Bridal beauty checklist 964 views

Suffering from a washed-out complexion? These hints from make-up artist Emma Trevillion can help turn your skin around for that must-have glow on your wedding day.

Skin prep:

• Internal hydration keeps your skin healthy and radiant, so be sure to drink plenty of water ­– preferably at room temperature to aid circulation. Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol, which cause dehydration and affect your skin.

• Drinking warm fluids such as herbal teas can help with circulation, for clear and healthy skin. Exercise is another beauty booster.

• Remember that over-exposure to hot water can dehydrate the skin. Take shorter baths or showers and keep the water cool or warm, not hot. Add bath oils to keep your skin moisturised and replace harsh soaps or shower gels with milk- or oil-based varieties, which are gentler on the skin. Apply a body moisturiser while your skin is still damp.

• Adapt your skin-care routine to the season. A refreshing facial wash might feel right in spring, but a milky cleanser is usually gentler in winter. Immediately after applying a gentle toner, while your face is still damp, apply your moisturiser. If you have oily skin, use a skin-nourishment cream such as a vitamin C formulation. Pay attention to the area around your nose, under your chin and your neck.

• Dehydrated skin means flaking skin. Exfoliate weekly to remove the dead cells that contribute to a dull-looking complexion. Be gentle, and apply a hydrating face mask once you’re finished.

• Don’t forget your hands and feet – they can crack and peel when dry. Apply moisturising lotion after washing your hands, or after any other water exposure. Soak your feet in warm water for ten minutes before applying foot moisturiser.

• Remember to protect your skin from the sun throughout the year, but especially in summer. Wear a cream with SPF15 or more, and don’t forget a lip balm with a SPF too.

• Believe it or not, central heating can have a drying effect on your skin. When the heating is on, place a bowl of water by the radiator to act as a humidifier, or leave some windows open.
  

Make-up:

• To lock in moisture, use a cream-based moisturiser before applying make-up.

• Apply a primer before your foundation. As well as keeping your skin hydrated, this will make your foundation last longer. Smashbox and Chanel both make good primers.

• Use a foundation that is fluid-based and contains a sunscreen factor. Chanel Vitalumière gives a radiant finish and contains SPF15, while Lancôme Photogénic is good for dry skins and contains SPF12.

• Blend a little bronzer with your foundation for a glowing look.

• Apply blusher to keep your complexion looking rosy. A cream-based product such as MAC Blushcreme gives a natural effect. Dab a blusher brush in the cream and use outward-sweeping motions to brush into your hairline, finishing off with your fingers. Smile when applying blusher, blushing the apple of your cheeks lightly, then going slightly darker out towards the hairline.

• Lips: For a non-traditional bridal look, deep hues can be fantastic, and MAC has some great options. Try Roam Free (an earthy brown with a slight lustre), Instinctive (a deep honey-beige/pink) or Wild ’Bout You (a bold berry shade with a slight pink-pearl lustre). Their cremestick liner in Cream O’ Spice (a creamy neutral beige) is also wonderful to blend all over your lips. Follow with Blankety or Unflappable, then finish with tinted lipglass in Poetique or La La Libertine.

• Eyes: The Take Wing shadow set by MAC contains four great complementary shades. Cover your whole eyelid and right up under your eyebrow with Tickles (a lightly silvered pink), then add Restless (silvery grey) over the eyelid only. Apply Bravado (an antique rose shade) just over the eyeball area, and finish with Take Wing (rustic brown) in the crease of your eyelid. Remember to blend thoroughly with a blending brush at every stage.

• Choose a waterproof mascara in case the emotion of the day causes tears! My favourites are Lancôme Hypnôse Waterproof, Maxfactor More Lashes Waterproof and Kiss Me Mascara by US company Blinc.

Emma Trevillion is a Hertfordshire-based make-up artist who travels to all nearby counties. Find out more about her services at www.scrumptiousmakeup.com.