BEAUTY Twinkle Toes

Amanda Hinton - Tue 02 Feb 2010

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For pretty feet that’ll look gorgeous in those strappy wedding shoes as well as on honeymoon, start the pampering now…

In the weeks before your big day, treat your feet to weekly pedicures – but if the cost of salon pedis will blow the budget, why not pamper your tootsies at home instead.

First, fill a bowl with warm water and add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil to refresh tired feet. Take the phone off the hook and relax with your feet in the water for a few minutes.

Dry gently and, using a pumice, buff areas of dry skin, including the balls of your feet and your heels. If you don’t like using a pumice, a great foot scrub will do the trick. We like Montagne Jeunesse Mint Foot Scrub, with sweet summery watermelon and cooling balm mint, it has a deodorising formula to fight odour, and will leave your feet feeling smooth and fresh.

Then finish off with a rich foot cream such as the heavenly Montagne Jeunesse Foot Lotion, containing spearmint and balm mint to gently smooth away any roughness.

Conveniently packed in handy single use sachets, Montagne Jeunesse beauty treats are also great for taking on honeymoon. Priced at 99p each, they are available from ASDA or online.

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Image © iStockphoto

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BEAUTY Beautiful Hair

Amanda Hinton - Sun 27 Dec 2009

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We all want glossy, “just stepped out of a Charles Worthington salon” hair on our wedding day so follow these great tips from Skye Norman of Anita Cox salon, and you’ll have shiny locks to rival Jennifer Aniston.

- Keep hair in tip top condition

Have some in-salon treatments a few weeks before your wedding. You can also use gloss and shine products to keep your hair looking glossy and sleek all day long.

- Wedding trials

Book at least two or three wedding trials before the big day, as finding the right stylist and hair style is very important. Take a camera to get some second opinions – and don’t forget to take your tiara if you’re wearing one. Once you’ve chosen your stylist pre-book for your big day well in advance to avoid disappointment

- Choose a wearable style

A sleek up-style would be ideal where wind or rain are quite likely to play a part on your big day. A good hairspray such as Air Fix by L’Oreal will help hold your style in place. Take a pocket-sized spray with you in case of touch ups.

- Have your cut and colour at least two weeks before your wedding...

This will ensure your hair looks fresh for your wedding day and will give you time for any last minute changes.

- Keeping your up-do in place all day long

Wash your hair the night before, but don’t use conditioner as this will make your hair slippery. To maintain your up-do and keep it secure all day, your stylist will backcomb it or set it in heated curlers to give a strong secure base for the grips to lock into.

- To be avoided!

Changing your hair dramatically just before your wedding can leave you feeling sometimes a little unsure and uncomfortable, so keep to the colour that suits you best and maybe have some soft highlights put in to give it an extra edge.

Photo © iStockphoto, Yarwood-White, Tiarastore

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BEAUTY Makeup Secrets

Amanda Hinton - Tue 24 Nov 2009

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Want to know the secret to perfect wedding make-up? We sent our resident bride-to-be, Cheryl, to meet celebrity make-up artist Kirsty Birnstiel and take a peek behind the scenes…

Kirsty Birnstiel knows a thing or two about make-up. Having worked with the likes of Richard Gere and Donna Air, and on the set of TV dramas Silent Witness and Hollyoaks, what she doesn’t know about make-up really isn’t worth knowing. Which is why Cheryl was looking forward to meeting the bridal beauty guru in person and finding out her expert tips for getting that perfect wedding-day look.
Kirsty explains her top make-up dos and don’ts…
DO get in the professionals
Unless you’re a florist by trade, you wouldn’t dream of arranging the flowers at your own wedding and the same should apply to your make-up. “A professional make-up artist will know how to emphasise your best features and transform you into a better-looking version of yourself,” says Kirsty. “Make-up applied by a professional make-up artist also lasts longer, and should see you right through until your wedding night.”

DON’T follow fashion
“You’ll be admiring your wedding photos for years to come so it’s important to go with timeless, classic make-up such as elegant neutrals or softer shades,” says Kirsty. “Avoid directional fashion trends – your wedding’s a time to be classic, not hip.”

DO give in to your inner princess
“Sequins, metallics and bright orange might be this year's latest trends but your wedding day is the one occasion when every woman can give in to her inner princess with romantic, floaty wedding dresses,” says Kirsty. “Your make-up should be soft peaches and cream colours, which will give a natural but glowing appearance. Electric, bright colours or black eye liner are a definite no-no!”

If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to your own make-up artist, here are Kirsty’s Top Tips for doing it yourself:

• Use a primer under make-up – this will help ‘set’ your make-up and keep it looking matte all day. Kirsty recommends Bare Escentuals Prime Time, £19.99
• Use waterproof mascara on the day – the chances of tears on the day are high, but a waterproof mascara should keep your eyes looking fresh and flawless without the streaky marks. Avoid wearing it on the day before your wedding though as it can smudge slightly the following day.
• Always blot lipstick – this will help keep your lipstick in place all day. And after you’ve applied your lippy, Kirsty recommends dabbing a small amount of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream to give a soft sheen without the full-on gloss effect.

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Magical Minerals

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