Well here we are with another of our brand new weekly feature’s that’s packed full of tips from some of our favourite wedding experts and Little Book For Brides members. I hope this finds you well and enjoying the weekend so far.
Today, we’re sharing the very best advice from makeup artists with just one aim – for you to have amazing, gorgeous and truly glowing wedding day skin. So, now’s the time to heed their words of wisdom and get prepped for your big day. As we all know, great skin very rarely happens by chance. A good daily skincare routine is essential and Catherine Bailey recommends the following.
“Every evening, remove any makeup with an oil-and-water product such as Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover and then cleanse thoroughly with a cleaning balm or oil rather than with a foaming cleanser, as the sulphates in foaming washes can really dry out and irritate your skin.”
“I highly recommend Clinique’s Take The Day Off, which is a fragrance-free cleansing balm which you massage into your skin. It melts off any makeup and impurities and then you simply rinse it off with lukewarm water. The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter is a fantastic budget alternative.”
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!“For oily skin, I highly recommend a lightweight hydrating gel-cream such as Neutrogena Hydro Boost. For normal skin, I love Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Radiance Day Cream SPF 15 and I use this on most of my clients. For very dry skin, Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream is super-nourishing. And for very sensitive skin, Avene Skin Recovery Cream is unbeatable, even for those who suffer with eczema.”
“If you find that you still suffer with blemishes, I recommend using a clay or charcoal face mask on the affected areas about once a week – try Origins Clear Improvement which contains active charcoal to clear pores. Then dab on a little spot gel just exactly where needed, to reduce inflammation – I recommend Freederm Fast Track.”
“If you have larger areas on your face or back that are prone to blemishes, I recommend trying Proactiv Repairing Day Lotion, which contains salicylic acid but in a gentle formula that won’t dry out your skin. Or try a toner such as La Roche-Posay Serozinc, which is a gentle zinc sulphate solution which you should simply spray on to any blemish prone areas.”
______________
As much as we’d all love everyday life to take things easy on us in the run up to our weddings, that very rarely happens. So, here’s Victoria Taylor with her tips to make sure that all those stresses and strains don’t show on your skin.
“Long hours and commutes can take a toll on a busy bride to be. Tube and bus hopping, long drives in cars can lead to free radicals and pollution attacking the skin. Invest in a fabulous barrier cream. My favourite for over fifteen years has been Clarins Multi Active Day Cream. It’s brilliant at protecting the skin from temperature changes and pollution.”
“The sun isn’t totally bad for you. It’s great at increasing vitamin D production within the body which boosts immunity and also makes the skin look fresher and gives it a glow. Just protect your skin and moisturise after any sun exposure as this can dry the skin up, leading to a lined look! This also applies to sun burn and strap marks. You wouldn’t believe how many strap marks I’ve had to try and correct over the years!”
“If you have the time to start having regular facials then this is a great idea, particularly for skin conditions such as acne scarring and dryness. But just plan ahead and start a year in advance. Lastly, remember that thirsty, dehydrated skin can look dull and tired. So, as cliché as it sounds, do drink plenty of fluids, even caffeine free herbal teas, during your many hours of wedding planning.”
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!Antonia at Elle Au Naturel totally agrees with the need to keep your skin hydrated and offers this tip
“Invest in a bottle where you can see the quantities and that way you’ll know exactly how much you’ve drunk over the day. This is particularly important in office environments due to the air conditioning. This plays havoc on the skin and dehydrates it. Dehydrated skin is very different to dry skin. Dehydration comes from inside as well as the outside so drinking plenty of fluids is essential. Dry areas on the surface of the skin are normally down to the elements so a good rich moisturiser every day is so important.”
“Oily skins need moisture too otherwise you’ll develop the worst skin type combination – oily down the T-zone and dry on the cheeks. Serums that plump and hydrate as well can be key in a good skin care regime as they target deep into the epidermis, plumping the skin and reducing fine lines which are often caused by dehydration, not age.”
“Moisturiser will be your new best friend if you choose the right one. Seek the advice of a beauty professional if you’re unsure. Dermologica do face mapping which will give you all the info you need on your skin type.”
Antonia encourages all her clients to start a Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise routine. On top of that she actively recommends exfoliating twice a week and for the more sensitive skins to use something like a cleansing mitt or cloth if the stronger products aren’t suitable. What this does is remove all those old skin cells that makeup just loves to grab. Antonia’s go to cleanser is Beauty Lab’s Silk Cleanser, used with their Facial Cleansing Mitts. This is by far one of the best cleansers on the market. It really works hard at removing makeup, leaving the skin squeaky clean with the mitt’s gentle exfoliating action.
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!The wonderful team at Portraits Bridal are also huge fans of good skincare routines and, whilst they know that sometimes speed can be the most important thing, spending time on your skin is a crucial investment if you want fantastic wedding day skin.
“We appreciate that after a long day in the office, reaching for that packet of wipes in the evening instead of following a more detailed skin routine can be a challenge! But there’s no better time to be strict with yourself than starting a good routine around six months before the big day. This will give you skin enough time to adjust and settle to the skincare products you’re using.”
“Investing in a good facial and lip scrub, cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser (day and night) will give your skin the care that’s required to polish away old skin cells and encourage new cell growth, giving you that all important ‘glow’ that every bride dreams of. Having regular facials or giving yourself, your own facial massages will allow collagen to be stimulated to plump out cells and give your skin the radiance it deserves.”
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!The lovely Maxine Wilson agrees with the need to hydrate and cleanse your skin properly morning and evening. She’d also like to remind you that when it comes to your skin, oil isn’t always a bad thing.
“Don’t be afraid to use oils or oil-based products on your skin. We all grew up drying out our teenage skin with products designed to remove oil, so we see it as a bad thing – it’s not! The natural oils our skin produces keeps it soft, supple and moisturised. Many brides tell me that their skin is very oily but actually, their skin is simply over producing oils to compensate for being dried out.”
“But don’t do anything different to your skin in the week before your wedding. That means no new products, no treatments that you haven’t had before and just keeping to your usual routine. I see too many brides who’ve broken out following a brow wax that they’ve not tried before or those who’ve reacted badly to a new product.”
“If you do get a spot – don’t touch it! Makeup artists can cover spots but red, weeping, swollen areas are much harder to conceal.”
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!Makeup artist Laura Barrow also urges you to steer well clear of any spots that might appear at the wrong moment.
“Resist the urge to squeeze a wedding day spot. It can be easily covered with a good concealer when dry but when the skin has been broken, the concealer won’t adhere to the blemish.”
“Use a hydrating facial mask the night before your wedding day. Many of the new formulas are now overnight masks that you can sleep in and this means that you’ll wake up with plump and hydrated skin.”
“Also, pop some eye masks in the fridge and use them on your wedding morning on top of freshly cleansed skin. These will hydrate and de-puff tired eyes. I’d recommend Elemis Pro Collagen Hydra Eye Masks but, if you don’t have the budget for these, wrap ice cubes in muslin cloth or a flannel and then, in circular motions, sweep these around the eyes.”
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!Looking after your skin BEFORE your wedding day will ensure that your makeup artist has the best possible foundation to work with ON the big day. Kristina Gasperas offers these tips.
“Your makeup will look much better if you ensure that your skin is in top condition. I’d recommend to regularly use facial masks in the run up to your wedding. One of the popular masks is Charlotte Tilbury’s Revolutionary Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask. You’ll get glowing red-carpet-ready skin that will be hydrated, brighter and smoother. It really is the latest and greatest in the skincare world!”
“One more skincare product that’s my personal favourite is Cell Repair Night Oil by Aurelia. It’s full of goodness, smells divine and works to hydrate and soothe dull and dehydrated skin, prompting a luminous, dewy and radiant glow whilst helping to prevent skin ageing. Apply it at night and wake up with your skin looking awesome!”
There are no photos with those IDs or post 681393 does not have any attached images!
And there you have it – awesome skin thanks to these brilliant makeup artists. I’m off to hydrate right now.
Love,
Tamryn x