheeky choice if your wedding has a retro vibe. Think: Tea-length dresses and mid-century modern decor. Start with a matte or semi-matte foundation, like Bobbi Brown Skin Longwear Weightless Foundation, and a peachy blush like Mac Powder Blush in Peaches. For the eyes, Garcia recommends starting with a neutral base and adding definition to the crease with a soft gray-brown shadow, then drawing on a thick line of white liquid liner. “I like to start with the white then layer the black right at the lash line—that way none of the white liner bleeds into the black,” says Garcia. “Once you have the first liner on, take a thin brush and just lay it down right at the lash line and follow the wing you have already created.”