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Chanel make-up artist Pati Dubroff’s bridal picks include Maybelline mascara and blushes by Nudestix
Sofia Richie married partner Elliot Grainge in April 2023 and it was the most-talked-about wedding. More than a year later, we’re still obsessed with the minimal make-up look the American model and social media personality wore as she walked down the aisle in a custom Chanel gown.
Since then, Richie Grainge has continued to make headlines due to her timeless, luxurious looks across her wedding weekend at the exclusive Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the South of France. TikTok went wild for her simple yet chic approach to her make-up, with thousands of videos emerging of people trying to emulate it.
It was so popular that her Chanel make-up artist, Pati Dubroff, posted a TikTok video sharing all of the products she used on the day, amassing 3.5 million views. Shortly after the nuptials, Richie Grainge took to her own TikTok page to recreate the look and share more details from the day.
I spoke to Dubroff about the products and techniques she used to achieve Richie’s flawless wedding make-up. “Sofia’s look was all about achieving a healthy glow, with warm, natural skin, and a light softness all around – I used minimal amounts of coverage on the skin because her skin is so flawless,” said Dubroff.
If you’re a bride with upcoming nuptials and are planning to do your own make-up for your big day, the MUA also shared her top tips: “Apply waterproof mascara. Spend time making sure the skin has some coverage, without using a heavy hand, powder is important for photos but, again, do not apply it with a heavy hand.”
Lastly, she recommends choosing a make-up look that closely resembles how you choose to look normally – “weddings are not the time to try a new make-up look”, she says.
In a bid to recreate Richie’s wedding make-up, I tried and tested all of the products Dubroff used, to see what’s worth a spot in your beauty routine.
I used all the colour complexion products used by Dubroff on Richie’s wedding day, spanning a mix of luxurious Chanel products, such as lipstick and eyeliner, alongside affordable inclusions, including a Maybelline mascara.
I examined how easy each product was to apply and blend, and how long-wearing they were, to definitively decide if they’re worth a spot in your bridal beauty bag.
I’ve long since been a fan of NudeStix stick blushes – they’re conveniently packaged, come with a blending brush on one end, and their matte finish means they last all day.
Dubroff explained her choice to use two shades for Richie’s wedding look: “I applied a combination of two cream blushes: a warm bronzey blush, as well as a blush that had a pop of orange tone”. Dubroff first applied the shade “sunkissed” on Richie’s cheeks, to give a cool rosy tone that adds the perfect flush of colour and warmth, without looking clownish.
Just as Dubroff did, I applied it directly onto my cheeks and blended it with my fingers. It’s creamy and takes just seconds to melt into the skin and it left me with a healthy wash of pink that brightened the whole face. If you’ve ever been intimidated by cream blush, this is the perfect place to start, as you cannot go wrong with it.
One of the most notable products Dubroff used was this fiery orange blush, also from NudeStix. The brand describes “picante” as a “warm fresh orange” and, I have to admit, I did find the thought of wearing such a bold colour daunting. However, the sheer, lightweight formula seamlessly blended into a flattering pop of colour without overwhelming the rest of my make-up. It’s multi-purpose and can be applied to lips and eyelids also, so you can more than get your money’s worth.
I have used this cream bronzer in my make-up routine for more than a year, and can wholeheartedly say it’s the best bronzer I’ve ever used. You cannot apply too much, as it’s the perfect buildable amount of pigment, and it couldn’t be easier to blend. I love to use a dense brush to dab it onto cheekbones and blend it out towards the temples for a lifted look. It’s glowy, flattering, not too orange nor too grey and lasts well throughout the day. There’s nothing else like it – no wonder Dubroff and Richie are such fans.
In her TikTok video, Dubroff demonstrated on herself how she lightly drew across Richie’s eyelids with this Chanel eyeshadow. It was used in combination with a glowy, balm eyeshadow palette from Chanel that’s since been discontinued. I’m a huge fans of eyeshadow sticks, as they’re much easier to apply and blend with just your finger, and are super streamlined, so take up very little space in your make-up bag. The shade “contour clair” is a chocolate brown colour that can be used as both a shadow and liner, and takes just seconds to blend into the skin for a flattering, fuss-free finish.
You’ll be pleased to know Dubroff achieved Richie’s beautiful lash look using a mascara that costs less than £10. The Maybelline lash sensational waterproof mascara has been around for years and has earned its cult status, thanks to its staying power and lash-lengthening effect, which I love.
The brush itself is curved, for easy maneuverability across your lashes, with varying lengths of bristles to evenly coat each hair. I found three coats was the ideal amount but, if you want a more pared-back look, I’d recommend just a couple of swipes.
After Richie’s wedding pictures were unveiled on social media, people flocked to the comments sections to find out exactly what lipstick she wore down the aisle. Luxuriously housed in white and gold packaging, the Chanel rouge coco baume lip balm is everything you could want in an understated lipstick. It’s balmy, hydrating and smooth, providing a subtle wash of colour that can be built up, for a stronger pigment payoff. It’s gone straight in my make-up bag.
Lastly, Dubroff used this Dibs Beauty lip liner to add definition to complete Richie’s look. It has a slightly grey undertone that has a contouring effect, and is the perfect blend of being creamy enough to fix any mistakes when lining your lips but with a waxy finish, so it won’t budge throughout the day. I only wish it was a bigger pencil – it’s the same size as half a regular lip liner.
After applying this lip definer, all that was left for Dubroff to do was apply “a loose powder, to ensure the T-zone stayed shine-free”, to complete Richie’s look.
Dubroff’s light-handed use of these seven products, combined with Richie’s naturally radiant complexion, resulted in a beautiful, timeless look. Many of the products used can be incorporated into a daily routine, too. One of my favourite picks was the Makeup By Mario soft sculpt transforming skin enhancer for both how easy it is to blend with a dense brush, but also its flattering finish, especially on pale skin. It’s a fuss-free product that you cannot go wrong with and is worth every penny. I was also impressed by the deceivingly vibrant NudeStix nudies matte all over face blush colour in picante, which is a daunting orange, but blends out to a warm flush of colour.
For more must-have make-up buys, read our review of the best lip oils