Every bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day. With the right planning, your hair and skin can look amazing. By looking through magazines and checking out websites, you can get great ideas for your bridal hair style and make-up.
Obtain That Flawless Glow For Your Wedding Day
There are a few beauty matters that all brides-to-be and her wedding party must attend to when preparing for the big day. Not only is choosing the right dress imperative, so is preparing your skin to look its luminous best for the wedding photos. So get that flawless skin to match your perfect wedding dress, just follow a few of these steps to ensure glowing skin for the big day.
Use Gentle Cleansers & Moisturizers
Be gentle to your skin, especially the few months before the wedding. To prevent any allergic reactions on your skin and face, choose a cleanser and moisturizer matched accordingly to your skin type (i.e., oily, combination, normal, dry, sensitive…) and do not switch to too many different products. Constantly changing your cleansers and moisturizers can be very harsh on your skin and it might prevent you from pin-pointing the exact product responsible for your allergic reaction if you get one. So make sure to be gentle to your skin and wash with a non-abrasive cleanser and moisturize after washing.
Protect Your Face and Skin from the Harsh Sun
Obtaining that perfectly sun-kissed skin color for the wedding day is important, but make sure to protect your face and skin while doing so. Many lines of make up and moisturizers have sunscreen in it and are available at many drug stores and beauty counters. Sunscreen is an essential tool to prevent premature aging, skin cancer, and horrible sun burns. Flaky, dry, and wrinkly skin is really not an attractive look for your wedding day. Stay protected and always have sunscreen ready to re-apply if you are in the sun for a longer period of time.
Exfoliate for Bright and Luminous Skin
Exfoliating can be harsh on your skin, so exfoliate only once or twice a week. The process of exfoliating helps rid your body of dull skin to reveal the new skin cells underneath. Try to regularly exfoliate your skin to maintain a fresh and rejuvenated look. There are special scrubs, brushes, and wash clothes available for exfoliating all parts of your face and body.
Cake Beauty has introduced a line of ultra-lightweight body lotions that are infused with a hint of shimmering mica’s that smooth and even out skin tone delivering a luminous sheen and delightful scent. Consider getting either Cake Beauty’s Hi-Light Luminous Body Lotion or their Glow-rious Glistening Body lotion to enhance the glow of your newly rejuvenated skin on your wedding day!
Get Pucker Perfect Lips
De-flake and moisturize your lips for that pucker perfect kiss after your “I Dos,” it’ll be your first one as husband and wife! Tyra Banks revealed on her talk show that the secret to her perfectly moisturized lips is that she gently exfoliates them. Simply wet a soft bristled tooth-brush and rub gently for about 30 seconds to de-flake your pout. A wet wash cloth should work just as well.
Get Rid of Bacne
Wedding dresses of all sorts often reveal the bride’s back and shoulders. Take a few precautionary steps to prevent and eliminate bacne and obtain that flawless skin for your walk down the aisle. Bacne is often caused by an over production of oil and sweat. Make sure to get to the tough to reach areas as well by using a body brush or long handled loofah brush to exfoliate your back. In addition, try switching out your usual body wash for an anti-bacterial one to keep acne stimulating bacteria away. Feel confident now in showing off your rejuvenated and perfectly sun-kissed skin of your back and shoulders!
Above are simply a few of the many ways you can obtain flawless all over skin. The attention is all yours when you’re walking down the isle and throughout the entire night. So take pride in the quality of your skin and maintain a regular skin care regimen to ensure that you feel and look your best for your big day!
DIY (Do It Yourself) Home Facial
Be Nice and Treat Yourself, Guilt-Free
For the stressed and budget conscious bride, wind down every month with a DIY (Do It Yourself) home facial, your skin will thank you for it!
1. Always start a facial with clean skin. Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser. Apply in circular motions from your neck moving upwards and then wash off.
2. Next, fill a bowl with hot water (not boiling) and add lavender or eucalyptus oil to the water to induce greater relaxation. If essential oils are not available on hand, feel free to throw in a bag of green tea or chamomile (or even loose tea leaves) to have the same effect. Place your head above the bowl of hot water and drape a towel over your head to contain the steam so that it can help open up your pores. Relax and breathe deeply for a few minutes.
3. After your DIY steam treatment, gently massage your exfoliater onto your face and jaw line in circular movements. Then wash off and pat dry to prepare your face for the facial mask.
Make sure your skin is dry to allow for your mask to dry. Using a face mask that is suited for your particular skin needs, apply the face mask and leave it on for five to ten minutes. Then pop a couple slices of cucumber over your eyes or opt of some cold tea bags to soothe any puffiness around the eyes.
4. Once the five to ten minutes are up, rinse off the face mask with cool water to tighten up your pores.
5. Then tone your skin with a hydrating or clarifying toner, whichever is best for your skin type.
6. In sweeping motions, apply your moisturizer onto your skin from the neck up and then massage it in with small circular movements. By massaging the skin with your moisturizer, it will encourage new cell growth and proper circulation.
7. Finally apply your eye cream gently around your eyes and make sure to not apply much pressure or drag the skin around your eyes.
8. If you are planning on being outside later on, make sure to use a moisturizer with SPF of at least 15 to your skin to protect it. Or remember to apply some to your face before you head out.
Perfect 10's
There is nothing like gorgeous red nails to make a strong fashion statement. Bouquet colour and nail colour creates a strong fashion statement. Keep your nails short with the deep, rich shades. For longer lengths, try silver, sheer or white. Time your manicure to keep your nails at their best before the big day.
Once the ‘I dos’ are done, everyone will want to check out your beautiful ring and you want to make sure your hands look fabulous. If you’re wearing open-toed shoes or planning on heading someplace warm for your honeymoon you’ll want to make sure your toenails look fantastic too. Manicures and pedicures create a polished look, and you get some pampering too!
Consult with a professional about three months before the big day for advice on how to take care of your hands and feet properly so they are healthier come the wedding day. If you take some extra time to make sure your hands and feet look their best before the wedding day, you’ll feel a lot better showing them off and your family and friends will be sure to notice your ‘Perfect 10s’!
Bridal Makeup 101
By Joanne Black
Joanne has been working as a Makeup Artist internationally for 17 years. Celebrities, international fashion shows, magazine editorials, weddings, and TV appearances are all part of her long resume. Now living in Calgary, Joanne continues with her passion on making women feel beautiful. More examples of her work can be viewed at www.behance.net/JoanneB
Every bride wants to look their most beautiful on their wedding day and a crucial part of that is how their makeup looks. If you are planning to be your own makeup artist on the big day, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Try out different looks before your wedding day. Find pictures in magazines of makeup looks that you like and start experimenting. Visit makeup counters or stores to have a makeup artist assist you with the right products. You can even book a makeup lesson to have a professional show you the tricks of the trade. There is no set “wedding look”, just go with something that makes you feel beautiful. Try to avoid anything too trendy, as your wedding photos will date themselves very quickly!
- Do not wax your eyebrows or upper lip within the few days before the wedding! Makeup does not “stick” to freshly waxed skin the same way it does to the rest of your face.
- Do not go overboard with shimmer. You can use shimmer products, but place them in strategic locations such as the cheekbones, inner corner of the eye, eyelid, lips, brow bone…just not all at once! The idea is to highlight certain features but excessive shimmer can reflect light on camera in an unflattering way.
Photo of Julie and her Bridesmaids by Tanya Plonka
- Match your foundation to your neck and chest. If you have been tanning, your face sometimes does not achieve the same colour as the rest of your body, so get your foundation matched as close as possible to the wedding day. Keep in mind that there is no need to go “heavier” on the foundation for your wedding photos, just go with the same amount of coverage your skin may need or what you are used to. If you never wear foundation, then opt for a tinted moisturizer and a sheer setting powder, for a polished, natural look…
Photo of Helen by Cheryl Bychuk at Glimpz Photography
- Prime! Primers are a step I never skip when it comes to wedding makeup. Two primers are essential for wedding makeup: a face primer placed under the foundation to make sure your makeup stays flawless well into the evening, and a primer for under the eye makeup. Eye primers ensure that there is no creasing or fading of your eye makeup and it also helps the colours to go on more smoothly. (Smashbox Photofinish Primer or Cargo Eyebase are excellent choices)
- If you are doing a look with a darker/smokier eye, apply the eye makeup before the foundation. Applying darker eyeshadow can get messy, so finish your eye makeup first, and then you can clean up any products that may fall under the eye. From there you can proceed with foundation and concealer for a flawless look.
- Get yourself some waterproof mascara. Even if you think you will not cry…you can never be too cautious! Some speeches can move even the toughest gal to tears!
- False eyelashes are a great way to amplify skinny lashes. There are many styles out there that give a natural, full effect. Apply mascara after false lashes to blend the lashes together and don’t forget to camouflage the lash band (the edge of the false lashes) with a stroke of eyeliner. If you haven’t applied lashes before, have a pro show you how and then practice, practice, practice!
- Brows are an often neglected feature. A little brow powder/pencil to define and some brow gel to keep hairs in place can really make a difference in your overall look. (Try Benefit Browzings or Anastasia for great brow products)
- Finally, always make sure you have a blotting powder to combat shine and your lip products on hand for touch ups throughout the day. (Try MAC Blot Powder or Cover FX Matte FX)
Lipstick . . . Enhance Your Pucker Power
Lipstick is the quickest and easiest way to define your personality and bring a splash of colour to your face. It is the world’s most widely used cosmetic product, and not only gives colour to the face, but can actually protect the lips from damaging environmental effects.
Consider the look that you want for your wedding, and be sure that whoever is doing your makeup understands what you want. Do a dress-rehearsal at least a few days before the wedding to make sure that you look exactly the way you want to. If you are doing your own makeup, experiment with several different looks until you find the style and colour that works for you.
For lasting colour that endures from the dressing room to the ballroom, fill in you lips with liner that is the same colour as your lipstick. It gives your colour that added depth, as well as gives your lipstick something to stick to. If you’re using a light lipstick, use a nude liner, and then glide your lipstick over top. To smooth and soften the appearance of your lips, apply a coat of foundation. This helps to fill in the lines, and is another great way to help colour last longer. Ask somebody in the bridal party to keep a spare lipstick on-hand for you, just in case you need a touch-up. To keep your colour from smearing onto glassware, discreetly lick your lips before taking a drink.
To give the illusion of slightly fuller lips, apply lip liner just outside of your natural lip line. Dab a bit of gloss in the middle of your bottom lip, or do the same with a soft touch of white eye shadow or eyebrow highlighter. Make sure to blend it in carefully, as the natural shading is what gives your mouth that full, pouty look.
If you want to balance uneven lips, use a lighter coloured lipstick on the smaller lip, and a darker shade on the fuller one. When you do this, make sure that you’ve tested your colours. Some shades look very similar in the tube, but may clash when put together on the skin.
Of course, the most difficult part of the experience is finding the right lip colour. With the thousands of colour options out there, choosing the perfect shade becomes almost impossible. Professional makeup artists should have a good insight on what colours would suit you, but finding the right shade on your own is difficult. When shopping for lipstick, there is one simple tip to keep in mind: the most flattering lip colour is just a shade or two deeper than your bare lip. As testing lipsticks on your mouth is decidedly unsanitary, use the back of your hand, or even the box, to test the colour. Simply find a mirror, and hold the sample colour up to your mouth. Make sure to do this in a place with good lighting. Colours that look great in the drug store might not look so great outside.
If you’re looking for that extra dash of glamour that will really stand out in your pictures, slick a brilliant red over those luscious lips. For those worried about finding the right shade, the secret is in the undertones. Fire-engine red is great for olive skin tones, while deep reds are best for women with darker skin. Girls with a pink skin-tone should go for a cherry red. For a more subtle look that still has that pop of colour, apply a lip gloss, then smooth red lipstick over it with your finger.
If you plan to use your own lipstick, try to keep in mind that your skin colour changes over the course of the year. That beautiful pink that looks so wonderful with a summer tan might seem too bright in winter, and that deep red-pink that you bought in December could seem too dark in August.
The best beauty tip that anybody can give you is to look in a mirror, pick your single best feature, and play it up as much as possible. Trying to emphasize two features at the same time can be dangerous, as the result can be almost clownish. Stick with a more effortless look that plays off your natural beauty, and you are sure to turn heads.
Be Nice and Treat Yourself, Guilt-Free 
