My Tried & Tested Beauty Regime in the Six month Countdown to the Big Day!
Get
Active
Exercise at least 3 times per week, drink plenty of water
and follow a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Meditate and make time
for yourself.
Vitamin A is essential for skin repair and maintenance. Boost your intake by eating plenty of kale, sweet
potato, carrots, and spinach.
Take a good multi vitamin to promote energy levels and your general
health.
B7 (biotin) is also worth considering for healthy nails and
hair.
Get yourself into a daily “good health” routine.
Healthy
Glow
Daily routine is key here.
As mentioned drinking plenty of water, exercising, following a healthy
diet rich in fruit and vegetables and taking a good multi vitamin will all help
your skin to look its best.
Facials in the months leading up to the wedding are a great
idea but not too close to the day itself to avoid a possible breakout.
Moisturise night and morning, using a separate eye cream as
well as a serum applied before moisturiser for deeper hydration. Massage cream’s
well into the skin using your fingertips.
Use your ring finger to pat eye cream around the orbital bone not too
close to the eye area as the delicate skin here will draw moisture up towards
the eye. I also highly recommend Rosehip oil; it is great for massaging in for
blemish free super smooth skin.
Do not use wipes these are an occasional quick fix not for
everyday cleansing. Use a proper
cleanser for your skin type, a gel, a cream or foam. If you are a makeup wearer always remove
makeup at night and double cleanse. The first cleanse removes makeup and
pollution, the second removes dead skin cells and further residue on the skin.
Begin exfoliating once a week; use a mask after exfoliating for
a hydrated, radiant glow.
Hair
Use conditioning hair treatments at home for strong and
shiny hair.
Get regular haircuts in the lead up to the wedding every 6-8
weeks and look at having any hair trials 3-6 months before the day. Consider the style of your dress, if you will
wear a veil or any hair accessories, the venue and your general styling when
thinking about your hair for the big day.
Have images and as much information to hand to show to your hair
stylist.
Wash hair ideally the night before the wedding and use no
heated irons or products afterwards. Leave hair clean for your stylist to work
with on the day.
Do not radically change your haircut before the wedding and
especially not after a wedding hair trial.
Trim your hair 2 weeks before the wedding day and if colouring do this
around 10 days before.
Have an emergency wedding day kit of hairspray, grips,
tissues, mints, lippie and powder.
Nails
Massage nails daily with a cuticle cream or ‘Lucas Papaw’, a
great balm for cuticles, cracked heels, dry skin, bites and burns. Get yourself
into a routine of using a hand cream daily.
Wear gloves to protect nails and hands when washing up and doing
household cleaning. My top tip is to
massage in any remaining moisturiser or serum to the back of your hands at
night after you have moisturised your face.
Ideally do DIY manicure’s and pedicure’s at home from now
onwards or go to a salon to start getting your hands and feet in tip top
condition. Use a foot file, exfoliating
soak and foot cream. Always use a base and topcoat when applying colour.
If you are a nail biter try having acrylic nails applied or
a gel manicure as you would not want to ruin this by gnawing it away or waste
the money having it done I am sure. This
way you will also know if you will like to continue to have it for the wedding itself as these methods will
last longer than a standard painted manicure.
Have a manicure and pedicure the day before the wedding it
is a good excuse for a chance to sit and relax maybe include friends or the
mothers of the bride and groom to enjoy some pampering too as I am sure
emotions are running high all around at this point and a little time out is
necessary.
Makeup
Makeup trends are best not followed! Think Grace Kelly and
keep makeup timeless and classic. Although the current trend for glowy skin is a
pretty safe bet. Pink is also the colour of 2017 bridal makeup and you cannot
really go wrong with a fresh flush of pink within the eye makeup, blusher shade
or lip colour. Take into account your
dress, venue, general wedding styling and most importantly your skin tone and
hair colouring when considering bridal makeup.
The most common mistake I often see is too much or too little make up
and this is a hard balance to achieve.
Be advised by your professional makeup artist for the day. Do not follow
trends i.e contouring or strong eyebrows these are current trends and will
absolutely date in your photographs. Think of some of the 1980s brides and how
they dislike their wedding images now! Choose natural shades but do not change
your normal makeup look completely just make it better and more polished. Opt
for long wear and waterproof options. Book a Makeup Artist and always have a
trial before the wedding day ideally 3-6 months before. Make sure you have lipstick and powder for
touch up’s on the day. Avoid SPF on the day to avoid any flash back in
photographs.
Relax
A Spa day or a
massage is a great idea the day before to keep you relaxed and stress
free. Do not leave everything to the
last minute and have no time for relaxing and enjoying the evening before the
big day and generally getting your head together.
I recommend using a gradual tan rather than self-tan,
sunbeds or a spray tan. Saint Tropez does an excellent one. However if you like
spray tans plan to have this a few days before so the colour adjusts and will
not wear off onto your dress.
Any waxing should also be done a few days/one week before so
that no redness or markings are left.
The night before the Big day get an early night and rest assured you have done all you can and just enjoy the wedding day!
All photos above are my own work, hairstyling services are also available by request.
All wedding makeup enquiries via www.nikimakeup.co.uk
