Tips for the bride.
Before the wedding:
1. Begin prepping your skin at least one month in advance.
Stay consistent with your cleansing and moisturizing routines so your skin is not stressed, but smooth and flawless for your wedding photos.
2. Don’t try anything new during the wedding week
Avoid trying new make up and beauty products at least one week prior to the wedding. You may not have sensitive skin but it is always better to avoid the risk of developing an allergy. Ensure bridal make up consists of only brands you have tried and tested. If you are having a makeup artist, be sure to use the same products you used at your trial run.
3. Stay calm, eat healthy!
Being tense and having last minute jitters is quite common among brides. Unfortunately they can show on your skin. So take time off to relax no matter how caught up with you are with the wedding activities. And don’t forget to splurge on those veggies and fruits.
4. Do all spa sessions at least a week ahead
A lot of brides go in for bridal packages which include facials, manicures, spa sessions and what not. Ensure you are done with all this at least a week ahead. In the unfortunate event you do develop an allergy to something from this package; you will give your skin time to recover before the big day.
5. Take pictures
After the trial, click pictures of yourself and check out how turn out in the snaps. You might notice that sometimes concealer or even foundation stands out a terrible way in pictures. And remember to take photos in different lightings and both indoors and outdoors.
6. Stack up on Straws
And finally this is a small and useful tip I picked up from a make up artist. Keep some drinking straws with the make up kit. Very useful for a bride who gets thirsty AFTER the lip make up has been done perfectly.
7. Wax three days before the wedding
Redness can be tough to cover, and some people stay slightly swollen for a couple days post-wax.
8. Tan at least two days in advance
If you are going to get a fake tan before the big day, spray-tan at least two days prior to your wedding. It will darken on the second day, and by the third day, it will have settled and be perfect.
9. Play up Your Assets — but Not Too Much
If you are thinking of making a drastic change (i.e. lightening brows, changing hair color, doing an intense tan), think twice. Changing your look drastically, which brides sometimes tend to do, or think they need to do, can be a big mistake. You do not end up looking like yourself on your wedding day; you still want to look like you, just enhanced.
For the Wedding Day:
Use a Primer
After you cleanse and moisturize your skin the morning of your wedding there is a really important step before you put on your foundation – the primer. It will make your makeup go on smoother and last a lot longer. You are going to have a long day ahead of you, and you want your makeup to last you all day and all night. Motives Face Primer, $25.
Always Apply Your Foundation with a Brush, then a Sponge
A foundation brush leaves your face smooth and finished looking. Never use your fingers. The less you can touch your face, the better. When you use your sponge, stipple the sponge around the nose, lips, jaw line, neck and hairline. This gives your foundation a more natural look, and blends it more evenly into the skin. Motives Foundation Brush, $18.
Put on Concealer after Your Foundation
Your moisturizer, primer, and foundation are going to even out skin and cover imperfections. When using concealer around the eyes, use a product that is creamy and peach based, to counteract the purple-blue tone around your eyes. Motives Crème Concealer, $19.50. For a multipurpose concealer, to use around the eyes, as well as even out skin tone and create highlights, try Motives Correction Perfection, $20. It even hides tattoos!
Don't Neglect an Eye Base
An eye base evens out skin tone and helps your eye shadow and liner stay throughout the day and night. This is just as important as a face primer. Motives Eye Base, $15.
For a Natural Makeup Look, Try a Blush that is Similar in Tone to your Natural Lip Colour
Your natural lip colour is the same pink tone that is diffused throughout your face, so it helps you look healthy and glowing without being overdone. Motives Pressed Blushes, $14.50.
You Can Learn Where to Place Your Blush Just by Smiling!
When you smile, the apple of your cheek pops out. Place your blush right there and blend into your temple — this will make it look like you're naturally flushing.
An Eyebrow Pencil Is a Must-Have
A big step that some women forget when they do their makeup and something that you will especially want to do on your wedding day, is to use a brow pencil to fill in your eyebrow. It frames your eye and finishes the whole picture. A tip for finding the right color for your eyebrow pencil: always go a shade or two lighter than your own natural eyebrow color. Motives Eyebrow Pencil, $15.
Use a Waterproof Eye Liner
You want a product that will last all day, so make sure your eye liner is waterproof. Use your eye liner to make your lashes look thicker by filling in the roots of the lashes. You will see that it makes the eye pop and the lash line look a lot plusher. Apply by pressing in between the lash roots. Motives Waterproof Eye Pencil, $16.15.
Use Eye-Enhancing Makeup Techniques
Focus darker eye shadow on the outside of eyes, moving lighter and brighter as you work in. You want your eyes to look big, bright, and beautiful. And if you happen to mess up on your eye makeup just take a little makeup remover or eye cream on a Q-tip to clean it up. If you use a wipe, you're risking ruining your foundation and concealer too.
Get Wide-Awake Eyes in Seconds
Always use a shimmer powder in the inner corners of your eyes before taking any photos. It makes a huge difference — it really will give you eyes that look bright and awake. Use a brush with a smaller head to get right into the inner corners of the eyes, like the Precision Crease Brush, found in the Motives 15 Piece Professional Brush Set, $105.95.
Use Fake Lashes
Use false eyelashes for all brides or any special occasion where you'll be in pictures. They make your eyes look big and captivating. Always curl your lashes and do a coat of mascara first — then apply the fake lashes. After that, wait until the glue dries, use your eyelash curler again, and, finally, apply another coat of mascara. Remember to cut and measure false eyelashes before you apply them. You don't want them to extend past your natural lash line. Motives False Eyelashes, $8.50.
Waterproof Makeup Is Key
Use a product to seal your makeup, like Motives 10 Years Younger Setting Spray. Spray it all so your makeup won’t run when you cry. Remember to use waterproof mascara! And if you are using false eyelashes, make sure the glue is waterproof too. Motives 10 Years Younger Setting Spray, $35, Motives Waterproof Mascara, $19.50.
Do Some Prep Work — on Your Lips
Put lip balm on your lips before gloss or lipstick so they are not dry and flaky. Then, fill in your entire lip with a lip pencil, which will hold the colour longer. For brides who just want to wear a gloss, prepare for it to fade. However, a lip pencil will help you keep some of that color longer. Motives 40FY Lip Treatment, $21, Lip Crayon, $15, Rich Formula Lipstick, $16.00, Lip Shine, $11.79, Full Colour Lip Shine, $18.41.
Carry a Few Touch-Up Products in Your Makeup Bag
Carry your lip color as that is what will wear out the fastest and need to be touched up the most. If you use good quality face and eye primers, everything else should stay in place.
You can also keep some oil blotting sheets on hand. Q-tips are another great item to carry around with you. Makeup can collect in the inner corners of your eyes, and you can use the q-tips to clean them out. Remember your straws too!
Breathe
Deep belly breathing is one of the most important exercises you can do on your wedding day. It reduces stress and boosts circulation, helping to keep your skin bright and healthy. Inhale through your nose while you expand your belly, and let your stomach contract when you exhale through your mouth. Aim for four or five of these deep breaths in one minute.
A Final Note
Remember to get your hair done before your makeup to avoid coating your makeup with stray hairspray. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water so your eyes look bright and your skin looks beautiful in your photos. And most of all, smile because it’s a beautiful day!
1. Begin prepping your skin at least one month in advance.
Stay consistent with your cleansing and moisturizing routines so your skin is not stressed, but smooth and flawless for your wedding photos.
2. Don’t try anything new during the wedding week
Avoid trying new make up and beauty products at least one week prior to the wedding. You may not have sensitive skin but it is always better to avoid the risk of developing an allergy. Ensure bridal make up consists of only brands you have tried and tested. If you are having a makeup artist, be sure to use the same products you used at your trial run.
3. Stay calm, eat healthy!
Being tense and having last minute jitters is quite common among brides. Unfortunately they can show on your skin. So take time off to relax no matter how caught up with you are with the wedding activities. And don’t forget to splurge on those veggies and fruits.
4. Do all spa sessions at least a week ahead
A lot of brides go in for bridal packages which include facials, manicures, spa sessions and what not. Ensure you are done with all this at least a week ahead. In the unfortunate event you do develop an allergy to something from this package; you will give your skin time to recover before the big day.
5. Take pictures
After the trial, click pictures of yourself and check out how turn out in the snaps. You might notice that sometimes concealer or even foundation stands out a terrible way in pictures. And remember to take photos in different lightings and both indoors and outdoors.
6. Stack up on Straws
And finally this is a small and useful tip I picked up from a make up artist. Keep some drinking straws with the make up kit. Very useful for a bride who gets thirsty AFTER the lip make up has been done perfectly.
7. Wax three days before the wedding
Redness can be tough to cover, and some people stay slightly swollen for a couple days post-wax.
8. Tan at least two days in advance
If you are going to get a fake tan before the big day, spray-tan at least two days prior to your wedding. It will darken on the second day, and by the third day, it will have settled and be perfect.
9. Play up Your Assets — but Not Too Much
If you are thinking of making a drastic change (i.e. lightening brows, changing hair color, doing an intense tan), think twice. Changing your look drastically, which brides sometimes tend to do, or think they need to do, can be a big mistake. You do not end up looking like yourself on your wedding day; you still want to look like you, just enhanced.
For the Wedding Day:
Use a Primer
After you cleanse and moisturize your skin the morning of your wedding there is a really important step before you put on your foundation – the primer. It will make your makeup go on smoother and last a lot longer. You are going to have a long day ahead of you, and you want your makeup to last you all day and all night. Motives Face Primer, $25.
Always Apply Your Foundation with a Brush, then a Sponge
A foundation brush leaves your face smooth and finished looking. Never use your fingers. The less you can touch your face, the better. When you use your sponge, stipple the sponge around the nose, lips, jaw line, neck and hairline. This gives your foundation a more natural look, and blends it more evenly into the skin. Motives Foundation Brush, $18.
Put on Concealer after Your Foundation
Your moisturizer, primer, and foundation are going to even out skin and cover imperfections. When using concealer around the eyes, use a product that is creamy and peach based, to counteract the purple-blue tone around your eyes. Motives Crème Concealer, $19.50. For a multipurpose concealer, to use around the eyes, as well as even out skin tone and create highlights, try Motives Correction Perfection, $20. It even hides tattoos!
Don't Neglect an Eye Base
An eye base evens out skin tone and helps your eye shadow and liner stay throughout the day and night. This is just as important as a face primer. Motives Eye Base, $15.
For a Natural Makeup Look, Try a Blush that is Similar in Tone to your Natural Lip Colour
Your natural lip colour is the same pink tone that is diffused throughout your face, so it helps you look healthy and glowing without being overdone. Motives Pressed Blushes, $14.50.
You Can Learn Where to Place Your Blush Just by Smiling!
When you smile, the apple of your cheek pops out. Place your blush right there and blend into your temple — this will make it look like you're naturally flushing.
An Eyebrow Pencil Is a Must-Have
A big step that some women forget when they do their makeup and something that you will especially want to do on your wedding day, is to use a brow pencil to fill in your eyebrow. It frames your eye and finishes the whole picture. A tip for finding the right color for your eyebrow pencil: always go a shade or two lighter than your own natural eyebrow color. Motives Eyebrow Pencil, $15.
Use a Waterproof Eye Liner
You want a product that will last all day, so make sure your eye liner is waterproof. Use your eye liner to make your lashes look thicker by filling in the roots of the lashes. You will see that it makes the eye pop and the lash line look a lot plusher. Apply by pressing in between the lash roots. Motives Waterproof Eye Pencil, $16.15.
Use Eye-Enhancing Makeup Techniques
Focus darker eye shadow on the outside of eyes, moving lighter and brighter as you work in. You want your eyes to look big, bright, and beautiful. And if you happen to mess up on your eye makeup just take a little makeup remover or eye cream on a Q-tip to clean it up. If you use a wipe, you're risking ruining your foundation and concealer too.
Get Wide-Awake Eyes in Seconds
Always use a shimmer powder in the inner corners of your eyes before taking any photos. It makes a huge difference — it really will give you eyes that look bright and awake. Use a brush with a smaller head to get right into the inner corners of the eyes, like the Precision Crease Brush, found in the Motives 15 Piece Professional Brush Set, $105.95.
Use Fake Lashes
Use false eyelashes for all brides or any special occasion where you'll be in pictures. They make your eyes look big and captivating. Always curl your lashes and do a coat of mascara first — then apply the fake lashes. After that, wait until the glue dries, use your eyelash curler again, and, finally, apply another coat of mascara. Remember to cut and measure false eyelashes before you apply them. You don't want them to extend past your natural lash line. Motives False Eyelashes, $8.50.
Waterproof Makeup Is Key
Use a product to seal your makeup, like Motives 10 Years Younger Setting Spray. Spray it all so your makeup won’t run when you cry. Remember to use waterproof mascara! And if you are using false eyelashes, make sure the glue is waterproof too. Motives 10 Years Younger Setting Spray, $35, Motives Waterproof Mascara, $19.50.
Do Some Prep Work — on Your Lips
Put lip balm on your lips before gloss or lipstick so they are not dry and flaky. Then, fill in your entire lip with a lip pencil, which will hold the colour longer. For brides who just want to wear a gloss, prepare for it to fade. However, a lip pencil will help you keep some of that color longer. Motives 40FY Lip Treatment, $21, Lip Crayon, $15, Rich Formula Lipstick, $16.00, Lip Shine, $11.79, Full Colour Lip Shine, $18.41.
Carry a Few Touch-Up Products in Your Makeup Bag
Carry your lip color as that is what will wear out the fastest and need to be touched up the most. If you use good quality face and eye primers, everything else should stay in place.
You can also keep some oil blotting sheets on hand. Q-tips are another great item to carry around with you. Makeup can collect in the inner corners of your eyes, and you can use the q-tips to clean them out. Remember your straws too!
Breathe
Deep belly breathing is one of the most important exercises you can do on your wedding day. It reduces stress and boosts circulation, helping to keep your skin bright and healthy. Inhale through your nose while you expand your belly, and let your stomach contract when you exhale through your mouth. Aim for four or five of these deep breaths in one minute.
A Final Note
Remember to get your hair done before your makeup to avoid coating your makeup with stray hairspray. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water so your eyes look bright and your skin looks beautiful in your photos. And most of all, smile because it’s a beautiful day!
