Hey, lovelies. This week’s newsletter is about enhancing your beauty as a bride in the period leading up to your wedding. Recently, we spoke with Caren, a makeup artist from Caren Beauty and she gave us some tips on how to enhance your beauty for your wedding day. We put them down in the following paragraphs.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST TIP FOR BRIDES WHEN IT COMES TO WEDDING MAKEUP?
I’d say that it’s super important that your skin is in tip-top shape first, way before thinking of makeup! This means that a few months before (say 3-9 months before the wedding festivities) you should take the time to tend to your skin, especially if it’s problematic. You can start a new skincare routine recommended by a trained professional (esthetician recommendation, @luceskincareandlaser), that can target your dry skin, blemishes, fine lines, etc. Great makeup starts with great skin first! If your skin isn’t properly exfoliated and hydrated at the least, your makeup will just sit on top of your skin and not blend well. The end look will then be flaky and separate. This is so not the look you want in your wedding photos for life!
ALRIGHT, SO SKIN FIRST. WE GET THAT. WHAT NEXT?
I’d say facial hair. Facial hair is a no-no! Especially chin and upper lip hair. And I’m talking not just for the bride, but the entire bridal party and mothers of brides and grooms. The reason being that not only does it sometimes show through close up photos but it also doesn’t allow makeup to blend well and adhere to the skin (especially peach fuzz and overgrown eyebrow hairs). Dermaplaning is a great option if waxing or threading is too harsh for your sensitive skin.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON TANNING?
I’d say yes to tanning if you're very pale, provided you do a test run well before your wedding day. I’d also recommend that you do a professional spray tan, rather than self-tanning. Try to go for only 1-2 shades darker, please. You shouldn’t be too dark in comparison to the rest of your body or your partner either.
ARE MAKEUP TRIALS A GOOD IDEA?
Makeup trials are a must! Especially if you as the bride are not comfortable with wearing makeup or you aren’t too clear on how you want your makeup to be. At your makeup trial, you and your artist can narrow down on the look that is best for you and see if you click. They are, after all, going to be sharing in your most precious and private moment. You want a good artist that can deliver under pressure, is pleasant, professional, and is also reliable. Most importantly, they should be ready to listen to you but should also have enough knowledge and experience to advise you on what’s best for your photos. At your makeup trial, your artist will do your makeup in full to give you a chance to test out how the makeup will hold all day. This is like a simulation of your wedding day to put you at ease. Try out different looks, communicate, and make sure that your artist understands your personality/style and is patient with you. Your makeup session is so much more than good brushes and makeup, it’s personal and psychological!
WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO BRIDES ON HANDLING THEIR WEDDING DAY MAKEUP?
My advice? Appoint a reliable maid of honor or bridesmaid. Let her be in charge of checking whether the bride or any of the bridal party needs a minor touch up throughout the whole day. If your makeup artist is thoughtful, they’d have recommended or sampled a few touch-up items for when they’re not alongside you later on in the evening or during photos. One of the must-have products is a shine control powder. I like the MAC Pressed Blot Powders as they are conveniently packaged in a mirrored compact and a powder puff. There are lots of great products out there but this particular product is not messy for when you're on-the-go, will not take away or rub off the existing makeup, will not cake on the face but will simply take away shine which is great for photos. Other must-have products would be a lipstick, gloss, and or lip conditioner to touch up with and keep lips hydrated. One last minimal item is lash glue!!! Most lash glues are waterproof and should not lift if applied properly, even with tears shed, but never take that chance, it’s better to be safe than sorry. The worst thing to me is looking at a photo and seeing false lashes lifted in the corners!
LET'S TALK ABOUT LASHES
One thing I get asked a lot is to choose between lash extensions and false lashes. My answer? False lashes. Lash extensions do not do too well with makeup and the loose powder will fall onto the extensions and leave a powdery residue that won’t give your eyes that crisp look that false lashes would. Extensions are best for the honeymoon afterward. Also, the extensions can only go so far depending on the bride’s existing natural lashes, as they only attach to the natural lashes. So, if a bride wants to go with a dramatic eye makeup look and doesn’t naturally have full or strong healthy lashes, to begin with, the extensions will get lost behind the eye makeup rather than make the eyes stand out. There are so many high-quality false lashes that brides can choose from that won’t necessarily feel heavy or “too much”.
ANY FINAL WORDS FOR US?
Last but not least, I always encourage brides to stick with a classic, timeless look rather than very trendy looks. Your photos are meant to last forever, you will want to look back at your photos and admire your natural beauty, not regret your choice of makeup that was “in-trend” 10-20 years before.
