The last thing you want on your wedding day is panda eyes. Okay, maybe not the last thing, but it’s not ideal…
From greeting your groom at the alter to getting your girls together for group photos, you’ll want to look your best all day, which means hair and makeup staying put.
And to help you make that happen, we’ve put together our top tips to give your bridal beauty look serious staying power.
Tips for keeping your wedding makeup on all day
Gently exfoliate skin the night before
Rid your complexion of dead, flakey skin and clogged pores the evening before. This gives sensitive complexions a little time to recover overnight, leaving you with the perfect canvas come morning.
Gently work a natural exfoliator such as Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrubover your face, focusing on problems area. Buff away in circular motions, getting into every last crease and corner.
Invest in a decent moisturiser
For truly flawless wedding day makeup, you’ll want the skin underneath to be healthy, happy and radiant. So make sure you’re using a moisturiser you trust in the run up to the day.
The week of your wedding is no time to be experimenting. A full on breakout or allergic reaction as your about to exchange vows? No thanks.
Seek out a cream that brings out the best of your skin in the months running up to the wedding, and get in the habit or using it daily.
It’s pricey, but we adore Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, when it comes to transforming complexions.
But remember, gently does it. You don’t want red-raw skin for the big day – your nerves will take care of that.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good primer
It may sounds like just another added stage but a worthy primer truly boosts makeup staying power.
The experts at Hairtrade.com confirm that primers “act as a magnet to makeup while also smoothing over fine lines and imperfections.”
Now who doesn’t want that? Seek out one that’s good for your particular skin type to see the best results. For example, primers for oily skins can help soak up excess shine all day through.
Gosh Velvet Touch Foundation Primer, is an excellent high street buy that leaves skin irresistibly soft.
Wearing eye shadow? Get a specialised primer to help it stay in place too, like the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.
Invest in a good foundation applicator
Whether your more about precision brushes of beauty blenders, good tools mean good application. Taking time to work foundation into skin with either (working from the center out) will offer the most flawless look, and provide the longest lasting finish.
Brush lovers try the bareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush, and sponge dedicators, opt for the B. Latex-free Blending Sponge.
Layer, blend, repeat
With foundation, start off small and build up. Several light layers work better to sink into skin rather than sitting on top of it.
Blend, blend and then blend some more for the best finish.
Oh, and it’s an obvious one, but make sure you get the right shade. Remember you’ll most likely be head-to-toe in white, and an overly orange face will stick out like a sore thumb.
Super pale? See the round up of the best light foundations about HERE.
And don’t forget to set with powder!
Even if it’s not usually in your beauty arsenal, a good powder can help truly set your foundation, especially on oilier complexions.
Try a loose one for a softer, cake-free finish, and mineral power will let skin breath that little bit more.
We love the No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder.
Stick with matte
Blushers, eye shadows, lipsticks... Not only will sparkle-filled beauty bits be taking ‘looking youthful’ on your wedding day a little too far, but they tend to wear off quicker that their matte sisters.
To add some glow to your look, invest in a good liquid highlighter – like Benefit High Beam - and trace just under brow, cheekbones, and cupid bow. The liquid will light up your face in a more natural looking, lasting way and help keep other makeup in place.
Glow away!
Ditch the powder blusher and bronzers
Unlike powders that can sometimes sit on the face, liquid or cream colours blend better into the skin therefore passing the test of time. They’ll add better shape and definition to your face, too.
The experts at hairtrade.com add:
“Cream blushers or cheek stains give a flattering flush perfect for any blushing bride.”
And as much as you might want Kim Kardashian’s cheek bones on the big day, save the contouring for another big night out. Heavily contoured skin will look overdone for the big day, and the contrast in light and dark may look too drastic in the professional snaps.
See which bargain liquid blush we recommend HERE.
Seek out long lasting makeup buys
Don’t take these expert products for granted. From concealer to mascara and lipstick, go for the long wearer option when shopping about. ‘Waterproof’ and ‘24 hour cover’ aren’t just beauty jargon thrown in to confuse you, there’s legit science behind the beauty buys that don’t budge, so don’t be a fool and pass them by.
To see our pick of the best long lasting red lippies, click HERE.
For falsies, stick with individual lashes
Not only do they look more authentic, they’re more likely to stick it out until everyone’s tipsy on the dance floor, too.
Individual lashes draw attention to you peepers without looking faux or creating a shadow.
Better still, if you do accidently lose one throughout the evening, it wont be too much of a dramatic difference between each eye. The same simply can’t be said for strip lashes, we're afraid.
For the best results, apply to a clean mascara-free base.
Oh, and keep the glue close to hand just in case.
Tips for making your wedding hair style last all day
Give hair an intensive treatment
A few days before the big day, add nourish troubled tresses by treating them to an intensive hair mask. Whether you pick your favourite store bought remedy or mix up the best of your kitchens’ offerings, this should help keep your hair smooth and shiny on the special day.
We swear by the Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask.
Leave hair unwashed
Think your hair looks dirty? It’s all in your head…
The experts over at Hairtrade.com recommend not washing your hair on the morning of your wedding, as if you’re wearing your hair up a little bit of grease helps hold the whole thing in place.
“When you wash your hair on the day it’s much too soft to hold any style. Sleep with dry shampoo (LikeFudge Dry Shampoo, £6.81) in it the night before to keep it clean and volumised.”
As least that’s one less thing on the day’s to-do list.
Can’t live without your towel? Try a more hair-friendly one from AQUIS.
Have your hair mousse at the ready
If you’re styling your hair up with lots of detail, then a little mousse may help.
Hairtrader recommend:
“Try applying mousse after your blow dry then drying your hair again. Tease at the roots before sweeping your hair up. The texture and tack of the mousse will help it maintain its shape throughout the day.”
Ditch the hair tongs
If your going for glorious curls on the big day, let the rollers do the hard word instead of tongs. They leave a softer look, and tend to set better in stubborn straight hair.
For more of the best products about for curly hair, see HERE.
Keep hairspray to a minimum
Yes, hairspray is the golden key to keeping your ‘do in place, but going too far with the spritzing won’t do you any favours.
Hairtrade.com say: “It can be tempting to douse your do in hairspray but this can actually make hair heavy meaning styles fall out quicker.”
Be armed with bobby pins
Because everyone knows they have the ability to make or break a ‘do!
Do you have any more wedding day beauty tips?
Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter page.
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